(no subject)

[hot_mess_express]

Who: anyone
When: day 38, after noon
Where: in and around the train

[A gentle breeze keeps the afternoon cool. It seems peaceful around now, with the malice pushed back so far, unless you're heading to the island of concentrated malice of course.

It's a good day to relax and daydream.

Distantly you might sometimes hear the tick ticking of clockwork? Or it might be your imagination.

Speaking of imagination, if you think about things too hard you may find your thoughts and feelings shared with those nearby. Or even if you don't think hard at all.

At the mildest this might simply be like your thoughts and emotions being understood by others next to you, either in a vague or explicitly detailed way, but at the most extreme you might project shared delusions. Something like others getting to watch your own memories. Or fantasy sequences. Or inner monologues. Or maybe even blending you delusions with another's.

Whether it goes that far or remains a more telepathic/empathic thing is very random.]

Comments

[bluediligence]

[ So, about being able to watch other people's memories ... If you happen to be hanging around in the lounge this afternoon, you might catch this memory from Faito playing on the screen. It's. It's pretty silly. Terrible skiing? A costumed skiing contest being hosted by a teacher projecting her own ideas of an ideal romance? Faito being oblivious to hostility, down on herself, and also sweet? Check, check, and check. ]

[ And Faito just, smiles. ]

I bet they looked so cool together ...

[survivaltricks]

[. . . well, he wanted to check in on her post-nomming, so he supposes now is a good time for that!1]

Yeah? Bet you looked cooler.

[bluediligence]

Who, me? [ PfffHAHA, waves a hand dismissively and then gestures at the screen. ] No way, you must have seen it! I'm terrible at skiing.

[ Grins at him, and, yeah, she sure looks a whole lot better than she had when they first met. Just ignore the scars. ]

... Thanks, by the way. For helping me out the other day.

[survivaltricks]

I wasn't necessarily talking about your skiing.

[JUST. . . IN GENERAL!! bet she looked way cooler!!]

[he also looks way better, with a little bit of color having returned to his cheeks]

Mm. And don't mention it. How are you feeling?

[bluediligence]

Oh! Well, still ... [ Shakes her head. ] They're much cooler than I am, anyways.

[ She's not cool, ok, it's fine, she doesn't mind being plain!! ]

A lot better than I did. Just need to decide when I wanna get these fixed, now. [ Uses her clockwork right arm to gesture at her clockwork right leg. ] How about you...?

[survivaltricks]

[faito plz!1]

Cool is a subjective standard. I think you're cool.

[SO THERE]

[. . . there's a sort of flicker in his expression when he sees the clockwork limbs, a moment where he tenses up with the memories of that stupid, stupid trial. but it doesn't take him long to wrest himself back under control]

I'm feeling a lot better.

[NO CANNIBAL URGES]

80H was able to help me out. Maybe she could also help you?

1/2

[bluediligence]

[ wh ]

[ no ]

[ how dare you ]

[bluediligence]

You're the one who's cool!

[ He stopped to help a cute girl in need, that's super cool ]

A-Anyway! Uhm. I've met 80H, I think ... Do you really think she'd be able to help with this? [ Makes a face at her limbs, curling and uncurling the fingers. ] I was thinking I could save up some sparks over time and pay to use those pod thingies.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . HUFFS A LITTLE, clearly amused]

Ah. Thanks.

[at least he’s the sort to take compliments in stride]

And. . . maybe? [A BEAT] Then again, maybe not if she doesn't have any real limbs to work with??

[idk my bff NOT A DOCTOR over here]

. . . maybe the pods are a better idea.

[bluediligence]

[ DON'T U LAUGH AT HER, SIR ]

Maybe! Ah, well ... I'll look into it soon, I guess. [ She's been putting it off in favour of buying cute outfits and enjoying the outdoors. ] There's no real rush. They're weird, but they don't hurt.

[schrodingerscockroach]

....wow, you really do assume the best of people.

[Its kibd of impressive.]

[bluediligence]

Huh? What?

[ Looks between him and the screen, tilts her head. ]

Are you talking about Fujie-kun? He shouldn't have been putting himself down like that!

[schrodingerscockroach]

No, more like Akako's attempt to gaslight you.

Kind of entertaining though, she absolutely wasn't prepared for that turn around.

[bluediligence]

You're thinking too hard about it. She's got a crush, that's all!

It was pretty cute, seeing her get all flustered like that. I don't think it happens very often.

[schrodingerscockroach]

That just explains why she was gaslighting. She feels threatened easily.

Most people don't counter gaslighting with concentrated adorable. She probably expected hostility or submission, not genuine compliments.

[bluediligence]

But ... But she wasn't gaslighting me.

[ That's a silly idea, don't be silly, Dusk. ]

[Bond]

[schrodingerscockroach]

.... [reaches over and ruffles her hair.]

So was that the kid who taught you about cards?

[bluediligence]

[ Meep! Ducks her head some, though not so far that it would actually dislodge his hand. ]

Ah, yeah! That's Kaito. He's an idiot. [ And yet, despite the insult, she sounds (looks) fond. ] Guess we've known each other for a long, long time.

[ It kinda explains the bickering. ]

[nihilmancy]

[Hey wow, it sure is cool meeting you for the very first time because we've never seen each other before.

Lurking at the edge of the room, watching the memory sidelong. But she smiles a little at the antics, if a little sadly.]

Trying your hardest to learn something can be interesting too.

[bluediligence]

[ Oh … oh, isn't that — ]

A-Ah, yeah … It can be! I mean, it is. I had a lot of fun trying, even if I wasn't very good at it.

[nihilmancy]

You know, I think that other girl was just as nervous as you were. Probably more.

[bluediligence]

You mean Akako-chan? Mm! She did seem flustered, didn't she? It was cute.

[nihilmancy]

You're quite well-disposed towards her, given how rude she was to you.

[bluediligence]

I don't think she was being rude ... She's just really into Kaito, for some reason.

[nihilmancy]

She called you "unrefined," though.