Christmas "Meme"

[snakewithbaggage]

Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells!
Suzu ga naru
Suzu no rizumu ni hikari no wa ga mau
Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells!
Suzu ga naru
Mori ni hayashi ni hibikinagara

Welcome to the Dinohouse Christmas "meme"! This is going to work a bit differently from most memes, but still free free to do what you want here!

The idea:
Following this post I will be making an assortment of Universe/Location "thread" comments. These will define the specific scene and universe being worked in. Comments by applicable characters will follow under that comment.

Example:
Mushverse; Shiba Mansion; open to Shinkengers

Comments following that would all be set in the Mushverse universe, be by any Shinkengers that want to participate, and take place at the Shiba Mansion Christmas party. Think of it sort of like every "top level" comment is its own post to the community.

Following that example, if your desired AU/Canon/etc isn't there, feel free to make a "thread" for it! Say there's already a Mushverse Go-busters "thread", and you want to do something in Aibouverse, or something more canon, maybe just between two characters? Make one!

Comments following the "thread" headings can be group setting free for all, or between individuals. Say it's a canon GokaiGalleon party, and Gai and Luka want to go off alone, or are on their way to the Galleon together? Their thread can be a separate second level comment thread beneath the main Canon Gokaiger thread.

I know that's a lot of information/qualifiers, but don't let it make you nervous to post, "rules" are fluid, and mainly set for added organization.

HAVE FUN. And enjoy the season!

Comments

[red_pleather]

"Ah, that was probably going to be my next question," I say softly, calmly. "Emi? I don't know what you've been going through with all this. But I know I... I care about you, and I know you're you. No matter what your body looks like. We can work out the details. What matters is that you're you."

[silverpleather]

He is so blunt and earnest and I know he means every word, and it makes my heart ache.

How I desire to hold him in my arms and actually feel it.

How long will it be before this can ever be even a slight hope of reality?

How could it ever, ever be truly all I imagine it to be, all I want from it?

In that dark foreseeable future, even if it happens within the year, will turn our altogether average four-year age difference with myself as the elder... Dark. Wrong. Inappropriate. Nine years age difference across the lines of adulthood.

"It's a child, 'iromu." I whisper weakly. "Pathetic and weak and possibly permanent. What then?"

[red_pleather]

I frown. I know I'm not aware of everything that's happened to him, not by a long way, but I don't... I don't want to NOT protest and make it sound like I support that perspective.

"The eleven year old Emi I remember was not pathetic or weak," I say gently. "I know your body isn't an adult. I know your avatar is more you than it is. But it's still your body. And if you end up inside it permanently, I'll still want," I'm smiling, but not with a rush of overwhelming emotion, I'm smiling because I feel this steadily and strongly and I know it's permanent, "I'll still want to be with you. If it means we have to talk about, um, touching, then we can do that."

I take a deep breath. "But we're getting way ahead of ourselves, Emeric. You don't know for sure that your body would stay like that, right? Don't borrow trouble."

[silverpleather]

I slump against the platform a little, hiding my face in my hands, though he can't see it. I just need to focus for a bit, stop... panicking so much. He's right. I'm being over-reactive. I'm not thinking clearly.

My biggest Weak Point was never the disconnect between my avatar and the subdimension, the threat of damage caused there mirroring here, the necessity of sometimes leaving battle when we were needed most because Jueki couldn't keep the signal strong enough... No, my Weak Point has always been the knowledge that the body waiting for me was that of a child. Dealing with the knowledge, facing it head on, is no easier for me than Hiromu confronting an angry rooster.

"Je suis désolé. You are right, of course. I am getting ahead of myself. I am simply..."

I shake my head hard, smack myself on the cheek lightly. "We will cross that bridge when it comes, non?"

[red_pleather]

I'm grinning now, nodding, just a little, even though he can't see either. "We will. Jin-san's a good engineer, and we have good doctors here, too. Don't give up hope yet."

I fold my arms, making myself comfortable. "I know it's a big deal for you. I support that, and I'm your red, of course I'll do what I can to help. But it's not a big deal for me in a selfish way, if that makes sense."

[silverpleather]

"I will do my best."

I wish I could see him. But I'm sure that he's smiling. Probably has his arms crossed, or possibly his hands in his pockets.

"I am sorry that I had not told you. It has been... difficult. Generally I try to forget about it, when I can."

When I'm not down here, with the proof staring me in the face.

"Ah, 'iromu? Could you... Could you not tell the others? I don't... I mean, I'm not ready to..."

[red_pleather]

I nod. "I won't say I'm not surprised. Though really, I should've realised that either you or Jin-san's avatars didn't match your bodies. It's okay that you didn't tell me, it's private."

He asks me not to tell the others, and I interrupt as he trails off, quite desperate for him not to worry about this. "Of course not."

I'll help when he decides to tell them, though. If he wants.

[silverpleather]

"I suppose common logic dictates one or the other must be a..." I almost say 'lie' but I know Masato would be upset with me thinking that way. "An alternate representation of the truth."

That should be good.

"Merci. I will tell them, at some point, when they are ready. Before... Well, I'll make sure it is not a surprise, should you all ever make it down here."

[red_pleather]

"I should've realised. Ah, if either of them mention it to me, I'll suggest they speak to you."

...

"And if we don't make it down there, it's because you and Jin-san have made your own way out, right?"

[silverpleather]

"I... Oui, probably a good idea."

I consider trying to tell Ryuuji about this... particular truth. He already acts as though he is a century or more older than the rest of us. Like he has to protect all of us. He was the closest to being an adult when it all happened, so I understand. But still.

I smile weakly at his sureness. "Of course. Absolutely."

[red_pleather]

"You can tell them whatever you need to," I say quietly.

I can't see him, but I can picture exactly the kind of half-assed attempt at a smile he'll be wearing right now. Because he thinks he can pacify me. Protect me.

It's incredibly sweet.

Annoying, too.

"You and Jin-san need to have more trust," I say easily.

I can understand why they don't, especially after what I had to do to my father and the rest.

But still.

If they give up now, there's no point in fighting at all.

[silverpleather]

"I will. When the time comes."

He sounds so calm. But he's annoyed with me, I can tell. I sigh at him.

"We trust you all!" I protest weakly, even though I know it's not true in the way he means it.

I scrub a hand through my hair. "We're trying."

[red_pleather]

I soften, a little. Trying is a little better. "You need to," I say bluntly. "You two keep showing up in the nick of time to help the rest of us, but you don't seem to quite understand that it goes both ways."

I sigh. "It's been thirteen years. I realise that. But if you keep thinking the only help you'll get is from each other, it could cost you."

[silverpleather]

He's comfortable enough to be sniping with me now, and I laugh softly at his confidence. His frustration with us.

His care.

"We're not trying to exclude you." I inform him. At least, I'm not. I'm sure Masato has denied Kuroki-san's help numerous times.

No matter what Hiromu says, this is something we need to fix on our own.

[red_pleather]

"You might not be. I think Jin-san is."

He knows we care about him and he doesn't have to act like an idiot just to deal with his feelings. But he still keeps slipping.

...I'm not entirely sure about Emi, either.

[silverpleather]

"Masato... Masato has different coping mechanisms than I do."

I scrub both hands through my hair again.

"Ah, mou, 'iromu..." I wish I could see him.

I wish I could kiss him again.

"Some Christmas, huh?"

[red_pleather]

"Yes, and they all suck," I say sourly.

I relax a little, again, and let some warmth into my voice. "Better than last year's." Because he's around, even if he's not actually sitting here with me.

[silverpleather]

"Do not be crass, 'iromu." I chide gently. "He is allowed his trouble."

I bite my lip at his words, laughing softly. "Oh la la, is that so?" I wonder what he could ever mean by that. "Last year, were you not still living a quiet life at home with ta soeur?"

[red_pleather]

"You know I like him, respect him," I say, but my voice is quieter, acknowledging the reproof. Jin-san just needs... help, and I wish he'd acknowledge that. Everyone needs help sometimes.

I nod. "I was indeed. And I love neesan. But still. It's better this year."

[silverpleather]

"You could befriend him." I point out. "Respect only goes so far with Masato."

Although perhaps that is just me who warrants such a fondness from Masato. Thirteen years is a long time to be alone with someone.

"And why is that?"

[red_pleather]

I grin at that comment. "Yes, I see what you mean."

...he's going to make me say it. My grin widens. No point in trying to hedge around this, in trying to give him flowery words. That's not me, anyway.

"Because you're here."

[silverpleather]

I can hear that he's near laughing. I love that I can make him happy, even after... Even when he knows the truth.

I wish I could see him, at least. But there's no technology for that, not yet.

Probably for the better. I bet he'd want to see my... body.

"Merci. It has been... very fun. I wish in my recklessness I had not been pulled away."

[red_pleather]

"You'll do better next party," I say with complete confidence. "And by next Christmas, we'll have you out of there. Long before next Christmas."

I take a breath, though. I want to reassure him, but I don't want to downplay how he's feeling. What he's been through. "It must be hard," I say softly. Not sickly sympathy, just an acknowledgement of difficulty.

[silverpleather]

"Are we going to have another party?" That's curious, I hadn't realized that parties were that much of a regular thing. Certainly, there had been the small event for Youko's birthday, but...

Oh. Birthdays. It's the end of December. My own birthday is in the middle of January. Is that what he means?

I blink and laugh softly. "Alright, alright."

He's so confident.

I don't know how he can be, but I love him for it.

"You should go back to the party." I say softly. "Make my excuses for me."