Everybody's Working for the Weekend!

[leekspins]

WHO: #1: Peter Parker [Closed]; #2 Tokidoki Rikudoh and Noboru Gongenzaka [Closed]; #3: [OPEN!]
WHAT: Weekend antics! Whether it's getting to hear Peter's crimefighting stories, fighting deep-set mental trauma, or running around Soleil shopping for sewing materials and spending time with friends, Orihime is guaranteed to never be bored.
WHEN: January 19th-20th, 2019
WHERE: #1: On Campus, Peter's Dorm Room; #2 & #3: Soleil


[Log #1: Peter Parker and Orihime Inoue]

[When Orihime arrives at Peter's dorm, she has a backpack slung over her shoulder, sagging heavily with the sheer weight of all the soda she brought. She couldn't decide on what to get from the vending machine, so she just pumped in her coins and got one of everything. Why not? She can splurge for this.]

[As she waits, it hits her that maybe...maybe...she really shouldn't be hanging out in a boy's room. It's not very proper, and she wouldn't want people to start getting the wrong idea. But no one seems to be around to take note (yet), so...maybe it's fine. She's heard that boys and girls sometimes room together, so maybe that kind of thing just isn't a big deal in France.]

[It's fine.]

[Besides, she's excited to hear about his stories. A real superhero...! And he's so young, too! This is going to be amazing and spectacular.]

--------------------

[Log #2: Noboru Gongenzaka, Tokidoki Rikugou, Orihime Inoue]

[After meeting with White Chain, Orihime's definitely glad for a chance to catch her breath and be around friendly faces. Tokidoki is always positive and cheerful, and she's looking forward to spending more time with him. While she's never met Gongenzaka, he seemed pretty polite when she spoke with him over the network.]

[She waits for them just outside the school gates, gloved hands behind her back, nuzzling her nose into her scarf and exhaling to warm her face with her breath. She's got a list of measurements and notes in her pocket so she can get all the things she needs for her massive sewing project. If she can earn enough, maybe she can invest in that runic armor equipment that Gunvolt told her about.]

[Hearing footsteps crunch in the snow, she perks up and turns to greet the first person to arrive.]

Good morning! Are you ready to go?

--------------------

[Log #3: [OPEN!]]

[There are plenty of people who seemed interested in going to the sewing supply store in town to choose the materials for their formal clothes, so Orihime is more than happy to walk them around and point out good bargains, as well as mentioning the pros and cons of good quality cloth versus something cheaper but easier to clean.]

[But she could be spotted anywhere in town, especially near the bakery where she stares in awe at the display case through the window. Someday, she'll have a fancy cake store of her own. Or at least a part-time job at a place like this! ...Maybe... Now that she knows about the impending doom of Nightfall, a cake shop isn't as important to her future as it used to be. She should be sad about that, but...she's not. It feels good to do something important for a change, and to get strong enough to protect the people she cares about.]

Comments

[betheman]

T-Toki? [He repeats- and fortunately quietly, because he hears Toki before he even arrives.

Gongenzaka isn't typically one to hide- but he may, in fact, be pulling his scarf up a little.

Just a little.] Ahhh....

...Lunch sounds fine! [He manages, perhaps a little quicker (and definitely more muffled) than intended.]

[leekspins]

[Completely unaware of her egregious error in judgment, Orihime swivels around at the sound of her seer friend's cheery voice. Her hand shoots straight up to wave to him.]

We're over here!

[She takes a startled step toward him when it looks like he's about to eat ground, but she sighs in relief when he pulls up just in time. Thank goodness he's okay! BUT NOT FOR LONG.]

Ready to hunt for purple suit materials?

[yokeye]

[Apparently, she'd brought a friend. Toki could always use more friends. He joins them, barely registering Gongenzaka's presence to begin with, because Orihime radiates too much energy for him to pay attention to anything else.]

Yes, it will be a challenge! You look beautiful today~! That scarf brings out your eyes!

[betheman]

[Gongenzaka really wants to protest PURPLE- but maybe Toki wants the purple suit?? He sure doesn't.

He gives a thumbs up, internally wondering how he can even begin to explain why this might not have been as great an idea as they all assumed, without causing Toki unnecessary panic.

This is not good.]

[leekspins]

[Well GOOD JOB, she blushes at how easily he can devastate her with compliments. No one ever bothered to flirt with her before coming here, and it's...not so bad, really!]

Th-thank you!

[She notes that Gongenzaka now seems extra freezing, having retreated into his winter clothes. As red as his toes are, she can imagine why.]

[So she'd best get them going so he doesn't get frostbite from a shopping trip, that would be a very lame way to lose toes.]

I'm sure we'll all find something nice. And purple! Let's go!

[Orihime snags the cuff of Tokidoki's sleeve between her thumb and forefinger to pull him along. She'd suggest racing, but he already came close to tripping once, so she's finding that happy medium.]

[betheman]

[Nodding mutely, he'll follow- and hope that once they're no longer on the snow, his geta don't give him away.

(He's not using those boots, Yuuya! He refuses!)

All he needs to do, is wait until Toki is even somewhat out of earshot, he thinks. Then he can politely explain to Orihime that his presence is...Absolutely going to distress the other, and he should meet with her another time if that's fine.

It can't possibly go wrong.

Not at all.]

[yokeye]

[Toki has a hard time just letting Orihime grab his sleeve and not taking her hand, but he doesn't want to be too forward, as he'd done that at the banquet and thought he'd embarrassed her.]

Oh! Who's your friend!?

[He'd totally ignored the guy. Looking at him now, he just seemed to be trying to hide in his ridiculous hat. It wasn't that cold out.]

[leekspins]

I'll introduce you!

[All while keeping up their brisk stroll, of course.]

This is Noboru, we spoke over the network. I'm making him a suit too! It's our first meeting.

[And since Toki didn't seem to recognize him, she assumes they've never met before.]

And this is Tokidoki, the first friend I made here!

[yokeye]

[Toki gives a little wave, since the guy seems shy. He wants to be inclusive.]

Hey, Noboru~! Nice to meet you~! Do you have a date for the dance yet?

[betheman]

[This is, officially, the worst decision he has ever made. He's honestly not entirely sure how he isn't shaking right now- but for now there is a sort of 'Mnh!' sound, as he shakes his head 'no'...followed by a somewhat uncomfortable bit of silence as he bites his tongue. This is lying, he quietly thinks to himself, feeling fairly ill. Not saying anything is lying.

But all he can think of is how Toki reacted before. The screaming- the biting on his own fist, the blood- he doesn't want to cause that. Not again!

And he can't guarantee that just knowing who he's looking at wouldn't do that. So instead there is a rather soft, and muffled-] ...Should we go inside? [...The tone far betraying his usual, despite a lack of effort toward doing so.]

[leekspins]

[Poor Gon. Orihime is completely clueless about his suffering as they hustle into town.]

I should warn you guys that there's a strong possibility that monsters are going to attack the ball. Tatsumaki-chan had a vision about it, so if you decide to go, be prepared for trouble!

[She's pretty serious about that, since the last thing she wants to do is push someone into the path of a raging daemon just because they wanted to boogie.]

I'll still make both of you a suit, though. It's always good to have one handy!

[yokeye]

[He hasn't had any visions about the ball, or any that could possibly pertain to it that he knows of. But Tatsumaki was much more reliable.]

Why would anyone go!?

[There's going to be daemons, and she's shopping.]

[betheman]

[There's a somewhat sympathetic glance toward Toki- but he merely shakes his head for now, again refusing to answer. The fact is, going against a common vision probably won't end well anyway as far as he knows. The seers saw a ball attacked- they did not see the attackers win, as far as he knows.

He follows along toward the town, footsteps continuing to crunch in the snow.]

[leekspins]

Surprise attack!

[She makes a karate chop at the air in front of her.]

If the dance was cancelled, then whoever's behind the attack would know about it, and then they'd just teleport the monsters somewhere else. If they all appear in one place, we have a big tactical advantage.

[She looks back at Tokidoki with a smile.]

But they're going to show up one way or another. If I'm there, then I can protect people, and heal anyone who gets hurt. So I can't miss it!

[Orihime faces forward once more and chuckles.]

Besides, I've never been to a school dance before. I want to experience that at least once, even if it does get crashed by enemies! The first part will still be fun.

[yokeye]

[They teleport. And are going to show up wherever, regardless. She was going anyway.]

But what if you get hurt!?

[Now he has to go, even with the daemons. And he may have just panicked a little too obviously.]

So, you've never been to a dance before~! How tragic! You definitely have to go at least once~!

[Even if everyone dies.]

[betheman]

[There is...a funny look toward Toki, but Gon's muffled words come to the air again!] ...What do you fight with? [is what he asks Orihime, hoping that they enter a building soon.]

[leekspins]

An aluminum bat with a rubber grip. Then I can still hold onto it even if it gets hot from the fire, and it's even more durable than a wooden one!

[That worried look on Tokidoki's face makes her stomach tighten, though. If he thinks she's not treating this seriously, then she can't blame him for being worried. So she mutes her excitement, her smile subdued.]

Anyway, I probably won't be involved with the actual fighting. I'm just helping Tatsumaki-chan prepare, like putting out water coolers that she can telekinetically move to put out fires and things like that. Healers aren't...really...involved in the front lines, you know? So I won't be all that useful until afterward.

[She takes a breath.]

But if I can make a difference, then I want to be there.

[Orihime smiles back at Toki, brightened by his words.]

Oh no, it's not tragic! The opportunity just never came up since dances were usually for the older kids. Now I can get a turn!

[They're now in town, and Orihime pauses the shop talk to ask directions. She's not worried about being overheard; normal people would assume they're just kids playing some kind of game.]

[Well. Two kids and a giant chaperone.]

cw: fire, desc. of burning alive, eye scream

[yokeye]

[Toki's a little less worried for Orihime if she's generally staying out of the fighting. He can't discourage her from going, because she would be needed. Tatsumaki at least seems to have them prepared.]

I'm sure you'll help lots of people~!

[That came out wrong.]

Not that everyone's going to be killed or anything! You should be there~! To help, just in case. And you deserve your turn at a dance! Every girl should feel like a princess at least once in her life~!

[When Orihime starts talking to someone on the street, presumably to find out where the fabric shop is, Toki feels the need to include Noboru again. He's so quiet.]

Noboru~! What are your plan-

[A black void. He could hear hissing and crackling. A small flame materialized, like one on the end of a candle. Others followed, little sparks of light in the darkness. With little popping noises, the flames grew larger and changed color. Some red, some blue, yellow, green, white. Heat radiated from them. The flames spread and joined together, colors mixing in streaks. He could see now he was inside some kind of metal box, lying on his back. The heat intensified quickly. He could feel his skin starting to burn, but couldn't escape touching the metal of the box, nor the flames themselves. The fire encroached further, flames engulfing his entire body. Flesh bubbled and charred, exposing nerve endings and muscle and tendons, eyes boiled and burst in their sockets, the fire penetrating muscle and tendon and charring bone...

...his entire body still feels like it's on fire. He's on the ground and screaming. In the middle of Soleil. But he can't stop because it hurts and oh my god was that the dance vision? Was everyone going to burn to death from fire-breathing demons?]

[betheman]

He is, in fact, the Best chaperone, clearly. Frankly, he thinks he's doing pretty great being quiet for Toki's sake. If he can just keep it together long enough, then all will go well...

...And then Toki just has to do the one thing he can't ignore.

Freak out.] MNH-! TOKI-! [He shouts, not even the fabric of the scarf likely to muffle that. He rushes for the other, reaching, but then drawing his hands back, worried that trying to grab the other will make it only worse.] T- Toki..! What is... I-!

[Heck.] O- Orihime! [He calls, frankly lost on what to do.

It really doesn't help that he has no idea why this is happening.]

[leekspins]

[Orihime's head snaps around the moment she hears someone start to scream. Her body is tense, and several other people nearby turn in alarm. It doesn't take her long to find the source, and there's a sudden stab of panic in her chest.]

Tokidoki!

[Was he attacked?!]

Noboru, what happened?!

[Her gaze tracks briefly to Gongenzaga's mummified face, seeing the wideness of his eyes between the folds of his scarf and hat. She reaches for Tokidoki's hand but jerks her fingers back. It's hot...! Why is it hot?]

[Gritting her teeth and bracing herself, she tries again. His skin burns, but she holds on tightly.]

It's okay. I'm here! Tell me what's happening.

[yokeye]

[When Orihime touches him, it feels like flayed nerve endings for a moment, before it blends into the burning fire experience. Toki doesn't know what she's saying; he can't hear her over his screaming. The sensations are lasting longer than previous visions and that was not encouraging. After a couple minutes, the pain finally fades and all he feels is the sharp, stabbing migraine. But he's used to that by now, and it will go away very quickly.]

It's okay! I'm fine now!

[He hopes he hasn't freaked out poor Noboru.]

Sorry~! Did you find the shop?

[Best to move right along, townspeople were probably watching.]

[betheman]

[He's super freaked out- before he can even answer, Toki is sitting up like nothing is wrong at all. Gongenzaka, honestly, can't come up with anything to say. All that comes out is...hoarse choking as he stares.] Wh-

What do you mean fine!?

What was that!? [His voice might be a Bit pitched up with panic,]

[yokeye]

[He knows that choking noise. That's Gongenzaka's version of 'what the hell?' or 'how dare you!'. Toki feels like a total moron, because he knew Noboru was Gongenzaka's first name, and he should have remembered that. He wonders if this whole thing is a dream or an hallucination, and there's a chance it is, so there's hope. He hasn't seen Gongenzaka since the tea fiasco, but going as far as pretending not to know him isn't something Toki expected from such an 'honorable' guy. He's going to keep up this charade though, because he doesn't want to deal with the alternative.]

Don't worry, Noboru~! It happens all the time~!

[He can't talk about these things with Gongenzaka of all people, and he doesn't want it leading to discussion of that night. The flashbacks were unexpected and everything was just a mess.]

[leekspins]

[Her hands hurt. Lifting her thumb just a little, she can see just how red her skin got. She's burned...? It's not too bad, there aren't any blisters, but still... She's very quiet as she listens to Toki's cheerful reassurances, and the panic in her younger classmate's voice.]

That's true. It does!

[She smiles as she scoops up some snow, gently packing it against Tokidoki's open hand.]

It's a side effect. Some seers get headaches or feel dizzy, and Tokidoki screams! It's like when the doctor hits your knee with a hammer and your leg kicks all by itself. Just a reflex, ne? It scared me the first time I heard it too. But you get used to it!

[The coldness of the snow numbs her fingers, and feels good. Hopefully it'll help cool him too.]

Sorry, I guess I should have warned about that. I completely forgot because I was so excited to eat French food for lunch!

[Climbing to her feet, she offers an arm to help Tokidoki up.]

tfw i still don't have his bowing icon...

[betheman]

AUH-

[ohhhh he's given himself away. Gon immediately backs up, half sitting in the snow as his eyes widen with what is no doubt horror and regret.] ...You...

[While Orihime helps Toki up, Gongenzaka does not stand back up himself. Instead, he seems to be shaking his head.] That...but this is, akin to before, [he manages, sounding closer to tears more than anything.] It is closer to, when I, the man Gongenzaka, caused such panic, again..! I...

[...And immediately, he is face down to the snow, face upon his hands in a deep bow.] Is this not the fault of my being here, yet again..? ...Toki! [He proclaims, still face down.] ...After what occurred, that night in the common room...

When I, the man Gongenzaka, realized you were to shop with us, I wanted to do everything, to prevent that again..! To instill such panic...such terror, that you would cause yourself harm, even..! It was unforgivable, of me!

And yet, in simply being here, to even leave, would draw question...to even question, could risk it..! [He laments, voice wavering with the sound of what is likely honest weeping.] I...

I have no right, to even hope for forgiveness, now..!

I, the man Gongenzaka, should take my leave, now...and make ever more certain, in the future, that I do not bring harm to you again..! [He instead insists- still, of course, face down.]

[...So much for avoiding that topic, and for trying to make this shopping trip immediately enjoyable again?]