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

[lovelylilmouse]

...Ugh. I can't believe how terrible you can be.

[It's safe to say that he's gotten on Minnie's bad side. Congratulations!]

They weren't dumb brats. Both of them were so nice-- neither of them deserved what happened to them.

[negaverse]

Hun, I don't know what you expected from me. I'm a terrible person and I take pride in it.

[lovelylilmouse]

If I gotta be honest, I don't know what I expected, either. But it wasn't this, I guess.

[negaverse]

Did you think that a supervillain of all people was gonna listen to you? 'Cause that's definitely never happening. Why not just run along and go participate in the sobfest with the rest of these losers?

[lovelylilmouse]

Oh...

[She takes in a deep breath, restraining from slapping him again. Thankfully she's able to do it, but the temptation is Strong.]

I'm not going to cry. I'm upset over everything that happened because I have a heart, unlike you, but I'm not going to cry.

[negaverse]

Oh, like having a heart and caring for people makes you the better person in this situation? That's absolute bullshit. Survival of the fittest, lady.

[lovelylilmouse]

I have a name. Don't call me lady, jerk. Having a heart and caring for others doesn't make me a better person, but it'll get me farther than you, probably.

[negaverse]

Really? And what's your name? Because you look like a Rickey Rat to me.

And no, caring for others won't get you farther. What happens if someone you really care about is killed? Won't you want revenge?

[lovelylilmouse]

RAT!? I'm a mouse!

[She's stomping her foot down. She's Angery]

I wouldn't want revenge for that... no, of course not. I'd never resort to killing someone else, no matter what happens. I'll be sad if someone I care about dies, but... they wouldn't want me to get revenge!

[negaverse]

And how do you know that for sure? You say you won't kill someone now, but down the road it might seem like a decent idea to you. After all, if the motive is bad enough, they can probably get the sweetest wittle kittens to pull the trigger.

[lovelylilmouse]

Because I'm not somebody like YOU!

[negaverse]

But you could become someone like me. It's just a matter of time. You sweet and optimistic types always break under too much pressure.

[lovelylilmouse]

[The words admittedly get to her a bit harder than they should've been. She doesn't want to think of what'll happen if she does break, and she doesn't want to think of what would happen to her if she breaks under pressure and...

She shakes her head.]

No. I'm not going to become somebody like you. I don't want to hurt anybody-- I don't want to be in this situation as much as everyone else does!

[negaverse]

[Good, good. He's getting under her skin. Time to dig a little deeper.]

Just because you don't want to hurt anyone doesn't mean you won't or can't. If something happens and your only option is to kill, would you do it? Would you kill to protect yourself or someone else?

[lovelylilmouse]

[...]

N-No, I still wouldn't...

[Though, she sounds a little hesitant now. Maybe she..

...No. No, she wouldn't.]

[negaverse]

Oh, but what about those executions! You and the others were the ones who sent them to their deaths!

You say you won't kill anyone, but you already have.

[lovelylilmouse]

I--!!

[Shoot. He was right. She covers her mouth with both of her hands and takes a step back.]

I didn't want to! I didn't want to vote for them and send them to their deaths, I really didn't! That's... That's not fair, you can't bring up something like that! That's not the same thing!