[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.]]

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[paradisefraught]

"I'm gonna make everyone happy! With my dad!"

[wipingallout]

She just nodded. It wasn't really a response. It was like his mind was running away, wasn't it?

"You and your dad don't have to be afraid of people being sad sometimes. Being sad... that means you really loved someone, right? And that means they were special."

[paradisefraught]

Don't have to be afraid of people being sad...

"Get away from me, you filthy piece of shit! I won't let you touch my parents!!!"

His face goes behind his knees, curling up into a ball. "She still screams about it..." he murmurs.

[wipingallout]

'She' still screams about it...?

Hamuko almost leaned in, as if she could somehow parse deeper meaning in the words by doing so.

"...What does she scream about?"

[paradisefraught]

"About...about..."

He sniffles. Tears well up from his eyes.

"About...she's screamin' 'bout..." he starts shaking--

"--About, about--" he sobs, openly-- "about--"

[wipingallout]

Seeing him sobbing like that was startling, but Hamuko quickly calmed her expression, gently scooting closer and rubbing his back.

"It's okay, Morning... you're safe. Take slow, deep breaths... just try one word at a time, okay?"

[paradisefraught]

"About...about...^{I hurt her}..."

[wipingallout]

About hurting someone. Okay. Simple questions, just a little bit at a time.

"What's her name?"

[paradisefraught]

"Eh?" Morning pops up, tears instantly forgotten. "Your name is Hamuko, right?"

[wipingallout]

...This was so sad and... disturbing. Upsetting.

Hamuko gave him a sad smile, patting his back.

"My name is Hamuko, yeah. You said that there was a woman that said you hurt her - what's her name?"

[paradisefraught]

His face scrunches, confused. "I don't remember hurting anyone...did I hurt you?"

[wipingallout]

"Forgot already, huh?" Hamuko sighed, a little resigned. She reached in her pocket and retrieved tissues, offering one to him for the tears he'd forgotten.

"Is remembering things hard for you, Morning?"

[paradisefraught]

"...Did something happen?"

[wipingallout]

Hamuko nodded. "Nothing dangerous, I promise. You were remembering something sad, I think. Or scary."

[paradisefraught]

"...Was provably something about my mom," he decides with a frown. "Mom didn't like me."

[wipingallout]

"I see... I'm sorry to hear that. That's probably why it's hard to remember, huh?" Hamuko offered with an understanding nod.

Except she didn't think it had anything to do with trauma and repression. The way Morning acted with his forgetting was WAY too unnatural.

[paradisefraught]

"Yeah...enough about my mom, though! Are you hungry? I'm hungry..."

[wipingallout]

Well. At least that deflection was a normal deflection???

"Sure! It's a little chilly out, we could go somewhere nice, I think!"

[paradisefraught]

He stands up, grinning. "What kind of food do you like? Anywhere in Port Island you can recommend?"

[wipingallout]

"Sure can! Let's see... do I want to eat healthy, or go for something a little more indulgent..." Hamuko pondered for a bit. "Hmm...! I think I could use a little comfort food. Have you had the ramen at Hagakure yet?"

[paradisefraught]

"Nope, never been!" He chirps. "Ramen...comfort food for the soul," Morning sighs, dreamily.

[wipingallout]

"It's the good stuff!! I really like their house special. It's nice and rich... supposedly the collagen is good for your skin!" she explained, walking to lead the way.

"So, Morning - do you have any other friends here? I may be your senpai in age, but you've been here longer than me so far!"

[paradisefraught]

"Not by too much...uh..." Morning scratches his head. "I think Sparrow is my friend! And Dove. And Drake! And Aki-chan."

[wipingallout]

"Oooh, I know Dove! He's nice! And Aki-chan is the really little version of you, right?"

[paradisefraught]

"Yeah! Aki-chan is very cute and smart! I wanna go shopping with him for dresses one day..."