But if all you give me is enough to fight it…

[mooninthewater]

Who: Mizuki and... you!
What: Mizuki apologizing and some fluff before event drops-
When: After gardening
Where: Yes
Warnings: none yet


I. It's a mess I won't make anymore (Open; The Inn)

[ There's a note posted up on the wall of the inn in blue pen. It's neatly written at first, with curly handwriting, but it starts to wobble towards the end. ]

I don't know how to get everyone together, as these sorts of things aren't usually my forte. I suppose I could go to each of you individually, and it's what you all deserve, but I'm not an emotionally strong sort of person. For that alone, I'm sorry.

I want to apologize to those of you affected by the hallucinations of the flowers. I should've handed out antidotes to all of you before anything like this happened. I should've been more careful about the toxins. I should've done a lot of things.

I'm sorry.

- M

[ Mizuki will hole himself up in his room for a day or so after this. Apologizing… hard. Talking to people… hard. Hhh. Anxiety— ]

(Update: BB has thrown away this note. If you would have liked to reply before she did so, that's a-okay, of course, but just a heads up~.)

II. Like a thousand times before (Open; Wherever)

[ You may catch him in better spirits later, though. He's happily applying stickers to the doors of people he knows with some sort of association he has with them. He has a variety of them, so it's not hard to match colors or themes or whatever else he sets his little heart to.

His own door is smathered with blue stickers and ocean waves. He's also spelled out "M I Z U K I !" with blue stickers, too. Maybe you'll confront him mid-stickering your door or someone else's door? Maybe you saw the stickers and just sort of knew… ]

III. And in the times that I wish I was younger (Open; Wherever)

[ There's a jellyfish holding your hand! Where did he come from, he wasn't there a second ago— ]

If there are memories so bad that they can send you into miserable states just from being slightly reminded from them, do you think there are memories so good that they can do the opposite…?

[ Hey, what the fuck— ]

IV. With hunger to be somebody (Wildcard)
(hmu via PM or Discord if u wanna plot something out w/ me!!! I might get back on plurk… soon…)

Comments

III

[succiduous]

[It's okay, Gnosis is also not good at emotions, luckily he's like 👍 to the note and then leaves it alone for a few days. And then suddenly when he's in his room there's a Mizuki holding his hand while he's at his desk and by Kjeragandr if you've ever wanted to see Every Feather He Has stand up in alarm, congratulations—]

A simple "hello" would suffice. [GOOD GOD] But to answer your question, yes, I believe that would be the case.

[mooninthewater]

[ F… fluffy… He won't touch, that's not polite, but know that he's thinking REALLY hard about it. ]

Hello. [ Sorry, Mizuki's brain is not working at full for the moment. He's distracted by, you know, life. ]

On average, bad memories are harder to forget than good ones. I would even make the argument that… mmh… the "severity" of the good memory would still have to far outweigh that of a traumatic one. So then, what is the "scale"? And, furthermore, why are people predisposed to being miserable like that to begin with?

I don't understand…

[succiduous]

[Lord he went to school not for psychology.]

Honestly, I don't know the psychological reasons behind people being predisposed toward misery. In general, my understanding is that the larger the event, the more it affects the psyche... I suppose it would have something to do with how trauma rewrites the brain's chemistry.

[mooninthewater]

Rewrites it, huh… In that case, if there's a very large good event, then that should change things, too, right?

…

What would you consider "good", Mister Gnosis?

[succiduous]

[What a loaded question...]

A good event, for me, would be seeing my hard work brought to fruition. I simply don't aspire for much else.

[Some 20-years-late validation for the fact that his parents did not murder Olafur and Elizabeth would be a good event for him, too, but that will never happen; Gnosis has stopped looking forward to the day they actually figured out what happened.]

I care about scientific progress and little else. [Factually untrue, but go off.]

[mooninthewater]

Is that what makes you most happy…? Hm. I don't think that's something I could just give you, but I can certainly try my best.

[ Maybe going up and asking the Trader if she has anything akin to "scientific progress" might work…? It doesn't occur to him instantly that there's not really something to be given in that regard, but Mizuki's brain is basically only working at about 0.1% right now because all the noise is making it hard to do anything more. ]

Is it just progress or does… anomalies interest you?

[succiduous]

[...hm.]

Anomalies interest me, yes. This place interests me from a scientific standpoint, for example, [vague gesture around them, he means the Grove as a whole,] though it's not a solvable issue right now. I've always enjoyed putting pieces together.

[Like he's trying to do now, with the photographs and all, though he's not getting anywhere with it.]

I. It's a mess I won't make anymore (Open; The Inn)

[devilishkouhai]

[ Read its. Looks around to see if anyone is watching. Takes it. Throws it in her pocket dimension - the garbage. Casually walks away!!! ]

The Continued....

[devilishkouhai]

Knock ! Knock! Knock Knock!

[ After some time - randomly. BB will decide to approach the other. Rather then knocking though, she stands in front of his door that he stuffed himself inside shouting knock knock. ]

[mooninthewater]

[ Oh- uh. Mizuki's in the middle of giving Abigail another rock to eat in Stardew, but he'll just have to put that on pause for a bit, apparently— ]

BB? [ ?? It rare he gets visitors… But he opens the door, of course! He wants to see his friend!! ] Hallo~. Did you miss me that much?

[devilishkouhai]

Of course I missed you!! Im also really bored out of my mind, and wanted to bother you!! So let me in let me in little piggy or I'll blow your house in!!!

[ She makes huff puff noises. ]

[mooninthewater]

Oh dear, Ms. Wolf, no need for property damage~. I'll let you in any day!

[ And he, unfortunately, genuinely means it. He opens the door for her to join him, already in much better spirits than he was moments ago. ]

[devilishkouhai]

[ BB skips into his room and - jumps on his bed? She starts bouncing her little butt on it. ]

What are you playing, what are you playing~?

[ I don't think he turned off his game - ? Well if he did she at least sees the console. ]

[mooninthewater]

[ It's simply paused, though he quickly goes to sit next to her and unpause it to show her. He's always willing to share his interests with people!! ]

It's something called 'Stardew Valley'. [ Or whatever the Terran equivalent would be called, but let's make this easy on ourselves. ] It's a good game to play if you just want to turn your brain off for a little while... It's very relaxing. If you're bored, though, maybe I could put something in we can both play?

III. And in the times that I wish I was younger

[amhran]

[ Insane how this question has such odd relevancy to her shuts my eyes lmao. ]

.... ?

[ Caoimhe had been... Engrossed in her own thoughts, wounds on her skin carefully bandaged with a scattered array of pieces of cloth. Her attire had suffered from numerous tears, of which she skillfully repaired having used a needle and thread. The dress she had came to the grove with, was riddled in tears. An indication of the nightmarish trials this place had in time, put her through. Overall, her countenance appeared fatigued. Even as Mizuki began addressing her, the elven lady displayed no sign of surprise. Hand hand within her own. After a moments pause, she shifts her gaze towards Mizuki and released a gentle exhale through her nostrils, resembling a brief, subdued chuckle. ]

Of course. I have many... Though since I don't think I will ever see them again... A part of me finds myself grimacing even at those. What of you, Mizuki?

[mooninthewater]

What of me… as in, if I have memories like that? I definitely do. In fact, I have a lot of really good memories. I think even here, despite everything, I'm happy to have met everyone I have and have the experiences that I have with them. I wouldn't quite say I've had any yet that have reached the extent I've mentioned before, but I do think it's possible.

I just… I wonder if maybe… there can be memories so good that it could completely replace someone's traumas… wouldn't that be nice?

[amhran]

I also... Feel the same. I am glad to have met everyone here. [ Is her calm and gentle answer. She takes a moment to ponder what Mizuki says, giving a moments pause. ] I believe, my people would disagree. All memories are important, and regarded with a sense of deliverance to any persons future... Though in a way that you mean, for memories to overshadow the trauma of ones heart? Then yes... Memories that can make even the scariest of truths fade away into the depths of the ocean. Such would be... Beautiful. Let us make the Grove a place like that.

[mooninthewater]

[ He gives Caoimhe's hand a small squeeze, while his other twirls his umbrella around. It might seem random, but any investigation might indicate he's tracing the phases of the moon into the air. ]

"Overshadow"... Yeah, I like that word better than "replace". I just think it would be nice for someone to experience so much happiness that they don't feel that pain that the bad ones bring anymore, regardless of reminders.

[ Like... fire, for example, Mizuki? ]

Everyone here is so kind and we get along so well, so I'm sure if anything else bad happens we'll all be okay, but... [ Beat. ] I'm having a hard time thinking about how to keep spirits high if things get bad again. I've never been very good at putting together fun stuff for people. I'm not a leader or nothin' like that.

1/?

[amhran]

..... Ah yes... If only... There was...

[ 'Everyone here is so kind and we get along so well, so I'm sure if anything else bad happens we'll all be okay, but...' ]

2/?

[amhran]

....

[ 'I'm having a hard time thinking about how to keep spirits high if things get bad again.' ]

3/4

[amhran]

!!!

[ 'I've never been very good at putting together fun stuff for people. I'm not a leader or nothin' like that.' ]

[amhran]

[ How could she have forgotten her own roots - her own.... The meaning of her existence ( as Tuatha de )? ]

YOURE!! [ Thats it, youre right about everything Mizuki!! ] Yes!! [ Caoimhe turns herself with such ferocity once more, she grips Mizkukis other hand and holds both tightly within her own. The swirling of waters within her eyes bubble up, and the stars within them glimmer with newfound hope. ] How could I have forgotten! My entire purpose, my culture?! The reason we spend years walking along the spires of Beithir's back. The mountainsides of my land - HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN!!

[ She is sparkling!!! ]

You are right Mizuki! In what way to we not forget our pains? Celebrate our strengths, and lead ourselves not into hearts darkened by the Beasts grip? We must!! Sing! We must Dance! We must live carefree!! You are so right! I have forgotten - we must hold our own Walpurgis Night! A celebration of the equinox or the winters solstice ! I know not the weather here or what time or frame this world leaves us upon - but we shant let the spirits find us in gloom!!!!

Yes Mizuki!! Let us make our own celebrations!!!

1/2

[mooninthewater]

[ L... loud... Mizuki flinches a bit, keeping up a smile through it. Sea jellies might not have ears, but Mizuki's is quite sensitive, actually? It's fine, she's excited, it's cute, just give him a moment to recollect his thoughts- ]

[mooninthewater]

I don't know what most of that stuff is, but I am a big fan of celebrations! Miss Felicity wanted to do a picnic at some point, maybe we can turn it into a big party or festival or something?

[ Maybe they can get fireworks from the shopkeeper? Maybe he could make takoyaki???? He'd need the incredients since it's not like there's octopus in the river, but... surely he can figure something out?? ]

How do we start?

[amhran]

[ The good thing about her louder voice, is even when it is carried wider. It generally doesn't get too loud. The excitement is full in her tone, but she notices the way he pauses and she gets quieter and silent again. Focusing in on how the other responded. ]

A-Are you okay?

[ She still holds his hands! ]