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

_{[Between the initial gasp and the reluctance to pull away, it's hard to peg what she's feeling. Had that... been surprising? A little forward, maybe, no more forward than her touching his arm first, he should think.]}

Well, shit, that's nice.

_{[He laughs. Thanks for thinking of his poor neck should you ever sprout fangs and a bad case of bloodlust, Monika.]}

Don't worry about it, I made some bad puns about it, too. She... wasn't really thinkin' clearly, but it all worked out in the end. It's just that, y'know, I ain't ever had girls call me cute until I came here. That never happens!

_{[Maybe he should be more embarrassed admitting he'd all but had zero play at home, but it'd just been a Fact of High School Life he'd gotten accustomed to, and now he's honestly starting to think Wonderland's punking him with all these cuties coming up and teasing him. Why??? How??? When did he get swerve?]}

[ Monika cracks up, expecting him to laugh with her about his bad luck with women. She quickly realizes, however, he was being serious. Whoops.

She can sympathize, so her laughter soon softens. ]

I think you were surrounded by some silly girls, then~

Orrr... [ She leans forward again. ] Maybe you haven't realized how much of a catch you are? Sometimes people can sense that!

Oh, sure. Go on, laugh.

_{[Okay, wow, he should be insulted...! Except it's fair, so not really. This time his sigh is audible, but it's not all that put out despite being pretty sure she's just heaping on the flattery saying what she thinks he wants to hear.

And he's waited his whole teen life to hear it. Sob. She, Sayaka, and MJ all had him pegged.]}

Eh? I think you're just playin' with me now!

_{[Shut up, he's going to get embarrassed! Then his cool factor really will take a nosedive.]}

[ Monika leans back with a frown. She thought she was being helpful! Man, she has so much to learn about relationships.

Okay, attempt two! ]

Oh no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel bad!

[ HE CAN'T GET AWAY AFTER ALL THIS. She grabs his hands tight, just to make sure he physically can't attempt an escape. Or so she hopes. She has no idea how strong this body even is... ]

There's something about you, Ryuji. I can already tell. I mean, look at you! [ She giggles and nods at his mask. ] You definitely know how to have fun, so that's a great sign!

_{[She captures his hands and his cheeks immediately flame. Holy shit.

This is how Ryuji dies, via romantically aggressive girl.]}

Thanks... Y-you didn't! Uh, um. N-no worries.

_{[He feels the opposite of bad, really; he's a sponge for positive attention and he's having a hard time knowing what to do with it all. Does he really... seem like a fun guy? He can believe that more readily than that he's a catch--given girls' reactions to him trying to ask them out in the past, evidence on that has so far been dodgy.

And that thought just makes his face redden further because slow your roll, Sakamoto! Who said this was a date thing! Just because she used him and the tunnel of love in the same sentence doesn't necessarily mean... a date... does it?]}

Well, um. I mean, if you really wanna-- we could do both? We can go through the haunted house and if it totally sucks, I'll owe you a drink or a stuffed bear or something! And then we can hang out?

_{[How's that??? He still hasn't quite gotten his head around "romantic stroll" and doesn't even try, he'd probably stutter on the words and have a complete mental shutdown on the spot.]}

[ She winks. ] A guy who knows how to compromise. I like it!

[ Gosh, this is so nice--the prospect of spending time with someone without a catch! Sure, her time is limited, and she doesn't know if she'll ever be able to do this again, but there's no way she can pass this opportunity up.

Besides, every other attempt during her week of freedom so far has been extremely depressing or incredibly frustrating. Ryuji's definitely not getting away.

Monika spins around to face the haunted house and inhales and exhales deeply, pushing out any unhappy thoughts. It's time for her to live in the moment. ]

Okay! Let's scream!

[ And she runs off into the haunted house. ]

Ah--!

_{[Oh-- She's charging right on in there after Ryuji said he'd be the one to protect her and everything... And after saying she likes a guy like him and all that!?

Huh, that's so unfair! Wait for him!]}

W-- Okay, okay, I'm comin'!

_{[And... in... they... go.

About twenty minutes, several rooms, innumerable dark corridors (he may have accidentally touched her waist instead of her arm once. Fuck it, a guy can't see, it's dark!), and one successful jump scare on Ryuji's part later, they tumble out the other side, Ryuji breathing heavy. He bends over, hands on his knees.]}

Hah... we made it...

_{[And he'd almost made it without letting the scares get the better of him... until the creepy bed. That fucking creepy bed! Goddamn it, how was he supposed to know getting too close would mean something grabbing his ankle? He'd spun back yelping and that had thereby ended his record of being somewhat cool under pressure.

He looks at Monika, trying to gauge where her heart's BPM is at. Does this girl not crack under pressure ever!?]}

[ She's actually pouting with her arms crossed when he looks over. That was so disappointing! She was expecting at least one stabbing attempt! Even a light choke would've been fine. Gosh, and barely any of that imagery was what she'd consider creepy. Ugh, total B-movie horror. This is so why she prefers horror novels to stuff like this.

Monika snaps out of her disappointment when she finally realizes he's staring at her. It's hard not to giggle. His experience wasn't quite so boring, was it? People outside probably heard the noise he made in the creepy bed's room...

(She felt all those blind grabs in the dark, though. She really liked them.) ]

Aww, hey! You okay?

[ As she kneels down to get a better look at his face, she giggles more. Ohh, she can't help it. She has to give his head a few pats of sympathy. He's so cute it almost hurts!

...And his hair feels so neat. Haha, real hair is so weird! She pats it a few times more, just for good measure. ]

I guess you owe me a drink now~

Edited (i'm incapable of making icon decisions) 2018-04-23 22:56 (UTC)

_{[He's a bit put out to see she looks perfectly fine, not a single hair out of place. Oh, come on, not a single near heart attack? Is it really just him? For a Wonderland production, it hadn't been bad--certainly a little more realistic than the fare one would get in a world without magic, at any rate.

Ryuji straightening up means she'll have to stretch to reach the top of his head, a thing he suffers with eyes narrowed in a look that doesn't seem to know if it wants to be sulky or puzzled. What's weird about his hair...!?]}

I'm fine, I'm fine!

_{[His heart is just trying to punch itself out of his chest, no big deal! And she's sure... interested in his hair, isn't she?]}

I did say that, didn't I? _{[It'd been fun for all that, and with his usual capriciousness what traces of chagrin there are relax into a smile. He reaches up to slip the Jason mask off.]} And I think I owe you this, too--you're the undisputed horror master, you should really be the one wearin' it. I didn't hear you scream once in there.

_{[Stretching out the elastic, he reaches to pop it sideways on her head.]}

[ Monika goes absolutely still.

It seems like everything's gone into hazy slow motion, minus her heart. Her heart is clamoring against her rib cage like wants nothing more than to break it. Did he just...?

One of her hands shakily creeps up towards her head to touch the mask, just to verify that what just happened actually did. Yep, it's there. She wasn't imagining it. It still feels vaguely warm from being on his head, and she bets if she took the time to smell it, it'd have the scent of his hair still on it...

Oh God. Who is she, fucking Yuri? How creepy. Even if she can maybe, possibly, JUST A LITTLE understand the sentiment of being obsessed with an object from a love interest. Because yeah. She's definitely in love now.

Monika gives a wide grin, then maneuvers the elastic around her ponytail so her most cherished present will stay securely on her head. That thing is going nowhere. ]

Th-Thanks. Guess I have nerves of steel, ahaha!

[ She puts her hands behind her back, finding herself unsure of how to cover up the awkward silence she's sunk into. Is she actually at a loss for words? Ahhh, it's so great! ]

So um, do you like slushies? We can get some of those to help cool you down. Then maybe sit somewhere? And talk?

[ Then she can profess her undying love for him at the perfect moment!! ]

You must be really into horror stuff, huh?

_{[Given the way she's smiling about the Jason mask, for one thing--and the way she'd critiqued the haunted house speaks to someone with an interest in the subject.

It's totally uncool he'd come out with less street cred between the two of them, but... well, as long as she's not holding the unmanly yelp at the end against him. And surprisingly, she doesn't seem to be, still interested in the offer to hang out. There's gotta be something in the water in Wonderland! The girls he's met have been way cooler than most of the ones at home, most of whom had bought into the rumors about him being too much trouble than he's worth.

Sometimes it's nice to be reminded he's free of that--like now.]}

Count me in! _{[He nods decisively. Slushies it is!]} Even if it wasn't your bag, did you have a little fun, at least?

[ Monika can't help a sheepish laugh. ] It's nice to be scared sometimes! So yeah, just a bit.

[ She goes quiet again, suddenly staring at his hands. Would it be too forward to try to hold one? Then she could finally experience a romantic walk! She wrings her fingers, contemplating her plan of attack. Should she just grab it? Ask for it? Walk next to him and innocently take his hand?

Oh wait. He's talking. She snaps out of her thoughts. ]

Y-Yeah! Of course I did, ahaha. It's nice to finally spend time with someone.

[ She's decided. She'll go the innocent route so she'll seem more alluring. So she smiles and begins walking, gesturing for him to walk with her. This is gonna be so perfect! ]

Well, it's nice to get out in general, really!

[ Literally. ]

Uh...

_{[Is she sure... she's all right? There she goes staring at him in that weird, distracted way again. Ryuji tips his head to the side with birdlike inquisitiveness. Yen for your thoughts, Monika?]}

Whaddya mean? When you say someone it kinda sounds like you mean anyone.

_{[Falling into step with her, he laughs weakly as if it were a joke, though it doesn't entirely sound like one. After meeting Futaba, he's well aware that when some people say they don't get out much they really don't get out much.]}

What? I've spent plenty of time with people! I'm totally normal!

[ ...Is clearly what a normal person would say.

She's not focused on looking normal, however. If anything, she's about to look completely abnormal. Monika's got a job to do, one that requires intense focus!

With bated breath, she makes her first attempt at taking his hand...but it misses completely. Okay, no big deal. She tries again. This time, she overshoots so badly she has to cover it up by pretending to readjust her new mask with small giggle. Dammit.

She glances up and her eyes widen. Oh no, they're already nearing the slushie stand!

Lips tight, she moves in again, and just barely brushes his fingers...! But it's at that moment she stumbles just enough to fail at fully snatching her prize. Curse her not knowing how to walk properly! She grits her teeth, muttering to herself. ]

Just stay still.

You said "finally" like you don't get a chance to get out and do stuff like this, is all.

_{[Futaba's level of socially maladjusted shut-in has biased him; he has to wonder if there's something stopping her, like Mikan. Tragic backstories abound in Wonderland. On the plus side, they're all a little abnormal here.

They don't seem to be the only ones with an interest in thrills and chills that evening; he doesn't notice Monika reaching over, too distracted by veering wide around someone who cuts between them, headed in the opposite direction, toward the haunted house. The second time he lifts his hand to point the way, turning to note her fussing with the mask. There's no need for it, by his estimation; there's not a single hair out of place on her head and that's doubly impressive for just having run through a maze of dark corridors.

When she stumbles, that's when he comes to a stop. His natural assumption seeing it is that maybe she'd started to grab him to catch herself, but...]}

Are you okay? _{[What was that...? Did you say something, Monika?]} Got a delayed case of jelly legs from the house of horror?

_{[He'll feel vindicated to know they're both a bit jittery and off balance...]}

Let's just focus on the fun, okay? Okay!

[ That subject is dropped. There's too much on her mind to be thinking of her usual digital status.

...Like how she's devastated that none of her attempts worked. NONE. She's been denied her romantic stroll, even if it'd be brief. Not. Cool.

Her mouth is a thin line when she glances over at him, mostly because it's keeping her from pouting. ]

Yeah. Jelly legs.

[ With that, she abruptly walks to the slushie stand and gets two random flavors, not even bothering to give Ryuji an option. Then she plods her way over to a table and drops them down, thumping into a chair as she does. Now if she holds his hand, it's not going to be as good! Everything is ruined! ]

My whole life is pain.

_{[Uhhh...? This is all the proof he needs to accept he really doesn't know anything about girls.]}

Um, thanks for the drink, but... _{[Wasn't he supposed to be getting those for her?]} What... what just happened?

_{[Brow crinkled at the ongoing mystery that is Monika and the swiftness of the mood change, he follows her back to the table more slowly, sitting with the gingerness of someone not sure if there's a grenade under his bottom or not.]}

[ She looks deeply annoyed for a few more seconds, but then she sighs and shakes her head. It's not his fault. Fate is just conspiring against her!

All of her other best laid plans may be ruined now, but...maybe she can at least check having a getting-to-know-you chat off her list. So she puts on a smile and shrugs. ]

Sorry. I hurt my leg the other day, so I guess it's catching up to me, ahaha! Let's forget it and just get to know each other better, okay?

[ With a giggle, she grabs her slushie and takes a sip. It's sweet. Just like him. ♥ ]

_{[HOW DEEP DOES THIS WEB OF LIES GO..............

........

................ Ryuji remains unconvinced but he opts not to say anything, instead levelling the remaining slushie with a doubting gaze. It's a sour flavor--he can't handle sour. Sweet and sour. The perfect imagery for Monika's mood swings.]}

R-right...

_{[Her whole life is pain, and his taste buds will be if he touches that slushie, so his hands remain resting on his leg underneath the table.]}

You can have mine.

[ She shakes her head, giggling more. ] Don't be silly! It was made just for you~

So! I have a few questions!

[ More like an entire book of them. Not that he knows, but she's sure he won't mind.

Good thing they have all night! ]

Aren't these things pre-made anyw--

_{[And there she goes, swinging from sparkling jubilation to depression to jubilation again. It's like being in a speeding car with no brakes; she's making sudden turns while his head bounces off the window.

Shoulders slumped in his ongoing and increasing bemusement, he leans on the table edge (leaving the drink where it is). If Monika were a carnival ride, she'd be a roller coaster, hands down.]}

Questions...?

_{[In Monika's hands, it's anyone's guess how the night will end... Time to buckle up...]}

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject