[ In the evening, shortly after this exchange over the phone, Fio arrives at Playback with Lepus the plush rabbit in one arm. Apart from her usual companion Judith floating after her, she's also accompanied by Natsuno.
Keeping in the lead as she steps further into the arcade, she keeps several paces ahead and makes way to the same crane game machine where the stuffed rabbit was first thrown at her.
She's carefully (and guiltily) kept her friend's name out of the text conversation... until now. ]
[Natsuno also has a floating companion with him. He carries a pair of toy ships, one given by the Erda and the other replicated by Jade at Natsuno's request. The ships are identical save for the bandana tied at the top - one red, one blue.
He looks surprised and alarmed when Fio calls her friend's name, but he's quick to school himself and wipe all expression from his face.
Oh, he there are quite a few things he'd like to say, but he waits. Let's see if it even comes out...]
[ As long as she's here. It should be. Though nervous, she puts on a smile. Fio holds out an open hand, for Sparkles to take for comfort if it would like. ]
I brought a friend today. Yuuyu might look a little scary, but he's really nice.
[...Natsuno's the scary one. Not the creature that trapped them all in a nightmare maze, a maze that broke Clarke and took Palamedes. And now it has the gall to hide behind a girl that's too kind for her own good.]
Yuuki. Only Fio can use "Yuuyu."
[His tone isn't particularly hostile, but it's not much of anything else either.]
[ She purposely took the lead into the arcade was so she could stay in between Natsuno and Sparkles, just in case she has to protect both of them from each other. ]
O-oh. Uh...
[ Her shoulders sag. It's difficult to keep up a smile and it quickly fades. She just wanted to play with their toy ships, move away from talking about the labyrinth. But she knows it's hard not to... ]
The scary maze won't happen again. Right, Sparkles?
[ An awkward pause. This isn't going to blow over easily. It probably never will. She could at least teach it how to apologize, even if she knows it won't ever be enough for forgiveness. ]
...Sparkles? [ She reaches over to gently take Sparkles' hand into hers. ] I don't think Yuuyu thought it was very "cool." [ Neither does she. But she thinks she's made it clear that she disapproved of its actions back on the bridge's roof. ] Can you tell him that you're sorry?
[ It's going to have to do more than words to make amends. Though uncertain herself of its "apology" she tries not to let that break her resolve. She wants to believe it's trying. She gives Sparkles' hand a light squeeze, then looks at Natsuno. ]
...I know Sparkles can do good things! You'll see.
[ Some... day? She'll give it her patience if no one else will. ]
Don't know what that means. [Probably nothing good. Whatever.] But Fio's opinion matters.
[It was wrong to leave their fate at the hands of a young girl. She shouldn't carry such a burden, but she steps up to the task everyone. She's truly the best of them all.
[ She just wants everyone to get along. She owes an apology for not properly specifying who the "friend" is. A conversation she'll save for another time. Natsuno reminds her what she came here for and for now, she tries to focus on that. ]
...Right. [ A glance down at the shadow, with a shaky smile. ] Um... so we've got these really cool toy model ships! I thought it would be fun if we could race against each other with them. [ They've only got two, but she won't mind sitting out a race for Sparkles to play. She looks back up at Natsuno. ]
Yuuyu? Can... can you show Sparkles how they work? [ Pause. ] Please?
[He locks eyes with Fio, the show him yourself on the tip of his tongue, but the "please" seals it. Dammit, he's getting soft.]
...right. That's the Tartarus. It can travel in both land and water [He sets both models on the floor, leaving one controller in his hands.] These buttons move it around.
[The blue-flagged ship starts making circles around them.]
This button fires the cannons [Pew pew pew, here come tiny energy pellets] and that one turns on the shield.
Um... yeah! [ There's nothing strange about that, is there? She tries to sound full of cheer and not at all awkward! ] So do you wanna give it a try, Sparkles?
Yuuyu and I were gonna have a re-match 'cause I lost last time... [ A beat. They've only got two boats to play with, so. ] But, hm... maybe you can race in my place! I'll let you play with the other ship.
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Sparkles - early July-ish. Natsuno will be joining in too.
Keeping in the lead as she steps further into the arcade, she keeps several paces ahead and makes way to the same crane game machine where the stuffed rabbit was first thrown at her.
She's carefully (and guiltily) kept her friend's name out of the text conversation... until now. ]
...Sparkles? Are you awake?
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He looks surprised and alarmed when Fio calls her friend's name, but he's quick to school himself and wipe all expression from his face.
Oh, he there are quite a few things he'd like to say, but he waits. Let's see if it even comes out...]
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and then, a small hand tentatively reaches out of Fio's shadow and tugs on her shoe.]
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Oh! [ A gasp. The tug gives her a start and she takes a small step back, immediately looking down at her shadow. ] ...Sparkles? Is that you?
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Natsuno remains silent, regarding the shadow with his usual stoic expression.]
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[it forms smoothly out of the shadow, and when whole ducks behind Fio's slightly greater height, looking up at Natsuno with glowing eyes.]
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[ As long as she's here. It should be. Though nervous, she puts on a smile. Fio holds out an open hand, for Sparkles to take for comfort if it would like. ]
I brought a friend today. Yuuyu might look a little scary, but he's really nice.
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Yuuki. Only Fio can use "Yuuyu."
[His tone isn't particularly hostile, but it's not much of anything else either.]
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it cocks its head.]
We've met. Only he was asleep.
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[He should really know better, but can't help himself.]
That's right. I heard you put an illusion on me, for people to run into.
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O-oh. Uh...
[ Her shoulders sag. It's difficult to keep up a smile and it quickly fades. She just wanted to play with their toy ships, move away from talking about the labyrinth. But she knows it's hard not to... ]
The scary maze won't happen again. Right, Sparkles?
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[a pause. its eyes dim slightly, lowering to the ground.]
... Right.
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...right. I hope so.
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...Sparkles? [ She reaches over to gently take Sparkles' hand into hers. ] I don't think Yuuyu thought it was very "cool." [ Neither does she. But she thinks she's made it clear that she disapproved of its actions back on the bridge's roof. ] Can you tell him that you're sorry?
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... What she said.
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It's not really an apology. But Natsuno doesn't have the patience or will to teach it empathy.]
Maybe you even mean it. But words are cheap.
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...I know Sparkles can do good things! You'll see.
[ Some... day? She'll give it her patience if no one else will. ]
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Good thing your opinion doesn't matter, lilu.
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[It was wrong to leave their fate at the hands of a young girl. She shouldn't carry such a burden, but she steps up to the task everyone. She's truly the best of them all.
He glances from Sparkles to Fio.]
You wanted to race, right?
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...Right. [ A glance down at the shadow, with a shaky smile. ] Um... so we've got these really cool toy model ships! I thought it would be fun if we could race against each other with them. [ They've only got two, but she won't mind sitting out a race for Sparkles to play. She looks back up at Natsuno. ]
Yuuyu? Can... can you show Sparkles how they work? [ Pause. ] Please?
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...right. That's the Tartarus. It can travel in both land and water [He sets both models on the floor, leaving one controller in his hands.] These buttons move it around.
[The blue-flagged ship starts making circles around them.]
This button fires the cannons [Pew pew pew, here come tiny energy pellets] and that one turns on the shield.
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You're playing with a boat... on a boat.
[except it is clearly fascinated by the cannons and is crouching down to look more closely.]
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Instead, he makes the cannons swivel as if looking back.]
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Yuuyu and I were gonna have a re-match 'cause I lost last time... [ A beat. They've only got two boats to play with, so. ] But, hm... maybe you can race in my place! I'll let you play with the other ship.
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I'll watch.
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rng agrees that fio destroys him
rip natsuno
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