[OPEN] 12/14 SOMETHING HAPPY BEFORE WE DESCEND BACK INTO DESPAIR

[flowerclips]

[ It was decided that the wedding would take place at the castle, somewhere that was quaint, small, and personal. Now that the bottom two floors have been restored, it looks nicer than its original run-down state. Added with all the decorations, all pink and yellow with plenty of cute things, it certainly has taken a completely new look, one that's appropriate for a celebration. ]

[ There'll be the actual wedding ceremony itself where everyone can sit in their seats with 52 cats that are wearing matching white knitted sweaters and then there'll be the party afterwards where everyone is allowed to eat and drink as much as they want. There is no particular dress requirement for the wedding except for one: everyone must wear a flower clown as soon as they enter the castle grounds. ]

[ Enjoy! ]

Comments

[reveilation]

[ A monocle... amazing. Kido comes to find Orien after the ceremony and has her phone out. ]

Can I get a picture for the occasion?

[ Together? No, of just the snake in a monocle and top hat because this is amazing. ]

[overstrain]

Why, sure you can, young lass. Do as you wish.

[ Complete with a snobbish rich people accent too. ]

[reveilation]

[ Kido huffs a laugh at Orien being silly, but takes a step back so she can get Orien in the frame and snap the photo. She never took that many photos with this phone, but they're mostly of Terry and a few others playing dress up... ]

Got it. Are you having fun? Sweater tux warm enough?

[overstrain]

I could be warmer. I am currently holding hand warmer inside my clothes, but unfortunately that doesn't do well for the rest of me.

[ But he's grateful that at least some part of him is warm. ]

The people that gathered here and talking also makes it warm. It's nice. I'm glad to see people having fun... I'm also having fun. What about you?

[reveilation]

[ She'd offer her sleeve, but she is not stretching out her suit with 7ft of snake. But what she can do is summon Nekogami, who curls up on the ground in front of Orien's chair to be a portable bonfire, his flames warm but doesn't burn anything when touched, or even when Kido goes ahead and sits down on his back and uses him for a chair. ]

Maybe this will be more comfortable, if you don't mind just sitting around for a bit. It's been nice, though... It's been such a long time since I've seen people smile like this. It's been a long time since I've smiled like this.

[ It feels like a fake timeline day, in all honesty. ]

[overstrain]

Thank you Kido, Nekogami.

[ Orien gives a small nod to them both. It sure feels better with Nekogami here. ]

I'm glad for all the smiles today. It makes the preparations all worth it... I'm thankful.

[reveilation]

[ Nekogami will be everybody's space heater when they're outside. ]

Yeah, I'm... Well, I'm glad to see Rei is so happy. She went through a lot, and I was so scared of her wanting to die. People keep wanting to die, and I'm not doing enough to make people happy, to prevent it.

[ Ayano had a tough job she'd taken on for herself, dedicating her life to her family's happiness. Kido's got to step up too. ]

[overstrain]

[ Bless cat heater.

Orien looks over at Kido thoughtfully. ]

You can certainly help people become happy, but in the end, sometimes it's up to the person in question to decide to be happy or not.

[ Sometimes people want to willingly stew in their own misery. Sometimes people need help because they want to be happy. Orien has experienced dealing with both of those kinds of people, but even so... ]

In the end, it's not your responsibility, but it's good to see you make an effort to reach out to those people in need. Don't be too hard on yourself.

[reveilation]

[ He sure had to deal with Terry for several thousand lifetimes. ]

It feels like it should be, sometimes. I had two older sisters before, who dedicated themselves to making their younger siblings happy. I admired them a lot... and I've always wanted to be more like them. Somebody strong, and accepting, and loving.

[ To be just a fraction of who they were, that's all she wanted. In the end, both of them sacrificed everything they had so she can continue living- and smiling. She wants to be that sort of person. ]

[overstrain]

[ Maybe it's a miracle that Orien is still sane after dealing with Terry for so long... ]

They sound like very good sisters and role models.

[ Orien wouldn't know what having siblings felt like, since he never had any. He never viewed Terry as a brother either, for how ever long he's known him. The romantic feelings have long since faded. ]

Do you think you're making good progress on that?

[reveilation]

I'm strong.

[ Undeniably, Kido is strong. But not in the same way Rin and Ayano are strong, she thinks... though she looks at Nekogami napping at her feet and maybe she's stronger than she thinks, if Personas are a reflection of the soul. She tries her best and doesn't back down. There must be strength in that. ]

I want to be able to accept everybody that I can. Nobody should have to live a life feeling like they're unwanted. Our entire household... I will always love them.

[ Their household of unwanted children and 52 cats. The progress is admittedly slow. She loves the people she loves, but showing it is always a problem, a block she can't get past. It's a Kano-shape block that would make fun of her if she's ever soft around anybody, and it's hard. ]

[overstrain]

[ Hm. Orien looks ahead and thinks to himself a little, remembering what his family life was like as Jace: living with two loving, but strict parents, a decent childhood, promising his parents that he would let them retire early out of love and not familial obligation... then they died in the war among the demigods as a side casualty. Even though he was an only child, he was happy with his parents.

Lily was always loved very much and Orien made sure of it, despite his own general taciturn nature. Orien always made an exception for Lily. Love makes so much difference.

...

He turns his head over to Kido. ]

Terry does best with straightforward words and actions, despite his powers.

[ Terry: Pinpointing? What's that?

That said, Terry's still an idiot. ]

A hug should suffice.

[reveilation]

[ Straightforward words and actions just make her think about how hard those things are for her. Something as simple as saying "I love you," things like hugs and kisses that she shouldn't still be nervous giving and receiving but she still is. She still likes holding hands best.

She glances over at wherever Terry is, probably smiling like a doofus because he can't help it these few days, and then looks back at Orien. ]

...is that really good enough?

[overstrain]

... Do you think otherwise?

[ He asks, since he wants to know Kido's opinion on that. ]

Did you want to give him more? If you do, by all means.

[ Orien sounds so serious. Who knows if he genuinely means it or is teasing. ]

[reveilation]

[ Don't do this to her!!! Kido just goes bright red in response, because the words won't come out right away. ]

N-no, it's just- He always looked happy when we--

[ ... ]

Never mind, I'll figure it out myself!

[ Kido gets off Nekogami's back and walks away, leaving both the Persona and Orien behind. She's going to get a cup of some questionable drink from the punch bowl and down it like a shot. ]

[overstrain]

[ Orien looks down at Nekogami and then up at where Kido left. "He always looked happy when we"... what? Kissed? That's Orien's best guess. How nice must it be to be young again. Orien is forever an old geezer in mind in comparison to Terry to being an eternal child.

He coils back up on the seat, enjoying the warmth Nekogami provides. ]