[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]

"Eh...?!" He flushes, scratching the back of his head. "Th-thank you! No one's ever said that about me before!"

[wipingallout]

"Then they're not paying attention!"

It might be a little hard to, with that strange... child-like 'Actualization' behavior. She doesn't blame them, but... she wants to know the real Morning.

[paradisefraught]

"I don't know if knowing how the seasons change is truly revolutionary...but if Hamuko-senpai says!" He sing-songs, happily.

[wipingallout]

"It's the juxtaposition, you know? You've got a bubbly child-like demeanor and then suddenly you're sharp as a tack, way more observant. I think it's great."

[paradisefraught]

"I do my best..." oh, he's flushing now.

[wipingallout]

Hah! She hopes that's charming teenage boy behavior peeking through.

"Get a little more self confidence going! Show your independent side, the world won't know what hit it!"

[paradisefraught]

"Independence...hmm..." he thinks on that one, gears obviously spinning loose in his head.

[wipingallout]

"Yeah. Getting to be yourself... getting to live your life. It can seem easy to just try and make the adults happy around you, but you deserve to be your own person - that's what I've told my friends before. Especially my friend Saori - she only wanted to do what her parents expected of her, but she needed to stand up for herself."

[paradisefraught]

"I'm happy for your friend," he grins. "Finding herself."

[wipingallout]

"If you ever need emotional or other support to do the same, you can count on me. I'll be there for you," Hamuko added. She wasn't sure if that would get past the strange... child-demeanor and to the 'real' guy, but in case it did, she wanted that on the table.

[paradisefraught]

Huh.

"I...don't need help." It's almost raised like a question. "I'm here to help others!"

[wipingallout]

"You can help and also be helped. That's what a real human connection is about - both of you being there for each other," Hamuko explained, gesturing between herself and Morning. "So if you ever want my help - not just need, but want it - I'll be there for you."

[paradisefraught]

"Real...human connection?" Blink, blink. "Everyone deserves to have that!"

[wipingallout]

"Exactly! It's the kind of thing we can only get by being our authentic selves with someone," Hamuko nodded. "Sharing ourselves, helping each other... those are the things that make life worth living."

[paradisefraught]

Yes, yes! "Everyone's gonna get that, too! I'm gonna make sure of that...it's my reason to be alive!"

[wipingallout]

"Hmmm... how are you going to do that for everyone, Morning?"

[paradisefraught]

"With my dad! We're gonna make a great world. No more pain or suffering!" He's happy, chirping. He's proud of his work!

[wipingallout]

"How so?"

[paradisefraught]

"Cognition!"

[wipingallout]

"Cognition? ...Like the dungeons in Inaba? Oh-- you might have trouble remembering that," Hamuko hummed in thought.

"What techniques are you studying to affect cognition?"

[paradisefraught]

"Uh." Morning has to think about that one.

"We study how our perceptions shape our reality!"

[wipingallout]

Hamuko doesn't blow it off, doesn't assume he's talking nonsense - she nods, contemplates what it might mean. "Okay... kind of like how our perspective might change how we view an event?"

[paradisefraught]

"Like the placebo effect!"

[wipingallout]

"Like the placebo effect, right-- I remember that from one of my classes," Hamuko nodded tapping her bottom lip in thought. "So... you are working to find a way to change the way people see the world?"

[paradisefraught]

"It's more the other way around. We're gonna change the world so that everyone gets what they want and need!"