someday we will foresee obstacles / through the blizzard

[lmafo]

[ About an hour after the trial ends, maybe an hour and a half, there's a series of notes written in pink that end up slid under everyone's doors. No pomp, just a slid note and a knock at the door before Roxy moves to the next one. ]

aight so
if you guys want uh
there's food and drinks and stuff all chilling in the caf
no presh, just
fuck
we probs shouldnt be alone rn

- rolal and marisa

[ And indeed, set out in the dining room, there's a bunch of pretty basic sandwiches (she's a scientist, not a chef, what do you want from her), some drinks from the bar set out on a nearby table courtesy of Marisa, and uh. A single cake, set out on its own table. It's not the most visually impressive thing in the world, but Roxy worked real hard on it, okay? It's chocolate, even, with chocolate frosting also.

Piped onto the top of the cake in rough pink icing letters is "eat me pls," so. At least you know what to do with it. ]

Comments

[in4apounding]

Yeah. At least.

[That doesn't help much, sorry Akira.]

...Mister Ironwood gave me that ribbon.

[You know, the one she's not wearing right now?]

Max and Mister Thomas and Mister Karamatsu are dead, but I keep thinking about THAT.

[le_mat]

It's something from home. It's important to you, right?

... here, hold on.

[He digs through his bag, and steps behind her]

Is it okay if I touch your hair?

[in4apounding]

Mhm.

[The dress, too. From her father, that she'd worn more than her school uniform. But the ribbon was what her mind kept sticking on.]

[She blinks as Akira asks his question.]

Um- yes? I trust you.

[le_mat]

[He gathers her hair up as best he can, his hands deft as they've always been as he ties something up in it]

I've never had sisters, so I'm not really practiced in this...

[When he's done he steps back so she can examine it- the ribbon is much thinner then the one she wore before, and the bow is a little crooked. But it's something]

I know it's not the same, but...

[in4apounding]

Uh-

[She sits statue-still as Akira works, not moving until he speaks again.]

[She reaches carefully up to touch the new bow, examining it as best as possible in the distorted reflections of the chrome around them. When she speaks, her voice cracks.]

I love it.

[You're being hugged again, Akira.]

[le_mat]

[This time he does manage to hug back]

Somehow it managed to not get messed up through everything, through all these weeks. So I think... maybe it was supposed to be here right now.

['You're supposed to be here, right now']

[in4apounding]

Oh, it's-

[She's quiet for a second, before squeezing Akira harder for just a second.]

...I'll keep it safe forever, I promise.

[le_mat]

I know you will.

[in4apounding]

Thank you.

[She loosens her grip and goes back to leaning on him. ...Gently, because as upset as she is she doesn't want to accidentally crush Akira.]

...I still miss her too.

[le_mat]

...

[His good eye tears up a little]

...me too.

[in4apounding]

[She's quiet for a minute.]

...Ohana.

[le_mat]

Ohana?

[in4apounding]

It's- an Earth thing, I think. From one of the movies.

It means no one gets left behind or forgotten. Like family.

[le_mat]

Ohana... Yeah, I like that. We're in this together. For them too

[in4apounding]

Mhm.

[Still resting her head on Akira's shoulder.]

I'm- never going to forget anyone here. I promise. And... I'm proud to have someone like you for a brother.

[le_mat]

[it's like his heart is going to burst, and he turns, pressing a light kiss to the side of her head.

He's never known what is was to be a brother- he said as much to the twins early on. Then, he could never understand what Chitose did. What Osomatsu did. The things Seto and Thomas struggled with.

The closest he had, he realizes, is Morgana. Another life that wasn't human but existed for them. Who he last remembered scared and alone.]

...I won't let anything happen to you, Penny. Not while I'm still standing.

[in4apounding]

I'm not letting anything happen to you, either. Not alone. Not again.