cantarella

[aspirings]

✨ wonderhoy ✨

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w1, post-body discovery

[aspirings]

[So! First, Cantarella did some investigating, detective-style, and Tsukasa did some freaking out, Tsukasa-style.

But eventually, as it becomes clear that despite everything, it isn't more dangerous than it already was, Tsukasa finds himself wandering out of the dorm again.

Cautiously. His expression is muted, much more than he usually is, and he wanders into the kitchen area without even noticing someone else is already there.]

[physalia]

[Oh, dear.

Cantarella ceases what she's doing--gathering a rather random assortment of items and ingredients and comes around the counter to intercept him. She takes him gently by the cheeks and holds his face firmly so her deep blue eyes might meet his.]

Tsukasa, my dear. Wonderhoy.

[They can't lose sight of the triggers they put in place, either. It will keep them safer, keep them sane.]

[aspirings]

[Ah.

Suddenly, someone's there. He freezes in place, breath hitching--but her hands are gentle and he meets her eyes and blinks as he realizes exactly as it is.]

Cantarella...

[Another shaky breath. The rest processes, and then he swallows tightly. Oh... Hearing someone else say it, in a moment like this, is...]

... W... wonderhoy.

[physalia]

[These aren't really the sorts of circumstances where even the best phrase can spark a smile, are they?

She smiles herself, though it's tender and sad, and gives him a little pet with her thumbs before releasing him.]

Perhaps, as a novice, I didn't do it right. Do you need something from here, Tsukasa?

[aspirings]

Oh... no, you did wonderfully.

[Truly. It's not her fault that he's realizing now that the phrase reminds him of home, and of his troupe, and places where people don't just suddenly turn up dead for the sake of some sort of twisted performance.]

I was just restless, I suppose. It's difficult to stay still right now. I'm sorry, did I interrupt you?

[physalia]

Not at all. You shouldn't have to go through this alone.

[She's just sorry that things seem to have played out exactly as she thought they would.]

This is an ugly thing. [She doesn't elaborate further, perhaps wanting to shield him from the worst of it.]

[aspirings]

["An ugly thing"...]

... Yeah. Somehow, that feels like an understatement.

[... His shoulders slump.]

Cantarella-san, I don't understand... how anyone can consider this a "performance", or something worth watching.

W3, MONDAY, THIS TIME CORRECTLY

[aspirings]

[He has a strange dream.

A very, very strange dream, one that leaves him feeling bleary-eyed and tired, even though he is usually the sort to leap out of bed in the morning, sparkly and ready to go.

He has a strange dream, and then there's a strange announcement. And then there's... no Ainosuke anymore, and instead a shadow, an Extra. It's a lot to process. It's frightening, and horrifying, and--

... But he has to do what he can. And the first thing he can do is go to someone who can make more sense of what he saw than he can. So he searches. It takes time, of course; he naturally avoids the places where evidence was found for the trial. But upon not finding Cantarella anywhere else...

He finds himself at the petting zoo. He steps carefully, wincing a little as he looks around, and then--

Relief.]

Cantarella-san!

IT'S LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED

[physalia]

[It's like it never happened.

The petting zoo is exactly as she first found it, with all the plants in the woods and fields intact and all the grounds exactly as they should be.

Whatever might bother Cantarella about returning here has been buried deep, deep below so she can gather up some cuttings and samples, dumping them all into a large bowl at her side. She hears her roommate running towards her and turns her gaze to the sound.]

Tsukasa. [She straightens up, turning to him.] Are you all right?

[aspirings]

Oh! Yes, of course!

[He didn't mean to worry her, but given his purposeful search for her, he kind of realizes a little too late how it comes across...

So he looks a little apologetic.]

I was just hoping to speak with you, if you have a moment. ... If you're busy, I can help with your task as well!

[physalia]

You just wanted to see me so badly that you came scampering along, hm?

[Cantarella relaxes a little, folding her bowl under one arm.]

This is an easy task, so there’s no bother at all.

[She doesn’t invite him to start speaking explicitly…if only because it seems unnecessary. She’s already given him the floor.]

[aspirings]

Ah, yes! I mean--not exactly...?

[Wait, how does he answer that... he's so thrown for a moment.



And then he shakes his head. Focus, Tsukasa!]

Rather, I had a really, really strange dream last night, and, I... felt as though you could help me make sense of it.

[Cantarella, in the time he's spent getting to know her here, has been reliable and competent and wise.

If anyone could, it'd be her.]

[physalia]

Very strange dreams, for me, are a bit of a problem. I've spent most of my life trying to prevent them.

[She sighs and extends her free hand to him.]

But that also ensures I have a little experience separating the wheat from the chaff. Why don't you tell me all about it?

w3, thursday morning (pre-zelos'd)

[aspirings]

[Well before everything gets VERY terrible, Tsukasa has a task in mind for today! So. He's seeking out Cantarella, wherever she may be.]

Ah, Cantarella-san! Could I borrow you for a moment?

[This is an anemic toplevel, don't look at me, look at capitalism.]

the way this morning probably came for everyone so fast...

[physalia]

[Let's say that Cantarella has found herself in the kitchen once more, though she may have borrowed a couple of tools from the laboratory in the chapel to help get her tea put together. She does look a bit tired and lost in thought when he finds her, but she perks right back up with a smile.]

Always. Who wouldn't have time for you?

why wait when you can suffer oh-so-early

[aspirings]

[He smiles in return, of course, as bright as he can make it. It's... Thursday, with all that entails, but.

Nonetheless!

He's determined.]

There was something I wanted to do to show you my gratitude. It seems as though this entire... mess is drawing to a close soon one way or another.

[A breath in. He's not sure how it's going to pan out, but he's not thinking about that right now. Right now is for appreciating the people who have helped him every step of the way.]

Could I trouble you to come with me to the practice rooms?

cal i really don't like the tone of this thread already do i have to pull out shaybu

[physalia]

Of course, dear. Let me just clean up here.

[There's no one else around, so she's careful to save anything she wants to keep to prevent it from vanishing the next time the scene changes, packing it all up in a little ribboned box.]

Whenever you're ready, you lead the way.

wow i am INNOCENT

[aspirings]

Of course! This way, then!

[To the practice rooms with them! Tsukasa keeps up a steady stream of chatter as they go, as he always does. The energy isn't quite there, but the warmth is nonetheless sincere.

And when they get there, he moves towards the room with the grand piano.]

I've been thinking hard about what I can do in order to properly thank everyone who has helped me here.

For you, Cantarella-san... I was wondering if I could play the piano for you.

i have never known you to be

[physalia]

[Tsukasa...

Thinking she wouldn't notice that lack of energy is like expecting a cloud not to pass. Not that she can blame him. If anything, Cantarella is the freak; she has only ever stopped to catch her breath when she was sure the room behind her was empty, leaning on the wall for support only when that wall held no other shadows.

She steps beside the piano.] You don't owe me anything, though I'd take seeing you well-rested.

w3, post-invest

[aspirings]

[We deserve our SAD PC.

Tsukasa's shoulders are deeply slumped as he heads back to the dorm after everything. To think that Dehya, Don Quixote and Fandaniel could all be killed the same night--

(To think that he relaxed just a little Thursday night, hoping that all of this would be over soon...)

... He walks into the dorm, head hanging, and then pauses when he realizes someone else is already there. Ah... he lifts his chin.]

Cantarella-san...

[physalia]

[His shoulders are slumped and so are hers, but Cantarella straightens up to her normal pristine poise the second she hears the key turning in the lock.

We will spare this sad PC the goofiness of Tsukasa catching Cantarella mid-changing. She's still in her robe, more or less just standing there, in the darkness of their lowlit dorm all by herself.]

Tsukasa. [Instead of asking if he's all right or anything else, this time she physical moves close to check him for injuries.]

[aspirings]

[Ah, by this point in their time here, he knows this one.

He offers her a rueful, very tired little smile, and obediently spreads his arms.

No injuries.]

I'm alright. What about you?

[physalia]

You've already been through this routine, haven't you?

[She still checks him, but much less thoroughly once she's seen him react. Instead, she rubs his head again.]

Thank you for putting up with me, my dear.

[Weirdly she has moved on from his question.]

[aspirings]

I should be the one thanking you! I appreciate your concern.

[But... he hasn't missed that.

A slow breath in, and he tilts his head--into the head rub, but also in mild, concerned bemusement.]

... You didn't answer.

[physalia]

I'm unharmed. [Soft and reassuring, her voice, rocking over Tsukasa gently.] I spent the night in the pool area, and there was nothing that occurred while we were sleeping there.

[Cantarella isn't coy in a foolish way, however, and she knows even this evasion won't really please him.]

So few of us remain, but for those few, I cannot stop now...