i don't want to survive, i want to live

[mermaidcursed]

Who: Yes
What: Movie Night + Slumber Party 
When: 9/11, Saturday Evening
Where: Dorm Common Room 
Warnings: A ridiculous amount of Fluff, probably

( it starts out small. a need for comfort food, and a need for something heartfelt but silly and fun, something genuine and kind. ... and, well, she did find a weird. bootleg vhs set of her favorite movie series, hamster space wars. but the dorm is only barely furnished- and it's not like they can just go out and buy a tv or anything. honestly she completely doubts there's even anything beyond the woods. but she remembers a teacher playing the thing and other stuff in the first month of all of this. 

it's so long ago...

but there's a television and a vhs player in the school. and nene... nene's tired and sad and is currently out of fucks to give, so at some point in the day, after everyone else has left, nene has returned to the school and, uh. "borrowed" both things. it's fine. they just have to get it back in by sunday evening. don't worry about it. like, it's definitely heavy but she's a tough cookie who tills soil and everything, and also sara and noah both witnessed everything and are accomplices by default, so they had to help carry things too. 

(they were completely happy to help on both accounts, she asked very nicely.) 

so the "borrowed" television is set up across from one of the larger couches, and the vhs on top of it. she had cookies in the oven, donuts and hot chocolate made and popcorn popped. the common room paintings are covered with sheets of cloth. all that was left was something cozy- but at this point, nene's made so many little cushions and blankets and even cozy pjs that that's super easy. all that was left was letting anyone who wanted to come know too. so at some point in the halls, nene walks down calling out: )

Cartoons in the common room! Bring blankets and stuff! 

( and, so everyone knows what their characters are getting into: hamster space wars is a movie series about different factions of hamsters that have been trying for cross planetary peace for ages now, with a villainous faction having sabotaged the final negotiations so they can control the war from the shadows to make the most money and also get the most seeds (Very Decadent). the first movie follows the main hamster and his little group trying to escape the villains after having witnessed the sabotage, and are trying to avoid assassination and end the war for good. the sequels follow allied factions, with hamster galactic wars being the Thrilling Conclusion. 

it's heartfelt. it's silly. it's very cute. nene loves it. )

Comments

[commences]

( he's in the bushes! that cushioned his landing.

...

...

...

not how the pockets keep him alive.

there's nothing in his pockets! but a stickbug crawls on npc-kun's hand??? )

[adsum]

[ why isn't the res working

npc-kun shakes their hand over Komaeda's face so that it falls on his face.

... ]

[commences]

Hey... stop trying to shake me off....

( which is the stickbug talking, but actually komaeda moving his lips talking for it. )

[adsum]

[ flops on Komaeda so they can wait for their heart to stop hammering from cart ride adventures, and in the meanwhile busies themselves with trying to wipe the stick bug on Komaeda's face, come on, let go ]

[commences]

( not the stickbug... it holds on, until, until... plop... onto komaeda's face.

and komaeda... smacks it away.

gross. )

He was your friend...

[adsum]

[ HE WAS THEIR FRIEND WHY'D HE SMACK IT AWAY-- ]

Hello! Congrats on surviving!

[commences]

( THAT WAS NPC-KUN'S FRIEND? )

...The bush looked out for me.

( looks around! raises hands up. )

We made it!

[adsum]

[ hands up in the air!!! ]

We made it! Now you have to get the machine on it and wheel us both back!

[ uphill......... even if it's a gentle slope uphill ]

[commences]

( they can think about that once they get it, so he's going to get up from the bush (bringing npc-kun along), and he'll push the cart into the building. )

Are you going to stay with everyone? I think they like you.

[adsum]

[ They'll give Komaeda a break and not insist on riding the cart inside the school, but...

... ]

I don't know. It's hard keeping up with so many people. I think I'll get tired very quickly.

[commences]

You're doing fine... ( is that fine for komaeda to say when he's tapping out as soon as he brings the rock gacha to them?

yeah. )

You'll have the time of your life, and then forget that you're tired!

[adsum]

[ No, don't just leave... at least play a few rounds of gacha while you're there

Still, they feel a little better about themselves, hearing that they're doing fine. ]

...You look like you're always having fun. I want to be like that.

[commences]

...

( is he having fun? he's silent at the compliment? would he call it that? this isn't about them. )

So I think you're on the right path, just play with them... they're all busy bodies who want attention and to meet more people... you'll do well, and fit right into their standards.

( him driving the cart into a wall so that it clatters and echos in the hall, he's doing so well here. )

[adsum]

[ ...

npc-kun redirects the cart so Komaeda stops walking into a wall ]

Why don't you think you fit? You give people attention. You play with them.

[ Their experience is a universal experience ]

[commences]

I've been told that I don't.

( he doesn't belong because of his mindset, sara has tried to kill him because of his actions to help the group, or maybe a selfish request on her end.

they deal with him because if they thin the group, then problems will come... he remembers natsume mentioning that. people forget his actions to accept him, and that's why hinata's even willing to exchange words with him.

... )

They're fun, but hope isn't a game, P-kun. K-kun ~

( ... )

[adsum]

[ All these murder apologists we have in the group ]

It's a lifestyle... I know. But it'd be nice to have a fun life; it would make living easier.

[commences]

Then you should live.

( he trots with the cart, staying by npc-kun's side as he watches them. )

Are you living happily with the persona you use?

[adsum]

[ ...

Turning the corner, their little shop in sight, they want nothing more than to run to it, but they stick close to Komaeda's side. ]

I'm living with it.

[commences]

Is it suitable, or do you miss your old life?

( trot, trot, trot, as he pushes the cart forward, they aren't that far from it, and komaeda hops up onto the cart letting it roll leisurely alongside the other. )

You can live the way that you're living now, and no one will know a thing unless you tell them.

[adsum]

I can't live how I used to.

[ This isn't by choice. They think about jumping on the cart too to ride with Komaeda, but then there'd be nobody to push and they'd both go nowhere.

trot trot trot alongside the cart until it starts to slow and then they'll give it a push, because it's easier to move an object already in motion.

... ]

Was it easy for you to tell?

[commences]

It was... the second time.

( when he met npc-kun in that foreign place, a dream, a memory... it all connected easily thanks to the information the other had handed over. he remembered so much at a young age, and it even came in handy... he chuckles softly, closing his eyes as he listens to the wheels roll on the floor. )

As of now... it's telling, but you're still the same.

( he hops down off the cart, slowing down the speed of it as it comes to a complete stop, willing to trade so he can pull npc-kun along. take his spot. ) So I wouldn't call figuring you out "easy," I'll say that... things about you are interesting, and I'm always drawn to that sort of hope.

[adsum]

[ The second time... they're imagining August thread #2. But that means they had him fooled during thread #1, maybe, probably. It's hard to remember when they stopped needing to smile around him.

They hop up onto the cart when he frees up the spot, so they can ride the last ??ten feet to the door, it's not a very long hall to begin with. ]

In that case, I'm doing a good job. Right? If people don't know me, but they come back anyways.

[commences]

( god, stockholm thread. they would think of that one because they had komaeda trapped like hell. )

They won't know you, well, some of them will... but that's if you leave yourself open.

( he hadn't told helena who npc-kun is, because that would serve no purpose — she seems happier the way she is, and hinata's smart... he'll notice. )

Why did you choose that name, the one you gave me?

( he pushes them to the door, and then he checks his pockets like he's looking for a key... but he knows he doesn't have one, so he stands out the way. )

[adsum]

[ What happened to thread #1... does Komaeda ever get his arm back

But yeah, the door won't open unless it's them, so they hop out of the cart and open the door, the handle turning easily without the need for a key. Dark inside... aside from the suncatchers glowing faintly in the corner. Going to have to recharge those tomorrow... ]

Mama chose that name. It's the one I was born with.

[ Gacha machine's heavy/full of rocks, so they'll let Komaeda figure out how to move it. ]

[commences]

( add PUTS IT BACK ON I HOPE... did add ever appear... crying.

...what the fuck do you mean recharge, oh my god, what souls light them? )

Tell me your whole name again...

( he asks this as he places his hand on the gacha machine and realizing he can't pick it up, so he places the cart next to where it sits... and he thinks about pushing the machine onto it. )

Hold the cart in place.