credits roll over the edge of horizons, that I haven't discovered yet

[ososoi]

[ Well... fuck that trial, honestly. ]

[ But despite everything... as much as he just wants to shut down after everything that's happened this week... Osomatsu will make an effort to be helpful. For all the remaining others' sake. ]

[ So, later on, he'll leave notes for everyone. ]

if ya dont wanna be alone
come to the sutabaa starbucks
theres food and drinks

[ The handwriting and colour makes it clear who the notes are from. ]

[ And indeed, the Starbucks area has a surprising amount of food and drinks, albeit it's mostly stuff like the pre-made food (that he didn't make himself) from the bakery (like muffins, croissants, bagels, cakes, cookies, etc.) and a bunch of bottles of soda (with paper cups). But it's still surprising, considering it's Osomatsu. The tables have been set up with platefuls of food and everything. It took a while but here it is. ]

[ So yeah, feel welcome to join in. And you're always welcome to help out with the party. ]

[ Everybody needs a little help every once in a while. ]

Comments

[ososoi]

[ Meanwhile, Osomatsu himself is sitting at one of the tables, resting his head in his arms, looking like he's gonna doze off. ]

[ Apparently setting this up took a lot out of him. Or maybe the trial left him exhausted. It could go either way, really. And there's also a bruise on his left cheek just underneath his eyepatch, like he banged into something while setting this all up. ]

[ That said, you might see him looking more awake at certain times, wandering around, trying to check on people. Trying. ]

[ Trying's better than nothing. ]

[myliteratureclub]

[Monika is hesitant at first, but eventually she approaches Osomatsu. She lightly clears her throat to announce herself while he's sitting at one of the tables.]

Thank you putting this together, Osomatsu.

[ososoi]

[ He raises his head. ]

Ah... You're welcome.

I just had to help out, ya know?

[myliteratureclub]

Right. I understand the feeling.

[...]

I-I'm so sorry you had to see her like that...

[swordsinternally]

[ Yeah, Tsukasa's going to actually go to the afterparty this week. He's a little exhausted from it all but he's here. And he actually has coffee for once, in spite of him very much a tea person.

What people might notice is that he's also a little distracted-- he's also brought a notebook that he's been writing in, too, but it doesn't seem that he'll turn down someone if they pass by.

Since... no, he'd rather not be alone right now. ]

[buriedearth]

[ Terra's not exactly a coffee person either, so he just has some soda and cookies. ]

Hey, Tsukasa. Mind if I join you?

[swordsinternally]

No, I don't mind at all. It's fine.

[buriedearth]

[ He'll nod and take a seat. ]

...Making some notes?

[ He saw him writing in the notebook, so he thought that might be the case. ]

[newhire]

[Vivienne is a fan of coffee herself. But she can't really bring herself to get anything. That doesn't mean she doesn't make a small appearance.

And she stops by Tsukasa, watching him for a moment before placing a gentle hand on his head.]

[swordsinternally]

Huh? [ Tsukasa finds himself caught off guard-- he's in fact fact rather surprised to the point where his face turns a bright scarlet. ] Vivienne... hey.

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

[The note Osomatsu leaves outside Poe's door is left outside it. It's been violently torn into shreds. Poe doesn't emerge until late at night when he thinks no one will be awake. His door has been accidentally left open. His usually organize room is a mess items have been violently thrown around and there's written upon papers scattered everywhere.

He can be found in the sim room. His hair is covering his eyes again and back in it's old hairstyle. He's set it to what he remembers Gogol set it to after Waver's trial. There's a simulated version of the man himself there in his stupid top hat and his stupid cape and his stupid grin. Poe is yelling at him. It's clear he has been for a while based on how hard he's breathing.]

- and just- just- the worst part is that you were part of the reason I even considered opening up again in the first place! And look where it lead me! Pain! Heartbreak! This- this wouldn't have happened If I just kept hating you! Why couldn't you have shown your more human side to everyone else?! What made me special?! Why did you care!? Why didn't you tell me you- you-

[With a loud guttural scream he shoves the fake Gogol. It causes the fake Gogol to disappear. He's left there panting and shaking. Then he just fall to his knees. Maybe.... it's time to close himself off again. Telling everyone here about everything The Guild did should do the trick. It should get them to leave him. Then he could be alone. Again.]

sim room

[swordsinternally]

[ Guess who frequents the simulation room and actually is up at absurdly late hours at night? Tsukasa is, apparently, and he's well... He's concerned, actually, and it shows as he carefully steps in, not entirely sure of what to say at first before he speaks up, timidly. ]

Should... I come back later?

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

[Poe freezes. It takes a few moments for him to speak. When he does his voice is cold and detached. Flat as he can manage]

Do that. Leave.

[swordsinternally]

Now that you're saying it like that...

[ There's a little bit of hesitance in his voice, but he tries his best to make his voice firm.

Maybe he's making a mistake.

But he wants to try. ]

... I'll stay.

[newhire]

[The entire trial, she hadn't been able to go to that room. Certainly part of that was that the Headmaster made her uncomfortable-- but any other time she would have fought through it for her students. What makes her hesitate now is the uncomfortable guilt she feels.

If... she'd just finished Poe's request sooner... Maybe she could have stopped all this.

But "maybe" isn't something to put your faith in. Or... or is it?

She stands at the back of the room and listens as he breaks down. She visibly flinches when he yells. Yet she stands and waits and--

When he falls, she steps forward and drops to her knees so that she can hug him tightly.]

...It's not over. You can still... You can still grant his wish. And you have the ability to grant your own, too.

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

[Poe freezes at the hug. Then he laughs. It’s quiet at first. Then it’s somwhere between a sob and loud manic laughter. He does his best to extract himself from the hug. He’s not going to hurt her. But he doesn’t want to be hugged right now. Not again. She wouldn’t understand.]

He got his wish. He’s free. My wish was for him to be happy with me and stay.They were and are incompatible. Now my wish is to just be left alone and stop feeling. I don’t know why I was foolish enough to think I could ever have relationships that didn’t end badly. I want to have not to been foolish enough to fall in love in a place like this.

[newhire]

...he's not free. Not... probably the way he wants to be.

[But. She'll let him go. She'll stare at the ground. But that won't stop her from talking.]

He's gone to the same place they all have. The place from where you conversed with them before. I'm sure he's already learned that he's faced the same fate as the others.

There's... a place where those wishes aren't incompatible. Outside of this school. And I'm going to get you there. All of you.

simulation room;

[buriedearth]

[ That...sure is a sight. ]

...Poe?

[ He'll step forward anyways, to center himself more into the room. He doesn't feel like he can just leave this. Maybe he'll make it worse, but ... leaving him alone didn't seem acceptable. ]

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

[He freezes. It takes a few moments for him to respond. It’s cold and monotone.]

Go away Terra. Leave.

[buriedearth]

Why should I?

[ You may be an adult and older than him (?) Poe, but that doesn't mean Terra's going to be listening. ]

After what happened, it's only natural to be worried about you, right?

[reshoot]

[Max sits in the corner of the Starbucks by herself. It's nice that the others are around, but she really needs to think a bit. Chloe and Tess would both be pissed about what happened today, but even so...Maybe that was just what the clown needed to hear? She'll never know now. She holds a cup of coffee for warmth and never drinks it.]

...It was really supposed to be me, huh...

[ososoi]

[ Osomatsu cautiously approaches Max. ]

...Hey Max.

[ Congrats, Max, you've achieved yobisute status! ]

How are ya copin'?

[reshoot]

I guess I made myself an easy target, huh?

[She shakes her head and looks over at Osomatsu, smiling.]

I'm fine though, thanks. How about you?

[buriedearth]

...You're thinking about what that clown said?

[ Hey, Max.

Terra definitely approached her, looking kind of ... well it's hard to say what kind of expression's settled, but here he is. He has definitely grabbed some cookies too.

Probably silly question, but...he asked anyways. ]

[reshoot]

It's not about what he said, it's about...what he intended to do.