"come, come," I hear it calling me

[headedforhope]

Characters: headedforhope, gentlecuteside, revolutionized, waha
Date: 2/14~ and onward, spanning the length of the event.
Summary: The magic of the Gardens draws Mami to each of these three girls in turn, and them to her, keeping the pair locked together until both reveal something to the other.
Warnings: Should be nothing, will edit if anything comes up.

[Mami is no stranger to the feeling of her heart fluttering in her chest, the sensation of being tugged by the fragile strings toward another. She's also no stranger to resisting it and making the lessening of distance a slow and cautious thing, if she allows it to happen at all. Gradual, like some intricate, orbiting dance of light footsteps and restrained movements.

The magic at play affords her that much, at least, but no amount of digging in her heels and shoving away the feeling of being pulled can stop the inevitable from happening.]

Comments

[gentlecuteside]

Mami-san.

[This is kind of awkward isn't it?]

Were you also...pulled here?

[Somehow she instinctively knows the answer before she asks the question.]

[headedforhope]

[A pause, the small smile faltering. She both does and doesn't want to answer that question; courtesy must be observed, and yet where was the point?

The response was obvious before it could even be spoken.]

...I suppose that's one way of describing it, yes.

[gentlecuteside]

[A sigh.]

The Queen's up to her tricks again. I wonder what her agenda is this time.

[headedforhope]

Probably the usual machinations, mm?

[And yet even so, even now, Mami is compelled to take another step toward the other girl.]

[gentlecuteside]

I suppose. She really does seem to have a one-track mind.

[Too bad Amamiya knows that that's not to be...no that's not a little bit of bitterness sinking into her voice, why do you ask?]

[headedforhope]

Agreed. I can hardly bother to get too upset about it, though.....I guess I'm used to it.

[She tilts her head and frowns slightly, catching that unhappy note. Bitterness is a thing Mami is far more acquainted with than she has any desire to be, and hearing it reflected back at her in her friend's voice is....troubling.]

Forgive me for prying, but....is something wrong?

[gentlecuteside]

Wrong? Why would you think that? What could possibly be wrong?

[WHOA WHAT'S THAT]

[headedforhope]

[that scores a C- in Denial, but thanks for playing!]

Well....would you like me to start with your tone of voice, or your response just now?

[gentlecuteside]

I'd rather you didn't.

[MAN she sounds peeved about something.]

[headedforhope]

[nope.avi.

Mami leans in slightly, allowing the weight of concern to bleed into her voice.]

And I'd rather you tell me what was bothering you.

[wee woo wee woo hypocrisy alert]

[gentlecuteside]

I....can't.

[She's averting her eyes and blushing like mad now SHE IS SO BAD AT ROMANCE STUFF.]

[headedforhope]

[and also SO BAD AT HIDING IT.]

....Amamiya-san?

[gentlecuteside]

It's nothing.

[The very thought of confessing - especially when it was a hopeless cause - embarrassed the hell out of her.]

[headedforhope]

[Maybe if Mami's head was clear of her own struggles with romance, maybe if she was a step removed from such feelings like she used to be, she could immediately hazard a guess as to the reason behind Sakurako's behavior. But she isn't, and thus can't - although there's a dim yet growing suspicion taking root beneath the surface.]

It doesn't seem like nothing, is all.

[She hesitantly reaches for one of the other girl's sleeves.]

[gentlecuteside]

[Amamiya jerks her arm away with sudden violence.]

Nothing is wrong. Can we please drop this?

[headedforhope]

[She freezes, then lets her hand drop to her side. That stung, a little - because this girl isn't some stranger, she's a friend - and Mami takes a step backwards.]

....of course. I'm sorry, I- I guess I was just worried.

[An apologetic nod.]

[gentlecuteside]

[Now that she's had a second to calm down she feels bad about snapping at her like that. Just in case she wasn't embarrassed enough already.]

No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have bitten your head off like that.

[headedforhope]

[



A barely noticeable twitch.]

It's all right, I shouldn't have pried so much, worry or not.

FUCK I DID NOT EVEN NOTICE THAT PUN

[gentlecuteside]

It's just...it's very personal.

it's okay I forgive you

[headedforhope]

Personal, huh.... [Her expression goes thoughtful then, almost wistful.] I know what that's like. It can be scary, opening up about those feelings.

[Then she softens, a memory blooming behind her eyes.] Mm, I remember when you were finally able to speak up about your situation back home. I was really happy for you.

[gentlecuteside]

Yes, I...I appreciate you being there for me. It was good to have someone to share the details with. You were very helpful to me.

[headedforhope]

Ehehe, really? Then I'm content, knowing that I could be of use to you.

[....oh, but that sounds so...clinical. It sounds cold, and Mami's brows furrow slightly as she searches for a better turn of phrase. She's come a long way, but some nuances of emotional intimacy still tend to slip through her fingers.]

Ah, that is - ....I'm glad we became friends.

[gentlecuteside]

I...I am too.

[But her face flickers a little. Yep, friends...and they won't be anything else.]

You have been a really good friend to me. I wish I could have met you before coming here, to be honest.

[headedforhope]

Really?

[She thinks that over, tries to imagine it.....compares how she is now to how she was then. Mami smiles in a rueful sort of way.]

Heh, I'm not sure if I can agree. I don't think you would have liked me very much.

[gentlecuteside]

Really?

[She found that a little surprising.]

Why not?