It's a terrible day in the neighborhood...

[superstylishschism]

[Once again, the bulletain board sports a note after the trial. It's in Nephenee's handwriting, and reads:]

Heya, everyone.

Miss Hinawa, Alastor, and I are making the food this week for the bonfire. It'll be at the normal time.
If ya wanna bring something for it, feel free to. We wanna do something a bit more this week.

Let's continue on, and fight for our friends,
Nephenee

[Instead of the usual boxed and bagged snacks from the cabinets, this time tables have been dragged out of the mess hall and loaded with real food. Cookies, cupcakes, pies and other assorted freshly baked goods are laid out for those who need something sweet to counter the sour taste the trial left in everybody's mouth while a few entrees and sides sit out for anyone who has an appetite for dinner.

As before, paper plates are set out by the bonfire, six of them this time. Each of the dead other than Betrayus is represented by a sketch of their face taped to a stake holding the plate to the ground. Each plate has a cupcake and an omurice sitting on it, plus themed cookies: a bat for Ashley, a Pokeball for Clair, a pair of sunglasses for Yomiel, a microphone for Callie, a feather for Pittoo and a boxing glove for Mac.

Sitting alone on a piece of paper with Betrayus' face on it is a ghost cookie. Looks like he gets slightly more than bupkis this time.]

Comments

[superstylishschism]

[There's no response at the knock, it's not until she announces herself that footsteps click on the other side of the door and it creaks open just a bit. He doesn't open it all the way, though, not wanting anyone else to see him right now.

Instead he heads back into the room and sits down heavily on the couch.]

[shslancer]

[She figured that...letting herself in, Nephenee immediately comes over and sits on the couch in a way that maximized hugging potential, being careful to avoid her hand, of course, when she does give him a wordless, big hug.]

[superstylishschism]

[His helmet is off, tossed carelessly on his bed, and the tear streaks on his face have been smeared as if he tried to wipe them off before they stopped coming. His eyes are flickering between bright and dim, an effect that makes it look rather like they're lit by candles.

When she hugs him, he wraps his arms around her in return, holding her tight. There's a desperation in it that doesn't show easily in his experssion through all of the other warring emotions, but with his arms around her it feels like he might be afraid to let go again.]

[shslancer]

[Oh Alastor...it hurts so much to see you like this. To feel the way he clings to her - not that she isn't back, because she is - hurts worse, and she shifts so he can lay his head on her shoulder...well, as much as he can with her armor on. Not before she presses a kiss to his forehead, though.]

Alastor...

[superstylishschism]

[He's trying not to cry on her, but it's hard right now. His emotions are such a mess, for once he's glad his powers are weakened. He doesn't want to know what he'd be doing to the weather in this state normally. He still has to take a moment to clear his throat before he can even speak hoarsly.]

Thanks...