week one afterparty ★ where is this warmth going? when it's tomorrow, it'll vanish

[excavated]

The day had ended on a rather solemn note, with not just one innocent dead, but two.

Both the Great Detective, Erika Furudo and the magical girl known as Cure Aqua, Karen Minazuki were killed in cold blood, and all that was left behind was a pool of blood that acknowledged their deaths. And yet, in spite of that, they had to move forward... 🗈

Of course, in spite of the lingering feeling that hung in the air, the possible suspicion that would probably stick through them for the rest of their stay here, if not for the rest of their lives.

Being used to death, he knew very well the sting of having blood on your own hands. He understood too well the consequences. But he didn't want people to simply just blame themselves for something that wasn't entirely their fault.

Which is why after a while, he goes on ahead to search people out to tell them that if they would prefer not to be alone, they can come to the dining room and that there will be food. For those who stay in their rooms, however, they'll find a neatly handwritten letter:

To the one who might read this:

We're dealing with a difficult time and I know that because of this turn of events, that people might start to distrust one another and even make the decision to not face the future. But I don't want to hide and run away from our present; I want all of us to face the reality and change the future so that it isn't a sad one. I'm certain that the two that we lost would not want that from us, either.

Feel free to meet me in the dining room if you wish to mourn, or if you'd wish to not face all of this alone. Nobody deserves to be alone on a day like this. Food will be provided. Don't force yourself to come, though.

- Syaoran

Set up in the dining area are a lot of various comfort foods - a lot of soup based dishes, kebabs, hot pots, you name it. Even if the times are difficult, especially with the results, at the very least there's a small glimmer hope, right...?

Comments

[beguiledcard]

[ He nods. ]

That's definitely not a problem. [ just going to start getting to it, pausing at one of the dishes ] You're really amazing at cooking... Have you worked at a restaurant before?

[excavated]

I haven't. I learned all of my cooking from my father, but I lived alone for many years.

[beguiledcard]

[ His brow tenses. He's going to take a dish and return before responding. ]

I learned what I know from my mom. Because my dad declared household cooking to be a woman's job.

[ There's a quiet 'heh'. ]

The more he talked like that, the more compelled I felt to learn.

[excavated]

That's. . . [ 'a little sexist' but he doesn't finish that sentence ] What kinds of things did you learn?

[beguiledcard]

... Super messed up and the worst way to think.

[ His jawline is tightened... but he gives a quiet sigh and nods. ]

Mostly simple dishes like chicken teriyaki, beef sukiyaki, chicken katsu, and a few unique takes on gyoza.

[excavated]

... Yeah. But "unique takes on gyoza"?

[beguiledcard]

[ He nods! ]

She created a few dessert gyoza recipes. Strawberry cream with chocolate drizzle, chocolate and peanut butter with whipped topping...

Sometimes, she'd... get a little too experimental, so some of them were...

[ Tiiiny cringe . . . ]

Some things aren't meant to go with cottage cheese...

[excavated]

. . . I see.