now the world is only white noise, frequencies that I can't understand

[helladoptera]

[ Well, that was some shit! Uh. To avoid pulling a Junpei and retreating somewhere, Max instead gathers up a couple people to help and goes to the first floor restaurant to set up some food, because fuck asking everyone to use the elevators. After getting some batter mixed, she writes up some notes! ]

Hey. Food in the first floor restaurant, if you're hungry.
Breakfast and burgers! :)

- Max, Pyrrha, Arianna

[ True to her word, there's a steady stream of waffles, pancakes, and some burgers coming out of the kitchen, as well as a bunch of (non-alcoholic) drinks on a table with a sign that says "BYOB if you want booze." ]

Comments

[daughterofthemark]

[It's okay... but it isn't. It isn't okay for them to have been pushed to the breaking point. It isn't okay that Arianna feels so alone, that those who call her family keep dying and leaving her behind. It isn't okay for her to be worried that she's somehow dooming Jane with this moment of weakness.]

I... I need...

[She doesn't know what she needs.

She knows who she needs, but that isn't possible.]

[cyan_maid]

[Doom with leaning on others, doom with sending (or intending to send) sabotages...the incredible amount of doom these two can generate is ridiculous.]

D-Don't...just...don't worry about it f-for now, okay?

[daughterofthemark]

[Maybe they can just doom each other and then everyone else can live.]

I... I cannot. It's all I can think of.

[cyan_maid]

...Arianna...

[She can't say she doesn't know what that's like. But at the same time, how can she help? What can Jane do? She's not...she isn't good enough to really make a difference or be listened to. She can never get the opportunity to change, after all. But she can keep hugging you. That may be all she really can do.]

[daughterofthemark]

[It's certainly all Arianna can do, at least. Electromagnets, transformers, binary... she barely understands electricity. What can she contribute, really?]

Jane... thank you.

[For trying, at least.]

[cyan_maid]

...Don't worry about it. I'm...the door will always be open, at least until curfew here. Alright? So if you need anything...

[Knock, and she'll answer.]

[daughterofthemark]

I... I'd not wish to impose upon you. You have your... [Project that's infinitely more likely to get them out if here than anything she could do.] ...work.

[cyan_maid]

I-It's not imposing if I'm saying it's okay, you know...and besides, d-do you really think...we ought to leave each other alone like this?

[daughterofthemark]

I don't wish to leave you alone, but... that is not entirely for your benefit.

[cyan_maid]

...So what?

[Hey now, don't think she's dumb and can't tell someone needs time with a person. She's been there, Arianna. She knows.]

That's...part of supporting a person, right? Being there for them when they need you.

[daughterofthemark]

Yes, of course.

[You're a good, Jane.]

...Jane?

[cyan_maid]

[So are you, Arianna.]

Yes?

[daughterofthemark]

Please stay alive.

[Don't be the next person to leave her behind.]

[cyan_maid]

Arianna, none of us can promise...

[She can't say she didn't want others to promise it to her before. She can't say she still didn't want that. But-]

...I can try. I can try very, very hard. And...I can hope that will be enough.

[daughterofthemark]

I know. I know, but--

[She's desperate for any little bit of hope to cling to.]

[cyan_maid]

I swear to you that I will try.

[It's all she knows she can do.]

[daughterofthemark]

That is all I can ask. Thank you.

[Have an extra squeeze, now.]

[cyan_maid]

[Hugs hugs hugs, for as long as they need them.]

...I wish I could promise you more. I really do.

[daughterofthemark]

I know. I... I also can promise you no more than that.

[cyan_maid]

...That's okay. So long as I know you'll try, I...so long as we all try, then I can...I can keep going.