vella | Week 4

Week 4

WEEK 4 LOG ♬
Weather: Monday AM & PM - Clear Skies; Tuesday - Thursday AM Cloudy, PM Rainy; Friday - Clear Skies

The Meteor Shower

On Monday, there are, in your mailboxes, passports for those who happened to not pick them up when the airport opened. Hold onto these--they’re important, after all! Open them up, and you’ll find not only a title, your name, and your hometown, but you’ll also find…

A blank page? That’s right. There’s a page in the back of the admittedly small passport with only one thing on it: a space that looks like it has room for a star stamp. Huh. That’s strange, isn’t it? There are no hints as to what it could be about, but maybe the announcement will shed some light.

There’s also, like last week, a familiar face around the island… it’s Audie! Come around to her house to say hi--she’s very excited to be here, and very fashionably dressed as she strolls around the island.

And like clockwork, at nine AM, Tom Nook makes his announcement once more:

“Good morning, Isla Sonrisa! A few things this morning. Please give a warm welcome to our new neighbor, Audie!”

Audie smiles and waves at you all with both paws--she’s pretty flattered at the warm response. Tom Nook continues--

“We have for you the ability to build bridges now! Yes, yes, these will prove very useful indeed. Of course, you will most likely have to work together to figure out the best places to put these bridges, as we have only a limited number… But I am sure working together will be little trouble for you all! The only thing to note is that each bridge will come with a construction fee of 15,000 bells each. Consider working together to get some bridges up and running...?”

He pauses, and the next part comes with some measure of almost… not quite dismay, but there’s a certain cloud over the tanuki: “It also seems Iori and Mira have also left the island… Again, we’re looking into it, and should any discoveries come to light, I will tell you immediately.”

He nods to himself, and continues on--

“Next, I’d like to tell you all we have a very special event tonight… a meteor shower! Yes, yes, starting at 7 PM, we will have clear skies and many stars to wish upon. Who knows--maybe your wishes will all come true!” He says that with a bright smile, almost like he really believes it… Or maybe that’s just his quiet optimism? Anyway, he continues--

“Finally, I’d like to thank you all for your hard work in making items for our new friends! Yes, yes, you all have been working so hard to create furniture and items for our housing plots, but this week, I invite you all to put your best DIY skills to the test! There are no specific style requirements in mind, but please make sure our potential new friend has:

1 Table
2 Dressers
1 Clock
2 Chairs

Of course, if you’d like to make more, I am sure our friend will not be opposed…” He pauses, and seems to remember something! “Ah, yes, we are very close to opening our museum… I am sure Blathers would appreciate any bugs, fish, or fossils regardless! Hmm… Yes, that is all I have for you! Thank you once more for your hard work, and have a wonderful day!”

Possible Objectives

1. Help Tom Nook prepare a housing plot for the last villager house.
2. Donate more specimens to Blathers.
3. Attend the meteor shower, if you so desire. There may be some secrets waiting for you...
4. Make a money pool for some bridges.

Turn-Ins
Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday

(OOC: Welcome to Week 4! Please direct all questions to the FAQ.

Here's this week's Weekly Plotting Post for you all to use!

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to let us know! Have fun!)

Taken / FAQ / Locations / Rewards / Full Nav

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yup! I've never seen a meteor shower before, so I'm really excited.

[ She settles down next to Minato, making sure the cans are out of the way. The fact that there's more than one or two cans is concerning to her, and she's really glad she brought some snacks. ]

I got a few things for us!

[ She digs into her pocket, thankful that they can hold so much stuff, and pulls out a couple of bags of different kinds of chips, some gummy candies, a couple of cans of coffee, and water. ]

...You probably shouldn't have the coffee, though.

[ Junk food and coffee is the ideal meal, stargazing or not, but Minato's still surprised that Kaede'd brought all this with the both of them in mind. Those six empty cans of energy drink lying at Minato's feet? All for him. ]

I like coffee, though...

[ Would you deny him coffee? All that sugar is probably just as bad an idea for him as any extra caffeine, honestly. ]

[ She frowns. Truly, at this point, what would more caffeine do to him? ]

I don't want to add to all those energy drinks! I don't want you to get sick or something.

[ Kaede looks over what she brought. Maybe she should've gotten some bread or something too. ]

If you think you'll feel okay after having it...

[ More caffeine could very well kill him, but Minato's no stranger to filling his veins with it- nor he is a stranger to being sick as a dog after long nights of no sleep, which is inevitable with or without any additional caffeine. ]

I'll feel okay. [ saying nothing of whether he'll be okay... ]

'sides, I want to be able to stay awake through the night. It's supposed to be pretty special, and... I don't think I'd be able to sleep anyways.

[ Kaede doesn't stop frowning, but she nods. ]

Okay. I'll come check on you tomorrow, though. Just to be sure.

[ She leans back on her hands. ]

You don't think so? Is it stuff back home or...

[ So many people suddenly disappearing? Kaede doesn't really want to say it out loud, but it's bothering her too. ]

[ He does this half-shrug half-nod at being checked up on- appreciative, for sure, but at the same time he can't even say if he'll be here or at home or where he's going to be, what he's going to do. Sometimes, especially in times like these, that feeling becomes so overwhelming. Not knowing what the hell he's to do with himself. What can he do? Nothing about his situation back home, nothing about his situation here, nothing but sit on his ass and pray to the stars and hope. ]

Sorta. Not really. All of it, really...

[ He can't even answer this properly. Still, he tries again, scrubbing at his face with the heel of his palm. ]

I'm worried about everybody back home. I'm worried about people here disappearing. I'm worried that- nothing I'm doing matters. Even if I have a good time... what if tomorrow, I don't see you again? What if I just keep losing the people I love? It's those sort of thoughts.

[ Kaede nods, quiet for a few moments. Her fears are similar to his—worried about whether everything she does matters at all. Did trying to find the mastermind back in her world even matter? Did it even help the rest of them?

Not to mention everyone here disappearing, which has her worried that she won't be able to see even more people she cares about.

She reaches out to grab his hand. ]

I'm worried too. I promised Sengoku-kun I would play a song for him and I helped Nagase-san with an obstacle course, but now... I can't play for him and I won't see people going through the course she was working on. Part of me is afraid I'll go looking for you tomorrow and you'll be gone too.

[ It's scary, and the uncertainty of it all has her even more worried about everyone back home too. ]

We just have to keep doing our best for everyone, whatever that might be. I don't know what that might be for you, and I don't even know what that is for myself.

[ She smiles, but it's small. ]

I guess that's a long way to say that I'm worried about everything too.

[ His hand is shaking when she takes it, cold, possibly due to the stupid amount of caffeine wiring him, possibly due to simply nerves. But all it takes is a touch for his hand to settle, his heart, to feel warm even though hearing Kaede's words echo his worries makes him cold and suffocating all over again.

Because neither of them can do anything but worry. Because doing one's best doesn't mean anything when they're not doing anything. Kaede pours herself into other people, into him, but is it worth it when people disappear and leave you all alone again? They will all disappear. That much is inevitable.

In the end, nothing matters.

But right now-- with Kaede's warm hands covering his, with the first streak of light falling from the sky, with the comfort and the sadness that he feels-- shouldn't the present matter?

Minato closes his eyes, buries his face in his knees, and holds onto Kaede's hand right. ]

You worry because you care. You care so much. That's why it hurts. [ That's why he hurts ] I wouldn't change that for anything.

I don't know how to ease worry. Or how to make things better. But when you're here... It becomes bearable. Maybe that's what "doing our best" means. Just being our best... Just being. I don't know...

[ She can feel her eyes starting to prickle with tears, but she blinks them back. Part of her wonders if her fatal flaw is caring too much, desperately wanting everyone she cares about to be safe and being willing to sacrifice herself for that to happen.

Kaede squeezes his hand, both to let him know that they're both here now and to keep herself anchored, to not let her thoughts drift back to her world. ]

I think so. All we can do is be here in the moment, and do what we think is the best thing to do.

[ Even if it turns out not mattering in the end, at least they did what they felt was right. Kaede has to remind herself of that, especially here where it feels like she doesn't deserve to have the relaxing days she has.

Another meteor flies across the sky, and Kaede barely catches it in her line of sight. ]

I think you're good at making things better. I know I'm better because you're here.

[ The best thing to do... It's funny, sort of. There were so many times where he'd tried his absolute best— he pushed himself to do so much, he forced himself to act how others wanted, he did everything and was everywhere and fought so hard- and again and again and again he'd messed up. He'd pissed off a lot of people. He was miserable all the time.

And then, one day, he stopped. He slept all the time. He let himself be sad. He started talking more about his frustrations and his worries without caring if he brought others down with him and his gloomy mood. His existence is the opposite of Kaede's brightness, but she says he makes things better. She says he makes her smile. So he finds it a little funny. That the best him is just like this. ]

...That's probably the first time anybody's said that about me. The first time I felt that me existing... is okay. It really is as simple as you being here. So... thanks, Kaede. For being here.

[ Hearing that... she doesn't know what to say, not at first. Knowing she's had an affect on someone in that way, especially someone she cares about, means more than she can put into words. Helping others is always what she strives to do, even if she fails or all she can do is play a song for them. Her eyes feel hot, with tears threatening to form.

She smiles at him, and it's a little watery. ]

It's the least I could do. [ It really is, even though being there is really all she can do. ]

I should thank you too. For letting me tell you about my world, for having fun with me, for giving me the grand piano...

[ Which sounds silly almost, but having her own piano here means a lot to her. But part of her feels guilty, like she doesn't deserve any of this—the peaceful life or the friends she has here. Before she can stop it, a few tears escape and she uses her free hand to wipe them away. ]

Ah, sorry.

[ What good is he if he makes people cry all the same?

He wants to repeat the same: I'm sorry. Unable to stop feeling like it's his fault somehow. It must be; this is what happens when he brings the mood down, as he tends to.

But he shakes his head and places his hand over Kaede's to still it. ]

It's okay. Crying means you care, and that means the world to me. It's okay to cry, and to be sad... Just like it's okay to laugh, and be happy. It's all okay.

[ It's okay for them to live. Why should anybody have to deserve something like that? ]

[ A few more tears fall, but she doesn't make a move to wipe them away this time. ]

It doesn't feel fair. Not to everyone still in the killing game.

[ She shakes her head. That's not something she wants to put on Minato, not with everything he has to deal with himself. Those are things she needs to work out within herself. She can tell him more about it in the future, not when they're meant to be watching a meteor shower. ]

But there's not anything I can do about that. I'll just have to remember what you said.

[ She smiles, squeezing his hand. ]

I really meant it, by the way. That you make things better. So, what you said about being happy and sad? It goes for you too. I really like seeing you happy, but it's also okay if you feel sad. I can always play you a song, something that will calm you like Clair de Lune.

[ It goes for him too, huh? He thinks back to the times he was happy, and he thinks back to the times he was sad, and Kaede's face is there too. Just her being, music or not. ]

I'd like that. That last time you played for me, that made me feel a lot better. And 'cause of that, I'm okay now too.

[ Relatively... okay. As okay as he can be, staring up at the sky with its impossible number of stars, so that he can't even begin to guess which will leave the sky next. All in due time, just like any of them. ]

...This is just how I see it, but... Being there for your friends in the past, I'm positive will help them in the future. So no matter what, you're still there helping them. We've already done everything we could for our friends. In that way, maybe it's okay for us to rest.

[ She smiles, happy that her playing helped.

That's a good way to think about it—she's done what she can. Although Kaede isn't sure she really helped them, maybe she made it so they can get through this more easily. ]

...I think you're right. We've done what we can, so we have to leave it up to them.

[ But, she remembers a little about what of what Minato told her about his world. ]

You still have a lot to do back home, right? I think now is a good time to rest so you're ready to face what you have to.

Mm... I've rested long enough, I think. In the time I've been gone, my friends would've been working hard. They wouldn't have given up... and they wouldn't have given up on me. I got a lot of catching up to do.

[ He has no Personas. He doesn't know if he'll ever get them back again. But even if he's without his Personas, without his weapons, without his friends— he still has his fists, and he can still fight. ]

[ She puts her free hand on top of his, and now they effectively have a hand pile. ]

I know you can do it! I believe in you.

[ Even though she doesn't know everything that he has to do, she still believes he can get whatever it is done. Another meteor flies across the sky. ]

Hey, is it okay if I make a wish for you? It's probably a little selfish, but I have a few wishes I want to make, especially one for you.

[ He's going to have to get buff enough to punch the concept of Death, so maybe he needs all the help he can get. ]

For me?

[ Any thoughts of adding his hand to that pile is wiped out of his mind as he blinks at her in surprise. ]

You don't have to ask me something like that... [ Permission-wise, but also wasting a wish on him. As if wishes were a limited commodity- but considering the number of stars in the sky, he's not sure he can say one way or another. ] Can I know what it is, or does that invalidate the wish?

Ah, I guess not. But I want to anyway!

[ It's definitely silly, but she still wanted to ask. She smiles, thinking about how she wants to phrase her wish. Her eyes are still a little red, but any trace of sadness on her face is gone. ]

Hmm... I'll probably have to think of a way to phrase it just right. Maybe strength to face everything when you get back, for your friends to be safe, or for you to get enough rest here. [ She looks up at the sky. ] I guess it boils down to wanting you to be happy, though.

[ Wishes are for impossible things, and if it's something like his happiness, maybe that's what Kaede should waste hers on. ]

Feeling happy's kinda different from being happy, isn't it? [ He can feel happy. He didn't always, but he's sure of it now. But being happy... what a foreign concept. ]

What would make me happy... I can't imagine what that's like. Being asleep forever, maybe.

[ He'll be happy when he's dead, essentially ]

[ She knew what being happy was like once, before she was put in the killing game. It's hard to know if she'll ever find it again because any moments of happiness here come with guilt.

Maybe at another point she would be more surprised to hear that, but after everything... it just makes her sad, more than anything. ]

Really? [ Her hands twitch a little, tightening around his. ]

Would you miss everyone, if you were asleep forever?

...I wonder if I would be capable of it. But it's only in dreams that I can see my friends again.

[ That would make him happy. Even if those dreams are nightmares, at least he's with everybody again. Even if it's fake. ]

[ Her eyebrows furrow, a little confused. ]

Only in dreams?

[ He shrugs a little, helplessly. ]

My friends back home...

[ Whom he'll never again see in person, and so he's left with only dreams. At least, that's how he'd come to think of it. ]

I guess I sorta resigned myself to being stuck here, unable to get back to them in time. Two months, and one of those is always gone, without progress.

Then I'll wish for you to get back to them in time.

[ As much as she wants to reassure him that they will find a way back to their worlds, it doesn't feel right promising something like that when it's already been a month. ]

If you go back home, I'll be sad but that's okay. I will be happy knowing you'll be with your friends.

[ Another meteor falls across the sky, and Kaede closes her eyes to make that exact wish. ]

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