trusthell | I have a dream that I want to fulfill with you...

I have a dream that I want to fulfill with you...

[ Well, that was an extraordinary trial to have... it was certainly filled with many things that wouldn't be lost to the memory of most, even for weeks to come. Although, the return to "normalcy" could be something that wouldn't seem like it was wanted, it was better than the alternative to returning to anything at all.

With ease, Mikazuki find himself setting up the usual party in the usual place-- that would be the library of course. Notes have been slipped underneath the doors of others, or hung up on the walls to alert them of this post-trial "celebration" -- which was more like a get-together of some sorts now than a real party. ]

Please join us in the library again. Of course, food and drink will be provided.

- Mikazuki, Orihime, Hanyuu, & Estelle

[ The food and drink has been set out, what with there being tea, vichyssoise, cream puffs, and fish for everyone to enjoy. ]

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Even if a place holds painful memories...sometimes, the good overpower.

[...]

I've never played billiards before. Would you mind teaching a god as well?

[Sometimes the good overpowers it, huh. Sounds right.]

Sure. It's easy once you've got the hang of it, it's mostly about hittin' the right angles.

[He'll set up another game, gesturing to the cue sticks.]

And findin' a stick that's perfect for you. Find the one that's callin' your name, Hanyuu.

[She's...not quite sure how to tell that, so she'll take a few and try them all out, until she finds one the right length and feel for her. Not too long, not too short.]

And what do I do next?

I'll let you break the balls.

[Hands-on demonstration, you know, getting in beside her and showing her how to position her arms and hands with his and stuff.]

So you use your non-dominant hand to steady your aim, and your dominant hand to shoot. Then you ready it, [gently pulling her arm back,] and strike!

[Without hesitation, break them balls. She's only nailed it so well because Gold helped out, admittedly, but they're there.]

And you play the game just by choosin' stripes or solids and hittin' everything but the black eight ball into the pockets. That one's for last.

O-oh...! [The loud break, the whole motion of it, it's surprising but exhilarating! Hanyuu can't help but cast him an apprehensive smile, looking at the balls in amazement, did I do that? With his help, of course, but still.]

That sounds incredibly straightforward! Then...I'll choose solids, if that's alright with you?

I like stripes myself, so it's all yours.

[He'll step back, let her take her shots.]

If you pocket one, then you can take another shot to pocket another one! But if you don't pocket the second, then it's my turn. It's seriously easy.

[Alright, so she's going to try this! Line up a shot, aim, and...and just miss the pocket, but!! It was a close shot!!]

Ohh, close...! Your turn, then. [She doesn't seem discouraged, not at all.] It would be so nice to have one of these in Hinamizawa, you know?

Y'really don't? Wow, I feel bad for you.

[And he'll take his shot while he says so, splitting two balls apart for easy pocketing next round.]

Well, it's a small village, you know? There's a slightly larger town, a bike ride away, so maybe there's one in a games store there somewhere.

[She shakes her head and goes after that ball again. Still misses, but it knocks a stripe into a cluster of solids, so maybe one of those will work?]

That's pretty much why I had to get one m'self. Ain't nothin' in New Bark, s'boring place. But it's my boring place.

[... Okay, he can sink at least one of these in here confidently despite his drink, so he'll do it cleanly as can be! Second one too, but the third's no bueno and ends up hitting a solid pretty close to a pocket, stopping short of rolling in. He'll take a sip of his drink.]

Wouldn't trade it for the world though. It's a good place to raise your kids or whatever.

Mm. All I've ever known is Hinamizawa...and I would never leave. [...Not like she really can, but-

Surprisingly, she sinks one this time!! ...Not the second, but she sunk one ball and that's an improvement.]

Look at that, your lesson's paid off. [She casts him a smile. ...And kind of idly glances at the drink he has, but...it's been a long day.]

Not bad, not bad! Make a few more moves like that and you'll have me by the neck, sweetie, beginner or not!

[He's clearly stoked that she's picked up on it, taking a longer sip this time before he sets it aside to pace around the table for his next shot.]

... Thought the same thing of New Bark, what you think of Hinamizawa, but then I met Silver, [so full of fondness this time when he's telling it,] and my whole world opened up. Him and Crys -- don't think there's anythin' in the world I could do to like, I dunno, repay 'em or whatever for what they gave me, 'cause until then they'd both already been out in the world, pretty much for a livin', while I'd always been at home bein' worry free and takin' care of con men tryin' to trick my town's people into givin' them their money.

[Seems so long ago.]

Still do it now when I'm around, because they need me-- they're a buncha trustin' people, you know? Good people. Don't got a bad thought about anyone at first impression, but that turns pretty fast once you show 'em the light.

[Hanyuu watches him fondly, listens. Truly... He really does remind her of Keiichi.]

You really love them. Your townsfolk. Silver, and Crys.

Yeah. Yeah I do.

[There's no doubt, no hesitation. Nothing like that. Maybe it's the drink, maybe it's just because it's Hanyuu, but he's completely honest right now.]

And I'd do anything for them. [...] So there's-- there's this Pokémon called Celebi, yeah? Celebi can go through time. It watches over time and stuff. There was-- this big thing to do with it, and we three ended up goin' into the time stream that Celebi lives in.

[Misses his shot, but he's not fazed.]

See, I didn't want all three of us dyin' in there. We only had two feathers that let us move around in it, though, so I gave it to them. Apologized to Silver for something, told them how much fun I had 'cause of them, thanked them... and pushed them off. Wasn't the first time I almost died, but I think that might've been one of the closest calls.

[But he did it anyway, knowing full well he probably wouldn't be coming back from it, knowing he'd probably die there and that'd be that.]

[Hanyuu shouldn't be surprised that their conversation went to...this sort of place. She's sad but she shouldn't be surprised. So many of these kids... They have no regard for their own safety.

She quietly leans her stick against the table an walks over to him, enveloping him in a gentle hug.]

I'm very glad...that you didn't die.

[He'll return it after a moment, resting his chin on her head.]

Yeah, me too. [...] Really glad. Can't imagine not bein' around them these past years, but it ain't like I was expectin' to be just fine. Last I remembered I was just barely awake, and then...

[... Something happened. Maybe Celebi helped him out, pushed him out of the crack of time, but it's not anything Gold can remember.]

Then I was back out and tellin' off Crys for thinkin' I was dead! I don't go down easy, you know? So there's no reason to worry about me, 'cause I'm always gonna come back no matter the odds. Luck's always been on my side.

[...she hugs him a little tighter.]

I'm always going to worry, Gold. That's just who I am.

[... He got mad at Lusamine earlier for worrying over him too, but Hanyuu doesn't feel as... restricting as she did, maybe, or maybe it's because he's looser with the booze in him. Probably the latter, judging from how his mind trails here and there, how he's warmed and starting to lean more on her.]

I'd call you mom-like, but my mom's pretty much like me. The apple didn't fall too far from the tree, or so I hear. [...] Do you have any family? When you were a demon, or when you're a god. Doesn't matter.

[She gently rubs his back. So much taller than her, like so many of the others here.]

I had...a husband, and a little girl, before I became a god. [...The less said about all that the better.] Now... Well, I have another little girl. My descendant. She can see and interact with me, unlike everyone else.

What's it like? Finally bein' able to talk to someone after all that time.

[Because he can't imagine it himself; if he could never talk to Crys or Silver again, he'd be devastated. It'd hurt a lot.]

...It's like suddenly, nothing else in the world matters. The injustices, the pain...the last thousand years. The only thing that does...is that little girl's safety and happiness.

[Please let her grow up this time. Please.]

Like suddenly, I'm alive again.

[... Lonely...]

I'm glad you've got a lot of people to talk to now, even if it's in a place like this. Sure must be a hell of a change, huh?

Yes, I... all at once, I hungered for attention and yet...it scared me, having so many people around, so many...that could reject me. It still does.

[...She hugs Golds a little tighter. Admitting this is difficult, but...at the same time, she has to let him know just how much his friendship means to her. Especially after the blow he's endured.]

But no one really has, yeah?

[He appreciates the hug, honestly, burying more into her. Bringing her as close as he can.]

... I'm glad no one's rejected me either. [it's definitely the drinks this time, why he's even bringing it up.] Back home, I'm nothin' but a troublemaker, even though I've done so much. I'm second-best. A benchwarmer.

[There's good reason for it this time, he knows; Crys is dependable by nature, Silver knows Lance personally.]

My friends consider me their first pick though, even if no one else is lookin' at me.

[But he acts out as a result. Does what he pleases for a little attention, to get someone to look at him, even if he ends up unhappy with what they consider him. Gold's not starved by any means, he's just greedily wanting more.]

[She shakes her head to his question, no, no one has, really- but then she just listens.

He's...very talkative, the drink's really loosened his tongue. She'll let him talk to her.]

Your friends have the right way of thinking. You are far, far from second-best. You... You've a good heart...and you deserve all the affection and attention you can get.

[A hand rubs his back gently.]

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