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]

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.