[Open] I suck at pertinent song lyrics, okay

[eatsyourscience]

Who: Souji and Everyone!
Where: The diner, 8th floor, room 001
When: 4/16-4/20
Rating: PG-13 (just to be safe; will change if necessary)
Summary: The diner continues its tradition of being a Safe Space during dangerous events.
The Story:
As soon as it became apparent what was happening in Wonderland, Souji makes a brief statement to the network, then heads to the diner. After checking the cabinets and freezer he's relieved to see that none of the supplies he normally stocks have disappeared. Now he just has to find things like blankets and first aid supplies...if he has to, he can raid nearby rooms, though hopefully anyone who comes along will bring some helpful things with them.

Souji will be looking for people to help out with various things, so anyone can volunteer to cook, provide first aid as necessary, guard the door, help people get to the diner as the infection spreads, and whatever else might be helpful.

This is an open mingle log, so feel free to tag in as you like! Maybe just label top-level threads however you like.

Comments

[eatsyourscience]

"It doesn't hurt." He appreciates being asked, though, and his smile says so.

"I can't create them here. I'm not sure I can still make them at home, either." Or even access all the ones he's made, not directly. Then again, he's never been able to summon them in the 'real' world, either.

[determinedest]

"Where did they come from? Have you always been able to - ?"

Frisk remembers themselves a little too late, and shrinks a little on the spot.

"Sorry. Um, I don't mean to pry. I'm just...you're the first person I've met who's had to sort of - deal with the same things I did?"

[eatsyourscience]

"It's okay. I don't mind talking about it. There aren't very many people who really understand."

Souji glances around the kitchen, then back at Frisk.

"I think we're about done taking an inventory. We can talk more if you want, though."

[determinedest]

"There's really not a lot here, is there?" Wonderland's being stingy. They should have guessed. They look about the kitchen sadly before nodding and setting down the small stack of washcloths they were counting out.

"I only really understand Chara part of the time. They're kind of..." Volatile? Mercurial? Unpredictable? All of the above? "After all that time together, we're still really different. I don't know how you do it."

[eatsyourscience]

"I think there's enough to get us through, if we're careful."

He sets the order pad aside, glancing over it one more time before turning back to Frisk, leaning back against the counter behind him.

"Like I said, you and Chara are separate people." He glances down, thinking. "Chara...seems like they're trying really hard."

Not necessarily to be better. Just to be...whatever it is they're trying to convince everyone they are.

[determinedest]

"They are. It's...not always easy for them. They didn't really have the best time back home." Another thing they had in common with Frisk. "In our world, the things you do...stick with you. No matter what."

EXP. LOVE. Once it's there, there's no getting rid of it. Especially now.

[eatsyourscience]

"Stick with you how?"

Choices matter and their repercussions stick with a person, along with the memory of those choices. But somehow...it seems like Frisk means something else.

[determinedest]

"A number that...goes up." They gesture vaguely upward. "If you commit a certain level of violence - LOVE? You get more distant, and the less you hurt."

And Chara...LV 8. Is it wrong that they've managed to help Chara more once they reached that point than they ever did before?

[eatsyourscience]

"You become less human." That's Souji's take away from that description.

[determinedest]

"...more or less. By the end you're just kind of a...a force. Of destruction, or power, or whatever you want."

They hug themselves again, pulling their arms tight around their chest.

"I don't have any LOVE. Or EXP - execution points. But Chara...I'm trying to keep them from getting more."

[eatsyourscience]

Souji watches them, then moves toward them and puts a hand on their shoulder, just for a moment, hoping it will be a reassuring gesture.

"You can do it." He really believes that. "I think Chara can, too."

[determinedest]

"Thanks," they murmur, offering a little smile. The hand is a comfort, human warmth on their shoulder again. "And, um, thanks for letting us stay here. Chara's not always the best...influence, but I think they're going to be all right for now."

And by "all right" they mean "less likely to kill everyone in the diner in a fit out outrage and/or giddy violence".

[eatsyourscience]

"Even if things get out of hand, I can help."

Personas are for more than healing, after all.

[determinedest]

"Thank you." They smile again, a little stronger this time, and rub a clenched fist under their eye. "Um...I think I'm going to try and get some sleep. It's been...kind of a long day."

[eatsyourscience]

Souji nods. He totally gets that.

"If you need anything, let me know."

[determinedest]

Running from zombies, heavy conversations...it's been a full day. They wave at Souji as they head back to the booth Chara has claimed as theirs to curl up on one of the seats for a bit.

"I will."