Week 2, Saturday Afterparty + Sunday!

[arraignments]

[ Three total losses...

With the air heavier and gloomier than before, Goro's feeling... much more restless. So, about an hour after the games have ended, he can be found in the kitchen. He'll recruit anyone who comes in (that he knows can cook/bake, obvs). He's not... actually doing any cooking, himself, though he does make some coffee and lots of sandwiches.

There is a variety of other dishes (see Saki's toplevel for more items), as well!

Everything is being set up outside, not too far from the pool, and there are blankets on the ground - time for a picnic! ]

Comments

[scarsnstripes]

[Ouch.]

...But it did, Saki-san. And someone else would definitely have died if they drank it. I couldn't tell anyone where the poison was, so drinking it myself was the next best choice.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

Then what about if it hadn't?

In that scenario, you pick the wrong drink and you die. Or, you pick a safe drink and live, and someone else picks the wrong drink and dies. It's even possible that none of you pick the poisonous drink.

In that case, why should you have been the one to die?

[scarsnstripes]

I-I... I figured, the tiger would heal me. It always does, you know? And that's... It's just...

[He fumbles over his words, looking a little guilty because the fact is he didn't know. He just... hoped, really.]

...I wasn't really thinking 'It would be better if I was the one to die'. I was just thinking it would help the others and if I could, I should.

[Because Atsushi lives to help people, can't not help those who need it. For so many reasons, many of them indeed questionable.]

...That's what we're supposed to do, right? Use our skills and abilities to help each other.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

Yes. But that doesn't mean you have to die for someone else to live, Atsushi.

...Please consider the value of your life more.

[scarsnstripes]

I-I...

[It felt awful, being scolded by Saki. Not in the way it used to feel at the orphanage, or by Dazai-- this was a different sort of feeling, feeling like he'd disappointed her.]

...I wasn't intending to die. I just didn't want anyone else to.

[It's not an excuse, he knows.]

...I'm sorry.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

Good. I don't want to see another friend surrender himself to death.

[And with that, she sinks even further into her seat, arms wrapping loosely around herself.

She hates this.]

[scarsnstripes]

[....Oh.

Oh.

He wasn't really even thinking, how it might have felt for Saki or others at the time. How much they might have worried.

He never really did, though. He was only thinking of how he could help.]

....I wouldn't. I wouldn't, I promise. Not without a fight.

[He settles next to her on the couch, reaching out but halting his hand midair, a few inches away.]

Can I....?

[She looks like she needs a hug, but he's not sure if it's welcome.]

[allmyfriendsaredead]

[She doesn't look at him, though she does give a tiny nod.

It's been an exhausting day, in more ways than one.]

[scarsnstripes]

[The nod is enough, honestly. He doesn't expect her to forgive him immediately, but he wants to comfort her now, and he has enough experience with Saki to know physical touch was the best way.

So carefully, he wraps his arms around her, tucking himself close enough that she can feel his body warmth. He's alive. They're both alive.

Today was awful, but they at least had that.]

[allmyfriendsaredead]

[She leans into the hug wordlessly.

Still living... still having that warmth...

That's all they can really ask for right now, isn't it?]

[scarsnstripes]

[It was. It'd have to be enough, until they could get out of here.

But Atsushi wanted to believe they would.]