come out of hiding, i'm right here beside you

[barehands]

[A while after the execution has ended, everyone will find a simple note slipped under their door.]

If you don't want to be alone after everything that's happening, some of us will be in the dining room. Even if you decide not to come, please remember that you aren't alone here.

[The note isn't signed, but the handwriting is feminine and neat.

For anyone who decides to come, there's a good array of food laid out on the table. There are some small and simple cakes, cookies, and pastries, a healthy amount of okonomiyaki, okayu, and other Japanese dishes (with a focus on rice and eggs), along with curry. In addition, there are pancakes, and a large pot of soup. It looks like a few people collaborated to make enough food for everyone here.

Just like the meal they shared together earlier in the week, the candles from the storage room lend a more peaceful light than the fluorescent lights above.]

Comments

[dangerousfool]

[This was certainly a bad day, and Wheatley definitely doesn't want to be alone. That said, he's unusually timid right now. He doesn't seem as lively as usual, instead retreating to a side and staring at the ceiling.

When someone passes nearby he can't hold it back anymore:]

Looks like I'm not going to be of any use in this place, right?

[During the trial he had no idea what was going on. George's logic was clear to everyone, but he hadn't completely understood it. And finally, he hadn't contributed anything of use during the trial. What was he supposed to do?

Wheatley was useless and he knew it. He's rather stupid, but not so stupid as to realize trials are way over his head]

[heritrix]

We could use your head as a paperweight.

[Tapping at random keys at the piano here without looking up, with a face that's not smiling, it's probably hard to tell Rin's joking.]

Oh, but it's round so it would roll. No, then. Probably not.

[I'm so sorry, Wheatley, Rin is oblivious to your existential crisis. She's not making the connection right now he's talking about the trial.]

[dangerousfool]

But there are no papers in this place.

[It takes several seconds for Wheatley to realize that may not have been entirely serious. Maybe? He's not sure, but just in case...]

Oh, wait wait wait, I see now, it was a--it was a joke?. Yeah, I think it was.

[He's awkwardly silent for a moment before nodding as if he understood everything]

[heritrix]

[Well there are papers in this place, she's written on them. But Rin's mouth stretches into a smirk, eyes gleaming.]

Was it?

[dangerousfool]

It wasn't? Oh.

[Wheatley seems to consider that for a moment]

I guess I could do that. It'd be like supervising the papers, and I have experience in supervising, I can do that!

[You somehow managed to kinda cheer Wheatley up. Congratulations?]

[heritrix]

[This wasn't her intention at all, but somehow in her life it keeps happening??]

Would you to be the official paper supervisor, space junk-san. Would that make you happy.

[dangerousfool]

I'm not sure it would, but I wouldn't mind to--wait, space junk? What?

[Guess who hasn't even taken a look at his profile]

[enhancements]

[...Wesker is going to be spending a lot of time near the walls at these things, it seems; he's vaguely surprised to find Wheatley there this time around. He's aware that he's likely not the most popular person with the group right now, but that's...]

What makes you say that?

[dangerousfool]

I'm rather smart if I say so myself, but I had no idea what was going on just a moment ago. I'm not a crime solver, I'm not the Holmes to the Moriarty that was Arietta.

[Arietta was nowhere close to being like Moriarty, but Wheatley doesn't really mind the technical details of his botched metaphor -- or kinda understand them]

[enhancements]

[Ah.]

...Morale.

[It's kind of a blunt answer that doesn't explain much of anything; it's just sort of...out there before it seems to occur to him to clarify.]

If you aren't going to be able to solve, your purpose here is to bolster morale. Clearly.

[It's sort of strange and blank, but it's something, anyway. And it's entirely true, even if it ends up being in a backhanded "at least I'm not that" sort of way.]

[dangerousfool]

[Boosting morale...sure, that could work! It's an option!]

I could do that! Morale boosting, that'd be good. Go team!

[Well that worked. So much for being disheartened]

I should make a banner.

[enhancements]

[...What even are you, Wheatley, goodness.]

I...suppose?

[Dear god.]

I'm assuming you've been functioning well enough, otherwise. [...] Physically, not as relates to whatever despair hit just now.

[dangerousfool]

Yes, no problems. All functions are intact. Not that I had that many in the first place, there's only so much that can fit on a machine of my size.

[And it doesn't seem like this body has any new functions]

Well, no, I think I cracked my optic's glass cover. Rin made me fall to the floor.

[barehands]

[As she passes by and happens to hear him, she can't help but react with surprise, quickly shaking her head.]

That isn't true at all! I think you're really helpful. Like earlier in the week when you were really determined to serve everyone food! That was nice of you.

[dangerousfool]

You think that?

[Well that seems to have been enough. Guess getting Wheatley out of his slump is rather easy]

Then there must be other ways I can be helpful. Let's see...hey, tell me, what things boost your morale?

[barehands]

[She seems a little surprised that it was so easy to get through to him, but she won't question it, certainly.]

My morale? Well... For starters, being able to help people, I think!

[dangerousfool]

Help people...okay, that can work! Thank you! [Wheatley makes a mental note: to cheer up people, make them help others] Yes, that's good.

Now what's your favorite thing in the world, what makes you happy just by having it?

[barehands]

My favorite thing in the world...?

[That one, she doesn't have to think about for long.]

Thing isn't quite the right word, but my younger brother and sister.

[dangerousfool]

That's going to be a tough one. [He can't get anyone a younger relative] But I think I can work with that.

Now that I think about it, doesn't food make people happy, too?

[journalname]

What do you mean?

[Asgore seems rather pensive, but he turns his full attention to Wheatley when he speaks.]

[dangerousfool]

I didn't know what to do during what happened today. I doubt I was useful.

[The trials, he means. Besides, he wasn't made to solve crimes, he knows that. Being among all these people he wants to at least make a good impression, being the first humans he has seen in years. And monster king, too]

But hey, that's okay, right? I'll think of something.

[journalname]

Not contributing much during something like that does not mean you are of no use. I think many of us were...not at our best, there.

[to say the least]

Besides, you have friends here, do you not?

[dangerousfool]

I do. They're good humans, I'm sure I can trust--

[Right at that moment Wheatley gets an idea. Yeah, maybe...!]

Wait, I know, I'll focus on support! Let's see, a way to help my friends...what'd make a human happy? Cake? I heard somewhere anyone'd do anything for cake.

[journalname]

There you are! Use is not only found in grand things.

[Asgore smiles, proud that Wheatley alighted in that idea on his own.]

People do like cake. Have you ever made one before?

[dangerousfool]

Nope, never. I had never even seen a kitchen until I arrived here. I mean, I know they existed, but in the facility nobody wanted me to enter there.