Case 1 Afterparty

[exequte]

[That had been a lot. That trial had been a lot. But while Akane half feels like she's dreaming, or like she's waking from a nightmare, and though her head hurts from crying, she had made a promise. A part of her takes refuge in that, as though it were a life ring tossed to a drowning man.

Consequently she has retraced her steps, returned to the kitchen that she'd gone to this morning, and is making soup.

Everyone else who is trapped on this ship are free to disseminate as they will, to pursue their own interests or to grieve, but soon enough after anyone who comes into the dining hall or kitchen (and especially you, Hubert, she is finding you and dragging you in if you will not willingly submit) is going to be offered a bowl of soup.

Everybody feel free to join in on the soup party or else set up your own scenarios, I'm not your mom.]

Comments

[exequte]

Yes. I... I don't think I could eat anything.... if it wasn't....

[Her voice trails off and for a moment she just looks very, very tired.]

It wasn't supposed to happen like this.

[yesorwoof]

But this is exactly what was supposed to happen.

[Makima chops up some more potatoes for the curry. The sound is soft.]

Zero warned us. Our hearts aren't the only thing we need to fix to protect ourselves. These powers, too, are a threat.

[exequte]

Then....

Then we'll have to learn to use them. You've been better about that than me. I've.... I've been slacking off.

Or is it better if we don't use them? Would that be safer?

[The conversation is full of small sounds, the soft noises of chopping and peeling and thick liquid bubbling, the sound of the water in the rice cooker gradually boiling away.]

We need to find a way so that people stop dying.

[yesorwoof]

Hmmm.

[Makima thinks and decides to use her telekinesis to stir the soup. This is slow in fits and starts because such a fine object is harder.]

Anya-chan didn't know the full extent of her power. On the one hand, it'd be better if we never felt the negativity in our hearts that Anya-chan did in that terrible moment. But on the other hand, I do think we should know at least a little about our powers. If we have no idea what the appearance is, it'll be harder to answer questions about what's happened.

[If a trial like this happens again.]

[exequte]

That's... that's true.

[She considers this for a moment before taking a shaking breath and then nodding, firmly.]

All right. Then... then starting tomorrow I'll do my best to discover what I can do.

[yesorwoof]

[Makima smiles. The spoon becomes steadier in its movements.]

I think that's a good idea. Though we'll have to think of a good place to practice. The incinerator is an open space I've been using, but its heat would be a bad match for your power, wouldn't it?