week 4

[airlockedmods]

[Just like the previous week the status quo is restored with frighteningly quick efficiency. PAL still makes the morning and night time announcements through the PIP on each Champion's arm, and still the Champion unitards are freshly laundered and re-hung each morning in their closets. Even the glass roses Choromatsu and Takumi broke after the trial in their fit of anger have been replaced with fresh ones. All signs that there was anything amiss this weekend are completely gone.

There's a new floor to explore, their "reward" for a job well done.]

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday



[ooc: Don't forget to to turn in your AC for week 3, submit your memory regains and put in your threads for the Benefactors!]

Comments

[misanthropicprinciple]

[Junpei does her the courtesy of not noticing the tears.]

Who? Nishitani or Finn? You can make a case for either one.

[everylittlesecret]

Nishitani, mostly... he's like a weird uncle... but I'm glad that someone like him is here.

[That man knows more about her than anyone else.]

[misanthropicprinciple]

Mm. The yakuza... they're brutal, but they value loyalty and that kind of "family" camaraderie. And Nishitani's honest. He's a good man to have in a situation like this.

[everylittlesecret]

Rebel... I've never met someone so-[What's the word...]-unused to the normal things in life. It was both... really sweet, but really painful. I would have taken him home, let him live a good, normal life. Away from death, away from whatever his life was back home... but that's impossible now.

[misanthropicprinciple]

...Him and Kawasumi. They were... the people here I wanted to protect.

[everylittlesecret]

.... same. Seems the moment we want to protect someone, they die.

[misanthropicprinciple]

[That makes Junpei flinch around the eyes, and he looks away, hair falling into his face.]

Yeah. Well. Guess that's a sign that maybe we shouldn't.

[everylittlesecret]

I don't think I can stop. I'm... not good at not caring about someone's welfare.

[misanthropicprinciple]

[He opens his mouth to say something, but closes it again, pressing his lips tightly together. Tries again, then breathes out sharply and closes his eyes.]

Neither... am I.

[His arms he folds tightly across his chest, more to keep it from bursting than to look cool or collected.]

I should know better. But I'm not as smart as you all seem to think I am.

[everylittlesecret]

[Nari hesitates before reaching out and putting a hand on his shoulder.]

You wanna know something? Neither am I.... I've got an extra blanket if you need one to hide under for a while.

[misanthropicprinciple]

[He didn't see it coming, so he jumps a little, but... he likes Nari. They see eye-to-eye on a lot.]

No. I'm... I don't really want to think about any of that right now. And I will, if I slow down at all. [He breathes out.] ...But I wouldn't mind staying a while. If that's okay with you.

[everylittlesecret]

I don't mind. Queenie's not in right now, and she wouldn't complain about you anyways.

[She moves to open the door all the way so he can step inside. It's obvious to tell just which side of the room is hers. It has a giant stuffed dog on the bed.]

[misanthropicprinciple]

Would Queenie ever complain about anything? Real questions.

[Junpei uses his Elite Detective Skills to figure out which side of the room is Nari's, then goes ahead and just. Sits on the floor near her bed, leaning back against the desk with a sigh.]

God, she doesn't deserve this crap.

[everylittlesecret]

She complains if someone is using the bathroom too long. She complains about the lack of some hair product she's used to... She actually complains quite a bit.

[Nari herself will settle down on the bed, grabbing one of the blankets and tossing it at Junpei. The other she wraps around herself like a fluffy cocoon.]

No, she doesn't. She's so sweet and kind, and honestly, I'm happy she's my roommate.

[misanthropicprinciple]

...Yeah.

[That's pretty much exactly how he felt about Finn.

Contrary to what he said earlier, Junpei pulls the blanket over his head and around his shoulders, the very picture of a hikikomori. Or a Sewaddle. He huddles underneath it and, suddenly, it's more apparent that he's smaller than Nari.]

I forgot. How good people can be.

[everylittlesecret]

I... never met a genuine good person before this place.

[It's a depressing truth. Good people were not something she ran across with the places her parents took her to.]

I'm still not used to kindness. It's difficult to understand.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Why? You are.

[The lump representing Junpei's head turns towards her.]

...Kind, I mean.

[everylittlesecret]

.... I keep being told that, especially by Angel. You guys are weird. I'm just being myself.

[Which apparently is a kind person.]

[misanthropicprinciple]

...Well. I think Angel hasn't had a lot of kindness in her life.

[Angel, Mai, Finn...]

Why do you help people? Do you expect a reward?

[everylittlesecret]

True... [She hesitates for a few moments.] I help people because I want to feel useful and needed, and when they are happy, it makes me feel those things. I don't need a verbal thank you or otherwise. I'm happy with just a smile.

[misanthropicprinciple]

I think that's the very basis of kindness.

[He puts his head on his knees and breathes out.]

...Thanks for the blanket.

[everylittlesecret]

Huh... so I've been kind my entire life then? That's... not something I've ever considered.

[She shrugs.]

No problem. They keep sending them to me, so why not share? At this rate, with a few more, I can turn this room into a blanket fort.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Not a bad idea. Blanket forts are impenetrable. This is a fact, you can trust me. I'm a detective.

[everylittlesecret]

Oho? So the moment you left one, even you couldn't get back in?

[Are you... actually making her feel better?]

[misanthropicprinciple]

[...If he is, he's going to keep at it.]

You've figured it out. My one weakness: Soft, fluffy blankets. They're like Kryptonite to me.