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

[wannagetsmote]

[The false smile that Maui wore wavered. He thought back to the last time he had seen her, hurt because he'd stopped believing. Perhaps some part of him had hoped that by lashing out, he'd distinguish that fiery determination and keep her alive.

She wasn't strong enough to face Te Ka on her own, and he doubted she was strong enough to survive whatever murderous hell she found herself in. It was determination that had always been her strong point, even when she lacked the means to carry out her mission.

Perhaps this was just an extended punishment on behalf of the gods, making him watch a young girl throw her life away for a cause outside of herself.]

You know I can't encourage you, right? This is... This is worse than Te Ka. Bigger than Te Ka.

[truecalling]

These people aren't evil. [...] Not all of them. And you know it-- people have gotten out before. I'm not giving up.

[Not even if he told her to. But she does have a small reason for having a little more confidence than maybe she should at this early juncture.]

Oh yeah-- LeFou told me to tell you that he has a surprise for you and he'll see you soon. [For everything that's bad and frightening, she can't help smiling when she says--] And he loves you.

[She can't blame Maui for feeling that way now. But if she can pass on even a little bit of hope then it'll give her more for all that she'd lost this horrible week.]

They're working hard even now to save you all.

[wannagetsmote]

Evil would be easy. [Not that he ever expected to say that. He would have taken Tamatoa over the blood cricket, though.] Desperate, that's something else. Scared too.

[A large hand drifted toward his neck, grasping at a phantom pain as if that could make it go away. Parrying a massive ball of lava was somehow less painful than a kiss from a flame.]

Just. Take care of yourself. And... listen to other people. Ask for help.

[If he'd done that, he might have made it out alive.

Whatever bitterness remained, though, quickly seemed to dissipate. He perked up at the sound of Lefou's name, while his heart seemed to pound just a little harder.]

You've seen him? [His brows pulled together.] He's not there, is he? [And then another pause, long enough for a hot knife of regret to plunge into his gut.

He hadn't said it before. He'd nearly forgot to say it now.]

Yeah, yeah. Tell Shortstack I love him too. And that I'll be waiting for him. [And then another thoughtful pause.] There's some other people you should tell that to, if you can. Little blonde girl, and a white haired woman.

[truecalling]

[Yeah, that's-- probably something she needed to hear. Even she knows that. It was easy to forget when everyone needed someone to look to. She knew too well how to take care of others. Now she just had to work on also taking care of herself.]

...okay. I promise. For real.

[It's weird seeing this side of Maui. He was always a little soft but this--? This is cute.]

Yeah. This thing lets us see people. We've been able to talk to the people that survived too. Don't worry, he's safe. He's with them now. I only knew because someone told me about you two.

...don't worry. I'll tell him. But-- tell him yourself when you two see each other again, okay?

i'm sorry but i'm not

[madmadam]

[OH HEY WERE YOU TWO HAVING A MOMENT

BECAUSE THERE'S A PURPLE DRAGON JUST STOMPING AROUND BEHIND MAUI LAUGHING HER HEAD OFF RIGHT NOW]

[higitusfigitusmigitusmum]

[Meanwhile an old man is doing his best not to trip on his beard as he flees.]

MIM! ST-ST-STOP THIS AT ONCE OR ELSE I-I'LL-!!

[His sentence is cut off with a yelp as he dodges a breath of fire!]

[folkscallmewander]

[WHAT'S THAT? ARE YOU SETTING UP YOUR FANTASY LARP, MADAM MIM? Wander knows she's not but he can't just let her terrorize the others with doing something about it! And maybe teaching her what friendship is like!

A small orange...cat? Sentient peach? Jumps onto the dragon's tail, waving a banjo in the air that does not have the star decals his own does. He's also wearing a feathered hat he picked up from somewhere.]

Fear not, my dear wizard companion! For together we shall put a stop to this beast's rampage!

[This is what hell is like.]

[madmadam]

[Oh boy she's so glad they get to do this for an eternity]

OR YOU'LL DO WHAT, YOU OLD FART?- WH- HEY!

[Her rampage is interrupted by Sir Wander's entrance.] WILL YOU GET OFF! [She starts wagging her tail.]

[darthfanboy]

[he’s trying to sober up so there’s not any uh

on-camera activity but

a large metal helmet goes casually flying across the screen in the general direction of the dragon]