fondue for two; episode two

[somanylyrics]

[Brittany has settled in well enough since her arrival, but she's been thinking about a lot of things and she's been thinking hard.

this morning she opens her journal up while she sits on a counter in the kitchen eating a huge bowl of cereal. between spoonfulls she sighs and asks a question:]

Soooo...if, like...you can wish for almost anything here then wouldn't birthday wishes be like...extra magically strong? I mean birthday wishes are really special so if you make a birthday wish to bring someone here it could work...right?

[she's hopeful, even though she already knows the answer deep down. she knows she can't wish for people to be here with her. but she has to ask it anyway]

Comments

[not_nikkiheat]

[She sounds so hopeful that Kate almost can't bear to let the girl down, but she can't spend too much time wishing for something that won't happen.]

I'm afraid it doesn't work that way here.

[onlyanapple]

It doesn't give people. But hey if you want to waste a perfectly good birthday wish don't let me stop you.

[socovert]

I wish it would. [There are a few people she would wish to be here too.] But I doubt it does, because this place seems random about who it brings in anyway.

dictated

[kungfuwitch]

I'm sorry, sweetie, it doesn't work that way.

[somanylyrics]

I kinda thought so, but it would make sense. I like when things make sense.

[somanylyrics]

I can't waste it even though it's my biggest wish of all.

[somanylyrics]

Do you think I'll ever see anyone from home here?

dictated forever

[somanylyrics]

But it should!

[not_nikkiheat]

I like when things make sense too. Paradisa doesn't make much sense, though.

[quota]

[Look, there's a strange looking cat sitting on top of the cabinets, watching the people in the kitchen come and go with wide pink eyes.

This girl interests him.]

[socovert]

Possibly, though via a non-wish way. I'm not one to give up hope easily or convince someone else to, so I would say it could be a possibility. But that also means knowing that it's just as likely to not be a possibility is also a possibility, as hard as that is to come to terms with, I know. Life has a way of not always working how we want it to.

[onlyanapple]

Hmmm, I suppose it is one that requires a lot of thought and preparation.

[somanylyrics]

No it doesn't. Why can we wish for anything except the things we really want?

[somanylyrics]

It does. I have two weeks to think about it.

[somanylyrics]

I don't like giving up hope either, because I think anything is possible, but I'm still scared. I don't like being scared.

[somanylyrics]

[it takes her a moment, but then she notices him and she grins]

Hi there.

[onlyanapple]

Maybe you should make a list.

[somanylyrics]

Ooooh that's a really good idea. You're smart.

[socovert]

Scared that you might not see anyone from home? Yeah, I know the feeling there. Being patient kind of hard under these circumstances.

[onlyanapple]

Well, I have been around a long time. You learn a thing or two over the millennia.

[quota]

[And there's a reaction that interests him even more -– she doesn't seem perturbed by his appearance at all.

He replies telepathically, the only way he can, so his cute voice pops up in her own head.]

Hello.

[therealrisette]

I don't think so...

[Rise sounds kinda sad. She may have thought about this herself once or twice, since Yukiko left.

But she quickly perks back up. She doesn't want to depress this mysterious new girl any more!]

I do know someone who got her best friend from home for Christmas once! But she didn't wish for her or anything, the castle just brought her here. I think it was just messing with them... like always...

... But, y'know, maybe they'll just show up someday! And if not, they'll be there when you go back. That's gotta be the best way to look at it, right?

[not_nikkiheat]

That's a good question. I don't know why this place wants to take us away from the people we love.

[kungfuwitch]

It would be nice if it did, I suppose, but I don't think I could do it... bringing people here because of me. Not with all of the terrible things that happen. There are good things, too, but I think my family is better off where they are.

Besides... if it did work that way don't you think people would wish themselves home?

[somanylyrics]

Wait...terrible things happen here? Like what?

[somanylyrics]

[she jumps slightly, but grins]

Wow that is so cool.

[somanylyrics]

Yeah you're totally right. It's hard though because we were always together and now we're not.

[there's a slight pout in her voice]

[somanylyrics]

Someone told me bad things happen here. Do you think that's true?

[somanylyrics]

That's really, really old.

[somanylyrics]

Maybe we're supposed to learn something.

[quota]

[Kyubey's cat-smile seems to widen, just a touch, and he gets to his feet so he can jump down to the counter level.]

You really think so?

[kungfuwitch]

Like the castle completely flooding and all of us ending up on some remote island. Demons, diseases... [Her voice trails off] But it all works out in the end.

[somanylyrics]

Does that happen a lot?

[somanylyrics]

I do! It's like a magic power or something.

[not_nikkiheat]

Could be. That doesn't make it any easier, though.

[therealrisette]

Yeah, I know...

[Rise can't help but think about her own friends back home. Senpai just showed up recently, and Chie's still here, but it's not the same with just them...]

It's a good chance to make new friends, though, right?

[That's how she always looked at it, when she was the only one here. And now she gets to introduce her new friends and her old friends sometimes!]

[somanylyrics]

Yeah, and new friends are great and all, but...it won't be the same.

[no one will be the same as Santana. ever. but she has to hold out hope she'll see the other girl again one day, and until then she has to enjoy herself. Santana would be sad if Brittany didn't try to be happy here.]

I'm Brittany. [it's said a bit shyly now]

[somanylyrics]

No. Learning lessons hurts a lot sometimes.

[therealrisette]

[Rise knows exactly what she means. It's never the same. She spends a lot of time with all of her friends in the castle, both friends from home and ones from other worlds, but it doesn't stop her from missing the ones that aren't here.

But it sounds like they understand each other well enough so far, so Rise leaves that thought alone and answers her introduction instead.]

Hi, Brittany-san! I'm Rise.

[And she's oh-so-very Japanese. Six months and she still hasn't gotten out of the habit of addressing foreigners with honorifics.]

[somanylyrics]

[she smiles at that and giggles, she doesn't know much about Japanese culture]

Why do you say my name like that?

[therealrisette]

Oh, right, sorry! It's how we address people we just met back home.

[Well, not really, but it's the simplest explanation right now. At least Brittany doesn't seem too bothered by it!]

And after we've been friends for a while, maybe "Brittany-chan"! But that's kind of long, so maybe something more like "Bri-chan"?

[Ooh, she likes the way that sounds, actually!]

"Bri-chan"... that's really cute! Don't you think?

[She could say it's totally weird and Rise wouldn't mind, actually. She knows honorifics are weird to American girls. But she thinks it's cute!]

[not_nikkiheat]

Unfortunately, that's the best way to ensure we don't forget them.

[quota]

It isn't like a magic power –– it is a magical power.

[He comes as close to her as the counter will allow.]

The castle can't grant every wish. Are you disappointed with its magic?

[kungfuwitch]

Once a month or so...sometimes more.

[somanylyrics]

Do people....die?

[the last word ends with a slight tremble in her voice]

[somanylyrics]

And make the most of what we have? Try to have fun maybe...

[somanylyrics]

[she looks down and frowns slightly, then shrugs before looking back up]

No...it's all really kinda cool, I just...miss people.

[somanylyrics]

[she giggles] That's really cool! I don't have any special way to call people things.

My friends call me Britt, so you can use that if you want. I don't mind because I like making new friends.

[therealrisette]

Oh, that's cute, too! [Sounds kind of odd to her, but still!] Nice to meet you, Britt!

[Yeah, she could probably get used to that! She honestly doesn't mind dropping honorifics for foreigners if they prefer it that way...]