sorry for your loss

[cuteandinnocentpet]

[When people are returned to the main floor, they will find a trail of cupcakes from the elevator to the dining room. There is a table of drinks, pills, and cupcakes and cakes from the automat.

And on the table, in the center, is this asshole, with a party horn in its mouth. Despite that, it talks into everyone's mind.]

As you strangers tend to have a tradition of parties after an execution, I took the liberty. The plates and cups are over there.

[. . .

be merry I guess]

Comments

[unwittingking]

[That sure is a bar to clear, but more importantly-]

He told you about Towa?

[At least that's who he's thinking about now.]

[carryabigstick]

[!!!]

You know this person?

[The truth comes out.]

What are they like?

[unwittingking]

[Well, at least she's not upset like others when he talks about people?? He'll take it.]

Oh, yeah. She was one of the people on the train with us. Got off it alive.

She's great. She's really nice, and probably one of the sweetest people you could meet. Not to mention...she can keep her cool in a bad situation.

[He's fiddling with the ring around one of his fingers as he says that, somewhat unconscious of the action.]

[carryabigstick]

[...okay what the heck, I mean. She found it hard to imagine him with anyone at all but-- well. Maybe opposites do attract sometimes.]

Wow. I mean... I guess she must be someone pretty incredible if she got through to a guy like McBurn.

[She notices him fiddling with the ring though and tilts her head.]

...huh. That's a really nice ring. Is that a wedding ring?

[Since we're talking about special people, that's the first thing that comes to mind.]

[unwittingking]

Yeah. Either that, or he's not too bad.

[He thinks it's the latter, but Estelle has her own opinions, and they're not hurting anyone at the moment.

He's a little surprised, if only at the guess being so spot on.]

Hit the nail on the head, yeah. Got it after me and Bailey got married.

[carryabigstick]

Yeah, I'm starting to think I might have been a little too hard on him.

[She's learning he has a weird cute side and it's throwing her for a loop.]

Awww, that's sweet. I was wondering, since you started fiddling with it when you were talking about those two. You must miss Bailey a lot.

[Estelle gets it-- and her relationship isn't even close to as concrete as marriage.]

[unwittingking]

He is a bit rough on the surface, so I don't blame you too much.

[They're own relationship is more casual than anything, almost like someone else he can think of...but won't right now.

At the talk of missing Bailey, his ears droop, and his eyes go to the ground.]

Yeah. Miss her and the pups. Even I got to see her before getting taken, I don't think it was even half an hour...

[carryabigstick]

I have a companion back home that's a little like that too just... in a very different way, so... I get it.

[Very different but. Same principle. It's not always what you see on the outside.]

Oh no... that's way too short... I'm really sorry.

[unwittingking]

Yeah, seems like everyone does.

[He wonders for a second about someone back home, before shaking his head a bit.]

I appreciate it, but hey, that's not exactly your fault, is it? The only people to blame here are the people behind all of this.

[Giving a vague gesture to their surroundings, though it's a bit more subdued than his usual ones.]

Plus, I at least got to make sure they were still alive. I knew what The Empress said, but...always something to worry about, when they're used against you.

[carryabigstick]

I guess you're right. I do kinda wish I'd gotten to find Joshua before this all started, but... There's no better motivation to survive than wanting to get back to your loved ones.

Both of us are going to get back to them somehow. We'll just have to work even harder to make sure we get there!

[unwittingking]

You got that right. About the best motivation you can get.

And we will get back to them. You'll get to Joshua, and I'll get to Bailey. After all...

[He looks down at the bandana around his neck.]

Still need to get this back to her.

[carryabigstick]

Yeah!! Definitely!

[She does feel a little more pumped up after that.]

...Aww, is that her's?

[She kind of wishes she still had the harmonica like before. It would be nice to have that kind of comforting item with her.]

[unwittingking]

[He looks back to Estelle with a small, more sheepish smile.]

Yeah, usually she’s the one wearing it. We decided to trade things until I got back. Promise to give it back to the other and all that.

Probably silly, but it...kinda puts things in mind that you might not think about sometimes, you know?

[carryabigstick]

...no, I think that was a great idea. I'm glad you have it.

[It is it's own motivator in a way.]

There's something I was holding onto for Joshua too, so I know how important they can be.

[unwittingking]

…same here.

[It's always good to have something to remember someone by, even if you're just away from them for a while.

That comment gets him to frown a little bit, though.]

Was? What happened to it?

[carryabigstick]

Well, I had it when we were kidnapped last time. At the house. They told us we needed to keep it close to us.

[Unfortunately, new rules.]

...But when I got taken this time, it was gone.

[unwittingking]

I...know that feeling, at least a little bit. On the first train, the Vespertine, one item of ours was hidden somewhere on the train. Mine was my wedding ring, and I managed to get it back...then we ended up on the Eventide, and it took until the fourth week to get it back.

You might have luck if you use the vending machine, or talk with people that did. Someone might've gotten it by now.

[carryabigstick]

Oh wow... well then... maybe there's a chance I can get it back still.

[She definitely doesn't want to leave without it if it's here.]

That harmonica is pretty important so-- I'll have to keep my eyes peeled.

[unwittingking]

Yeah, there probably is.

[…in fact...did she just say harmonica?]

Okay, quick question, what did the harmonica look like? Was it...made of gold, by any chance?

[He wasn't fully paying attention to it, but maybe...maybe that's the right one?]

[carryabigstick]

[Estelle blinks.]

...huh? Yeah, as a matter of fact, it is gold.

[...]

W-wait, have you seen it?!

[unwittingking]

Not recently...I think Osomatsu might have it? At the very least it was some rectangle made of gold. I saw it when we were messing around with a basketball.

…please tell me I don't have to explain basketball.

[carryabigstick]

Oh!

[That does make her eyes light up, to be sure.]

I'll have to ask him then.

[...nope, she's got this.]

It's a game right? I remember it kinda from one of the movies we watched back in the first house we were taken to.

[unwittingking]

Yeah, probably a good idea to at least check, anyway.

And you're right. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that someone got their hands on a sports movie.

[…now he's wondering what Air Bud in this world is like.]