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

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto is a less predictable drunk. Overly friendly when the mood hits him, words loosened, is where most drinking nights begin. Eventually a thoughtfulness usually creeps in, especially in heavy times like these. When it becomes too much, he finds himself alone.

It's not so bad with Huaisang. Grief, he understands far more than how to play this game. He listens intently, still letting his gaze wander out away from them. It's hard not to realize now that the two of them had known one another even longer than Makoto thought. ]

Sounds like he was a really fun person. I wish I'd gotten to see one if his pranks.

... Are those your favorite memories of him?

[biyishuangfei]

[ Strange how time could mess with one another's perception.

Meanwhile Huaisang felt like much has hardly passed, but he's undeniably been counting the days since their 'arrival' to this awful and strange place. ]

Yes, actually.

Following our time in the Cloud Recesses, we didn't get to spend much time together for quite awhile, unfortunately.

[ ... ]

Do you have any close friends back home?

[edamamepon]

[ That question cuts deeper than Huaisang probably realizes. Were they close? Somehow this place has taught him what that really looks like. Even his friends that he cared deeply about all kept their own secrets. So did he, really, so how could he blame them? But their last words still make it difficult for him to tell how much of their friendship was one sided. Had they ever really considered him a friend in the end? Whether they did or not, they were the only ones he had.

Makoto's expression goes distant a moment, taking a deep breath before answering. ]

Yeah, I did. At least, I considered them friends.

[biyishuangfei]

[ ...That was an interesting reaction. He couldn't tell why there was suddenly a clouded expression upon the brunet's expression following his question, but he knew that his question had prompted it. ]

...Oh.

[ Huaisang considered the words further. Past-tense, it sounded like.

So, he'll respond accordingly. ]

I-I'm sorry, if I brought up any painful memories.

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto shakes his head, offering Huaisang a smile. He's aiming for reassuring, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. ]

No, it's--It's not your fault. But I'm guessing you have other friends, too? Back home, I mean.

[biyishuangfei]

[ Rather noticeable...they're all tired here and doing their best. ]

Hmm...just Wei-xiong.

[ ... ]

A long time ago, maybe it was different. Maybe you might understand.

But really, that's just how it is sometimes. People change; they drift away. But someday, the chance to get to know other people and become their friends might come.

[edamamepon]

Oh.

[ There was a time when he'd had many friends. Their faces are a blur now, the memories smudged by the sudden, painful disintegration of those friendships. One day they were friends, the next they were strangers at best and enemies at worst. And whichever category they fell into, they all knew enough about him to make sure it hurt.

In the silence, Makoto bites at his cheek and regrets not bringing more alcohol to dull the heaviness in his chest. Or maybe it would make it worse? ]

I do understand. ... But sometimes their view of you changes, even if you didn't actually change at all.

[ There's a sigh, running a hand down his face because he's not sure what else to do with himself. ]

Making friends in a place like this, when back home I-- I don't know.

[biyishuangfei]

[ Or sometimes, they betray you because they believe the power and fame was worth it....something he didn't really need to say, though. ]

I'm not sure if I can ask you to make friends in a place like this.

But...Maybe someday you can try again?

Just because things went bad doesn't mean you can't start over with someone new. It can be hard, but I've been considering that trying again has to be worth it, since being alone doesn't seem to be worth it in the end.

[ He's still afraid of things going wrong and that will never change. But this was something he has struggled with for awhile now (WWX dying didn't help.) For him, who had always been so open to go through through decade of feeling alone...he didn't think he could continue to do so for much longer. Even if trust will always be an issue. ]

[edamamepon]

...

[ Makoto sits with that insight for a moment, expression drawing serious again. Someday is being optimistic. This place makes him feel as though he is walking in the pitch black towards a cliff without knowing when the ground will stop being there to support him.

Is it worse to walk towards it alone? ]

I've... actually started over before this place. I guess I can't help it, even if I never seem to get it right.

[ A head tilt in his direction, sad smile back in place. ]

But you know what? I think you're right. I don't know if making friends is the smart choice, but it's the right choice. I don't want anyone to have to be alone and I don't want to play into what Hamelin wants at all.

[biyishuangfei]

[ Huaisang will watch his expression for a bit and then listen closely to each and every word Makoto said. He's exhausted beyond belief, but this was a discussion he was fully immersed in from beginning to end.

They had something in common. A goal, which was to stop all of this. Or he'd like to believe that was the case, though he wouldn't be surprised about any unsavory revelations. That's just to keep himself from being too disappointed if everything did go to the shit. But anyway, he had a spiteful bone in him, and so he's not about to forget who brought them here to suffer. ]

...Good. The less we play into Hamelin's hands, the better.

[ Because of Hamelin, Wei-xiong was dead. This was all beyond him, but he wanted to do what he could about that. ]

So...even if it ends up hurting, don't give up on that.

[edamamepon]

[ A determined frown sharpens an edge to his voice like he means it. ]

No, I won't give up on it.
And I still think we can find a way out of things. There are enough of us that don't want to play along, I'm sure of it.

[ A deep breath, followed by a sigh. ]

... You've made new friends here, right?

[biyishuangfei]

[ That's a good response. So he'll leave it as is and focus on the question. ]

...I have.

[ Maybe. He didn't know.

But it's nice to believe that he had, so he will for the moment. But the line of questioning did give him pause as he considered the brunet in front of him carefully. ]

Makoto, could it be you would really like to be my friend too?

[edamamepon]

I'm glad.

[ Makoto seems to think that's where that line of conversation will end. Caught off guard, he blinks over at him in the dark. Surprise gives way to a smile he didn't think he was capable of when he'd first wandered into the park alone. ]

Are you offering to be my friend, Huaisang?

[biyishuangfei]

[ Him asking that question made Huaisang almost forget he was in a sullen mood (it was still there, trust him on that.) ]

...W-well I already asked because I thought that you wanted to, so yes? Then I was right?

[ Or maybe not, what did he know!! ]

Anyway, if you want to be friends, just let me know. I'll accept right away, so don't feel like it'd be a bother or anything like that.

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto laughs, but it's a warm sound that bubbles up without his permission. He's used to being the one feeling teased. Even though it'd been on accident, his new friend's reaction is strangely endearing. Or maybe he's had more to drink than he thought. ]

Yes, you were right. Let's be friends.
... But I hope you know that means you can talk with me about anything now. We all have problems, things we don't want to bother other people with, but I don't mind any of that.

[biyishuangfei]

...Good.

[ Even like this he still managed to get teased/feel like he was. But he didn't mind. It wasn't a bad teasing, and it had taken his mind off of what happened for a bit. ]

Just be prepared for me to bother you a lot, alright?

[ He's joking a bit, but also. It's Huaisang. ]

[edamamepon]

I don't mind at all. It helps to share things.

[ And with that, he'll fall silent again. At least it's not an uncomfortable one this time for him. ]