[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

[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.

[paradisefraught]

"Oh, I won't die. It'll be like I wasn't born, I think?" He hums, thinking. Exciting!

"Are you dead?"

[wipingallout]

"Mmhmm. Igor brought me here. Back home, I died protecting my friends," she answered simply. "What would make it so you never existed, Morning?"

And, after a beat...

"I think it's a little sad if that happens. I promise I won't forget you."

[paradisefraught]

"Oh! Dad and I have biiiiig plans for the world. And..." another pause. "I dunno why I'd disappear! I think you'd be back, though!"

[wipingallout]

"I better not be!" Hamuko huffed, putting her hands on her hips - she only used a light tone - it wasn't Morning that she was upset with. "Tell him I said no!"

[paradisefraught]

"Why would you be sad about that?" His eyes sharpen a bit. He needs to understand everything to make paradise for everyone!

[wipingallout]

"Because I'm proud of the choice I made. He's not allowed to change my decision without my permission," she explained, resting a hand over her heart. It didn't NEED to be about Nyx, and how she doubted whether someone who could rewrite reality could handle that threat - it could boil simply down to consent.

"I don't want to be changed. Simple as that."

[paradisefraught]

"Not wanting to not die doesn't seem healthy," Morning replies, with a genuinely curious head-tilt. There's no trace of the facetiousness or sarcasm or self-awareness there should be in his tone. He has no idea. Zero thoughts in his fluffy head.

[wipingallout]

"If that's the case, then why do you think it's okay to stop existing?"

cw uhhh distorted perception of death??

[paradisefraught]

"...Me?" He looks around, genuinely baffled, as if Hamuko-senpai could be talking to or about anyone else. "...What's wrong with me disappearing? It's not like I matter."

Self-worth does not compute to him, apparently.

[wipingallout]

"Of course you matter, Morning," Hamuko replied immediately. "You matter a lot."

You're a person.

"You matter. Just like I matter, and my friends all matter. There's no reason at all that you should disappear and stop existing."

[paradisefraught]

...Huh.

He sits down on the floor, cross-legged and deep in thought. Huh.

I...matter? Can such a thing be true...? My senpai said it...

The gears are so obviously trying to move in his head it's almost funny. Welcome to Error, population Morning.

"Dad says he loves me," he says aloud, mulling over the idea. "What if I'm...important to him?" He asks the question like he's astonished the answer could ever be yes.