Afterparty Buffet

[superstylishsquid]

[So, that trial sure happened, didn't it? And on nearly empty stomachs, no less. That's why people might catch Alastor headed for the kitchen as soon as they're out of the theater, obviously intent on making food. He's in there a while, actually, and the hallway outside of it smells strongly of some rather tasty food.

What he's up to will become clear when he goes around to tell people to visit the mess hall. There, he's set up a varied buffet on one of the tables, all of various foods easy to serve in small portions. This includes small slices of beef only very lightly seared on the outside, but also more fully cooked fare, and even a few fruit and vegetable dishes. Plus the requisite spread of alcohol, because it sure has been A Day, huh?

...Also, while Hermes obviously doesn't eat, he still gets the instructions to go to the mess hall. Huh.]

Comments

[autonomousthought]

[Oh... Her brow furrows. What would Sensei say, here? How would he approach this?]

Keeping up a confident and cheerful face is all well and good in the moment. It's not the kind of thing you can keep up indefinitely, though. Taking care of people is good, but you are also a person who needs care.

I know being helpless hurts. I hate it too. I...don't know how to help you or anyone else. But I want to keep trying to.

So...you don't have to be strong, for me.

[godspiousjasper]

[ Roland blinked a couple of times, much resembling a deer caught in headlights because gosh, how on earth had she managed to get right to the root of how he himself handled things like this? He practically wore his heart on his sleeve and a blinding smile most of the time, looking out for others but never really for himself.

He ran a hand through his hair, and surely at this distance Ritsu could entirely notice his posture isn't held as rigidly upright or strong anymore with one arm resting on the tabletop. As if he was supporting himself against the table with it. ]

It's... harder than it looks. Being strong for others. Remaining a pillar of strength for others to rely on... and some part of me almost feels awful that you get to see me like this.

[ Though it's telling that he is, infact letting his guard down with her. His fingers curled lightly against the table loosely and there's an odd darkness that flashed behind his eyes. ]

I'm used to having control, whether it was where I went or what I did. No vampire would escape Durandal's blade and I kept human lives safe, so seeing so many lives come to an end so easily? Simply put...? It's a failure that weighs on me at every moment.

[autonomousthought]

[Looking at Roland now...she remembers how Korosensei sounded, when he told them what became of Aguri Yukimura. She's quiet, thinking over his words. Trying to find something that will help. Support fire is her role, after all, isn't it?]

It takes strength to trust other people, too. Like right now. Letting yourself be weak...is one of the bravest things I can imagine.

[What would Korosensei say? What would Nagisa tell Roland?]

It isn't going to get easier - you're not that kind of person. But you can keep trying. That's what I do. ...We can be failures who keep trying together.

[godspiousjasper]

[ It's funny what a couple of simple, well-phrased words could do for a morale boost. Her words manage to bring back his smile and the light back to his features once again. ]

Yeah? I think that sounds nice.

[ Okay so he doesn't actually think she's a failure but... hey. Not going to say that. He even straightened up a bit and while not all of that darkness and weariness left? It was clear he was doing a bit better already. ]

Let's go as far as we can. I believe in us, Miss Ritsu.

[autonomousthought]

[There we go. Much better.]

I believe in us, too. There is still more we can do.

[As long as they work together, they aren't defeated yet.]