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

[mermaidkin]

[Hiyori is actually here! In person! In suit!!

He is eating an actual cupcake with a bright smile on his face like he's chewing glass.]

Did you know we never actually got to experience one of these events on the plane? So deliciously morbid!!

[cuteandinnocentpet]

Ah, yes, so I am aware. Such a waste of melon bread, too.

[carryabigstick]

[She wants to kick that ugly white thing that was responsible for not only Lala's, but Kurama's death too. But she doesn't really have the energy for it after that execution.]

...it's just me now. I let everyone else from my group die and...

[She's throwing a cupcake at high speeds, right for Kyuubey. It might not hit but. Maybe it will.

Either way won't make her feel better.

But she's gonna try to stick around.]

[mermaidkin]

What's really a waste is that Lala Hagoromo's adventure will be lost forever...

Oh, well. If they're meant to, they'll get their own clearance someday eventually.

[cuteandinnocentpet]

[It just sidesteps.]

Let is hardly the word I would use, Estelle Bright, especially since it usually predicates on the assumption that you were aware that something was going to happen, and were in a position to prevent it.

Last I checked, your power doesn't allow you precognition.

[otherworldlyking]

...Surprised you actually came.

[ But not by much. Just a little.

This was a very strange party and he only came here out of a small curiosity upon seeing the trail. ]

[unwittingking]

[He was tempted to go back to his house and be pathetic and sad again, since it seems like he can't go through a trial without hurting someone...but maybe he can make up for it, just a little bit.]

It's not your fault. You couldn't've seen it coming. Either of them.

[otherworldlyking]

[ He'll watch her toss the cupcake, and then at some point, speak up. ]

"Let"? Their actions were their own.

Not like you could've kept them from dying, seeing as they went out and about when it was dangerous.

[cuteandinnocentpet]

It really is a shame. Lala was quite open to the idea of contracting, as well.

On top of that, as much as I'm certain everyone will blame me for her wanting to wish, in truth, it was them speaking to her about me and what I do that ultimately caused her to ask me about it!

[carryabigstick]

[...great, now it's talking to her.]

I knew it could happen at any time... I knew what happened last time. And still...

[Why don't you just rub it in?]

If it did, this whole stupid thing wouldn't be happening!

[Probably. Maybe. She's just upset.]

[cuteandinnocentpet]

I wouldn't be so certain of that. After all, even foreknowledge of a specific future event doesn't guarantee that anything you might attempt to do to stop it will be a success.

If anything, your actions could result in a worse future than you wanted, without having accomplished what you originally meant to achieve.

[...It sounds oddly confident about that.]

[carryabigstick]

[She's glad he's not. It's good to see him-- even if everything's bad right now.]

...yeah, I know that. It just... really sucks that I let them both down this badly. Especially after all we went through to save Lala. But I couldn't protect her in the end.

[carryabigstick]

[She must have unlocked this friendship route pretty fiercely if she got him to bother cheering her up.

She's grateful, even if it still feels kinda weird.]

If that stupid cute white thing hadn't gotten involved...

[But she can't even really say that.]

...oh who knows. Maybe it would have been even worse if it didn't.

[carryabigstick]

......are you trying to cheer me up or kick me while I'm down? I can't tell even a little bit.

[The fuck is wrong with this thing?]

[relieable]

[Osomatsu is really shaken up. he wants to just skip this "party" entirely but. he's curious about the cupcakes. do they taste like sand? probably. but they look so good! he almost wants to try.

...almost. but he doesn't think he could handle another disappointment tonight.

so he just walks into the room, looks around, then grabs a drink and shuffles off to the nearest corner]

[mermaidkin]

If the existence of her desire to wish is wrong, that just proves more deeply how my leader is right, don't you think?

[The foil crumples a bit harder in his hand, and he has to lean down to poke away the stray icing.]

[cuteandinnocentpet]

I am merely attempting to point out that you have nothing to feel guilty about.

That, and using foreknowledge of a fixed event to try and change it will not only result in the fixed event happening, but also result in the event being worse. It's like trying to fix what isn't broken, only to break it more thoroughly.

We call it the Nutcracker's Law.

[mermaidkin]

A while ago... Vita Clotilde-Morris asked me if I was so happy that I wouldn't have any regrets if I died.

[He looks out into the crowd.]

We thought it was theoretically possible that not attending this event could be one of them.

[unwittingking]

You're right. It's the worst, seeing people you care about...go out like that. And you wish you could've done more, but you couldn't.

…you can't let it get too you too much, though. Otherwise you'll just be thinking about the 'what if's and 'if only's so much that you won't think about anything else.

[Sometimes...it's just better to not think about it too much.]

[carryabigstick]

...alright, I guess I get that but...

[She has a fundamental issue with your strange, intelligent babble. And that is--]

But why in the heck would you call it that? This has nothing to do with nuts?!

[Does Zemuria even have nutcrackers? It's a mystery.]

[cuteandinnocentpet]

Well, as you know, I have no opinion when it comes to your leader, even as I am aware of the hypocrisy of your guests.

That said, we have a preference towards wishes being granted, so of course desiring such is the most beneficial outcome we seek!

[otherworldlyking]

[ Just chill, Estelle and stop caring about a majority of things. It makes your life so much easier. ]

It's a waste of time to worry about it anyway.

[ If it's comfort it's not exactly intentional, or at least that's what he'd say. ]

[katzenpfote]

[Caleb ignores the party entirely, heading out of the building and towards his house. He doesn't talk to anyone on the way, doesn't respond to any calls. He heads into his house adn closes the door, leaning back against it and slumping down.]

[Frumpkin stands gingerly on his legs, and he sighs.]

I really blew it, ja? I told them and now they will hate me. ... I suppose that's fair.

[He knows that Fortinbras will follow Arthur, so he doesn't have to worry about the dog, which is good. He sits there for a few long minutes, just staring at Frumpkin, before pulling himself up.]

Come. We have a few people to visit.

[But after that? House number 10 is where people will find Caleb. Hopefully he'll hear the door if someone comes to see him.]

[otherworldlyking]

[ ...Oh?

That was interesting. ]

You wanted to see what it was like.

[ A statement, seeking confirmation.

Then he went to look at the desserts, though it was out of hardly any interest. What were the chances it tasted like sand as well? ]

[carryabigstick]

...yeah... if I focus on what's already happened too much, I'm never going to be able to move forward.

[And she has to. There are too many things she still needs to accomplish somehow and people she still wants to protect.]

But we can't let this cycle keep going. If it does, we're never going to get out of here...