We're... friends... right?

[newhire]

[Her students... friends? The Apprentices here have always gathered in the aftermath of even the worst tragedies. And she wants to support that strength they find in one another.

With Tsukasa's help, she's made a star-shaped cake. The icing is shades of yellow and orange, and there's a little card next to it that says `Happy Birthday Terra`. It's rather lovely, thanks to Tsukasa's help. But it's nothing extravagant. She also throws together various drinks of all types and some snacks-- but the others are welcome to make additions to the food options. She's not very skilled with that type of thing.

Likewise, when it's finished, she leaves notes for everyone.]

Should you wish, there's food and drink in the cafeteria. I'll be here, if you want to talk. You don't have to be alone after something like that.

Take care.

- Vivienne

[Like she said, she's... staying. Should anyone want to talk to her. Anything else she had planned could wait.]

Comments

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

[Poe freezes for a good few seconds before his shoulders slump in defeat and he slowly turns to look at Gogol.]

.... I know.

[But... he's desperate. So desperate to dull the stabbing feeling in his chest. So desperate to dull the anger at himself and the regret at not realizing sooner just what Waver meant to him.]

[sendintheclown]

[He moves from the doorway, and walks over, hovering just behind him.]

Then stop.

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

[He grips the ouija board's planchette harder in stubbornness.]

...... Why do you care?

[It's not like Poe wasting his time clinging to an bit of false hope is going to hurt Gogol.]

[sendintheclown]

Because-

[Watching this is uniquely sad, and painful, in ways that affect them both.]

We're friends, aren't we?

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

... We are.

[His grip on the planchette loosens slightly and he actually turns to look at Gogol. Poe looks tired. So very, very, very tired. He's... listening fully now though... even if he's not moving away from the Ouija board.]

[sendintheclown]

[Gogol offers him a peaceful smile, and holds out a hand. They've both lost people today, though their feelings are different on the matter, they are at least in the same situation.]

Let him be.

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

I....

[Poe looks back and forth between Gogol's hand and the planchette for a few moments. It... seems like an eternity before Poe makes his decision. The planchette falls to the floor with a clatter as Poe reaches out to carefully take Gogol's hand. If he's clinging to it like an lifeline then.... well... he's not going to comment on it.]

... Okay.

[sendintheclown]

[Gogol keeps hold of it gently, and looks over to the control panel of the room.]

Let's go somewhere nicer.

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

... Right.

[Poe looks over the control panel briefly... but soon turns away to look back at Gogol. He did it last time after Waver's death. It's Gogol's turn now.]

[sendintheclown]

[Gogol gently guides him over, and inputs a scene.

A frozen lake, perfectly reflecting the sky, surrounded with snow-covered trees that make the distinction of up and down disorienting.

It's quiet, and still, and the cold isn't intrusive in the least.]

Here.

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

It's... beautiful.

[It's... very peaceful too. And... quiet. So very quiet. He... can appreciate that right now very much.]

[sendintheclown]

[Gogol looks out into the open space. It really was as beautiful as it sounded when he'd described it. A living dream.]

If you go onto the ice, it'll almost be like you're flying.

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

I... think I'd be more likely to fall than fly.

[He's well aware he isn't exactly graceful when it comes to athletics.]

[sendintheclown]

[He laughs, and thinks back to their trust falls oh so long ago.]

I'll be sure to catch you.

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

.... I trust you.

[They've come a long way since then.]

[sendintheclown]

And I'm supposed to be the fool.

[Gogol takes a step into the snow, feet falling with a delicate, almost unreal sound, and leads Poe towards the lake.]

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

.... You trust me too though. We're both fools.

[He's a known traitor- what he did to The Guild was most certainly that- and in love with one of Gogol's direct enemies. Poe lets Gogol lead him along. He... can't say he's not nervous... but he trust him.]

[sendintheclown]

I can afford to be.

[It's an act he's committed to. The tragic fool.

As they step out onto the ice, it's sturdy, smooth, but not uncontrollably so.]

You don't have to worry about footwear, by the way. I've covered that.

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

It's worked out well for the both of us so far.

[Poe is wary as he steps out onto the ice, but doesn't hesitate. He doesn't think Gogol will let him fall... and besides. If he does... they are holding hands. If one goes down... so does the other.]

Right... um... I... have no idea what I'm doing here. So... um... you can lead?

[sendintheclown]

[In this moment, Gogol's only reminded further of skating with Mitarai. The smile on his face is warm amidst the cold landscape.]

Of course! [He makes a slow start, and pulls Poe along.] Should I be surprised you've never done this before?

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

[Poe's just... going to copy whatever Gogol is doing.]

Probably not.... I've never tried this before. It'd... be very embarrassing to fall with people around... and ah... I've never been an athletic type anyway.

[sendintheclown]

[A laugh. Poe, he had no thoughts of you ever willingly doing exercise in your life.]

Here's a great time to start! [Gogol starts to move with greater strides, putting more of a distance between the two of them, but still taking hold of him.] The trick is not to hesitate!

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

I guess...

[He has no idea what he's doing, but he'll try this no hesitation thing. If Gogol says that's the
trick, then... it probably is.]

Erm... there's more to it than that, right?

[sendintheclown]

The rest-

[He lets go of Poe's hand.]

Is intuition.

[blackcatintheruemorgue]

Clown!

[He's going to move on after him.]