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

[sisters]

Sure, it's a plan.

( and he's 150% expecting to see npc-kun around here in the future too, but anyway... back to the matter at hand. )

Your turn now, right?

[adsum]

[ yesssssss breakfast plans, they haven't had this since maybe somebody dropped off pity breakfast at their store before class starts ]

Okay! Truth or dare?

[sisters]

( from now on? a well fed npc-kun. )

Truth.

( it's like they took liz's game and just reversed it, it's fine. )

[adsum]

[ npc-kun hm hmms, what truth do they want to extract from Amami...

...

...

... ]

Do you still think you're disappointing?

[sisters]

Jeez, really asking the hard-hitting questions here huh, Kamo-kun?

( he's smiling, but this is the kind of question that makes him more of a dare person, honestly. give him a minute, and he'll give a sigh. )

It's not really up to me to decide, but... If I have to be honest, then yeah, probably.

[adsum]

You'll dodge the question otherwise.

[ It's one that's been on their mind, anyways, and it feels like it's going to stay that way. ]

I'll work hard to make you think otherwise. Like how I made you a good artist.

[sisters]

...

( it's a pretty tall order, to be honest, but...

something like this, the thought means a lot to him. )

Truth or dare?

[adsum]

[ They'll manage ]

Truth.

[sisters]

You're not worried about disappointing me anymore, are you?

( if they're bringing this topic back up again anyway. )

[adsum]

[ STOP ]

I am. Truth or dare?

[ moving on-- ]

[sisters]

( c'mon!! that's not the answer he was going for!

opens his mouth, shuts his mouth, sighs. )

Truth.

[adsum]

[ They're a good honest shopkeeper, they would never lie ]

I want to know...

[ ... ]

What's the one thing you've done that you're the most proud of?

[sisters]

Oh, that's a hard one too. Truth is, I probably can't remember it.

( since he'd like to think that his talent is something to be proud of, whatever it is. but anyway— )

I can give you a runner up, out of the ones I do remember.

[adsum]

[ Talent isn't something you do. ]

If you can't remember the single best one, you have to tell me ten runner ups.

[sisters]

You get one question, and I answered it. I'm giving you a runner up out of the kindness of my heart.

( they'll have to keep asking if they want more. )

When I finally got the hang of doing a good manicure — my little sister was really happy with the design I did for her. ( anyway! ) Truth or dare?

[adsum]

[ He's proud of... being able to do a nice manicure? It's a little underwhelming, until npc-kun tries to imagine the scene and being able to make somebody happy... yeah, it'd make them proud too. ]

Heh... Okay, ask me another truth!

[sisters]

( he's thinking long and hard on this one, because it's not like he wants to ruin the mood, but...

the topic's been brought up now, so a bit softer: )

Hey, Kamo-kun, how would you say you feel about your big brother right now?

( ... )

I can change the question if you don't want to answer though.

[adsum]

...Huh?

[ With the caution in Amami's voice, they expected something bad, or difficult to answer, but it's neither. ]

I feel exactly the same. I love you.

[sisters]

( you know what, he's not gonna push it. that makes him happy enough, so he gives them another little squeeze, smiling big. )

Haha, I'm glad. Alright, alright, your turn then. I pick truth.

[adsum]

[ npc-kun vc: aniki is dead, tarou-nii's my brother now ]

What are your top ten runner ups of the proudest moments of your life?

[sisters]

( this is why amami's getting pushed off a cliff, huh. okay, let him count these off with his fingers here. )

The manicure. The day my little sister was born.

( he could list that one 10 times and still have more, but he won't cheat them on this one. )

Learning how to sail a boat.
Figuring out the technicalities of extraterritorial rights for a hundred countries.
Watching you face your fears that night.

( they said proudest moments, not achievements that were his. five more... )

Walking my little sister to her first day of school.
Climbing to the summit of a mountain — the view is incredible from up there.
Making my first connection for my dad's business.
My outfit was complimented by a pretty famous designer, once.
Going to my little sister's violin recital.

( he pauses. that's... ten, right? it's more like the top ten to come to mind, but it should work. )

[adsum]

[ yea

But oh... there's that underwhelming feeling again, that feeling of not being able to connect, until they try hard to imagine the pride that filled Amami during each of these events—

being able to make somebody laugh. getting to welcome new life into the world. grasping freedom with his own hands so he can go anywhere he wants. I was going to say something about aliens but then realized I read that word wrong. there's the smile on their face and the warmth in their heart when he mentions them too, but more than that, it's the marvel of being somebody unafraid of going new places, meeting new people, but always coming back to family, to the little things that make people happy, just being there for his family.

There's the envy, and the awe, but most of all, hearing all of this makes them full of pride too. ]

...you really are incredible. I hope you know that.

[sisters]

( hey, who knows, if that's how far he has to go in his search maybe he'll figure out his extraterrestrial rights too someday.

but either way, giving them that time to think the list over, there's some nervousness in the pit of his chest. not that he's doxxing anything that he should be ashamed of, or not that anybody would know of, at least. even so, when they speak up again, he lets out a breath that he didn't know he'd been holding. it's high praise — especially when it comes from kamo-kun, and amami can't help but look a little bit embarrassed for it. there's a wide grin on his features, and he gives a bit of a laugh. )

Haha, it's nothing that special. I'm pretty ordinary, but... things like those, I guess they just kinda stick with you. I'm sure you have plenty of the same.

[adsum]

I don't.

[ And ohhh there's that envy again that they try hard to squash down, but it just makes their grip on the back of Amami's shirt tight, no longer relaxed like it was moments before. ]

...I was always at home. After Mama left with my sister, and Aniki died, and then Dad... [ ... ] I couldn't go anywhere, I couldn't do anything... I didn't have anyone. If your life is ordinary, what does that make mine?

[sisters]

You have to give yourself more credit, Kamo-kun. There's plenty of things you can be proud of, and you can always make more.

( his expression softens and he gives a thoughtful little hum, tracing circles against kamo-kun's back as he tries to remember the details. )

To start with, you sounded pretty proud of your first big book, that encyclopedia with the holographic edges? Pretty sure even I couldn't focus long enough to make my way through one of those. And how about your art — you know, Elizabeth really loved the gift you made for her. You even said so earlier: it's thanks to you that I can call myself an artist too.

You even made it onto my list, so if it was up to me, I think you're the incredible one.