Summer 1 - Welcome dinner

[kollomods]

[ It's the very first dinner on Norrhamn and the kitchen staff (???) has really gone all out. The counter is covered by a variety of the finest cuisine Sweden has to offer — sandwich cakes of every variety, from the classic salmon and shrimp to ham and horse radish or more modern, vegan varieties with avocado and cherry tomatoes. There's a smaller table set out with strawberry and cream cake, and the traditional spread of seven different types of shortbread cookies. Of course there's coffee and tea by the bucketload, along with other drinks such as elderberry or lingonberry squash. The community center has been decorated for the occasion with bunting and strings of lights leading out into the garden. It's still early summer so the nights are mild and surprisingly bright — the sun has yet to fully set by the time the celebrations kick off. Better get used to the light, it's not getting darker anytime soon. ]

Comments

[facings]

[ he's already wincing, less from her question and more from the awkwardness that he, too, can feel — he's never been a people person, has always had more luck expressing himself with actions rather than words, but... he's got to try. she seems nice, after all, and he feels bad for her. ]

Trust me, I'd love to. [ and with the frustrated resignation in his tone, he means it. ]

But I guess it means there's more for others, right?

[burntviolet]

[ His presence here makes even less sense as she listens to his reply, but Hanako is super aware that everyone has boundaries and she doesn't want to cross any by accident. She'll take the answer as it is and hums neutrally, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the last bit. ]

Are you... g-going to be alright, though?

this is so horribly late i'm honestly ashamed

[facings]

[ there's something to be said for showing up just to be there — he's afraid he'd seem terribly ungrateful if he wasn't here, despite being unable to eat. ]

Mm, [ he hums in response with a small, wry smile, ] I'm not going to starve to death, if that's what you mean.

[ ha, ha. hard to starve when you're already dead... ]

it's fineee

[burntviolet]

Oh, I-... I didn't mean that.

[ That'd be an exaggeration, but still, people need to eat for their own wellbeing. ]

If you are uncomfortable, I'll s-stop talking about it.

[facings]

No, that's — [ he breathes out, shakes his head. ]

That's not it. It's just... a bit weird, that's all. And a long story.

[burntviolet]

[ Hanako nods, unable to quell the awkwardness of this situation she got herself into. ]

Of course. I won't... won't p-pry or anything like that.