AFTER-ICE-CREAM-PARTY

[pecker]

[Boy everyone is so bloodthirsty tonight. And now a kid is dead and another is gonna execute. Do y'all need some baskin robbins, because it seems like you do!!! So before everyone can leave, Niwatori raises her voice louder than it's gone before now to draw a little attention, and then deflates immediately when she actually gets it.]

Excuse me, please! U-um... this case was really hard, and I think we could all use some time to cool our heads before we finally go back. So... ice cream? Who's with me?

[she'll lead the pack there and anyone else can go home or to visit Clarisse on the set of Orange is the new Black.

Niwa's not that good of a host though, she just gets her own ice cream and lets everyone serve themselves. Who is she to limit your freedom. (Someone who doesn't want to be partly responsible for a Millium Monstrosity, that's who.)]

Comments

[robitussin]

[Natalie doesn't come to the ice cream parlor after the invitation is given. She stays in her room for a while, but when pacing the floor doesn't help with her restlessness and sleep won't come to her easily, she simply leaves.

She isn't seeking anyone out before she makes it to the park, taking a seat on a bench. Should anyone come across her, her legs are pulled up to her chest and her arms are wrapped around her knees as she looks up at the stars. She looks lost in thought, troubled - it's not a surprise that most people would be, after all that.

Still, should anyone come her way...]

Yeah?

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus comes towards her on his way to another pigeon grave, Gerard by his side. As he sprouts another flower to lay on it, along with a rock dropped by Gerard, he hears her speak.]

...I apologize. I simply had business here. [If she looks, she'll see him in the middle of laying down the flower.]

[robitussin]

[She glances his way for a moment, giving a small shrug.]

You don't have to apologize for existing in my general vicinity. It's fine.

[silvertongueheir]

[He nods.] Still, I didn't mean to disturb you. [A pause] You worry a lot about Millium, don't you?

[robitussin]

[She pauses before answering that, her eyes narrowing slightly.]

Why?

[silvertongueheir]

I simply noticed you standing up for her during the trial. And trying to prevent her from killing.

[robitussin]

...Okay, so you noticed. What about it?

[It hasn't been long since it happened, and it's hard not to get upset thinking about it; some of that is reflected in her tone.

[silvertongueheir]

[He looks thoughtful.] One of my teammates is around her age, too. He's a quiet boy, but he's a telepath, so he understands much more than you'd expect. Sometimes I forget not everyone expects so much of children so young. [He sighs a bit.] Still, even Liam has never taken a life. And even though I trust him enough in battle and planning, there are things I would rather keep him from. [Another, longer pause. It seems he's not sure how much else to say.]

[robitussin]

[There's another moment, before her voice turns more blunt.]

Sorry, but why are you telling me any of this?

[silvertongueheir]

...to let you know I understand both sides. She's young, but she was raised to do those sorts of things. But it's natural for you to worry, even if she doesn't seem to understand why you would.

[robitussin]

[After a few moments, she continues, blunt again.]

We've talked, like, once. It isn't a huge priority for me to make sure you understand.

[#sorry franciscus]

[prayerwheel]

[ Oh. Huh. She didn't expect anyone else to be here. ]

Ah--my apologies for disturbing you, I was heading to the lake. Spending time near water often helps me clear my mind.

[robitussin]

[After a moment, she gives a shrug, shaking her head.]

You don't anything to apologize for. It's fine, seriously.

[prayerwheel]

[ Azura nods. She'll walk up and stand beside Natalie, but isn't taking a seat--she'll give her her space.

There's a pause, and she doesn't say anything for a good few moments. It's less of an awkward pause than last time, she feels, the park is pretty calming. ]

...how are you feeling? That was...very different from last week.

[ clarisse holy fuck ]

[robitussin]

[After a momentary pause of her own:]

I'll be fine. It's not like we really have a choice, do we?

[burgerprince]

[Jughead's - well - he's not exactly glad to see Natalie like this, but she's as close to a friend as he's got here, so he sits down on the bench, hands in his pockets weighing him down like an anchor.]

That was-

[He exhales.]

Hardcore.

[robitussin]

[She shifts when she notices him, feet moving to the ground and arms uncrossing. She presses her palms against the bench instead, kicking her legs back and forth absentmindedly.]

...There are a number of other words I would use to describe it, but that one works well enough, I guess. Are you...

[She trails off, uncertain of how to finish that. Obviously he isn't okay, she thinks, so she lets the sentence end there.]

[burgerprince]

[A tense breath.]

Not sure.

[Definitely not okay, but he can't work out what he's feeling instead.]

You?

[robitussin]

...About the same.

[But, she's quick to follow that up with:]

I'll be fine, though, so it's not... It's not fine, but I'll live.

[burgerprince]

You sure about that?

[It's a dark joke, but what else is he supposed to come out with right now?]

[robitussin]

[She answers quickly, just as dark but with an added kind of heat to her voice. Like pent up steam escaping from a container that doesn't have any space to spare.]

Yes, of course. As one of the few people who has no combat experience or weird superpowers or anything that could be remotely useful in this situation, I have always been and remain completely confident in that fact.

[She leans back slightly, running her hands over her face for a moment before continuing.]

Sorry. Never mind, just... It's been a long day.

[burgerprince]

[He doesn't mind the outburst, he realizes it needed to come out, and he only prodded at it. He looks out into the distance.]

Makes two of us.

[He tries to be nonchalant but it's not working.]

...They were just kids. We're...just kids.

[robitussin]

[She glances towards him, honest concern on her face, before she speaks.]

You're smart, and you've got, like... murder mystery experience, right?

[That's not intended to downplay his very legitimate worry; rather, it's an attempt to try and reassure him, even a little.]

I don't... get why any of this is happening. I just want to go home.

[It sounds like it's hard to get the words out, somehow. Dislikes: vulnerability, and all that.]

[burgerprince]

Right. My time in the scooby gang will be sure to keep me safe from all those guys with superpowers and long criminal histories.

[Said more lightheartedly than dismissive, he appreciates what she's trying to say.]

It's just...fucked.

[He shakes his head, and leans back. The less he thinks about it right now, the better.]

What’s home like for you?

[robitussin]

It's probably given you more common sense than, like, half the people here. I mean, if you're not in the habit of wandering around on Thursday nights, you're doing great so far.

[She drums her nails against the bench's seat, a nervous motion she's barely aware she's doing.]

...Bullshit, basically, but better than life and death bullshit.