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

[nachetanya]

Osomatsu, might I sit next to you?

[ Asked the bunny princess in the nurse outfit, a smile playing on her lips. Her own eyes are clouded as well. ]

[relieable]

[oh, hey! Naa-chan... Osomatsu turns his head up to give her a small smile, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes]

Hey, of course! You can sit wherever y'want.

[nachetanya]

Thank you.

[ And so, well, she will. ]

Are you doing alright, now?

[ She. Doubts it!! but still. ]

[relieable]

[he picks at his food, not making eye contact]

Um... Not gonna lie. I've been... Better. A lot better.

[nachetanya]

A lot of us have been, I'm sure.

[ she moves around the items on her own plate. ]

After all, we're now twenty-eight, not thirty.

[relieable]

[Osomatsu sucked in a breath. right. two people wouldn't wake up tomorrow, he wouldn't find Arietta practicing at the piano, or holding her doll, or...]

...

[he dropped his head and, for a moment, it looked like he might be crying, the way his shoulders shook. but when he lifted his head, there were no tears. there was just a sad smile]

You know, at first, I was r-really mad that I was here by myself. Now... I'm glad my brothers aren't here.

[nachetanya]

[ Nachetanya's expression doesn't really shift the whole time, watching him react. She does set down her fork, though. Her face remains at the idly sympathetic level, but when he raises his gaze, she reaches out to - well, her one hand goes to try and touch the side of his face. ]

One of the brothers could still be lost here, even now. And I hope you know you still can be lonely.

[relieable]

[touch his face? wow... usually when women touch Osomatsu's face, it's to punch him. so he's quite shocked by Nachetanya's action. he almost doesn't know what to say]

L-Lonely? [he squeaks out, then clears his throat] I mean... Lonely? [deeper voice] I'm not that lonely. I've got you here to keep me company!

[that other thing she mentioned... Osomatsu's just going to ignore it for now. he's already thought about that a lot]

[nachetanya]

I'm not one of your brothers, though.

[ The hand lingers for a long moment. Her fingers are soft, but a little bit calloused. She is a swordsman. And... well, she lingers then before brushing around her cheek, and pulls back. ]

Still, you're flattering me now.

[ she brings her hand up over her mouth, as if blushing (even if she doesn't) ]

[relieable]

[OH NO SHE'S CUTE???

BUT THERE WAS JUST A MURDER AND A TRIAL SO FLIRTING DOESN'T SEEM APPROPRIATE????

Osomatsu clears his throat and picks at his food, a light blush staining his own cheeks when he thinks about Nachetanya touching his face. geez, he's such a loser]

Y-You may not be one of my brothers, but... [but what?] But we're still friends, right?

[nachetanya]

I'd like to hope so... But if you say so, Osomatsu, it must be true.

[ she says with a bright smile - the hand lowers, and she laughs a little for it, a bit girlish. The hand drops to the table, spreading out there. ]

[relieable]

[he smiled at her again, but this smile was softer, more genuine. gosh, he was meeting such great people here... even Arietta had been great, despite what had happened.

he found that after chatting with Nachetanya, his appetite was picking up. he still probably wouldn't touch the curry, but the other stuff would be fine. she had cheered Osomatsu up considerably]

Yeah, yeah, I do say so! [just declaring himself friends with a princess, nbd] So if you ever need something, you can come to me, an' I'll do my best to help you out.

[nachetanya]

Oh no! I'll have to impose on you a little in future.

[ Again, she laughs a little... and shakes her head, looking down at her own food. She hums ]

Likewise, of course.

[relieable]

[he nodded, pleased at their little arrangement.

then he poked around at his food a bit more, starting to really eat]

Hey, you wanna tell me a little bit about your world?

[nachetanya]

I wouldn't mind. Is there anything you'd want to know?

[relieable]

[Osomatsu considered, tapping his lower lip with his fork before answering]

I guess... like, what sorts of things did you do there?

[nachetanya]

Well. People live their lives? [ She knows that's too general ] For me, much of the last several years has actually been training in some capacity or another, as a swordsman, a saint, and to some extent as a ruler.

[relieable]

[people were people! but a princess was something else! Osomatsu was mostly wanting to know about her. he shovels some food into his mouth as he listens]

A swordsman, a saint, and a ruler... Wow! [and you can do all that with one arm? fortunately, he doesn't say that out loud] You're all over the place!

[nachetanya]

I suppose it is, when you list it like that!

[ She laughs a little at this, shaking her head ] In truth, the swordsmanship and saint powers go hand in hand, though. I'm the Saint of Blades.

[relieable]

[don't say it don't say it don't say it]

...Izzat how ya lost your arm?

[OSOMATSU]

[nachetanya]

[ . . . Haaah. ]

I don't know. Not during my training, at least. But I actually woke up here with my arm missing.

[relieable]

[?????]

You... You did, huh? That's... worrying.

[nachetanya]

Yes, I'm been worried about it for a while now.

[relieable]

[that would be really worrying, waking up without an arm when you don't remember how you lost it... Osomatsu should consider himself lucky, but then... he doesn't really feel lucky about any of this]

Well. I hope that you can find it soon! Maybe you'll gt it back when we go home.

[nachetanya]

[ That... makes her giggle. She laughs, bringing her hand up in front of her face. Really? ]

I-- don't think arms can just grow back, Osomatsu!