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]

Well, then you better sleep on my right side [ The one with the arm ] or you might end up making it smart a little.

[ he left arm stump ]

[halleberry]

Is there an excuse you won't take to put your arm around me?

[nachetanya]

Weren't you the one who said you would fall all over me?

[halleberry]

I suppose I did it to myself, at the end of the day...

[ And again, it's not like she's complaining. ]

In all seriousness, though, I tend to sleep pretty soundly through the night, as far as I can tell, so, if it's not too much trouble, it'll be as if I'm not even there.

[nachetanya]

[ Nachetanya nods ] I'm a sound sleeper as well, but like I said, it hurts if someone were touch the left side, so please sleep on my right.

[ Also- ]

Would you like the pajamas tonight?

[halleberry]

Understood. I'll just sleep in this, though. If you want to wear them, by all means, go ahead, though in all honesty, you look about ready for bed already.

[nachetanya]

I am. I've slept in this every day so far.

[ A beat and... ]

... I can still smell the smoke on my hair and I've washed it twice. There must be some trick to it.

[halleberry]

Again, I don't mind it. But if it bothers you that much, use your lemons that you love so much. The acid in the citrus breaks down the particles from the cigarette ash that get stuck in your hair and cause the smell. The chemicals produced from the smoke have a very long half-life, which means it takes a long time for them to wither away naturally, but that should do the trick.

[nachetanya]

... that works?! And lemons don't damage your hair like they do teeth?!

[ THIS IS A SHOCKING REVELATION ]

[halleberry]

You have to dilute the citrus acid with water and let it sit for a little while, but yes, that works, I promise.

[ See? You keep her around for a reason. ]

[nachetanya]

... I'm going to do that first thing in the morning. How long does it need to sit?

[ She says defiantly!! As she scoots to get the blankets pulled up for them. ]

[halleberry]

Fifteen minutes. Whole lemon, cup of water, squeeze the juices out and let them soak. Putting your hair in a bun keeps your hair out of the path of the smoke, for future reference.

[ Don't mind if she crawls underneath, then. ]

[nachetanya]

[ Look, Nachetanya has a lot of fucking hair, particularly when you undo that braided-ish ponytail thing.

... but noted.

she'll be crawling under too. ]

I'll do that. Thank you, Tsubasa.

[halleberry]

[ How does she even braid all that with one hand, goodness-- ]

I'll get the light...

[nachetanya]

[ . . . Tbh she's probably simplified it a bit by now. But hey, she's still getting used to the one arm life.

Maybe she should lop some off. ]

Mmm.

[ In that case. Let's sleep. ]