The world is all one! Unity mind!

[brandnewday]

[Another week, another set of disasters. Hibiki’s head is still reeling from the lengthy ordeal that was Solf J. Kimblee. But it’s because of that exasperation that she’s able to turn her restlessness into something useful. It’s too late to set about making curry for everyone, so it’s time to make some easier dishes. A replication of Fern’s mac-and-cheese, somehow she’s whipped up some kind of donut to go with her animal-shaped rice balls. There’s coffee, tea...hopefully it’s enough? And if it’s not, Rin has provided some delicious Chinese food. And that always tastes better late at night, doesn’t it?

And for the adults (or the exasperated teenagers), Susan is carting down booze from the bar. Joy. Hibiki’s never written to the group en masse before, but she delivers a piece of paper to everyone while Rin and Susan finish up the preparations. Each paper has a drawing of an animal on it, too.]

Too much has happened today. Whether you want to get angry, cry, smile, laugh, or just be out of your room, you don’t have to do it alone. Rin and I have prepared food for everyone, and Susan’s brought the drinks downstairs so none of us have to go into the bar tonight.

Even if it’s just for a little while, won’t you think about joining us in the dining room tonight? Being together is just as important as working hard. And remember, nankurunaisa!

-Hibiki Ganaha

[Three more candles are lit today. Tabitha Smith. Sigrun Eide. Solf Kimblee. They’re all Cabanela’s doing. There aren't any decorations, but the food is spaced out so everyone should be able to grab something and munch if they need it. It’s not clear how many people will come, but a serious attempt was made this time.]

Comments

[sleepytimegal]

[ The smallest quickening in her pulse as their hands connect, as Sayaka tells her...this.

It's what friends do. But this feels a lot different than movie nights with Ren or sneaking out to a concert with Amanda. It's something a little... ]

I do. I-I mean- I know. And you, ...you too. You're...very important to me. A-and if I can...take away just a little of that grief, I'll...yeah. I'll do whatever I can.

[ It's a little impossible for her to ignore this. It's far from the time, but. It's impossible, at this point. ]

[destage]

...Well, you aren't wrong on that first point.

[Sayaka's tone goes the tiniest bit teasing, there, with a bit of a giggle to underscore it, but...mmph. She clams up a bit at the rest of Alex's words, eyes widening a bit and feeling something...in her chest?

...It's weirdly foreign, honestly, a feeling so divorced from everything--or well, more accurately, it's the parts they didn't want her to keep. The parts that they just...wanted her to lose, so she could become a 'good girl' and never acknowledged them, but this...she's...

God, when did it start to get warm...?]

You...you do such an amazing job of it already. You've taken so much of my worries away already, and...I just hope I'm doing the same for you, you know? It's...only fair, after all.

[...she hasn't quite let go of her hand, yet.]

[sleepytimegal]

[ There's a world of thoughts rushing through her mind. They just watched a man they both respected on some level die, after he killed a woman they also were fond of. This isn't even taking into account Tabby's brutal execution. This isn't even taking into account the things Sayaka told her about her business. To be...pure, innocent. To be a commodity. Would it be fair to push anything? When they're in this place, when Sayaka's still figuring out so much.

This all, while keeping with the conversation and being oh-so-aware of their hands, together, and how Sayaka's nearly been crying. The result is that her words come out breathy and light. ]

You do. More than you could ever understand. I said, before, that I didn't know how I could make it here without you, but that's...that's tenfold now.

[ She wants to...

...Alex moves in and hugs her. ]

[destage]

[...Oh. Oh gosh, that's...

Everything just kind of tightens up when Alex says that--that it's more than she could understand, that she didn't...know how she could make it there without her--she means her. Not the girl who was basically just a cardboard cutout, but--she said it before. In the "her" way. In the way that may just actually be a person whose...worth that sort of affection, and praise.

Sayaka clings, tightly, just...kind of shaking a bit and feeling her heart just...kind of beating like hell, and she's heating up a lot and kind of just...burying her face into Alex at this point.]

...It's the same. You...you're...you're amazing...

[She...can't even begin to find the proper words here, god.]

[sleepytimegal]

[ I think I'm starting to- Don't say it. Don't say it. Just hold her in return, and keep the feelings confined to a fluttering smile caught on her face. Adelina had just asked her, earlier tonight about this sort of thing, it's...almost funny.

Almost. If this whole place wasn't a nightmare as well. ]

I- I try.

[ Just...be here with her. That's enough right now. ]

[destage]

[God, this is legitimately starting to make her sweat. What the hell is wrong with her? In a place like this, too? Was she really that willing to risk her friendship with Alex for something that's just...making her chest feel so tight?

...]

You mean the world to me.

[It's...muffled, into where ever she's buried her head into. She's not sure if Alex will hear it, but from the way she's said it and how quickly she's said it, it sounds like it could be replaced with something else. If she even hears it at all, but...]

[sleepytimegal]

[ ...There's something there. Something...soft? Alex thinks she can almost make it out, but-

She pulls back a little. ]

What was that?

[destage]

[...Ah, there's...shaking, again, and--god, when did her face get so red? She's...kind of...

...She's not really responding, just kind of looking down and refusing to meet Alex's gaze. She's...yeah.]

[sleepytimegal]

Sayaka? I couldn't...quite hear you, are you okay?

[ That's some embarrassment but mostly concern. She's just kind of freezing up, is she, that's worrying- ]

[destage]

--It's fine!

[She blurts that out, just--kind of jolting back to life, there, and plastering a smile on her face, gently just...getting Alex's hands off her, chuckling in the most forced tone imaginable. She scoots out of the desk and stands, shakily bowing her head.]

It's--It's fine, just, um--please forget I said anything. Talk to you again sometime, good night, Alex!

[The wild SAYAKA fled!]

[sleepytimegal]

But I didn't- Sayaka-- [ ah... There...she go.... ]

Good night...?

[ Alex stands there in her room, confused but also...very sure of what she needs to do next.

It's time..........to ask for some advice. ]