AFTER TRIAL

[whiterosefoes]

[Well then. After that horrifying end to the trial, Harriet is in kind of a panic mode, and with nothing really to work down from it. She imagines everyone else is the same way. Krone had previously seemed like the meeting-holding-adult type, but that was obviously shot to hell now. As the murdergame veteran, should she step up? Even though it hardly feels that way, when nothing had been like this.

Eventually, she can be found reluctantly pasting up a notice on the back of some sheet music.]

Meeting in the parlour.

[She thought about writing, "for information gathering", or maybe, "for story telling", since they need to make some actual progress, or since Akko liked stories. In the end, though, she doesn't want to discourage any particular types, so she just leaves it at that and brings her bowl of weird fruits for those who would rather try their luck with these than horror foods that possibly come out of killer muppets.]

Comments

[whiterosefoes]

[At the meeting proper, Harriet will just gesture at the funky fruit bowl to anyone who looks like they're still hungry.]

Take one if you like. I already had one of the damned eggs.

[And then she crosses her arms, leaning back on the sofa.]

If anyone has a story to tell, or something they found... or whatever. Let's just, have a chat. I'm sure Akko won't want us to mope.

[She's not good at this! But she's trying.]

[inadequacyfeelings]

[Zelda took one of the strange fruits. Is this edible? Well it's worth a try...although she sure doesn't feel very hungry right now.

Having found nothing she wants to talk about, she mutters]

...I can't think of any happy stories right now.

[It's not easy to remember happy stories when your home was destroyed. Kind of makes many of them seem much more grim]

[whiterosefoes]

Ah... then... [Conversation topics, might as well keep it basic.] ...This fruit, I'm not sure what it's called, but I tried the puffy bit. Tastes like nuts. You might want to save it for later when you're feeling more hungry. And you probably shouldn't eat the seed. I think.

[She doesn't know for a fact but there's a lot of fruit seeds that are poisonous.]

[inadequacyfeelings]

At this point anything would be better than the sunflower seeds. [She manages to smile a bit] It's quite generous of you to share all these with the rest of us.

[notadinosnack]

If no one else has something, I obtained a book from home with a story about knights that I could read for us.

Either that or we could share a bit more about ourselves or our homes. I definitely noticed today that we barely know each other and definitely don't understand each other's situations back home or even what our homes are like.

[necroyalty]

Is it... just about knights?

[She seems slightly uncomfortable with this.]

[notadinosnack]

Just the traditional sort of story about some knights saving their princess from a dragon. If it's not your sort of thing I can share some things from memory. I've traveled a lot and know much about the legends of various lands.

[whiterosefoes]

[very slight wince about knights, but no, it's fine, she's sure they're fine knights and all. Getting to know everyone sounds marginally better though.]

Ah, I could definitely try. It's been a couple years since I've been home, though...

[necroyalty]

[So. Ambrosine takes one of each of the eggs, places them in front of her, and does not eat.

Instead, she looks at one pointedly - a cyan one - and:]

Can you hear me?

[strangerpeople]

[No response.]

[necroyalty]

[Okay, let's try poking the egg.]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus has brought a plate of cheese and crackers to said meeting. He's managed to clean up a little and no longer looks as shell-shocked.]

So...they have that under their command. [It sure is disturbing to think about. And that's one more opponent they'll have to confront.]

[whiterosefoes]

I've fought bigger.

[This is just. What she has to tell herself.]

[silvertongueheir]

...were you able to get any idea of its weaknesses? [Look. He's not going to discount the idea that even if they take down the stewards they'll have to fight the Bone Beast.]

[icanhearscreams]

[ He'd run as fast as he could out of the room, clutching one of the eggs to his chest. He can feel everything trying to burst, until tears start to prick at the corners of his eyes. ]

[ Akko... ]

[ His chest burns in pain, especially near the wounds, but he keeps going until he runs into the arena, hiding in the corner so he's not visible from the door. He drops to the ground and starts sobbing, pulling his knees up to his chest. ]

[whiterosefoes]

[The second floor is where she was leaving the sign, since people have to pass this way to get to the parlor, and she had to get her weirdo pears. She figures it will take a bit for people to show up...

She did notice Jun running out of the room, but she wasn't trying to look for him. Still, it's not too hard to hear the sound of sobs in a manor like this. She'll at least poke her head into the room.]

Hullo....? Jun, is that you?

[She kinda expects him to tell her to go away but. An attempt is made. It's not like she sees anyone else around here just yet. Who could sleep after watching that.]

[icanhearscreams]

[ He's hiding behind the bouncy castle a bit, but his shoes are sticking out. The sobs suddenly stop and there's silence other than a faint sniffling. ]

[ Clearly if he's hidden he's fine, there's no one here. This is the best plan. ]

[relieable]

[Osomatsu does not want to attend this meeting. he feels like a fool, a fool that swore up and down that he would avenge Akko. not only is he humiliated, but he's also very nervous about the whole food ordeal. just what are those egg-thingies? why was Felicity so worried about them? why did she leave behind one of them when she was executed?

didn't he think the group should have more meetings, so they wouldn't be as divided? he talked to Franciscus about that. meetings are great way to bond, and share information. they could be stronger if they worked together...!

however, there are certain faces he couldn't look in the eyes right now. hell, he probably wouldn't be able to look at anyone. Osomatsu's not a crier, but he feels on the verge of bursting into tears. they probably all hate him for his mistake. how could he face them?

he's off in the garden alone, sitting near to where Akko was found, his eyes glassy, legs drawn up to his chest. he just wishes he could go back and do things right, he wishes he could be better]

[silvertongueheir]

[After bringing more food to the meeting, Franciscus notices that Osomatsu hasn't come. He excuses himself to go search, and eventually finds him in the garden.

Hydrangea has shown up as well, and slowly approaches to nuzzle his head against Osomatsu's knee. After a while, Franciscus approaches as well.]

...Osomatsu. [He bends down, putting an arm around his shoulder.] Don't take their insults so seriously. The discrepancy was what caused her to reveal herself, after all.

[relieable]

[leave it to Franciscus to know what's bothering him. out of all the people here, Osomatsu feels like he can cry around him. he doesn't, though. not yet. he's going to try his hardest not to]

If she hadn't said anything... She would've gotten away with it. [his voice sounds strangely hollow, lifeless. he does reach down and run his fingers over Hydrangea's fur, though]

[inadequacyfeelings]

...are you blaming yourself?

[Boy does she recognize the look of someone who feels responsible for a failure. But still, making any bold claims is wrong. That's why she asks]

[relieable]

[he flinches a bit when she speaks, not having heard her approach. ah, this nice lady who gave him seeds. Osomatsu scrubs at his eyes then turns to look at her, grinning sadly]

I-I just needed some fresh air, yanno?

[that's not an answer]

[notadinosnack]

[Thanatos shows up to the meeting with a pot of hot coffee. Since there isn't any cream or sugar to be found it's black and quite strong. This time he made enough that any of the adults who want some can take a cup, though if Krone shows, he won't offer her one.]

Here, I think we could all use something like this to drink.

[whiterosefoes]

[they're already talking but Harriet is definitely taking some of this]

Cheers!

[it isn't tea but it's caffeine, she'll live]

[notadinosnack]

[He'll take his own and raise it like a toast.]

To still being alive another day.