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

[burgerprince]

[If Clarisse had responded in any less of a Clarisse way he would've turned tail and ran, so there's some relief as she speaks, though the entire situation just has him on edge.]

You had me convinced. Good job.

[Not just on her innocence, right until the end, but on her everything else.]

[snideper]

[Any other time, she glows under praise, but she doesn't react at all now, doesn't move or change her expression. It would be nice to feel pride over how many people who didn't care for her still defended her, but "almost" doesn't count for anything.]

Not like it matters now.

[burgerprince]

[He shrugs, not explicitly agreeing or disagreeing.]

What was it all about?

[snideper]

Why do you care?

[burgerprince]

Because you killed a kid over it and you're about to die?

[He stares for a moment before turning his gaze away.]

Because I just watched you do a complete one-eighty from everything I thought I knew about you, going from 'likes: murder' to...this.

[He looks back, eyes twitching between looking at Clarisse and literally everything but her.]

[snideper]

Surprised you aren't thrilled to see me back down and get out of your hair.

[But that doesn't carry much emotion to it, either, except exhaustion. She doesn't turn or even look at him, but her eyes focus on some point in front of her instead of gazing uselessly at nothing, then drift to stare at some particular spot on the ground.]

[burgerprince]

[There's not even half a laugh.]

Not like this.

[snideper]

[The soft puff of air she exhales might be a heh, or something close to it.]

You're so picky. All you do is complain.

[She almost sounds amused, maybe, but there isn't enough of her left to express more than almost and maybe.]

[burgerprince]

[That’s more like it. Whilst Jughead’s not smiling, he does seem a slight more at ease.]

I just know what I’m about. It’s kind of my thing.

[snideper]

[She gives another little puff of air, but...she doesn't have another snarky retort for this one, and she settles again towards that empty quiet.]

Either way, I'm not interested in indulging anyone's curiosity over pointless things.

[burgerprince]

It’s not pointless.

[But he’s not sure she’s willing to believe that.]

Got anything better to do?

[snideper]

Then what is the point?

[She doesn't have anything better to do, but if she acknowledges it, either she has to open up, or she refuses and he leaves and she's alone again—so she skips that question for now.]

[burgerprince]

That’s what I’m asking you.

[He folds his arms, expectant.]

[snideper]

Then I'm telling you there is none. The brat's dead and you're all a few hours shy of being rid of me. Nothing I say changes that, so who cares?

[But this sounds hollow, too; matter-of-fact if anything at all before hurt or even annoyed by any of it.]

[burgerprince]

It changes the story left behind.

[He says it with enough weight that he doesn't have to answer that last question.]