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]

...The plant?

[curdle]

It stands for remembrance. 'Tis for that we leave a sprig in the grave, if we can. Nothing grows here, but...

[ratherdoweddings]

...maybe there's a spice rack in the kitchen?

[curdle]

Well -- I thought I might draw it easily enough. Though I hath little experience.

[ratherdoweddings]

I'm sure you can! Here, we've got pencil crayons.

[curdle]

Thank you, Yurika.

[ She starts examining the goods to find that particular shade of green. Not leaving anything out of place, of course -- just picking through. ]

I pray this is the last you ever must make.

[ratherdoweddings]

I hope so. We can get out of here without killing everyone else, I'm sure of it.

[curdle]

... Aye.

[ She finally selects two crayoms and starts drawing. First a few light brown lines, as though she's drawing the stems in a bundle. ]

And, um... you loved her as well as anyone else. [ Probably better, with their bubbly personalities. But she and Jane are still putting the work forth for her... ] I am sorry of thy loss.

[ratherdoweddings]

She was so nice and did everything she could. It's unfair.

[curdle]

Would that any of this were fair. Even the punishment...

I had thought it would feel just.

[ratherdoweddings]

They want to hurt us, more than anything. That's the only thing that makes sense.

[curdle]

[ She chews this over while she finishes drawing the green leaves, and then considers something else. ]

Yurika. [ this is so weird when you can't just say "come hither" and be immediately understood ] Would you like a hug?

[ kill her now ]

[ratherdoweddings]

...Okay. Thank you, Thomasin-chan.

[Yurika hesitantly, awkwardly holds her arms out.]

[curdle]

[ Astoundingly, Thomasin actually is an inch taller than her, which gives her enough of a feeling of confidence to follow through! She walks into the Embrace Zone hesitantly and wraps her arms around Yurika's shoulders, trying to stand firm and steady without pushing anything too hard. ]

You need not always be strong.

[ the delivery is more comforting than the content by itself ok ]

[ratherdoweddings]

If I can't, then...

[Yurika sniffles and clings, trying not to look like she's crying. She totally is.]

Thank you.