loveedition | starsand // starnet DM / open post

Is hot* chocolate really that uncommon where you’re from?

[To Yuuto, the ‘hot’ means spicy. He’s followed her lead with his drink and looks perplexed by the taste.]

No wonder you laughed at me for thinking pumpkin spice was spicy…

It's not uncommon, but it's... it's a little lost in translation. Hot Chocolate is called that because the temperature of it is hot, not the spices. Like how a hot pepper doesn't necessarily need to be cooked for it to be hot.

Eh~ But then it’ll become cold or warm chocolate if you don’t make it at the right temperature…

[Well. He’s at least trying to understand the ‘hot chocolate’ of Ryoko’s world.]

I’ve been to a lot of other worlds, but I guess I never tried their hot chocolate… I must have been missing out. This isn’t bad. Just plain.

[Then again, Yuuto did ask for expresso in his. He really doesn’t want to fall asleep.]

You really want to live here? Even though we make ‘pepper chocolate.’

That's why you have to drink it hot. It doesn't taste as good... oh! You know what, we need to try topping it off with whipped cream next time! There's different ways to make it less plain.

[ Hot chocolate isn't really her specialty, but she could figure it out. ]

Yeah. If something like that was enough to scare me off, I feel like that'd be insulting to everybody.

Whipped cream? That sounds fun... Maybe I could do something like latte art with it.

[Tail wagging-]

I'm glad that you want to stay... You'll be my first friend who isn't temporary. Making hot chocolate, going for walks, watching the seasons pass... I'm really excited to do those things with you, Ryoko.

Mm. I'm excited too.

[ That... for some reason, hurts to hear. The first one that isn't temporary. Her.

No, she's going to smile through it. ]

If that's okay. But, please, can I ask one thing of you?

You could ask a million things of me!

...if... if things get really bad for me... like, if it feels like I'm at my absolute lowest... please, try to send me back.

[ She exhales, taking another sip of her cocoa. ]

If I turn, I don't know if anyone here could do anything about it. At least, as much as I don't want to go back... the other magi will know what to do.

[And he stops drinking his in favor of looking worried,]

What would they do that we can’t?

[ She hesitates. She really shouldn't give him more to worry about, but she knows that... if her gem wasn't purified recently, she would have come close.

Even sprouting a Nightmare seemed bad, but they may be able to do something about that. If it was a Witch... ]

If I became a monster, would you try to save me? Even after I turn?

[... It must be serious if she doesn't filter these thoughts for him. After all, Yuuto is also at risk of becoming a Distortion. He only lets himself think of that briefly, in order to empathize with her, before focusing properly on his friend.]

Mm, I would. And I'm really stubborn.

...they wouldn't. Because there's no coming back from that.

You've been so kind to me, all of you have. Even when I didn't deserve the benefit of the doubt. If I'm going to live here, I don't want to be that much of a hazard.

...but, that's a big if. I'm good about noticing when my gem isn't clean.

Edited 2022-11-17 20:46 (UTC)

[He’s sorry to pull this card, but-]

Are you going to kill me for being a Distortion?

[…] Be careful how you answer. I’m still learning to be a good friend. I might follow your lead.

H-hey wait, that's not--

[ ...No, actually it's completely fair. Turnabout's fair play. ]

Ah, um...

...I'd try everything I could to save you first. Anything I could think of.

I'm... I'm stubborn too, you know.

Then it’s the same for me. I would do everything that I could to save you. And I won’t let you hurt anyone or send you away.

This is going to be your home now, right?

Ah.

[ When he says it like that... it makes it seem more likely. Really, she doesn't know whether or not he can do anything about that. Whether or not he really can keep her here.

But... that's the choice she made. And it feels likelier by the day. ]

It is. Sorry, I didn't mean to put that thought in your mind. I know you'd try to save me. Sometimes, I just need to reconfirm that...

I'm worth saving. People are worth saving. You just... have to know your limits, that's all.

[He shakes his head and lowers his voice.]

It’s alright. I get it.

When that’s the sort of end you’re told to wait for, it’s hard… Every day, you try to offset that karma. I worry about it too. “Will I be worth saving?” and “will the good I’ve done be worth the pain I’ll cause?”

… But you don’t need to worry. Because we can keep your gem clean and make sure that it never happens. Right? You can ask for help.

Yeah. Mm... I hope so.

Aaah, that's enough sad feelings for today, alright? It's going to make it colder out here!

[ That is now how weather works. ]

I'll just be glad that you're not upset with me. I wouldn't want to explain all of this to Santa, or his Cupid Angel.

[Yuuto almost drops his drink-]

SANTA-SENPAI IS HERE???

Senpai?!

[ ????

Aisaka-san, what the hell have you been up to?! ]

N-no, he isn't. Maybe, not yet? He isn't ready yet.

Edited 2022-11-17 21:41 (UTC)

But he will be, right? You said you could have talked to him instead. Right??

So I can meet him! Right???

[ ...............someone please help her.

When he's sparkling like that... she can't say it! ]

R-Right! Haha, I'm sure he'll be here!

[Yuuto lights up. His tail is wagging as a dead giveaway: He’s so excited..!]

[—- He tries to correct his expression to be more normal and refined. He is a fellow kami, after all! Gotta be cool!]

I-I’ll be really good and help make Chribus perfect then! So he’ll feel really welcome here and happy..!

I’ve got to be a good host.

[His stupid tail is still wagging, despite his efforts to ‘play it cool.’]

Chribus...

[ She's just giggling now at this point. ]

You say that, but don't forget. This is something we're doing. This time, I'd have to ask you to sit down.

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