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

[goldenmaniac]

... I think so?

[excavated]

Did something happen?

[goldenmaniac]

[He nods]

The epitath... it leads to under the chapel. Ruler, Wheatley and I investigated. We figured out the clues but... it was booby trapped. Everything burned down.

Almost died. Ruler-san saved me...

1 / 2

[excavated]

[ He freezes up for a second there, trying to process it all and isn't even able to say a single word at first, looking completely choked up. It's the first time at all today that he's expressed such an intense emotion in front of everyone; one that isn't just steely and serious. ]

[excavated]

[ And then his expression shifts into something more worrying, as he just moves to go behind Takumi and just.


Goes to hug him. ]

I'm really, really glad you're not dead, Takumi-san.

[goldenmaniac]

[He makes a small surprised noise.... and after a moment just... breaks down.]

[excavated]

[ He sees that and it actually hurts to see, because he knows the kind of person Takumi is. He's seen it in their own conversations, in the trial. There's a kindness that Takumi has that Syaoran just sometimes... wishes he still had. So he just simply lets it happen, quietly rubbing idle circles in an attempt to be reassuring. ] I really am glad. Really. I don't know how I would have felt if we lost a third person today...

[goldenmaniac]

[Being touched is a comfort- his tears are not loud. No dramatic wailing or screaming. But... still, he does his best to get it all out now]

I'm sorry... I shouldn't have risked it like that...

[excavated]

It's okay.

[ He smiles a little in response to his apology, but there's something strained there. At the very least, Syaoran isn't commenting on him crying or anything; allowing him to just get it out. Because he needs to.

Honestly, they all probably need to. ]

You wanted to help when you couldn't. Especially after the trial... trying to make up for a failure with something positive that could help all of us in the long run is understandable.

[goldenmaniac]

[He nods- that's exactly what it was]

Yeah...

[He wipes his face with his glove]

Heh... s'embarrassing.

[excavated]

Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. [ That you were crying. He doesn't say aloud, but the implications are definitely there. ] It's better than holding it in. [ He knows about that all too well. ]

[goldenmaniac]

You're probably right...

[But still, he doesn't like bringing others down with him]

[excavated]

Yeah. Besides, you're not the only one suffering here.