now that you are not around, my world fades to a dull, lifeless grey

[ratherdoweddings]

[Rukia will come around to everyone's rooms later, with bunny-laden notes inviting them up to the diner. When they arrive, they'll find that one of the tables in the back has been covered over with a length of fabric from the sewing room and is serving as a makeshift altar, with rosemary and, for some reason, a bottle of whiskey sitting on it alongside cutesy drawings of all the dead thus far. (Just like last time, Seth gets a spiteful no symbol across his face.)

Yurika's there too, and she speaks first:]

Thank you. I... I'm sorry for suspecting some of you a little. I was worried no matter what happened, and I knew it would be hard, but you were all innocent. If anybody wants to talk, we can.

Comments

[kingshaming]

One in yours, one in Margulis', one in mine. What a strange small universe we live in, then.

[he takes a other swig]

He said... gods... he said that I would find this place comforting. More like being on real land again. He was right.

...damn it.

[ah, there comes the slightly more disjointed thoughts if a drunken man. Even the prince is not immune]

[theoverseers]

The universe is funny like that. [It seems like there's more he'd like to add to that thought but instead he purses his lips and lowers his gaze from the room around them to the ground. He's quiet for a long moment, his loosely clasped hands flexing and digging into his knuckles deep enough to make them crack a little.

Please don't mind him picking up the shitty vodka bottle and taking a grimacing swig.]

[kingshaming]

[He clasps Jamie on the shoulder, much more physically companionable then he would be sober]

Ha... I fear Bolton will be cross with me for sending you back with... with liquor on your breath.

[he sighs, looking up at the fake ceiling]

Tell me, Jamie... is there a point to this? I have not seen such slaughter of people that claimed kinship to each other since I was a teenager. I can no...

...I can not bare it again.

[theoverseers]

[Jamie jumps a little in surprise at the contact but doesn't flinch away. He actually laughs a little.]

If he tries, send him to me. I'm a big boy who knows his limits.

[The momentarily pleasant mood passes quickly and he bring the bottle close to his lips again but doesn't take another drink yet. He looks like he's mulling over something, considering what he can and can't say.

He almost wishes he could be surprised by how much death Xander saw as a child but the extended profiles they have tell stories no one should have to experience.]

...All I can tell you is it's all part of the experiment and if I can stop being a complete failure as my job it'll be over soon.

[He takes a long drink.]

[kingshaming]

Over soon... I am no mage or man of higher learning. But I do know this- an experiment has to have something it's trying to prove.

Though I suppose the rats don't need to know why they have to run for the cheese, eh?

[He barks in bitter laughter, a little too loudly]

[theoverseers]

[Jamie shoots him with a rueful smile, unfazed by Xander's laughter.] Mmhn. [He starts to take another drink, muttering something into the bottle. Xander might catch the words "let you know" and "find out".]

...Do you mind if I switch up the room a little if we're going to sit in here and be bitter drunks for a while longer?

[kingshaming]

[He suspected that the Overseers were in the dark with a lot of things too- but he's too gone to try and chase the words. Instead he waves a hand casually]

If you wish. I worry Margulis will be mad at me if I get any drunker in his memories.

[theoverseers]

[He sets down the bottle (just out of Xander's immediate reach) and gets back to his feet, heading for the holodeck controls. After a moment of fiddling the controls the current scene shifts and melts and rebuilds into a waterside park. The hardwood floor vanishes and is quickly replaced with lush green grass, birds tweet above head and lined along a stone path are pale pink cherry blossom trees. Off in the distance there's a massive fountain, shooting up water from several angles.

Once that's done Jamie is back, plopping down heavily in the hard light grass.]

I've never actually been drinking in this park before. Might as well give it a try now.

[kingshaming]

[Xander's eyes are huge, and with that and his intoxication he looks much more like a young man in his 20s instead of a unhappy older man]

This... is lovely.

[theoverseers]

It's my favorite place back home. [Jamie casts a sidelong glance at Xander.] No poison purple people-eating trees though, sorry.

[kingshaming]

So this is your realm... I suppose I will survive with this much green, somehow.