Sleepover!

[clothes_make_the_man]

Who: Forrest, all of his teenage CR, and CR of that CR
What: Giant sleepover log
When: The night of June 21
Where: Lakshmi's temple
Warnings: Cuteness overload

[Forrest has never had a sleepover before, so he's pretty excited to host one at his temple. He sends out invitations ahead of time to everyone he can think of, letting them know to bring pajamas, snacks, and even a friend or two if they want. He's clad in a frilly pink nightgown with ribbons and bows for the occasion, and he's temporarily converted Lakshmi's audience chamber into a space where the guests can all party and sleep. It was already mostly full of pillows to begin with, so all he had to do was move some more in and set up some tables for snacks and things. One of the tables conspicuously contains all of his beauty supplies, because like hell is Forrest hosting a slumber party without makeovers. Anyone who shows even the slightest bit of interest will get their makeup, hair, or nails done. Soft music and the scent of lotus blossoms drift through the air, creating the perfect atmosphere for everyone to relax and enjoy themselves.]

((OOC: If you've got a teenager that Forrest has talked to more than once, assume he invited them. Friends of friends are totally welcome as well. Everyone can feel free to put up their own toplevels, and everybody tag everybody and mingle to your heart's content!))

Comments

ty for a convenient excuse for why they're in her dream that night, btw

[priforprince]

[ Chatter, chatter. All these people ever want to do is chatter. Don't they see how it interrupts the inherent harmony of this room, disrupts Hibiki's--

And then Sora says "muses".

Hibiki's teacup stops halfway to her face. The tea within stirs, but doesn't slosh over the rim. Barely.

It's a strange reflex, really, this. There's no reason for her to think of those two girls, not right now, not here, in a world without PriPara. Not when she's never thought of them in those terms before, consciously. But now they're there, in front of her, practically physical. If she reached out, she could touch them, almost.

He made her think about them. And now she's aware of their absence.

Hibiki's voice is rather flat, when she speaks again. And has much less oomph than normal. ]

I did, once.

[ And she brings her saucer up to her still-unconsumed cup of tea. ]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora is empathetic enough to notice how much that effects Hibiki. From the way she stops to doesn't quite sip her tea and then her voice-- so flat and so much less than what it usually is.

He remembers how she reacted when he found out about Pripara too. A passionate love for these things that Sora can't help but feel bad for bringing up.

Roxas is wrong about her being stuck up and all about herself. Hibiki has things and people she cares deeply about.]

What were they like?

[Sometimes it helps to talk about special people. At least Sora thinks so.]

[priforprince]

[ If they were here, and she were promoting her idol team, Hibiki would be happy to talk Sora's ear off about both these young ladies (after a fashion). But they're not. And she's not. And it hurts. And she's been trying to avoid it hurting.

She doesn't know how to handle hurting.

Still not looking at Sora, Hibiki lowers the teacup, saucer and all. She's lost her appetite. ] Is this another attempt to befriend me?

[ Still flat. Still dull. Only the slightest bit of disgust for the word "befriend". She sounds almost far away.

In her mind, she is. ]

[oathkeeper]

[Is it another attempt? Of course Sora does want to be her friend. His curiosity about her is genuine and sincere and he would like to call her a friend.

But right now that seems less important.]

I just think it might be nice to hear about them. I know I like talking about my friends from home. It makes me feel good to remember things!

[Sora pats his hand over his heart. Talking about friends makes him remember just where they are.]

It makes me miss them just a little less, you know?

[priforprince]

I don't feel that way.

[ Simple fact. Unadorned. In a way she should be grateful. If she focuses on the irritation, she can lessen the rest.

A breath in, a breath out. Focus on the room. On the splendor. Not the company. Not who is here, or who isn't. Hibiki is here. Hibiki is enough.

And she'll lock that longing to see her muses away to fuel the fire that keeps the sun burning so brilliantly. Yes, when her plan has succeeded - a plan she took the first steps towards just today! - she'll have everything as it's supposed to be again. She'll still be here, still a god. But they'll be here, too. And they won't lose, even to the Sun, in radiance.

The flowers blanketing the sky can't blossom until the three of them are together. And imagining that makes her want to smile.

She's able to be direct, now. ] You should leave me alone.

[ It's not angry. But it's also not a suggestion, not really. ]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora lets out a small breath. But then he smiles, a sincere and knowing smile.]

Alright, Hibiki.

[His goal tonight wasn't to upset her or annoy her. His goal was to try to help her along with bonding with some other people here and perhaps get to know her just a little more. He thinks that much is a success, however minor.

But he knows that no matter how many new people Sora has met here and how many people he thinks might be good for Hibiki to talk with, there's no way to replace loved ones from home. There's no way to lessen the ache of those missing people that make you whole.

Sora knows that probably better than anyone else in this entire place. He feels that ache deeply every single day.]

I'll see you later. Don't forget to try some of Forrest's things, okay?

[And he'll turn to leave.]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki makes the slightest, lowest sound at that. She doesn't even particularly feel like leaving anymore: that sounds like it involves too much effort. She'd better just find a corner and brood until this sensation passes.

Then she'll be a good guest. And she'll remember the important thing she learned today, too: Sora may not take hints, but he responds to direct orders.

She can work with that. Later. Now is for trying to feel like herself again. ]