The bodies in my floor all trusted someone. Now I walk on them to tea.

[kingshaming]

[After the trial, Xander does what he does best. What always blanks his mind when training is not an option:

He organizes.

The hot food for lunch is out still, and while he feels far from hungry, he knows they all SHOULD eat. Everyone wanders off to take care of their own grief, and he lets them for now- and instead busies himself at the espresso bar. There's something specific he wants to do.

Later, under each door, and with the same thing written on the white board he had dragged out for meetings:]

There is hot food and tea in the cafeteria, and while I have no stomach for food it is there for those that can.

While it is tempting to be alone right now, if you wish company I shall be there until evening. Now may be a good time to compare new information while it is fresh.

If not, please stay well.

Xander

[And as promised there is fresh tea. Green tea in fact, though it lacks the milk Chitanda made- but basic tea he can manage at least]

Comments

[ratherdoweddings]

[Yurika is there right away. She sits down and looks at the food, then around at everyone else.]

I'm glad that we saved who we could, but we can't let this happen again.

[kingshaming]

We were... unprepared.

[ratherdoweddings]

They were desperate to get someone killed, too. That wasn't an incentive like money or even just getting to go home again, and we weren't there three days before they threw it at us.

[kingshaming]

True- if us 'living here peacefully' was really something they wanted, they wouldn't have gone this far this fast.

[ratherdoweddings]

...Do we know what Eru-chan and the others wanted after they died? Back on the Nadesico, I had to perform funerals for anyone killed in action or on the job. Some of them got a little weird, but I feel like it's the only thing we can do.

[kingshaming]

Not that I know of. We can improvise, they deserve an attempt at least.

[ratherdoweddings]

Maybe they just need to be remembered. That's what's important in the end, isn't it?

[kingshaming]

[He doesn't smile, but the crease between his eyes smooths a bit]

It is. It might help those that live... once things have settled.

[ratherdoweddings]

I just keep going back to how Bolton-san was taunting us when they first introduced themselves, saying if someone escaped, they could bring back news to the loved ones of everyone they killed. That's not what anybody wants, but at the same time, it's terrifying knowing that maybe we could all die and nobody would know.

[kingshaming]

...

I have taken to writing my thoughts here and there. And after seeing Chitanda's letters home I am tempted to do the same. Perhaps it would help that feeling for you as well.

[ratherdoweddings]

You mean, writing letters to people we miss?

[kingshaming]

Exactly. If worse comes to it, if any of us survive they could take them with them.

And if nothing else, it might ease your mind a bit.

[ratherdoweddings]

I'll think about it. I hope everyone's alright back home.

[refusedtoleave]

Can you really say we saved anyone when we've lost three in two days?

[ratherdoweddings]

It's terrible, and I wish it didn't have to happen, but it was better than letting only one live.

[She looks at her food and gives a slow sigh.]

I didn't want to do this again.

[refusedtoleave]

I think we can all agree on that.

[There's a weak scoff from her.]

My husband always talks about space with so much amazement. I wonder if he'd still feel the same know about that.

[ratherdoweddings]

It all seems distant even when you do know the dangers, until it happens to you.

[refusedtoleave]

[She bites her lip.]

... I didn't think anyone would go through with it.

[ratherdoweddings]

Me neither, but that motive could have gotten almost everyone. They're serious about this.

[refusedtoleave]

From the people I've spoken to, they didn't seem affected. But all it took was one...person to believe.

[ratherdoweddings]

Which means it's important for all of us to keep watch instead.

[refusedtoleave]

[She nods.]

I think what we saw, has already deterred most of us from doing anything foolish.

[ratherdoweddings]

I hope so, but I'm worried about some of us.

[refusedtoleave]

[She ducks her head and lowers her voice.]

... Anyone in particular? Almost everyone is out of sorts at the moment but some just don't seem to care.

[ratherdoweddings]

Well, I don't want to put a target on anybody, but Twiright-san isn't the world's nicest person and I don't think he cares about death.