interstellar5555 | b u o n e ~ f e s t e

Who: Priders! (Basically if you (or your friend, or your dog) has had a positive interaction with anyone from MANTICORE, consider yourself invited, dragged along or sent in someone else's place. And even if you haven't been invited it's totally fine to notice something's going on and show up or randomly come across this and stay!)
What: Genos and Squalo throw a Solstice dinner party. ~~Italian food for everyone!~~
When: December 21?ish (forward-dated a bit so it doesn't fall right before irl holidays)
Where: MANTICORE penthouse
Warnings: ~~MANTICORE~~ Squalo, Carnies, language, minors getting drunk, substance abuse, someone might decide to bone, idk.

[ Fuck the creepy shit, MANTICORE are aggressively throwing a Solstice party! Because why not, and who has the patience to wait until New Years? ]

[ There are locations/prompts in toplevels, but feel free to start your own as well. Generic timeline of the night would be: cooking, dinner, socializing with games and booze ~~and possibly other things~~, and a movie marathon into the wee hours of the morning for the ones interested. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

....If.

[She slowly stands up. And suddenly starts to softly sing. She also claps in tune as she does so.]

♫ If you're evil and you're on the rise,
You can count on the four of us taking you down
'Cause we're good and evil never beats us,
We'll win the fight and then go out for pizzas! ♫

♫ We are the Crystal Gems
We'll always save the day
And if you think we can't
We'll always find a way ♫

♫ That's why the people of this world
Believe in
Garnet
Amethyst
....hmm hmmm.....

And Steven! ♫

[His hand clutches at the gem beneath his shirt, his entire body shivering with the strange familiarity of that song. Is that why he has this now? What does it mean? What does this song mean? It gives a feeling of purpose, of hope - things he's been missing terribly for most of his life.

He watches her helplessly, and he listens. He could tell her to stop, but he doesn't. He feels an unbearable sense of loss inside of him, even as part of what he's missing could be standing right in front of him.

His gaze falls, when she finishes, his grip on his gem tightening conspicuously. He feels really, really sick. He can't seem to speak, beyond shaking, clipped phrases.]

I...I don't...I'm sorry...

...Its all right.

[She can feel it, too. Of course he doesn't remember her. Why would he? She called him a brat, so many other things...when this whole time, should she have been protecting him?

She quietly moves in to give him a hug.]

You don't...you don't have to be sorry. Just know.

Just know I'm here for you, now.

Edited 2015-12-30 20:10 (UTC)

[He lets that embrace enclose him, taking some small comfort in its warmth, even if he still feels so far away. He doesn't understand how this can be happening. Where do these memories come from? Which is real, his life now or the life he remembers in clips and phrases?

For a while he just shivers, trying not to do anything for fear of ruining whatever positive thoughts she has about him. Eventually, though, he speaks uncertainly, leaned against her chest.]

You...just...remembered me? Just like that?

[She quietly nods as she holds him.]

I did. Just like that.

[He freezes for a moment, overwhelmed with the idea, his breath hitching. Then, slowly and tentatively, he asks:]

What am I like?

[Garnet closes her eyes at the question, thinking of the memories she can now grasp, letting them sink in, allowing herself to know this boy again. Steven. How could she ever forget him?]

You are a wonderful boy. Kind, sweet, and compassionate. You believe in everyone, and wish to protect Earth.

[He falls silent again. It doesn't make him feel better. Really, it just makes him feel worse. He feels like telling the truth will certainly make her change her mind.]

I don't anymore.

[He stopped believing in just about anyone a long time ago.]

[Surely. Surely, she will stare at Steven, horrified, and then be upset, and denounce his lack of faith, how dare he, and leave...

...yet, that isn't what happens. She simply brings a hand to cup his chin, her eyes closed. Hearing him, him, of all people say that.]

Oh, Steven.

My poor boy.

Please forgive me.

[He doesn't understand this at all. He doesn't understand who he is or how he's supposed to feel about what she's telling him. Everyone seems so convinced that he's someone good, but all he can feel inside of himself is loneliness and self loathing. He's not good at being Steven, and he's not good at being Tiger anymore either.]

I don't understand. [He says it like he's pleading with her.] I can't...be both...how am I supposed to be both? I've never been like that, I haven't...

Steven.

[Her voice is calm. Quiet. Trying to be soothing, as she rubs the boy's back. It hurts hearing this, hurts knowing she can see what might happen, and knowing that he might leave, even more confused and frightened.]

I...know. I can't just convince you you're who I'm saying you are. A lot of the time, I often wonder if I'm just going mad. But can I ask you something?

Is there something - anything - you're sure of? Anything, anyone, in your memories, in your mind that you believe is right with you, deep down in your heart? Whatever that thing is that feels most right...for me, that's what I've decided to be.

[She gives the smallest ghost of a smile.]

What about you?

[He can't think of what to say, for a period of silence that seems to stretch on and on. It's so hard to feel genuinely sure of anything, like this. Even the stuff he feels strongly.

But maybe there is something. Even if, half the time, it frustrates him as well.]

I remember having a dad, but...one that's different from the one I'm supposed to have. And...and he loves me. And he's here, too.

[His voice cracks.]

But...But I can't...

[He grasps his fingers at nothing. One of the only things that feels right, and it's being kept away from him. And most of the time, it feels impossible to understand.]

He's...who is he?

[His voice becomes a whisper. He's trusting her far more than he really should, something tells him, but yet...]

Greg Universe. From Virgo...

Greg...!

[...Oh. Oh. Of course. The coincidental last name......clearly isn't coincidental.

Don't mind her, Tiger, she's bringing a hand to her head, Really, how did it not occur to her that the two had the same last name for a reason?

...

And yet her mind still draws a blank on Greg. But Greg and Steven remember each other, so it must mean she somehow should know him. It also put a few other things that has happened in proper perspective.]

I see. Ok. That must be why, then.

b u o n e ~ f e s t e

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