day two - aftermath

[guestcontrol]

dreamland day two 38 players remaining. As the voting period comes to an end, a bell goes off from the ticket machine, and the metal bars blocking the tunnel at the end of the Hall of Mirrors lifts. A voice speaks over the loudspeaker: "Attention, guests! Please make your way onto the ride! For your safety, keep your hands and arms inside and do not attempt to leave your seat!" Through the tunnel, single cars on a track stop and wait for each remaining player to step on. Don't dawdle, or your bracelet will begin to beep a warning. Once in a car, the safety bar locks you tightly inside, unable to move. The car trundles along a dark, twisting track, nearly veering into cartoonish obstacles, but veering away at the last moment. Music and cackling laughter echoes loudly through the ride as you drive faster and faster. Suddenly, your car veers off to the left, through a courtroom, where a towering cartoon judge threatens to bang a gavel. Your car jerks and evades, but somewhere, before one car can pass, the gavel comes down and the car spins off to the side, through a dark doorway. Each car comes to the end of the ride, but doesn't stop, and instead jerks into motion and, even faster, veers through the ride a second time. This time, your car does not enter the courtroom, but the doors to your left nonetheless open, showing instead of a courtroom a red room burning with cartoon flames. Above the flames hangs a corpse in a noose. The body of Levi hangs from a white rope noose, as a cackling voices pronounces: Innocent The ride turns away once more, and comes to a stop. A list of votes has been pinned on the wall for your perusal. You now have the rest of the evening to explore the park, before night comes again. character statuses private conversations graveyard This is a general post-vote mingle encompassing the time from the end of the trial (about 5 PM until the fireworks at 11 PM). You are encouraged and welcome to backtag discussions in this post until the next day post, or to have afternoon private conversations.

Comments

[cheats]

[ Ciel makes his way to the graveyard eventually, just sort of strolling around aimlessly, since he's uncertain of what to do with himself. He sees Peko sitting there, and even not knowing how the graves are laid out, it's easy to guess who she's sitting by. Ciel frowns and considers leaving all together, but...

He approaches, perhaps against his better judgement.

His footsteps are quiet and light, but she'll sure hear him coming. He stands a short distance away from her, since they're little more in strangers in his opinion, so he doesn't want to impose on her personal space. He stands there for a few moments, uncertain of what to say, but he remember when Aunt Ann had died, and he had gone to her funeral... What had he wanted then? More than hollow words, certainly. ]

I hope he rests in peace. I didn't speak to him much, but he will be missed.

[ He was like. The one sane person. ]

[perfectstrike]

[She does hear him coming, but she doesn't lift her head until he speaks. His voice is still unfamiliar enough that she jerks up abruptly, eyes a little wild. It's a little obvious she was lost in thought, and the unfamiliar voice startled her.]

You're--

[At a quick glance, he almost, almost looks like Kuzuryuu. Thank God Alois isn't here and doesn't sport an eyepatch.]

...Yes.

[That was supposed to be a thank-you. But she is so bad at that. Instead, she just kind of vacantly stares straight ahead, not entirely at Ciel, but still keeping him within her vision in case he makes any sudden movements.]

[cheats]

[ He flinches at the intense gaze, because like earlier when he had set the dang kitchen on fire, he finds Peko a little frightening. She's a little intense for him... But he tries to hide that reaction by glancing away, pulling his dignified little hat further down on his head. He'll take a few steps closer, but he looks up at the sky instead. ]

...The fireworks are a bit much.

[ He says it like an idle comment, then digs in his pocket until he pulls out a few sugar candies, which he offers to her. ]

It's not much, but would you like one? They're the best I could find in the candy store, at least...

[ candy always cheers him up ok ]

[perfectstrike]

[She looks at him when he speaks again, not.. quite understanding what he's saying. He's not wrong, though, and she just huffs an unamused breath through her nose and nods. Peko does manage to somewhat uncurl herself; this kid is a stranger, and she's... not comfortable showing weakness around strangers. Even though everyone already saw her earlier today with Kuzuryuu.

It just matters okay.

But she stiffens when he offers her a candy. Peko... doesn't like sweet things. But you know who did?

She reaches up with one hand, pausing and wavering a moment before taking one.]

...Where you are from... is there... a custom for leaving offerings on graves...?

[That seems a little off-topic, Peko. What are you getting at?]

[cheats]

[ He seems a bit relieved when she takes the candy, because this is awkward for him too, wanting to offer some comfort and solace, but also not quite knowing how. He gives the briefest of soft smiles, but it drifts away at her question. Ciel turns the attention to the grave, and since he's a well-educated young man, he's at least familiar with the tradition in passing, so he has a feeling he knows what she's getting at. ]

...Not where I am from, no. We leave flowers and our prayers, but that is about it.

[ He looks back to Peko at this point. ]

Is it where you're from?

[perfectstrike]

I see.

[She rolls the candy around in her fingers and just nods to answer his question. A soft exhale, then she forces herself to her feet. She doesn't stay there long, though; almost immediately, she's shifting to kneel instead, around the place where his feet would be when they had buried him.

She rests the candy on the dirt (wasting perfectly good candy... well done Peko...) and clasps her hands together. She's not looking at Ciel -- her eyes are closed, even, but she explains quietly,] He... would like something like this. Though if he could hear me... he would protest. He did not want people to know, you see.

I don't know if he ever knew that I did...

[Oh. Oh no. There goes her voice cracking again. It sounds like she's going to cry. God damn it Peko.]

[cheats]

[ He hears the crack in her voice and looks uncomfortable again because oh no someone crying, what do, but... Ciel manages to not get himself flustered. He averts his eyes from her, since she seems like a proud person that would prefer he not acknowledge this more than necessary, and God does he know that feeling well.

Still, all the same, he's a gentleman. He reaches into his capelet's pocket to produce a handkerchief, and he offers it to her, though his eyes are on the candy. ]

Then I will keep it a secret as well.

[ A nod, then he adds, ] It may not be much, but may I pray for him?

[perfectstrike]

[Peko has seen more handkerchiefs today than she ever has in her life. She hasn't used any of them, but... maybe it's just because this kid reminds her of Kuzuryuu so much that she actually takes it, once she opens her eyes again. Her hand shakes as her fingers close around it, and though she wipes her nose with her sleeve, she uses the handkerchief to dry her eyes.]

Thank....

[Peko why is this so hard for you to say. Is it because you don't feel like you deserve the kindnesses people have been showing you? Probably. But she just swallows hard and nods, keeping the handkerchief in her hand for now and shifting aside in case Ciel also wants to kneel. Maybe he doesn't. She isn't sure.]

If you would like.

[cheats]

[ Ciel would feel a bit humbled if he knew, but as it is, he simply lets go of the handkerchief with a neutral expression. He takes off his hat out of respect, then kneels by the grave as well before setting the hat down. His hands come together in prayer, and he closes his eye before beginning to pray. ]

God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust—

[ He has a very gentle, peaceful voice as he recites the prayer, and it's all said with the sort of noble sincerity that you would expect from the way he carries himself. At the very least, it hardly seems like the first time he's offered such a prayer. And at the "Amen," he'll open his eye again, looking at first to the grave as he sighs and bows his head, then to Peko to see how she's doing. ]

[perfectstrike]

[She isn't terribly familiar with the prayer itself, though she closes her eyes and bows her head, clasping both hands together like she might for one of the Buddhist or Shinto customs she's more familiar with. The steadiness of his voice is comforting, but she can't seem to stop crying.

When he looks over, she's finally taken her glasses off, holding them loosely in one hand while pressing his handkerchief to her eyes with the other. There's a few quiet, gasping sobs, and even if she asked, she wouldn't be able to tell him just why. Maybe it's the finality of the thing.

She balls the handkerchief up in her hand and presses the back of her fist to her eyes, trying to take several deep, shuddering breaths to steady herself before extending her hand, holding out the crumpled handkerchief to try to prompt him to take it back.]

[cheats]

[ He doesn't waver when she starts to cry, even though inwardly, there's more of a conflict than that. The only people he's ever truly seen cry have been Lizzy, but then others, like Madame Red, Joker, and Doll... Though the latter, he would prefer not to think about. He tries to associate these tears with Lizzy first.

He takes the handkerchief and tucks it away wordlessly, hesitates, then regards her evenly. His expression is serious, but there's a clear softness on his face. He's the kind of person that wants to present himself as the little nobleman, but there's still genuine warmth and concern underneath. ]

I know we're little more than strangers, but...

[ He looks to the side, shyly, but it's brief. He looks back to Peko before long. ]

I cannot do much, but should you need anything, I'll be here. So much as I can be, at least.

[perfectstrike]

[She can't answer immediately; she doesn't trust her voice, just a few gasping breaths all that's really audible before his words really register.

Then she looks up at him, a little stunned to be offered something that seems like a kindness. HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN TO HER, PEKO PEKOYAMA.]

I...

[She really doesn't know how to respond. She's already partially tried to thank him before so this?? Again?? But she has to get this out.]

You... shall have my assistance, as well. Should you require it, [she manages all in one breath, her hand pressed to her eyes again. Really impressive, Peko. You're so useful right now. She could scream.

But the offer is there, at least.]

[cheats]

[ He understands that it's difficult, and he had half expected the offer to be rejected in a moment of emotion. It did feel like overstepping his bounds slightly, so he's glad that it's not only accepted, but accepted as well as it possibly could be, really. Ciel gives Peko a smile, and though his genuine smiles are always a bit dull and soft, the warmth at least carries easily. ]

Then it's my honor.

[ He bows his head respectfully, then when he straightens, looks back too the grave. ]

Though I've intruded long enough, probably. I'll give you time for yourself, Miss Pekoyama.