+ FOURTH WALL EVENT: GENERAL NON-PARTY MINGLE POST +

[vitaelamorte]

Who: E V E R Y O N E
Where: Everywhere that isn't one of the parties! Both Sides!
When: Sept 1st to Sept 10th
Rating: G to PG-13 (please label higher ratings, thank you!)
Summary: Wonderful parties are springing up all across Wonderland, but there are still plenty of other places to explore. This is a log for any new arrivals who want to experience different parts of Wonderland life, and any current guests not in the mood for a log or transmission of their own.

Please also see THE FOURTH WALL MASTER POST for rules, information, and all the fun parties you can visit!
The Story:

On the morning of September 1st, everyone in Wonderland, on both Real and Mirror Side, will awake to find one of four possible invitations has been shoved under their doors. The glass has been carefully removed from all mirrors, and everyone will be able to cross to and from Mirror Side with ease, without forcing any sort of swap. The Queen of Hearts' chambers, discovered in the previous event, will be mysteriously inaccessible, leading only to a tearoom.

Additionally, there will be many more Wonderland guests than usual, each of them with their own random invitation and network device (wired to make replies only). As the week goes on, as per the invitations, more and more parties will appear (and everyone is invited to all of them, whether they received an invitation or not). But who brought them here? Why are there so many parties? Who is responsible for all of this exactly?

It's anyone's guess, though if parties or riddles are not your style, then there is always plenty more to see...

Comments

Seta Souji | Persona 4 Golden (game) | Resident, OTA (will match style}

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji has been through this kind of event before, but it's still kind of fascinating to fun into all of these people who are very suddenly. He's wandering around the Mansion, the gardens, checking out new people, though he still lingers around the Diner, just in case any of the...guests? turn up there and want food.

Seeing so many faces that he knows haven't been here in awhile (an he has been here awhile himself), he'd be lying if he were to say he wasn't hopeful that he'd see faces that are more familiar to him than those. So many of his friends from home have been here during his several-year stay, that it seems like there's a good possibility he'll see them again. He misses them more than he can really express.

His demeanor is approachable, and when he sees someone he's never seen in Wonderland before, he gets closer, peering at them, curious and nosy, but he won't necessarily walk right up and say hi unless they look particularly confused.]

[jivitadana]

[Everything. Everything was familiar, like a very vivid, recurring dream that Minato could never forget. It felt so very real. He took a breath in and thought that this was as real as anything else in the waking world. He had been here before, a couple of times before, as he had been told, though now that he was here, it was almost as if he hadn't ever left.

But then, where to go from here? He doubted that his room was still his room. So many people wandered the halls from so many worlds and dimensions that anything could have changed. Of course he couldn't exactly go there. All of the major landmarks were still there and people, there were so many people, more so than he had thought there would be. Was it always like this?

Minato thought that he should go somewhere safer, although safer wasn't quite the correct word. Maybe somewhere where he could gather his thoughts, retrieve pieces of his memories, all while with some kernel of hope that someone familiar was still here. Not that he would exactly wish that on someone, a life here that was perpetually changing and yet perpetually stagnant simultaneously. But he would rather endure this with a friend than go it alone. Hadn't he always been taught that?

Letting out that breath that he had been holding, Minato slowly pushed open the door to one place that was an addition to this world and was still here, and that small light of hope inside of him had sparked up that maybe he really would find someone familiar here.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji was making more coffee behind the counter in the diner when he heard the door open. He turned to check to see who was coming in and froze. His expression remained neutral with a hint of surprise and an even smaller hint of happiness. He couldn't let that latter grow until he knew if this was the Minato who had left him the last time.

Setting aside the carafe of coffee--he'd nearly dropped it--he wiped his hands on his jeans and started to come around the counter. Now, as he got closer, there was something guarded about him. He didn't want to be disappointed, though he thought, even if this weren't his Minato, it would still be nice to talk to another version.]

Minato.

[Even his voice didn't give away just how excited he felt in that moment.]

[jivitadana]

[Minato's eyes had widened ever so slightly. He could feel a rush of memories and emotions flood him through to the tips of his fingers, finally settling and gathering around his chest where it was suddenly yet comfortingly warm.]

Souji.

[He smiled, soft and filled with unfathomable joy. There was something there unspoken but present, its existence making itself known again through a subtle yet unbreakable connection, a Link and then so much more.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji relaxed and allowed himself to smile, stepping closer now.]

I'm glad you came.

[Minato hadn't had a choice, but that didn't matter. He was here.]

[jivitadana]

[Minato was so happy to see that smile. It was the same as before, as Minato had remembered it and would always remember it.

It didn't take too much longer then to process that happiness that was still blossoming inside of him, that same happiness which caused him to step forward without a second's hesitation and wrap his arms around Souji in a tight hug.

He didn't speak much, as was normal. But in this case, he didn't know what to say, not quite yet, letting that happiness do all the speaking for and through him.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji automatically returned the embrace, one hand on the back of Minato's head. It was good to see him again, but he didn't have to say so. Minato was the person in the world whose soul was the closes mirror image of his own. There was very little he had to say to Minato, because Minato would always understand without him having to.]

[jivitadana]

[Minato took this opportunity then to lean more into Souji, not that he needed the help with standing but it was nice to just be that much closer to Souji.]

You're warm.

[Souji always was warm. That hadn't changed at all.]

[eatsyourscience]

[After a moment of silence, Souji spoke again.]

Are you hungry?

[When wasn't Minato hungry?]

[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded into Souji's chest before slowly relinquishing him from his embrace. He would go take a seat at the counter then, unless:]

Did you need help?

[After all, he couldn't just take advantage of Souji's offer or kindness.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji gestures Minato over to the counter.]

You don't have to.

[He liked the opportunity to do something for Minato. It had been...well, much too long, and he needed a moment to gather himself.

In the meantime, he poured coffee for Minato, then set the carafe down near him on the counter.]

I'll make curry. The rice is already ready.

[He kept warm rice on hand most of the time.]

[jivitadana]

[Minato could relent and not help this time. He could let Souji indulge him, he thought, since Souji was always so prone to helping him in any way he could.

So many ways. He didn't know if he could ever thank Souji for all of it. A lifetime, ten lifetimes after that, and it still wouldn't be enough.

He nodded once, thanking him for the coffee and wrapping his hands around the mug. And then his smile became a little softer, wistful, almost something like nostalgic, but really, what this moment here mirrored was another moment that was a more recent memory for Minato.]

... It'll be the same.

[Minato knew that came out sounding a bit out of context. Strange, perhaps, though Minato had the advantage of time in a world outside of this place, even if Souji had years over him here. For both of them, he could elaborate.]

I had it a couple of days ago. But I'd like it again.

[eatsyourscience]

[Those words didn't seem to reach Souji for a few seconds as he found what he needed to make the curry. Then he froze, then whipped around to face Minato, dropping a couple of carrots on the floor as his hands went numb.

He stared at Minato, hoping that meant what he thought it did, but trying not to.]

[masukukunai]

Well, there's this again. Yousuke knows where he is, like someone knows a re-occuring dream. The plush interior, velvet carpets, sumptuous furniture. It all feels familiar, despite the fact that anywhere else, he'd feel alienated by all this luxury. No, he's been here before. Long enough that he could be comfortable here...

It's all coming back to him. While it wasn't always pleasant, he smiles. It couldn't beat Inaba, but he was certainly never bored, and that's enough to keep him in a good mood-- most of the time. There were a whole bunch of people that he'd like to see, and there was one person in particular. If he still knew his way around, the kitchen would be this way.

...Hmm. No good? Maybe he wasn't here anymore. Although Souji did do more than just eat, he could usually count on him thinking with his stomach. Yousuke opens the fridge, just in case, then heads for the stairs. Maybe he's still in his room? Ah, shit, what was the number again? He's jittery, excited, and he puts his hands in his pockets to keep them calm as he searches.

[eatsyourscience]

Souji was in his room, but is heading toward the stairs. Whether he was heading to the diner or to meander around the grounds again, people-watching, doesn't really matter when he spots Yousuke down the hall, coming toward him.

Some mixture of excitement and happiness and a relief that might have brought anyone else near to tears explodes in his chest like fireworks. He smiles a little to himself an raises a hand, casual even under these circumstances despite what was going on inside of him.]

Yousuke. You came.

[It had been too, too long. Years, on Souji's end of things. He didn't know for sure from first glance that this was his Yousuke, the one who had been here, but it didn't matter in the long run. Yousuke was Yousuke. Any version was a happiness to Souji.]

[masukukunai]

Of course, Souji replies with a cool gesture. If he were someone less astute in his language, he'd feel affronted. But Yousuke knows. He sees the slight stutter in the motion of his arm raising, a twitch in his fingers. His eyes widen and his pupils dilate. And his smile. Souji has many different, subtle smiles. Yousuke recognizes this one, because it's only for him.

"That's all, huh? You came? I'm hurt!"

None of this, of course, will stop Yousuke from teasing him. His own palms tingle with excitement, though he keeps his hands in his pockets. He gives a toothy grin, brimming with all the confidence he wishes he could naturally exude. Souji makes him feel so alive. Nothing he says to him could be stupid.

[eatsyourscience]

"You'll get over that." Souji's voice is deadpan, as it usually is when he teases back.

Finally closing the gap between them, he doesn't bother for any further pleasantries before hugging Yousuke. He missed him, and that's only more obvious now that he feels the hollowed out part of himself filling back in.

[masukukunai]

"Hey, it's not okay until I say so!"

He's cut off by Souji's embrace, which he makes no move to avoid or dislodge. He simply rolls his eyes at this typical behavior, both aloof and clingy. Souji is rather like the cats he adores so much sometimes.

Yousuke holds him back, rests his neck across his shoulder. It seems he's grown a little bit taller. That might also explain his easy comfort with physical touch; there's absolutely nothing tense or fidgety about his posture. He's not afraid at all.

"--Alright, alright. You can only get away with hugs fixing shit today, okay?"

[eatsyourscience]

Even Souji would admit that cats are bad influences, ignoring you unless they want something, demanding food and then snubbing it, eating all of the fish you've caught and were intending to give away.

"We'll see." Souji's pretty confident Yousuke will change his mind.

After a minute or so, he steps away again and offers Yousuke the same smile as before.

"Come with me. I'll make food."

[masukukunai]

"You're particularly full of yourself today," Yousuke snorts. But he still follows when Souji offers food-- he misses his home-cooking. Back in Inaba, spring has come around again, and the 3rd years of their group (himself included, of course, though it was a little dicey for a moment there) have graduated. They've all been busy, and haven't had the chance to meet up for awhile, "be careful, I'm tougher than I used to be. You're not so hard to resist."

[eatsyourscience]

"I'm technically 21, so I still have the edge."

But the changes in Yousuke haven't escaped him, more obvious the longer he's next to him. He missed out on something important, just like he knew he would, and though the thought isn't painful, it does make him a bit sad. He hides it behind that quip as he leads the way to the diner.

"How have things been?"

[masukukunai]

"Whoa, hold up! 21!? You're fucking kidding me! They haven't let you out of here for that long?"

Yousuke jogs ahead a little bit, and then turns around, obviously giving Souji the up-and-down. Nope, he hasn't aged a day. In fact, he's catching up to him in height.

It's weird. For one, he's used to Souji always being a little bigger than him. And while Souji has always been the more mature between them, technically, he's an adult now...

He kind of wishes that his body reflected his age. 21 is a ripe age for a young man, and Yousuke suspects it would treat him well.

"Forget about Inaba, it's the same as ever... Dude, I can't believe they've done this to you."

[eatsyourscience]

He slows as Yousuke gets ahead of him and faces him, stopping with a hand on his hip. Just like his physical body, some things have not changed.

"There are still people who have been here longer than me."

But not many of them--James and Philip and maybe Evelyn. If you can't count a group on more than one hand, it hardly counts for the purposes of comparison.

His expression shifts to his usual "joking" deadpan. "Kanji's here now, and he's still taller than me."

I miss Souji the Pooh so hard

[masukukunai]

"Yeah, like who? I bet there like... 3 people, at best."

Yousuke can still read him like a book. But he can't help but laugh-- Kanji's here, really?

"That kid is a bamboo shoot. He's gotten even taller back home; he's always ducking under doorways and smacking his head on ceilings. All that bending forward is going to give him back problems... especially if he keeps going out with Naoto."

[eatsyourscience]

"...How is it possible?"

Kanji is the only person Souji knows who's taller than he is--even his uncle is shorter. How could Kanji possibly get taller?

How?

But he smiles at the mention of Naoto and Kanji going out. That pleases him, and he's happy for them. It had to be exhausting to be so constantly awkward around each other before he'd left Inaba.

"What about the others?"