week 2 ~*afterparty*~

[escardos]

[ well, after everyone had their encounter either ghostbusting or being ghostbusted, and once returned to the campus, flat thinks that it's a great idea to wind down with-- ]

I FOUND A BOOTLEG COPY OF THE SHREK MOVIE. LET'S WATCH IT @ THE KARAOKE PLACE! BRING YOUR OWN SNACKS!!!!

[ hopefully it's not too cramped, but repurposing a tablet to project estelletube 'jim shrok FULL MOVIE part 1 of 20' is not that difficult of a task for flat.

he's managed to bring some popcorn, but that's about it.

rest up everyone, it's been a long day.

(for ya'll. flat had fun.) ]

Comments

[cheerfuldays]

Mm... Everything kind of hurts.

( she admits it with a wry smile, before gently pushing the cup into his hands. )

We'll take care of each other, though. So... for a little bit, will you let me take care of you?

[magicam]

[There's an understanding nod as she pushes the cup into his hands. Everything definitely hurts, but... they all made it through. That's important.

There's an odd solidarity in that, even if he does still very much believe that he would have been left behind given half the chance.]

You don't have to do that... you should probably be resting, yanno?

[cheerfuldays]

Not yet.

( because when she goes to rest, that means she's going to curl up and cry in madara's arms, and be haunted by nightmares of white teeth in the shadows and feeling cornered no matter what she does. that thing got her so many times it hurts.

she doesn't want that yet, as innevitible as it is. )

... And... It's not about 'have to', you know? I want to be able to support others. Like you. You're my friend.

[magicam]

Ah... Yeah, Cay gets it.

[He wasn't hunted by the same creature multiple times over, though that had drawbacks of it's own - he couldn't internalize and compartmentalize any one creature's feelings and was left with a mess of everything... and came back with a stronger version of a feeling he's all too used to settled over his shoulders like a weighted blanket he hasn't been able to shrug off, yet.

So he understands the impulse to say 'not yet' to resting, at least not until exhaustion threatens to take them, so they'd better try to get comfortable.

What he doesn't understand - at least not right now, in this moment, is her insistence that they're friends.]

Eh... but there's no way we're friends, not really. [A huff of a sigh, a sip of tea, and he somehow looks sad and bitter all at once.] Since we super want to leave here as soon as possible, right? There's no way any relationships can last like that. So Shizu-chan should look out for herself above anyone else.

[cheerfuldays]

I disagree.

( it's a firm but gentle 'no'. this isn't like him... but at the same time, it feels like progress in a sense. not a peppy desire to keep things smoothed over. something else. )

I think even brief friendships are important. I think there's a way to keep the people you meet in your heart despite the distance or time. And I don't think I'd still be me, if I only focused on myself.

[magicam]

[She disagrees. Of course she disagreed. Everyone always cried and said they'd miss him at the end of the year - or whenever it was he'd had to move, to transfer - and how many actually kept in touch in a meaningful way? None.

She'd surely be the same.

If anything, this was worse - because even if he wanted to believe she'd be different, there'd be no real way to prove it, in the end.]

Then what's a friendship to Shizu-chan? What does being a friend mean?

[cheerfuldays]

( shizuku leans back, looking at the ceiling for a moment. )

Being a friend can mean it's someone you enjoy talking to- nothing more, nothing less. But it can also be confiding in each other and supporting one another. The people you want to and could do anything with, even things you hate, because they make it fun. Or the people you know you can cry on... and the people you want to cry on you, so you can support them just as much as they do you.

I don't think there's anything wrong with casual friends. But there's always potential to become the latter, and I don't mind nursing that potential either.

... What about you? What does it mean to you?

[magicam]

So... what happens when you stop seeing each other? And stop talking? Even - especially - when it happens literally overnight?

[Because her words sounded nice - in theory. But then, they always did. Lilia's had, too, until the depth of difference in their situations had really hit home, and Kalim... Well, he meant well, but could never understand.

And Shizuku's definition seemed to leave no possibility of a friendship ending - amicably or softly and quietly or any other way. How Idol-like of her.]

I... know what it means, and Shizu-chan's definition sounds nicest, but... for me, it's not something that's possible to have. People don't tend to stay in touch when you can't see them in person, yanno?

[cheerfuldays]

I'd like to try and keep in touch, if possible. But sometimes if things fade, you can't really control that. People don't answer, or never reach out to begin with... it hurts, y'know?

( and he definitely does know. )

... I try to treasure what was had, at the very least.

( after a moment, she looks over to cater. )

Why can't you have friendships, Cater?