starsand | bee catch all

bee catch all

we will pretend that this is like, a nice pretty catch all post, but the reality is that it's 8 pm on a sunday and i'm melting into a puddle

who are we workin' with? what are they up to? how do they feel about them stories?

taiga aisaka!
-taiga is still workin' at a flower shop!
-she also tries to help out at ryoko's new oden joint when she can
-taiga kinda thinks her stories suck! a lot!
-if she can get away with it, she's gonna avoid talking about them

kimiko!
-kimiko is trying to be less of a shut in, and she's doing... okay at it
-she is no less of a creeper, though. sorry
-kimiko's stories? what stories? kimiko would never have any stories

lilith!
-lilith's just been vibin, don't worry about it
-she's still pretty focused on the whole 'fitting in with humans' thing
-the stories as a whole are confusing her, because so many of them are vague
-she REALLY doesn't like her's, though.

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[ Naturally, Ryoko has been... extra wary of these books. The stories they held bugged the hell out of her, and she didn't want to pry too deeply into any of them. None of it was her business, especially if they were about her fellow Fallen Stars.

...but.

The unfortunate thing is, she's still human. She's still curious, and she wanted to see what else was in there. Maybe she made the mistake of reading the book in their home while Taiga was nearby, because soon, her senses are assaulted. ]

Wait, no--

[ She had started to read the first two stories relating to Taiga in the book, and... it took her a while to adjust to what she was seeing. ]

[ Truth be told, Taiga hadn't even realised Ryoko brought a copy of the book home. Of course she had heard about the stories, but it was something she didn't want anything to do with. There couldn't possibly be anything good to come of it, so she had been focusing her time on the other rumors.

She's idly laying on the ground, some bizarre resource management game about turnips holding her attention, when Ryoko speaks in a tone that was blatantly concerning. Taiga sets the game aside. ]

You okay...?

[ It more than likely looks like Ryoko might be zoning out after that. Instead, scenes flash in her head.

Of watching fireworks, seeing something exciting as her heart soars, only for it to land with a thud at the sight of two of her friends, close to each other, speaking with each other. Both excited. Both seeming happy.

...she called out for Ryuuji, didn't she?

And then, the scene changes. She's by herself, watching her friends race. Racing for the right to dance with her. One of them, the guy with blue hair, was fighting so much harder, running with so much more fervor than the others.

Then, a second. Her other friend, red hair atop her head, overtaking him as he yelled out. She trips, takes out the new leader with a softball, and then body checks everyone else to give the boy a wide berth.

Instead, he helped her up, and made it a point to cross with her. Hand in hand.

Oh.

Suddenly. So much clicked into place. Outside of her vision, as the world settled back in front of her... ]

Ryuuji... Minorin...

[ Like fitting in pieces of a puzzle she didn't know she was solving.

...why did... she feel something cracking inside of her? ]

[ it’s not until taiga hears those names that she truly takes action, sitting up with a start to figure out what prompted it; she understands almost immediately as her gaze darts from ryoko’s face to the book in front of her, but…

why?

taiga can feel her world growing distant, anxiety bubbling within at the realisation of what could be written on those pages. things she had packed away in a desperate bid to move on from a life she had wished herself away from, because to hold onto them too tightly would only hurt. she’s hesitant to respond, because to acknowledge it means having to confront it, and at least in this limbo, taiga can maybe pretend. ]

… Wh-what…?

[ As Ryoko closes the book, she thinks about a conversation she had a couple months back. What to do when you've inserted yourself into a story that doesn't involve you.

Step out of their life-- no, she can't, and won't. Regardless of how this feels... she knows Taiga loves her. It's rock solid.

...but, even a slight ounce of doubt exists... she should say something.

Don't overthink it.

...how could she even say that now? When she overthinks it, she screws up. Even when she just goes with the flow... she screws up.

She's quiet for a moment, before... ]

Um...

The ones in those stories. That was... Ryuuji and Minorin. Right?

[ the urge to shut this down immediately is strong, and her hands curl into clenched fists in her lap. if she lashes out, ryoko will back off and taiga will continue to avoid the topic. it would solve nothing, but it would be easy. as of now, that had always worked.

except, there was doubt of her own that she could continue this. what if it didn’t work? if ryoko grew frustrated with having to deal with her, and gave up?

taiga couldn’t possibly handle that. ]

I-I don’t… know what’s in that stupid book. [ does she even want to know? ] But… p…probably?

[ Ryoko really doesn't know what Taiga's read of the book, if she's telling the truth about not knowing what's in there or not. She doesn't have any reason not to believe her anyway.

Except, knowing that it's a touchy subject. The more that she thinks on how touchy a subject it is, she knows the worse it'll hurt.

She doesn't know what she wants to ask, much less what she really wants to say. After all she's done, she wants to be as careful with her words as possible, and try not to lead with her heart for once. If she did... it'd hurt too much. ]

...the characters in the book, they... seemed really determined to reach Ms. Festival. It's heartwarming, at least, from my perspective.

They...

[ Ryoko hesitates. What else could she possibly say...? ]

...they seem... good together. I think.

[ ms. festival… how long ago had she won that title? that entire day had felt like a dream to her, swinging from the hopes of being welcomed back into her family to the nightmarish reality that she was only useful as a daughter when it was convenient. once again, her world had fallen apart around her and others had to pick up the pieces for her. she had watched as ryuuji and minorin crossed the finish line together, to rescue her.

that night was, ultimately, responsible for her decision to become a magi.

of course the facility would want to remind her of this. magi were of particular interest to them, and she was by far the most emotionally volatile.

conflicted, taiga avoids ryoko’s gaze, though her discomfort is obvious enough. ]

Th…they do…

[ that barely even counts as a response, and she knows ryoko deserves better, but… the words feel stuck in her throat. ]

I-I… [ all taiga can do is let out a shaky sigh. ]

[ ...it was the wrong move.

Taiga's expression falls, and Ryoko suddenly, feels stranded. She started a conversation neither of them could properly finish, and it felt far too damaging to ignore.

She doesn't want to talk about it.

...Ryoko doesn't want to express how she feels about it.

All she can do is muster out a quiet: ]

--Sorry.

[ that single word hurts more than taiga thought it could. ]

N, no… It’s… okay.

[ it really isn’t okay, but if she doesn’t try to convince herself… if she had to relive that moment on stage, eyes wide as she scans beyond the spotlights into the crowd… ]

I… I think… Ms. Festival was… really grateful, t-to see those two… working together again.

Mm. Were they fighting at the time?

[ A question that slips out of her mouth naturally, before she shakes her head. ]

Actually... no, it's fine. If it was a part of the story that I should know... it'd be there. Just reading what I did is enough.

[ She can't even bring herself to bring up the fireworks. The feeling of loneliness as two people that Taiga had gotten close to grew closer together, without her.

How lonely it feels when, without fail... Ryoko Asakura is doomed to relive that. Over and over again. ]

I don't think it's a bad thing to remember something like this, but... I understand how it could hurt. We're here for the same reason, after all.

[ Neither of them could deal with what had been presented to them. ]

Mmm, they… were fighting because of me—I-I mean, Ms. Festival.

[ even if ryoko said it was alright, to not know the whole story, it was clearly not. taiga couldn’t even blame her for feeling that way; how can you truly love someone who hides from her past? it had to hurt, reaching out with so much kindness, just to be rebuffed for it. ]

They… they were both just trying to protect me, i-in their own ways… And they didn’t agree on it. I tried to get them to make up, but it didn’t work until…

I-I guess, in the end I was the one who really got hurt.

[ and she had realised that, as long as she was around, it was destined to keep happening. ]

...mm.

[ That's how it was. Fighting, and making up, both for Taiga's sake. They were trying to keep her safe, but ultimately...

They wanted to reach her together. ]

I guess... whatever resentment they might have had at the moment wasn't enough to overcome how much they care about you.

[ Why the hell is she wiping away a tear? She feels stupid for even threatening to tear up over this, before clearing her throat. ]

A-Anyway, I think I'm done reading this.

[ She says, tossing the book to the side. ]

It… was really nice to see them together, l-like that… I don’t know what I would’ve done without them, that day. I was really happy. Everything went back to normal.

[ taiga glances at the discarded book. what other stories did it have about her? ]

N-not long afterwards… Kyuubey found me. And, well…

...you thought you were being a burden, and wished yourself away.

[ Her heart sinks, just saying that. Just hearing this. For her to feel that happy and then fall into despair that quickly.

...

She quietly goes over to wrap her arms around Taiga, lightly pressing a kiss into her hair. ]

...I wish I could thank them. I want to, if they really made you happy like that.

[ taiga can’t help but to let out a loud sniffle as ryoko comes over to her. to hear something worded so gently over memories that stung so much, that she had tried so hard to forget…

ryoko was, and still is, always so kind to her. ]

Mmm… th-they… I think they would approve of you…

I… I miss them, s-sometimes…

[ she buries herself in ryoko’s arms, as if to make sure she’s still there. ]

Mm. Of course you do.

[ She lightly pats down Taiga's hair, trying to stay soothing. This girl had responded in kind, of course. Even if Ryoko didn't know everything... did that even matter anymore?

This was who she loved.

That should be enough. And she's learned a lot about her since they've met. ]

I can't imagine you growing so close to anyone, just to stop missing them when they're not in sight. Some connections just can't be broken, even by magic.

Kimiko-chan!! I'm glad I found you~

[Kagami's read the stories. He's nosy like that. It wasn't difficult for him to determine was story was Kimiko's, and he knows by now the risk of approaching her. When has anything like that stopped him before?

He braces himself, as best as he can, once he gets close enough and just...stops reacting to anything going on around him entirely.]

Kagamin~!

[ Has Kimiko looked at the book? She's absolutely read through as much of it as she could stomach. Her apartment might also be littered with torn, burnt up pages, but that's a minor detail; definitely one that isn't connected to anything about her. ]

You need Kimiko for something?

[He doesn't respond or hear her as he's submerged into memories that aren't his to see. He feels everything- the fragments of Kimiko's heart, the flood of emotions once the dam finally breaks, and a love stronger and more intense than anything he's felt capable of for years.

He hasn't realized he's cupped both hands over his heart until Kimiko's voice pulls him out of it, reminding him of his promise to himself that he'll keep her safe and encourage her to find happiness. He offers her a shaky smile.]

I just wanted to see you!

Eeeeh? You actually wanted to see me? I didn't know Kimiko was that good of company...!

[ Kimiko's excited inflection doesn't fit with the clear look of concern on her face. Even though Kagami was a good enough actor that Kimiko is usually able to play along, she can't this time. ]

Kagamin is sad, or?

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bee catch all

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