[MINGLE] chocolate and roses

[vrdr_mods]

It's Valentine's Day, and that means just one thing for the inhabitants of the Velvet Room: chaos.

And chocolate, possibly. Or even something else? Or perhaps you're spending the holiday entirely by yourself?

[[ooc: just a quick catchall post for any toplevels or threads people might want to make for the holiday! Feel free to make inbox or journal posts as well.]]

Comments

[paradisefraught]

"Oh, I got here recently, too! I'm Akira." His ID badge is proudly on display as he opens the package! "We have so many Akiras here though...I'm Morning."

[wipingallout]

"Morning! I recognize that nickname - Maruki-san told me about you," Hamuko smiled, glancing him up and down. Seemed normal so far, though the badge was interesting.

"He said you were helping with his research?"

[paradisefraught]

"Yes!!" He jumps up and down! "We do research on cognitive psience! Did you know that the way we perceive the world really can change it? Wait. You know my Da...er, Dr. Maruki. You probably already know that?"

[Watch out, he's about to go on a spiel about it.]

[wipingallout]

Wow.

The... the bouncing really was something. It felt surreal seeing a teenager that lighthearted - especially a guy as tall and broad as Morning. Hamuko kept her expression level, though, and rubbed the back of her neck.

"Yeah! I helped with a little field work a bit ago. I think there's something really important you guys can do, if you come to understand people's hearts."

[paradisefraught]

"Yes!!! We can change the world!!!" He's visibly ecstatic. "Where do you live?"

[wipingallout]

"Right now, it's the Iwatodai Dorms! That's where I lived last year with all of my friends, so I was glad it was here, too. There's even a few of my friends living there now - I feel so lucky!" she responded.

It felt... SO much like her conversations with Maiko, more than a peer.

[paradisefraught]

"Iwatodai...Where's that? I haven't heard of that school before...I go to Shujin in Tokyo!"

[wipingallout]

"The Iwatodai dorms are near where my old school was! I went to Gekkoukan High, on Tatsumi Port Island," Hamuko replied fondly. "What grade are you, Morning? Maybe I'm your senpai!"

[paradisefraught]

"Oh! I'm a second year. Are you my senpai?"

[wipingallout]

"I am! You're getting close to graduation age, huh? Do you have a school picked out?"

[paradisefraught]

"I haven't thought of it much, Hamuko-senpai...I should start thinking of it, huh?"

[wipingallout]

"Definitely!! You gotta find what gets you all fired up, follow your passions, right? And find a school that'll help get you there!"

[paradisefraught]

"My passion is helping people find happiness! I know that much already."

[wipingallout]

"Ohh, I know what you mean! Helping people out, seeing them grow into themselves... it's really exciting! Maybe being a teacher would be a lot of fun, helping kids learn and grow?"

[paradisefraught]

"Hmm. I think I wanna be a researcher like my dad! If we'll need researchers..."

[wipingallout]

"Like Maruki-san, huh?" She hummed, tilting her head. "I'm sure your father would support you picking something that was special to you, too. That's what dads do, right?"

[paradisefraught]

"Yes! He looks after me and cares for me and helps me with everything! The Maruki here isn't my dad, though..."

[wipingallout]

"That's nice of him to help out anyway, though," she hummed and nodded. "I'm getting used to taking care of myself... won't be long before I'm a full time adult looking for an apartment or even a house!"

Could Morning even grasp that kind of thing? The way he spoke was unsettlingly immature...

[paradisefraught]

"Oh, that sounds fun! I lived by myself for a while. I definitely like living with Dad better, but..." he lets out a put-upon sigh. "I guess I'll move out someday, too."

Once everyone is happy...he'll be happy. Dad will be happy.

[wipingallout]

"Not looking forward to moving out and striking out on your own?"

a/n I'm sorry for him wheeze

[paradisefraught]

"I'm not sure the world will be in a state where that'll be necessary," he hums. "I might not exist by the time I'd be old enough to move out! How about you? Are you lonely living in the dorms?"

rip this poor guy

[wipingallout]

It takes a lot for Hamuko to wrestle her expression into not overreacting. "I've got a few friends, even if they don't remember me specifically. Say... Morning, why'd you say you might not exist by the time you're old enough?"

1/2

[paradisefraught]

...Huh. Morning thinks on that one. And thinks. And thinks.

2/2

[paradisefraught]

"I dunno!" He decides with a smile. "I just have a good feeling about it! I'd love to meet your friends sometime, Hamuko-senpai."

[wipingallout]

A good feeling about it, huh. A "good" feeling.

...There was something in there, underneath the veneer, wasn't there?

"Hah. Well, if you die at seventeen, then you'll be in good company, at least? I'll be your senpai in that regard too," she joked, testing the waters.