Messenger Box

[eyeswideopen]

If you need to get a hold of Komaeda, here's where you do it.

Messenger birds, action, what have you.

Comments

[action, 7/10, about 6 AM]

[i_think]

[ She nods. ] Because there's no right answer... there's no such thing as a golden ending in most dating sims. Eventually you get to an end, but you have no idea if you were supposed to choose a different path.

[action, 7/10, about 6 AM]

[eyeswideopen]

You're correct! There's no right answer. [He turns on the heat, pouring a small amount of oil into the pan and shifts it about. Once the oil has coated the bottom of the pan, he continues.]

It's more complex because you're factoring in people and people are complicated. Give seven individuals the same situation and you'll get a variety of responds. Some might be the same! But most will be different.

[Komaeda walks over to the fridge and pulls it open. He grabs the eggs, and what else he needs.]

When two people form a bond, it is even more naunced. They have their history, their emotions, and their personalities to contend with. They could come from entirely different backgrounds and only have a physical attraction to each other that starts that path... Even their first meeting factors into it. Or the moment one confesses...or realizes how the other feels.

[He stares at the shut fridge door for a long moment. It's not hard to talk about it like this but it's about to get very personal.]

If one or both start to love each other...that's when that complexity takes on even more life. Because not only is there a bond but it could hurt them in ways they never imagined.

[action, 7/10, about 6 AM]

[i_think]

With good comes bad, and with love comes... the possibility for...

[ The words tumble out of her mouth almost automatically. The conversation with Enoshima is still very much on her mind. ]

... the other thing.

[ She blinks. ] Life is a system of dualities, but the more that intersect, the more complicated it is to understand. Right?

thread jack, 1/2

[hopedout]

[ Hinata is very much awake now, but he's a bit groggy as he walks in with a yawn, completely shirtless and in his boxers because no way in hell was he going to sleep in his suit... ]

Oi, Komaeda do you have some clothes I can bo--

[hopedout]

W-Wait, Nanami...!?

[ What is she doing here this early in the morning?? He's internally screaming because this is the worst position to be in, considering his... morning wood.

W e l p. ]

[eyeswideopen]

[This is a good morning. He meets Hinata's eyes with a pleased, but amused quirk of his eyebrows to match the smile on his face.]

Nagito. [He corrects him, as he leans his hip against the counter.]

You've been here several times before. I keep my clothes in the bedroom closet. Pants are hung up along side my shirts. Shoes at the bottom, and coats on the rack. Underwear is in the nightstand by the left side of the bed.

Do you need any other assistance? [He keeps an eye on him as he returns to cracking eggs and setting up the mixture for Nanami's omelet.] If you need something right away, I'd suggest stepping into the shower. I'll bring a set of clean clothes to you after I finish here.

[How many double meanings did he fit in? Oh, a few.]

You might want to put something on those marks by the way. [He smiles wider, tapping the side of his neck that's partly covered by the collar of his shirt. He really hopes Hinata makes him pay for that remark later. Looking pretty pleased with himself Komaeda turns his attention back to Nanami.]

You're absolutely right. The more points of connection between two people and the more layered and heavy with meaning their relationship can be. Even with friends! That's why there's all that talk about childhood friends and the tragedies that sometimes birth from their ties breaking.

It's interesting, isn't it?

[i_think]

[ Nanami is mostly frozen when Hinata shows up, if only because she isn't sure how to react. She hadn't realized that Hinata had stayed the night, and this fact seemed to paralyze Hinata and embolden Komaeda.

Even she can tell that some of what the two are talking about is a bit intimate, though. And the timing of Komaeda's explanation to her doesn't escape her, either. She finally averts her gaze, instead deciding to focus on how Komaeda's cooking, so that she can learn. ]

Yes... interesting... [ She mumbles it, Komaeda's question startling her out of her reverie, grateful for another entrance into the conversation. ]

I imagine... especially for two people who are really good friends... another layer of connection could cause your emotions to really fluctuate, couldn't it?

[ Her eyes flick back and forth between the two boys, remembering Komaeda's moodiness, Hinata's occasional evasiveness. Things begin falling into place. ]

[hopedout]

Wha-- O-Oi, I thought you didn't...!?

[ Did he somehow miss something that Komaeda did? Did he get drunk at some point?? He's pretty sure that wasn't the case and he can feel his face burning. ]

I'll... just head to the shower.

[ HE'S SO FLUSTERED THAT. A BULLET FORMS AND JUST. SHOOTS TOWARDS THE GROUND because goddamn it Komaeda. of course, the bullet is harmless as there's a farting noise that comes from it. and then explodes into a water fireworks explosion. ]

[eyeswideopen]

[The water stops, met by a wind wall from Komaeda's held out hand. His voice in Hinata's mind is soft and warm, filled with affection and amusement. Well, you must have really been out of it last night. It was the first thing we did on my couch. One of the only things, as they both were just too overwhelmed and too damaged to do more than affirm they belonged to each other.

But if Hinata looks there's definitely a nice sized hickey on the left side of his neck, right above his collarbones.

He glances down in the bowl and whips the mixture. He pauses, shooting Hinat- Hajime a sly look.] Don't spend forever in there.

[To Nanami who he is sure has put a lot of pieces together he gives her a smile and carries the bowl in his free hand.]

Yes, adding another layer of connection can cause emotions to fluctuate. But it depends on what's going on with that connection! [Translation: Some really bad choices were made but things are fine now.]

[i_think]

[ Nanami flinches as the bullet splashes towards them, but Komaeda's quick action is enough to keep her mostly dry. Her socks get soaked. But she doesn't really mind, she thinks. ]

Well... maybe since you were so down for so many days, now you're in an up period. [ She's addressing both of them. ] And I really think that's a good thing.

[ She sits on the kitchen floor to pull her shoes off and then her soaked socks, wiggling her toes to dry them out. ]

It's important that you two take care of each other, though. Otherwise, it wouldn't really make sense for you two to be together, if it just made you unhappy. [ She puts her feet back in her shoes. Almost for the first time since he entered, she looks at Hinata. ]

Does that make sense?

[hopedout]

I...

[ He swallows hard, his face burning a scarlet red at the voice in his head before he just yells at Komaeda. ]

I'm not going to spend that much time in there!

[ Rude. That's rude. He knits his brows and he can see the barrage of bullets appear - although they look to be more harmless than his usual bullets. ]

A- Anyway! Nanami-- I'm going to deal with myself and. Do you mind if we... talked...? After you guys are done?

[eyeswideopen]

[It's like a bucket of water has been dropped on his mood. Komaeda says nothing at all. The very reason things went sideways is because care wasn't being taken. He'd been...clinging to any scrap of affection he could get while aware he could lose it all in one blink of an eye. Hinata had been...lost in his own world and struggling with it. They hadn't talked about anything but grabbed onto each other to stay afloat. It nearly drowned them both.

He stares at the pan and pours the scrambled egg mix into it. Picking up the pan and shifting it so it spreads out is easier than making a remark until Hinata is done speaking up himself.]

I took the day off. I'll still be here when you come out.

[He stares into the pan but his mental voice is much more sober when he brushes affection at Hinata's mind. I doubt she'll leave now that you've said that. If something comes up I'll let you know. Are you...going to tell her-?]

[i_think]

[ She didn't really get a response -- and she wants one.

Because Komaeda was definitely out of it recently, and this doesn't seem like a spur-of-the-moment thing. So for now, Nanami'll operate under the assumption that maybe Komaeda's mood -- maybe Hinata's as well -- each was influenced by the other.

And she wants confirmation from Hinata that... she can delegate this. Someone with that kind of influence over you, had to mean that you could be better at knowing when someone was hurting. Nanami certainly hadn't been good enough at it to tell, lately.

But the response she gets from Hinata instead throws her off. ]

Oh! Um... [ She realizes she's been standing there for a little while. ]

Okay. We can talk after breakfast. [ She's not sure whether she should stay or go, actually. Maybe he and Hinata want some more private time. ]

Is there anything you want, Hinata-kun?...

[hopedout]

Alright.

[ He nods to himself, smiling a bit painfully before answering Komaeda's mental message. Yeah, I plan to. You... don't mind, do you? He has to ask for confirmation, if only because he's afraid that he might get hated for feeling this way, or hell, even rejected. And it shows through the link. ]

Ah, I was planning on making my own, but... anything you guys would make would be nice. I'm not too picky or anything so it should be fine. If you need me, you know how to contact me. Sorry for interrupting your discussion, by the way.

[eyeswideopen]

[Komaeda doesn't look at either of them. Just yesterday he was standing in the ruined world that had been his heart. He'd lived in that fractured place for days on end and been unable to see a way clear.

He wants to wrap his arms about himself but he can't. Not right now. There are holes and cracks in the facade of fine he's had up. Love helps but...

I'm not going to tell you what to do one way or the other. I...

He bends over the pan, adding cheese to the center as he forces him mind past the block that is trying to keep the words locked inside. Because...Nanami is right. If they can't take care of each other this isn't going to work. And part of this whole mess was him just taking hit after hit without a word of protest.

It's your decision. But, one night together isn't going to fix all the damage that's here.

His face is a mask, unreadable as stone as he straightens, turning to Nanami.] You're absolutely right. If we can't do that, this won't work out.

I'm not out to hurt anyone, and I'll do what I can.

[He finally smiles but it's faint. Almost brittle. No, Nanami. He still isn't okay. Not by a long shot. At the same time, he brushes more affection Hinata's way. I'm not going to start hating you because you want everything you decided on all at once. You can add more to the mix, if you'd like but. Remember why things went wrong in the first place.

Nanami has a very valid point. And that's what makes it hard to speak up for himself. He wants Hinata to be as happy as he wants to be. But at the same time, it was ignoring his problems, his feelings that caused so much pain to him. How fair is that?]

[hopedout]

[ Hinata immediately turns around and walks away -- he can't embarrass himself here, especially if he's going to have a serious mental conversation with Komaeda. He's still rather flustered by the wohle thing, but it's evened out.

I already said that I wasn't going to choose.

He keeps his voice firm through the link, but there's something affectionate about what he says.

I know that one night isn't going to fix things. That goes for anything, really. But there's one thing that I want you to know. I won't turn back. I'm going to create my own future. I need to fix my mistakes, and this is how I'm doing it. I have to face Nanami, even if the answer I get hurts me.

I... just care too much to lose her.

Pain like a knife -- or no, like puzzle pieces falling apart can be heard when he talks about her. He's genuinely upset, and Komaeda should immediately know why. He's going to take his shower. He said he would, didn't he? While he's off to do that, the water running, he speaks up again, eerily calm.

It's as if Kamukura took over but there's something to his voice, an edge that was never heard in Hinata prior to now.

I won't forget. If I do, you're free to punch me and remind me about the mistakes I did. Because I... care about you too. But I'm scared about how she might react. Nanami, she-- She isn't good at dating simulations.

I don't know if she understands love, primarily because she's artificial intelligence. I'm scared, Koma- He has to correct himself. Nagito.

If... in the off chance that she says no. Can I stay by your side? Can we do... what we did yesterday? I just want to hold someone really close right now because I don't know if what I'm doing is the right thing to do.

It's just really stupidly selfish of me, I know, but... would you be okay with that?

He has to drown out his yelling with the water that runs down his entire body, washing away the tears. Hinata Hajime is certainly not crying. No... ]

[i_think]

[ Nanami watches him go, somewhat abruptly. This whole morning has been a confusion of emotions, most of which she's pretty sure she doesn't understand. Including her own.

There's a swirl of emotions going on within her, too. Plenty of different conflicting things. But they're all overriden by one impulse:

She has to see how Komaeda is doing. Something about the conversation really sobered him up.

She leans against the counter, still watching him cook. It's actually not totally unlike some cooking video games she's played, so that's useful to know. ]

I didn't think you were. I don't think either of you are.

It's just still something you have to be careful of.

Komaeda-kun... [ She's hesitant, but she has an important question for him, too. ] You'll look after Hinata-kun, too. Right?

[eyeswideopen]

[As much as he wants to answer his ridiculous boyfriend, Nanami's questions catch him by surprise as he moves to grab a plate. Komaeda pauses, hand on the cupboard edge.]

Of course. I'll do everything I can to take care of him. He's made a lot of mistakes with it...but I'm not about to be a poor boyfriend to him. He's trying and that's what matters. I wasn't exactly the most careful person with my own heart either. So he didn't make the mistakes entirely on his own.

[He had been hurt so bad. It's not something he likes thinking about even if he just mentioned it to Hinata. He kind of wishes he had time to step into the bathroom and hold his probably losing shit in there Hajime until he calms down. But being a poor host to a friend isn't in him either. He slides the omelet onto the plate and sets it in her reach.]

Next time, I'll try making it fish shaped.

[Komaeda smiles just a little less brokenly. And finally reaches for Hinata's mind again. He knows what to do and constructs the mental space, using his memories of his bathroom. It will feel like warm arms are wrapping around Hinata's waist and Komaeda's body fitting up against his as his love, his hopes, and appreciation runs over him just like the water. Hajime. Did you really think I'd turn you away? I'm not...ready for any sort of activity that would make us both stop thinking but.

All I ever wanted was to be by your side. Whether this is selfish is not for me to decide. But part of being in a relationship is supporting each other. There's no you or I. It's an us, now.]

[i_think]

[ The omelet's done, just like that. Nanami probably missed a couple of steps. At least she got the gist? ]

Thank you... [ She finds a fork and knife and begins cutting it up, while Komaeda focuses his energies on reaching out to Hinata. She looks up and listens quietly to the shower running. ]

Even when he's at his lowest. [ She places a careful hand on his back, pushing gently on the fabric of his shirt, towards the stairs.

Hint, hint, Komaeda. ]

I'll be down here when you're ready for me... probably.

[ Meanwhile she'll be cutting that omelet -- into three even slices. ]

[eyeswideopen]

[He stares at her while his face turns as scarlet as Hinata's had been earlier. Komaeda stares at the ceiling then takes the pan off the burner and shuts off the stove. He pours her coffee and his own, setting his off to the side.

It takes a second to locate the sugar and set it on the counter. Then he spins on his heel and strides for the bathroom.]

I'll be a few minutes.

[Maybe more than a few but nothing too long.]

[i_think]

[ Nanami watches him go, and keeps listening to the water flow through the pipes to the shower, where the other two are obviously talking. She's still turning things over in her head, and not sure what to think about first.

So she decides to think about something else entirely. Sometimes walking away from a game is the best way of beating it, after all. She picks up her plate and wanders over to Komaeda's living room to look at the map of Verens, examining it closely to see all the little streets and alleys on the island.

So much to figure out. So many intricacies...

She notices the journals but leaves them alone for now. Instead, she idly picks up one of Komaeda's huge books and flops down onto the couch with it, setting her plate aside. She flips through the volume, losing herself in the details of the Arehtei, and before she knows it, she's drifting off...

Yep, she forgot to drink her coffee, and keeping odd hours will do that to a person, former AI or not. ]

[hopedout]

[ It takes him a few minutes, but those few minutes are worth it before Hinata comes back, fully clothed. He has a towel around his neck and he immediately notices-- ]

O-Oi, Nanami. Wake up.

[eyeswideopen]

[Komaeda leans on the back of the couch, his eyes sliding shut. He's a only little tired but, it's that blissful sense of contentment that's really threatening to put his lights out.

He's fully dressed in the outfit he wore on Jabberwock. The chain on his hip rattles as he sighs.]

She must have forgot to drink her coffee.

[He opens one eye, while resting his chin on his palm. With an effort of thought he reaches for her mind.

Nanami, we're ready now. He lets a softer, friendly affection twist in lazy circles through the connection. Komaeda lets his eye settle on Hinata as he whispers.]

Do you want me here for this...or shall I go wake myself up? [He points to the exercise room just across from the couch.]

[i_think]

H-huh...? [ She hasn't gotten used to telepathy yet, so sometimes she forgets that it's a thing, and particularly that it can be used the way Komaeda does. It means that when she wakes, she wakes with a careful smile. ]

Oh... Already? [ The time seems to have flown. She's not sure how long it's been since she got here. She looks up at the two of them, and rubs her eyes. ]

Mm... okay. Your breakfast is on the counter... [ She blinks. ] What did you want to talk about?...

[hopedout]

I think it would be better if you heard this too, Nagito.

[ He has to remind himself that they're on a first name basis now. It's hard, considering that he's just so used to calling him by last name. Hinata looks at her with serious eyes, pressing his lips together. Although he's trembling slightly, he swallows things hard. ]

I... I don't know how much you'll understand it. But I want you to listen anyway, Nanami. For the longest time, back on the island... I didn't realize it at the time, but. I loved you. No, 'loved' isn't right-- I still love you, Nanami. But... I also love Nagito, too.

Does that make sense...?