How to Win an Election Without Even Running

[not_over_yet]

[ So. Many things have been pretty awful lately. But Randy gave Basil a very unique opportunity, and. Well. Freddie had always been as much for showmanship as their first host--down to the execution: she went out on her terms, with very impressive results. Basil's not about to pass up the closest thing to a victory they've had so far.

He can't do much on his own, but he finds a few others willing to help ok so they did the majority of the actual work. Point is, there's something to celebrate, and they're going to do just that.

Going through Freddie's room (of course he's looting it, she told him to) and setting things up both take time, but eventually the others will find handwritten invitations slipped under their doors.
You Are Cordially Invited To The
~INAUGURAL CELEBRATION~
of
Manor President
~ Freddie Facilier ~
( Dining Room; bring your own liquor, due to compromise )

Hanging on the wall opposite the room's casino-side entrance is a large blue banner--oddly on-base as far as matching the color of that wand-splosion--which sports metalic-gold lettering, declaring:

winner of the 2018 Manor-Presidential election
~ FREDDIE FACILIER ~


Vice Presidents
MABEL PINES and ACKBAR THE PIG
will act on her behalf during our president's absence

...That may be the most tasteful decoration in the room, as Basil told VP Mabel to raid both the sewing and art rooms for "anything in colors that would remind one of our president". There's a lot of extremely vivid violet everywhere.

There's food, naturally--provided by Lekmet--and. Well, technically no alcohol served, but as the invitations stated, there's nothing preventing you from bringing your own. ]

Comments

[not_over_yet]

[ Before the party, Basil can be found going through Freddie's room. He's looking for his gris-gris, her jewel, and... well, pretty much anything else of interest. At one point he manages to find a tiny hand-bell, and the search is immediately put on hold as he contemplates his find. Near the end of his search he pauses again, this time to admire the wall art she left behind. He rather likes them, even if he can't identify anything (past most being "that looks voodoo-y, maybe" at least). Yes, even the ones drawn in blood.

Of course he's at the party later on, clearly enjoying himself and keeping an eye on things. He's not around as much as one might expect though? Or maybe he's just easily overlooked because of how small he is. (Spoilers, it's a mix of both: for much of the party he's tucked himself into a corner in the kitchen area. He has a couple french fries and a thimble of something and looks depressed as hell.) ]

Kitchen

[lovelylilmouse]

[Mice solidarity! Minnie only shows up to the party to check up on the others to see how they're doing. However, she can't help but to wander into the kitchen, where she spots Basil and she can't help but to worry over his well-being, knowing how close he was to Freddie.]

Basil? You holding up alright?

[She sure isn't, but she's not too worried about that.]

[not_over_yet]

[ Basil's first instinct is to try perking up, because this is a party, damnit, but. Well, he's out here because he needs to recoup a lot of energy before he's fit for any perking up. He does manage to smooth "depressed" into simply "very, very tired" though. ]

I'll manage. [ He starts to smile, but can't quite make it. ] At least I've kept up the grand tradition of killing the people I care about, heh. [ There's a genuine tinge of amusement there, even if it's still more sad than not.

And that somehow gives him enough of a boost to manage a weary smile. ] And you? I hope the celebration's not overly vexing. [ He's aware that partying right now is... not in the best of taste, but. Fuck Randy. And fuck Gaston, while they're at it. ]

[lovelylilmouse]

[She frowns when she hears his words, but she finds herself taking a seat down closest to him. She twiddles her thumbs together for a short amount of time, looking away from him as she tries to find her thoughts.]

I'm...fine, I guess.

[Though, she lets out a sigh as she turns her attention back over towards Basil. Maybe it's because he was a mouse as well, but at least she felt a little more relaxed around him. Or, maybe it's because she just didn't want to be alone- she couldn't figure it out.]

...Not fine, actually. I'm scared.

[not_over_yet]

[ Minnie, you've picked the worst possible candidate for a pep talk. ]

Are you. certain you wish to discuss this with me.

[ Is he being asked for advice? Comforting lies? An escape plan? What does he do with just an "I'm scared"? ]

[lovelylilmouse]

You... You don't need to, Basil. I just...

[She hates letting her emotions be known, but it's hard for her to hold it back for much longer.]

Needed to let that out, I guess. Wouldn't do me any good to be keeping it in.

[not_over_yet]

[ ... ]

...This. This is the first time you've expressed misgivings about--do you mean since we arrived?

[ Incredulous staring, because how the hell did she even manage that? ]

[lovelylilmouse]

Well-- not the first! I've had my moments. I punched Negaduck in the face and cried when I found Molly's body, but besides those two times... I've mostly kept to myself.

[She looks up at Basil.]

That's why you don't see me around much, I guess...I've just holed myself up in my room and let it out there.

[not_over_yet]

That's. Mm...

[ Minnie's clearly not much for getting emotional. He nibbles on a french fry as he considers how to put this. ]

One oughtn't to shoulder everything alone, Miss Mouse. While I can understand not wanting to make a fuss, everyone has a breaking point. Avoiding the thing by too narrow of a margin...

[ Hm. How to explain the problem succinctly. ]

That's how axe-murders happen.

[ Nailed it. ]

Kitchen

[sorrydoods]

[Soos is hungry, therefore he goes to the kitchen to get some food. He'd try hanging out at the party, but he's...just not feeling up to it right now.

He sees Basil in the corner and he can't help but raise an eyebrow at the fact that he's not even attending his own party. He'll walk over and crouch down, hoping that it feels less awkward that way.]

Hey dude. You feeling okay?

[not_over_yet]

[ There's a pause before Basil replies. He doesn't look up--he can't manage even "vaguely cheerful" at this precise moment. ]

...Merely. I'm. I just need a moment now and then.

[ There's another pause, and he sort of. pokes at one of his french fries. ]

This is not a funeral. I'm not going to let it turn into one.

[sorrydoods]

[Sadly, that's a look that Soos knows very well now. The look someone has when they lose someone they really care about. Even if they're not very close, it still hurts to see him like that. It...makes him wanna help the mouse.]

...anything I can do to help? Like, maybe I could...get something for you or something.

[Unfortunately, since he doesn't know him very well, he's not really sure how he could cheer him up. He...really should've talked with some people more.]

[not_over_yet]

[ Basil thinks the offer over. Is there anything? After a moment he shakes his head. ]

Unless you're up for sticking it to Randy [ a gesture towards the party area ] with some celebration, I'm afraid naught comes to mind. ...And I'm aware not everyone's up for that. [ He does finally manage a wry smile with the admission, at least.

And then he drops it again. ] ...Unless you know of some way I might apologize to Miss Ariel, I suppose.

[sorrydoods]

Sorry, I...I don't think I'm in the mood right now. And...I don't really know how to do that, at the moment.

[He let's out a sigh before he sits down against a wall, not wanting to bother standing up anymore.]

Do you mind if I join you?

[not_over_yet]

...I suppose not. [ ...wait no, that's a bad way to phrase it. ] I've nothing against the company, mind, but... it's, it's trying to keep this mess from spreading, and I'm easier to hide...

[ After a moment of wavering, he sighs quietly and lets himself slump a little instead. Explaining seems like such a monumental task suddenly. ]

...Perhaps I should leave. This bout isn't passing.

[sorrydoods]

I could hide behind the fridge if you want. It might be able to hide me.

[It probably wouldn't, but that's the only thing he can think of that could hide him and they could still talk.]

Don't leave, dude. Your just...sad. I think everyone is. We're trying to be happy, but sometimes it's just...hard. Doesn't mean you shouldn't try to enjoy yourself.

[not_over_yet]

Heh. [ Soos thinks he's enjoying any of this. That prompts a bit of a smile--well, maybe he is, off and on. ] I'm afraid I don't quite follow. Ought I to grieve, or ought I to enjoy myself?

...But to be more serious, I can't keep this up indefinitely--truly. I will, at some point, need to leave.

[ Starts in on one of his french fries. Maybe he just needs to eat. ]

[sorrydoods]

Well, that's true.

[They can't try partying forever.]

I mean...I think it's alright to be sad, but...I think Freddie would wanna see you happy. Yeah, she...she just died, but she also went down her own way, and that included burning off half of Randy's face. So...I think, if you can...do both? Like, maybe...celebrate her life or something like that.

Does that make more sense?

[not_over_yet]

[ A small chuckle. ]

Mr. Ramirez, I'm afraid we may be talking at cross-purposes on this point. What you describe is a part of this gathering already--but its core purpose? Has nothing to do with grief. We've gathered not to focus on that detail of her dying, but on the larger picture of her not being gone. The afterlife is a place and can be broken out of--and likely broken into, for that matter--so I see no reason to "accept our loss" on this point.

I'll grieve later. When I'm not at her party. And if I can't put it off until the party's ended? Then I'll leave the party early.

[sorrydoods]

[Soos just...lets out a bit of a sigh.]

I'm...I'm sorry. I've never really done this before coming here. Comforting people about death and stuff, I mean. I don't really know what would be the best thing you could do to not feel sad, or make you feel better.

I'm...I'm just kind of useless, I guess.

[He gets up from the floor and starts walking to the door.]

Sorry for bothering you. I'll try not to do it again.

[not_over_yet]

You were hardly bothering me... it's...

[ ...Damnit. Someday, perhaps, a miracle will occur and he'll stop upsetting people unintentionally,, ]

You're doing a far better job of this than I ever would, or have.

[ ......

Abandoning the french fries, taking the thimble, trotting after Soos. ]

[sorrydoods]

[He'll stop so that Basil can catch up, but he's still standing next to the door.]

You don't need to try and make me feel better. You're probably a lot better at this than me. I mean, you're a detective! You've probably dealt with things like this hundreds of times. At the very least, you've solved cases before. You've helped solve some of the murders and stuff that have happened here, too.

As for me, I'm just...a guy that works at a tourist trap in a small town in Oregon. I don't really have anything special about me. I can't really help much in investigations, or the trials, I'm not really a leader-y type of person, I'm just...the guy that's still here out of pure luck.

[That's how he feels, at least. He hasn't done much in this murder house except nearly get himself killed at one point, and all that does is make him feel worse.]

[not_over_yet]

Better at what? Dealing with murders? Of course I am, that's--that's what I do. ...That's all I do... If you mean anything that has to do with looking after the living, I'm. I'm not... I'm bad at "people". I'm not. sure what I'm trying to do with this.

[ He really isn't. Someone tried to comfort him, and managed to annoy him but in a way that helped a bit, and in return he. isn't sure what he did, but he clearly did something. ]

There's nothing wrong with. feeling bad? I doubt those we've lost begrudge us happiness. All the same, things are terrible and they keep being terrible and, and. [ Alright, dial that back a bit before he makes the man feel worse, good lord. ] ...Not being happy isn't some sort of. moral failure? Or letting anyone down, or...

Your family still has you, at least? Just don't die and you're already doing better than most of us.

[sorrydoods]

[gawd basil just let a man be self-depricating jesus

Okay, that gets him to look down at Basil in surprise, a little unsure of what to say at first.]

So, you're saying I'm doing a good thing by just...surviving? That I'm somehow helping by doing that?

[He's pretty sure that's what you said, but not completely sure.]

[not_over_yet]

[ he fucked up he's goTTA FIX IT ]

...At the moment, I'm getting by on the fact [ winces as he remembers they've been out if contact for a while now ] er, hope that a fellow who hates me hasn't gone and died again.