We're Still Here, We Still Have Each Other

[induality]

[It takes Fukawa some time to pull herself together but when she does-- she moves with a purpose. Everyone will find a note in practiced writing:]

Though all we've be through today was awful, and you might not want to face it-- you're not facing it alone. There will be food and drink in the VIP Lounge. And company. Whatever your feelings are now, it's okay. I won't tell you want to think or how to feel. But you don't have to carry it alone.

- Touko Lucis Caelum

[True to her word, she worked hard to make snacks and light warm foods for everyone as well as drinks-- alcoholic and otherwise. Everyone is welcome. She even stops by the information desk to extend an invitation to SIS.]

Comments

[induality]

[Fukawa is here. She's bouncing around-- trying to check on everyone. When she's not, when she stops... her hand goes to her necklace and she fidgets with it anxiously.

Later when she feels like everything's as good as it probably can be she takes up a space at the bar and actually has some drinks.

...no dad to stop her from overindulging this time.]

[daughterofthemark]

[No, but there's an Arianna to stop her!

...or... just sit next to her and pour a glass of wine, I guess that works too.]

[induality]

[Oh hey. Wine refill. That's... great.]

Thanks. [...] ...for... a lot of things, actually.

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Hey daughter. Time for a hug. This is a big mama bear hug.]

[induality]

[She's really glad he's here. Nothing heals the hurt better than a mama bear hug.]

[kingshaming]

[Xander doesn't go to the party at first. How can he, after that? He had rolled the dice, and... well, Fire Emblems and bad rng go hand in hand honestly, what do you expect.

Instead he goes as far away from the party as he can. All the way up to the third floor- and into the Exercise Yard. He can see the stars here, closest to the many eyes of the gods.

He looks up at them and screams.

Once he empties out his lungs and heart he finally goes back to the VIP Lounge and sits with the others, resisting the urge to drink- he's sure people will have questions, but he saves answering any of those until he can meet up with Church. But if anyone wants to scream at him for what happened, he is.... here]

VIP Lounge

[cyan_maid]

[When Xander comes in, he finds that Jane sticks right by him, cradling her hands to her chest.]

...We fucked up.

[kingshaming]

It was... ill luck. When Church is ready, we will explain in more detail but... that cube is meant to warp someone to one other place in the station. I've used it before.

Yet somehow, she went right where I wanted her least. It's like the gods are laughing at me.

VIP lounge

[ratherdoweddings]

Xander-san, I... I'm so sorry.

[Yurika sinks into a couch with a sigh.]

I really thought we could do something. I know she could be awful, but...

VIP Lounge

[induality]

[Fukawa wasn't sure he'd come. But-- she's glad when he does. She doesn't want to pull herself away from what she's doing but she wanted to talk to him even if it was just for a little bit.]

I don't-- I don't know what you did in there... but... thank you for trying.

[kingshaming]

I failed... I'm so sorry.

exercise yard

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Hey fellow parent. He knows Xander's not gonna go first thing, and he doesn't blame him one bit. He feels like...after everything that happened, he's gotta talk to Xander first. That they have to talk.

But he'll let uh. Xander. Do his thing. Just don't mind Church in the doorway.]

[kingshaming]

[Once he's done he turns slightly. His face is an unattractive splotchy red, and his breath heavy]

... godsdamn it.

[daughterofthemark]

[Arianna gets all the way up to the convenience store, then back down to the VIP lounge with an armful of prepackaged snacks, before she remembers they don't need them. She unceremoniously dumps them on the bar anyway with a sigh.

She feels like shit, but after having looked at everyone else, it seems like she might actually feel the least like shit out of everyone, and that position comes with responsibilities. So she makes her usual rounds at the party, checking on everyone.]

[ratherdoweddings]

Thank you, Arianna-chan.

[Yurika takes a pack of cookies from Arianna's pile and smiles weakly.]

You're always thinking of us.

[daughterofthemark]

...not you, this time.

[Nari's the one who never trusted other people's food.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Yoink, taking some space ho-hos.] Hey.

...I'm sorry how things turned out.

[cyan_maid]

[As much as Jane would rather lock herself in her room...she shows up to the VIP Lounge. But she doesn't do much other than sit in a corner, keeping her hands close to her, and looking down at them.

They couldn't save her. She couldn't even choose to abstain. Nari took it away from her so she and all the others could live.

And it kills her inside.]

[daughterofthemark]

[Arianna wordlessly sits next to her and hugs her.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Here's Church coming up to rub her back.]

Want me to get you something from the infirmary? Painkillers, or something to like splint your fingers with or something, J?

[tokencanadian]

[Pyrrha manages to carry herself out of the elevator, and all the way back to Room one. She sits on her bed in there, staring blankly down at the necklace in her hands, lightly running her thumb over the heart that hung from it.

This was it. They'd been through so much... seen far too much for any of them to deserve. She couldn't bear to watch as Nari died, but she heard every second of it.

Basically she feels awful. And that's where she's staying until partways through the evening, where she picks herself up and makes the journey over to the VIP lounge, but not before making a quick stop at the room formerly belonging to Nari and Noctis. She walks in with the necklace hanging nicely around her neck... and a pigeon nestled snuggly in her arms.

She doesn't go to sit with anyone in particular, just goes to the bar, takes a seat and sets Kipsie down on the counter in front of her. He contents himself with cleaning his feathers while his new owner quietly sips a water. She's... here, at least.]

[induality]

[Fukawa isn't pure enough for your water. She's in fermented grapeland, but she is here with you.

She hops down off her stool and slides down to the one right next to Pyrrha.]

...I'm glad you came.

[daughterofthemark]

[Hopefully she wasn't hoping to avoid everyone else once she gets to the VIP lounge, because here's a princess. And another pigeon.

She's quiet.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

...Hey, Kippie-bird. Hey, Wonder Woman. You need a drink?

[ratherdoweddings]

[Yurika doesn't say anything formal this time. She just sits at the bar and fidgets with the key and the hardlight projector around her neck.]

We need something.