we're gonna afterparty and you're GOING TO FUCKING LIKE IT

[presomnia]

[Tiki wanders into the great hall expecting company, expecting a full room just like before to abate her loneliness and what she finds instead is...Mahiro, chillin'.

And no one else.

Okay. Cool. Fine. She'll throw a goddamn party herself IF THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING, TRY HER.

So she drags one (1) rude teen into the kitchen despite protests that he can't cook, finds Eizen actively in the middle of cooking, and takes full advantage of the situation and also her own cute charm until curry for two turns into curry for twenty four.

Everyone will find notes slipped under their door, courtesy of Tiki's new gopher since he refuses to cook, the first part written in loose, loopy handwriting like an elementary schooler who hasn't quite gotten the hang of the cursive they've been taught:]

Let's meet in the Great Hall together in about an hour and have dinner again this time, so nobody has to be alone.

[aaand under that in a completely different set of handwriting:]

I don't know why we're doing this after someone died from getting poisoned through food but at least there won't be any fucking cake. Don't come if you don't want to.

[hm. well.

in the Great Hall, Tiki's hard at work setting up Eizen's mabo curry for the taking (and she's bullied him into making exactly one plate of non-spicy curry because she loves Hanyuu), and also hard at work into bullying Mahiro into helping her set up silverware and plates and beverages. It's not much, but it's here.]

Comments

[presomnia]

Yeah.

[they're also how she expresses familiarity and fondness but she's a toddler and doesn't quite know how to articulate that so

yeah

that's it.]

[coinflipped]

[A sigh...]

Does that mean you like me or that you don't like me?

[Well, usually there's two reasons for nicknames and he's mentioned both.]

[presomnia]

I do! Why wouldn't I?

[why would someone give you a nickname to be MEAN!!!]

[coinflipped]

There are a lot of reasons to not like me.

[He shrugs but he's used to it. No hard feelings if people happen to hate him.]

[presomnia]

Oh. But you cooked for the party and offered to help me find my dragonstone.

[that's it, those are all her standards]

So I like you.

[coinflipped]

Well if that's the case...

[He can't argue with her...]

...I suppose I just have to accept what you're saying.

[presomnia]

I'm just saying what's true. [she looks super confused, actually? it's. they're facts, buddy. where's the point where they might not be accepted.]

Oh, thank you for cooking for everyone. I hope everyone else says so, too.

[coinflipped]

You're welcome.

[It comes out as a bit disgruntled, but it's nice to hear nonetheless.]

Maybe everyone did need a little food after that trial-- or something of a pick-me-up.

[presomnia]

[While she's not exactly peppy after everything that's happened, she looks a little pleased to hear that.]

I just thought it would be nice if nobody had to be alone. And...food brings people together sometimes, right?

[coinflipped]

I think it's complicated because people do want to be alone, but it's probably a bad time for people to be left alone.

[presomnia]

[Tiki genuinely can't wrap her mind around the concept of wanting to be alone, and she clearly looks baffled when Eizen says that. Expression pursing into a furious frown, she tilts her head.]

But people came here anyway. [A pause, considering.] Even if they act like it, I don't think anyone wants to be alone. ...Maybe they just don't realize.

[coinflipped]

Or they just want to escape the reality of what happened.

[And it's easier to do that around other people and food.]