when you hear me calling out to you, saying, "i'll always believe in you"

[ratherdoweddings]

[It occurs to Yurika that she has no idea what either of the men they'd lost just now had with regards to religious beliefs. She doesn't know who they wanted to leave their things to. She doesn't miss the detailed funeral requests, and at least neither wanted their ashes scattered over a lake on a planet that might not even exist here while the mall radio blasted "Stairway to Heaven," but having nothing...

It's actually kind of fitting. They don't have much to begin with.

Arianna strongly insisted on handling the food, so don't worry, your afterparty food today does not consist of disgusting burnt lumps and will not send you all back into the courtroom should somebody eat one. Candles are lit on another table and Yurika's standing at the front with a hand on her shoulder.]

In my last group... our last group, for some of us, the only cases we've remembered so far had culprits who were either cruel or just that determined to escape. Here, it seems different. We're all survivors, so it seems, and we're all friends who are doing our best -- even when the motives make it seem like we should give up. Even when people die anyway.

Maybe Togami-san was right that it'll just keep going from now, but he was also right that it can't keep going forever. I'm going to make sure to keep trying for all of you, and I know you will, too.

Comments

[burninglight]

Jane? Of course--thank you for your help, I'm sorry about your clothes.

[cyan_maid]

It's fine, it was just the hood.

[She'll never get another one, but it went to a good cause - Ardyn isn't bleeding out on the courtroom floor, and Touko hasn't been executed.]

Does it still hurt?

[burninglight]

Not so terribly that I can't function.

[cyan_maid]

That's good to hear.

[She'll close the door behind her and give him a long look, her expression a bit unreadable but not angry, at least.]

...What you did was really stupid. But...it was also really brave. It - it reminds me of someone from home, actually. [Jake, it reminds her of Jake.] So, if there's anything I can do to help you out while you heal, you can always feel free to ask, okay?

[burninglight]

I'm fine, Jane. A little pain is nothing, particularly next to the alternative being an even worse situation.

[cyan_maid]

...Well, like, I meant...if you need an extra set of hands doing something, like...making a sugary coffee or whatever.

[Are you really going to turn down a teen delivery service or is everyone in R2 paranoid thanks to Lee?]

[burninglight]

[...ardyn's already paranoid and this isn't the week to talk about food, thanks lee]

I-I appreciate it. But I'm ambidextrous, I should manage fine.

[cyan_maid]

[She's going to just do some hibachi-style baking shit for everyone one day so you can eat a cookie and not be paranoid that it's poisoned]

...Alright.

[She sighs, closes her eyes.]

I just. This is...I hate this. I really hate...picking up on things in these farces and finding they have relevance.

[Thomasin's fear. Soma's cone of shame. The paranoia of a mole.]

[burninglight]

...You did well, Jane. Someone had to say it if not you.

[cyan_maid]

...Right. Or...we'd be dead. And the people behind Mister Xander will win.

[And she wants them to lose.]

God, I wish we could find out what Mister Togami heard.

[burninglight]

So do I. We'll just...have to be careful.

[cyan_maid]

Obviously Mister Xander's not going to let us leave him "presents" anymore. But...I still don't understand, if...if the baby doll was still in his office, how did Mister Togami get it out to try hooking it up to the television?

[burninglight]

...Now that you mention it, I don't know.

[cyan_maid]

...

[Hold on she just. Needs a moment.]

Does this mean that no one in this goshdarned place knows how to lock their doors??

[burninglight]

That or Togami knew how to pick a lock. Xander isn't always in there, after all.

[cyan_maid]

...I suppose there were needles in his kiosk, if it's supposed to be like Claire's...

[Even so, that's still It's surprising, and the idea never even occurred to her.]