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

Inner Foyer

[nachetanya]

[ Nachetanya is wandering in here carrying... a blunt sword. She sees the other girl in here and - ah. She can't wave (hand full and all) but she does smile a bit more and announce her presence. ]

QQ!

[positivespin]

[ At that, QQ tears her eyes away from the clock to look at her direction, smile at the ready. ]

Hi, Nachetanya!

[ No worries, she can wave enough for the both of them! Her wave ends with a slight gesture towards the sword Nachetanya is carrying. ]

Here for training?

[nachetanya]

I was going to do some simple exercise, yes! Just a hundred sword thrusts to keep my form and clear my head.

[ She hefts the sword a little, nodding. ]

[positivespin]

That's the spirit! QQ usually trains in room, but foyer was nice to train in that time. Lots more space.

[ Oh, right! Speaking of space... ]

Is QQ in the way?

[nachetanya]

Not at all. Like you said, there's a lot of space.

[ Trains in her room, huh!! Nachetanya gets into a position ,exhales, and then with her one arm holds this sword... rapier style. Of course, the blunted sword is significantly heavier and bulkier than a rapier, but this was the form shje knows best. And it'll help her build up her arm. ]

[positivespin]

Okay! Will just be here then. QQ wants to look at the clock again a little longer.

[ It's an interesting handicap, that's for sure! But she hasn't busted anything in there, so it all works out.

Anyway, she'll save conversation and questions until after Nachetanya does some exercises. QQ would probably turn her attention to her every so often due to her fascination of the different ways people train, but as she said, she'll be taking her time examining the clock. ]

[nachetanya]

[ Well, hopefully QQ doesn't get bored, then. Nachetanya is going very much back to basics here. Something deliberately simple to clear her mind and keep things in order. Step, thrust sword, retract, reset. Repeat.

The goal here is for a hundred thrusts.

It'll probably take a good twenty or so minutes. She doesn't stop or falter though, unless interrupted. ]

[positivespin]

[ And QQ won't interrupt until the end, especially since she's busy examining and touching that clock all over for most of it. Even after a week and everything that's happened, it still fascinates her. And that's something to focus on.

Once Nachetanya is done, however, QQ considers it fair game to talk again. ]

Nachetanya! QQ's curious--how long have you trained with sword? Is it okay to ask?

[nachetanya]

No, that's perfectly alright to ask!

[ She sounds a little winded, this is heavier than she's used to. She'll be setting down the thing now. ]

I've trained in some capacity since I was very young, but I really began in earnest five... no, closer to six years ago.

[positivespin]

It shows! You have a lot of control with movements. QQ wishes some comrades back home would be as...diligent. [ That should be the word. Ice Cream's title fits, from what she's asked. QQ, at least try to remember Doug's name! ] They did not care for basics and it showed.

[nachetanya]

Ah, thank you. I didn't have my preferred sort of blade here, so I decided it needed to do this. Well, that and I was more looking to exercise.

[ To clear her head. She gives a little polite nod-bow. ]

[positivespin]

Can understand feeling. No spears around here, so had to make do. Certainly an interesting challenge though.

[nachetanya]

So you use spears, normally? Might I ask if you mean am ore heavy spear or a light one?

[ she assumes a light or more average one given the girl's frame, but. ]

For my part, I just wanted to tire my body to match my mind right now.

[positivespin]

Light spears are preferred. QQ's style relies on dodging, so lighter is better for speed.

[ this might come up on a quiz ]

And QQ thinks it's a great idea. Deals with lots of stress well.

[nachetanya]

Ah, I normally fight rapier, and so the same.

[ She hums. ]

I would have been surprised if you used a heavy spear, I confess.

[positivespin]

Ohh, makes sense.

[ That fighting style definitely suits her, from what she's seen. ]

Mmhm, would only use it as handicap during training. Too risky otherwise.

[nachetanya]

Do you mind if I ask if you're wearing your armor now?

[ Mmmhm? ]

[positivespin]

Most of personal ones, yes. Since QQ was told not to wear usual uniform.

[ somehow it counts as armor. somehow. ]

[nachetanya]

Who told you that?

[ Hey man, she ain't questioning. Probably. ]

[positivespin]

Was traveling with group to new place! But it'd look strange if we all wore same uniform. So they told us to wear whatever.

[nachetanya]

Oh... Oh, so you mean in the course of things before you arrived here.

[ She laughs at that, despite herself. Centering herself, the woman goes to finally take a seat, stretching some. ]