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]

You can't be incapable of caring about anything.

[almightyconflagration]

[She's right, but not like he's going to admit to it.]

You seem to have this problem with thinking that everyone is like you. We're not.

[ratherdoweddings]

What? Because I told people who were upset that we cared about them?

[almightyconflagration]

Exactly. Didn't you think it screwed up enough that I enjoyed their attempts to punish me?

[ratherdoweddings]

Some people like that kind of thing! They just usually don't talk about it in public, that's all.

[almightyconflagration]

It's still true that it was rather pathetic for what they said would be a rude awakening.

[ratherdoweddings]

I think most people would be a little less happy than you are.

[almightyconflagration]

It also shows I don't feel emotions the same way you do. It's the fact that pain is a normal result of a violent act that makes me enjoy it. My inability to care ensures their motives will never affect me and that is best for all.

[ratherdoweddings]

You're right that it's better if nobody dies, but I still don't get that no-empathy thing.

[almightyconflagration]

You obviously would be incapable of understanding so I'm not going to waste my breath explaining.

[ratherdoweddings]

[siiiiiiiigh] At least someone had a good time.

[almightyconflagration]

Wasn't me. If I wasn't so damn bored I wouldn't have fallen asleep in the first place.

[ratherdoweddings]

I thought you were just trying to annoy them.

[almightyconflagration]

Nah, I would have done something more like this if I had. [He basically leans back a bit to fake being asleep, but his eyes are still open. He then does a very loud fake snore. It's obviously fake, but also something he's evidently done before, showing he has a sense of humor at least, even if it's odd. After that he'll sit back up.]

[ratherdoweddings]

I still don't get how you get bored in a trial like that while other people are terrified.

[almightyconflagration]

Because they threatened us all and most of you fear death. I imagine even more so now that you've seen what would happen.

[ratherdoweddings]

I didn't think being a masochist meant you weren't scared of dying, too.

[almightyconflagration]

That's not why. At least not entirely. Look, since you actually seem to not hate me for existing I'll give you a bit of advice. Fear leads to regrets. Figure out what scares you and why and face that. You'll need that if you don't want to end up a victim. And you better not end up making us vote to execute you.

[ratherdoweddings]

Fear leads to regrets... You mean you make mistakes because you're afraid, right?

[almightyconflagration]

Got it in one. The ones here with the experience to pull off such a crime effectively won't take the chance. Evading detection in an enclosed space is nearly impossible. No reason for you to fear dying if you know that.

[ratherdoweddings]

And that means if this happens again, if it happens again, then there's no way we can lose!

[almightyconflagration]

Exactly. If it happens again, keep telling yourself that when you feel scared. If it was less boring, I'd treat it like a battle, but longer conversations bore me.

[Yet he's been talking to Yurika a decent amount of time. A bit of a contradiction there?]

[ratherdoweddings]

It really is like a battle, though, isn't it?

[almightyconflagration]

A battle of wits isn't the same as a battle with swords and fire.