From the white lights, the darkness comes...

[sageking]

Today's trial was a mixture of regret, anger, guilt, and second-thoughts. Perhaps some people realized that situations and choices weren't to be black or white. However, decisions were made, and whether it'd be through people keeping secrets or causing a ton of chaos...everyone could probably agree on one thing:

They've made their choices and no matter what happened in the coming days, they will lie in the beds they made for themselves. Whatever that should mean for each and every single person still living here.

That being said, there's still new choices to make. In the days to come, what will those be?

Comments

[golden_dream]

[A little shrug. She writes:

"Four? Don't you mean three?"]

[soupervillain]

Three? Well, Spearmint's brother - uh, dad - died to a trap, and Buzzkill got killed, and Spearmint ate the guy I didn't talk to much, and then Subete was executed... Wait, did I forget how to count again?

[golden_dream]

...

[Now she's confused too.]

[soupervillain]

...Too many minion names?

[golden_dream]

...

[She gets it eventually. She writes:

"Ah. 'This week', not 'the trial'. Apologies."]

[soupervillain]

No problem. Hey, I should be asking how you're doing. You didn't seem as... fired up today as usual.

[ he means she wasn't waving her gun everywhere this time, is she okay ]

[golden_dream]

...

['Fired up'... huh. Maybe she wasn't.

She writes: "Maybe it doesn't matter. No one cares if I try to make nice."]

[soupervillain]

Well... I care.

[ He sits down next to her. ]

Want to talk about it? Uh, sorry, I mean - you know. Write-talk?

[golden_dream]

...

[She needs to vent, and Gio is as good a confidant as any, she writes:

"I told Dazai I was going to play nice with him this week. What did it get me? He continues to embarrass me, he turned my nephew against me, and he outright told me he tried to kill me because he views me as a 'threat'. Not to the group, but to him. That fucker. That absolute prick. Does he think he's the only one who gets to be sad? What about the pain I'm feeling? Even if I live through this... I'm never going to be able to sing to my daughter again."]

[soupervillain]

[ Giovanni reads through the note with about as solemn an expression as has ever been seen on his face. Finally, he speaks up. ]

Okay, I don't know what's going on between you and Deathseeker, and I'm not going to pick sides. That's something you two need to work out between yourselves, and if I have to sit there and keep you from pulling each other's hair out, I will. But if he said you didn't have a right to be sad - well, then he's just wrong! He'd be wrong if he said that about anyone here, but you -

[ No, he can't focus on how much Rosa's been hurt since she's been here. She knows that better than anyone, and dwelling on it won't fix it. He needs to do the Giovanni thing: relentless, possibly unfounded optimism in the face of forbidding odds. He can do that. For Rosa. ]

...Your kid's still gonna love you. You know that, right? You're her mom.

[golden_dream]

...

[She tensed up a little, then wrote:

"Not in so many words... but I'm always forcing myself to composure. I'm always forcing myself to get through the day."

...Yeah, that was true even before the Foundation.

She writes further:

"I know, but it still hurts..."]

[soupervillain]

...Hey, Seam Ripper. You don't have to force yourself around me.

[ Can he put a hand on her shoulder? He's gonna put a hand on her shoulder. ]

Yeah, I haven't been through half the stuff you have, so I dunno how much I can help just by talking, but... if you need someone to cry on? That, you can always come to your Boss for. Promise.

[golden_dream]

...

[Sure, she'll take his offer.

Giovanni has acquired: one crying Rosa, right into his shoulder.]

[soupervillain]

[ Yeah, there it is. Giovanni sniffles a little himself as Rosa's soundless sobs shake against his body, but he holds it together, mostly; one or two tears might trickle out, but at least she won't be able to see them. He raises one hand to rub circles on her back in a manner he really hopes is soothing, the other hand protectively cupping her own shoulder. When he thinks he can speak without choking up: ]

Like that. Yeah, let it out. I'm here. I gotcha.

[ He feels so powerless, but he needs to try. ]

[golden_dream]

[His words just bring more sobs... her hands writing something behind his back.

When the hug ends he'll see her next note in shaky, shaky handwriting:

"I NeEd mY DaUgHteRrr..."]

[soupervillain]

[ Reading the note, Giovanni can't stop even more of his own tears from spilling over. What can he possibly say to comfort her? He misses his moms and his minions, but he knows his pain is nowhere near what's etched on Rosa's face. All he can do is channel some of that trademark Potage optimism, and so he reaches deep, deep within himself and pulls. ]

That's - that's why you gotta stay alive, Seam Ripper! You need to show her how strong her mom is! Because we're gonna get out of here, and you'll be with your kid again, and she'll be so proud of you. I promise.

[ He has to believe that. ]