songerein | [CLOSED]

Entry tags:

[CLOSED]

Who: Marui and Leia
Which: Closed log
What: Dreamotion ability training followed by comfort and cuteness.
When: Afternoon and evening of Nov. 2nd
Where: Marui's treehouse
Warnings: None expected, will edit if needed

[ Marui's dreamotion abilities are not progressing well.

He isn't used to struggling with a new skill. He picks up on most things rather quickly. This, however, is quite simply a mystery. Maybe because it's so abstract? He's been able to do tennis and cakes with it like a true genius, but everything else has been a flop. The hot spring pool he made near his treehouse for bathing is uncomfortably small and shallow, and it occasionally mistakes itself for a geyser. His attempt to kill one of those giant termites with a bolt of lightning instead turned it into a particularly luminescent firefly. (On the upside, it's decided it lives with him and provides after-hours lighting around his house.) Bubble gum he'd thought for sure he could replicate as his supply dwindled to dangerously low levels, but the end result was too sticky to chew and popped while still in his mouth and that was great and interesting, perfect prank material, but not what he needed for everyday use.

He refuses to give up, though, especially in the aftermath of all that happened at that graveyard. He's determined to at least learn how to use it to protect himself and the people he cares for. And so now that he's given himself a one-day break to recover both physically and mentally from that ordeal, he's getting to work on that. Starting in the late morning outside his treehouse, he performs some warm-up stretches, rolls up his sleeves, and then... Well. This is about the part where he usually gets stuck. What should he try to do? In the end, what he most knows how to attack and defend with is still a tennis racket.

Well, no sense fixing what isn't broken. Time to invent some moves.

By the time lunch rolls around, Marui has worked up a decent appetite, and there is one thing and one thing alone that can satisfy him: cake. (Actually, some company would be nice too after spending all morning by himself, but hunger first.) Happily, cake conjuring is a dreamotion ability he's got down pat! He's even figured out how to conjure a platter for it to sit on now instead of the unfortunate (but admittedly hilarious) result of it splatting to the ground.

He takes a minute to imagine its shape, size, flavor, decorations, colors. It's easy with cake because he's seen, tasted, and baked so many. What would be really great right now is... yes. Perfect!

It's so real to him already-- the apple slices decorating the top; the warm and nutty aromas of maple, cinnamon, and pecan; how light and juicy it is inside with steaming apple pie filling between fluffy layers of spice cake! He's excited just thinking about it!

It feels like warm tingling at his fingertips. The cake realizes itself layer by layer, stacking higher and higher before disappearing inside a warm off-white encasement of frosting. Red-skinned apple slices radiate from the center on top in symmetry. Candied pecans line the base and accent the apple slices on top. An orange maple leaf pattern wraps around the side. ]

Yahoi! [ He cheers when it's done, and eagerly carves out a slice. ]

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[Where he most wants her to be...? She stands there completely still, chewing on those words, replaying what he says in her head over and over. For a moment she remains this way, like her mind is stuck in a sort of mental loop. What should she do? Suddenly having to decide whether she should stand or sit becomes too much, and she wavers in place. Until, finally, she approaches him, her footsteps gentle on the wooden floor, as if she's a ghost.

She takes her spot on the floor beside him. A good foot or so of space between them. This felt easier here. Sitting in front would only make her feel like she's on display. Sitting too far away, elsewhere, might come off like she's uncomfortable around him. So right next to him... this feels right. Somehow.

Quietly, she draws her knees to her chest- largely because she's cold, this position keeps the heat in, but also as a comfort mechanism. Holding her knees close, keeping warm, it almost feels like she's not alone.

Now, she knows bottling things up isn't healthy. And she doesn't, usually, but she just isn't sure what to say that doesn't make her sound silly. For now, though, she's content being physically close to someone, while she works up the nerve to speak.]

[ It turns out "later" doesn't last very long when the person is Marui and the thing saved for later is eating cake. He shifts just enough to reach those two saucers again. Leia's he sets on the floor close to her without a word of nagging. His own he starts to eat, his expression immediately melting into a smile as the confection hits his taste buds. ]

Mmh... it wasn't a joke, you know. It really is much better with company. But what I'm really craving is more of your chocolate pudding cake. Did you sneak something extra in there after all?

[Marui doesn't seem to want to let her dwell in silence, though. He places the cake beside her, and she glances at it, still not making a move for it. She really isn't that hungry. At least... not at the moment.

When he asks her if she snuck something extra in there, she shakes her head.]

I didn't want to screw it up. [finally, she looks over at him, at that goofy smile on his face, and tilts her head.] You really liked it that much?

[It seemed unbelievable. Is he trying to make her feel better, maybe?]

[ Sometimes silence is comfortable; sometimes it isn't. With the air so heavy, the evidence of tears so plain across her face, there's no way this silence could be comfortable left alone. It's a silence that would place an onus on her to make conversation, to either talk about this thing she may not want to talk about or to change the atmosphere by herself. That's a terrible burden to put on someone already going through a hard time. What else will she be able to think about but the thing that's eating at her?

Marui may not know why she's upset or how much she wants to confide, but he does know how to make a mood. He'll change this atmosphere so the silence is comfortable instead of awkward. Then, if she wants to talk, the floor will be hers. And if she doesn't, she'll be able to work through things in quiet without the weight of his expectations on her shoulders. ]

Weird, isn't it? I could definitely make something that would top it in a competition. [ He grins. ] But that's the one I can't get out of my mind. Maybe because it was from you.

[He succeeds, for sure. Because he's got her attention, and she's engaging him. Not that she's cast her worries aside, the ache still ever present in her heart. But his conversation does alleviate the heaviness in the air.]

From... me? [she asks, genuinely surprised to hear such a thing.] Why would that matter?

[To say something like that... It's sweet. But also confusing. And just like something else he's said to her today, she's not sure why it warms her to hear it.]

[ Fuck.

That was definitely a slip. It was a slip made all the less cool by the fact he didn't even realize what he'd slipped and suggested until she questioned him on it and forced him to have a small, dreadful epiphany.

There's just a bit more of a pause than usual in his reply, a moment of being taken so profoundly off-guard he does not know what to say, before he scoffs and grins and just plays it as normal as he can. ]

What, you don't think it's special to get presents? I love getting them. Especially food and sweets.

[Food and sweets as presents? That's... good to know. She tucks that away for later. If anything, it'd be nice to repay him for letting her stay- even if he says she doesn't have to, blah blah blah, she always likes repaying kindness with kindness.

She nods at his explanation.]

Oh. Yeah. That makes sense.

[There's a slight twinge in her heart, for whatever reason she can't fathom, and she forces a small smile.]

Maybe I can make you another one tomorrow?

[ The minute after accepting a cute girl's request to spend the night with you is, bar none, the worst time to suddenly realize you've got feelings for her.

Not that it changes anything. He still wouldn't want her anywhere else when she's this upset and in need of a friend. How did this happen, though, that's what he wants to know. How did it happen and how did he not realize it was happening? ]

Yeah! I'd like that-- hey, are you cold? Let me get a blanket.

[ He sets his dish aside and stands up, climbing halfway into the loft area at the back of the treehouse where his bed is. ]

O-okay... thanks.

[Though he's already up and heading to the loft area before she can finish. It seems abrupt, but she doesn't question it. Did she look cold? She definitely feels cold, but had been too distracted to really think about it. There's still the cake nearby her too, and she moves it aside so it'll be out of the way, for now. She's still working up an appetite.

And where as before she had trouble looking at him, now she can't help but watch his every move as he gets up and heads towards the loft.]

[ That? Gets his attention. She's definitely not okay. She's so not-okay that she isn't even denying that she's not okay. Come to think of it, she hadn't really protested the hoodie either. ]

Sure...

[ He pulls down the heavy quilt he's been sleeping under and, since Leia has already thoughtfully moved that dessert out of the way, gives one side of the quilt a light toss so it lands over her, then settles back down on the floor, pulling the other half over himself.

This was an error in judgment. That gap between them is letting in a draft. ]

[Quietly, she gathers her side of the quilt, pulling it up to her neck and getting comfortable. It's warmer already. And she doesn't seem to react to Marui sharing the other half. It is a chilly night, and the more she lets herself think about it, the colder she realizes that she actually is.

Except now... she's also realized she might have made Marui worry about her unnecessarily.

Taking a deep breath, she wipes at her eyes again, remnants of tears prickling the corners.]

My... best friend went back home.

[She begins, suddenly, finally ready to talk. She starts off simple, like she's introducing the topic.]

Edited 2021-11-08 04:23 (UTC)

[ From there, it almost makes too much sense. Because he knows if Jackal were here, he wouldn't be living in a treehouse by himself. ]

...You two were sharing a home. [ He speculates aloud.

That's why she didn't make it back to her place. She was grieving an absence she didn't want to be reminded of. ]

That's right. We'd actually been together for about eight months now, because we were in the Story Realm before coming here. Guess I just got used to him always being around. [she says with a faint smile.] Yesterday... he was supposed to teach me some dreamotion stuff, but he never came home. And when I checked the registry, he was gone.

[Tears start anew, and before they could fall this time, she's already wiping at her face. Like if she stops them now, maybe they'll stop forming.]

[ Just a little, Marui feels something cold in the pit of his stomach. Male best friend, living with each other, been together the last 8 months? If she means that like he thinks she does, it'd be good to know now. For both their sakes. ]

...I see. You must have been very close.

Edited 2021-11-09 02:47 (UTC)

[If... Marui appears a certain way, she doesn't notice. She's not really looking at anything. But what she does do is go silent for a few seconds, her mind already trailing off. Maybe he doesn't need to hear more than what she's already said. Her friend is gone. What more should be said? But she's been going over things in her head, trying to understand. And it all just... comes out.]

Mm. We've been through a lot together, but not... all of it was good. There was a time when I didn't talk to him for a while because of something he did. But he really helped me out after I moved into my own place back home. Even now, I... think he still kinda blames himself for what happened. He was really messed up. And not just because of what happened, he's been through a lot himself.

[She's naive and she knows it. She's always had a soft spot for people that were suffering, or had suffered. Alvin was no different. And while she didn't know everything about him, the little that she did was awful. She might've been angry with him for hurting her, but he wasn't in control of himself either. Fortunately, that's changed.]

Things are different now, at least. Actually, I'm still really impressed by how much he's changed. We both help each other out in our respective careers, and cheer each other on. He's become a perfectly respectable businessman and I couldn't be more proud. [it's the second time she's managed a smile tonight.] Of course, he is pushing thirty and still a philanderer, so he still needs some work.

[There's a tinge of amusement in her voice when she says that. He tries way too hard to be young and hip. And she'll forever tease him about it, but...

Talking about him this way, it's like some puzzle pieces have finally managed to slot together.]

... Guess the more I think about it, the more I realize it's pretty terrible of me to think he left by choice. I thought maybe I did something wrong, like I annoyed him, or said something stupid, teased him one too many times about how I hope he goes bald, or that he should settle down and find a wife instead of acting like some playboy.

[It had been a little selfish of her. She hugs her knees tightly, still staring ahead at nothing in particular.]

But I think... even with all of that. That even if I majorly ticked him off, he still would've told me goodbye, if he could.

[Her eyes sting again, but this kind of lifted the weight off her shoulders a little...]

Edited 2021-11-09 03:41 (UTC)

[ Marui listens quietly as Leia recounts her experiences with this companion. It's a lot. Some things he takes mental notes on:

-They knew each other not just from this "Story Realm" (whatever that was) but from a shared native world.
-Friend did something awful in said native world.
-Friend had Issues.
-This relationship is either Very Platonic or Very Questionable.
-Leia has been blaming herself for his departure.
-Leia is self-aware enough to recognize that mentality implies she doesn't esteem him to be as much of a friend as she claims, and that it's not right for her to do.
-Leia's choices for teasing subjects sure are a... thing.

With so much there, Marui certainly has his pick on what to hone in on. It's also not a contest what's jumping to the forefront of his mind to say back to her. ]

That's right: real friends don't leave over little things like that. Try and move forward with faith that this wasn't his choice either... It's the only way he's worth those tears you've been crying.

[She's wiping at her eyes again as fresh tears stream down her cheeks. At least, this time, these new tears seem to be alleviating the pain. It's like she's finally started to accept things a little.

Gently, she laughs, her voice a little worn as she speaks.]

More like, if he totally came back now and saw me crying, he'd have a field day. I'd never find peace if I gave him that much ammunition.

[Marui backing her up at least makes her feel like her reasoning is sound. It did make sense... Alvin wouldn't abandon her.

Of course, she is now acutely aware of how much rambling she did.]

Anyhow, I'm sorry I kinda just unloaded all of that onto you. And I know you're probably gonna tell me it's fine, but still...

[ She's joking, right? Who mocks someone about their pain? Marui loves a good jeer as well as the next person, but some things were never meant to be subjects for ridicule. He wants to believe that the person Leia's missing did, in fact, deserve her tears.

Before he can comment on it, she's shifted gears back into apologizing. Speaking to him as though they don't have the kind of bond where an "unloading" like that would be appropriate.

He lifts up the hand between them and lightly pokes her temple. ]

You already know it's fine and you're still apologizing. Why?

[Leia and Alvin's dynamic is just that. They tease each other and laugh it off. It's not as ruthless as it sounds, much of it is light-hearted. Sometimes, she'd get annoyed at him when he didn't take her seriously, and sometimes she'd burn him real good without an ounce of remorse. It worked for them, but that's what happens when you have that complicated of a relationship.

The little poke to her temple seems to snap her out of it, and she turns her head to look at him with those big, sorrowful eyes of hers.]

J-Just a habit, I guess... [she pauses, while that's certainly true, she tries to offer more of an explanation.] To be honest, sometimes I feel like my only real strength is when I focus on doing my best. So when I end up needing help, it feels like I've failed somehow.

[ Leia really undercredits herself. Certainly, her drive to always try so hard is one of her more attractive qualities, but there are so many others. Her compassion. Her resilience. Her maturity in the face of difficult situations. Her fun-loving nature. And yes, her independence, too, the very thing that he's just slightly chiding her over now. But not because she wants to be able to take care of herself. ]

I see... Well, that's one easy competition for me to win. [ He leans back and peers at her with a cheeky grin. ] I have no trouble thinking up real strengths I have.

[And those sad, sorrowful eyes are quickly replaced by the flat glare she's now giving him. If his ego inflates anymore, she could tie a string to him and use him as a balloon.]

Oh, so the ability to brag without any real proof is considered a strength now? That's a really unattractive quality for a guy to have, y'know.

[ Ouch, Leia. He's trying to help you here, you know? ]

No challengers? How boring. Victory is mine, then.

[Victory? What? This is a game?? Immediately, her competitive drive kicks in.

... Never mind the whole bragging comment she just made.]

Like hell, it is! Fine. I'm a super awesome journalist! I've even had a couple of articles published!

[ There we go.

He grins back, and when he looks at her it's confidence and joy and he's totally engaged here. ]

I'm a super awesome tennis player!

I'm skilled at martial arts!

[She's still not sure what to make of this, but she's going to keep going.]

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