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]

To me, that goal can't be called an ambition, though. [ She runs her hand on the table. ] ... It could even be called myopic. To live up to the standards of the dead and carry on their hopes is important, of course. But vengeance like that doesn't give someone a way forward, it just traps them with fulfilling an obligation. In truth, it's far closer to a "duty" than it is even a "dream."

[ She shakes her head again. ]

No, I can't agree with her methods, you're right. But I'm not sure I can agree with the motivations, either.

[carnivorously]

Even so. When someone is filled with vengeance, it's all they can think about.

"What can I do to make sure that bastard meets the same fate?"

[He takes a drag of his cigarette and looks away as he exhales the smoke.]

Arietta and I... we're alike when it comes to that.

[nachetanya]

... I cannot understand that.

[ But. You know what? ]

Perhaps it's merely that I haven't had a strong enough motivation for it, though.

[carnivorously]

Or you haven't had someone you cared for taken from you.

[Which, he thinks Nachetanya is lucky. Even if she has, to not be fueled by vengeance, well, maybe she's stronger than he is in that regard.]

[nachetanya]

[ She considers, for a moment, saying something more about this, to discuss her past...

But no, if Kogami or anyone else won't ask, there's no reason to volunteer it. Her profile betrays enough about her already. ]

Kogami, do they have ceremonies for the dead, where you're from?

[carnivorously]

Funerals. They have funerals.

[But latent criminals don't get one. Just a fact. A harsh fact about his society.]

[nachetanya]

Yes, it's the same in Piena. Ideally, someone will be buried beneath their house and with the items that were important to them, with a priest to oversee their funeral.

[ She frowns ]

Of course, there is no way to do that here. We don't even know what became of Felicia's body.

[carnivorously]

No there isn't. However, I doubt it would do any good to mourn for the dead.

[It would just likely make everyone more sad. Though it could bring solidarity to the group, too.]

[nachetanya]

Mourning happens whether it's organized or not.

[ She gestures around the room ]

Do you see Asgore or Corrin in here, Kogami?

[carnivorously]

I don't, but they have the right to be alone right now. I understand what it means to mourn, and to want to be alone after someone's death. Sometimes gathering your thoughts are what you need, but even more so, they shouldn't be left alone too long.

[nachetanya]

In that respect, then, there's no way to avoid mourning entirely.

[ She presses her lips together and exhales. ]

My hair is going to smell like this after the next trial, if there is one.

[ She sets down the braid, finally, and goes to pick up her fork again ]

[carnivorously]

There's empty podiums you can probably stand at. There's no rules saying you have to stand at yours.

[He's clearly not here to make friends. And that was a massive fucking lack of tact, but whatever.]

[nachetanya]

[ . . . ]

No, of course not, Kogami. If I was assigned that one, there might be a purpose to be discovered in it.

[ She skewers a bit of egg ]

Besides, I shouldn't smell nice, after that.

[carnivorously]

You wouldn't be smelling like smoke at all if you weren't assigned next to me.

[nachetanya]

No, but I can't help but think it's fitting.

[ She looks up at the ceiling ]

The smell's sharp and unpleasant, but almost sweet in some ways.

[carnivorously]

Most people just find it unpleasant.

[Yet, he doesn't care once more. He smokes where he wants to.]

[nachetanya]

I can see why.

[ You know, she's... going to just giggle at this. giggle. ]

[carnivorously]

What's so funny about that?

[What a weird girl...]

[nachetanya]

The smell lingers, and it burns in your nose. But I guess not caring about others in that way is part of your charm, isn't it?

[ she's still laughing a bit at that. A rebellious dog, huh... ]

[carnivorously]

When I want to smoke, I smoke.

[Well, he's made that clear. Tsunemori is often coughing and waving the smoke away when he lights up around her back home so...]

[nachetanya]

Of course! And I'll need to learn to adapt if we fail to prevent there being another trial.

[ She trails off on the laughing, but...

Seriously. ]

[carnivorously]

It's not something you need to adapt to.

[He already suggested going to another podium.]

But if you want to, go ahead.

[nachetanya]

I do. If we have another trial, it seems only right.

[ But okay, with that!!

She's just going to eat here in peace. ]

[carnivorously]

[And if she is eating in peace, so will he. Good conversation?]