This is fine. It's fine. We're fine.

[sharpasanarrow]

[Well that was.

Something.

Underneath everyone’s door they’ll find a slip of paper, in shaky calligraphy, that reads:

INVITATION

Meet in the Dining Room.

Do not bring alcohol of any sort.

Upon arrival into the Dining Room it’s clear that this is very much...not a party.

The center of the room is cleared of all tables, and instead has all the chairs arranged in a circle, facing inwards. On the tables pushed to the side are jugs of water, cups, plates of saltines, and several hastily-made pamplets that read on the front ”How to cope with Child homicide” that contains an advisory list:

1. Try not to think about it.
2. Do not get hysterical.
3. Crying is permitted, but keep it within a reasonable volume. (For the consideration of fellow mourners)
4. Maintain civility
5. Do not plunder the belongings of the deceased.
6. No drinking or gambling your sorrows away. Set an example.

Standing in front of one of the chairs already is Mr.Arrow. He clears his throat as people start to slowly come in.]

I gathered you all here because I believed it would be conductive to group morale if we all worked through our feelings regarding recent events. Talk about your feelings with one another, but not with me.

[He steps back a little, out of the circle of chairs, in what seems to be an invitation for people to sit down and discuss with one another.]

Comments

[faciliheir]

[hey what happens when seeing a child be brutally murdered in front of you makes you suddenly Care That You Were An Asshole for the first time in your life and you're like well now I gotta make up for this somehow.

so she's decided that since words are hard but music is easy, she'll do her own sort of memorial to the kid. after all, she's probably the only other one here who knows any Neverland songs. even if her exposure to the genre is. limited.

which is why she'll be sitting at the party with her guitar, strumming out a nice little acoustic version of, well. this. An Effort Was Made.]

[truecalling]

[The sentiment is something Moana can appreciate. And the music brings a little life to the room that was otherwise pretty devoid of it.]

It's a nice song.

[faciliheir]

A friend taught it to me. Her dad really liked it. [strums] It's from a place Jane was... from? Had been to, anyways. Didn't really get it too much.

[truecalling]

I'm sure Jane would be really happy to hear it.

[It's the thought that counts most.]

[faciliheir]

She'd probably be glad to hear anything right now. 'Cause she's dead.

[SHE DOESN'T. KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS.]

[truecalling]

Well... yes.

[She can't deny it's. True. But.]

But when things are bad, you know... it's nice having something familiar to hold on to. You know?

[faciliheir]

Hm. I get that.

[pause. a small grin.] What sorta music do they play over on, uh, Moteynukey? Maybe I can give some of the living stuff to hold onto.

[truecalling]

Heh. It's island music-- good for dancing. [considering the stock, they probably have enough instruments] I could teach you a little.

[faciliheir]

I'm actually from an island-- probably not the kind you're from, though. Yours is probably nicer.

Hum me a little something. I can work off of that.

[notasingleword]

[Ariel is sticking very close by her like usual. Today was...rough. Nope it was awful. At some point when Freddie takes a break between songs, she slumps up against her and holds her arm.]

[faciliheir]

[you know there are silver linings on even the darkest of clouds. like sad girls giving her attention. totally worth the child death.]

Two down. Who knows how many left to go.

[notasingleword]

[Her grip tightens for a moment before she sits up. She writes something down before handing it to Freddie.]

"I'm scared it'll be you."

[faciliheir]

[pause as she reads it.]

Me that they find in the morning, or me that gets sent off for execution? [because who knows which.]

[notasingleword]

[Ah... Ariel doesn't want to think about Freddie killing someone, but if Jane could kill, anyone could at this point. It makes her sick to her stomach. She makes a new note.]

"It doesn't matter. I'm terrified of the idea of you being gone."

[faciliheir]

[well how the fuck do you respond to that shit. raw human emotion is confusing.]

I'm... I wouldn't want you gone, either. It'd be... weird.

[notasingleword]

[Ah. Right. She could die too. Hearing Freddie admit this though... it makes her heart flutter a little.

Man did she makes this weird? Ariel looks her in the eyes and smiles weakly. Her hand locks into Freddie's naturally. It's the best way she can say "Thank you."]

[faciliheir]

[why is every moment of her life now some level of gay crisis.

she just kinda. tightens her grip a little bit. which is pretty much the only way she can say anything right now.]

[kickbuttseatnuts]

[TBH SG is just silently glaring from a distance.

Slightly peeved still maybe.]

[faciliheir]

[pauses, quirks lip. suddenly changes her playing.

spidermaaaaaaaan]

[kickbuttseatnuts]

[you

motherfucker]

...you aren't gonna get me.

[faciliheir]

I'm just sitting here, playing this guitar! [FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDERMAN]

[kickbuttseatnuts]

[She starts tapping her foot.]

You aren't gonna get me.

[faciliheir]

What? Don't like my playing? [CATCHES THIEVES JUST LIKE FLIES]

[kickbuttseatnuts]

That's whhhhhhyyyy,
Her name is Squirrel Girl.....

[faciliheir]

I don't even know what I won, but I feel pretty sure I just did.