THE TOWN SQUARE.

[atrueheroine]

[Page silently watches the church burn for a little while, once she's emerged safely from it, before turning away and heading to the town square to meet up with everyone else. It makes sense to rest here, as they did last week, after another town with another tragic story to tell.

At least that time, however, they'd all survived it unscathed.

Once she's made it over to the group, she drops her pack onto the ground and collapses next to it, staring at her feet. It's going to take a bit to...process all of that, and while she'd love to get up in front of everyone and make some kind of rousing speech, she just doesn't have it in her at the moment.

Instead, she'll look up from the stone of the square, eventually, casting her eye over everyone and saying (almost to herself)-]

...I hope everyone is all right.

[That is likely far from true, but...well. They're all alive, Wesker is dead, and that's something. She's trying her best not to look at that little tree-sculpture with the key around its neck.


OOC: Second verse, same as the first! Here's our post-event mingle post, to talk about what the hell just happened in there, lick our wounds, and beg forgiveness from...from Flower Girl. Top-level away; Page will have her own up, if you'd like to talk to her.]

Comments

[atrueheroine]

[After that comment, Page turns her attention to her pack for want of...something to do; she'll make her way around to check on the wounded in a moment, but for now, she's gently placing what look to be grenades on the ground in front of her, counting them as she goes.]

...four, five, six...

[...seven. Seven left. Hopefully she'll be able to use the others as effectively. Feel free to come and talk to her; she already knew how many grenades were left in the set, this is just...de-stressing.]

[selfsacrificial]

[There were plenty of things that were not really all right. The least they can do right now though is check upon one another.

He waits until she's finished counting before gently speaking up.]

How are you feeling?

[He won't ask if anyone is alright-- he knows well enough. He's spent enough time being not alright to know.]

[scythegun]

[Yeager wanders over glancing over Page's shoulder at the grenades and inclining his head a bit. He's wearing a flower crown?? Oh my god, he wasn't even in the church for like, over half of that, he checked out real early.]

So you're the one to thank for setting that horrid place on fire, ja?

[He sounds just as carefree as always...]

[planetary_bonds]

Page.

[His voice is soft and solemn, but also hoarse. It's like he's been trying to keep himself from crying this whole time.]

Are you...alright?

[You did have a gun pointed at your face, and all. Not to mention having others being shot in your stead...]

[bornandbread]

[He'll just be over here smoking up a storm, slow but unrelenting, because frankly he's probably earned this one more than he's earned most cigarettes in his life and that absolutely includes at least half of the ones in his case and all the ones he's bummed off the organization outside since he got here.

For a while there he just waits quietly while she counts her way through her explosives and he disappears into an entire cloud of smoke. They all probably have a lot of thoughts now that they've essentially razed two towns and a church of their subjects, but.

Despite everything the atmosphere is only a little heavier than usual. He's not one to let his thoughts crowd the air, or only a little, even in these situations.]

It wasn't just one grenade, right...? [how do bombs work, but he's pretty sure other things were involved] If he's gone, though, that should be enough until we get to the source.

[blunders]

[Of all the people Felicia's been worried about today, Page was pretty high up on that list. It doesn't take long before Felicia goes to check on Page, clearing her throat a bit to get the other woman's attention.]

Page? How are you feeling?

[...]

Is there anything that you need help with?

[blunders]

[Felicia's first priority is going to be helping those who have been injured; in whatever's been designated as a medical area, one can find Felicia hard at work in making sure that everyone who's been injured here is taken care of. Say what one will about some of the clumsiness she's exhibited before, but when the going gets tough, she's laser focused and working her ass off to help. If anyone needs anything at all, she'll assist; just ask her!

Eventually--either when the condition of our shot friends has improved or just whenever someone tells Felicia to take a break or something, one will also just...find Felicia around, checking in on people. She's doing her best to sound like her usual self, but there is definitely an undercurrent of tiredness in her tone--]

Hey--how are you doing? Are you going to be alright?

[It's a simple thing at least, but...she's here for people, okay.

It's much later in the night that Felicia's gonna go by where flower girl is, hoping for some privacy and just kind of...babbling at nothing. It looks like Felicia's picked more flowers from around here, though, and seems to be trying to weave them.]

...I never really did thank you properly for teaching this to us, did I? I...I know I was all thumbs, and I messed up a lot, but...I really appreciated you going out of your way for me like that. I thought...maybe we'd get the chance, one more time, before we left, but...

...Well, I guess you got what you wanted in the end. I just hope you found happiness in it.

[...Yeah, it isn't long before Felicia just. Starts to sniffle, and sniffling goes into very quiet crying and rubbing her eyes at her sleeve. It's. It's been a rough day, okay.]

flower girl

[skelkro]

[Emma is also here, and while talking to Jean she had been... vaguely entertaining taking flower girl with them because listen, why stop at one arboreal sculpture when you could have two, but seeing Felicia cry has at least realigned her priorities somewhat.

She hesitates momentarily, before she silently reaches out and puts what she hopes is a comforting hand on Felicia's shoulder here.]

around

[selfsacrificial]

[While doing his own rounds to check on the others, he sees Felicia doing the same. It's only a matter of time before they eventually run into one another.

He can see her pushing herself and it hurts, in it's own way. Reaching up, he softly pats the top of her head.]

I'll be fine. [It's much easier to suppress his own feelings and focus on others. It's what he's always done-- this is no different.] What about you?

flower girl

[scythegun]

[Yeager eventually comes over to greet Felicia. He isn't trying to be quiet as he approaches, so she'll likely hear him. He moves to sit beside her easily, sweeping the back of his coat out of the way so he doesn't sit on it as he does.]

Here. For you.

[It's a flower crown! It isn't exactly a masterpiece, but he's got the basics down well enough even though it doesn't look nearly as fancy as the ones the girl was weaving earlier. It's light purples and pinks mostly.]

It's a neat little skill, ja?

around;

[aokisouhei]

[ Felicia wasn't one of those shot, but there's something to be said of sustaining wounds that weren't visible. He wasn't all that good at looking after people, but he may have had worries.

The ones who'd been injured seemed physically like they'd make it, so that wasn't on his mind on the moment, though it'd be something to keep in his mind for the future in regards to their future travels. ]

I'm doing alright. Could be doing much worse.

[ Like said wounded!! ]

What about you? It's obvious things got tough out there, and you did what you needed to when we needed it, but if you're gonna be asking, it's only fair I ask in turn.

[abysstery]

[Heinwald is around, but doesn't seek anyone out for a while. He sits quietly on the edge of the town square, watching the church burn and reflecting on what happened today.

Occasionally, he glances down at the notebook that he came in with. Its origin is no longer a mystery, but the truth that came out of it was a harsh one. Not only that, but with one mystery solved, another has revealed itself.

What made him decide to leave with a part of the Shimmer? And was it the right choice?]

[selfsacrificial]

[Considering everything that came out back there, he can't blame Heinwald for wanting some space and quiet. So Rean gives him some time before he comes to check on him.

He sits a small ways away when he does join him.]

Hey.

[scythegun]

Heinwald.

[Hi, Heinwald. Yeager greets him as usual with a wave before joining him, taking a seat nearby. He's wearing a flower crown?? He absolutely ditched this whole confrontation fairly early on, but that's probably fine.]

I take it you learned some interesting things today?

[It's light, as it always is with Yeager, but he does sound genuinely interested.]

[planetary_bonds]

Heinwald.

[Yusei sounds almost...afraid to raise his voice. The two of them have the same worry, after all.

And since they both are wondering about the same thing, Yusei simply sits next to him, not voicing the question they're both asking themselves.

They'll talk this out when Heinwald's ready. (Even if Yusei isn't sure if he himself is.)]

[aokisouhei]

Well, look who it is? I'd ask if you were enjoying the fireworks, but...I think I'd benefit asking something else instead:

What's with the long face?

[ The bad guy got torched, so what was so bad about that?! Okay, he knew it wasn't likely to be so easy as to figure that was why Heinwald was so pensive/etc., but hey. ]

[blunders]

[Felicia's making her rounds to check on people, and truthfully, she can barely imagine whatever's going through Heinwald's head right about now. Finding out about all of that...she can only imagine that it's a lot to think about.

Still, Felicia will go to see him, though she stops a small distance away. He might want space.]

Ah, Heinwald! Would you mind some company?

[planetary_bonds]

[Yusei mechanically lays out the perimeter around the group. It might not be necessary, given that they're still in the town square. But who knows what this town is going to be like after being bereft of Wesker's "protection," if he'd given any. And he doesn't want to take any risks, when they have two people recovering from dangerous wounds.

When he's done, though, Yusei doesn't rejoin the group immediately. Instead, he sits down at the edge of the group, head in one of his hands. The other hand is still gripping his handgun - he hasn't quite brought himself to let go of it. Thankfully, the safety is on, so he wouldn't accidentally shoot himself while laying the perimeter out, but...]

All of this...what could it mean...?

[And the question he really wanted to ask himself, but can't bring himself to voice right now...

Will I fail this time, too?]

[aokisouhei]

All of what, exactly?

[ He's not really the philosophical sort, nor was he honestly always that bright, so like...

Well, he assumed the other wasn't talking about the fires going up. So maybe one of the messed up things about the Shimmer that they learned? Hard to know which one, though, for sure. ]

[armamenta]

[So that's it. After all of this, it's over.

Krauser doesn't join the group - there's no reason to. He meant what he said about not picking a fight with them, and he's not going to get near anyone right now. He's not moving far from the church at all, and he'll be here until the flames have run their course and burnt the entire place down.

He doesn't move from the spot he's standing in, and he doesn't pay much attention to anyone who may approach. You're welcome to talk to him if you want, but he doesn't particularly care either way at this point.

Regardless, he's still here for the time being. He'll be here until he's sure Wesker's dead, and only then is he going to leave this town behind.]

[pr159]

[ Rideaux will probably end up wandering around for a bit in between medical check-ins and when he finally sits down with the group, so-- well, look who it is, he was just thinking of you.

He's a little surprised to see him again at all, actually. ]

Somehow I thought you would have gone down with the ship.

[pr159]

[ Huh. Well, Rideaux had been out relocating the wounded during the church's grand finale, so he's not sure of all the details, but it sounds like Krauser may have earned those meaningless points from him after all. Interesting.

That aside, he's predictably going to be mostly in the medical area, checking in on the patients and supervising as needed, because he's pretty much designated himself the senior medical officer at this point. And after demonstrating how well he can keep his shit together in an emergency situation today, he's not expecting anyone to challenge him on it.

Some time later, when things seem to be under control, he'll eventually come take a seat in the square himself, and let out a sigh. Even after everything that's happened, he doesn't seem all that shaken -- just tired and like he's probably got a headache, because it has been a long ass day that now spans three log posts, and he's pretty done with it. ]

medic medic

[bornandbread]

[There are indeed more logs in this day than there are now intact logs involved in the local church scene, and really all of them deserve a break from all these cursed plant metaphors but are they going to get it?? No??

I just wanted to joke about plants I'm here for the medical area prompt!! The day is slightly less long therefore but not much less ridiculous; Jean is taking a few moments to wash himself off with whatever water is available nearby (presumably the town has water or something, we hope, otherwise we are all going to be extremely unsanitary after this), because this is probably the most blood he's been caked in since...

Well, it's been a while. When he meanders his way back to the medical area they've set up, he's clean and hasn't yet dug into the cigarette stash, because he has the feeling his fellow medics might object a little...]

How do things look? I can fetch anything.

[It's debatable if they'd be able to find supplies around town, but they're still fairly stocked themselves...]

[klematis]

[ As always, Hugh(?) sticks to the outskirts of the group, not really wallflowering but skirting close to it ironically enough. He finds some place to sit, looking nonchalant as ever as he examines his new really nice gun. You might find him writing in his notebook too, but it's not a language anyone recognizes.

Later you can find him in the vicinity of the flower girl, seeming to be arbitrarily hanging around. Stick around for more than a beat or two and you'll hear him ask a simple question. ]

Well, are you happy with your choice? [ Who the question is poised to may be a little less clear. ]

flower girl

[scythegun]

[Yeager isn't exactly hanging around here, by he's been by a few times tonight. He's lucky(?) enough now to overhear Hugh, and he approaches.]

Depends on what choice you're talking about!

[Hi, hello, Hugh, he's just going to insert himself into this conversation, don't worry about it. He's also wearing a flower crown and definitely vanished from most of the confrontation with the Resident Evils, but don't worry about those either.]

[crestological]

[What an incredible shitshow that was. Hanneman would not exactly describe it as such on account of not being so coarse, but you can definitely tell he's thinking it as he sits off to the side of the square on something that looks like a reasonably untouched bench and organizes his notes. He feels bad he didn't do more in the moment, but quite frankly everything was happening so much... so he's just. He's just gonna do his notes.

...and mutter a bit.]

I really do wish he'd been a bit more open to questioning. I suppose I will just have to settle with getting the moss from corpses...

[he sounds so bummed about it, though. he prefers getting his samples from willing, live donors, but sometimes you've just got to deal.

...he tries not to watch the church burn. The bench he initially picks is facing it, but once he's satisfied with his notes, it keeps coming into his vision until he moves somewhere that he can keep his back to it. Of course, now he's just looking at the poor young woman who'd been claimed by the Shimmer, but... that's a new kind of horror. It doesn't bring to mind troubling memories of having to help a young woman kill her father while the city said father should have been protecting burned around them.

...which brings a question to mind for his fellow companions from other worlds, now that he's thinking about that.]

...I have to ask for your experiences, because it's been bothering me quite a bit--does religion just... turn out like this, or do I just keep running into the most bizarre extremes possible?

square

[scythegun]

[Yeager's over here, but it's to watch the building burn - and if he was being completely honest with himself, he'd acknowledge that maybe he wished it was a different building with a different man voiced by DC Douglas inside. But Yeager's never honest with himself, so that isn't something he's dealing with today!!

Anyway, he does eventually turn his attention away when Hanneman starts mumbling to himself.]

A bit unfortunate, ja? I'm sure there was much he could have told you.

[And it was very definitely you, because Yeager ditched fairly early on. He's even wearing a flower crown!! He was not involved in that absolute shitshow and that's probably the smartest decision he's made all game.]

[notjustawriter]

[Well, that could possibly have gone a lot, lot worse, but Gabriel is definitely not in any condition to be wandering around right now. Sure, he's going to survive.

He thinks.

But as it is, wherever he ends up he spends a while watching the church burn with a pensive expression on his face. It's not the first time he's seen something like this, but it's obvious there's something in particular on his mind.

Later on, despite the fact that he was just shot, he'll eventually attempt to make his way to the flower girl, looking her over sadly.]

I wish I could have helped you.

flower girl

[blunders]

[Gabriel walking around is definitely a cause for concern from the resident Fretter, so Felicia is absolutely tailing a little bit behind Gabriel--mostly out of concern, and just to make sure he doesn't wind up agitating his injuries somehow. She's not being particularly quiet, but...

...Well, when she sees who he's making his way too, she can't find it in her to be upset. Don't mind some company, Felicia's just...gonna look sadly at the girl with him.]

...She really did seem so bright, didn't she? If she wasn't so taken in by the Shimmer...maybe we could have gotten her out of here. She deserved that much.