come out of hiding, i'm right here beside you

[barehands]

[A while after the execution has ended, everyone will find a simple note slipped under their door.]

If you don't want to be alone after everything that's happening, some of us will be in the dining room. Even if you decide not to come, please remember that you aren't alone here.

[The note isn't signed, but the handwriting is feminine and neat.

For anyone who decides to come, there's a good array of food laid out on the table. There are some small and simple cakes, cookies, and pastries, a healthy amount of okonomiyaki, okayu, and other Japanese dishes (with a focus on rice and eggs), along with curry. In addition, there are pancakes, and a large pot of soup. It looks like a few people collaborated to make enough food for everyone here.

Just like the meal they shared together earlier in the week, the candles from the storage room lend a more peaceful light than the fluorescent lights above.]

Comments

[nachetanya]

[ Nachetanya sits up too. She doesn't pull off the other, but goes once more into the straddling position, holding her hand the whole time. Of course given Tsubasa has her hands around Nachetanya's one she can't quite pull her up, but she does tr to coax her into sitting up - Nachetanya can then scoot to allow for that better. After all, this is a somewhat more serious talk.

Her eyes swim a little as she processes this, both the words and her tone of voice. she inhales, exhales... And she wishes he had another hand to touch her with. In lieu of that, she leans her head forward to press their foreheads together. ]

I remember sleeping on the ground, looking up at the stars while the civil war happened. During that time, I wished and dreamed of nothing more than being able to sleep without the fear of death looming over me.

[ She says this sympathetically. To afford the same sort of ... well, she expects Tsubasa to relate, really, and Nachetanya is saying she understands. ]

[halleberry]

[ Tsubasa gets the message. She lets her forehead touch Nachetanya's, lets her breathe, gives her a moment for them both to catch their breath. She hears what she's saying, and she lets the moment linger; she's not used to showing her vulnerability like this, to exposing this part of herself to the light, but in the chaos of today and in the midst of the games they play, it's a moment of repose.

She never thought exposing that weakness would be so refreshing, even though that weakness doesn't show on her face. Her headache persists, though, and the beating in her chest does, too. ]

Your situation and mine are worlds apart. ...But I understand you.

[nachetanya]

[ Is it, though? That different from each other? The princess laughs a little bit and remains in this comfortable position for a while, her red eyes swimming. She feels comfortable like, to speak...

As equals?

She hums, ]

If you want to continue, Tsubasa, it would be your turn. [ But- ] But I am comfortable with this moment to last more.

[halleberry]

My turn, huh?

[ She stays quiet as she mulls this over... ]

What made you want to ask me about that?

[ Not upset, or chiding; with all the cadence of someone asking "What's the weather looking like tomorrow?" ]

[nachetanya]

[ . . . Haha.

She shakes her head, her hair brushing against Tsubasa a little in the process ]

It's unpleasant that I still smell like Kogami's smoke, isn't it?

[ Maybe she should have a more serious question, but. ]

[halleberry]

The smell doesn't bother me.

[ Only because not much seems to. ]

[nachetanya]

[ and now, breaking their rules: ]

Has our game excited you?

[halleberry]

It went in a place I didn't expect, but I've been enjoying learning more about you as a person, Nachetanya.

[nachetanya]

You know that wasn't the answer I was looking for.

[ she says with a light pout. But she also worms her hand around here between Tsubasa's, shakes her head and then more evenly: ]

... I agree, though. I'm pleased to think that we're friends, Tsubasa. and I promise to keep your secrets.

[halleberry]

I know it wasn't. You're not the only one who can be a little bit coy. It's not much of a game if only one person plays.

[ Just good friends. Gals being pals. ]

You know I won't tell a soul about anything that goes on here. It's probably intimate enough that Transmitter-san stopped watching around the time you pushed me on the bed.

[nachetanya]

Oh! [ She says with some surprise in her voice, her mouth opening a little wide. As if she didn't think of that ] That's true, isn't it?! We might well have had a private conversation all to ourselves.

[halleberry]

I had considered briefly that you had pinned me for that reason, but now I see it was just you being you, Nachetanya.

[ Ah well. She didn't mind it. ]

[nachetanya]

[ Seemingly, it was her being her. ]

Will you be staying then night to earn back you pajamas properly?

[halleberry]

If you don't mind having me, or letting me borrowing them in the morning. I'd rather not leave come 7 am and have everyone staring at my nurse outfit. People might get the wrong idea.

[nachetanya]

It does hug you chest even more than that uniform you usually wear.

[ She said, missing that everything Nachetanya wore hugs her own chest a lot. Because of course it does. ]

[halleberry]

How romantic. Truly, you have quite a way with words.

[nachetanya]

I did make you cheeks color!

[ She says, arrogantly! ... Or at least, seemingly. She puts a hand up to her own chest and - ... Finally scoots herself off some straddling the other. ]

[halleberry]

Not out of flattery, you didn't! I just blushed because of how forward you were. It was hardly appropriate.

[ She needs to sit back up again, and take a moment to breathe... ]

[nachetanya]

[ . . . Ooooh.

She smiles a little, and once she's sitting next to the girl instead of on her: ]

So the better way to do that would be... "Tsubasa, you look beautiful every time I've seen you. I'm flattered to know that you wanted to wear that outfit that embarrasses you in order to impress me, and show how much you care for me. I'm touched in a way I don't have words for, but I wanted to hold your hand and tell you that I'm falling for you since the moment you stepped in. After all, I didn't intend to allow anyone into my room, and I will never invite in anyone save you."

[halleberry]

[ Her hand darts to her head; the more Nachetanya speaks, the longer she goes on, the more teasing words come out if the mouth, the more Tsubasa tries to hide her face in her hand. There's some kind of sound she makes to that sentiment, a mixture between a groan and a chuckle.

Nachetanya is getting better at pushing her buttons. ]

We were having a moment...

[nachetanya]

Well, I did have to correct my mistakes, after all.

[ But okay, okay, she can leave it be there!!

Probably.

She was laughing about it. ]

[halleberry]

[ She'll never admit it, but it was almost certainly laughter on her end. ]

Of course. We can't be too serious, now. Anyone else may be tempted to think you're telling the truth, there, and not just flattering me.

But you won't be fooling me, Assertive as you are.

[nachetanya]

You're making it sound like my title were "Duplicitous" or something, Tsubasa!

[halleberry]

"Provocative" is more along the lines of what I had in mind, but, if the shoe fits...

[nachetanya]

I see!

[ she... laughs a little at this again, and she scoots a bit on the bed, giving the other a tad more space. She also reaches over to push the phone a bit more centered on the nightstand. ]

Do you feel better?