TNDG day 4

[exequte]

[from this]

[Akane's dressing room is a little impersonal, a little sterile - it has some of her things in it, but feels more like a set than a room for someone specific. Everything is a little too perfect, organized and pristine, and there's a lonely, empty quality that makes it hard to believe anyone owns it, even when she comes in. It might as well have been created for a ghost, which is appropriate enough as far as she's concerned. A glass-fronted bookcase against the wall has a doll in it, as well as a few books on varied subjects, and there's one set of clothes lying neatly in the corner, looking undisturbed.]

Sit down before you fall over, please.

[She pushes him gently towards the chair, and then before he can protest sits down against the wall, in the corner. She sounds tired.]

Comments

[exequte]

W-what?

[Where did THAT come from?]

You're acting like I said I want you to go there. I didn't! All I said... Wouldn't it at least be a better way to leave?

[jinglebros]

It's not.

Please believe me.

[exequte]

[There's a pause while she looks up into his eyes, then she bites her bottom lip briefly, shifting in slight unease.]

All right. Fine. But how does that do anything other than make all of this worse?

[jinglebros]

Junpei's getting lazy. He might not have a vote for you next round.

[exequte]

If that happens, I can figure something else out if I need to. There are other people who would vote for me, I think. But what does that have to do with anything?

[jinglebros]

You really have a different idea of this game than I do, don't you?

[ He exhales an exasperated sigh. ]

[exequte]

What is that supposed to mean?

[jinglebros]

You're more... pragmatic, I think.

[exequte]

.... You were the one who said that you were planning to win no matter what.

[jinglebros]

[ He waves a hand at her. ] Forget it. What else do we need to talk about?

[exequte]

[She opens her mouth, then closes it again, then folds herself into a little ball.]

I don't know.

I asked you things, and... that seems like it's a good start, but... Is there anything you need to ask me?

[jinglebros]

Maybe we should ask each other what we did during the months we were away from each other.

That seems like a good start.

[exequte]

I hope yours is more exciting than mine, then. I didn't do very much. I think most of it was trying to plan for everything, and set up everything that needed to start after. Did a little shopping. I considered fostering a cat or kitten, but... it didn't seem fair.

[... when she might be gone so soon.]

[jinglebros]

...yeah, that probably wouldn't have been fair.

[ He hates agreeing with that. ]

[exequte]

So what about you?

[jinglebros]

I did planning and setting up. I buried myself in it for awhile and then when I realized I was getting too depressed, I tried other ways of coping. Did a few odd things here and there, tried to learn how to art but failed.

[exequte]

The secret to that is to stick to it.

I started a new doll. I'd show her to you, but... she's not here.

[It had been her, more or less. As close as she could manage it.]

[jinglebros]

When we win. Then you show me.

[exequte]

All right. It's a deal.

[jinglebros]

[ He holds out his hand for them to shake on it. ]

[exequte]

[She reaches back and shakes on it, smiling a little.]

[jinglebros]

Are you feeling okay about things now?

[ He's concerned. ]

[exequte]

In general? No. Why should I be? The odds aren't that good for either of us. But we're here no matter what, and so there's nothing to do but work as hard as we can and try out best. I don't plan on letting anything but victory happen to me.

[jinglebros]

I meant about us, but I'm glad to hear that.

[exequte]

A little. I'm.... I'm glad you finally opened up to me again. We have a long way to go, but I think it will be easier together.