( caramel, vanilla and berries. those are the notes that fill the room with the warm, sweet scent of the tea maple has prepared. not only does she bring the teapot and enough cups for any club member who may stop by, but she also brings enough sugar that she's sure add and hiyori would both be proud, even if it won't necessarily all be used during this trip alone. she hadn't known much about the club itself up until now, aside from the fact that ranger seemed to be in it, but it's never too late to learn.
so, whether you're a member or a visitor, she probably won't be able to tell. she greets any student who makes themselves too comfortable in the workshop during club hours with a smile, (unless your name is shin tsukimi,) clasping her hands together with a small tilt of her head. )
Would you like some tea?
✂ sewing room, nurse's office
04/14–04/22 — open
( when she isn't in the workshop, and it's not yet time to return to moon four, there are two places left where she spends her time.
primarily, there's the sewing room. she seems to have picked up a new project recently—a black coat that's missing the left sleeve entirely. depending on when you visit, you can find her tracing patterns from the right arm, comparing fabric textures, and working on sewing a new sleeve entirely onto the jacket. she's happy to work on this alone, though the jacket itself is probably pretty recognizable. periodically, she takes a break to work with more colourful material, though it's usually after hours that spring greens and sky blues come out.
otherwise, the last place to find her would be the nurse's office. her own first aid skills may not be as extensive as hiyori's or ranger's, but she has been asked to help keep an eye on things, and especially those locked cupboards in the back of the room. she's happy to field any questions, provide simple care or fetch fresh first aid supplies for others, and any visitors can be sure to leave with a piece of candy if well-behaved. she's just as happy to deal with any "problems" that might arise though, so it's probably not a bad idea to keep that last meeting in mind. )
[ It takes Ranger a moment to register the question. There's a small chip set out before him, one that which appears to have been broken. He's started the process of repairing it, but it's difficult with such a delicate piece of equipment. There's no need for him to, as it won't see use again, but it's something to do aside from working on the similarly damaged Dynamo.
He's stopped working though, and is staring at the workbench in front of him. There's a red stain before him, and he knows he's found the red bird of happiness - no, it's the white butterfly he was looking for, but its turned black and now it lays in the desert and he can't find it any longer, and so al that's been left of his wishes for happiness is a blood red pool that promises its forever out of his reach.
If he glances off to the side, he can see that he had taken a pair of pliers, a hammer, and a box of nails at some point - he's going to rip off the fingernails and tear out teeth, but that's just the start, there's still hammering in nails one joint at a time and so so much more, so much pain and so much sacrifice and then he can find happiness, then he can be safe, then no one will have to worry or be said or regret because someone else will have taken care of the problem for him - ]
Oh... Sure. Whatchya got?
[ He doesn't want anything sweet. The thought makes his stomach churn, and certainly that's because he knows it won't bring him the sweet dreams that he so wishes to see. ]
( busy as always... ranger is always so busy, isn't he? occupied with this or that as he is, he lives up to his title of being asunaro's masterwork to the utmost. but it's not necessarily his work ethic that maples admires so; it must be his kindness, she thinks. he works hard because he's kind, and because of the care he has for those around him. it's something that she's had the opportunity to see shine the most here, like a distant family member who she only now has the opportunity to grow close to—and they are family, aren't they? in their own little way. cousins, perhaps, could be a good word for them; they may not have been made by the same people, but those people were connected all the same.
family... that's how she imagines the feeling.
maybe that's why it makes her so happy. being together with him, being helpful to him—her eyes light up over something as simple as accepting an offer of tea. )
This one is called St.Petersburg.
( an earl grey blend, ranger might recognize from the kitchen. it could be a little sweet for his taste, but she's already pouring. when she sets the teapot gently aside, maple takes a step back with her hands folded neatly in front of her so as to allow ranger the space to take however much sugar or cream he sees fit, and her attention wanders absently over to the setup he has laid out on the workbench in front of him. lingering for a moment, she gives a light, thoughtful hum before returning her gaze to ranger himself. )
[ If he had that concept, he might be able to realize that their dynamic isn't all that unlike one of family. Their bond is too unique to be called a friendship, but it doesn't seem to fit any other criteria. It's like family, something that none of them could truly be said to have. Even Hiyori was raised with the intention of being used for the game, and so his relationship with his family can't quite be called normal.
There's a flicker of green in the corner of his eye, the sight of a person walking past to the door, and his heart nearly stops. His head turns, and there's no one there. His mind fills in the gaps. Komaeda had only been in here for a moment, but they would meet up later. His eyes linger though, and the desire to chase after him nearly overtakes him - to see him, to spin him around and confirm that he's there, that there's no blood pooling in his mouth or dripping down his body. He has to be sure, he has to--
The hand holding the teacup shakes a little before settling. He can feel it on his back, cold from how long it had set. Cold blood, a cold and unresponsive body, but that's just his imagination, and everything is fine. He's putting sugar in the tea, just a smidge, just a splash of cream. It's a little sweet, but not overly so, and so he doesn't mind it. ]
Oh... It's a tracking chip. I guess it'd be easier to just make a new one, but that seems wasteful, so I thought I'd see if I could repair it.
[ As for what he intends to do with it if he can, who knows. But he can't stand incomplete projects, nor broken ones, and so this is as good of a point of focus as any other. He takes an experimental sip of the tea to see if it's too his taste. He'd used less sugar to compensate for the slight sweetness, and he finds it just right for that. ]
I don't think I've had this one before. It's not bad.. [ Another sip. ] ... Caramel and vanilla?
( maple nods, and naturally she's pleased by the question as well. she's interested in his projects too, of course, but she's no scientist herself; a normal girl, with normal hobbies, but a girl who feels with her whole heart nonetheless. it's for that reason that she can't help it—there's something that's caught her attention, her concern, for more insistently than the conversation itself has. )
That's right! I'm glad, Ranger, but... is something wrong?
( the slight tremble of his hand, the linger of his gaze, they're small details—minor, and hardly relevant to the topics at hand of tea and tracking chips. even so... even so, it just doesn't feel right for her to ignore such a thing. her gaze is earnest as she meets his, bright and kind, but with a sharp perceptiveness to them as she searches for an answer in his eyes.
on one hand, it can't be said to be entirely unusual considering the circumstances; ranger already lost one friend when maple had only just arrived, and now add and komaeda as well. it must be hard, she thinks, so it wouldn't be strange for ranger to show some of that, no matter how reliable he may be. even stone has its limits before it begins to crack, right? but if it's ranger, she doesn't want him to feel like he needs to hide those things. there are people who care about him, and it's with worry clear in her eyes that she presses. )
You seem distant... like your thoughts are somewhere else. If there's something on your mind, you can tell me.
[ It's a question hes' getting a lot these days, and Ranger can't quite understand why that might be. He nurses the cup with both hands now, staring down at the tea. It seems unnatural for others to worry about him. He's not a person who's deserving of such a thing, and no matter what happens he should be fine. That's what it means to be an AI, and that's what it means to be ASUNARO's greatest creation.
It's the biting cold that eats away at him, and it's the whispers in his mind, and it's the constant thought that if he doesn't chase Komaeda at every opportunity that he'll never be able to see him again. He'll be forced to acknowledge that he's gone, that he's just a comatose body now, it's just an empty space where a person used to be. ]
Oh... You haven't noticed? Well, I guess you wouldn't since you're normally around someone. It seems like people who spend time alone are starting to hear things.
[ It's more than that, of course. There's always more than that, but his broken code continues to try to protect him from further damage by hiding the truth from him. Komaeda is around the corner, and anytime he looks he'll be there.
But there's a flicker of doubt, an uncharacteristic uncertainty that might not have normally be visible behind the colorful face cards. It's rare to see him without them even now, too insecure about his slight changes in expressions, but occasionally those who know him well enough are able to get a glimpse of what's hidden behind them. ]
( that momentary flicker, an infinitesimal shift in ranger's countenance, is room enough for maple to harbor her own doubts. ranger isn't one who falters easily; nobody in ASUNARO is, she knows. however, such a thing offers her no reassurance at a time like this. if anything, should something be serious enough to cause even him to reflect his apprehension, it only redoubles maple's wish for him to trust her with those feelings.
it isn't that she wants to push him though. rather, isn't it important then, to let ranger know that she's willing to hear him out?
but to ignore his voiced concern in favour of this, that just wouldn't do. instead, maple shuffles closer, lessening the distance between the two of them—they're not quite touching, no, but if loneliness is the problem... something about standing closer to him, it makes her feel closer as well. )
In that case, why don't we spend more time together? If I had known, Ranger, I never would have left you alone.
[ That's all. That has to be all because his code tells him so. Ranger's mind promises him that everything is fine. Komaeda is waiting for him after this, and they'll be able to talk about nothing and everything just like always. There's others who he's friends with. There's no reason to be upset, even as a cold feeling creeps up from his stomach, freezing his heart and catching in his throat so painfully that it's hard to breathe because for just a second he has to entertain the idea that something is wrong.
Nothing is wrong, not when the blood comes and goes, not when the freezing cold and burning heat hit, there's no pain at all in this world, there never has been. His eyes flick down and he realizes there's a beautiful blue butterfly resting on the rim of his teacup, its delicate wings seeming to shimmer in the light. It's different from the ones outside that feast upon corpses, beautiful and full of life, and as he watches it he realizes its actually white. The blue sparkles give it an illusion of color.
If he follows it, he has the faint sense that he'll be able to find happiness. If he follows the faint twitter that hits his ears, he'll find a place where sadness doesn't exist, somewhere kind and warm, somewhere cramped and dark, somewhere that's too small and hammers nails into his fingers and tears off limbs and cuts through flesh and bone but there's nothing like that there but good things. He just needs to find the key. ]
Ah... Are you sure? You've been helping out a lot, and I'm sure Hiyori's keeping you busy... But sure, I won't say no if you wanna hang around. You probably already know where I hang out.
[ This is one of the places, albeit he hasn't been in the room as often as of late. ]
[Shin's not expecting to be hit in the nose with the smell of tea as he lopes into programming club, laptop tucked under one arm and the other hand on top of it. His stride stutters a little when he spots Maple; he can't say she doesn't have a right to be here, this club is as much for AI as it is for tinkerers, but he's hoping if he powerwalks to the spot that by long habit is 'his', that she won't notice him... like a t-rex, you know. He is not this lucky. She doesn't look pleased to see him at all... if he says yes, is she going to pour it on him?]
M-maple... Ahaha, I'm good, thanks...
[He tugs his scarf a little away from his neck with a hand... the limply dangling ends are still tattered and ripped, breaking the array. Activating it would be a bad idea... not that it's been shown to help when it comes to Maple, but it makes him feel that little more vulnerable.]
( it sounds sincere enough. maybe a little more wistful than truly sad about the fact, but the tea isn't only for him anyway. this just means more for ranger, and for helena to enjoy. maple lets her comment hang in the air for a long moment though—probably uncomfortably long, before she continues. )
Are you feeling better, Shin?
( it's only polite to check on someone's health at a time like this, and especially so when you know that they've been hurt in the recent past. though, in maple's opinion, she doesn't feel ready to forgive shin yet; any injuries to him have about as much to do with her as if he had tripped into the bookcase so far as she's concerned. it doesn't mean that she can't wish him well without taking responsibility, though. )
[He's definitely sweating as the silence pointedly stretches out, and even more when it ends, because that's ever so sweet a threat as he ever heard it... matching her outfit and name. He's got his other hand firmly tucked in his pocket, stuck strained smile curving up his face.]
F-fine... just a bit bruised.
[He's still sore and straining himself searching for Helena and Nanami isn't helping. He's not been taking Midori's medication either, hiding it in the crawlspaces so he's not easily tempted by it... Life has been suffering lately, for Shin. He probably has a cracked rib or so and really should be taking those pills for the sake of his breathing, but his ability to Trust Like That is through the floor after all the examples of tea spiking... not mention just that going to Midori for comfort even by proxy feels like losing.]
( matter-of-fact and to the point. she was simply made to be strong, so of course she would be.
the fact that shin had gotten himself caught up in such a thing was unfortunate, and really, it shouldn't have been possible at all. the technicalities though—her refusal to glance in his direction, the fact that it was a scarf the blades tangled up in, and not the tender surface of his flesh—it's the little things like those that allowed for such an oversight to occur. that's alright though, because as he said, he does appear to be more or less fine. as a precaution though, she decides to follow it up with a little more advice. reassurance, really. )
I'm glad. If you're not feeling well at any time though, make sure you come by the nurse's office. Hiyori is a very talented doctor, you know.
[To both of those... Shin has the very neat surgical scar scoring a line down his chest to prove it... after hearing about Mai's hands it wasn't hard to put two and two together, and while he has no memory of the actual event... his subconscious sure has had some fun extrapolating the possibilities out, usually during REM.]
He already gave me a check-up... I'm fine.
[Well, as far as Shin's willingness to let him pull teeth went. Probably only as far as taking blood pressure, and that was a nightmare of crawling skin with just that much, a kind of wound in and of itself. That's enough medicine from him for an afterlifetime.]
You two... seem close.
[Even if he hadn't been told by Sara about a different future's events, it's not hard to notice even as he's been attempting to avoid Midori like the plague.]
That's good then. I'm sure that if Hiyori says you're alright, then it must be the case.
( there's little and less to gain from the alternative, after all, even if shin is rather rude regardless.
at that observation though, she allows herself a smile, eyes lighting up visibly. of course they are — of course they're close, but isn't there something wonderful about that closeness being recognized by others as well? something warm and sweet bubbles up in her, and her apprehension begins to fade away. )
And of course we do. We love each other, after all.
( it was one of the very first things that she was lucky enough to hear from him when she arrived in this place. not only does he love her now, but he always had. the thought has her smile widening into a grin, which she covers with a shy hand, and she can't help the soft giggle that escapes past her lips. )
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open - rip add
04/22 — workshop | sanity: 4
He's stopped working though, and is staring at the workbench in front of him. There's a red stain before him, and he knows he's found the red bird of happiness - no, it's the white butterfly he was looking for, but its turned black and now it lays in the desert and he can't find it any longer, and so al that's been left of his wishes for happiness is a blood red pool that promises its forever out of his reach.
If he glances off to the side, he can see that he had taken a pair of pliers, a hammer, and a box of nails at some point - he's going to rip off the fingernails and tear out teeth, but that's just the start, there's still hammering in nails one joint at a time and so so much more, so much pain and so much sacrifice and then he can find happiness, then he can be safe, then no one will have to worry or be said or regret because someone else will have taken care of the problem for him - ]
Oh... Sure. Whatchya got?
[ He doesn't want anything sweet. The thought makes his stomach churn, and certainly that's because he knows it won't bring him the sweet dreams that he so wishes to see. ]
no subject
family... that's how she imagines the feeling.
maybe that's why it makes her so happy. being together with him, being helpful to him—her eyes light up over something as simple as accepting an offer of tea. )
This one is called St.Petersburg.
( an earl grey blend, ranger might recognize from the kitchen. it could be a little sweet for his taste, but she's already pouring. when she sets the teapot gently aside, maple takes a step back with her hands folded neatly in front of her so as to allow ranger the space to take however much sugar or cream he sees fit, and her attention wanders absently over to the setup he has laid out on the workbench in front of him. lingering for a moment, she gives a light, thoughtful hum before returning her gaze to ranger himself. )
What are you working on now, Ranger?
sanity: 7
There's a flicker of green in the corner of his eye, the sight of a person walking past to the door, and his heart nearly stops. His head turns, and there's no one there. His mind fills in the gaps. Komaeda had only been in here for a moment, but they would meet up later. His eyes linger though, and the desire to chase after him nearly overtakes him - to see him, to spin him around and confirm that he's there, that there's no blood pooling in his mouth or dripping down his body. He has to be sure, he has to--
The hand holding the teacup shakes a little before settling. He can feel it on his back, cold from how long it had set. Cold blood, a cold and unresponsive body, but that's just his imagination, and everything is fine. He's putting sugar in the tea, just a smidge, just a splash of cream. It's a little sweet, but not overly so, and so he doesn't mind it. ]
Oh... It's a tracking chip. I guess it'd be easier to just make a new one, but that seems wasteful, so I thought I'd see if I could repair it.
[ As for what he intends to do with it if he can, who knows. But he can't stand incomplete projects, nor broken ones, and so this is as good of a point of focus as any other. He takes an experimental sip of the tea to see if it's too his taste. He'd used less sugar to compensate for the slight sweetness, and he finds it just right for that. ]
I don't think I've had this one before. It's not bad.. [ Another sip. ] ... Caramel and vanilla?
perception: 18
That's right! I'm glad, Ranger, but... is something wrong?
( the slight tremble of his hand, the linger of his gaze, they're small details—minor, and hardly relevant to the topics at hand of tea and tracking chips. even so... even so, it just doesn't feel right for her to ignore such a thing. her gaze is earnest as she meets his, bright and kind, but with a sharp perceptiveness to them as she searches for an answer in his eyes.
on one hand, it can't be said to be entirely unusual considering the circumstances; ranger already lost one friend when maple had only just arrived, and now add and komaeda as well. it must be hard, she thinks, so it wouldn't be strange for ranger to show some of that, no matter how reliable he may be. even stone has its limits before it begins to crack, right? but if it's ranger, she doesn't want him to feel like he needs to hide those things. there are people who care about him, and it's with worry clear in her eyes that she presses. )
You seem distant... like your thoughts are somewhere else. If there's something on your mind, you can tell me.
sanity: 7
It's the biting cold that eats away at him, and it's the whispers in his mind, and it's the constant thought that if he doesn't chase Komaeda at every opportunity that he'll never be able to see him again. He'll be forced to acknowledge that he's gone, that he's just a comatose body now, it's just an empty space where a person used to be. ]
Oh... You haven't noticed? Well, I guess you wouldn't since you're normally around someone. It seems like people who spend time alone are starting to hear things.
[ It's more than that, of course. There's always more than that, but his broken code continues to try to protect him from further damage by hiding the truth from him. Komaeda is around the corner, and anytime he looks he'll be there.
But there's a flicker of doubt, an uncharacteristic uncertainty that might not have normally be visible behind the colorful face cards. It's rare to see him without them even now, too insecure about his slight changes in expressions, but occasionally those who know him well enough are able to get a glimpse of what's hidden behind them. ]
Can't say I'm a fan of it.
perception: 15
( that momentary flicker, an infinitesimal shift in ranger's countenance, is room enough for maple to harbor her own doubts. ranger isn't one who falters easily; nobody in ASUNARO is, she knows. however, such a thing offers her no reassurance at a time like this. if anything, should something be serious enough to cause even him to reflect his apprehension, it only redoubles maple's wish for him to trust her with those feelings.
it isn't that she wants to push him though. rather, isn't it important then, to let ranger know that she's willing to hear him out?
but to ignore his voiced concern in favour of this, that just wouldn't do. instead, maple shuffles closer, lessening the distance between the two of them—they're not quite touching, no, but if loneliness is the problem... something about standing closer to him, it makes her feel closer as well. )
In that case, why don't we spend more time together? If I had known, Ranger, I never would have left you alone.
sanity: 2
Nothing is wrong, not when the blood comes and goes, not when the freezing cold and burning heat hit, there's no pain at all in this world, there never has been. His eyes flick down and he realizes there's a beautiful blue butterfly resting on the rim of his teacup, its delicate wings seeming to shimmer in the light. It's different from the ones outside that feast upon corpses, beautiful and full of life, and as he watches it he realizes its actually white. The blue sparkles give it an illusion of color.
If he follows it, he has the faint sense that he'll be able to find happiness. If he follows the faint twitter that hits his ears, he'll find a place where sadness doesn't exist, somewhere kind and warm, somewhere cramped and dark, somewhere that's too small and hammers nails into his fingers and tears off limbs and cuts through flesh and bone but there's nothing like that there but good things. He just needs to find the key. ]
Ah... Are you sure? You've been helping out a lot, and I'm sure Hiyori's keeping you busy... But sure, I won't say no if you wanna hang around. You probably already know where I hang out.
[ This is one of the places, albeit he hasn't been in the room as often as of late. ]
*mean girls voice* and none for shin tsukimi bye
M-maple... Ahaha, I'm good, thanks...
[He tugs his scarf a little away from his neck with a hand... the limply dangling ends are still tattered and ripped, breaking the array. Activating it would be a bad idea... not that it's been shown to help when it comes to Maple, but it makes him feel that little more vulnerable.]
crying... yeah
( it sounds sincere enough. maybe a little more wistful than truly sad about the fact, but the tea isn't only for him anyway. this just means more for ranger, and for helena to enjoy. maple lets her comment hang in the air for a long moment though—probably uncomfortably long, before she continues. )
Are you feeling better, Shin?
( it's only polite to check on someone's health at a time like this, and especially so when you know that they've been hurt in the recent past. though, in maple's opinion, she doesn't feel ready to forgive shin yet; any injuries to him have about as much to do with her as if he had tripped into the bookcase so far as she's concerned. it doesn't mean that she can't wish him well without taking responsibility, though. )
no subject
F-fine... just a bit bruised.
[He's still sore and straining himself searching for Helena and Nanami isn't helping. He's not been taking Midori's medication either, hiding it in the crawlspaces so he's not easily tempted by it... Life has been suffering lately, for Shin. He probably has a cracked rib or so and really should be taking those pills for the sake of his breathing, but his ability to Trust Like That is through the floor after all the examples of tea spiking... not mention just that going to Midori for comfort even by proxy feels like losing.]
Quite a swing you have there, ahaha...
no subject
( matter-of-fact and to the point. she was simply made to be strong, so of course she would be.
the fact that shin had gotten himself caught up in such a thing was unfortunate, and really, it shouldn't have been possible at all. the technicalities though—her refusal to glance in his direction, the fact that it was a scarf the blades tangled up in, and not the tender surface of his flesh—it's the little things like those that allowed for such an oversight to occur. that's alright though, because as he said, he does appear to be more or less fine. as a precaution though, she decides to follow it up with a little more advice. reassurance, really. )
I'm glad. If you're not feeling well at any time though, make sure you come by the nurse's office. Hiyori is a very talented doctor, you know.
no subject
A-ah, so I've heard...
[To both of those... Shin has the very neat surgical scar scoring a line down his chest to prove it... after hearing about Mai's hands it wasn't hard to put two and two together, and while he has no memory of the actual event... his subconscious sure has had some fun extrapolating the possibilities out, usually during REM.]
He already gave me a check-up... I'm fine.
[Well, as far as Shin's willingness to let him pull teeth went. Probably only as far as taking blood pressure, and that was a nightmare of crawling skin with just that much, a kind of wound in and of itself. That's enough medicine from him for an afterlifetime.]
You two... seem close.
[Even if he hadn't been told by Sara about a different future's events, it's not hard to notice even as he's been attempting to avoid Midori like the plague.]
no subject
( there's little and less to gain from the alternative, after all, even if shin is rather rude regardless.
at that observation though, she allows herself a smile, eyes lighting up visibly. of course they are — of course they're close, but isn't there something wonderful about that closeness being recognized by others as well? something warm and sweet bubbles up in her, and her apprehension begins to fade away. )
And of course we do. We love each other, after all.
( it was one of the very first things that she was lucky enough to hear from him when she arrived in this place. not only does he love her now, but he always had. the thought has her smile widening into a grin, which she covers with a shy hand, and she can't help the soft giggle that escapes past her lips. )
Ehehe, I'm happy if you can tell.