It's like I'm carrying the weight of the world

[hesperos]

[ So, Yuri's going to be going around, putting up slips of paper for everyone to see, because even with everything that was that trial, he is sure it could help. He doesn't know--it's worked from time to time before anyway and someone should do it. ]



[ Yuri, for once, is going to be making some food for the afterparty that isn't desserts. On his side of things, his food is generally going to be geared towards something more western-style and hearty. In essence, there is some things of curry with beef, chicken, and vegetables in them, take your pick. Sayaka and Kyrie also will be assisting with food, providing stuff that is likely to be geared towards something asian.

This whole set up, of course, is going to be done in the dining hall, since that's where it usually is. ]

Comments

[destage]

[That...first bit gets Sayaka to pause--she'll come back to it.]

...Yeah. What Aligula did was...horrid, honestly. All for the sake of entertainment is just...I don't understand her. I don't understand how someone like her could do that without any sort of consideration.

[...]

What...did I say, though...?

[hesperos]

Yeah and I'm not about to try to understand someone like that either.

[ ... ]

Sayin' that you'd make sure to stop her and actually getting ready to do that if things got out of hand. You can be a pretty reliable kind of person, you know.

[ Yuri saw that Elda had enough restraint, but he sort of thinks that having someone there might've helped with grounding. What does he know though. ]

[destage]

[...Let's avoid that subject. Sayaka averts her gaze a bit--she considered Aligula her friend, and...]

...I consider her the closest thing to a mom I've ever had. I wanted to protect her, and...I didn't want to be alone. I was worried if she did something like that, I'd lose her for good.

[...]

You...really think I'm reliable, Yuri-san?

[hesperos]

[ Yuri can do that -- he's considerate enough for it, anyway.

He at least understands the rest of that, there. ]

Yeah, of course. You thinking you aren't or something?

[destage]

...Mmm. I guess after all of that, and...what I almost did...

[She didn't even have a plan, or an...actual idea. She was just prepared to do something horrid. She hardly calls that being reliable.]

[hesperos]

But you didn't do whatever you were planning on doing and did your part to help out today, even if it was difficult.

If you don't think that's enough, then think of how many times you were there for someone when they needed it the most.

[ That should count for something, he thinks. ]

When you think about it, it adds up to you sounding pretty reliable, huh?

[destage]

[...mmph. She doesn't really know if it is, but...it gets her to chuckle a bit, despite herself?]

...That is kind of the definition of that, isn't it? I...try my best, honestly. I find it's easy to try and comfort other people, or...just try and make sure they don't do something that'll get themselves hurt.

[hesperos]

[ It's...it's something. Yuri will take it. ]

It is, and there you go.

[ ... ]

Guess I can't really force you to think a certain way or anything, but I think it's at least a good thing to give you a reminder to try not to sell yourself so short. We can be pretty hard on ourselves at times, I know, but remembering what good you did do can help balance out any of the negatives.

[destage]

[...]

...I probably could stand to do that more. I'm...sorry, Yuri-san.

[It sounds more confused than...well, it sounds genuinely apologetic? But it's confused as hell.]

I just want the people I enjoy the company of to...stay safe, you know?

[hesperos]

[ ... Something tells him that this isn't going as well as he planned, but maybe it's just because he doesn't always end up saying the right things, apparently. ]

Yeah, I do, and in a place like this I know it can be kinda...difficult.

[ And he doesn't really need to bring up the fact that this week's motive didn't help with that. ]

You don't really need to apologize. I just figured keeping that stuff in mind might help you out a bit. Or, you could always say something like 'Yuri-san, stop being a presumptuous pain in the ass about this'. That works too.

1/2

[destage]

[Nah, it's less that, and--]

--Yuri-san, first of all, I don't. Cuss. I'm a lady, thank you.

[...Despite the way she says that, it's less venomous and far more almost indignant. Her cheeks seem to puff up and everything in response to that.]

2/2

[destage]

[The tone goes away fast, at her next words.]

Second, it's...it is and isn't about that. [Sayaka shakes her head a bit.] ...I don't know if it's just something I don't understand or just...what, I suppose, but...it's...it is good to hear, but...

[The way she speaks, after a pause, is...almost confused. Not at him, but like she's confused with herself.]

...At this point, I'm just wondering if I can't accept that...?

[hesperos]

Right. Got it.

[ Yuri almost smiled a little there, but then as Sayaka continued, he didn't say anything else and listened until she was done. ]

Yeah? Can't accept the idea of being reliable or not being so hard on yourself, you mean?

[ His first guess in here, because this is what they've been talking about anyway. ]

[destage]

...The latter, mostly.

[It's a bit more of a melancholy answer than she'd like to admit, but...she shakes her head.]

My entire image in the business rests solely on the former, and that's...honestly something I rely on myself, quite a bit. It's practically second nature, and I've never considered myself particularly reliable. And...

[...She's trying to think, there, and it's probably clear that she's struggling with this.]

...I guess I'm just having a hard time with what I did back at the school, and whether I deser-- [...She doesn't like that word.] ...You know, I don't know? I'm still angry at what I did back at Hope's Peak, and I'm...still holding it against myself, because I wanted to try and change for the better. And if I was tempted toward this, it feels like all of that was just...invalidated and wasted.

[hesperos]

So you think because you were trying to change something about yourself and then nearly slid back into doing similar with your thoughts that any effort was wasted, huh? And that you think you should be hard on yourself for that?

[ ... ]

I'm gonna disagree with that, of course. But, I do understand it'll take time for you to accept otherwise--especially when you're disappointed with yourself. It's only natural.

In the meantime, I'll be here, along with anyone else, ready to support you when you need it.

[ Since that's the reason this got to this point--Yuri's going to try his best to help her because they're friends. Even if he knows it won't be easy. ]

[destage]

...Yeah.

[That sure as fuck hit the nail on the head, didn't it? If the look on Sayaka's face is any indication, he uh. Hit a bullseye with that.

...She doesn't get Yuri. She doesn't really get him, and at this point, it feels kind of clear, but...that manages to actually get her to pause a bit. The fact that people are still there for her, and they won't just...up and leave her behind and alone, it's resonating a bit stronger.]

...Thank you, Yuri. [The lack of honorific is intentional--she doesn't know if she'll keep with it like she does for Hibiki, or Alex, or Elda, or did for Aligula, but...] I...really appreciate it.

[hesperos]

[ He actually can understand where she's coming with when it comes to that issue. There was something about himself he had wanted to change, but...yeah.

... Oh hey, Sayaka just went ahead and used his name as is. Yuri knows that must be a big deal, considering, and he just sort of smiles. ]

Hey, it's no problem. After all, what are friends for?

[ Besides, of course, causing trouble and painting things like a menace but shh. ]