[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

[yokeye]

Do I look okay?

[He's done his best, but he's never really given much thought to his appearance. Despite growing up with a lot of money, he feels very out of place in nice clothes, and he's only combed his hair a handful of times in his entire life.]

[reveilation]

Yeah, you look fine. Don't worry.

[ She says this, but she still reaches up and combs her fingers through Toki's hair and flattens some cowlicks. ]

Suits have the effect of making you look mature. Sometimes I forget you're younger than me.

[yokeye]

Lots of people forget~!

[Or just assume he's older to begin with; it was useful for bar hopping.]

Maybe I should start wearing suits...

[There's a chance he'd be taken more seriously. He does need to buy clothes so he can stop wearing things from Terry's closet.]

[reveilation]

[ Toki using his height for evil... ]

You would look nice in them, but they're expensive, and hard to move in. You definitely wouldn't be able to go to the dungeons in them.

[ He wouldn't be able to fight, and they'd get all bloody and ruined every night. Actually, most clothes don't survive dungeon runs. Everybody needs old sweatshirts and sweatpants or something to fight in, probably. ]

[yokeye]

[Team colors, bought in bulk.]

That's a good point!

[Toki doesn't involve himself in too many dungeon runs, and he's certainly not out there every Lockdown. But even Terry's button-downs are too restrictive for his liking with what little activity he participates in.]

Just for special occasions then~!

[reveilation]

[ The team color is black because they're the Black Cats, which does well to cover up dirt and blood. It could work. ]

Special occasions work. You can take Rei out on fancy dates or something; she would love that.

[ Treat her like the princess she deserves to be, Toki. ]

[yokeye]

Yes! I'll take her everywhere~!

[Everywhere in Hirajiro...]

A rooftop picnic to watch the stars~!

[Even though it's winter, but he hasn't been stargazing in a while. It's not at all a fancy date and requires no dressing up.]

Wait, no... um... a restaurant with candles~! And you and Terry can go too! We'll all get dressed up and order lavish desserts~!

[reveilation]

[ A rooftop picnic would have been nice during the summer, but it'd definitely a stretch to have one during the winter. She's been promising Rei a picnic since summer, though, but that was right before the two of them died together the first time, and then things sort of spiraled downhill and there was no time for picnics.

A candlelit dinner sounds nice— until Toki brings up her and Terry and Kido shakes her head, flustered. ]

N-no, wouldn't you enjoy it more if it were just the two of you? It's supposed to be a date.

[yokeye]

[Toki thinks on that a little, but... no.]

I think... Rei wants everyone to be happy and together and it would more special if you came too. The whole family.

[reveilation]

[ NO. Playing the family card is unfair, and Kido shrinks a little because yeah Rei would think that. ]

Like a family dinner.

[ NOT A DOUBLE DATE. How does Toki know she and Terry are dating?? Nobody is supposed to know, even somebody who's been living with them and has probably seen her and Terry hold hands and kiss or whatever. They sleep in the same bed. God, nobody was supposed to know, how did this happen ]

[yokeye]

[Kido underestimates Toki's shipping radar. He knows all. There's even some romances going on between the cats.]

A family dinner~!

[Which will probably not happen, giving upcoming despair and death.]

[reveilation]

[ fsdlkjh we don't need any more cats, please... also maybe we can squeeze a cute family dinner before despair and death, it's not all going down to hell immediately when the log goes up so people can have a breather. We'll have our fake Christmas at least. ]

A family dinner. That makes you... my brother in law?

[yokeye]

I guess! It will be nice to have a sister again.

[There's a fond smile, instead of tears, when he thinks about her now. It's been a year.]

[reveilation]

...Yeah. I hope I can be a good older sister to you.

[ It's like her family's being built back up again, after having losing them so many times. Seto is here, Rei is her Mary, and... it wouldn't be fair draw the comparison between Kano and anybody, so she stops it at that. Toki is Toki. ]

[yokeye]

You already are.

[And Kido will get a hug. Not one that's clingy, holding like he's afraid she'll leave, but more gentle.]

[reveilation]

[ Kido's surprised enough that she doesn't react right away— it's the gentleness that takes her off guard, she realizes half a second later, when she expected otherwise from Toki who's always high strung and upbeat. It makes her happy to hear it, somewhat sad, and she wraps her arms around Toki and hugs him back, smiling with her face pressed against his shoulder and taking care not to cry on his suit because it'll be real close. ]

...Thanks, Tokidoki. It feels like I've been trying for a long time, to be a good neechan. Somebody who can actually help people and support them.

[ Terry and Rei are very strong individuals, and they didn't necessarily need her. So it was nice getting to sit with Toki and teach him things like sewing and cooking. It made her feel needed, and that's something she craves all the time. ]

Thanks for making it feel like I have a place in your life.

[yokeye]

You've helped me a lot, ever since I got here. You'll always have a place.

[Kido's taught him so many things, and been patient. Toki never felt like she resented him, or was too annoyed. They like the same activities, and he would be happy to spend hours with her at the kotatsu. Kido is a calming influence, and she's made a big impact on him already.]

I hope I make you proud, neechan.

[He'll call her that from now on, instead of Hana-chan.]

[reveilation]

[ This must be the pride Ayano felt every time her little siblings called her neechan. "Hana-chan" was a cute nickname she didn't mind her given name's a flower anyways, but "neechan" really resonates. Her sisters were always such kind, warm, and loving people— the most open and forgiving and strongest people she knew, and to be just a little closer to them and get to be a good neechan herself, it feels really nice. ]

Mm. You're my cute little brother, so I'll always be proud of you.