AFTERPARTY III: Never Have I Ever Been Quite This Drunk

[mirrite]

[There's absolutely nothing celebratory about this drinking party. "Party" isn't even the right word, not really-- it's more like a "drink until you forget and/or black out" session for anyone who wants to participate, and even the bartender isn't immune from that much. Please forgive him if your drink isn't mixed quite right; he's trying his best under the circumstances.

There's food, too, if anyone wants to attempt to stave off a hangover tomorrow, or just get something in their stomach after the events of the day: stirfry from Makoto, vegetable soup from Nageki (mediocre, but hey, a genuine effort was made and that's what counts), and some tea for those who would rather abstain from the harder stuff. (Is that even many people tonight? Probably not.)

Come on by the bar if you're hungry or want a drink, or even if you just don't want to be alone right now. That much, at least, is something that can be guaranteed tonight.]

Comments

Re: room 3 room 3!!

[adorabilities]

Are you alright? Do you need anything?

[ she fidgets slightly, nervous. ]

[incompletely]

[ He sighs heavily. He doesn't want to let her in -- it's nothing personal, just -- nn. But he won't lie that it was nice when Suga comforted him earlier. So. ]

I don't know.

[ ... ]

You came here first. Do you need something.

[adorabilities]

I'm fine. It just looked like it hit you hard.

[ she doesn't press to be let in, because you know. fair enough. ]

And... I don't blame you? Yor...

[ she trails off. ]

Well, there were a lot of secrets.

[incompletely]

Yeah. You can say that again.

[ He knows better than to trust, and it's going to come back to bite him in the ass once again this upcoming week, he's sure. But he wants to believe in Adora so, so badly. She just seems so earnest, so genuine --

but so did Yor. And that's where everything just goes wrong in his head. ]

But everyone here has their secrets. I don't know what I was expecting when I decided to trust her.

[adorabilities]

You were expecting that she was honest. That she meant what she said. That's not unreasonable.

[incompletely]

...

[ She's right. ]

What am I supposed to do, then. What is anyone supposed to do in this situation, Adora? Band together when things like this happen, when we don't know who's going to turn around and laugh at us in the face when they get what they want?

[adorabilities]

... I don't know. I just know that going down the road of-- of "don't show weakness, don't let them know how to get you" is bad.

But it's not even hollow comfort at this point, when maybe tomorrow someone'll give in for the wish.

[incompletely]

Why is it bad?

[ Because he's tempted to do the same, but, well. People know him a little too well already, huh. ]

[adorabilities]

... Because it turns you into someone you're not. It closes off opportunities to connect with people. To be comforted by others.

[ she looks up at him, resolute about that. ]

[incompletely]

...But how do you know it's not --

[ a lie, he says, but the words get caught in his throat. ]

Yor comforted me. So did C-ta. Why should I take that chance on anyone else again.

[ He sounds more frustrated than accusatory, though. ]

[adorabilities]

… I’ll tell you what my wish is.

[incompletely]

...No. No, you --

[ This is when Tenn's true feelings come out: When he's cornered. When he's worried and panicking over the safety of the people he really, truly does care about beneath it all, like Adora. ]

You don't have to do that. That's not my business.

[adorabilities]

[ she shakes her head and continues, ]

Back home, I… had the ability to transform into She-ra. She’s… you know…

[ she lifts her ha d up to show tallness ]

Tall and powerful. But the thing I used to do that— the sword of protection… I shattered it.

[ she inhaled and pauses thoughtfully before continuing ]

I shattered it to protect Etheria, but now we have a bigger threat than ever before and… we’re just… missing She-ra. I can’t protect anyone as just Adora.

[ she clenches her fists ]

So, I would wish for She-ra back.

[incompletely]

[ He can't say he understands everything, but the gist of it, coupled with her sincerity -- it's hard to think she's lying.

He's quiet for a moment as he considers this. He would ask her why she's telling him this, but he knows exactly why.

And, in a moment vulnerability, he says: ]

...My wish doesn't matter anymore.

[ He sounds resigned. ]

Riku's gone. He doesn't need to be cured of an illness if he's...

[ ...you know. ]

[adorabilities]

Oh.

Oh.

Tenn…

[ she reaches out to grab his forearm lightly. ]

I’m so sorry.

[incompletely]

...Thanks.

[ He lets her do that, and frowns a little deeper. ]

I don't want to take away from what you told me, though. I may not understand all of it, but... I wish you didn't have to deal with that war. You --

[ Ah. His anger and frustration starts to crumble here. ]

you deserve better than that. Or any of this, for that matter.

[adorabilities]

Well...

I think it's safe to say, so do you. And don't worry about me.

[ she offers a tired smile ]

[incompletely]

Thanks.

[ He means that. He won't not worry about her, but...whoof. He really did feel like he was starting to lose himself for the past half an hour or so before she showed up. This has helped bring him back to reality, somewhat. ]

And...thanks for trusting me with all of that, too.

[adorabilities]

... Maybe it was a mistake to not share it earlier. I... I honestly don't know.

[incompletely]

I don't know, either. This is the first time I've spoken about mine with anyone, too.

[ And honestly, the only reason why he can now is because...yeah. It just doesn't matter anymore. He doesn't have to hide it anymore. ]

... I can tell you're trying really hard here, you know. And giving up, trusting no one -- it's what Hamelin wants.

[ He looks at her seriously. Maybe this is a bad call, and he'd be lying if some part of him wasn't nervous about thinking this, but the I still trust you goes unsaid. ]

[adorabilities]

I know. It'd just be nice if others would-- not take him at his offer. It just feels like such an obvious trap.

[ she's glad that he's backed away from giving up, but at the very least, it's obvious that she's tired. it's weeks since she's been back to etheria, and things haven't stopped happening there.

and for a brief moment, she looks so, so tired. ]

Or if we could stay awake to stop it.

[ a soft exhale. ]

But I trust you.

[incompletely]

There's not a whole lot we can do about that -- not as we are now. Especially after today.

[ The group is divided. People are hurt. As tempted as he is to blame Yor for this, it all boils down to Hamelin in the end. ]

But I don't want to believe it's a lost cause, either. I'll work harder, myself, to uncover more secrets about this place.

[ There seems to be plenty of them, after all. ]

[adorabilities]

[ she smiles slightly at that. ]

That might be our best way forward.

I'll try harder, too.

[incompletely]

[ A nod, then: ]

Good. I have your back.