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

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

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's really hard to be here, actually. She's not sure if she wasn't prepared to see a dead body like that or if... No, that's a stupid line of thought. Rin manages a smirk at Gant's response, and removes her fingers from the keyboard in case he wants to play another tune.]

It was a hunch, but I had to ask. For all I knew you showed up in that because your neon pink suit was at the dry cleaners.

Oh, no, Rin-tin-tin. That's my second favorite color, but I feel like pairing an entire suit with my glasses would just make things even a little much for me.

[he's considering it, but he's musing on what exactly to play...]

[Bless you Gant, for granting that small mercy on their souls. But Rin's going to frown now.]

Um, what was that you just called me?

Rin-tin-tin, of course! It just felt right.

[...it's actually weird being questioned on his nickname choices, nobody does that at home]

Oh no. [She looks mock distressed.] You're one of those kooky grandpas I've heard about, aren't you? The kind who will say embarrassing things like that even in public.

Of course I'm not.

[extended pause, pointed stare......................]

I don't have any grandchildren!

[And each child in the world thanks their lucky stars.]

So everyone else gets to fill that void for you? [She sighs, but she's smirking.] I think you're overcompensating.

Well, it's not like I just give kids nicknames, you know. No one is safe, including the local judge, who...

...

...feels kind of eternal, honestly! I have no idea how old that man is!

[But okay, good. Everyone's getting this treatment then. She wasn't going to complain earlier, even if it was silly, but she feels better about the nickname now.]

Is he older than you? [She looks Gant up and down.] You look pretty old.