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

[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.

[adsum]

[ STOP THEY RECHARGE WITH NORMAL SUNLIGHT

Okay, holding in place as best they can. Feet shoulder width apart. ]

Keigo Arata.

[commences]

How does one get "Kamo-kun" out of Keigo Arata?

( he's going to slide, maybe hope a cute rock falls out, push push... he stops, takes a breath, pushes again. )

[adsum]

[ npc-kun stares at him, not helping, because Komaeda said to hold the cart and on god they're going to do this one job. ]

It's a nickname. Only Tarou-nii is allowed to use it now.

[commences]

What's your real name?

( push... wheeze... push... wheeze... ngggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhh yuff! plop, there it is on the cart... an inch on. UGH! )

[adsum]

Why don't you believe me?

[ They crouch down and take the doorstop from the doorway and wedges it under one wheel to keep it from moving, grabbing a rock from their box that's flat and angled enough to wedge under the other wheel too. Cart in place, they leave to the back room, returning with a thick plank of wood they may or may not have been planning to practice butterflies on, and one of the canned foods Komaeda brought a while ago. One end of the plank gets set on the opposite side of the machine the cart is on. ]

Lift so I can get the lever underneath.

[commences]

...I want to say a list of names, and tell me if any of them are familiar after we get your machine.

( last time komaeda said something, rokkun had a mental breakdown, and then started yelling at him about how no one was supposed to know. )

Hm? Alright. ( he's going to lift the it as best as he can so that the other can do what he has to, please, komaeda's using his organic arm more than his mechanical hand so that npc-kun doesn't take all day... c: little rushes. ) Are you able to slip it under?

[adsum]

[ Does Komaeda want npc-kun to have a mental breakdown when they've got their arms full of rocks

...

Silent, npc-kun slides the plank under, at an angle so they can have the can on its side underneath as close to the machine as possible. ]

Okay, let go now. Hold the fulcrum in place.

[ The can. While npc-kun goes to the other end of the plank and thinks about how best to apply force and decides the way to do it is to stand on the end, like a see saw, this should lift the machine up enough under the ground for Komaeda to pull the cart underneath it.



There was a much much simpler way to do this that I thought of halfway through the last tag but I've already written a sentence and wasn't about to delete and start over so here we are. ]

[commences]

( after rokkun's ass? HELL NO. what is wrong with them, sighs...

he lets go once requested, and he goes to hold onto the fulcrum so that nothing bad happens — hopefully this wood doesn't give him a splinter and he bleeds or something. )

I got it, are you going to be my savior? You can do it, push, push... fight, win!

( he's waiting. )

[adsum]

Yeah! I'm going to be your hero! So help me out and move the cart under once I get it high enough!

[ Which maybe they should have switched places with Komaeda seeing as he's taller and weighs more but this is the position they're in now: their weight's not going to be enough, but physics says that if they jump high and fall back down, the potential energy should be enough to lift up the machine just the one time for Komaeda to get the cart under before the plank snaps, maybe, and they both get splintered ]

[commences]

( he'll be ready with the cart, watching the other attentively for when they'll proceed to move — they only have one — thought there was a butterfly on it, and was about to redirect komaeda's attention... but he's focused, yeah. )

On 3 would probably be better? 1... 2...

( why isn't he giving npc-kun time to get them ready? well... well... )

[adsum]

3!!

[ jumps on 3

It'll turn out okay ]