[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

[infiltrationtools]

That's what I thought, too...

[Sliding in next to her is Akira, in the best dress shirt and pants he could find on short notice that fit him. It's a bit weird to wear all black at a wedding, but he takes what he can get.]

...But it makes them happy, and it's not like it will really matter once we get out of here.

[That's kinda... dark.]

[toybombs]

You're in a good mood, I see.

[Reaching up to pat pat him on the shoulder.]

Does it bother you?

[infiltrationtools]

It's not what I would have done.

[His first thought, admittedly, was "you're both too young for that". But maybe he just doesn't want to be tied down.]

But I guess whether it bothers me or not, it's none of my business.

[toybombs]

Not really.

...But I don't think they'd notice if we slipped away to gossip a little. If you want to talk about it.

[Neither Rei nor Toki seem to have a very long attention span.]

[infiltrationtools]

[Akira glances around.]

...Just one minute.

[He leaves Rio for long enough to fill up another plate of free food, and then returns.]

Okay, let's go.

[toybombs]

[Very important. And once he returns, she just smiles and walks away from the castle, carefully avoiding any patches of frost that might form on the damp and shady dirt.]

So? What's bothering you?

[infiltrationtools]

[Super duper important. Akira dips a roll in some sauce and starts chewing on it, in part to give himself time to think.]

I just wonder what the point of it is. This won't be recognized once we go home, and we don't even know if they'll be able to leave together.

[Not if, when.]

It's... frivolous. And we have more important things to worry about.

[toybombs]

You don't see a point to a little frivolity like this at all?

[She's humming thoughtfully.]

[infiltrationtools]

I see why it would be important to them. They probably don't think they'll get another chance.

[He's looking at his plate, and decidedly not at Rio.]

They want to be happy here and stay forever.

I don't.

[toybombs]

Those don't necessarily have to be different goals, do they?

Everyone who fought in the dungeon that girl created got more fighting experience. Rei herself is happy and fulfilled, which means her ability to work with her Persona is improved and she can join us properly in fights again. Plus, everyone gets a little break to be happy and celebrate their success.

No one can keep fighting forever. If you don't stop to rest sometimes, you get tired and discouraged.

One day of festivities won't stop you from being able to return home.

[infiltrationtools]

[That all is very nice, and Akira is ignoring it.]

Is this what you think 'gossip' means?

[He sounds defensive.]

[toybombs]

Oh, that was just an excuse to get out of there.

[Blunt.]

Weddings are nice I suppose, but I don't know either of them that well, so it's not like I really fit in anyway.

[infiltrationtools]

... That's fair enough.

[She went and made a gift to be polite, and then bailed.]

I know Toki well enough to go. And to know he probably needs this.

Which is why I wasn't saying anything earlier.

[toybombs]

Morale is important.

[She knows that too well.]

But if you really want to gossip... what can you tell me about Toki?

[infiltrationtools]

Most of it you can tell from spending five minutes around him.

[Well, the things relevant to gossip, anyway.]

I guess, if I had to think of something... I kinda think he's more interested in playing house with Rei than anything serious. Which is another reason why this wedding is weird to me.

[toybombs]

So the motive behind the marriage bothers you?

[infiltrationtools]

If you're going to tie yourself down and commit to them, shouldn't you... take it a bit more seriously?

[toybombs]

Well, people get married for all kinds of reasons, don't they? Some of them are shallower than others.

But you prefer your own personal freedom.

[infiltrationtools]

[He huffs quietly.]

I guess.

But that's just for me.

[toybombs]

I suppose them being able to get married is just an exercise of their own freedom, too.

[She laughs a little, even if it's hard to ignore-

That's not a freedom she has, personally.]

Anyway~ It's fine if you don't like it, but stuff like this shouldn't interfere with getting you home. I'll do whatever I can to help ensure that.

[infiltrationtools]

[Oh... Rio...]

[He's quiet for a few moments, like he didn't expect to hear something like that out of her.]

...Thank you.

Is there anything you want, Rio?

[toybombs]

-Huh?

[Honestly she wasn't expecting his gloominess to be swayed by such simple words, and that on top of him asking about her catches her off guard.]

[infiltrationtools]

[Oh, don't worry, it's not swayed.]

I said, is there anything you want. That I can help with, at least.

[Akira wants to get out of here. Rio's been very helpful. He wants to know if there's something he can do for her in return. He doesn't always know what to do with kindness, so the best thing to do is just pay it back.]

1/2

[toybombs]

[Sounds right. That just gets another small smile out of her, however.]

...The things I want most can only be achieved by me. Myself.

[The Blade Children are the only ones who can save themselves. That was the answer God gave them.]

2/2

[toybombs]

...But I suppose if you'd like to give me some free supplies, I wouldn't turn them down.