everybody's fine 'cause it's party time ( W5 AFTERPARTY )

[cheerfuldays]

After a positively thrilling game of the prisoner's dilemma, it's all over. Everyone needs to get patched up, recover and... hopefully not kill each other after everything. At some point in the cafeteria, Shizuku and Madara have taken over the kitchen- though help won't be denied completely- and leaving a large meal of noodles and whatever else they can still use from Fai and Shizuku's little shopping trip... not a lot of fresh food, but it works out. There's also plenty of coffee, a tea kettle and even hot chocolate ready. (Shizuku herself is using her ill-gotten tapioca balls for some homemade boba, hell yeah.) Team Idol may not stick around for long, but there's plenty to go around for now... and Shizuku will happily bring over some snacks from the convenience store too. And did you know that place has a milkshake machine? Because it does. Get you a milkshake, people.

But tensions are high after everything. Hopefully this doesn't become a murdergame. 

Comments

[cheerfuldays]

Tired, but... Madara did his best to shield me from everything.

( including carrying her like a princess. )

... Once I've checked on as many as I can, I'm going to be with him tonight. I can't let him just take care of me like that on his own ...

[partymagician]

He's a good partner, isn't he?

[ He smiles softly. ]

So it's your turn to take care of him... Will you bring him tea as well?

[cheerfuldays]

Of course. And... he's the best. I don't think I could ask for better.

( even if she could, she wouldn't. )

[partymagician]

You sound quite fond of him, Shizuku.

[ He glances at her as he continues to look for the tea, eventually pulling out the box of Earl Grey. ]

[cheerfuldays]

I- ... I am.

( her voice is... much, much softer than usual. it's a dangerous admission, after all.

--oh, there it is... she'll take that, thank you. time to make tea... )

... I don't think I could bear it if I lost him.

[partymagician]

[ Ah. Her response tells him everything. ]

Then I hope you do what you can to keep him.

[ And he needs to address that softness in her voice too— ]

There's no harm in having feelings for him.

[cheerfuldays]

... I want to be able to stay together, despite what we both have happening at home.

( their obligations are no joke- even if the idol industry is awful, actually, it's what they want more than anything. she can't imagine leaving everything behind, but she doesn't want to separate from him either.

fai travels worlds. they were brought here somehow. there's got to be another way...

quietly, she looks away. )

I- I know. But at the same time, I'm still scared.

( this is career-ruining. and there's a huge idol fan right beside them. )

[partymagician]

In that case... I think you need to decide if staying with him is worth being scared.

[ He offers her a comforting smile. ]

I know it's not an easy decision to make, but I bet you'll be relieved when you do make it, regardless of what it is. It'll take courage, but I know you can do it.

[ He's speaking from experience with this. Recent experience, to be honest. ]

[cheerfuldays]

... Fai, you travel through different worlds, yes? That must require considerable magic...

( because that's the other fear, really. )

[partymagician]

It does.

[ How does he put this... ]

Most magic users can only transport someone once, and that alone will use up almost the entirety of their magic.

[ So he was very impressed with how many of them were taken here. ]

[cheerfuldays]

I don't think magic exists where I'm from. But maybe technology...?

( not that she'd understand how that even worked. maybe there's other ways though- maybe she's letting her anxiety eat everything up. )

... Never mind. Right now we should focus on... on getting past all of this.

( everything still feels numb from the shocks, and she finds herself worrying about even more, hidden effects... )

[partymagician]

It's quite a lot to get past, isn't it?

[ A lot of pain too, even if he can't feel it thanks to the gauze. ]

But... that doesn't mean you can't also think about the future. I have.

[ Which is a big step for him, honestly. ]

[cheerfuldays]

... I had so much faith that we could all stay in touch somehow- with how they all brought us here, it must be possible. I don't know why I'm so scared that we might not be able to, anymore.

( except she knows exactly why: she has madara, and she's never felt this way about anyone like she does now. )

[partymagician]

Because there's people here that you care about so much that you don't want to part with them.

[ As a traveler, he understands the feeling. Although who Shizuku feels that way about... Fai has an idea or two. ]

[cheerfuldays]

... It seemed so simple just a few weeks ago.

( shizuku sighs, grabbing another mug. not coffee though- she's managed to make her tea last as long as possible, and she's going for it.

for a long momwnt, she's quiet, before she looks back up and smiles- it's a little strained. )

I didn't mean to bring everything down. Sorry.

[partymagician]

[ He puts a hand on top of her head. ]

You’re not bringing anything down. Besides, isn’t it better if you share your worries anyway? Keeping them locked up inside isn’t any good.

[cheerfuldays]

I've never been very good at focusing on this sort of thing for too long.

( maybe it's cowardly- fleeing from uncomfortable feelings like that'll really make them go away. but it's a bad habit she's always had, something she can't quite get rid of even though she knows he's right. )

[partymagician]

Neither have I. You know, I usually brush my own feelings to the side, but this bond… [ He holds up his wrist, the scar prominent on it. ] It’s made me stop doing that.

It really helps to identify what I’m feeling and talk it out. I hope you get the chance to do that sometime.

[ But he won’t be pressuring her. ]

[cheerfuldays]

( shizuku is quiet as he speaks, contemplative. he's not wrong, but... )

... I'm glad that you were able to do so. That a bit more good has come of all of this.

[partymagician]

[ He smiles gently. ]

And I hope some good comes out of this for you too. Keep your head up, and don't doubt yourself when you do have to make some decisions.