Kotone "sleepy bitch disease" Shiomi (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
orphne) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
expiationlogs2024-03-01 07:53 am
orphne) wrote in expiationlogs2024-03-01 07:53 am
[open/mingle] a light in the darkness
Who: any and everyone!
Where: astralin's farmhouse
What: mingle log for post-blackout!
Warnings: y'all tell me, please be good and don't break the house :(
If she hadn't been at the party, Kotone wouldn't have even known about the extent of the blackout. Sure, it's inconvenient, considering a lot of the lights are electric, and the fridge is, of course, powered by electricity as well, but the farmhouse she'd taken over from Astralin is an older and more traditional building. The main heat sources are the fireplaces strategically placed throughout the building -- a large one in the living space, a smaller one in the kitchen along with a wood-burning stove, and another large central one upstairs to help heat the bedrooms -- and the geothermal hot springs on the land. With the cold weather and snow on the ground, it's easy to take the food from the fridge and leave it outside in a locked box away from wild animals, but aside from the inconvenience of resorting to the candles and lanterns that were stockpiled in the basement, the farmhouse itself survives relatively unscathed!
Therefore, not long after the blast, Kotone sends a video message over the (charm) network inviting anyone who wants to take shelter from the cold, or even just cook some food, to come to Astralin's farmhouse on the edge of town for as long as they want or need.
She won't even make anyone help out on the farm. Probably!
1. Rural Snapshot
Power might go out, but life on the farm doesn't stop for something like that! The old wood stoves in the barn need to be cleaned up and made ready for use to keep the animals warm, and the animals still need to be taken care of. Goats, sheep, cows, chickens (a particularly big and brave one has the tiniest leather collar and a tag that says her name is "Scramble," and her friends Benedict and Sunny aren't far behind. They are Not For Eating (though their eggs are!))
Kotone won't make anyone help her with the farm chores of cleaning the barn, feeding the animals, or generally keeping things up and running, but she definitely won't turn down the help, either, giving pointers so the new folk don't completely muck it up (sometimes literally).
With the snow and general chill, there's not much to do with the crops themselves. Everyone is safe from the fields for now!
2. Potluck and BYOB (chef's recommendation: hot cocoa)
The farmhouse is not the inn -- Kotone has some food prepped and stored, with preserves from the fall harvest one of the key features, but it's not meant to feed the whole town. Thus, Kotone's going to request that anyone coming to stay at the farmhouse bring either raw ingredients or something they've made to share with any other hapless souls. Feel free to use the kitchen to cook, or get some help from someone else with cooking!
The wood-burning stove in the kitchen is perfect for heating up cocoa or wine, and there's room to get close with someone in front of any of the fireplaces. Like, it's encouraged to get close. It's a big farmhouse, but not that big. Make a friend! Share some warmth! The couches are cozy and comfortable, and if someone dozes off, well, Kotone won't be the one waking anyone up.
If someone would prefer to sleep in a bed, there are some bedrooms upstairs! One is, of course, sharing the room with plants. They're benign, normal plants, from potted flowers to hanging vines, but they are everywhere. Kotone herself doesn't have much of a green thumb other than keeping the plants watered and in view of sunlight, but the plants themselves seem to be flourishing throughout the farmhouse either way. It's almost as if someone (Astralin) had used magic to keep them growing strong and healthy, even indoors.
Oh, and speaking of sharing, again, the farmhouse isn't the inn. Expect to be sharing a space with someone else. Maybe a few people! Cozy up and make a new friend. It's better than freezing to death, right?
3. Hot Springs Episode
There are natural hot springs on the farmland that have been developed to mimic a Japanese onsen in places. The air might be cold and dark, but there are candles and lanterns around the springs to light it, and the water is nice and warm, perfect for those chill nights.
There are rules posted -- namely, clean yourself before going to soak -- and while there are separate bathing spaces for genders, Kotone doesn't really care too much about mixed bathing as long as everyone is respectful about it. Others may not be so casual about it, though, so one has to venture across at their own risk!
[ooc: This is a mingle! Feel free to use these prompts as inspiration or make your own. The only request I have is not to completely destroy the farmhouse or harm the animals -- anything else, go wild!]
Where: astralin's farmhouse
What: mingle log for post-blackout!
Warnings: y'all tell me, please be good and don't break the house :(
If she hadn't been at the party, Kotone wouldn't have even known about the extent of the blackout. Sure, it's inconvenient, considering a lot of the lights are electric, and the fridge is, of course, powered by electricity as well, but the farmhouse she'd taken over from Astralin is an older and more traditional building. The main heat sources are the fireplaces strategically placed throughout the building -- a large one in the living space, a smaller one in the kitchen along with a wood-burning stove, and another large central one upstairs to help heat the bedrooms -- and the geothermal hot springs on the land. With the cold weather and snow on the ground, it's easy to take the food from the fridge and leave it outside in a locked box away from wild animals, but aside from the inconvenience of resorting to the candles and lanterns that were stockpiled in the basement, the farmhouse itself survives relatively unscathed!
Therefore, not long after the blast, Kotone sends a video message over the (charm) network inviting anyone who wants to take shelter from the cold, or even just cook some food, to come to Astralin's farmhouse on the edge of town for as long as they want or need.
She won't even make anyone help out on the farm. Probably!
Power might go out, but life on the farm doesn't stop for something like that! The old wood stoves in the barn need to be cleaned up and made ready for use to keep the animals warm, and the animals still need to be taken care of. Goats, sheep, cows, chickens (a particularly big and brave one has the tiniest leather collar and a tag that says her name is "Scramble," and her friends Benedict and Sunny aren't far behind. They are Not For Eating (though their eggs are!))
Kotone won't make anyone help her with the farm chores of cleaning the barn, feeding the animals, or generally keeping things up and running, but she definitely won't turn down the help, either, giving pointers so the new folk don't completely muck it up (sometimes literally).
With the snow and general chill, there's not much to do with the crops themselves. Everyone is safe from the fields for now!
The farmhouse is not the inn -- Kotone has some food prepped and stored, with preserves from the fall harvest one of the key features, but it's not meant to feed the whole town. Thus, Kotone's going to request that anyone coming to stay at the farmhouse bring either raw ingredients or something they've made to share with any other hapless souls. Feel free to use the kitchen to cook, or get some help from someone else with cooking!
The wood-burning stove in the kitchen is perfect for heating up cocoa or wine, and there's room to get close with someone in front of any of the fireplaces. Like, it's encouraged to get close. It's a big farmhouse, but not that big. Make a friend! Share some warmth! The couches are cozy and comfortable, and if someone dozes off, well, Kotone won't be the one waking anyone up.
If someone would prefer to sleep in a bed, there are some bedrooms upstairs! One is, of course, sharing the room with plants. They're benign, normal plants, from potted flowers to hanging vines, but they are everywhere. Kotone herself doesn't have much of a green thumb other than keeping the plants watered and in view of sunlight, but the plants themselves seem to be flourishing throughout the farmhouse either way. It's almost as if someone (Astralin) had used magic to keep them growing strong and healthy, even indoors.
Oh, and speaking of sharing, again, the farmhouse isn't the inn. Expect to be sharing a space with someone else. Maybe a few people! Cozy up and make a new friend. It's better than freezing to death, right?
There are natural hot springs on the farmland that have been developed to mimic a Japanese onsen in places. The air might be cold and dark, but there are candles and lanterns around the springs to light it, and the water is nice and warm, perfect for those chill nights.
There are rules posted -- namely, clean yourself before going to soak -- and while there are separate bathing spaces for genders, Kotone doesn't really care too much about mixed bathing as long as everyone is respectful about it. Others may not be so casual about it, though, so one has to venture across at their own risk!
[ooc: This is a mingle! Feel free to use these prompts as inspiration or make your own. The only request I have is not to completely destroy the farmhouse or harm the animals -- anything else, go wild!]
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Anything, [she promises with another little grin, meeting his eyes without hesitation. Not that it's strange to promise that to him, considering the other things they've done, but it's always funny when he comes right out and says things like that. She boops his nose with a finger before settling back into the water again.]
How come your glasses were off earlier...?
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Plus, there's just so much crap going on lately. The explosion, the blackout. It's like they're heading into something dangerous and the whole 'spend as much time as possible' mantra feels even more pronounced.
Still, he meets her gaze with a smile, even as his nose twitches a little when she boops him. Hey!!]
Huh? Oh... guess I just felt like it. [He still keeps an arm around her, but Scott's settled back in the water too.] The hot springs felt really relaxing and I wanted to pull my shades off for just a few minutes.
[To like, fully relax and everything. Not feel their weight on his face as he soaks in the water.]
Guess it was kind of dangerous though, huh? [He sends her a lopsided grin, but there's some doubt about all it. He did almost shoot her when she snuck up on him and anyone really could've done something like that.]
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But oh... wait. Had she made him uncomfortable? Glancing up at him, she frowns with concern and a little hum of dissatisfaction.]
Uh-uh, I don't think so. [With a cheek puffed out in annoyance, more at herself than at him, she continues,] I just trusted you to keep your eyes closed.
[Like, he'd be able to hear her voice and respond or something, though when people are startled, maybe they can't help but open their eyes. Maybe she did just get lucky. Concern knitting her brows, she adds,] Sorry...
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[Scott bites his lip, however, knowing that he's really not... fully okay with what she did. Maybe a little too soon after the whole thing with the club building, too soon after he attacked her with his powers. Not to mention he's always had issues with control and while he's back to being more accepting and okay with his optic blasts, his lack of control will always be a slightly sore spot for him.
Only question is, does he keep reassuring her with a smile? Or be more honest?
...Kotone promised to tell him stuff later, to be open with him, so maybe, he should do the same. He has to keep up his own end, right?]
I... I was afraid that I could've hurt you.
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[She could repeat that she trusts him not to, but... that's the problem, isn't it? He can't just will himself not to fire his optic blasts, any more than he can promise not to open his eyes in a sudden panic. He even sleeps with his glasses on, she knows this, so...
Inhaling a deep breath, she nods. She's self-aware enough to know when she's made a mistake. Besides, there's no point fighting it. It's not her burden to bear, but the least she can do is not add to his.]
I didn't think about that. [Because even after everything that had happened, she does still have full faith he wouldn't hurt her, but again, that's not the point. It's about his feelings, not hers. Leaning up, she kisses his cheek and lingers there, a gentle apology.] I won't do something like that again. Promise.
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Thank you.
[He says, quietly, but sincerely. Scott turns his cheek just slightly, so that he can rub his face against hers.]
...Guess that just means I have to do it to you, instead. [He tries, smiling slightly.] Just don't scream and punch me in the nuts.
[He's not Yosuke okay--]
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I don't scare that easily, [she reassures him, because even if she gets startled, she doesn't have big reactions like that.
With that, she's content to just soak in the water beside him until he's ready to get out. If he's too long, she might start to lightly doze against his shoulder.]
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[He teases with a smile. Didn't he want to stay by her side so that she doesn't have to fear anything? Yes, but this totally doesn't count!! This is the... fun kind of scaring. He thinks it would be fun to see Kotone shriek just a little, even if she smacks him in the chest afterward. It's like his duty as her boyfriend to do something like this. Stuff to plan for!
But not right now when they're both relaxed. Scott finds himself nodding off as he sits comfortably with her, head leaning against hers. In fact, he can feel his eyes slipping shut for a few moments...
He's not sure how much time has passed before he slowly wakes from his impromptu nap. Thankfully, the water is still warm, but his skin is getting just a little itchy and everything. Ugh, maybe not as fun. He's about to wake up the peacefully slumbering girl next to him, when Scott notices just how... relaxed she is. She really must've been tired lately, huh? From supporting him that whole month, then rebuilding the club building, and now all this with the blackout... she probably really hasn't rested until now. She's always like this.
He smiles, face full of unguarded affection, before deciding that he can let her sleep for just a bit longer. It's not the first time he's seen her in this unguarded manner, but he still treasures it all the same.]
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Unfortunately, the moment of peace doesn't last too much longer. There's a slight shift in her breathing as she slowly starts to wake up, like dragging herself up from the depths -- then all at once, her eyes snap open as she sits up straight with a sharp intake of breath, clearly startled by not being in her own bed. Her hand goes to her heart where it lurches in her chest, bleary eyes struggling to focus through the steam as she looks around frantically. Glasses-]
Scott? [Her voice is smaller than usual, tinged with an almost fear that maybe he doesn't remember her. Maybe she's traveled to another world again. It's an unreasonable fear, but the first one that comes to mind when she wakes up here.]
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He looks worried, but supportive.]
I'm here, Kotone.
[...You know, it's a little funny, but when she told him to stay by her so that she doesn't have to be afraid, he didn't really expect it to happen so soon
or at all. But there's no mistaking that note of fear in her tone, the way her voice comes out small and quiet. Scott can't remember a time she's ever sounded like this before and thoughts of their earlier promise comes up. She wanted to tell him something later. He wonders if that's connected.He doesn't ask just yet though, thumbs stroking against her cheeks.]
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...Scott's probably worried, huh? She forces a reflexive smile to her lips before she can think better of it and lifts one hand to check her wrist, only- of course she's not wearing her watch. They're in the hot springs. The smile fades a little bit, both from that and the reminder that even if she smiles like this, it's not going to assuage Scott's worries, but-]
D'you know what time it is?
[It's not after midnight yet, is it?]
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He wants to be that person. Where she can feel that way. He's going to keep trying, because it's one of the most important things to him. Maybe she feels that way to some degree at least, seeing her smile fade. Not that he likes seeing Kotone upset, but at least she's honest.]
I don't. [He answers, somewhat apologetically, before one hand slides down to take her hand within his.] How about we dry out and get dressed? We'll see what time it is then.
[And then she can tell him what's going on.]
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[She doesn't even try to argue -- under other circumstances, she might ask if he's sure, because if he wants to stay out here, then that fine! But tonight... yeah. She's ready to go back inside. Even though the water's warm, she feels cold, her smile falling away completely with his gentle, physical reminder that she doesn't have to put up the brave front for him. Maybe she should anyway, but she's tired. There's no point to that.
Uncharacteristically quiet, she pulls herself out of the bath and grabs her towel, wrapping it tightly around herself to ward off the chill as she glances back to him.]
I'll meet you outside the changing rooms?
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Okay, meet you there.
[It probably won't take him long to change at least, just needing to slide out of his swim trunks before putting on his regular outfit, his standard jeans, t-shirt, and jacket after drying off. He's definitely in more of a rush though, his worry for Kotone quickening his movements, until he's already sliding his shoes on and waiting for her outside of the changing rooms. It's definitely a little cold out still, but he almost doesn't notice.]
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Eventually, she does make her way out, bundled up tightly in her jacket and scarf, reaching for Scott's hand almost without looking at him as she stays close. He doesn't want her to pretend to be happy, she knows that, but it feels weird not to, too. Like she doing something wrong by not even trying to reassure him. But honestly, she just doesn't know how.]
My room?
[And for once, she's happy for him to lead the way so she can just follow behind without having to think too hard about it.]
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Your room.
[The trek back to her room is uneventful, not to mention that Scott could probably find his way there with his eyes closed. Every so often, he looks back at her, but he doesn't prod just yet, willing himself to be patient until they make it back. Scott really isn't in the mood for interruptions from anyone else, especially if Kotone feels like she has to force a smile at them.
Although, it seems like people are already asleep or elsewhere, because it's pretty quiet.
As they step inside her room, with Scott closing the door behind her, he looks at Kotone with a serious look, but one that may be softened by the way he holds her hand still. His fingers stroke over hers, while feeling glad that they have enough lighting from the lanterns where he can still clearly see her.]
Wanted to find a clock first, right?
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Once they're in her room, she just nods, moving over to her desk without hesitation and grabbing a cute watch off her jewelry stand to check the time. It's in amongst a bunch of other mementos -- several assorted keys, a faintly-glowing ring, a notebook, a dirty dog's collar, a USB stick, a charred screw, a blue bookmark, and others. Still more than an hour until midnight -- which is either a long time or a short time, depending on how she looks at it.
Unceremoniously, she plops down on her bed, clutching the watch gently in both hands.]
Aragaki-senpai gave me this watch. To say thanks for finding his old pocketwatch. Back home, I mean.
[Her Shinjiro. Before she came here. Before he'd gotten shot, before he'd been hospitalized, before everything had started to go wrong.]
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It's not like him and Quentin. They're not friends back in Quentin's world, not from what he's told him.
He reaches for her hand again, suddenly wanting to hold her once more, especially since he knows that something is going on here. The sudden seriousness she showed when mentioning that she won't be afraid as long as he's near, the fear when she woke up, and the desperation of needing to know the time...]
Kotone...?
[He says her name quietly, but with a little push, like he wants her to start explaining.]
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Looking down at the watch, she almost doesn't notice Scott trying to take her hand, only reacting a second or two later to give him a reflexive smile. She doesn't let go of the watch, but instead just sags against him, inviting him to hold her instead of just her hand. It's only after she does that she thinks that hm, she should have maybe lit some of the candles in her room, because it's awfully dim with the only light being the faintly-glowing ring on the table and the perpetually-full moon outside. Well, it'll be enough. Taking a small breath, she presses her lips together, holds it for a moment, before nodding as if firming her resolve.]
Today's March 5th. It would've been graduation day, back home. [But that's not enough of an answer. One more breath, and more quietly, she adds without looking up from the watch,] It's the anniversary of the day I die.
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March 5th. Graduation Day.
But why 'would've been'But another breath from her and as she gets the rest of her words out, Scott's breath nearly freezes in his chest, movements stilling against her. Today... today is the day she died.
Breath still stuck in his chest, it's suddenly hard to even swallow, because everything suddenly hurts so badly. He didn't quite imagine that this would be the thing that would be brought up. Maybe nightmares about her fights back home, in the Dark Hour and in Tartarus, but not... not this. But it makes sense, doesn't it? Afraid of the time, because she's afraid that she won't live past today.
That... that won't happen. Right?
...It could. Even if she doesn't fade away, this place could make her disappear, like Dazai and so many others. It all hurts so much.
But Scott tries his hardest not to focus on his own pain, instead nodding against her. This is about Kotone... and her fate, and she trusted him enough to not only tell him, but spend this night with him. Finally, he's able to breathe once more, and he lightly encourages Kotone to lie on his lap, just so that he can still look at her face while sitting up. Let her be the one to rest.]
I'm... I'm glad that you wanted to spend this time with me.
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...He's taking it better than she'd expected, really, and he gets a tiny smile for that effort.
Swallowing hard, she moves without resistance to rest her head on his lap, gazing up at him. It's almost funny; this is exactly how she'd laid on the roof with Aigis, in the end. There's no warm sun this time, though, no gentle sea breeze. Just the warmth of Scott's thigh and the dim glow of the moon outside, reflecting off Scott's glasses.]
I was told when I went back to Tatsumi Port Island that I'd have one year, you know. [The watch rests heavy against her chest as she meets his eyes, glances past him, looking out the frosted window.] ...It's been about that long since I arrived here.
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Maybe another night.
Scott nods when she mentions having only one year, just briefly wondering who in the hell told her something like that. Again, though, it doesn't really matter right now, just wanting Kotone to talk about the things she wants to talk about, especially if... he's spending these last moments with her. He can feel tears prick at the corners of his eyes, but he tries to push through it. If she managed to come back to life here for almost a whole year, there's definitely a possibility she'll be fine for one more night at least.]
A whole year... [He finally speaks, his voice a little shaky, but still trying to be supportive, no matter how hard it is.] And then you got another to make new friends and stuff.
[And be with him.]
...Pretty lucky, right? I... know I feel that way. [Because he got to be with her.]
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There's no humor as she huffs a quiet laugh through her nose, just the hint of a smile curving her lips as she nods. Lucky... yeah. She does still feel lucky, in spite of all of it. All the hard times, all the work, all the stupid things they've gone through and the people they've lost, she still doesn't regret any of it. She'd never have met Scott if she hadn't come here, after all.]
...It's dumb, right? [Tell each other everything, even if they think it's stupid.] Death doesn't care about things like anniversaries or dates. But now that Minato's here, it's like...
[Maybe this was her chance. Her, Shinjiro, Ken, and Ryoji had their time here, and now it's time for Minato and his members of SEES to do their best.]
I dunno, [she finishes quietly instead of saying that, because even she doesn't know how to say it in a way that doesn't sound bitter. And that's not fair to Minato at all.]
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Even if some parts of that have been really painful too. But he's still so glad to have met her, love her, be with her.
At first, Scott's a little confused when she brings up a 'Minato,' and... oh. Oh. Everything suddenly clicks and son of a bitch-- that's why he felt sort of familiar in some way. Or at least, the acceptance of such an early death. It all makes sense now. Minato is that boy leader, the one that Shinjiro and Mitsuru knows.]
I think I met him. The... leader in Shinjiro and Mitsuru's world, right? [The not you--] What about him though?
[He can tell that she's kind of upset about Minato, although, understandable. He's not sure how he'd feel if that Scott Summers from Quentin's world appeared, but that's still probably different, right? They're both Scott, she and Minato are two different people, just... one of them became the SEES leader and the other didn't.]
He's pretty different from you.
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...There's nobody left here who remembers me from home, [she says softly, opening her eyes to meet Scott's glasses.] So... maybe it's up to him now.
[Maybe she had her year, and that was it. If Akihiko were here, she'd be more certain of it -- that her senpai were supposed to be laying the foundation, and Minato was there to step up, just like they had for SEES. Her Shinji had done that for her here, kind of, though it hadn't been nearly as much time between him and her as it had been for Mitsuru, Shinji, and Minato.
Equally as softly, she adds,] I'm really tired, Scott. But I don't want to sleep yet.
[Death really doesn't care about anniversaries, but people do. The significance of today is for her and Minato -- and now Scott -- to deal with. Minato was handling it better, she thinks.]
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