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

[notasingleword]

[Hey buddy. Ariel approaches her with a weak wave. She knows that Kim and Jane were close so...

She's worried.]

[pinkflip]

[ Just...a nice, tight smile, faker than anything. ]

Hi, Ariel. How are- um, how are you?

[notasingleword]

[Oh Kim...

She reaches out and touches her face gently. Please don't force yourself; it's okay to let it out.]

[pinkflip]

[ O- oh. Oh, that's. Unexpected.

...She doesn't have many close friends in Florida. The girls are great, the ones she practices with, but she can't talk to them. Mom's in Paris. She doesn't get to see Trini anymore, because her best friend's too busy with...doing good things in the world. Aisha's halfway across the world. Her friends in Angel Grove, they can't come see her. (Why would they want to, she-- )

The point is, before here, she's been vastly missing the casual, comforting touch of a friend. She can't...really move in response, blinking in confusion, mouth open dumbly. ]

No, it's-- i-it's fine. I'm not--

[ Usually she's so much better at hiding it. ]

[notasingleword]

[Ariel just shakes her head. No... it's clear she's not, but how could she be after that? It was awful. She doesn't want Kim to hold it in.

She sidles up next to her in a seat and holds Kim close to her. Just let it out.]

[pinkflip]

[ ...Can she even cry anymore? She cried her eyes out already, she doesn't think she has any tears left?

So she just collapses into the embrace, shoulders shaking with silent sobs. ]

[notasingleword]

[Ariel just sits with her and lets Kim let it out. She pets her hair, but there's nothing she can say like this. She'll just sit here until Kim is done.]

[pinkflip]

[ It's maybe a few minutes later? No tears have actually come, true, but she's been struggling to catch her breath. ]

I- I promised her. I said- we'd get out together.

[notasingleword]

[What Kim says makes her hold her tighter. God this is horrible. Nobody deserves this. Especially someone like Kim.

What can she say? It's not your fault? It wasn't even really Jane's fault was it? She's shaking a little too now.]

[pinkflip]

I was s-so sure, too, but it just- in the end, I-I couldn't...do anything--

[ She squeezes her eyes tightly shut. ]

She probably just felt even worse.

[notasingleword]

[Ariel pulls back from that comment and shakes her head at Kim. It's not her fault; she shouldn't blame herself! Jane would be so sad if she heard that...

She grabs her journal to write down her thoughts.]

"You can't blame yourself for this. We're all powerless here. Jane wouldn't want you to be sad."

[pinkflip]

B-but I shouldn't be.

[ If she hadn't left- (everyone has powers they had taken, that just would've happened to her)

If she could just- ]

I just- I g-gave her false hope, and kept saying I- I'd protect people from the monster. But--

[notasingleword]

[Crap. Is she actually making this worse? She still wants to try and help...]

"Hope is all we have right now. Giving Jane hope wasn't wrong. She needed it. You were there for her."

[pinkflip]

But I couldn't save her!

[ She bites her lip, hard. ]

She's still...gone.

[notasingleword]

[Oh no... she really is making it worse. Why is she so bad at this? Maybe she's been hanging out with Freddie too much.

Ariel holds Kim's hands in her own, rubbing them with her thumb. She doesn't know what else to say, but she wants Kim to know she isn't alone here. She wishes none of them had to meet under these circumstances...]

[pinkflip]

[ Kimberly shuts her eyes and slumps her shoulders, sniffling though no tears are coming. After a few moments, she murmurs: ]

I- I'm sorry. I don't think...anything's going to make me feel better, right now.

[notasingleword]

[Ariel is quick to shake her head. It's totally okay and totally understandable, so there's no need to be sorry. She does write her a quick note though.]

"I'm here for you if you need me. Please don't hesitate, okay?"

[pinkflip]

[ She peaks out when she hears writing and nods dismally. ]

Thank you... R-really, thank you for...coming over here, Ariel.

[notasingleword]

[She nods, giving her a weak smile. Of course. She squeezes Kim's hand one last time before walking away.]