Catch-All for Taka

[followthepolestar]

This post is a catch-all for Taka's current roster! Anything that can't go into their inboxes can go here instead.



Raiden Mei

The Current Principal of St. Freya, and a self-defense teacher at Canis Major. A veteran of the Honkai Eruption, Mei is the image of a Yamato Nadeshiko, from her mannerisms to the way she wields the blade. She was in the midst of investigating an incident, and was about to face off against its instigator before she was suddenly whisked away to Starsand.

Mochizuki Honami

Kanade's housekeeper, and the doting drummer of Leo/need. A very kind girl at heart, one whose love of her friends and care for their well-being is only matched by her love of apple pies. While still in the midst of processing the incident that led to the current timeloop and the trouble she faced trying to get close to the cherry blossom tree, she holds on tight to the courage she mustered, and a promise to someone that might not even be with them anymore.

Comments

[time for COOKING SHENANIGANS]

[composalvation]

[It's been a while since she texted Honami, and a few more days since Mafuyu helped Honami out with her lingering injuries. Kanade was willing to wait much longer; after all, something as basic as learning to cook is nowhere near as important as her precious friend's health, no matter her reasons for wanting to learn. But Honami had insisted she was fine, so... this was okay, right?

Right...

Thankfully, the trip over to the Canis Major building wasn't too bad of a trip, but it's still a lot for poor Kanade, with the slowly rising temperatures as summer approaches. She's only looking a little tired when she flops over in a seat in the lobby, waiting for Honami to arrive before she heads down to one of the kitchen classrooms.]

[followthepolestar]

[Honami was certainly a busy bee in the past few days; though she couldn't really do drumming with how inconvenient setting up her drums was, she'd picked up a set of bongos that she had a lot of fun with. It was close to her usual instrument, she only needed her hands to play, and best of all: it was easy to carry relative to an entire drum kit. A perfect combination for what she wanted. She hadn't forgotten the plans she made at the month's outset, though; in fact, with her sense for scheduling she'd managed to fit in time to work on how to best help Kanade. She did have to accustom herself to the kitchen, seeing it wasn't her strongest suit...

In fact, Honami went out of her way to make sure everything was easy to find in the classroom they were using, beforehand. And now that the day's arrived, she just had to take her there.]

Ah--

[Honami enters the lobby a while after Kanade manages to catch her breath; though she looks a little tuckered out, it doesn't stop her from wearing an earnest smile.]

I hope I didn't make you wait too long, Yoisaki-san!

[composalvation]

[It's pretty strange seeing Honami looking looking tired like that; even back home, when Honami would come to her house after a full day of school and spend hours cooking and cleaning for her, she never really seemed weary. It makes that guilt creep into her heart again; should they really be doing this now? Was this a bad idea to try and rush?]

No, it's just fine, Mochizuki-san. I didn't know how long it'd take for me to get here on my own, so I tried to make sure I was a little early. But, um...

[Yeah, that concern is definitely bleeding into her expression now.]

Are you okay? If you're too tired, we don't have to do this today.

[followthepolestar]

[Kanade's concern clicks with her, after a bit; she blinks, but the smile eventually comes back.]

Mm... I'm thankful that you're thinking of me, but--I'm okay, honest! This week's just been a lot busier than usual. [...oh, right.] I never told you what else I was doing, did I?

I've been doing a few live shows recently to get used to playing in public again; just... not with my drums. They're not really easy to set up and play on a whim, so I got something similar.

[composalvation]

Live shows on your own?

[Oh! That certainly piques Kanade's curiosity!]

How have you been doing that?

fun times at the cafe

[loveedition]

[ With her spending most of her time getting ideas and ingredients ready for her grand opening, Ryoko hasn't particularly spent a lot of time thinking about making lunches or keeping awake throughout the day. Even today, she was certain she had made two lunches, one for her and one for Taiga... she definitely sent Taiga off with hers, but it looked like she had only made one.

So, maybe a light bread and some tea at a cafe would be good. In fact, she hadn't really checked on Mikale-san since his disappearance... maybe it was fine, but she wanted to go there anyway.

So, to the Heart's Cafe! Ryoko's always surprised by the interior, and how expansive it is... it really was a neat place to be. She honestly should remember to bring Taiga here some time...

Either way, she's had a chance to view the menu and is about ready to order, she thinks! ]

[everpromisedthunder]

[Mei, for her part, was recouping. After everything that happened right at the end of last month, having some solace from harrowing things happening helped take some of the wear and tear off. She'd also locked in some more work -- started on earning herself a Starling salary while working at the cafe. It felt nice, having something more normal for once in her routine.

When she gets called over, she has to take a moment.]

Just a minute!

[She'd been working on another order in the meantime; the cafe's busier hours were a bit hairy, but for her, they weren't unmanageable. After serving up drinks and a pastry she'd added to the menu, she heads on over.

A small smile creeps up on her as she sees who it is.]

Ah, Ryoko! It's been a while, hasn't it?

[loveedition]

Oh! Mei-san!

[ It really had been! They spoke a little before, and Mei seemed like a nice person so far. She's actually kinda surprised! ]

I didn't know you worked here. It's nice to see you again. How've you been adjusting?

[everpromisedthunder]

I mean, I could be worse off. This is closer to what I'd like, so I'm taking it for all it's worth.

[The day the only thing she ever has to worry about is day job-related work stress will be one Mei celebrates.]

And you? I hope things have at least eased up a little.

Mei's Memory Woes

[everpromisedthunder]

[For her part, given Mei's lack of deeper involvement in the state of things recently, she's just happy to make her way around the various levels.

However, that 100 Fallen Stars book catches her attention, eventually. It's probably the first thing, even, that people will find her perusing at the bookstore for a casual scan. Her eyes fixate especially hard on a certain page in the book... one that contains all too familiar memories for her.]

... [It almost feels like a sick joke.]

[nightwild]

[Yayoi is investigating. One of the things she has to investigate, of course, is how well this book is selling. And, well, another Fallen Star reading it...]

... Some of those stories catch your eye?

Settling for Story 3 for this one!

[everpromisedthunder]

[There's a pause, and a moment where she holds her head; she'd been going over another page when Yayoi approached.

...what luck. Now it really feels like she came across something she shouldn't have.] ...Yes. Not for the best of reasons either.

[Mei sighs. Even putting aside the fact her own memories wound up in here, some of them just feel so... personal.]

[nightwild]

It knows stuff from your home?

[Yayoi's taking out a notepad...]

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto had made a habit of browsing the 100 Stories, fearful that new stories might be add or old ones might be removed- or changed. But he hasn’t yet been drawn into a memory in this way. It’s the third memory that Yuuto finds himself slipping into. Those thoughts and feelings leave him feeling icy cold, even once he’s snapped out of it.

They also bring tears to his eyes. Sympathetic tears that stream down his cheeks and stain the pages. He gasps when he notices this and moves to wipe his face, embarrassed to cry in public. But especially near the end, when he realized this was Raiden Mei’s memory, so many things from their earlier meeting fell into place.

Yuuto is still trying to wipe his face when he recognizes her at the same bookshelf as he is.]

Au… I-I’m sorry. I think I’ve seen something that I shouldn’t have…

[everpromisedthunder]

[...ah. It looks like he's seen it... she has yet to see any of his, but it wouldn't surprise her if she overlooked the page his stories were on.

Mei shakes her head, a wry smile tinting her expression. Saying she hates this might be putting it a little mildly, even as she turns to face Yuuto.]

It's fine.

Honestly, I would've liked to tell you all about that on my own terms, but... it looks like whatever's happening with these books isn't giving me much choice.

[spacialeyes]

[Even once he’s mostly contained his tears, Yuuto keeps his hands near his face. He can’t let anyone see the starry goo smears left on the pages or the similar tracks of tears down his face. He knows that he looks scary right now. He feels frightening.

Mei’s empathy for Himeko makes so much more sense now. But he can also understand the pain his friends went through in January, when he nearly became a monster himself, now that he’s experienced Mei’s point of view.

Yuuto keeps his head lowered.]

Even so… I’m sorry. I invaded your privacy.

[…] Did Inaba make you think of her?

[composalvation]

[It feels so... voyeuristic to be reading these stories. Even not knowing the context behind all of them, Kanade recognizes some names, Yuuto and Ai and Taiga...

... and Mei. She almost turns the pages too quickly, because Mei has been nothing but kind to her in the times they've spoken, and she very much wants to respect her privacy. But her eyes catch on some of the words, like getting a piece of clothing snagged while passing a thorny bush. It's enough for her to linger on the story in front of her, and then - ]

Augh...

[A flash. It's like that feeling when you're nodding off, only to be whipped back into your body so fast you jolt or stumble. It's enough to actually make her stumble, reaching up to press the heel of her palm into her temple, but the feeling - the visions she suddenly received - fade almost as soon as they've come.

... It isn't until the buzz in her brain calms that she looks up, to see that the subject of her curiosity is standing not that far away from her, close to the shelf. Instantly, a look of guilt crosses her face.]

A-Ah, Raiden-san...

[everpromisedthunder]

[As far as she was concerned, energy burned on being upset over things out of her control is energy wasted. Even so, Mei does frown a bit, when she notices the discomfort. The young principal also seemed ready to catch her in the event the stumble she took turned into a fall, and even kept an arm out to stop her from going too far.

...First things first. They can talk about what she glimpsed later.]

How are you feeling, Kanade?

[composalvation]

[Kanade just shakes her head. She looks... upset, more than scared or confused. After all, she's been in this world for close to a year now. Things like this suddenly happening is unfortunately something she's getting used to.

... Still...]

I think... I saw something I shouldn't have. I'm sorry...

[loveedition]

[ The whole thing felt sick. Ryoko had been trying to note who's stories were where the entire time, and had tried to mark where she found names she recognized, who's stories were familiar enough for her to know not to look in their presence.

It was letting her guard down for that instant that caused her mind to swivel and different events to cycle through her head.

She had read through them.

Three of them so far, all... heartbreaking in different ways. Certainly at the end, as her breath stills. An all too familiar feeling hitting her straight in her heart, crumbling underneath the pressure.

The sight of the person dearest to her, becoming a monster. Someone that she wanted to feel safe around, wanted to keep safe.

The heartwrenching, dehabilitating feeling of despair that washed over her when those hopes had all but disappeared. When the sheer size of the world around you, and the insignificance of your being finally... threatens to bury you.

Ryoko slams the book shut, which might startle her, those around her, and... potentially Mei. She's stunned, and shyly looks down at the shelf itself, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone. ]

S...Sorry. I'll...

[ ...She wants to shuffle away. ]

[everpromisedthunder]

[It definitely snaps her out of her reading -- which, well, given what she was looking at, might have been for the best. It's hidden, perhaps too well hidden,

but she'd definitely come across something, and it had bothered her enough that she had to fight down her emotions.

The only thing Ryoko gets after an unsettling silence is a hand on her shoulder. When she looks at who it belongs to, she'll see Mei, an unreadable look in her eyes.

She says nothing, for a few long moments, but then,]

Don't be. Sometimes, things simply happen. [There's some warmth in her words, still, despite how enigmatic she looks.]

[loveedition]

[ Mei certainly gets two different memories. Both of hope. One of them, from when she was a normal girl. The other, the result of a terrible battle. ]

E-Even so, it's still invasive, isn't it? Things simply happening isn't how it should be...

[rejectedchain]

[He hadn't wanted to read the memories that weren't his, but as he tried to find and get rid of certain books, he'd skim others' stories and memories. The whole thing felt wrong and invasive, so he did his best to not read them thoroughly.

That doesn't stop the memory from flooding in when he approaches Mei. He knows Mei has her own demons, but to him she's been an authority figure and coworker, a source of strength and resilience at everything life has thrown at her. She's someone to emulate. Living through the memory of someone he respects is different.

He feels like he's known the other girl for forever and can still feel the warmth of her palm in h- in Mei's hand. They finally had met eachother again, but Mei had been taken from her. Still disoriented and reeling from the memory, he finally looks at her, trying to apologize.]

I...

[everpromisedthunder]

[It seemed like the worst kind of miracle was out to cause them both duress today.

Mei had seen into his history -- all of a brief moment granted, but still -- and glimpsed... a life that, as far as she could tell, had always been rife with the consequences of impulse. He was never afraid to speak up for himself, even then; she's become more outspoken herself, but... that wasn't always the case. Would things have been different, had she been like him -- said what was on her mind, and not succumbed to the pressure of those around her?

She'll never know now. And that was probably for the best.

...still, she notices that look in his eyes. Her gaze remains gentle, in spite of what clearly happened.]

...Are you alright, Elliot?

[rejectedchain]

[Why is she asking if he's alright? Elliot shakes his head to try and clear it, but the promise Mei kept in her heart, those feelings for the other girl echo in his mind. He isn't surprised by Mei's resolve, but that doesn't placate the pang of guilt from having witnessed something not meant for him.]

I'm fine. I'm sorry- I saw one of your memories.