weekend mingle featuring 5 pm brunch because time is meaningless now

[pr159]

[ There probably isn't a single person among them who isn't exhausted after that trial, so it's no surprise that, like last week, there's no party when it's over. Maybe some stay out and mill about the city, while others finally take the chance to get some well-deserved sleep.

Personally, Rideaux is absolutely going to bed now, because it's fucking 10 am or something, and that was a lot.

But when he wakes up again in what is nominally the afternoon, once he's taken a shower and no longer looks like a haggard mess, he's actually going to hole up in the kitchen at the clergy housing and make some pancakes. Just pancakes and nothing else, because this mix is "just add water!" and that's the extent of his cooking skills the most effort he's going to put into anything. Some of them may be slightly burned and oddly shaped, but they're free, so shut it.

There's also some coffee and some (cheap, not his good stuff) whiskey, so if you want to make a half-assed Irish coffee, he's not stopping you.

Is this supposed to be a distraction? Is this actually all just to celebrate the fact that Cumore briefly thought he was going to die and that was delicious to watch? Maybe, but no one has to know that. ]

Comments

[bawcock]

You might not feel that way in the morning.

[moonfang]

Who cares. [he plops into one of the beanbags and takes another drink]

[bawcock]

You might. [ Watching Zangetsu but gonna keep standing for now. ]

[moonfang]

Well, then, that's a problem for tomorrow's me, innit.

[bawcock]

Even if you put it like that, tomorrow's "you" is still you. And there are better ways to spend the day, friend.

[ But if Zangetsu is set on this, there's not a lot he can or wants to say to stop him. When it comes to this stuff, the most anyone can do is nudge someone in another direction.

He pauses for a second and steps closer. ]

[moonfang]

Hahaha. The "day". [it's funny because they haven't seen the sun in over a month.

But when Erik takes a step closer, the bottle of vodka suddenly frosts over]

Only take another step closer if you wanna be a popsicle, friend.

[bawcock]

[ He's... not very impressed. He assumes Zangetsu means it, of course, and has enough sense to know not to push when he's being threatened.

Still, he sighs. ]

Listen, I know you're not exactly in your right mind right now. I'll let this go, but I'm going to get you some water and a couple of other supplies. That way come morning, you'll have what you need if you decide to take this too far.

[moonfang]

Tch... I'm more in my right mind than I have been for weeks. I know not to trust any of you now. I know I'm going to die here and that my soul will be consumed by this darkness. [he takes a sip of his now supercooled vodka] Maybe the fragments that will be left will find their way home. Maybe there's enough lefta me in Ichigo so he can....... [he's mostly talking to himself, but after he trails off he does address Erik] Do what you want, I guess. But I don't need you to be my mother.

[bawcock]

You're as far from your right mind as we are from home. [ He glances away before running a hand through his hair. ]

Listen, I don't know how I'm supposed to help you here. I only caught about half of that, and even less than that made sense to me.

[moonfang]

You don't know me. You don't know anything about me. You're just some human, which means you'll lie and stab me in the back the minute you don't think you need me anymore, or the when you think it'll give you an edge. [would he be saying all this if he wasn't a little drunk?? mystery] I thought I was lonely at home. I've never been more alone.

[bawcock]

What the heck's with you guys? Always saying whatever you want about humans and expecting us to sit back and idly nod our heads. [ Mostly to himself. After going through this once before, he's not keen on doing it again. But. Here he is.

He sighs quietly and decides to just go for it. He steps closer and crouches down in front of Zangetsu. ]

I know getting to know humans isn't a picnic—and trust me, you don't have to tell me how bad some of them can be. But... for every dirty, stinkin', rotten low-life out there, there are at least one or two genuinely kind people. People who will stand by you no matter what, or who being around makes you feel like everything you do is worthwhile.

Those are the kinds of people who will make you feel less alone.

[moonfang]

[Zangetsu is just sort of staring dead eyed at the floor]

And there's none of those kinda people here. These are the only people I've ever known for myself, and the people I get to die with. My Master is one of the good ones. He'd give a stranger in need the shirt off his back. ... sometimes it pisses me off. [rambling rambling rambling] ... I can't believe I'm never going to see him again.

[bawcock]

Not a single one, huh? You've got a funny way of seeing the world, Zangetsu.

[ There's a solemn expression on his face as he thinks. Then, he rubs the back of his neck and gets back to his feet, turning his back to Zangetsu. ] Not that it really matters. The bottom line is, you'd rather be with your Master than die with a couple of crooks, villains, and whatever else we've got here, right?

In that case, there's only one thing for you to do. You've gotta survive—and to do that, we all need to put our heads together and find a way to best the Lady.

[moonfang]

What I want doesn't matter, because that's what's going to happen. You really think this motley crew can figure this shit out in a week? We still have no idea what the Bitch's plan is, what she really wants, who she is, where she comes from... nothing. We barely know more than when we got here. It's not going to happen, Erik. What you're looking for is a miracle and we don't have the raw ingredients for one. All we got is despair.

[bawcock]

You don't honestly believe any of that, do you?

[moonfang]

Do you think if I thought there was any hope of making it out of here alive, I would be holed up in this arcade drinking cheap booze?

1/2

[bawcock]

... sometimes, it's crazy how different two people can be. And what's even crazier is, I think I'm finally starting to realize what's been staring me right in the face from the start.

[ Though, if he's being honest it's nothing he didn't know already. Fist clenched, he half-turns to face Zangetsu. ]

[bawcock]

But you know what? Even if I'm the biggest sucker there ever was, it doesn't matter. And it doesn't matter if this is a hive of scum and villainy—or that half of us don't even like each other. All I need to know is, we've come this far and there's no way I'm backing down now! Not when we're so close!

No matter what happens, no matter what the Lady does, or even what it costs me—my heart, my memories, my soul! I'm going to survive!

[moonfang]

[well that was dramatic. Ichigo does this too, sometimes...]

First of all, if you lose your soul, there's no point. And second... Half of us? Pffft. That’s generous. But see, that’s the other thing Erik. We’re not close. Can you honestly say you have any better idea about what to do than ya did a month ago? Can ya?