thecrossinglogs | Even Death won't stop the party

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Even Death won't stop the party

WHO: OTA - Mingle
WHAT: Kel is throwing a small party. A 'memories' party.
WHERE: Generic Shelter #1231412.
WHEN: Shortly after learning what their tool is going to be.
WARNINGS None for now, possibly dark topics may be tagged in the comments.

"Welcome to this pretty-average-to-mediocre party! I'm glad you could make it!"

He sent the text out earlier, inviting everyone in their group to... celebrate. And share memories. And 'live a little'. The entire text had been a lot of rambling about him trying his best and how important it was to celeberate who they were and who they currently are, trying to learn about each other despite the circumstances. Fow now? He's just welcoming people to the shelter he used for himself- he built makeshift tents with sticks and whatever he could find and prepared games.

"Any occasion to mingle is precious, isn't it? Come on, let's spend time together! Oh, and make yourself comfortable as you can!"

There are pillows, a few chairs, and Kel did his best to offer sources of shades all over the place. Bright, pink party cups have been generously filled with <i>water</i> and the few games he could think of have been prepared. He moves around explaining them, even if they're really basic- perhaps, if he's super lucky, someone coming from a very different world never heard of them.

It is worth mentioning everyone who shows up will get a flower between their hair, either given to them by Mari or Kel, and one to 'leave somewhere nice on the oasis'.

Piñata Time! - There isn't a LOT sitting around, but he did manage to put together a couple of colorful Piñata with pages he stripped from comics, water and a lot of patience as he kept folding things so they could barely stay together in some round shapes. Inside those? More paper strips to pretend it's confetty, the lack of candies or better items doesn't really make them stand out but they're there and he found a stick for people to use. Hopefully they'll not fall down before being used.

Spin the bottle! - Finding an empty bottle of a drink he used to love? Depressing. The possible uses he could find for it, though? Eh... better than nothing. Kel will explain both 'normal' (and gross, according to him) and 'Kel style' rules for Spin the Bottle. In one kisses are involved, in the other he suggests a small group to gather, to have someone ask a question, spin the bottle and whoever it's pointed at? They'll have to answer, as long as they feel like doing it.

'To get to know each other better'.

'Pen and paper' - Sticks have been found, Sand has been flattened as well as possible and everything is ready to go. Kel can and will explain the rules for games like Tic Tac Toe, the Hanged man, the 'you draw something and the other person has to guess' game. Overall, if it can be done with some pen and paper, he'll try to help with it-

As a social person who spent a crapton of time with friends playing stupid games? Kel will even know more obscure games like Nim or Lasso.

'Music Corner' - A part a bit distant from the rest, still with pillows and all, where Kel put water cups and tried to isolate as he could with a few horrible looking anime blankets he found around. It's a space where people are invited to share about their culture in more than a one-on-one settings and since music is so deep into people's lives, at least in his opinion? He did his best to carve a spot where people could share that too.

'Flower crowns laboratory' After tossing flowers all around the oasis, Kel and Mari did agree on working together on another little step. Circles of paper have been prepared already, even if they're far from perfect, and a lot of flowers have been placed on a blanket on the floor.

Anyone who may want to try doing so will get assisted in building a little flower crown, with Kel and Mari giving them even more flowers to put around the oasis. 'Gotta make home look a bit nicer, right?'

There are areas where to relax and chat too, sadly this is far from what Kel would consider a party but he does hope that people at least sit in the memories sharing area and talk to each other.

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[Frieda shakes her head.]

I don't really need a break, I just wanted to look at this corner.

[Her eyes wander over the pillows, blankets, and water cups, lingering on the latter for a moment. How long has it been since she last ate and drank anything? She hasn't felt hungry or thirsty, and part of her is apprehensive that she might just break that spell by drinking now.]

Kel is so good to make such an effort each time.

Is that so?

[Even as he asks the question, something about her answer seemed amusing to him. He can’t help the grin that spreads across his face.

The conversation turns to the host of tonight’s (today’s?) event, and Hanako finds his gaze seeking the boy out.]

Seems like he puts a lot of effort into everything. Admirable, but not overly sustainable.

[An observation, plain and simple. It wasn’t like he was worried.]

Why isn't is sustainable? We can reuse everything here for the next event.

[Or is it only her who has such low standards?]

[That has him laughing - she missed his point entirely.]

Not the stuff here, though I guess that might be going away soon too!

Him. There’s only so much of yourself you can give before you’re empty. If he keeps going like this… it’s only a matter of time.

[Well, he had given Kel the same advice, back when they had been searching for his friend. Not that Hanako is sure any of it sunk in - in a way, Kel was a lot like Hanako in that regard.]

[For a moment, she's embarrassed, but rather than laugh at her momentary daftness, her concern for Kel takes precedence.]

What makes you say that? I got the impression that Kel's naturally social and energetic.

[Some people get energy from organising get-togethers! But she isn't so much trying to argue with Hanako as genuinely wondering if he's seen a side of Kel that she hasn't. (She has had a personal talk with Kel that very much made her see his selfless dedication to his friends, but to think that even matters such as this might be part of that... that gives her pause.)]

Oh, he has energy alright!

[That he agrees with, even as his upbeat smile turns to a look of contemplation. A beat too long, maybe, as he stares at Kel from across the room…]

But he doesn’t know when to stop. He cares too much. It’s easier to just… not… [It was easier to stay detached - something that Hanako told himself and had failed at miserably ~~the source of which being his personal assistant, who was busy playing piñata with Nagito~~.]

[She follows his gaze, but only for a moment - otherwise, Kel might notice then looking at him.]

For many people, it's not a choice. Kel can't help but care for Mari and Sunny. They're all he has left in terms of loved ones. Giving those memories and feelings up is not an option for most.

[If she had even just one of her family members here, she'd hold on to her memories of them until the very last, even at the expense of everything else.]

You care for Yashiro, too, don't you? You can't just stop.

[He listens, contemplating. Hanako wouldn’t give up his memories of Yashiro. He had been resigned that, in some situations, it might have been better if she hadn’t met him. But…]

I wonder why. [There is the slight downturn of his mouth. Why he cared for Yashiro. Why, knowing her, had been so unlike the other rare people that drifted through his ghostly existence.] Why is she different?

[He didn’t really answer, in concrete terms, whether he cares for her. He does. He just doesn’t know how to express that or put it into words.]

[She turns her full focus onto him, idly surprised - he doesn't know why he likes Yashiro?]

Well, something must draw you to her. Is she kind? Whimsical? A dreamer? Does she have qualities you lack and aspire to? We feel drawn to people for all sorts of reasons, be it because they're similar to us or different from us or anything in between.

[Well, this was a ton of introspection Hanako hadn’t been expecting to indulge in right now.]

Huh… I guess… [His head tilts in thought.] She’s always getting into trouble, always poking her nose into dangerous things, and she’s terribly naive…

[Were those compliments?] But still… I can’t just leave her be~

[There were other things too - the way she unexpectedly surprised him with her behavior, how she kept coming back to the bathroom even when he messed up… but those were private things.]

She sought you out to have her wish granted, right? That means she believed in you - both in your powers, and in your kindness.

[Unless his role obligates him to fulfill wishes, the latter very much factors in!]

It's no wonder that you want to protect someone who has so much faith in you.

[Well, his wish granting powers were kind of obligatory - if she wanted something and gave it to him, then he was obliged to grant her wish however he could. But… there’s something in Hanako’s blush that speaks otherwise.]

Or she just really wanted a boyfriend~

[He can’t help the teasing quip. It was better to focus on that than the heat threatening to burn through his cheeks.]

Or that. But that didn't work out, did it?

[She sees that blush, Hanako! Yashiro may not have won the affection of the schoolmate she had her eyes on, but that doesn't mean that she didn't catch another boy's attention.]

Why don't you make a garland for her? I'm sure it would make her happy.

[He hums again.]

Nope~ She just realized she didn’t like the guy after all!

[Frieda’s suggestion has him perking up.]

A garland… [He pauses, thinking it over, and the silence that follows is maybe telling. He doesn’t know how to do that… The boy does try to cover his embarrassment with a quip.] Such a shame we don’t have vegetables here. Yashiro likes growing those! [Not that Hanako would even know how to string vegetables into a garland.]

[Well, isn't that fortunate?, Frieda thinks, but rather than say anything out loud, she merely smiles. Her expression softens as Hanako mentions Yashiro's hobby. She doesn't know if people in their world are as self-sustaining as in hers, but she assumes as much, and from that angle, it paints Yashiro in a very diligent light.]

That is a pity... but then, they'd be wasted on us, wouldn't they? We don't need to eat anymore.

[And for a garland, most would be too heavy!]

I'm sure you'll find something else to make her happy - really, just having you here with her already seems to lift her spirits.

Isn’t it a sentiment of life to enjoy things? [He asked, humming in thought. The idea that food could be ‘just a waste’…] Even though you’re dead now, you should try and enjoy what you can.

[It was something that Hanako wrestled with. Some things didn’t matter when you were dead - hopes and dreams - they couldn’t be achieved just because one got an extension after death. However… little comforts should still be enjoyed.]

Really? [He blinked almost owlishly. The idea that Yashiro could be happy because he was around… His gaze trailed to the ceiling, trying to hide what swam within.] If… if I had my say, Yashiro wouldn’t be here…

[Frieda hesitates - she wouldn't want to eat, fearing on some level that she'll get used to it again only to find herself without food as the journey continues -, but as Hanako admits his feelings regarding Yashiro's presence in their group, her face falls just a little bit.]

I can well imagine. But with that choice being taken out of your hands, try to comfort yourself with the knowledge that your company makes this journey so much easier on her.

[Hanako didn’t answer right away. His gaze sought out his assistant again where she was in the room, silently looking and then…]

I can at least make sure that she doesn’t get hurt again. That she remains herself. That’s all.

[It didn’t come down to comfort. If Yashiro felt more comfortable with him here, that was fine. But she may very well end up angry or hating him with the lengths he would go to for her to remain herself.

That was fine. Hanako told himself that… even if it wasn’t.]

[Recalling Hanako's conversation with Daniil that appeared in her book during the discussion of the upcoming Crossing, her expression darkens with worry.]

Do you really want to 'cross' without the Ferryman's protection? Have you spoken about this with Yashiro?

[She'd like to admonish him about the danger of the wraiths, mention that they've hurt people bigger and stronger than him - but he already knows, and it didn't seem to deter him.]

[Ah, that. Well, it was bound to come up eventually. Hanako knew the messages they sent weren’t private - and part of that had been the whole point, to broadcast his intent to the rest of their group well beforehand.]

I have - she understands. [And was pretty agreeable, mostly because Hanako knew by this point what to say to convince Yashiro one way or another.] Don’t worry. I have a plan or two.

[One that no one here - Yashiro included - would probably like, but it was a plan regardless.] Like I said… I’m making sure she remains herself. Giving up something precious… I don’t want Yashiro to have to do that.

[It’s a bit hypocritical, considering Hanako himself worked on the same sort of system with his own wishes. ‘Take something precious and, in exchange, I will grant your wish.’

But… the idea of Yashiro having to do that with anyone else left a sour feeling in the pit of his stomach. So he simply smiled.]

Would you want to share your plans with me?

[She's absolutely sure that she isn't the first person questioning his strategy, and from his attitude alone, she's equally sure that she won't be able to deter him from his plan no matter what - but again, she can't simply turn a blind eye to this. Hanako and Yashiro are the youngest and, at least going by appearances, weakest members of the group, and given the injuries Daniil and Yosuke suffered during the first Crossing, they may not be able to protect them either.]

[He levels his gaze on Frieda.]

Are you sure you would like to hear, when it isn’t something you would agree with?

[He asks like this is a certainty and for Hanako, it is. Yashiro wouldn’t even approve, if he told her the entire scope (a fact of which he made sure not to), and Frieda being as kind-hearted as she is would definitely find fault with it.]

[Her expression darkens - but this is good; the case is equally clear to both of them. That means that she, too, can cut through the diplomacy.]

Yes. Otherwise, I'll have no basis to dismantle your plan on.

[She knows that even if she indeed can give him sound arguments as to why his endeavour is too risky, he'll still insist on taking the chance, but they must complete thing song and dance for her to feel like she's done what she could.]

[Oh, good. They could drop with the pleasantries, it seemed. Not that Hanako was wanting to hurt Frieda in any way, but sugar coating things often led to people making misunderstandings.

Still… seemed like she was also determined to tell him no.

Instead of heading straight into his plan, however, Hanako simply smiled as he looked towards Yashiro again. That same fondness in his gaze was at odds when he spoke, his tone strangely detached.]

Yashiro… she can’t help getting into trouble, even when she means well. Even when she tries her best… she’s weak. Humans are so fragile, after all. [Some of this, Frieda already knew. It was worth repeating, though, to make a point.] That being said, she’s quite good at endearing herself to others without meaning to. I’m lucky that there are so many kind-hearted people here too. It means… should I fail, someone else will surely keep her safe.

[There was a vagueness to his explanation, yet the hint was there: these people… they would just as willingly protect his assistant simply because of how Yashiro acted and their own goodwill. That was what Hanako was banking on. The fact that there are so many unknowns they face didn’t matter.]

Edited (typo oops) 2025-04-29 17:04 (UTC)

[Frieda doesn't take joy in arguing with Hanako, but turning a blind eye to the matter is something she could hardly forgive herself if he and Yashiro ended up overwhelmed by wraiths and suffered grave injuries and memory losses or, worse, didn't rejoin the group at the end of the Crossing.

The evident fondness in his gaze and voice as he speaks of Yashiro saddens her. He hasn't accepted it yet, has he? When she responds, her voice has lost the cool tinge it had a moment ago.]

We will look out for her, should anything happen to you. I give you my word that I will. But I feel like you haven't accepted the purpose of this journey. Relinquishing our memories one by one is the very point of our presence here. Denying the toll means to defy our destiny - a destiny that is inevitable.

[Despite saying that, there's hesitation in her. Until recently, she'd convinced herself that a blank wraith state, ready to get a new life written into it, would be the outcome for all of them... but the Ferryman's words to her implied otherwise, didn't they? "You'll still be you, no matter what."]

Edited 2025-04-29 20:10 (UTC)

Even Death won't stop the party

Music Corner

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The fact that Frieda might be subtly shipping this has me happy XD

Dead children deserve love!

<3

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Hanako being like “last chance to back out before I make you angry” XD

He knows what he's about!!

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(We can probably wrap with yours? ^^)

🎀