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]

[idly] How many years do rats get, anyways?

[bestchefinparis]

I know some lucky ones got to four. Dad is getting close to four.

[Give him a moment, talking about Dad's making him miss that old rat]

I'm around a year and...eight, nine months. I'm not sure.

[He's an adult, by rat years]

[faciliheir]

So, objectively, you have about two or three good years left in you, while Jane had... Well, maybe forever. Depending. [on Neverland Shit.] Probably at least 80.

[bestchefinparis]

...believe or not, that's not helping.

[faciliheir]

... You wanted help? For what? [YOU ASKED A QUESTION SHE ANSWERED IT CRAWL OUT OF HER ASS REMY]

[bestchefinparis]

Nevermind.

[He should have guessed Freddie wasn't earning any titles for Miss Congeniality]

You didn't take any of this hard at all. Guess you must be used to this kind of thing or something like that.

[faciliheir]

I mean, I can't say I've seen too many murdered kids in my time, but awful stuff happens all the time. If you spent all your time crying about it or wondering what you could've done to change things, you'd never get any sleep. So, I don't.

[bestchefinparis]

Some would say that's pretty cold of you...

[It doesn't sound like he's judging, at least. It must be because he can see the logic behind that, even if he doesn't like it]

[faciliheir]

Warmness doesn't get you too far on the Isle. [shrugs] I've been called worse.

[bestchefinparis]

You're not on the Isle right now.

[Maybe there'd be no harm in not being so dismissive since you're not there. It's all about the location]

[faciliheir]

No, I'm not. I almost wish I was. [said no one ever]

"You can take the girl out of the Isle, but you can't take the Isle out of the girl." That's what people say now, now that girls actually leave the Isle.

[bestchefinparis]

You don't think the more time away you spend, the more you'll change? [It doesn't sound like Freddie is fond of that place, but still...] You could try to find a way to not have to return, if you don't want to.

[faciliheir]

I don't know. I've already changed a whole lot; I've helped foil a whole two villainous plots. [when before she'd be making them.] But, living in Auradon hasn't made me an Auradonian, with all that involves-- being good and kind and gentle. I'll always be me. That's all there is to it.

[bestchefinparis]

I guess that's better than changing if you don't want to change. I can't say I have made villainous plots besides a couple petty actions I planned, but at least I get the part about not changing despite being somewhere.

[faciliheir]

If you're happy the way you are, why change? 'Cause some people who think they're better than you think you should? Count me out.

[oh hey look it's the. same sort of bitterness that sparked her jerkness during the trial.]

[bestchefinparis]

...I never thought of it that way. I refused to change because it just felt right to do what I wanted to do...

[It's a way to look at it, he guesses]