expiationlogs | [open/mingle] everyone needs a hobby

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[open/mingle] everyone needs a hobby

Who: anyone in Aldrip who wants a hobby
Where: Kotone's club building!
What: It's finally time... for ~~school~~ clubs to be available.
Warnings: None as of yet, but please let me know if I need to edit this!

There's been a building under construction at the edge of town for a few months now; it looks as though at one point it had been a small warehouse for dry goods and storage that hadn't seen use in quite some time before being acquired by Kotone. When time allowed, she's been working on retrofitting it into what could almost (almost) be mistaken for a school practice building on the inside. Now, a sign has been posted on the open door, quite descriptively labeling it as Club Building Now Open!! Come in!!

🎾Gym

Interested in starting a sports team, or just want somewhere indoors and relatively open? There's a volleyball net, balls, and various other kinds of sports equipment that Kotone was able to find/buy/acquire around town for the months she's been preparing. There are also some (wooden practice) weapons available for training and sparring, and a few lockers and showers nearby. They're available for anyone to use at any time, though if anyone breaks a window with her things, she'll be so disappointed and expect help fixing it. :(

🪑"Classrooms"

While not true classrooms in that there's no school and not very many desks, there are several empty rooms available to be repurposed into an activity room. In one room, one can find a very small assortment of musical instruments; in another, a few easels and art supplies. Another room that's far better outfitted is a room with a cute handwritten sign reading Sewing Club! 💖 on its door. Inside, as one might expect, there are two dressforms and several bolts of cloth alongside some Aldrip-style (read: vintage) sewing machines, as well as plenty of needles and thread.

👩‍🍳Kitchen

One of the places that had taken her the longest to set up was the galley-style kitchen and tables. While it may not be the most modern or ornate kitchen in the world, it features the kind of appliances the Chosen would expect to find in Aldrip. It's very much a bring-your-own-ingredients situation, aside from basic spices and bulk staples that are available for anyone -- Kotone doesn't exactly have the same kind of funding a real school's Cooking Club would have, after all! -- but perhaps more importantly, it has a decent selection of pans, trays, and other cooking and baking supplies in the cabinets and cupboards.

Shinjiro has posted a simple sign that says "Cooking Club" on the door. Another sign says "Wash your hands."

⛅Roof

What would a protagonist's building be without a flat roof to climb up to and stare wistfully into the distance? It's a roof. There's a few benches, or you can just stand on it. Be careful!!

This is also where Scott's Teens With Abilities and Talents club meets. Come say hello!

[This is an open mingle! Use it for all your club-creating/club-joining purposes. Feel free to assume that as long as no one is intentionally and obviously going to cause harm with their club, Kotone will approve it and make sure they have a room and (basic) supplies! The pictures are just a guide; adapt a classroom however you see fit! For organizational purposes, there's an open OOC post for club sign-ups here!]

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They're definitely watching us, wherever they are. [ It's not exactly the sort of answer Shinichi might want to hear here, huh.. Since it's not exactly a soothing thought. Granted, Ange is mostly able to say it so calmly because she's kind of used to it by now. There's only so much witch stalking you can take before you just start assuming they're always watching you, and when there's nothing you can do about that, you just live with it..

There's a bit more of a frown as she continues with: ]

I'm not so sure about any spell. [ Granted, that would require imagining what kind of spell they might have used.. And considering Ange's own experiences with witches, it could be practically anything. Anything said witches find amusing. Besides-- ] Even if they had, we wouldn't notice it. That's how spells work.

[ There's a slight pause. Ange had been looking on and off at the boy while talking, but when she speaks up again now, she's definitely looking him in the eyes the entire time. ]

You seem nervous. [ UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE CENTURY.. Though it's hard to tell if this is just Ange being way too casual as usually or if she's downplaying it for his sake, actually trying to be a little nice. ] Are you that worried about it?

[ NO, THAT'S.... THAT'S DEFINITELY A NERVE-RACKING REPLY. Shinichi visibly balks, eyes quickly looking around again. Of course, evil witches probably wouldn't be up here on the rooftop, and it'd likely be easy to see them if they were........ but he's looking around the place with a fresh wave of paranoia anyway.

Not that it's a new state for him, either — being stalked by weird shit, being paranoid about being watched and pursued.... Which is maybe why his reaction is so extreme, nerves still extremely raw from his own experiences back home. He's tensing up, still looking around before his eyes dart quickly back to the girl. ]

Yes.....! I mean.... it seems like a really hopeless situation, doesn't it? Something like that... Magic that can't even be detected... I feel like a sitting duck.

[ He pauses for a moment, eyes slowly dropping downwards a bit, in the direction of his right hand which is still holding onto the tray of snacks. The boy hesitates before adding on— ]

Even the um.. aliens I told you about, back home.... I could detect them. Or, well, my... hand could. So there was at least some warning to things....

Is there anything we can do to defend ourselves against witches? Anything at all?

[ .. well.

There's no good answer to that, is there? It's not like any effort she made back home was ever really enough to defeat the witches. The only reason she even stood a chance against Eva-Beatrice was just because of her personal connection to that witch, and the home field advantage.

Such a thing is way less likely to happen here, if there is some witch out there hiding and watching them. And even Battler's attempts to argue with the witch didn't really amount to much in the end, still leaving people getting killed along the way.

But then what is she supposed to tell Shinichi here? "The last time I tried doing something against the witches, I ended up as literal minced meat?" With how nervous he looks already, she kind of feels like the guy would just start shrieking or pass out..

So Ange sucks in a breath, then releasing it. It'd probably be better if anyone else at all was in her place right now. Someone with more social graces. Ange doesn't want to make him feel bad, but it's hard to figure out a way to do that when she's so unsued to it. ]

If you happen to come across whatever witch might be here, just tell her I'm here. [ That's the only thing she can think to say, even if she's only half-sure it'll work. ] As soon as you mention the name Ange Ushiromiya, they'll probably rush off to harass me and leave you alone. You should be fine then.

[ Sorry Ange, but that is exactly the kind of response that goes entirely against how Mr. Altruism thinks and functions.... Shinichi audibly gasps at the girl's reply, looking completely stricken. ]

Wh-what? No way....!

[ He's clenching the snack tray very tightly in his earnesty... ]

I could never just send them after you like that...! Not on your own! Especially if they'd want to go after you anyway.... if anything, you're probably a target, so we should make doubly sure they don't come for you....

[ He has to wonder just why witches would want to come for her especially. But he knows how it is... to be targeted like that. The other parasites specifically stalk and hunt him and Migi, because they can tell they're an anomaly. ]

Ushiromiya-san.... [ He's finally learned her name.... ] ...I definitely won't tell any witches your name! I'll help keep you hidden from them, okay?

[ That's the exact opposite of what she said to do, Shinichi.... ]

[ .. technically it's not entire foreign, the thing she's seeing here. Shinichi did say similar stuff when they talked over the pendants, but.. well, it's easy to brush off one time as a fluke. As someone trying to seem nicer than they really are, making promises they refuse to actually commit to.

It's another thing for that person to repeat all of it. And not just a direct doubling down - but a more intense version of it, seemingly with genuine emotion.

Ange doesn't know how to deal with it. She stares at Shinichi like the guy grew a second alien head on his shoulder. ]

Are you serious? I told you how dangerous witches are, didn't I? [ Even her tone is influenced by it. It's definitely not as emotionless as it usually is.. There's genuine confusion in there. ] They would kill you!

[ Sure, Shinichi said he wouldn't be helpless because of that alien thing, but.. Ange isn't too confident it can truly compare to a full witch's power. ]

But that doesn't mean I can just hide away and redirect them to you...!

[ He... he could never. No matter how afraid the thought of facing a witch may be, Shinichi wouldn't sacrifice someone else's safety for his own like that. ]

Besides, you said you've been hurt by them before.... That shouldn't happen to you again. You deserve to be safe from them, too!

[ He's honestly horrified thinking about what they may have inflicted on the poor girl. Is he especially impassioned about this because someone being tormented by some bizarre entity all on their own feels very familiar? Maybe, but it's not something he's willing to bend on. ]

Thinking that something might be after you, specifically... always looking over your shoulder for it... that kind of thing can really wear on a person, can't it...? This situation is bad enough without having to worry about that, too.

[ He's giving his head a fervent shake. This poor girl definitely doesn't deserve that. ]

Don't worry, Migi wouldn't let me get hurt so easily. Oh— Migi is.... the name of the uh... alien... thing.

[ He realises the name slipped out of his mouth in the heat of his emotions.... Shinichi flushes a little, still incredibly awkward about the whole alien thing to begin with. But... well, if he's truly going to help people around here, more about it has to be revealed anyway. (Never mind that he hasn't even shared his own name yet, but Migi's gets known first... it's okay.) ]

[ God, how to respond to any of this. Between what Shinichi said a moment ago and this, she does feel like he might be projecting his own experience a little bit, but.. still, he's willing to put himself into danger all over again because of it, which means he really is just a way too nice person.

Ange simmers down compared to her outburst from a moment ago, but there's still something awkward about her. She tries shoving it under the rug, not wanting to come across as anything but perfectly unflappable, even when that's really hard in this particular situation. Forget keeping your head cool in dangerous situations, try keeping your head cool in social situations where people are way too nice..

.. maybe that's why Ange opts to say nothing about any of those points he's making for now. Instead, when she speaks up again, it's just to say: ]

The alien's name is Migi?

[ Not the point, really.

But it's way easier to really ponder than the fact that Shinichi is apparently so ready to put his life on the line just to make things a little easier for her.. That's something she'll have to chew on by herself. (And then drag Ragna into later, when she's thought about it.)

At least her current state of Emotional Torment makes her not really sound disgusted or annoyed about her question, maybe a little awkward at best.. ]

[ Shinichi winces at the question, teeth gritting for a moment. It's weird to hear the name repeated back to him; it's still so new and not entirely pleasant. ]

Ah.... that is.... yes, that's his name. Or— well he doesn't really have a name, but it's what he lets me call him.... since he's in my "right" arm....

[ The alien agreed for something so simple as the word that means right in his host body's language. If he had his way, he probably wouldn't have a name at all, though... he'd just say there's no real use in having one.

Shinichi stands there, also pretty awkward with all of this, faced with someone he doesn't know well (and yet whose safety he's worried about....), fiddling anxiously with his sleeve. He's hoping Migi just stays put and doesn't decide to directly introduce himself. ...And he's still a bit worked up with his own heart-led declarations, swallowing hard for a moment. ]

Um. Are there any aliens in your world....? Since there's things like witches....

[ At least it's the sort of thing Ange would have been able to understand even without the language barrier basically not existing in this place to begin with. And it also kind of makes sense, she supposes. Not that Ange knows even a single thing about aliens, especially aliens from another world, but it's entirely possible they're creatures that value practicality more so than creativity.

So -- don't worry, Shinichi, at least there aren't deadpan jokes about the name. Ange is honestly already more than glad she doesn't have to bask in Shinichi's idealism aimed directly at her anymore. It's making her a little less awkward again, shaking her head when the other asks her that question. ]

I mean, there could be. [ It's not like she's going to totally deny that when witches turned out to be real. ] But if they exist in my world, then no one has ever found out about them.

[ Just like how most people don't even know about witches. Ange happens to be one of the unlucky few who have been introduced to the concept.. ]

How did that happen where you're from? Did they just come from space one day and introduced themselves? [ Sure, Ange is fully aware this alien is actually present.. and can hear all this.. If the thing is actually in Shinichi's arm and all.

But if Shinichi has been speaking for it the entire time already, then Ange doesn't feel strange at all asking questions like Migi isn't there in the first place. She's in this sense shameless enough for it, anyway. ]

[ It's still such a wild thought — that things like this could exist and the majority of the world just never finds out about it, going about their usual daily lives.... For all Shinichi knows, he's the only human being alive who knows about Migi's kind, and it's completely by accident. If one little thing had been different, his brain would've been taken over, too....

He blinks out of those (disturbing) thoughts — but then it's right back on into Disturbing Territory, because there's no other way to reply to the girl's question. Shinichi shifts, awkward and uncomfortable by this turn to the conversation (he'd rather make Emotional Declarations at you, Ange!!) but... part of coming here today was to gently introduce people to himself... his true self.

He hesitates, before he moves to set the plate of food down on a nearby table. Mostly he needs to keep an eye on Migi to make sure the alien's okay with him divulging anything.. he knows Migi will stop him if not. ]

It um, happened one night. I was asleep when they came... I guess everyone in Tokyo was. Migi says they fell down from the sky... in these little spore things. Then they hatched from them, like little... worms. [ The boy gives a wince at the memory. ]

From there, they were supposed to..... infiltrate and take over host bodies. ....People's brains. But he couldn't get into mine because I was wearing earbuds while I was asleep....

[ Yes, the implication here is that Migi would've burrowed into his brain through his ear! Shinichi can't think about it too much in detail!!! ]

....He got into my arm instead. [ He lifts his right arm a little bit for emphasis, weakly. He's also looking a bit pale just to be talking about it... ] So now we're stuck together like this... I know it's really gross and I don't want to freak people out, but... I thought I'd at least come see what this club is about.

[ It's almost a little tempting to say that it sounds like a movie.. because it does, right? Even though Ange hasn't seen a whole lot of actual movies due to the way she grew up, she still knows a movie plot when she hears one. Aliens invading suddenly, crawling into people's brains.. If there was already a movie about that kind of thing, she'd believe it.

But she holds it back, despite her habit to throw around deadpan remarks. It's something about the way Shinichi looks, really, so clearly awkward and a little upset.. It'd feel too much like kicking a puppy after said puppy already fell down on its own. ]

I see.

[ Still, just those two little words.. They probably sound way too calm for what Shinichi is telling her here. But, hey, this is apparently just objective reality where Shinichi comes from, so that's how Ange is taking it. She's pretty sure she'd sound the same way if she talked about the witches from her world and what they did - just utterly ridiculous and gross. ]

.. I get that it must be hard. [ Somehow it sounds a little harder for Ange to.. say this.. mostly because she's openly being nice, and that's terrifying? No, thanks, she'd rather be making dumb flat jokes about Shinichi's movie plot life??

But she's-- she's trying, okay. Even if this is hard for her to say, having to look away from the boy instead of staring at him directly, Ange is saying it anyway. ]

But even though it's hard, you don't have to feel weird or gross about it on top of it all. At least, not compared to everyone else here. You fit right in. I know what Scott called it, but let's face it, we're basically the "weird teens club." [ CALLING EVERYONE OUT.. Including herself, okay! Ange knows she's weird! Some of us are weird and edgy on purpose!! ] I mean, Scott can apparently shoot laser beams from his eyes, and I summon demons. Having an arm alien doesn't make you some weirdo outcast that doesn't fit in here. It just makes you unfortunate.

[ Because Shinichi never asked for it. Even without this very direct explanation, that much had already been obvious to Ange, just from the way the other talked about it. He just gives off the 'I never asked for this' vibe so hard.

Also, yes, this is her trying to reassure him, alright.

J-Just in.. Ange's unique way.. but she's trying!! ]

[ It does sound a lot like some horror or sci-fi movie, honestly. Shinichi's had that same thought.... it's almost laughably bizarre, difficult to even process or comprehend as reality. But as he's talking about it now, voicing parts of what happened to someone else for the first time..... ever, he's feeling the weight of it. It's hard, unpleasant, but maybe in some way it helps, too.... (Talking about things can help a person start dealing with them, who knew??)

He's listening to what the girl is saying, paying all of his focus, utmost sincere. As difficult as it to share this with someone else, he wants to hear what someone might say in return. Wants to hear their thoughts or opinions on the matter, because.... it's been so lonely. Not being able to share this with another person, keeping it a secret from every other human in his life. It's been so lonesome. So no matter how Ange might respond to the information he's sharing, it means something to him.

And even just hearing someone else say that they get that it's hard..... means something. An acknowledgement that it is hard, and Shinichi's giving a quiet swallow, his throat just a bit tight as he holds onto those words. It feels like some quiet relief, like being seen... especially by someone else who clearly knows what it is to go through Harrowing Supernatural Experience...

But it's what the girl goes on to say that has his eyes then widening. 'You fit right in.'

Somehow, he's gone from alone to "we", from being One Weird Teen to being part of a collection of them.... even if he's still unsure it's even okay for him to join this thing, the fact that it exists at all is... something. A big thing. Shinichi's staring widely at the girl, clearly affected by her words, and also what they reveal (she can summon demons......) ]

Ah..... thank you. For saying all of that. [ He's shy in the face of it, but perpetually earnest as he absorbs her words very seriously. They do help.... they help him a lot....! Ange, you're better at this than you may think! ]

It's nice not to feel so.... alone, here. And I guess I'm not the only one with something about them that could... scare people....

[ Things like laser beam eyeballs and well.... summoning demons (Migi is... absolutely going to want to know more about that....) ]

Maybe I really should join. Scott said it was okay, he knows about... about Migi, so...

.....Does this mean you've decided to join?

[ It seems like she might, she did just say "we're basically the Weird Teens Club", but he knows people are kind of checking it out, seeing how it might be... making the decision whether to join or not, so he can't help asking.... (and hoping she does. It would be nice if she was there, too.) ]

[ N-No, Shinichi, you can't thank her so blatantly?! That's not part of this social contract, okay! Ange can't do Emotional Honesty, the walls she's tried so hard to build up around her heart won't have it, what if they crack..

Maybe it's why she just straight up ignores his thanks. Not that she doesn't hear it, but.. well, this is exactly one of those things Ange can't afford to have herself linger on too much in the moment, not when she needs to play it cool.

(It's something she'll definitely think about later, most likely when she's lying in bed and trying to sleep, and instead finds herself staring at the ceiling wide awake, wondering what it means to be thanked.

Might be one of the first times in her life. Not counting imaginary friends.)

Besides, the boy is already throwing a second, just as difficult thing at her, so she has to focus all her energy on that one instead. ]

.. Don't misunderstand. I'm not the type to join a club and mingle. [ D-Despite that being literally what she's doing right now?! She's here?

Maybe don't think about it too hard, Shinichi.. Especially not when the bridge of Ange's nose wrinkles a little, like she's really close to pouting.. ]

It's just that Scott said I could talk to everyone about finding a way to get out of this place if I'd join.

[ T-That's all, Shinichi! Don't misunderstand..!! ]

[ It definitely doesn't sound like the girl is jumping at the bit to be here, but that just makes Shinichi feel like he can Relate To Her even more.... after all, he'd expressed his own hesitations about being here, and even if Ange's might come from a different place, it still must be difficult to be someone who, for whatever reason, isn't meeting this club idea with outright enthusiasm, a bit hesitant about it. (And a few things are starting to slide into place here, more glimpses of what kind of life the girl must have known, in her home world. She was personally tormented by witches, she can summon demons... Clearly horror is a part of her existence in various ways....)

So it's turn to try to offer some encouragement, his own melancholy warming up a little, shy smile warming a bit, too. ]

That's okay...! Being in a club can be kind of nerve-racking....

[ Even before Migi came into his life, Shinichi wasn't really the type, either. He's too shy.... ]

....but it sounds like you have a lot of wisdom to offer about this kind of stuff. I'm sure anyone else you talk to would be glad to hear your thoughts, too.

[ Sorry Ange, this boy has a high opinion of you after all of this.... He thinks highly of you... That's the outcome of this first meeting!! He's not sorry! ]

I'm glad you're joining, though! I hope you'll end up staying, if you want to.

[ If she's joining to get some information, then it's feasible the girl might decide to leave after she gets it, but he has to let her know that he hopes she'll stay. He may hardly know the other teen yet (and he hasn't even... told her his name... he's so good at social interaction, really) but there's something that ties them together, isn't there? Like she'd said — we, the weirdo teens... the ones coming from bizarre horrific circumstances that shouldn't be reality.... It does make him feel a comradery that he's never felt, before. He'd like to keep it close.

He's still just standing there smiling at her when he suddenly does realise... blinking widely and startling— ]

Ah— and I never even introduced myself, did I...! I'm Shinichi. Shinichi Izumi, that is! It's nice to meet you!

[ .... ]

[ Oh no. What is this.. positive energy? It doesn't help that it's being blasted at her right after she had to say something difficult in the first place, leaving Ange a little bit vulnerable.. It's like being in a very dark room and suddenly having a bright light pointed at you -- that's what Shinichi's smile and words feel like.

Not that it's necessarily bad. It sure is better than Ange has been treated by most people in her life, but at the same time - that's the exact problem. How is she supposed to react to something like this when she has so little experience with it.. Someone help..

It's a sheer miracle that Ange manages to maintain - more or less, it's not quite as strong as usually - a pokerface on the outside, because she's screaming on the inside. The tiny Anges in her brain are running around in chaos. ]

.. Ange.

[ There we go. Yes, Ange, just tell him your name in return! A safe thing to address, where you don't have to think about how this guy is speaking the absolute world of you.. ]

Ange Ushiromiya.

[ ...

A-- Awkward.. silence.. even if it's just for a moment.. ]

You should go greet everyone else, Izumi-san. [ SO ANGE CAN HAVE A MOMENT TO.. LIKE.. BREATHE.. CALM DOWN ON THE INSIDE.. ] If anyone gives you a hard time, just let me know. I got permission to shove people off the roof if necessary.

[ Sorry, Shinichi, to throw you into another game show round of 'is this a joke and is she being playfully protective, or is this actually very real murdrous protection'...

Though Scott did tell her she was allowed to since he thought she was joking!! Joke's on you, Scott!!! ]

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[open/mingle] everyone needs a hobby

🎾Gym

🪑"Classrooms"

👩‍🍳Kitchen

⛅Roof

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cw: parasitic horror things

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