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

[heritrix]

[Because the quiet is annoying! This kind of quiet, specifically.

It's not what she's used to. Not like home.]

Not even when you were a kid?

[Notably the glaring stops now that they're starting a discussion. It's only keeping up for the people who ignore her.]

[cthulwho]

[Oh good, the glaring stopped. Maybe he can think about this without feeling pressured now.

...

Hm.]

When I was a kid...

[He's having difficulty with this for some reason.]

Not even then. [...] But if I were forced to pick one, I suppose black would be sufficient?

[heritrix]

It's a favorite color can be anything you want. Just the act of having one is good, so you can't go wrong no matter what you pick.

[You have difficulty with such simple things, Lovecraft; Rin feels the need to reassure this as she continues to tap out an inaudible melody on the piano keys.

His personality is unique, when you think about it. When they first met, she found him awkward but didn't think anything of it. But now she knows his name. Above most anyone else here, Rin believes this is a person she should pay attention to. But she can't lay it on too hard, or be direct about it; he might spook.]

But black, huh? For some reason I was thinking a dark blue.

[cthulwho]

Hm? Oh... [He touches a lock of his hair, assuming that's where Rin got the idea.] I would not mind considering that a preferred color, either.

Black was my first choice, mainly because it is the color of darkness. I like the deep dark...it is nice and quiet there.

[He's really not doing himself any favors when it comes to making an impression that doesn't scream weird. Or...yes, "unique", to put it gently.]

I am wondering, though...what about possessing a favorite color makes it a "good" action?

[heritrix]

[P-Pfft, she has to try not to laugh.]

Somebody didn't grow out of their middle school syndrome...

[That's a comment she doesn't expect him to get. If there's a questioning look in his eyes, she'll wave it off just as soon as she says it, as if to tell him "don't mind, it's not important".

It was a joke, but Rin takes him seriously. Grown men who say such things are a little more troubling than a thirteen-year-old. She's not sure what sort of reaction she was fishing for with Lovecraft, but she thinks she expected something like that.]

Having a favorite color is good because the more things you like, the more actualized your world will be.

[cthulwho]

[There is a questioning look in his eyes like Rin wouldn't believe. What does that even mean? How was what he said funny? He was being serious...

He wants to ask these things, but the conversation progresses before he can, leaving him dejected and confused. It doesn't subside as things go along either, because...]

You're placing existential value on having a preferred color?

[Just. Just making sure.]

[heritrix]

[Careful not to spill her tea, Rin turns herself around on the bench so she can better face him.]

Just the opposite. [Her smile is broad.] Everything is born with existential value; I'm contending that even something as small as having a favorite color gives it essence.

[Actualization isn't a stationary thing, it's always moving.]

[cthulwho]

[Wow.

He'll give that a moment of thoughtful consideration.]

An interesting take. I don't hear views like that all too often.

[heritrix]

That's because today we live in a society that wants people to feel guilty for talking about themselves and liking themselves. I oppose that notion.

And that goes for things you dislike too. If you're quiet and don't want to talk about yourself, that's also fine. But I got you thinking about it, right?

[cthulwho]

Yes...

[He glances toward the window, and the continual snowy fog going on outside.]

I don't often concern myself with such things. They simply have no value to me, personally. Though whenever I am out and about I'll humor those who wish to discuss it.

[heritrix]

So you make an answer up on the spot and never think about it again?

[cthulwho]

[Oh, is this about the favorite color thing-]

I wasn't referring to that, but not necessarily. I do have some preferred things that I place value upon.

[Extremely important things like 'sleep' and 'ice cream', as his profile implies.]

[heritrix]

Any not on your profile?

[In Rin's mind, a person with very little interests would logically care about said interests more than an average person. So it could reveal a lot about his character!]

[cthulwho]

[Hmmm.]

While chocolate and ice cream are my favorite sweets, I am generally accepting of all varieties. The pie from the gathering the other day was excellent, for example.

[heritrix]

[He's so thin, she wouldn't have pegged him as having more than an indulgence. What an envious metabolism he must have.]

I ended up missing out on that, in the end. Did you have a good time?

[cthulwho]

I...I did.

[Probably the most surprising reveal of all in this conversation.]

I spoke with a few people. And Sakura [Sakura Matou, though he forgets to specify] found ice cream, so we could have Pie à la Mode. That was...a pleasant surprise.

[heritrix]

...Which Sakura?

[cthulwho]

Oh, that's right. There are two. The, ah...the younger one. Committed.

[The title are useful to him, apparently.]

[heritrix]

[That's interesting to her, although she notes he did default to proper names first. Rin supposes differentiating them by their titles after that is nicer than calling them the older and younger ones all the time.

She has a hard time seeing Sakura eating together with this man. But maybe not? With his dark blue hair and pointed facial features, he does look like he could pass as a Matou. Or more appropriately, a Makiri. And he's quiet too. Maybe she found some familiarity with him.

...Rin's glad Sakura had a nice time.]

I see. [Passing her inquiry off as a simple interest of who's-who, Rin switches back to what they were discussing before.] So Pie à la Mode, huh? I don't allow myself sweets often, but maybe I'll make that next time. If you tell me what flavor you'd like, I'll see to it there's two slices for you as well.

[cthulwho]

[Lovecraft is about to say something about how one should always allow themselves sweets, but his attention immediately turns to...is Rin offering to make him pie and ice cream?]

You...would do that? For me?

[He kind of figured the routine of daily living in this place would grind to a halt for at least a little while and everyone would stick to themselves. Generally speaking, humans tend to react harshly to murder and death in that way. But this is...a welcome surprise.]

[heritrix]

[He was nice to Sakura, so of course.]

Come get me-- [A catch, and she adjusts her left arm lightly in her lap.] Come get me Monday, actually. My cooking will be at its peak that day.

[cthulwho]

[This would be the moment that gets a grateful smile out of him, but he doesn't seem to want to put the effort into making his face do that.]

Okay. I'll do that. [...] Thank you.

[heritrix]

[So stoic; the muscles are probably stuck like that. If he made another expression, he might break his face.]

Think about what flavor you'd like, between now and then.

[Smiling, Rin gingerly picks herself up from her place at the piano.]

There are other people I'd like to seek out before the day ends, so I'll be going now. Thank you for the chat today.