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

[backuphero]

"Makes no diff'rence who you are", huh?

[It's a pity he can't really remember much of that song. If he could then maybe he'd be able to annoy Hiyori back to independence, like a less violent version of knocking Stella loose from Brauner's control, back in the Castle, back when his life still made sense. That gaze - such as it is, minus pupils - feels about the same as the blade of her sword had.]

Is there anything left that you wish for? Or is It everything and then some?

[He sounds wistful. Maybe it's tipping his hand, but he can't keep up a façade, he's too tired.]

[mermaidkin]

...you're trying once again to make us talk about Ikuya Kirishima, aren't you?

[Hiyori sighs as he says that and stares up into a corner of the ceiling.]

It won't work. Not with such wishy-washy reasoning.

[Haha, get it? Maybe the music is familiar if he has both taste and puns to bite back at it with. Hiyori shakes his head with the thin smile.]

Oh, Jonathan Morris, if only there were words in the dictionary to convey how rich and rewarding this organization has been for me. Is it so different for you, being accepted by your precious church?

[backuphero]

[Jonathan smiles back, just for a moment, more than a little bit sadly. He knows a pun when one's tossed at him that gently - knows the little bit of singing he did was recognized, maybe appreciated.

And he doesn't know how to feel about litERALLY EVERYTHING right now.]

I don't even know anymore if I'm accepted or just considered a good weapon. Put up with, maybe. Same as the Belmonts...

I wasn't trying to force you into anything. Just wanted to know if you still have things like wishes, 'sall.

[mermaidkin]

Or [same as] Crow Armbrust? [His eyelashes bat over his empty eyes. There is not a bad thought in his entire head! He's just thinking so hard and guilelessly! Finally the "wish" comes to him.]

...I'll tell you what I want. I want to get this promotion already and move out into the suburbs. Settle down like the rest of you have been much more cordially invited to do. And maybe once in a while I'd come into town for a business trip, or you'd be in my neck of the woods for a business trip, and we could play golf. It's not like you're probably imagining, with the fame and glory and athletic achievement, but it is golf. Really, almost any number of people can play, with any amount of experience, that's the nice part. And not worry about drowning or anything. We probably still can't even afford the fancy courses with a lake.

For now, I've got to go back to the two-bedroom apartment I actually have! Link's probably done using the shower, after all. You know how it is.

[backuphero]

I -

[He freezes. He cuts himself off and pauses. The idea of a world like this still having country clubs with fancier golf courses depending on expense is so pedestrian, so ordinary, that it drives thoughts of Crow and what he was driven to do right out of Jonathan's head.

He has so many questions, but he knows better than to start asking now. The ones he couldn't ask might stay unanswered, but... he nods, and even manages a crooked smile.]

Yeah, I know how that is, all right. Got spoiled for a while there, two people in a house with two and a half bathrooms, but with how I keep bringin' home strays...

[His smile twists, becoming something brittle - but only for a moment.]

Good night, Hiyori. Take care.