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

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

[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.]

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[She's no better at talking about her feelings, which is what always makes these situations ten times harder. Instead of getting it out, Edna's just as likely to bottle them up. At least it can't be said that she's subtle. Direct or not, there's not much room to say her anger doesn't show.

Edna takes the bottle of rum-- it might be a bit before he gets it back-- and sits on top of the desk, looking over at him.]

Do you want to tell me what that was back there?

[During the first trial she'd never once doubted him. The idea that he'd even for a moment thought she'd keep something like that from him-- that's what's really been bothering her. Why did he have to think that...?]

[He's looking up at her, his legs and arms both crossed like he's a rebellious teenager who is going to stand his ground no matter what. The reasons he felt he needed to go that far were good reasons in his mind given how many people's judgement were clouded by emotion.]

What that was back there was proving your innocence.

[He knew the evidence wouldn't point to her and all the more reason to compare it to her so people wouldn't accuse her. Then again, people tried pointing to Eizen when the evidence contradicted him so maybe it would have had the opposite effect, but it worked.]

That's funny.

[Edna kicks her legs back and forth idly, eyes narrowing just slightly.]

It seemed like you were the only person who wasn't sure.

[Trust issues... she may have developed a few. It's easier to doubt everything than believe everything and be fooled when you're inevitably wrong.]

[When she says that he grimaces just a bit. There's no denying that maybe he wondered if she had a regret she'd kill over. He wouldn't blame her if she did, honestly. Considering he hadn't been there by her side for hundreds of years he can't even begin to claim he truly understands her, even though he'd argue he does.]

I wouldn't have blamed you if you did choose to kill.

[So it wasn't fear that lead him, but... perhaps curiosity.

No, it was selfishness. A wonder if 'what if I caused this regret due to being who I am?' But he won't say that out loud.]

So I wanted to be sure.

Good to know.

[She says, like she'll actually consider that for the future. It's hard to tell if she's doing that to give him a hard time or if she's serious. But that's how she always is.]

If I did, would it really make any difference if I told you or not?

[And then as if she decides she really doesn't want to go that road, she keeps going, not waiting for his answer.]

Anyway. I didn't, so it doesn't matter.

[He's about to answer her question before he's cut off. Perhaps it's best he not answer her truthfully. At this point, he's already closed off and not really sure how to express his feelings. Of course, he did so once, but that was extremely hard and that was through a letter.

Face to face is different.]

You didn't and I'm glad for it.

[It would have destroyed him if she killed and suddenly was taken away from him, but he doesn't feel like he really has that right to complain? Not after what he did to her leaving her by herself.

For now, he takes a plate of curry and sets it on his lap so he can start eating. Right... they're just... going to avoid feelings because they're goddamn good at this game.]

They'll have to do a little better than that if I'm going to do all that work.

[Because murder and misdirection is a chore okay. And maybe, just maybe she wants him to worry just a little bit less.

...trying to stay mad at him at this point really is useless, isn't it?]

Who knows what will happen next. But if you keep thinking about it, this place will drain you.

[She scoots over on the desk. Once she's close enough she just-- wraps her arms around his shoulders and leans her head against his. Much as her instincts fight for her to be stubborn, she needs this-- probably as much as, if not more than he does.]

It won't drain me.

[God, Edna, he's a pirate and usually he's the one doing the draining out of people since he's cursed and all. Still, when she wraps her arms around him it's like everything that was wrong just... disappears. He places his plate of curry back on the desk so he can loosely embrace her in return.

Resting his forehead against hers he just feels completely re-energized.]

Worrying about you all the time hasn't killed me yet.

[...there we go...]

[oh god. feelings. does she have to reciprocate? can't she just pretend everything is fine while the world around her burns?

....fine. Edna sighs.]

At least one of us will live.

[yeah she worries about you okay. sue her.

still. if she dies, she'll remember this. she'll remember all of this and have no regrets. funny how you can be grateful to a kidnapper for something.]

You mean both of us will live.

[He'll do everything in his power... Everything he can. He can't lose this at all.]

That's an awful lot of confidence, coming from the Reaper.

[It makes her smile. If he can believe it, then why couldn't she?]

It's only confidence because I won't allow it.

[Then again, this is the reason he became a Reaper. Because he wanted to grow more powerful to protect her.]

Guess I can just sit back and let you take care of it this time.

[Sitting back and letting him do the work sounds nice.]

I'll do my damned best, then.

[Because he's not letting her go at all while here, especially since it seems his domain has weakened.]

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