[Week 2 Afterparty] If only you'd have known me before the accident

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

That. All sure fucking happened. Didn't it?

Almost on autopilot, Leon starts pulling people aside who look like they might have it even slightly together right now and recruiting them to the task of making sure the rest don't just go straight to bed and pass out without eating all day. Anyone who doesn't seem to have it together but wants to lend a hand to stave off the grief and existential dread can help too. He's not picky at this point.

Without Yuri's tea or Otto's cooking things don't exactly turn out the same, but it's. It's something. Between all of them they get a meal together, something that can be easily picked up and squirreled away to the rooms if anyone really doesn't want to be around any of the rest of them right now, but Leon will insist that they have to come get it themselves as he goes around knocking on doors and shepherding people to the dining room. This is a check-in as much as it is dinner.

Comments

[madderbloom]

I'm not hungry.

[ Her stomach disagrees, betraying her by letting out a growl. ]

... Maybe a little hungry. [ She sighs and hugs her knees. There's a lot on her mind. ] You were right about the trial.

[ It didn't feel good finding the culprit, but the opposite. ]

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Then c'mon. Let's get you something. [ He'll nod his head towards the kitchen, holding and start to turn to go, though he won't start walking until Anemone shows signs of getting up. ]

And... yeah. I'm sorry, for what it's worth. I wish there was something that would make it feel better instead of just worse.

[ Some measure of vengeance or even justice that could soothe over the grief. If there's a dosage that works, he hasn't found it yet. ]

[madderbloom]

[ Anemone rises sluggishly, dragging her feet like she has a weight around her, but she goes with him. ]

I think I made things worse.

[ Yuri, Lortel, and Pratibha, especially. Everyone was hurting to begin with and she'd only added to the mess. ]

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Hm. [ Leon thinks about that for a moment. ] I'm not gonna pretend you didn't say some stuff that you shouldn't have, but... situations like this? They have a way of bringing out sides of us that we don't like. Lashing out like that's understandable. If anything, I'm kinda surprised there hasn't been more of that from everyone.

[ Collectively they are doing a remarkably good job of keeping it together, under the circumstances. ]

That doesn't make it right, but. I'm not mad at you. Just worried.

[madderbloom]

[ She doesn't like the side of her that comes out during her outbursts. It's not the first time she's driven others away with her behavior, Dominic's leaving still one of her lingering regrets, but in the heat of the moment, she doesn't know if she could catch herself. ]

If...If I end up acting like that again, will you knock me on the head?

[ She trusts Leon's judgment more than hers at this point. ]

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

[ He smiles at her, as they reach the kitchen. It's a slightly sad and worried expression, like most of his smiles are these days, but it's genuine. ]

I'll give you a stern talking-to and remind you of this conversation. How's that sound?

[madderbloom]

You're too nice.

[ She can take a knock to the head if it means stopping her from self-destructing. Regardless, it reassures her to have his support. ]

Thanks, Leon. ...I should probably say something to Lortel and Pratibha, too.

[ If they still want to talk to her. But first, some encouragement in the form of food. Time to take a look at what's in the kitchen. ]

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

That, and sometimes I don't know my own strength. Wouldn't want to go knocking you around too hard.

[ It's a lame joke, but it's something to break the tension a little, hopefully. Leon pulls some leftovers out of the fridge, looking them over. ]

Might be a good idea. They might want a little space before you try, or they might be ready to talk about it already. You'll have to feel it out. Anyway - either of these look good to you?

[ He holds out a couple containers - one of particularly reheatable-looking hors d'oeuvres from the ball, another of some kind of fried rice dish. ]

[madderbloom]

I guess that's true. I've seen how hard you can kick a door.

[ His comment gets her to crack a small smile, recalling their first week in the mansion. ]

I want those!

[ She points to the hors d'oeuvres. This girl loves her snacks. She doesn't know yet what she'd say to make up with her friends but she'll think about it when her stomach isn't growling. ]

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

[ Good. Mission accomplished, or at least a small but important sub-objective. Leon sorts the hors d'ouevres into 'best served chilled' and 'toastable' and pops the latter into the toaster oven on a tray before handing the rest to Anemone on a plate. ]

...Hey. For what it's worth? It takes some strength to know when it's time to apologize to people. Especially when it's at a time when you're still hurting. I can't speak for Pratibha or Lortel by telling you how it'll go, but. From me? Good job, realizing what you've got to do.