INBOX for purgastory

[aerodynamic]

HELLO

"Yo. Is this thing on?"

GOODBYE

TEXT | VIDEO | VOICE | ACTION

Comments

[aspirings]

Certainly! Thank you for joining me in putting on this performance!

[Aaahhhh, he's so happy to have gotten to act on stage again, despite Everything.]

[depressured]

Even though it didn't go the way you wanted?

[ Well. They got a duet in, at least. ]

[aspirings]

I've been in performances that didn't go the way I wanted before. I'm afraid it is simply a hazard of the job!

[So it's fine.]

Even so, the audience enjoyed it. True, we could not see the smiles on their faces, but I'm sure they left with them!

[depressured]

... They did seem to be enthusiastic.

[ Yes. ]

But I'm glad you got to do what you love.

[aspirings]

As am I!!

[Eagerly and enthusiastically!!

A pause for him to shove more food into his mouth, please hold.]

I truly wasn't expecting a theater to show up--I mean, after last week, I'd assumed that was all we'd see of such things.

[depressured]

I've seen more stages than I expected to be on.

[ Like. Ever.

Continue eating, sir. She's fine waiting for you to talk. ]

[aspirings]

[Yes, well. He's good at yapping, so yapping he will do.]

It is strange that this place seems obsessed with putting our pasts on display in that way.

That is also part of what was so satisfying with our performance, in my opinion.

[It wasn't about their pasts or anything. They were putting on a fictional story, as a show ought to be.]

[depressured]

Are you ashamed of your past, Tsukasa?

[ A very solemn question when she's neatly butchering a pancake. ]

[aspirings]

Wha--of course not?! [HELP?] I don't have to be ashamed of my past to think that it doesn't suit a standard theater or stage though!

[depressured]

I don't know much about it, but I think you could play it well.

[ As an actor. ]

[aspirings]

Well, yes, of course I could.

[Okay, Tsukasa.]

Still... unfiltered memories are private. A story ought to be filtered through the teller's writing.

[depressured]

That's true enough.

... It's why I've had to tell more people... about things. Because otherwise they learn it from a place like that.

[ And it quietly devastates her a little. ]

[aspirings]

[... Ah. So that's how it is. Maybe instead of her really meaning to ask him if he's ashamed of his past, it's more a reflection of how Mafuyu feels about all of this.]

I see... but nobody has been unkind about this, have they?

[depressured]

They haven't. But I didn't think they would be.

All the same, it's not a comfortable thing to have to witness.

[ Like. At all. ]

[aspirings]

[.... that is true.]

I'm afraid we have no choice but to continue to put up with it for now. Ideally, we will be out of this place soon.

[depressured]

Right... we just need to find them.

[ And then leave smoothly? Sure.

A pause, to sip more tea. When will she be warm-- ]

[aspirings]

[...]

Ah, you're still shivering. [So are you, Tsukasa.] Don't hesitate to come closer! It is a shame we don't have a blanket to put over all of us as well.

[depressured]

I could go get one from the manor.

[ Exercise should get the blood flowing? ]

[aspirings]

Are you sure? You should really eat first if you're still hungry.

[He can feel that she's still hungry.]

[depressured]

[ Maybe that's him still being hungry. Or, more likely, both, and it's just worse through the shared feedback.

Mafuyu takes another bite of pancake, decisively. And then (after chewing and swallowing) stands up. ]

We should try to focus on one problem at a time. Being warm will help.

[aspirings]

[O... OKAY.

THERE SHE GOES?

DAMN, DECISIVE.]

Er... right then! I will order you another plate of something!

[depressured]

[ She appreciates it.

It's so much colder without that warmth, so she's brisk in her quest, returning with chattering teeth but with a blanket that she will help arrange over all of them. ]

T-this should h-h-help.

[ Help. ]

[aspirings]

Ah, thank you, Mafuyu! Welcome back.

[He will very gladly beckon her back into the cuddle pile. Please become warm.]

I ordered hot chocolate as well! And waffles!

[depressured]

Thank you--

[ LATCHING ONTO THE MUG. And also burrowing into Tsukasa's side. ]

[aspirings]

[No judgies. It is much warmer like this. He just wraps an arm around her automatically to keep her and the blanket close.]

Of course! It was the least I could do, after all.