[Staring out into the empty crowd again, and her expression shifts a little, the slightest mixture of frustration and something else. It's gone quickly, however, leaving behind a bittersweet sigh]
The auditions have girls perform against each other, and I... I just didn't make the cut that time.
I underestimated so many things.
-- But it's alright. [smiling suddenly, lifting her chin off her knees] The important thing is to keep trying, right? Especially after a failure. There will be another audition waiting for me when I go home.
[... twisting to look at them, her hands fiddling against themselves]
I'm sorry, I'm not actually good at cheering people up with words, but I just wanted to let you know that... even if things didn't go as planned, we still have time to get them right, yes?
[They get what Nana's saying, sort of. To them, that sounds kind of like a competition rather than a performance, but...there's something a little familiar about that. It's a familiar feeling and situation and they remain quiet while they wait for her to finish speaking. They don't turn away from her, attention focused and clearly listening even if she can't see their face.]
...I think I understand. [Everything.] I underestimated a lot, too. Today wasn't supposed to go like this. [...] And none of this was supposed to happen anyway, but it's not over yet. We can still fix it if people are willing to talk to each other and try.
[There's a single nod, more of affirmation than anything.] Thank you. [...] I think you're doing alright just by being here.
[Seeking them out to even attempt a conversation is a little more than they expected after today's fiasco so thank you Nana.] But I'm still sorry you all had to deal with that.
[A fact she thinks many of her fellow comrades forget, or don't want to be reminded of. Much easier to get through the trials if there's someone to blame besides the culprit.]
I've been in situations where I thought everything was going to be fine, only for it to fall to pieces, and people weren't very happy with me. So...
[So she gets it. She really does]
-- Don't worry! I bet everyone here is very resilient. [Giving them a little nudge to the shoulder with her own]
They just need a chance to calm down and think clearly. Actually -- [Clapping her hands together once]
I was thinking of opening up a cafe here like I did back at school. Everyone seemed to feel much better when they were getting food and had a place to vent their frustrations. Then they went back to work with no problems.
[A sweet notion, but they shake their head.] It's alright. We did, but we do what we have to to help you guys proceed. In a way...our feelings about it really shouldn't matter.
[Shouldn't, but they still have a lot of feelings about what happened today.] It's still hard to imagine people not being happy with you even if you did make mistakes. You're a lot nicer about things than I think I can be sometimes. [Which is worth noting.] But resilience is a good quality.
[...there's a noise that sounds like one of intrigue.] A cafe? If that's really what happens when people visit one, that doesn't sound like a bad idea at all.
[Mmm... she still disagrees about whose feelings should and should not matter, but in the end, it's a footnote. Not something they need to argue about. She'll nod instead, resting her head back on her knees while turning back to look at them.
-- Well, trying to look at them. The constant shadow is amusing at this point]
Sometimes it happens. People need to feel comfortable before they spill their concerns. Food helps with that.
[A pause, then a teasing smile]
Speaking of which, Sol-san, I don't think you ever told me what your favorite food is.
Food does seem to work for a lot of people. [They sound amused by that for some reason.] It's distracting and it's something that people can do for each other. Isn't that why people eat together?
[Buuut there's a shrug.] I don't know if I really have a favorite. But I like sweets a lot. [So thanks for the cookies.] Most of what we ate back home was whatever was given to us. Like pizza and stuff.
[For whatever reason, they seem to trip on that question. There's a strange kind of silence as they think of how to answer. Right. That probably sounded weird.]
We did a lot of take-out where I'm from. None of us really knew how to cook that well.
I wonder if we have the ingredients here to make it. [Says Sol who 100% doesn't know what kimchi is.] Think that's the kind of stuff you'd serve in your cafe?
It'd be one of the things available on request, though of course I'll have more typical items like bread, pastries, desserts...
[So food that will not chase off her poor customers]
You should come by sometime when it's open! Even if you're not in the mood for okonomiyaki, I'll still make whatever you like.
[Smiling brightly at them, like a sunbeam. It probably doesn't need saying at this point, but even if it's a silent plea: cheer up. Things will be okay.]
[Thank god. They seem to perk up at the word "desserts" because Sol has maybe never actually eaten a vegetable in their life, but that's a good plan.]
I'd like that. [Very much, actually. Things are still Bad but at least it's hard to be too bummed when Nana's making fun plans.] Lune and I can't do too much, but we can try little things. So...if you need anything, just ask. I can try to make it.
[That wording is probably weird, but Sol explains nothing.]
Something like that. [It sounds like they're trying not to laugh.] It's not just food. We can make a lot of stuff. [They hold out a hand and a few moments later a compact mirror appears.] See?
[In case he doesn't understand, Nana is happy to explain, though she keeps looking at the compact with intrigue. It's not even that she wants it, she's still just -- surprised it appeared out of nowhere]
He said he used to have powers too, before he came here.
[Shaking her head in awe]
Back where I'm from, magic is just in our imaginations.
[Thanks for the explanation Nana because Sol had absolutely no idea. But since she's looking at the compact and they aren't a mindreader, they hand it over if she wants it. They have no use for it.]
I guess if that's what he said, then yeah. It's just like that. Magic is pretty common where I'm from...most of us know how to use it in one way or another. But we didn't have things like plays or performances like you've talked about either.
[Well I mean, free stuff. She is absolutely taking it and then is gonna lose it later bc lol smushed banana]
In that case, what types of things did you do for fun?
[She's not silly enough to think that you can only act to enjoy yourself, but it's such an integral part of her life... it's difficult imagining what that must be like, not having the stage to perform on]
[NO. They will make her a new one later, it's FINE. But what a question...]
Ah...I mostly used to hang out with my friends. We didn't have a stage or anything to perform on, but we used to do street performances and stuff sometimes for extra money. And competitions. [A glance up at the sky.] We didn't always have a lot of plans all the time, but the important part was just being together.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[Staring out into the empty crowd again, and her expression shifts a little, the slightest mixture of frustration and something else. It's gone quickly, however, leaving behind a bittersweet sigh]
The auditions have girls perform against each other, and I... I just didn't make the cut that time.
I underestimated so many things.
-- But it's alright. [smiling suddenly, lifting her chin off her knees] The important thing is to keep trying, right? Especially after a failure. There will be another audition waiting for me when I go home.
[... twisting to look at them, her hands fiddling against themselves]
I'm sorry, I'm not actually good at cheering people up with words, but I just wanted to let you know that... even if things didn't go as planned, we still have time to get them right, yes?
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...I think I understand. [Everything.] I underestimated a lot, too. Today wasn't supposed to go like this. [...] And none of this was supposed to happen anyway, but it's not over yet. We can still fix it if people are willing to talk to each other and try.
[There's a single nod, more of affirmation than anything.] Thank you. [...] I think you're doing alright just by being here.
[Seeking them out to even attempt a conversation is a little more than they expected after today's fiasco so thank you Nana.] But I'm still sorry you all had to deal with that.
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[A fact she thinks many of her fellow comrades forget, or don't want to be reminded of. Much easier to get through the trials if there's someone to blame besides the culprit.]
I've been in situations where I thought everything was going to be fine, only for it to fall to pieces, and people weren't very happy with me. So...
[So she gets it. She really does]
-- Don't worry! I bet everyone here is very resilient. [Giving them a little nudge to the shoulder with her own]
They just need a chance to calm down and think clearly. Actually -- [Clapping her hands together once]
I was thinking of opening up a cafe here like I did back at school. Everyone seemed to feel much better when they were getting food and had a place to vent their frustrations. Then they went back to work with no problems.
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[Shouldn't, but they still have a lot of feelings about what happened today.] It's still hard to imagine people not being happy with you even if you did make mistakes. You're a lot nicer about things than I think I can be sometimes. [Which is worth noting.] But resilience is a good quality.
[...there's a noise that sounds like one of intrigue.] A cafe? If that's really what happens when people visit one, that doesn't sound like a bad idea at all.
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-- Well, trying to look at them. The constant shadow is amusing at this point]
Sometimes it happens. People need to feel comfortable before they spill their concerns. Food helps with that.
[A pause, then a teasing smile]
Speaking of which, Sol-san, I don't think you ever told me what your favorite food is.
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[Buuut there's a shrug.] I don't know if I really have a favorite. But I like sweets a lot. [So thanks for the cookies.] Most of what we ate back home was whatever was given to us. Like pizza and stuff.
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[A pause. She nearly assumes they're talking about family, except that is still a very strange way to phrase it to her]
Your family didn't cook much?
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We did a lot of take-out where I'm from. None of us really knew how to cook that well.
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It takes a while to learn that skill -- I can't blame anyone for not having the patience for it.
Besides, pizza is delicious! I should make you the Japanese version sometime.
[IT'S... NOT REALLY SWEET. But it's, uh, interesting]
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What's on a Japanese pizza? [Do they want to eat it? Maybe.]
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Corn, shrimp, calamari, green onions, octopus, pickled red ginger, kimchi...
[Someone take her to jail]
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Nana, are you sure that's a pizza? [Puzzling...why is there seafood on this pizza?]
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[Okay she'll finally spill instead of being silly]
The proper term for it is okonomiyaki! I know it sounds strange but it's quite delicious... so long as you don't think of it as typical pizza.
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[So food that will not chase off her poor customers]
You should come by sometime when it's open! Even if you're not in the mood for okonomiyaki, I'll still make whatever you like.
[Smiling brightly at them, like a sunbeam. It probably doesn't need saying at this point, but even if it's a silent plea: cheer up. Things will be okay.]
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I'd like that. [Very much, actually. Things are still Bad but at least it's hard to be too bummed when Nana's making fun plans.] Lune and I can't do too much, but we can try little things. So...if you need anything, just ask. I can try to make it.
[That wording is probably weird, but Sol explains nothing.]
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Oh right, Lune-san said you two can... think food into existence? Is that right?
[That is still so wild to her. AND CHEATING. Absolutely cheating.]
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Something like that. [It sounds like they're trying not to laugh.] It's not just food. We can make a lot of stuff. [They hold out a hand and a few moments later a compact mirror appears.] See?
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That is amazing?
Nana nearly squeals but just manages to conceal it, instead leaning forward with bright, happy eyes]
Sol-san, that's amazing! You're like a magician!
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You think so? [Sol settles for a light laugh.] It's not as exciting as my old powers, but it's pretty useful.
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[In case he doesn't understand, Nana is happy to explain, though she keeps looking at the compact with intrigue. It's not even that she wants it, she's still just -- surprised it appeared out of nowhere]
He said he used to have powers too, before he came here.
[Shaking her head in awe]
Back where I'm from, magic is just in our imaginations.
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I guess if that's what he said, then yeah. It's just like that. Magic is pretty common where I'm from...most of us know how to use it in one way or another. But we didn't have things like plays or performances like you've talked about either.
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and then is gonna lose it later bc lol smushed banana]In that case, what types of things did you do for fun?
[She's not silly enough to think that you can only act to enjoy yourself, but it's such an integral part of her life... it's difficult imagining what that must be like, not having the stage to perform on]
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Ah...I mostly used to hang out with my friends. We didn't have a stage or anything to perform on, but we used to do street performances and stuff sometimes for extra money. And competitions. [A glance up at the sky.] We didn't always have a lot of plans all the time, but the important part was just being together.