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What's Up?

Mafuyu and Aerith have hatched a plan to give Braphine's Chosen some time to relax and have fun together! And just in the nick of time...

Date and Location

Afternoon of Monday, October tth into October 8th
The Aquarium within the Office District

The sway of water

It's a normal morning for anyone who's managing to sleep a standard schedule- up until a mass text goes out, that is. Everyone will find the same thing from either Mafuyu or Aerith's username:

... Simple enough. And should you choose to attend, both your hostesses will be pleased to see you once it's time to head over.

As they said, the aquarium is largely empty save for the group, and it's definitely worth it. A serene song plays overhead while attendants give tours or explanations as needed. The variety of aquatic life is surprisingly vast as well, and spacious halls give way to plenty of opportunity to explore.

Come nightfall, certain rooms dim the lights but the tanks stay lit- or black lit as darker enclosures like the jellyfish hall and the octopus tanks remain- and only a few staff remain to keep an eye on things- so... stay on your best behavior. The two restaurants stay open- a regular fast food joint with kitschy island cabana theming, and a much more upscale lounge where Aerith plans on corralling the adults for fun this evening.

Once it's time for the age groups to split, Aerith will lead the adults to a pleasant lounge with more tanks, large couches or more private tables, and a view overlooking one of the main rooms of the aquarium- wave to the kids if they're there! Or don't. Bouquets of flowers are placed around the room, and it looks like Aerith has a few ideas already, though she won't stop anyone from going out to review the different sections again.

Contrasting Mafuyu, who is content to let the fellow teens do whatever- though if they do congregate, she's not really the social sort and will simply be content to enjoy the vibes. Even if you just want to take a nap somewhere, there's plenty of dark secluded areas to do so.

Out of character!

This log is for an ic sleepover hosted at the aquarium! All characters are invited but attendance is not mandatory. That said, there are still staff members ready to boot any troublemakers out. We wanted to keep the types of displays vague to give everyone creative freedom, and characters are welcome to flit about between groups as they desire, be it to check in or to to snoop or whatever. As discussed with the mods, this does count as an open event and can be used for rewards. Thank you all for your interest!

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She should have expected this. Nothing is more powerful than a well-intentioned busybody. Kainé pulls a face.]

You're still nosy as shit, [she says, somewhere between playful and evasive. It's not a no.

Kainé moves the subject.] You like flowers, right? What kind do you bring to a wedding?

[ She really should have! Maybe Aerith wouldn't have been able to dig in her little pink claws. All that comment does is make her giggle. It's not a no! ]

I do. Roses, peonies, and lilac are really common. They come in all kinds of colors too, so it makes arranging pretty easy, I bet.

You bet, huh? You made it sound like you've had practice.

[Just not for weddings, just yet. It makes her wonder what Aerith must be facing. Even when everything's gone to shit, there are still a few people who smile brilliantly and try to make terrible times happier. It's not like the world is getting any better.]

Seems like you'd be a natural at that stuff, keeping it alive and everything. We have Moonflowers; they're pretty but a pain in the ass to grow.

I kinda am. My mom has a house with grass growing on some hills nearby, so I learned how to take care of it growing up. With something as rare as soil you can actually use... you learn to take advantage of it.

[ She smiles, a little nostalgic. ]

What do Moonflowers look like?

You'd find something pretty about a flower growing out of pig shit. I dunno how you never got that taken from you.

[It's so difficult to relate to that mindset, and it isn't exactly admiration that sparks in Kainé's voice, but it is...moved. There's something in Aerith that is so persistent and strong.

She touches the Lunar Tear tucked into her hair, which she's wearing even now that she's dressed down a little.]

Like this. Red and gold ones are common.

[ That just makes her laugh. It's true to an extent, after all. But growing up underneath a metal plate will do that to you... or at least it did to her. There are certainly plenty of pessimistic people in the undercity. ]

Oh, that! I bet it'd look really nice in red or gold.

[ Still, it reminds her of the dream and she can't help but say: ]

That flower looks really nice on you.

I don't know a lot about this stuff... [Fashion and things that look nice...from how she dresses, even now weeks into their stay, Aerith might have gathered that Kainé frequently overdoes things, takes them to strange limits.] ... But red seems like it'd suit you.

...Thanks. [How long had she gone, accepting that she didn't deserve beautiful things, let alone wearing them? She seems a little more soft-spoken than normal, even, when she adds,] It was... a gift.

[... Right?]

Thanks. [ A small smile. ] My old boyfriend thought pink suited me, so maybe the two of you have similar thoughts.

[ And her reason for wearing pink so often may click for Kainé in that moment.

But Aerith says nothing more about that, focusing instead on what Kainé says. ]

A gift? From who?

[She isn't thrilled to be compared to an old boyfriend, which might show on the momentary sharp flutter across her features, but the understanding clicks in just as quickly. Any flinching leaves as it comes in.]

Yeah, must be that we do. [She says it with much softer amusement. After all, she holds onto things with the same kind of meaning. Just like...]

I got it from -

[Her head suddenly feels like it's about to split open. Something very important is close, almost close enough for her to hear it (not...good as...grandmother's...but I tried). It's gone like water through her fingers. She can't remember the sound.]

... Shit. [How's she supposed to explain that?]

[ She sees that sharpness and is about to correct herself, but... well, maybe it's not an issue after all.

Though anything else she could say is immediately shoved to the back of her mind when Kainé seems to... stutter, almost, as if she's hit some kind of invisible roadblock. ]

...You okay?

[She takes a moment to catch her breath, gaze down. These sensations of missing always leave her floating; her head aches and her body tenses and sweats. Then she gathers herself up.]

Yeah. I'm good. [Seriously. She lifts her head and gives Aerith a nod that means it.]

...I don't remember who gave it to me. But I know it's important. [Then she huffs a laugh.] ... Sorry. You'd rather talk about the fun stuff, right? Maybe a few drinks'll do it.

Well, right now I'd rather talk about whether or not you're okay.

[ She doesn't mind abandoning any silly topics, not if it means she can help Kainé in some way. There's something about her that makes Aerith want to help, and it isn't just that dream.

Maybe it's that Aerith thinks she sees the same loneliness she felt growing up inside of Kainé too. Of course, she could be wrong, but... even so, her impression draws her to Kainé nevertheless. ]

I'm missing some memories too, actually. I couldn't tell you what they even are, just that I know they're gone.

I'm fine. [It might be a little insistent, but it does seem like she's not showing any extended reactions to the momentary jolt of wrongness that accompanies these head-splitting gaps.]

You get used to it. [That is more bluster than her first statement. If she was used to them, she wouldn't have even paused. In fact, the longer she's been in this city, the worse they've seemed...

Aerith's words get an expression of real surprise out of Kainé; her gold eyes widening, glassy in the reflection of the bobbing aquarium waters. Her mouth opens a little and stalls around a sound before she keeps talking.] ... So you'd know. How'd you find out?

[ Do you really get used to it? Aerith doesn't think so. It's hard to get used to that uncomfortable weight of wrongness that sits tight in her chest. ]

I just realized one day that there were things I couldn't explain. Feelings I had no reason to feel... things I felt missing.

[Of course, Aerith's right. Maybe Kainé has accepted living like this, but she still wakes up drenched in sweat and delirious, crying for something that isn't there. If anything, time has only made it worse, and being here has only carved that gouge further open.]

Yeah. I can't say why I did things or went places. Why I know people... And there's the dreams. [Her chin tucks in closer to her chest. These days, everyone here has been dealing with their own shit when it comes to sleeping and hallucinating things, so she doesn't want to draw that much attention to hers.]

You want 'em back?

...I don't know. I feel like they were really important, and maybe they'd be helpful in some way. So I guess I do, but only because of that.

[ Maybe it'd explain why the materia her mother gave her is completely clear now.

But she can't help but latch onto what Kainé says, her brows furrowing in concern. ]

...You wanna talk about your dreams?

* ‧̍̊˙· 𓆝.° ｡˚𓆛˚｡ °.𓆞 ·˙‧̍̊

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