Week 4

[airlockedmods]

[After everything that this case was, you probably don't want to deal with anything else. But you wake up on Sunday, just like before, with some new memories, and some new stores to check out.

Let's see what this week brings.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Don't forget to check in, and check your memory regains! You can also stop by the gacha machine and Xander's office hours. ))

Comments

[induality]

[Considering the meeting was a disaster, Fukawa is intent on being anywhere but there. For a good portion of that time she's holed up in The Reading Comet with the notebook she got out of the machine. She rubs her thumb over the snowflake embossed on the cover, looking at the first empty pages for a long time. Eventually she begins writing in it.

She also has an odd paperweight sitting next to her, keeping her loose papers all together. Who knew the Starscourge could be so useful?

At different times she also visits Stronk-- when she thinks no one is around. She has to train sometime if she's going to get stronger. So that's what she's doing, with the larger sword Ardyn helped her pick out. In many ways she's not used to using a large blade, but-- her movements are surprisingly fluid and quick. She might actually be good if she learned how to make the sword move properly with her. Maybe you can help!

...

For some reason though, she keeps remembering Soma promising to help her-- a weird ache in her chest leaves her wanting to cry. And yet when she thinks of the last few moments before his vote-- him and Heart... instead of being happy like she is for most, her spirit just feels crushed.

If you missed her during training you might see her sitting against the wall looking like she wants to cry-- or hit something. Maybe both. She seems to be in emotional turmoil to say the least.]

The Reading Comet

[imnotfat]

[Hey, Fukawa, you got a moment? Looks like someone's trying to give you something. When she looks up she'll find Togami with a cellphone]

I have decided to reward you for once.

[By heightening his expectations of her, apparently. Here, have a cellphone]

I suppose you know what this means, don't you?

[How the heck is a mere cellphone supposed to mean anything, Togami]

[induality]

[Fukawa quickly sets aside her writing only to look up and see he's handing her something. She doesn't question just what it is until it's sitting in her hand. A... cellphone?]

...you're giving this to me?

[But there was no way to get a signal outside of the--

Ding. Her eyes widen and she suddenly becomes really excited about what must seem the silliest thing.]

If it works, then does that mean...?! I can use this to stay in contact with you?

[Only to Fukawa does it mean... god only knows what she thinks it means.]

[imnotfat]

Yes. That's generally the point of having a cellphone. You're reacting as if it's the first time you see one.

[Geez, Fukawa, it's nothing amazing. Togami barely refrains from rolling his eyes]

Of course I expect you to have it with you at all times. If I call you that means I need to talk to you immediately. I won't allow you to dawdle around, thinking it's nothing important -- because I don't intend to call you for social reasons, that's for sure.

[Besides, after what he heard about Lady Consequence intervening to stop Clarith's actions by contacting Fukawa and Arianna, he figures a way to keep him in touch in such situations could be worthwhile, even if it means giving Fukawa such a quick way to talk to him. Finding out important stuff days after they happen is not something he likes]

You better use your best judgment when deciding when to call. This is a sign of trust to some extent. Don't make me regret it.

[induality]

[It is amazing when it's a gift from your future husband the misguided love of your life. Especially considering how rare his rewards are. It's just the kind of positive thing she needed to pick her up and put her back on the right track.]

Of course! I'll guard it with my life.

[She'd like to just see someone try to touch it.]

...I understand.

[Does she though? The way she's still sparkling doesn't inspire great confidence, most likely.]

I'd much rather hear from you than that stupid lady any day.

[....Fukawa did you forget just how much she's helped-- yeah. Yeah. It's fine. Most of what's coming out of her mouth right now is just happy aftereffects of the fluff in her head at the moment.]

[imnotfat]

[Wow, haha! Sorry, Lady Consequence, hope you weren't watching Fukawa right now.

Now that 'that stupid lady' was brought up maybe he can pinpoint why Fukawa would be contacted so often. It has been, what, twice? In his opinion, those who are being contacted are those who are gullible enough to obey random voices, but there may be another reason]

Have you been getting along with everyone like I ordered you to?

[burninglight]

[well hey fukawa guess who's gonna sit right down next to you while you're there looking sad]

[...he's not gonna say much, just kinda take up space.]

[induality]

[Nothing like seeing Ardyn sad to make her pull herself together a bit.]

...hey.

[...good start.]

Are you okay? After... earlier?

[She didn't stay for all of it but it was pretty... bad.]

[burninglight]

...A little better. Bit tired of shouting, so that's a start. What about you?

[induality]

...honestly, the opposite. I feel like... I wanna scream.

[burninglight]

Well, the benefit of being quite tired of shouting myself is that I can listen if someone else decides they wish to take up the hobby.

[induality]

...I think I'm forgetting something important. But even I can't believe it. It's just... I keep thinking about something stupid... a-and it makes me mad, b-but I don't even have any reason to be mad...

[burninglight]

That again, hm?

[Ardyn frowned slightly, hand coming up to fidget with the pendant mostly hidden under his scarf.]

It seems that kind of feeling's worsening around here quite a bit lately. What is it specifically that you're thinking of?

1/? I'm sorry

[induality]

[Her face goes unusually dark for a moment. But then she takes a deep breath and--]

I-It's...

[induality]

[What follows is very much a rant, very animated and very quick; words rushed together angrily as fast as she can choose them. Rather than thinking, what comes out is pure emotion.]

[induality]

--that idiot Soma--

[induality]

--he just g-goes and kisses someone out of nowhere!!

[induality]

In the courtroom no less. N-no common decency... c-certainly wasn't thinking about all the people that had to watch that embarrassing display--

[induality]

After all that talk about c-caring about me and p-protecting me-- what a flimsy person!

[induality]

B-but why should I care?! I didn't even like him, right? Right?

I'M DONE

[induality]

...so why in the hell do I feel like crying right now...?!

[--she says as she kicks the wall next to her. At last it seems... she's done.]

[burninglight]

[Ardyn just listened to that whole tirade in silence, processing the point and implications when they came up-]

[...Ah. Well, that was a problem that left him very vaguely uncomfortable for reasons Ardyn couldn't put words to, folding his arms.]

If you care, then...obviously there was something to it even if neither of you could fully remember. Your name was in his profile, after all.

[induality]

Th-that's...

[She knows it. Knows it, but doesn't want to accept it. Accepting that she was replaced isn't difficult-- but it's unpleasant all the same.]

Impossible. As long as I have Master Byakuya, I don't need another man.

[...never mind that she knows she hadn't had him there. She's nothing if not dedicated.]

[desperateprayer]

Touko...?

[ Things have been. Busy. So she'll arrive and she'll frown. ]

Is everything okay?

[ You're beating up a wall. ]

stronk

[tokencanadian]

[Look, Pyrrha isn't having a great day either. But she's wanders out to here following her own emotional breakdown. Spotting Fukawa sitting against the wall and seemingly crying evokes a strong feeling... enough that she doesn't go straight back to her own kiosk to cry

She approaches, arms wrapped around herself... and silently she lowers herself into the spot next to the other girl.]

...Are you feeling terrible too?