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]

[He's grateful to hear him speak and not sob. Even if it's coarse and rough, just hearing it come out without any tears gets a smile back on his face, even if its small. Baby steps exist for a reason, after all.

He has to rub at his eyes before any tears fall himself. He felt close to crying as well over the situation, and what he was thinking, what he was saying. He's not sure he wants to confront some of those thoughts again any time soon...]

Considering what IT put in our heads at the start of this thing? Maybe a little bit, yeah. Can't say I blame you too much for trying it at first, though.

[He's not sure if he would've been much different if it were Caleb instead.]

[comesaround]

[ The tears had thankfully already begun to slow enough that he could speak without his breath hitching into sobs, but weren't completely gone. Not yet. It was a step towards recovery, trying to get past this and build himself up stronger, piece by piece.

Even now, parted from the hug from before, maybe he doesn't look nearly as listless or even as sad as he had been, for what it was worth. ]

That... just seemed easier. Better than letting myself get close to other people again out of fear I'll just be hurt again, but... what you said was right. I'd rather live through this and make them pay for what they've done to the people I care about, instead of just... surviving it.

[ A soft, slightly ragged laugh sounded and Karma raised a hand to wipe away the tears, trying to attempt to slowly put himself a bit more together somewhat. ]

[unwittingking]

[He lets out a small, short laugh, the kind where one can feel that the speaker relates to something more than he might've let on before.]

I can’t fully blame you for that, either. I wasn’t sure I wanted to risk getting close to anyone here, either. I was afraid of what might happen if I got close to anyone here and they died.

But if I did that here, or if I’d done that on the train...I don’t think I would be here now. It probably would’ve been me executed instead of Beatrice, or Eliza. I might not’ve even made it that far; I might’ve gotten killed by The Conductor for trying to kill her.

[He lets out another laugh, though more awkward this time.]

I guess what I’m try to say with that is...friends can also help you keep a level head, when you need it.

[He might’ve gotten a bit too personal with that, but...sometimes, these things need to be shared.]

[comesaround]

[ Stilling as he finished wiping away any visible tears, Karma stopped to listen with a quiet, thoughtful look for a moment. Looking back up to King with a small, genuine smile that looked, for all intent and purposes to be rather heartfelt and understanding as well.

He didn't mind it when people decided to be honest and share things with him, and in a moment like this where he was emotionally vulnerable? It did kind of help when it happened; unintended or not. ]

Yeah. They can. That's... part of what made Akira and Kurama so important to me. They were my friends and I wouldn't be who I am today without them. For... all I know, I could have killed someone in my original game if I hadn't either of them to ground me, so I get it.

[ His voice hitched only once or twice as he spoke, the sadness flickering across his face briefly, but not enough to extinguish his smile. ]

So I guess I can consider you one of them, then. Someone who helped me get a level head back when I almost lost it completely and needed it most.

[ Yeah that sure was his way of saying you're someone he considers a friend, King. ]

[unwittingking]

[The genuine smile comes back to his face as he nods.]

Yeah, you can. And I’m glad I could help.

Do you...think you’re doing alright now?

[He seems like he is, but always good to check and see if people need more comforting.]

[comesaround]

[ He nodded without much of a second thought, his body language a lot more relaxed and at ease than it had been when King had first come to check on him. ]

Yeah. I'm doing a lot better now. Still have to sort a couple things out in my head but I'll be okay.

[ Mostly just sorting out some thoughts and figuring out what to do, mainly. Though he did pause and look at the palm of his hand, blinking a couple times out of slight surprise. ]

Huh. Didn't know that happened.

[unwittingking]

Good. Come to get me if you think you need to, okay? I'm always willing to help.

[He looks at Karma's hand and...right, that.]

Like with that. Do you want me to get some bandages? I still got the ones from the vending machine.

[comesaround]

I will, don't worry. [ Something occurred to him and a soft laugh sounded before he could stop himself. ] You know, if I grew up having a dad as caring as you, maybe I would have turned out a bit more well-adjusted.

[ Normal, too. Though he leaves that out. Oh well. He likes the way he is now, but that compliment's been said so he'll leave it at that. ]

Yeah. That'd be great. It's better than risking having them bleed everywhere.

[unwittingking]

[He gets off the bed and starts walking to the door at that, though his movements are a bit slow, like he's ready to go back to Karma if he needs him to.]

Okay, I'll go grab it from my house, but if you think you need to, you might want to grab some toilet paper to stop the bleeding a little bit.

[Don't need blood going everywhere, after all.

And he smiles a bit, though it's smaller and a bit more sad.]

Thanks. That means a lot, coming from you.

[It really does, as far as he's concerned. But the sad smile quickly goes to a genuine one, though also a little scheming.]

Do you wanna teach him a lesson when we get out of here? Or is he just not the best in the parenting department?

[comesaround]

[ Even now with just those actions alone, it's almost like King might think he'd need him back again in the next couple moments. Truly something that resembled the action of a parent caring for their child, and instead of annoying him? It actually had him chuckling a bit. ]

Don't worry. If I feel like it's bleeding too much in the meantime, i'll go make sure it's taken care of.

[ At least it seemed as if they were on the same wavelength for what it was worth, coming to an understanding with the meaning behind what he'd said. Infact, the smile he wore was even genuine now to match as well. ]

You're welcome. It's not something i've said to anyone before, either. So take that as you will.

[ Karma waved one hand dismissively, being careful of the one that was bleeding a bit more than the other. ]

Eh, it's pretty much the last one. My dad travels around a lot, and isn't usually home much so he kinda slacked in the parenting department a bit. Same with my mom.

[unwittingking]

What a shame. It could've been interesting, planning revenge on a dead-beat parent.

[Just a little bi of sarcasm, because hey, the idea is a bit fun to think about, even if he's not taking it too seriously.

And a healthy bit of sass never hurt anyone either, usually.]

I was thinking I would take it as a complement, if you didn't mind. Not sure how else I'd take it.

Alright, I'll be right back with the bandages then.

[And he goes out the door, heading to his own house. Karma shouldn't be alone for too long before he comes back.]

[comesaround]

Oh really? I mean, I wouldn't say no if you wanted to plan some kind of prank on him or something. I'd be game for that.

[ This is how much he appreciates that sarcasm. Unafraid to make suggestions like that regarding his own family members. ]

Good. Just figured I should toss that out there all the same.

[ He nodded, closing his eyes for a moment as he got up and stretched a little. All while being mindful of his hands. Honestly he didn't think he'd really messed up his hands that bad, but there had been a lot of emotions involved and it'd been too easy to dig his nails that deeply into his palms.

Either way by the time King comes back, he's sitting more upright on the couch while trying to keep his palms upturned as to not get any blood on anything here. ]

[unwittingking]

[He comes back quick enough. Maybe it’s because of he’s used to having to be quick, short legs and all, maybe it’s for some other reason. Doesn’t really matter much.

He’ll walk over and wait for Karma to offer his hands, or ask for the other way around. He’ll also talk on the way there.]

Do have one idea for a prank. If there’s something little that’s a constant in your life, maybe change something and make it the opposite, like dying your hair green and saying it’s always been that way. Something little, but big enough that they’d notice and it’d mess with their heads.

[He may be stealing an idea from The Office a little bit, but in his defense, it’s a good prank.]