[ it's barely teetering on being an hour past the meeting dissolving. although it wasn't really neatly ended, but that isn't surprising considering how it started and developed. dito himself arrived late and bailed early — which is to say that he did his job and left, mostly.
he hadn't headed straight back to the dorms, considering he's very much trying to avoid running into any of the other students who were inevitably going to do the same. he's been jumped at more than enough for one day, thanks.
so it's a little later when he eventually makes his way back to moon room 4. he doesn't even know if he's the first one back or not for this room in particular. when he swings the door open, it's not the usual familiar figure he's blinking at. but still familiar nonetheless. ]
... Oh. It's you.
[ at this point, he's not even surprised to see her here. she's here a lot. dito doesn't give a shit anymore, more or less acclimated those midori keeps closest to be in his same living vicinity at any given time.
— except she'd really stirred up the meeting this time, so dito idly wonders if that's why she's here.
he undoes his belt, tossing his spear aside on the floor. he doesn't need it here, and he knows maple won't mess with him unless he offends her first. he'd learned his lesson a long time ago about that, and he wonders if some people at the meeting may have learned the same lesson today. dangerous women are just not something dito is interested in messing with — especially when it's more fun to see them go off on other people. he'd be lying if he said he wasn't entertained about her flipping out at the meeting; it really drew attention away from him, which was convenient as far as he's concerned. ]
( it's only a momentary glance that she spares in dito's direction as he enters. while she may normally be more inclined to chat, today she... isn't feeling so talkative. the discovery, the dust, the discussion they had all shared, and the distress the others had put her through—it's tiring. all of it is exhausting. dito won't bother her though, and she doesn't wait for the spear to be discarded before turning her attention elsewhere again.
seated in one of the chairs by the window, it's the wisteria tree in the courtyard that's captured her gaze for now, chin resting in her hands and expression a little bit wistful in turn. while she doesn't see the purpose in pestering dito today, however, after a moment's hesitation she does nod in response to the question. it doesn't need to be said why she comes to this room, but she supposes she'll be waiting for a while this time; it can't be helped, considering the circumstances. )
I think he must be looking after Nagito with Ranger...
( and as much as she wants to see him, to be by his side, to help them, she knows that it's better for her to wait here. she just can't bring herself to intrude when even she understands that she's caused the two of them trouble earlier. not only did ranger have to step in to calm her down after all, but hiyori as well.
for now... she should give them the space to take care of him. that's what's important. )
[ that tends to be forgotten or ignored, he's well noticed by now. he rolls his eyes though, not further bitching about all of that as he approaches the shelf in particular he keeps all of his own articles. he ends up grabbing a bag of natto chips he'd gotten earlier in the week from the vending machines, popping it open loudly before carding his fingers through his fringe to push it back as he approaches his favorite pile of pillows to sprawl on.
he watches maple for the few seconds he spends not speaking, just popping a chip into his mouth and blinking at her curiously. ]
( of course she looks terrible—one of her very first friends is dead. even that single comment alone is enough for her gaze to sharpen, attention snapping back to dito as her expression shifts. sadness, anger, regret, frustration; it seems like she's having difficulty deciding which one she's supposed be, though it does eventually settle into something insulted. with furrowed brows and lips pursed in a frown, maple huffs. )
If you don't have anything nice to say, Dito, you shouldn't say anything at all. It's your fault anyway.
( petty, like a child, but if he doesn't want to be nice then why should she? )
[ at least that's more fun than her moping out the window. dito admittedly likes having her attention now, although he'll shrug at her retort. ]
Hey, I resent that! Everything was a clusterfuck way before I even showed up, as I'm sure you're well aware.
[ he doesn't really sound like he resents it, but he decidedly crunches on another chip before continuing with whatever line of thought he's on...
there was a lot going on in that meeting, and only a partial amount of it was from him. the other...well, he thinks it's funny they're in the same room right now. ]
— Why do you care so much, anyway? Do you want them to like you or something?
( it's not... necessarily wrong, she supposes. the incident with add, and the incident(s) at the meeting — neither one of them was really caused by dito. none of it could really be blamed on him. her expression remains sullen though, not at all comforted by it. )
I don't care what they think.
( it's a sharper tone to her correction. she doesn't. the opinions of sara and the rest, they're all worthless to her, because of course a heartless person will praise only that same sense of heartlessness in others. maple is different from that, and she's proud of the fact. )
But it was cruel of them, don't you agree? They all acted like they cared about Add, but it didn't feel that way at all...
( at least when dito decides he wants to wave around severed limbs and play with corpses, he doesn't try to claim it's anything other than what it is. he owns up to the fact that he doesn't care. it's not like subaru, who had so insisted on using that nickname, or sara, who tried to speak as if nagito and add were her friends before they were maple's. of course she's frustrated, that she would be framed as the villain when she felt herself to be the only one in the room who took the weight of the situation seriously. )
[ dito hums as he chews on another chip, not really sure if he buys what she's saying or not. but it's obvious she doesn't like them, and that's completely fine in his book. because he doesn't like them, either. ]
Yeah, I get it. You'd think they'd listen for a goddamn second instead of wallowing in their own feelings... But they just want some sorry sap to blame.
[ dito tosses his head against the pillow he's already leaning against, looking at the ceiling for a second as he mulls the (admittedly blurry) details in his mind. but he knows that add wasn't entirely sunshine and roses either that night. not that anyone would believe that, especially coming from him.
still, dito doesn't blame add. he was annoying as shit, but it was fun. and he'd been far more interesting than most of the others here — he'd caught onto that fact when he ran into add storming out of the last meeting. the meetings and those who attend just all around suck, he's concluded. the amount of people dito even finds interesting or worth interacting with at this point is at the bottom of the barrel. ]
So let them! It just means they're weaker than you if they can't be honest with their ugly sides.
[ which is a pity, since those types of feelings are so much more interesting to dito. people's hatred, frustrations, and disgust with things as they are... how things should be uglier in general.
muttering, he digs back into his chip bag— ]
Bet they'd all turn on Add anyway if they dealt with the shit he put me through themselves...
( it's matter-of-fact, and she nods in approval. )
I didn't expect you to, but they don't think about anyone other than themselves, do they? How selfish...
( how distasteful. how terrible. the thoughts continue to stir in her mind, turning around and around as the ugly colours of resentment blend into one another. it doesn't help when dito eggs those feelings on. it's not that maple faults people for imperfection, but there's a difference between someone who's aware of the decisions they make and the reasons they make them, compared to someone who simply turns a blind eye to others' feelings and acts as if they're the victim. she's not the bad guy just because she doesn't want others to trample over her own feelings — she's certain of that.
... )
I'd prefer it if we could be friends, but you're right. It doesn't seem like they know how to do that properly — not even for Add.
( friendship necessitates kindness, respect — understanding. each of them something the group at large shows a distinct lack of. )
[ not gonna lie, he did not expect maple to be this...perceptive? he's just not used to it in a way that doesn't have anything sinister underlying it. not to say he isn't leery around maple, but she seems to have certain triggers that dito is utterly disinterested in hitting. otherwise she seems like almost like a damn highschool girl or something. it's kind of cute, how she can act like this and simultaneously be the same girl that exhibited violence on others earlier.
not that dito gives a shit. fuck those guys, anyway. ]
Gluttony's annoying. [ selfishness... same thing. ] Like, super annoying. I kind of can't stand it when these half-wits try to get so much when they don't even know what they fucking want.
[ he says, totally not projecting a bit here (five, five, five, annoying bitch—) as he kicks his legs and the audible crinkle of his hand in the chip bag resumes. but there's not much left to his snack by this point... boo. ]
Add's only dead 'cause he knew what he wanted, but they're not gonna accept that answer. Dumb bitches...
[ it's just really amusing to him how they all act so distraught over add despite the other angrily leaving their last meeting or whatever, only for dito to run into him. do they just pick and choose when to care...?
well, dito doesn't care anyway. he doesn't connect with people. he dissects them. ]
( it's easy to see that dito's words seem to resonate with her. add made his decision, and he saw it through to its conclusion. maple may not like what happened as a result, but... looking at it through that lens, it's easy to draw the parallels, identifying the common threads as she turns to face dito better now, clearly attentive to what he has to say. )
It's the same, don't you think? As the time before this. Everyone was so upset... They were angry, and they lashed out because things didn't turn out how they wanted, but they turned out this way because the others worked hard to reach their goals.
( nobody can expect to receive something if they don't put in the work to earn it. this is the ending that add put in all of his effort to give them, and to disrespect that is to spit on the feelings that went into his efforts. ranger's representation of the last meeting too, and the conflicts he had gotten into within it, they had been largely the same.
this time, maple can see the patterns that are beginning to surface within their little group. perhaps most interestingly of all: )
It's the same ones who tried to make it about themselves that time too.
( and without any regard for others who might have been affected, no less. )
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04/12 evening after meeting
he hadn't headed straight back to the dorms, considering he's very much trying to avoid running into any of the other students who were inevitably going to do the same. he's been jumped at more than enough for one day, thanks.
so it's a little later when he eventually makes his way back to moon room 4. he doesn't even know if he's the first one back or not for this room in particular. when he swings the door open, it's not the usual familiar figure he's blinking at. but still familiar nonetheless. ]
... Oh. It's you.
[ at this point, he's not even surprised to see her here. she's here a lot. dito doesn't give a shit anymore, more or less acclimated those midori keeps closest to be in his same living vicinity at any given time.
— except she'd really stirred up the meeting this time, so dito idly wonders if that's why she's here.
he undoes his belt, tossing his spear aside on the floor. he doesn't need it here, and he knows maple won't mess with him unless he offends her first. he'd learned his lesson a long time ago about that, and he wonders if some people at the meeting may have learned the same lesson today. dangerous women are just not something dito is interested in messing with — especially when it's more fun to see them go off on other people. he'd be lying if he said he wasn't entertained about her flipping out at the meeting; it really drew attention away from him, which was convenient as far as he's concerned. ]
You waiting for him?
no subject
seated in one of the chairs by the window, it's the wisteria tree in the courtyard that's captured her gaze for now, chin resting in her hands and expression a little bit wistful in turn. while she doesn't see the purpose in pestering dito today, however, after a moment's hesitation she does nod in response to the question. it doesn't need to be said why she comes to this room, but she supposes she'll be waiting for a while this time; it can't be helped, considering the circumstances. )
I think he must be looking after Nagito with Ranger...
( and as much as she wants to see him, to be by his side, to help them, she knows that it's better for her to wait here. she just can't bring herself to intrude when even she understands that she's caused the two of them trouble earlier. not only did ranger have to step in to calm her down after all, but hiyori as well.
for now... she should give them the space to take care of him. that's what's important. )
Did you need something, Dito?
no subject
[ that tends to be forgotten or ignored, he's well noticed by now. he rolls his eyes though, not further bitching about all of that as he approaches the shelf in particular he keeps all of his own articles. he ends up grabbing a bag of natto chips he'd gotten earlier in the week from the vending machines, popping it open loudly before carding his fingers through his fringe to push it back as he approaches his favorite pile of pillows to sprawl on.
he watches maple for the few seconds he spends not speaking, just popping a chip into his mouth and blinking at her curiously. ]
You look pathetic, by the way.
[ how to talk to women™ ]
no subject
( of course she looks terrible—one of her very first friends is dead. even that single comment alone is enough for her gaze to sharpen, attention snapping back to dito as her expression shifts. sadness, anger, regret, frustration; it seems like she's having difficulty deciding which one she's supposed be, though it does eventually settle into something insulted. with furrowed brows and lips pursed in a frown, maple huffs. )
If you don't have anything nice to say, Dito, you shouldn't say anything at all. It's your fault anyway.
( petty, like a child, but if he doesn't want to be nice then why should she? )
no subject
Hey, I resent that! Everything was a clusterfuck way before I even showed up, as I'm sure you're well aware.
[ he doesn't really sound like he resents it, but he decidedly crunches on another chip before continuing with whatever line of thought he's on...
there was a lot going on in that meeting, and only a partial amount of it was from him. the other...well, he thinks it's funny they're in the same room right now. ]
— Why do you care so much, anyway? Do you want them to like you or something?
no subject
I don't care what they think.
( it's a sharper tone to her correction. she doesn't. the opinions of sara and the rest, they're all worthless to her, because of course a heartless person will praise only that same sense of heartlessness in others. maple is different from that, and she's proud of the fact. )
But it was cruel of them, don't you agree? They all acted like they cared about Add, but it didn't feel that way at all...
( at least when dito decides he wants to wave around severed limbs and play with corpses, he doesn't try to claim it's anything other than what it is. he owns up to the fact that he doesn't care. it's not like subaru, who had so insisted on using that nickname, or sara, who tried to speak as if nagito and add were her friends before they were maple's. of course she's frustrated, that she would be framed as the villain when she felt herself to be the only one in the room who took the weight of the situation seriously. )
no subject
[ dito hums as he chews on another chip, not really sure if he buys what she's saying or not. but it's obvious she doesn't like them, and that's completely fine in his book. because he doesn't like them, either. ]
Yeah, I get it. You'd think they'd listen for a goddamn second instead of wallowing in their own feelings... But they just want some sorry sap to blame.
[ dito tosses his head against the pillow he's already leaning against, looking at the ceiling for a second as he mulls the (admittedly blurry) details in his mind. but he knows that add wasn't entirely sunshine and roses either that night. not that anyone would believe that, especially coming from him.
still, dito doesn't blame add. he was annoying as shit, but it was fun. and he'd been far more interesting than most of the others here — he'd caught onto that fact when he ran into add storming out of the last meeting. the meetings and those who attend just all around suck, he's concluded. the amount of people dito even finds interesting or worth interacting with at this point is at the bottom of the barrel. ]
So let them! It just means they're weaker than you if they can't be honest with their ugly sides.
[ which is a pity, since those types of feelings are so much more interesting to dito. people's hatred, frustrations, and disgust with things as they are... how things should be uglier in general.
muttering, he digs back into his chip bag— ]
Bet they'd all turn on Add anyway if they dealt with the shit he put me through themselves...
no subject
( it's matter-of-fact, and she nods in approval. )
I didn't expect you to, but they don't think about anyone other than themselves, do they? How selfish...
( how distasteful. how terrible. the thoughts continue to stir in her mind, turning around and around as the ugly colours of resentment blend into one another. it doesn't help when dito eggs those feelings on. it's not that maple faults people for imperfection, but there's a difference between someone who's aware of the decisions they make and the reasons they make them, compared to someone who simply turns a blind eye to others' feelings and acts as if they're the victim. she's not the bad guy just because she doesn't want others to trample over her own feelings — she's certain of that.
... )
I'd prefer it if we could be friends, but you're right. It doesn't seem like they know how to do that properly — not even for Add.
( friendship necessitates kindness, respect — understanding. each of them something the group at large shows a distinct lack of. )
no subject
not that dito gives a shit. fuck those guys, anyway. ]
Gluttony's annoying. [ selfishness... same thing. ] Like, super annoying. I kind of can't stand it when these half-wits try to get so much when they don't even know what they fucking want.
[ he says, totally not projecting a bit here (five, five, five, annoying bitch—) as he kicks his legs and the audible crinkle of his hand in the chip bag resumes. but there's not much left to his snack by this point... boo. ]
Add's only dead 'cause he knew what he wanted, but they're not gonna accept that answer. Dumb bitches...
[ it's just really amusing to him how they all act so distraught over add despite the other angrily leaving their last meeting or whatever, only for dito to run into him. do they just pick and choose when to care...?
well, dito doesn't care anyway. he doesn't connect with people. he dissects them. ]
no subject
It's the same, don't you think? As the time before this. Everyone was so upset... They were angry, and they lashed out because things didn't turn out how they wanted, but they turned out this way because the others worked hard to reach their goals.
( nobody can expect to receive something if they don't put in the work to earn it. this is the ending that add put in all of his effort to give them, and to disrespect that is to spit on the feelings that went into his efforts. ranger's representation of the last meeting too, and the conflicts he had gotten into within it, they had been largely the same.
this time, maple can see the patterns that are beginning to surface within their little group. perhaps most interestingly of all: )
It's the same ones who tried to make it about themselves that time too.
( and without any regard for others who might have been affected, no less. )