DECEMBER EVENT PART TWO: ALL IS BRIGHT

[sailmods]

[the silence breaks on the 26th much as it did on previous nights, with one huge exception: a sound, discordant and eerie, resounds throughout the resort, coming from seemingly nowhere.

all are free to wake up and exit their rooms; it appears that the party really got started out in the hallway. a few might find that they’ve woken up alone, despite not falling asleep that way. I’m sure it’s fine.

unless you're waking up with the newlyweds or in teen cabin. for now, they just need to open their eyes.]

Comments

[maximumcake]

"Huh?" He turns from where he was using a ladle to spoon out a small saucer of the soup to check the taste.

"Hello?" he asks when the door cracks open. His voice sounds friendly, but he is also slowly setting the saucer down on the counter and slipping his hand to the small of his back for that knife, just in case.

"Who is it?"

[nepetaleijon]

There's no answer.

But at around Max's knee height, around the edge of the door, there's a pair of large yellow eyes peering in from behind a tangle of damp black hair.

(Though Max doesn't have anything to compare it to unless he's seen her around the ship before now, the gray skin around and under those eyes is swollen and green-tinged.)

[maximumcake]

"O-oh," he startles back a little when he looks down and sees her yellow eyes peering in. That is unexpected. He doesn't really see any malice behind them though, so...

"Hi. Sorry, you surprised me. Do you want to come in?"

[nepetaleijon]

The eyes bob up and down in what is presumably a nod.

After a moment the door swings open a bit further, and a small figure in a long green overcoat slips into the kitchen and immediately curls into a tiny miserable huddle in a niche under a countertop.

[maximumcake]

Her demeanor and the way she curls herself up under the counter melts away the rest of his caution. She seems scared and cold and it's impossible for him not to instantly want to do something to help her feel better.

"Do you want a blanket while you're under there? I brought a few extras in." After Jeff decided to make a pile of himself in some blankets, Max thought it might help to have more in case others wanted to do the same. "Do you want some chicken soup to warm you up?"

[nepetaleijon]

She lifts her face from her folded arms and nods again.

"Yes please," she says in a small voice, clogged and smeary with what might be the residue of weeping.

[maximumcake]

Oh, she does speak. He was beginning to wonder. He offers her a reassuring smile.

"Okay, here." He ladles out a small bowl of soup and gives it to her with a spoon. Then, he steps away to grab what looks like a throw blanket from one of the lobby couches and offers it to her.

"Here. Make yourself comfortable. I'll keep an eye out for any danger for both of us, okay?"

[nepetaleijon]

She doesn't bother with the spoon, holding it out of the way with her thumb while she tilts up the bowl to drink from like it's a big mug. When he offers her the blanket, she sets down the bowl long enough to wriggle out of her coat -- she's got black pants and a t-shirt underneath, and both they and the coat are damp and starting to steam in the warmth of the kitchen -- and wrap the blanket tightly around herself.

"'nk you," she mumbles before gulping some more soup.

And then, after a moment: "... kind of danger?"

[maximumcake]

He doesn't mind so long as she's getting something warm in her system. He's glad to see her shucking off her outer layers so the heat can get into her core. That steam suggests she's been out there for a while.

"You're very welcome. More where that came from so don't be shy asking for seconds."

That next question gives him some pause, and her looks around while he tries to decide how to word this.

"I'm not really sure. Some people got hurt last night and the, uh, detective types are looking into it. I'm not much use so I'm just trying to make a safe spot for the rest of us. You can hang out in here as long as you want."

[nepetaleijon]

She looks up from the bowl, eyes enormous. And -- it has to be said -- unsurprised at hearing that some people got hurt.

"How many?"

[maximumcake]

"I don't know. At least two."

He has noticed the lack of surprise. It's... concerning.

"What were you doing out in the cold?"

[nepetaleijon]

"I --"

Translucent green wells up in both eyes, not quite spilling over.

"I saw them. Out in the snow. All purrple and -- I ran and hid. Karkat --" Her voice shakes. "Karkat would've, would've said to h-hide --"

[maximumcake]

"O-oh." He reaches for a paper towel and offers it to her.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so... did you tell anyone else yet? You were right to hide, but I think we need to let someone know."

[nepetaleijon]

She takes the offered paper, and sniffles into it.

"S-someone like who?"

[maximumcake]

"I... don't know. I don't know who's in charge." Now that he thinks of it, there's really only the Captain and Friday. Should they tell Friday? He's still so unnerved by her.

"Maybe my roommate SecUnit would know who to call. Unless you can think of anyone better?"

[nepetaleijon]

She shakes her head, hunching down into her coat again.

"Whoefur you want to tell. I ... I just want to stay here."

[maximumcake]

"Okay. That's okay. You can stay here. It's better to stay safe right now." He figures he can find someone in a little while to tell, for now taking care of her seems like a bigger priority.

"Can I ask your name? I'm Max Maximum."

[nepetaleijon]

"I'm Nepeta."

For a moment it seems like that's all she's going to say, and then she adds "Thank you fur the soup."

think it might be okay to wrap this one soon?

[maximumcake]

"It's nice to meet you, Nepeta." He smiles warmly at her. "You're very welcome. I'm happy if it made you feel a little better. That's all I really wanted."

I think so!

[nepetaleijon]

Hesitantly, a little unsteadily, she smiles back.