+ Somewhere a Grandiose Carnival Was Going on in the Sky +

[vitaelamorte]

Who: Everyone!
Where: The grounds of the Mansion
When: March 9-16
Rating: PG-13 (warn if you go higher)
Summary: The Red Queen has thrown a carnival for everyone!
The Story:


From Friday, March 9, through Friday, March 16, the gardens and grounds of the Mansion will be a sprawling a carnival. The masked, unspeaking vendors will be selling trinkets and running free game booths. Carnival rides, exhibits, and foods represent all of the various cultures of those currently residing in the Mansion.


Of particular note, and perhaps incongruously, everything is decorated with red hearts.

Use this log for any and all of your carnival needs!

Comments

[255000255000255]

That sounds nice.

[ She'd been smiling, but it fades as she lowers her head once more. She feels like she's reaching out for something that's always just barely out of her reach. All of what he's said sounds so familiar, but...so not.

The hazy forms in her mind laugh quietly, knowing they'll never be clear or tangible. ]

I formed a club.

[ Monika blinks, not meaning to say anything, but it's out there. Probably because she wanted to feel connected to him somehow, feel more like she's real. So she continues. ]

A--A literature club. I was the president and everything. Have you met Sayori? She was vice president! We were about to have our festival, before we left.

[eatsyourscience]

[He shook his head.]

I haven't met her. But it sounds like you worked hard. My clubs didn't do anything specific for our festival. It was each class that organized stuff instead.

[He makes a face.]

We ran an unsuccessful date cafe.

[He's a little embarrassed that it was his friend who suggested it.]

[255000255000255]

[ There's quite the pause as Monika tries to wrap her head around that. ]

So people...came in and would go on dates with your class? And would drink coffee?

[ Another long pause. ]

Well, um. It definitely sounds...unique? Ahaha.

[eatsyourscience]

Unique is a kind way to put it.

[Seriously, Yousuke has the worst ideas when left unsupervised.]

What was your club going to do for the festival?

[255000255000255]

[ She blinks. She wasn't expecting him to want to know! ] O-Oh, um.

[ Pressing her lips together, she glances away, thinking. It's getting a bit hard to keep all the details together, since they kept changing so often... ]

We kinda did things a little last minute, but we wanted to have a cozy place for people to come in and appreciate literature. Or mostly poetry, I guess, ahaha. All five--four?--five of us were going to perform a poem for anyone that came. And one of my members made cupcakes, since she's really good at baking and...

[ She trails off. Is she actually remembering this fondly? ]

Um, like I said, though. It never happened. I wish it could've, since we worked so hard on it. Guess it wasn't in the cards.

[ And that's surely not her fault. ]

[eatsyourscience]

[Four or five? The fact that she's not sure--of that or the rest--makes him wonder...]

Maybe when you get back home?

[255000255000255]

[ Monika laughs quietly, shaking her head. ] No, I don't think so. Things were just a bit past the point of no return before I left!

[ Also something that is surely not her fault. ]

But it's okay. At least I still have the good memories. Those actually feel real sometimes, which is nice.

[eatsyourscience]

[He considers her response.]

I feel like I don't know that much about you.

[He's curious, but he also thinks maybe she needs someone to talk to about things in general.]

What was home like for you? What was your school like?

[255000255000255]

[ Monika licks her lips. They feel dry all of a sudden.

She looks around at their surroundings. She completely trusts Souji, but others...not so much. When she feels like it's safe to talk, she takes a deep breath and returns her gaze to him. ]

Have you ever had a dream where you feel this insane desire to get somewhere, or maybe save someone, I don't know. You just have this strong need to want to move. But no matter what you do, your body feels like it's made of lead. If you move, it's not far. And you feel like you'll never get to where you want to be. Still, though, you keep trying and hoping.

[ Her voice lowers further. ] That's...that's what my memories are like. Sometimes I reach one, but most of the time I don't. The only things truly clear to me are the last few days before I came here. Everything else... [ She sighs. ] It's either insanely vague or out of reach. I know who I am, and I know parts of who I used to be, but...

[ She forces a smile onto her face. ] It is what it is, I suppose. I try not to think about it too much. Oh and, I'd really appreciate it if you kept this only between us~

[eatsyourscience]

[He takes in what she's saying, comparing it to things she's said before. It seems consistent and he has no reason not to believe her.]

Is it enough for you?

[She says "it is what it is," but that doesn't mean she has to be okay with it. He would understand if she weren't.]

[255000255000255]

[ She's quiet for a long time. It seems like she's not going to answer at first. ]

I...don't know.

I just... [ She lets out a sad laugh. ] I just want to find the things that make me feel whole. It's hard to do when it feels like a piece of me is always missing, but...I'm going to keep trying.

[eatsyourscience]

I believe in you. [He offers a small smile.] I know that's not a lot, but I'll do what I can to support you.

[255000255000255]

[ That actually puts a genuine smile on her face. She knew it was right to love him. ] Thanks. Don't worry, that means a lot.

Um, and. I...I'm sorry if you feel like you've had to deal with the full brunt of me being this way. [ Maybe. Mostly. ] I hope you don't hold it against me~

[eatsyourscience]

I don't. [Can't help being this fly.] It's okay.

[He pushes himself up from the table.]

I better get going. I'm distracting you from the rest of your food.

[255000255000255]

Wh-What?

[ He can't leave! She's so close to having him!! ] But you've barely eaten! Aren't you still hungry?

[ It's desperate, but. Whatever, she's desperate! ]

[eatsyourscience]

I'm okay.

[He smiles at her.]

I'm still going to be around. We can play games or something later.

[255000255000255]

[ Her mouth opens to say just how limited her time is, but she instead shuts it and returns his smile. It's probably better that he doesn't know. ]

All right. I'm holding you to that.

[ She waves, injecting more happiness into her expression. ] Thanks for our time together!

[eatsyourscience]

I'll see you soon.

[He gives her a little wave in return and heads off.]