Route 29: ｍｏｄｓ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
these_balls) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
route_10652016-05-27 01:10 pm
these_balls) wrote in route_10652016-05-27 01:10 pm
Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher
Who: EVERYONE
Where: THE ACTUAL MOON
When: Friday, May 27th through Sunday, May 29th!
Summary: THIS IS YOUR MOD-PROVIDED OPEN LOG FOR FOURTH WALL PROMAGEDDON!
Rating: May vary by thread, please mark accordingly!
Log:
~
☆ YOU ARE HERE ☆
LOCATIONS OF NOTE:
• REDUCED G MOON BALLROOM
Accessible only via the balcony that connects back through to the regular ballroom, this unusual section of the moon base is the only major room in which the gravity more closely reflects that of the actual moon, as opposed to being artificially enhanced to better simulate the conditions Earthside. The dance floor is situated approximately fifteen feet below the balcony, recessed into the moon's surface where the rest of the base sits at ground level, and overhead a massive domed ceiling lets in a magnificent view of outer space, the moon's surface, and all the surrounding stars. The acoustics are just as good as those of the standard ballroom, and this dance floor will feature the same music as the other; the only appreciable difference is that in the Reduced G Moon Ballroom, gravity is mostly optional and you're liable to find as many couples spinning through the open air as you are with solid ground beneath their feet. Try not to get trapped in the middle with no momentum, or you might just need a rescue from some considerate stranger!
• REGULAR BALLROOM
A more traditional ballroom for the more traditional partygoer on the moon base: hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and tasteful music. Of particular note are the balcony doors at the north end of the ballroom, which lead onto the observation balcony that overlooks the Reduced Gravity Moon Ballroom! Please don't block those doors; they're the only way in or out!
• DINING ROOM AND BUFFET
GOOD FOOD, GOOD MEAT, GOOD GRIEF, LET'S EAT! The dining room is an area accessible from both the ballroom and the hallway that leads between the reception area and the dorms, featuring scores upon scores of tables of varying sizes that might seat as little as two or as many as eight. On days when the party isn't in full swing, buffet-style meals will be served over a period of two hours at three times during the day — breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When the party is jumping, however, the table will remain perpetually stocked with entrees, sides, and of course a full complement of magnificent desserts for people to feast and snack upon as they so choose!
• DORMS AND SLEEPING AREAS
Your moon base home-away-from-home for the next three days! In the massive dorm wing of the base, you'll find vast corridors of hostel-style bunks available to be claimed. Unclaimed bunks will signal their availability by having their curtains open and empty bunk displayed; though the privacy curtains and beds themselves boast no particular security features, each bunk does come with a reasonably-sized trunk for storing a guest's belongings. Upon claiming the bunk, a guest will be prompted to register their trunk with a thumbprint, which thereafter will be used to lock and unlock their trunk. If you're worried about something happening to your belongings or valuables, feel free to lock them up for safekeeping!
• INDOOR GREENHOUSE AND FLOWER GARDEN
A secluded place where partygoers can retreat from the festivities for a little while, whether it be to catch their breath, for a tête-à-tête, or anything else that might involve the desire for a little more peace and quiet. Featuring small walking paths, real fresh flowers, and even a small inches-deep artificial burbling brook, the moon base garden looks to be a little slice of the planet Earth preserved here in outer space. Seems like all that's missing are the wild Pokemon!
• LIBRARY, MUSIC ROOM, SPA, AND ARCADE
An assortment of four general leisure rooms in the western wing of the Moon Base, most of which are fairly self-explanatory! So, if you feel so inclined, take some time to stop in, poke around, and enjoy yourself in:
▶ THE LIBRARY, which features muted lighting, plenty of hardwood paneling, and a quiet atmosphere for reading a book in one of the cozy armchairs or piling up a dozen to peruse at one of the available tables. You're welcome to find the usual Pokemon-ified standard fare of books here; unfortunately, research-inclined people digging for secrets about the moon base, Pokemon, or other such nonfiction topics aren't likely to unearth anything of any particular note this time. Alas!
▶ THE MUSIC ROOM, which boasts a wide array of instruments available for the guests to make use of, including a grand piano, a few guitars (both acoustic and electric), and a general assortment of other choices from the brass, string, wind, and percussion families.
▶ THE SPA FACILITIES, where guests are welcome to unwind and relax in the various pools, hot tubs, and mineral baths available. Swimsuits and towels are provided in the built-in changing rooms for anyone interested in making use of the spa!
▶ THE ARCADE, containing plenty of video games, games of skill, and other such electronic amusements for patrons to pass the time away with. Skee-Ball and Dance Dance Eeveelution are, of course, particular standouts from the array, but there are plenty of other traditional games to be found in here. You can also find playing cards, board games, and other low-tech amusements in here, as well!
• CRYSTAL GARDEN AND TERRACE
A beautiful garden-like area filled with growing crystals located just outside the moon base, visible from the windows in the moon ballroom and accessible via a warm-lit terrace that leads out onto what appears to be the planet's surface itself. It appears that some unseen apparatus is maintaining an area of atmosphere over the expanse of the garden, rendering it safe for guests to wander and explore even without the benefit of space suits or oxygen tanks. However, being a part of the actual surface of the moon, it is possible that perusing among the crystals will net you an encounter with a wild Pokemon, so be careful where you tread among the crystals!
This is the only area where wild Pokemon can be battled and captured, and being that it is on the planet's surface, note also that this area is subject to reduced gravity, similar to the moon ballroom! The wild Pokemon you can find out here are as follows:
Cleffa, Clefairy, Clefable, Staryu, Starmie, Lunatone, Solrock, Elgyem,
Beheeyem, Jigglypuff, Togepi, Carbink, Boldore, Gigalith, Aron, Crustle
All Pokemon will be Level 20-30!
• HOLODECK
At first glance, the holodeck appears to be simply a vast open room criss-crossed with yellow grid lines, looming in the northwest corner of the moon base. However, once inside, a visitor may find that the holodeck is much more than it appears: a virtual reality facility capable of recreating familiar places by a combination of transported matter, replicated matter, tractor beams, and shaped force fields.
Though the holodeck comes with a variety of standard preprogrammed environments to play with and experience — an average beach, a deep forest, an unremarkable porch in someone's generic backyard — its greatest facet is its ability to recreate environments and places from its users' memories. Been missing home for a long time? The holodeck can take you (and your guests) back there — for as long as you've got it activated, at least. Please remember to use it sparingly and in small doses, lest you become addicted to the fantasy and not the reality!
(Mod Note: To clarify, the holodeck is here to indulge a character's (and by extension a player's) imagination. You are by no means limited to just the uses detailed above; if you'd like your character to fantasize about being in a 1920s gangster setting and play around with it as a prompt that takes place on the holodeck, you can feel free to do so! Note that the holodeck comes with safety features that will prevent a character from suffering serious injury (either from themselves, from the environment, or from other people using the holodeck simultaneously), but it is possible to get some bumps, bruises, and scrapes from the experience! Feel free to ask us if you're not sure what you can do with it, but generally speaking it's there to be played with, so don't hesitate to play with it!)
☆ IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER: ☆
• THE GENERAL PROM SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS:
Friday, May 27th — Arrival at the Moon Base; FREE DAY FOR OPEN EXPLORING!
Saturday, May 28th — Red Carpet Moon Gala!
Sunday, May 29th —route_29's 6-Year Anniversary!
• The premise for how your characters arrived on the moon can be found RIGHT OVER HERE! Feel free to be confused and bewildered by this...lunar-cy!
• We recommend putting your character's location in the header of your comment, or if you're doing multiple locations in the same comment, mark them clearly so people can find you more easily!
If you're a former or current player in Route and haven't submitted your Transfer Application for Victory Road, there's still time; you can find it RIGHT OVER HERE!
• To all of our players — whether you've been here for six years or six minutes, whether you've played a dozen characters or just one — thank you so much for playing here and making Route the great place it's been for all this time. We've had some great memories together, and it's been a delight and a privilege to play with and mod for all of you. ♥
☆ PROM DIRECTORY ☆
* Characters marked with an asterisk are not currently members of Route.
~
☆ QUICK LINKS ☆
THE PROM-SPECIFIC INFOPOST | THE FOURTH-WALL-SPECIFIC INFOPOST | QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES HOTLINE | WALK THE MOON
Where: THE ACTUAL MOON
When: Friday, May 27th through Sunday, May 29th!
Summary: THIS IS YOUR MOD-PROVIDED OPEN LOG FOR FOURTH WALL PROMAGEDDON!
Rating: May vary by thread, please mark accordingly!
Log:
☆ YOU ARE HERE ☆
LOCATIONS OF NOTE:
Accessible only via the balcony that connects back through to the regular ballroom, this unusual section of the moon base is the only major room in which the gravity more closely reflects that of the actual moon, as opposed to being artificially enhanced to better simulate the conditions Earthside. The dance floor is situated approximately fifteen feet below the balcony, recessed into the moon's surface where the rest of the base sits at ground level, and overhead a massive domed ceiling lets in a magnificent view of outer space, the moon's surface, and all the surrounding stars. The acoustics are just as good as those of the standard ballroom, and this dance floor will feature the same music as the other; the only appreciable difference is that in the Reduced G Moon Ballroom, gravity is mostly optional and you're liable to find as many couples spinning through the open air as you are with solid ground beneath their feet. Try not to get trapped in the middle with no momentum, or you might just need a rescue from some considerate stranger!
• REGULAR BALLROOM
A more traditional ballroom for the more traditional partygoer on the moon base: hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and tasteful music. Of particular note are the balcony doors at the north end of the ballroom, which lead onto the observation balcony that overlooks the Reduced Gravity Moon Ballroom! Please don't block those doors; they're the only way in or out!
• DINING ROOM AND BUFFET
GOOD FOOD, GOOD MEAT, GOOD GRIEF, LET'S EAT! The dining room is an area accessible from both the ballroom and the hallway that leads between the reception area and the dorms, featuring scores upon scores of tables of varying sizes that might seat as little as two or as many as eight. On days when the party isn't in full swing, buffet-style meals will be served over a period of two hours at three times during the day — breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When the party is jumping, however, the table will remain perpetually stocked with entrees, sides, and of course a full complement of magnificent desserts for people to feast and snack upon as they so choose!
• DORMS AND SLEEPING AREAS
Your moon base home-away-from-home for the next three days! In the massive dorm wing of the base, you'll find vast corridors of hostel-style bunks available to be claimed. Unclaimed bunks will signal their availability by having their curtains open and empty bunk displayed; though the privacy curtains and beds themselves boast no particular security features, each bunk does come with a reasonably-sized trunk for storing a guest's belongings. Upon claiming the bunk, a guest will be prompted to register their trunk with a thumbprint, which thereafter will be used to lock and unlock their trunk. If you're worried about something happening to your belongings or valuables, feel free to lock them up for safekeeping!
• INDOOR GREENHOUSE AND FLOWER GARDEN
A secluded place where partygoers can retreat from the festivities for a little while, whether it be to catch their breath, for a tête-à-tête, or anything else that might involve the desire for a little more peace and quiet. Featuring small walking paths, real fresh flowers, and even a small inches-deep artificial burbling brook, the moon base garden looks to be a little slice of the planet Earth preserved here in outer space. Seems like all that's missing are the wild Pokemon!
• LIBRARY, MUSIC ROOM, SPA, AND ARCADE
An assortment of four general leisure rooms in the western wing of the Moon Base, most of which are fairly self-explanatory! So, if you feel so inclined, take some time to stop in, poke around, and enjoy yourself in:
▶ THE LIBRARY, which features muted lighting, plenty of hardwood paneling, and a quiet atmosphere for reading a book in one of the cozy armchairs or piling up a dozen to peruse at one of the available tables. You're welcome to find the usual Pokemon-ified standard fare of books here; unfortunately, research-inclined people digging for secrets about the moon base, Pokemon, or other such nonfiction topics aren't likely to unearth anything of any particular note this time. Alas!
▶ THE MUSIC ROOM, which boasts a wide array of instruments available for the guests to make use of, including a grand piano, a few guitars (both acoustic and electric), and a general assortment of other choices from the brass, string, wind, and percussion families.
▶ THE SPA FACILITIES, where guests are welcome to unwind and relax in the various pools, hot tubs, and mineral baths available. Swimsuits and towels are provided in the built-in changing rooms for anyone interested in making use of the spa!
▶ THE ARCADE, containing plenty of video games, games of skill, and other such electronic amusements for patrons to pass the time away with. Skee-Ball and Dance Dance Eeveelution are, of course, particular standouts from the array, but there are plenty of other traditional games to be found in here. You can also find playing cards, board games, and other low-tech amusements in here, as well!
• CRYSTAL GARDEN AND TERRACE
A beautiful garden-like area filled with growing crystals located just outside the moon base, visible from the windows in the moon ballroom and accessible via a warm-lit terrace that leads out onto what appears to be the planet's surface itself. It appears that some unseen apparatus is maintaining an area of atmosphere over the expanse of the garden, rendering it safe for guests to wander and explore even without the benefit of space suits or oxygen tanks. However, being a part of the actual surface of the moon, it is possible that perusing among the crystals will net you an encounter with a wild Pokemon, so be careful where you tread among the crystals!
This is the only area where wild Pokemon can be battled and captured, and being that it is on the planet's surface, note also that this area is subject to reduced gravity, similar to the moon ballroom! The wild Pokemon you can find out here are as follows:
Beheeyem, Jigglypuff, Togepi, Carbink, Boldore, Gigalith, Aron, Crustle
All Pokemon will be Level 20-30!
• HOLODECK
At first glance, the holodeck appears to be simply a vast open room criss-crossed with yellow grid lines, looming in the northwest corner of the moon base. However, once inside, a visitor may find that the holodeck is much more than it appears: a virtual reality facility capable of recreating familiar places by a combination of transported matter, replicated matter, tractor beams, and shaped force fields.
Though the holodeck comes with a variety of standard preprogrammed environments to play with and experience — an average beach, a deep forest, an unremarkable porch in someone's generic backyard — its greatest facet is its ability to recreate environments and places from its users' memories. Been missing home for a long time? The holodeck can take you (and your guests) back there — for as long as you've got it activated, at least. Please remember to use it sparingly and in small doses, lest you become addicted to the fantasy and not the reality!
(Mod Note: To clarify, the holodeck is here to indulge a character's (and by extension a player's) imagination. You are by no means limited to just the uses detailed above; if you'd like your character to fantasize about being in a 1920s gangster setting and play around with it as a prompt that takes place on the holodeck, you can feel free to do so! Note that the holodeck comes with safety features that will prevent a character from suffering serious injury (either from themselves, from the environment, or from other people using the holodeck simultaneously), but it is possible to get some bumps, bruises, and scrapes from the experience! Feel free to ask us if you're not sure what you can do with it, but generally speaking it's there to be played with, so don't hesitate to play with it!)
• THE GENERAL PROM SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS:
Saturday, May 28th — Red Carpet Moon Gala!
Sunday, May 29th —
route_29's 6-Year Anniversary!• The premise for how your characters arrived on the moon can be found RIGHT OVER HERE! Feel free to be confused and bewildered by this...lunar-cy!
• We recommend putting your character's location in the header of your comment, or if you're doing multiple locations in the same comment, mark them clearly so people can find you more easily!
If you're a former or current player in Route and haven't submitted your Transfer Application for Victory Road, there's still time; you can find it RIGHT OVER HERE!
• To all of our players — whether you've been here for six years or six minutes, whether you've played a dozen characters or just one — thank you so much for playing here and making Route the great place it's been for all this time. We've had some great memories together, and it's been a delight and a privilege to play with and mod for all of you. ♥
* Characters marked with an asterisk are not currently members of Route.
THE PROM-SPECIFIC INFOPOST | THE FOURTH-WALL-SPECIFIC INFOPOST | QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES HOTLINE | WALK THE MOON
no subject
[ Wasteland life is suffering. ]
Besides, no way in hell could I find a dress there, even if I tried. Though, you say you brought friends, and judging by that smile of yours, don't tell me I get to finally meet the famous Chris...
[ She's not much of a gossip, really, but, this is something she needs details on ASAP. She doesn't even know what the dude looks like, after all. Still, mentioning the hat makes her reflexively put her fingers through the bright red fabric... ]
Well, if it were up to me, I might have left it in the room, but I'm a bit afraid that if I put it down somewhere, if I were to leave just as quickly as I got here, I might never see it again. And, well, that just won't do. Besides, I'm used to taking it pretty much everywhere at this point regardless. ...Er, not that I'm, you know, sentimental or anything! But...I dunno, it's special to me, I guess. L-look, you should consider that a compliment, all things considered!
[ Though it might not be...obvious why she would consider it that... ]
no subject
I- I don't- I don't understand what-- no, how do you know about Chris? I- I don't remember telling you about him. Did- did you talk to Dave? Or Karkat?
[Ashley does not understand what is going on at all.]
no subject
[ Ah. Now something seems to click for her, and her eyes go wide just before her face goes red and she tugs her hat down over her eyes. This is might just be the most awkward situation she's ever been in. ...Well, maybe second most, but, it's definitely up there. ]
...Scheisse, scheisse, scheisse, you're a different fucking Ashley. Oh my God, fuck my life, I'm just...I'm gonna go before I embarrass myself any more...
[ Fuck alternate timelines honestly ]
no subject
All that talking with Dave about other versions of him, about other things like that, Dirk's recent arrival- it's handy, because it means she just snaps to attention, with this strange understanding--]
Wh-what? A-a different- you've met another me? You're-- you're a different Asuka- wait, w-wait, just what did I tell you? How- how did we- if we're not from the same-- Um, are we...? Is there a me running around living on your- or--
[It's kind of hard to form questions when faced with the possibility of learning about a doppelganger. Huh! Who knew?]
no subject
She's not exactly the best at that, but, she'll try. ]
Don't worry, I'll explain. But it's not like there's another you where I'm from or anything. Here's the deal, Ashley: about half a year ago, twenty-nine people from all different worlds were all just sort of taken from wherever they were from and stuck inside a building in a country called Amestris, in another universe. Call it what you will: magic, alchemy, bullshit, whatever, but, we were all trapped there and forced to be a part of this weird trust exercise.
[ Because that sounds infinitely better than a murdergame, yes. She crosses her arms in her dress, adjusting her stance a bit as she ponders what she should and shouldn't say... ]
I won't bog you down with the details, but you and I were both part of it. It's not like I'm from the future or anything, though, or I'm some kind of time traveller; I'm just from another world where you and I met already. ...Though, from the sound of it, you've met another Asuka here, too, haven't you? ...I'm willing to bet every dollar I have that she's...what's the best word...
[ A bitch, probably. ]
Not very good with other people. Doesn't like the idea of other people. Does everything she can to keep herself at a distance. ...So I guess it must have been a little jarring to see me come up to you and talk like we're close. That was my mistake. And I was like that too, don't get me wrong. When I got there, even, I was like that. But, you and I...er, the other you and I...she's the first person I was able to actually call a friend. And that's something that wasn't easy for me to admit to myself, after spending so long convinced that I didn't need anyone but myself.
So I won't beat around the bush. It isn't as though we became fast friends, with no problems whatsoever. It was..definitely a rollercoaster. I'm not the easiest person to get along with, I know. And I was, by no stretch of the imagination, a good person. I was pretty terrible, honestly. And I didn't think anyone could forgive some of the things I had done, but...
...Well, miraculously, she did. And when we got out of there, I decided to...kind of change the way I thought about things. I wanted to be the person that she knew I could be, if I opened myself up more, if I decided I didn't need to put the weight of the world on my shoulders alone, if I let people in. ...It's tough to unlearn that way of thinking, of course, so, it's not exactly the easiest or most natural thing in the world for me, but, well, six months later, and I'm still doing my best, so, that's good.
no subject
"She's the first person I was able to actually call a friend."
It stops her. What? Her? Well, another her, a her similar enough that it took Asuka awhile to figure it out.
"And I didn't think anyone could forgive some of the things I had done, but..."
She needs a moment to digest this. Especially because, somewhere on this moon, there's a version of a person who she's been debating offering something like forgiveness, a person who doesn't even know what he did to her. It hits close to home, even closer than you'd expect when talking about an alternate version of yourself.
The cold but intelligent person here, to someone like this, because...]
I- She did all that? [Astounded. Beyond astounded, actually. In her fancy dress, in another world, she wonders just what happened to this other her.]
no subject
But yeah. I didn't mean to surprise you or anything, but, the person who turned my way of thinking around, it was you. It wasn't you, but, it was you.
[ It's cheesy, and she knows it's cheesy, because goddamn the sentiment is so saccharine that it makes her cheeks turn almost the same color as the red hat on her head. ...Actually, on that note, she fiddles with the brim, pulling it back up so they can make better eye contact... ]
It wasn't a very fun trust exercise, to put it mildly. Like I said, I don't want to bog you down with details, but, everyone who was a part of it went through a ton of bullshit. ...But some parts were a lot better than others. If I had to tell you all of the fucking ridiculous Harry Potter arguments we got into, I'd probably be here for the better half of the evening. And even when we were more or less at each others throats, we'd still vent to each other, one way or another.
[ It wasn't all that funny at the time, but, well, thinking about finding her so damn drunk that she could barely form complete sentences makes her try her hardest to stifle a chuckle. ]
...I never particularly cared much for other people's problems, but, well, helping her sort out some of hers was something I didn't mind doing. Even some of the bigger ones. And she helped me sort myself out a bit, too, so... before when you asked what she told me, well, there's a lot I know and there's a lot I don't know, but...well, some of it might have happened to you and some of it might not have yet, or it might never, which, I guess, makes things kind of complicated...
This, uh...is probably a lot to take in, isn't it? I didn't mean to get carried away.
no subject
[She sighs, runs a finger over her brow (careful, not to brush against her hair, or it'll come tumbling out from behind her ears) and looks down.]
...You don't have to tell me that part. A- about what she said to you. [If the other Ashley's big issues were at all comparable to her big issues, then spilling them to a kinda-sorta-stranger wouldn't be easy.
...Glances back up.] To think that it was me- even some version of me- who...who caused such a change in someone, it's... It's a little overwhelming. Even not, um...knowing the exact circumstances... [She spends about half a second biting her lip, trying not to fiddle with a strap on her dress.] But I'm glad to know. It... It's kind of...enlightening.
[What you could do, what you couldn't do. What you chose to do. It's all in some ways important, isn't it?]
no subject
[ Pretty much everyone was devastated when they found her that day, after all. And, of course, they were over the moon when she came back. ...No pun intended. ]
Everyone who was a part of that, whether they came out as friends or comrades or a found family or what, there's a bond there now, whether they like it or not. And while I'm hesitant to call a lot of them my friends, only because, well, I'm not quite the type who would do that and I'm not sure the majority of them like me...
[ As she said, she was kind of awful, and they've seen what she does to friends, so she guesses she can't blame them? Of course, there are some who just kind of plant themselves at her side whether she likes it or not. ]
Well, I'd like to think all twenty-nine of us are close in a way that only people who went through something like that could be. We all have our scars, after all.
[ Even the ones who don't literally have them. With that, she takes her red hat off the top of her head and holds it out to Ashley, if she'd like to take a closer look at it. ]
Wanna take a guess at who made this? I'll let you use a lifeline, if you need one.
[ Despite the fact that she says she takes it everywhere, it's in pretty good condition, honestly! She's been pretty careful with it, especially given it still has those four garish-looking holes on it. Cleverly, though, she covered those up with her white and blue butterfly pin, keeping the wings of the bug snugly wrapped up in yarn as if it were trapped in a web of red. Of course, that aside, it's held up quite well, for a quick stitch job and over half a year of use. ]
no subject
Whatever this her went through, it sounds like it was a traumatizing experience. To imagine someone who's shared her life positively influencing others around her...
...Well, it's not the first thing she would've thought. The very idea of it makes her feel all at once lightheaded and heavy-footed. Something to digest and dissect, for later.
But. For now.]
...Holy shit, is that... I made this, didn't I? [She just Knows, something about the stitching. And the butterfly pin...]
An experience that changed and bonded you...irrevocably. Huh. I... Huh.
no subject
[ It was probably obvious, she thinks to herself as she runs a hand through what must be some pretty bad hat hair by this point... ]
We had a sewing room, so...you put it to good use.
[ And so did Asuka, but, we won't get into that. ]
It was a "goodness of my heart" gift...and God, it was the strangest thing, because it was the first time I had ever gotten one of those, but...
[ She still remembers the face she made when she put it on for the first time. The pride in her eyes and the smile on her lips, how insistent she was that she didn't want any compensation for it...Asuka has to stop to wonder if she was smiling, back then, too.
...She probably wasn't. She probably refused to let that light, airy feeling of appreciation for someone going out of their way to do something for her slip through the cracks. And she definitely wouldn't have shown how touched she was, either. But she can remember the way it felt when she stuck the hat on her head, and how reluctant she was to take it off after she put it on.
So dishonest. Contrary. Back then, she had always said she hated that descriptor for herself. But it really was the perfect word to describe the person she was. The person she doesn't want to be anymore. ]
In any case, the worst of it is long-gone. We may have to deal with the fallout of it, the scars, but, the important thing is that none of us necessarily have to deal with them alone, if we don't want to. ...So, I guess in that regard, it really was a trust exercise. I hope that isn't what it takes for you to make friends with your Asuka, though. She probably needs them, even if she doesn't think she does.
no subject
She runs her fingers over the yarn and listens to Asuka. How strange to see this expression on her face, strange and yet surprisingly fitting. Ashley likes the way it looks on her.]
...I really don't know what to say. [Is she repeating herself?] Um- I've talked with her before, a little. Asuka. The Asuka here. Her. Mostly...she's serious...but not really unkind. Philosophical.
no subject
It's seriously like night and day. ]
Believe me, after what that thing's seen, it's a miracle it hasn't fallen apart yet. Things back home are pretty messy, to say the least. Maybe she's told you, maybe she hasn't, but...
It doesn't surprise me. That she's so stoic, I mean. And when it comes to getting close to people, well...I used to feel pretty strongly about keeping to myself, to say the least. But at least it sounds like you're on her good side.
Just...I dunno, be patient with her, if you can. I know it's not easy, but, in her own way, I'm sure she appreciates it.
no subject
I will. She- I don't know her very well, but... Maybe I could. Get to, get to know her. [If their counterparts became such good friends...] ...It always helps to have people to depend on, when you're far from home.
[Almost an afterthought:] I don't even know what got me on her good side, really. We just shared strategies.
[If anything, she thought she wouldn't be the kind of person Asuka would want to talk to, with how withdrawn she is. Ashley's kind of...prone to hysterics, so it's a natural assumption.]
no subject
If you asked her, she'd probably tell you that she made a promise to herself. That she'd never rely on anyone. Always wants to do everything herself, to put the weight of the whole goddamn world on her shoulders and curse out anyone who tries to lend a hand.
[ To admit that she's struggling under the mass would be a sign of weakness. ]
What is she, stupid? ...Ah, but, as for what got you on her good side, if I had to venture a guess? It might be presumptuous, but, maybe she saw some of herself in you.
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[...And that second bit processes, so-]
Waait, wait-wait-wait, some of herself? In me? No way, she's...you're a captain. I'm, uh.
[Flashbacks to her arrival.]
...I'm kind of a trainwreck? I don't know if you know this about me, but it's hard to keep a level head sometimes. [A lot of the time.]
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If you're a trainwreck, then I'm the fucking Titanic. Trust me, just because I'm a pilot doesn't mean you aren't looking at a total goddamn basketcase.
[ And there's something to be said about the way she's able to put that out in the open, though it's not quite ha-ha funny. ]
You two are more alike than you think you are, though. ...If you get to know her better, you'll see that the image doesn't always match the reality. But something tells me she's not as collected as she'd like you to think she is. That is, unless she somehow managed to hit triple-7 in the multiple universe lottery.
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Well. Alright then, that's...a little enlightening. [A little, she says.] Kind of reminds me of...huh.
[Emily wouldn't take kindly to being called a basketcase, and Ashley doesn't think of her as one, but the...more beneath the surface part.]
...Is it weird if this kind of feels like...gossiping? I mean- she's you but at the same time she isn't, so...
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[ Considering what she did, and why she did it? Call a spade a spade. ]
Don't get me wrong, though, I'm not saying it out of, like, malice or anything. ...It just upsets me, is all. Going through my life the way she did, pushing people away, keeping everyone at a distance? I don't know her reasons for it, her real reasons, but, for me, it was because I figured out that no one could hurt you if you don't let them. And maybe I'm projecting myself onto her because she is me. But you're right, she isn't, so maybe she doesn't feel how goddamn empty a life like that is. Maybe she's got it all figured out and it really does work for her, or, at least, she's convinced herself that it does more firmly than I did, because I remember how set in my ways I was. Hell, it's still hard even for me. The idea of getting closer to someone is like betraying every instinct I have, but even so...
I can be so much better with other people than I ever could be alone. And getting hurt by another person, even hurting another person, it isn't the end of the world if you don't want it to be. ...I want her to know that. I want every Asuka in every timeline in every universe to carve that into their hearts. ...It might save them a lot of unnecessary battles. And even if they don't exactly follow it, because God knows I'm as stubborn as stubborn gets, I just want them to be aware of it. Verstehen?
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Every Ashley, every her. Every one throughout every universe-- if they can learn from their mistakes early, can prevent the horrors that can happen. That would make her the happiest possible, to know that somewhere, her friends were all happy. And alive.
That Josh, and his sisters...
So, wanting something so much for herself that it extends to hers in other worlds, it makes sense. Asuka's desire makes sense.
And it's attainable.]
...Verst- verste- hen. [She tried.] I... I can...try? [That's too wishy-washy. Gather up your determination, Ashley!] I can. Try to help her. If... If I can do something here, then...I don't know, maybe it'll be good. For both of us.
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Well, this time, at least, she's smiling. ]
Not bad for someone who doesn't speak a lick of German. ...But you can do it. I'm a tough nut to crack, don't get me wrong, but if anyone can do it, it's you. ...If you're brave enough to open up the can of worms, anyway. That said, knowing you, I'm sure you're curious enough.
[ After all, she wouldn't be her if she wasn't curious, right? ]
I'm sure she can learn a lot from you, though. ...For example, where I'm from, we only had the one book, so, when she told me about my girl Hermione hooking up with that ginger dweeb, let me tell you, things got heated.
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A-are you- do you not like Ron?!
[we are at a dance on the moon and here we go]
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[ they're gonna have a field day when cursed child comes out ]
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Excuse you! Don't you dare, I have taste. Ron Weasley is a perfectly good and complicated character, a-and-- ...i-it's prom, and I'm arguing about Harry Potter.
[Never change, Ash.]