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]

They must have employees to clean up or something. There's nothing out of place.

[cyan_maid]

[...There's a flicker of hardness to Jane's expression now.]

They can't even let us mourn properly...? They can't let us say goodbye?

[ratherdoweddings]

[What does she even do with this? Just...]

We don't have to do what they tell us! We can remember them and what they had to live for, even if the people in charge think this is fun!

[cyan_maid]

I know that, but...

[But she hadn't even gotten to say goodbye to Chitanda.]

[ratherdoweddings]

...I'm sorry, too. Eru-chan didn't even do anything.

[cyan_maid]

[...A slow nod.]

She wasn't even...he just...because she was there, he...[Jane sighs, a shudder in the sound.] To act indiscriminately, it's...

[She really is sorry nothing is coming out coherently, Yurika. Jane's still reeling.]

[ratherdoweddings]

It's desperation. But we can't let it beat us, Jane-chan. Even if it's hard to even think like that right now.

[cyan_maid]

Mm. No, you're...you're right. I don't want to let it or anything else here beat me.

[She wraps her arms around herself protectively.]

[ratherdoweddings]

I want to think there's still hope, Jane-chan. I know you do, too.

[cyan_maid]

...I do want to. I really do. I...what else is there, but hope, in this place?

[Hope wasn't going to be her thing, uu had told her that before - but if she could just borrow a little bit of that Hope, Jane thinks she'll be alright.

...Maybe not from Jake, though.]

[ratherdoweddings]

There's the rest of us. Even if someone does do this again, it's them against everyone. I don't want it to come to that, but we can make it.

[cyan_maid]

...Right. Alright.

[It's all she can agree to at the moment. Just...she needs some time, and some distractions.]