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

[upgradeit]

[:D]

Sorry, I. Today was a lot.

[Hiro brings his hand up to his shoulder cover Marco's and smiles before letting his hand drop back down. That's not too gay, right???? Is that weird?????? How do people do physical affection????????????]

I didn't mean to just dump that on you.

[nachosquire]

[Nah man, that isn't too weird. He's held hands with a demon guy he used to hate before so it's Fine.]

What? Nooo, it's... totally fine.

[Marco takes his hand back then, and rubs his other arm with it a little awkwardly.]

I came in to see if you were okay so, like, I dunno... I'm glad you trust me enough to open up like that, I guess?

[It's better than if Hiro said "I'm okay." and left it at that, he thinks.]

[upgradeit]

. . . I'm not really used to hanging out with people my own age?

[All of his friends are ambiguously 4 or more years older than him, because uh. He sure skipped almost 4 grades.]

It's - it's nice. Sometimes I wish I could have gone to school with people my own age.

[nachosquire]

[Oh.. he's his first age appropriate friend.. somehow that's touching for Marco, and he lets out a little laugh.]

Nah man, high school sucks. It's just full of a bunch of sweaty, hormonal teenagers who all hate each other and want nothing more than to get the heck outta there.

[upgradeit]

Yeah. It sucks because they don't let you skip out of high school, no matter how smart you are.

[Hiro smiles, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. His high school experience was, uh. Super not great.]

[nachosquire]

See? You probably had a way better time in college than in high school.

[He sees the way you're smiling, he knows.]

But I'm glad you're not too used to adults to be friends with someone like me.