teenrebellion | space 🎶 shouxue

[ throws them in the strip mall so they can look at accessories hehe ]

Hey, Liu-san. What do you think of these? Fits the planet's vibes, right?

[ holds up some bat hairpins! ]

[ oooh. her eyes go a little wide because hairpins like this are a new aesthetic for her. ]

I didn't think bats could look so pleasant. [ cute, she means. ]

[ oh... cute. he grins and offers it to her. ]

Anything can look good with the right styling. You want to try them?

[ she looks thoughtful for a second. ]

You'll have to show me how to. They're different from what I'm familiar with.

[ her hand reaches up to touch one of her gold hair sticks. ]

Oh, sure. It's not that hard - you can do it kind of like how I wear mine?

[ he has a couple in his bangs at all times so it's a perfect example! ]

You can use them to hold your bangs back or just to look nice. They have nicer ones for girls, too, if you want something more elegant or cute.

[ she peers up. her study is intent and sincere, and she nods after a second. an, okay, i got it, kind of nod. ]

These are the ones you chose.

[ she holds out her hand for them. ]

[ lol. sure he'll hand them over. ]

Do you want a hand with it, or are you good?

I will be able to handle it.

[ this is what mirrors are for. ]

Alright, have at it.

[ steps aside to see how it looks when she's done! ]

[ she pulls out her hair sticks, so her long black hair falls out of their loops. then she pins back the strands of her bangs that usually frame her face on one side.

she looks up at him, like, see? i did it. ]

How is it?

Edited 2024-03-06 05:41 (UTC)

I think it looks good. Definitely better on their own, too - I think they'd clash more with your hair sticks.

They're not similar aesthetics. I'll have to find new clothes to go with it.

Yeah, they're more of a modern style. It shouldn't be hard to find something that works with it here, especially if you look in the goth sections.

Goth? Is that acquainted with bats?

[ goth is too modern and too western for her to know automatically. ]

Yeah, it can be. A lot of that style's kind of on the grunge side, I've seen them come up with some cuter stuff for girls.

[ she has a misconception of what grunge is. ]

I do not know about cute.... but anything that is not considered grunge, I will try.

Mm, you do have more of an elegant look, don't you...? There are some styles out there that are more... refined, I guess? That still go with the bat details.

Honestly, you could probably just get some nice black clothes and add more accessories yourself, if you wanted to keep the theme going. Like... find a nice dress and add something like this if it has a collar? [ he holds up a collar pin this time! ] It'd match pretty well.

It is expected of a consort to hold a certain amount of elegance.

[ that is all credit to her station more than anything else. ]

But that is charming in its own way. As if they are ready to fly off your collar at any moment.

[ she will take the collar pin. ]

Maybe back home, but here you don't have to stick to the same rules or expectations, you know? No one's going to judge you for it here.

[ he grins as she accepts the pin. ]

I just think it's worth trying new things while we can. Anguis-san got me some stuff I'd have never picked out for myself earlier, too.

[ she's silent for a while as she thinks over what he says. they're sweet words that she agrees with on principle. ]

It's not about being judged. [ not really. ] It's just.... different, but I don't mind wearing different styles of clothes, especially if they're comfortable.

[ that was a lot of blood? hope he went and got healed.

she is looking for him wherever he is to check on him. how is he? ]

[ he got healed!! not for super long but enough. his hands and neck are bandaged up, one arm is in a sling, and he's not actively bleeding yaaay!

he's also changed out of those shredded clothes that's very important. ]

Hey, Liu-san.

[ ...but his throat has seen better days. his voice is just a raspy whisper for now. ]

[ she frowns at all the bandages and the sling. ]

You may communicate with the I.R.I.S. if that will hurt your throat less. [ ... ] How are you feeling?

[ outside of the obvious, she means. ]

[ he pauses, head tilted as if to listen to something, then pulls up the IRIS with a nod. ]

INTERLUDE

Better. I'm going to go back later, but this is enough for now. I wasn't hurt nearly as bad as the others.

[ that's curious, but she won't ask about it now. ]

Any kind of hurt is bad, if it requires that much treatment. That you were hurt at all today....

[ isn't that bad enough? she's relieved he's going to go back later, though. ]

[ nods in agreement. ]

INTERLUDE

I don't think Adrastea-san expected things to go that badly, but they helped a lot. I don't know if we'd have made it back without them.

[ pause. ]

INTERLUDE

We're lucky to have those pods in the medbay. They sped up the healing some.

Was it some kind task with Adrastea? What happened?

[ what led to such injuries for so many? ]

... If one thing works on this ship, at least it is something that heals.

[ she will begrudgingly give it to the medbay for that. ]

[ just smiles wryly at that last part because if that ain't a mood, ]

INTERLUDE

A mission to some other planet. They mentioned it to me earlier this week, but I told them I didn't want to go. I thought that was it, but we got dragged along anyway and even Adrastea-san wasn't sure why.
We were supposed to find something called a heartseed, but they didn't have much information except that there was this whole ceremony about it. So they sent us in.

A heartseed?

[ her brows furrow. she has no idea what that is either. ]

It sounds like the mission went awry from the beginning if you refused and were taken anyway. [ ... ] How long before things became worse?

INTERLUDE

No kidding.
It wasn't until the ceremony started, but then Owner-san stabbed the announcer in front of everyone and all of the guests started to panic.

He what?

[ hello? owner? shouxue is alarmed. ]

Was the announcer suspicious in any way?

[ ah. he should back up a little here. ]

INTERLUDE

The Blossoming Ceremony is apparently something they do that turns people into plants. People they say are guilty of some kind of crime. It's a punishment for them, but entertainment and art to the guests.

[ his eyes are firmly on the iris, but shouxue can tell he's furious about this from the way he's scowling. ]

INTERLUDE

They thought torturing people like that was some kind of justice. It's sickening.
Maybe he didn't deserve to be killed, but making something like that into a big show... it's not right.

[ kazuki... shouxue doesn't know what exactly he's mad about, but she thinks it's reasonable to be mad at that situation. ]

It is sickening. [ for it to be entertainment. ] Criminals should be punished for their crimes but not like that. They didn't need to make a ceremony out of it.

It sounds like... your group stopped it?

[ it is a question as much as a statement. ]

INTERLUDE

They should punished, but they should still have a chance to do better. No one's gone their whole lives without doing something wrong.
I think Owner-san got the heartseed, but it wasn't fast enough to save everyone. A lot of people died there.

It depends on the severity of the crime. [ she thinks that some people will never be better, but she wasn't there to know what kind of criminals were being tortured.

she closes her eyes. ]

I hope it was at least quick for how senseless and unwarranted those deaths were.

INTERLUDE

They wouldn't tell us what the supposed crimes were. It didn't matter to anyone there.
For some them, I think it might have been.

[ definitely not all of them, but it was bad enough without dwelling on that. ]

[ she frowns. ]

I do not think I would like it on that planet. I am sorry you had to experience that and even more that you had suffer for it.

INTERLUDE

Then you have better taste then all of those people. Not that I doubted that.

[ he pauses because the instinct is to say it's okay, but it clearly isn't. ]

INTERLUDE

We'll be okay. We made it back well enough.
Just be careful if they take you out on some mission like it, okay?

Edited 2024-03-08 22:00 (UTC)

I think you're less foolish than some of the others, so I'll trust you'll be better.

[ physically, at least, but he is normie enough that she doesn't know how he's adapting after witnessing that much murder. ]

But it is not easy to witness that much death for anyone.

[ he almost laughs at that. ]

INTERLUDE

That's a great endorsement, thanks.

[ don't be rude kazuki

but no, he takes a second to respond to the latter part. ]

INTERLUDE

No, it wasn't. That's probably going to haunt my nightmares forever.

[ that last message makes her expression dim. it's expected, but she will continue not to like what happened.

after some hesitation, she reaches over and touches the edge of one of his sleeves. ]

[ ...it surprises him, but he doesn't pull away. this time, he responds out loud. ]

I'll be okay. It'll just take a while.

[ she nods after a moment and takes her hand back. time heals some wounds. ]

Wounds like that take more time than most.

Yeah... but the good thing is that we don't have to handle it alone. We all went through it together.

It was good that you had other people for support. It is good you still have them.

[ that execution was not great. it was not great, but it could have been worse.

she is in rec room, and she is flicking through movie selections with a confused look on her face. ]

Kazuki.

[ she waves away her I.R.I.S when she notices him. ]

Hey, Liu-san. Looking for a distraction, after all that?

[ who would blame her? ]

I don't know what else I can do after what happened.

[ she is a little restless. ]

It's usually music, for me. I don't know how well I can play yet, but maybe that's an easier thing to look up on the IRIS database?

When your arm is fully healed, can I hear you play?

[ but she gestures for him to look up whatever he wants on the IRIS database, too. ]

[ a surprised pause. ]

Yeah, of course. My music's probably different than what you're used to, but I could probably find something you'll like.

[ goddddd. horrible, horrible day, worse than usual, this is awful. he comes to see her. ]

Liu-san. Can you tell me why you did it?

[ it is not a great day. he's correct. she looks up at him from where she's seated. ]

Why? I was overcome with.... emotion. I think there is a part of me that is going out of control even if it shouldn't.

[ i did not finish that tag i see. i meant he comes by a little later, with his guitar over his shoulder. maybe not the most welcome sight right now, but it's not a guitar of truth, at least. ]

Sounds a lot like the others. I guess it's good to know that that's what it is... but that really means that it could happen to anyone.

[ not ideal. he sighs. ]

...I'm sorry, Liu-san. About all of this.

[ the guitar of truth would have been fine, too. she's more tired about everything than upset about her own circumstances. ]

You don't have to be sorry. It was still my own actions.

I don't have to be, but I am. And I still don't think it's the same if you're being coerced into it somehow... even if that's just something making your emotions go out of whack.

And there's at least one person angry enough for the whole ship, I think. I'm not putting more of that on you.

He has a right to be angry.

[ if she is thinking of who kazuki is thinking of. ]

I do not want to shirk the responsibility even if...

Maybe you're right. Maybe you're right. But whatever he was thinking... I don't think I can agree with it. And I don't want to hold it against you - not if it wasn't really your decision.

But I respect that you're holding your ground, even for something like this. It shouldn't have happened to you at all.

[ she can take any number of wrong things being said about her. she's used to it by this point, so it's better it was at her than at sheba. ]

It shouldn't have happened, but it did. You don't have to agree with him. [ ... ] It's better if you don't. Not for my case, but in general....

You are kinder than you want others to see, Kazuki. [ her smile is a little sad. ] I hope you stay this way.

Anyone who thinks they're capable of judging someone else's crimes all on their own is wrong. I don't care who it is. [ he's firm in this, not a trace of static where he'd otherwise flicker in and out. ] There's no one alive who hasn't done something wrong, but that doesn't make retaliation right.

[ no matter what the crime is.

...he isn't sure how to respond to that, though, so he looks away. ]

I don't know about that.

Life and actions are rarely black and white, but some actions are easier to judge than others.

[ she knows looking away as much as anyone else. ]

Your words right now speak enough.

Easy, sure, but that doesn't mean they should.

...I'm not always. Kind, or nice, or whatever you want to call it. [ ... ] But I'm trying to be better.

You are right, but some people don't stop to think more.

[ it's a problem, but she isn't here to change people or the world. ]

Isn't you trying to be better good enough? Doesn't that show the good inside you? You don't have to always be good or kind to be either. Wanting to be better.... trying to be better... it's more than so many do.

Don't I know it.

[ sighs. ]

I guess so, but it's not about me. I still think you deserve better than this - both of you.

[ hi, kazuki!!

somewhere in the metaworld, this little octopuff is crawling across the ground, knife in tentacle. it waves its knife at him. ]

[ help not this. he watches it with a frown, but he does wave back. ]

You probably shouldn't be waving knives around like that, you know.

[ she droops. ]

It came like this.... I didn't ask for it.

So I've heard. It's a little unfair... The rest of us got to program whatever we wanted.

Which one are you...?

... I'll accept it over not being here at all.

[ the octopuff can't emote that much in its pixelated glory, but it does look a bit reluctant. ]

.... I am Shouxue.

Edited 2024-03-29 03:47 (UTC)

Same here.

[ he smiles! ]

It's good to see you again, Liu-san. Have you been okay with the others?

It isn't any worse than where you all are. There could be improvements, but you can say that about anywhere.

Fair enough. It's just good to know that you guys are still there, in spite of everything. And seeing you like this is still way better than going through HER-MES or the few messages we have.

Even short-lived reunions are meaningful, so we should all make this time count as much as we can.

[ once people have dispersed, she'll nod to kazuki when she sees him again. ]

Is it too abrupt to ask for you to play for me again?

[ ...oh. it surprises a laugh out of him. ]

No, never. You could consider it a welcome back gift, if you want.

[ she looks a little surprised and then thoughtful. ]

I'll accept it as a gift.

You're always so formal... We're friends, aren't we? Playing for you is the least I can do.

[ she looks at him in shock for a long moment before she starts coughing up flowers. ]

...What, is that a surprise?

[ she keeps coughing!!!! ]

Why— [ help her. ] Why wouldn't it be?

Wow, to think it's been one-sided this whole time...

[ gently teasing. ]

Because I care about you, why else? I didn't spend the night in the brig just for Sheba, you know. I wanted you both to be okay.

[ she doesn't know how to take in this info. she is at a loss. she looks at him like she doesn't know what to believe.

after a moment, she has to look away. her cheeks are warm. ]

I... I don't know much about being friends or friendship.

You don't have to. It's different for everyone. As long as you like spending time together, that's what matters.

[ she clears her throat. ]

I suppose I don't mind the time we spend together.

[ the good thing is he speaks tsundere very well. ]

Well, I enjoy the time we've had. And we don't have much left on this ship, so we've got to make the most of it, don't you think?

[ stop being sincere. go back to being more tsun, kazuki. she clears her throat again and huffs. ]

Very well. Lead the way to making the most of it. Or however you want to call it.

[ she is so cute. he laughs a bit. ]

Alright, let's go to the music store. They've got a recording room that makes it sound way better.

[ he'll lead the way! ]

I'll trust you.

[ she follows!! ]

[ off they go! he will just not think about anise and ichiban finding ghosts in there a few days ago. ]

You should show me what the music's like in your world sometime, you know. Or just whatever you like listening to.

[ all she knows is ghosts, though. ]

I don't know how to play any instruments, but if the store somehow has recordings.....

Oh, you don't have to play. Between the store and the IRIS database, there are recordings from all kinds of worlds that we can tap into. I'd be more surprised if it didn't have something from yours, too.

Is that so? The music I'm used to is a bit different from what you played for me, but it's mostly string instruments.

[ so it's similar in that aspect but that's all she's got for similarities. ]

I'd still like to hear it. You learn all kinds of things listening to different styles.

[ amused, he smiles. ]

I'd be a little surprised if it was anything like my style, though... Rock music is still pretty new, relatively speaking.

[ shouxue can follow the sound of the guitar to the observation deck, where kazuki is playing for... an empty room, actually. there's a composition journal set down next to him for reference, open to a half-finished score with a folded photograph in the middle of the page.

he glances up when he hears her enter, and though he looks a bit tired, he still smiles. his playing pauses briefly, and then resumes with a different, softer song that he can play while talking. something to keep his hands busy. ]

How're you feeling, Liu-san? Ready to go home?

It feels a little unreal.

[ her vibes are a little restless to confirm that. ]

I'm still processing, but I'm glad to be free of that... thing. What were you playing?

Same. I really never thought I'd live through something like this. It still feels like an insane dream.

[ as for that... ]

Ah, that's... I've been trying to write a song? I'm not that good at composition, though. I was just giving the latest version a shot.

You could say these last few weeks are some kind of insane dream.

[ she has some fantasy bullshit in her world, but this scifi bullshit is levels above it in things happening. ]

You don't give yourself enough credit.

[ laughs. ]

True. This whole trip has been that way.

[ he shakes his head at that, though. ]

It's not a self-esteem issue, I swear. I've never done any composition without Akito's help, and even then it was only the one song... I'm fine with playing, but making a song from scratch is a lot harder than I expected.

Creation is a different kind of beast.

[ she says that, but she isn't someone with that kind of creativity. ]

Is this something you've written all by yourself?

That's true, yeah. It just makes me respect the people who can do it even more, you know? Akito could write the most amazing songs, even at our age... It surprised me when I found out, but he really has a talent for it.

[ he's so fond. a little wistful, maybe, but fond. ]

Mm, I don't really have anyone to hold my hand for this stuff anymore, so it's all me. Which is why it probably isn't the best song you'd ever hear.

[ kazuki sounds so fond talking about akito. she can tell this akito is important to him. ]

Best is subjective. If you put your effort into it, it will shine. I said your music is healing, didn't I?

[ hey, ]

That was different! I was actually using magic then!

It doesn't have to be literal, Kazuki.

[ shouldn't he know that most of all? ]

[ he does know that but hearing anyone say that but him and akito always throws him for a loop. ]

Well... maybe. But the song isn't even done yet, so it's still not much to speak of.

It will be because it's your passion.

[ anyone who talks to kazuki for more than five minutes can tell that much. ]

What kind of song do you want it to be?

Well... It's a little embarrassing to talk about now, but I started writing it after you and Sheba died - before we even really knew you guys were still there. [ so there's just a slight hesitation here. ] I... wanted it to be a song that could reach all of you, somehow, so you'd know how much we still cared. I don't know how that would have even worked if you hadn't been there, but still.

[ that stuns her for a full moment. she can't find words for how that makes her feel or what it makes her think. when someone spends so much consideration for those who have passed, she can't help but be moved. ]

Kazuki... [ her voice trembles a little, soft and quiet as it is. ] At least for me, it still would have worked. It would have reached me.

Thank you.

[ for thinking of her and the others, for caring. for everything. ]

[ while kazuki may not be sure how true that is, because so much of what happened on this ship is so far out of his wheelhouse he can't even begin to understand it - the sentiment still brings a smile to his face. ]

I hope so. Thanks for believing in it, Liu-san.

[ even if he never finished it. ]

...I guess now I'll just have to make it a song that can reach us all across different worlds.

space 🎶 shouxue

w1 monday

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w1 thursday

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w1 sunday

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w2 saturday

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w4 wednesday

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week 6, saturday

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