soul_logs | [OPEN] Avengers Assemble

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[OPEN] Avengers Assemble

Characters: Members of SEES, new and old, as well as anyone who wants to stop by.
Location: SEES HQ, sort of under minor renovations.
Rating: I want a clean fight, guys.
Time: Dinner-time/Evening
Description: SEES has been without leadership for a while, so it's time to talk about that and other things. Over dinner.
Further Reading: OOC Post 1, OOC Post 2, Network Post 1

The SEES HQ is a humble, unadorned office in the process of renovation. There is scaffolding on the outside (really a continuation of the arcade expansion happening next door) and buckets of paint on the floor inside, stored until needed.

The arrangement of desks in the middle and chairs along the outside give it an almost conference room feeling, except that each seat has a dinner setting of plate and utensils (and chopsticks), and the middle of the table is covered in Kanji's generous dinner spread.

((Action or Log, your choice. Just have fun and let's talk about some baskets.))

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About how I like you..?

Yes. The dating too. [an exasperated sigh] Don't joke about that.

[He looks directly at her.] It's a serious question, Saya-chan...

[oh my god, what the-]

Okay. I'm not walking on you right now because I do like you, Minato. [so she is going to explain]

Let's say we start dating. And there is love and... [other romantic stuff] - and then BREW decides to take one of us back. Better yet, decides to take one of us back, only to bring us back again with no recollection of we ever being here what-so-ever.

Then, what?

[Saya-chan says she likes him. That makes him happy.

Minato smiles. The question is easy too.]

We worry about it when it happens and enjoy ourselves while we can. I would miss you, though...

[don't take things lightly!]

Minato, I don't- [how to explain this?]

I have PTSD. I came from a... zombie apocalypse. [already resigning herself to call them that]

And as a result you're worried about getting that close to anyone... [His hand comes up to touch her arm.] It's why I didn't ask before...

However, you said it wouldn't hurt to ask, so I did. It's okay to say no, Saya-chan. It won't hurt to say no either.

I trust you, so that's no longer the point. What I'm worried is if allowing that is fair.

[she sighs, and shakes her head softly] You know, back in my world, there was a boy named Hirano who liked me, right from the first day, "love at first sight". However, during our journey, we met Asami, a girl who also fell for Hirano. And Kohta, he... loved her back. Just like that. And after she died, Hirano was once again in love with me. [a pause] It sounds weird, doesn't it? Feelings switching so fast, showing up so quickly. But it's not.

We were all so afraid that whatever we were becoming would dehumanize us, that we clung to every single little feeling we had or that was offered to us. We are so afraid of not seeing tomorrow or losing our humanity, that it makes the simplest little feeling of "I like your company" turn into "I love you". That's why I hold it back.

[Saya bites her lower lip] What I feel for Hirano, what I feel for Sendo, what I feel for you. To what point it's me just clinging to something that is being offered?

[Minato glances down to digests her words, processes them in his head, then composes himself for the long speech.] I think it works differently than that, Saya-chan. [His eyes lift to catch her gaze.] Your conclusion is that calamity elevates human emotions... Makes it into something unnatural. Based on your experiences, that appears to be the truth. However, have you considered the possibility that those feelings were always so large? Rather than be magnified by crisis, what if those emotions are diminished by societal expectations and the illusion that we will always have tomorrow? What if those strong feelings you hold are the truth, but you've been trained to hold them back..?

[He pauses. He re-affirms that held gaze into her eyes.]

Looking at it that way, you're not picking at scraps, Saya-chan, but being true to yourself and how you feel, even if those feelings aren't just for a single person. [Confessional?]

After all... isn't the idea that we can only like one person trained also? It's not a weakness to feel so strongly for people... It's a strength.

That would be nice, but I don't think it's that. I think... I'm just incredibly lost about a lot of things and I can't deal with any of them the way I want to.

[she shakes her head] Besides. I don't really want a harem. And I don't want to be part of anyone's harem either. I want to be special and I want the other person to be so, as well. Not special only because I'm scared or lonely and I need a hand, but because they are.

Saya-chan... Can I ask a new question?

Edited 2012-08-11 11:41 (UTC)

Yes, you can. [that's what she expected him to do, eventually. Well, not ask something else, but give up. But it's close enough.]

[There's actually a tiny bit of hesitation on this one.]
... Would it be okay if I hugged you right now?

...

[She looks up at him for a moment]

... I think so.

[He leans in and puts his arms around her. So he doesn't really understand monogamy, buthe doesn't think in terms of harems either... even then, though, he knows how to say how he feels.]

You are special, Saya-chan. So special that I don't believe I'm the only one who sees it. Not because they're scared or lonely, but because you are you.

Edited 2012-08-11 11:53 (UTC)

[she goes silent for a moment, allowing the hug, until she finally buries her face against his chest and hugs him back] Thank you, Minato.

[He cradles her head in an arm and rubs the back of her neck.] I'm really happy that you said you liked me back, Saya-chan. I hope one day you are able deal with everything the way you want to, so you can be happy too.

Aha, you heard that part. [she is red by now, but good thing she is hiding her face, right now] I hope so too.

And if I'm lucky... Maybe I'll get to see it happen too. [It's comfortable being this close to her ~~hair~~.]

You are too hopeful. [that comes out muffled.] I want that too.

[He pulls her closer in the embrace, enjoying it while it lasts and before they have to eventually emerge from the room.] Thank you for answering my questions, Saya-chan. I'm glad that I asked.

[though she didn't tell him "no". Nor "yes". But kind of told me she can't, so it's close enough. Saya eventually breaks the hug] Thanks for understanding. [or trying to]

[There's a nod. Before they go out, he fixes her up a little. A stroke to the cheek, a fixing of the collar, a readjustment of the hair...]

I like you a lot more now, Saya-chan. [He smiles. Okay, you look presentable again.] I look forward to seeing you find your way.

[that's a way to make her blush again] I will have to, eventually.

You will. [He's sure of it.]

Come on... let's return to the others now.

(no subject)

sayatakagi - 2012-08-11 13:10 (UTC) - Expand

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