Doki Doki Vaikuntha Club (Act 1)

[peninhand]

Who: Anyone signed-up for the plot!
When: July 27th
Where: Curti Center
What: Monika's opened a literature club and the members have to share a poem together for this event. It can be embarrassing, but there's nothing to lose!
Warnings/Notes: No warnings whatsoever! Listen to this track to enhance your poem sharing experience.

Comments

[topgun_textiles]

Oh- okay. Uh... I couldn't work out a name but that's okay, right?

[This was his chance to finally be in a club instead of just standing outside the window and looking in while trying to share in a bit of secondhand joy. He stood and unfolded a piece of paper he'd brought, and hoped he kind of understand what exactly poetry was like because he had no idea. But everybody always said poetry was just writing how you felt and letting your pencil run away with you, right?

So he'll just write about something that happened with him recently!]

A floating dock cradled by water,
just her and just me,
The moon big and silver,
the stars and black sea.

We didn't wanna sing,
looks and smiles a fake,
so we offered our no-thanks
and set out for the star-filled lake.

Stars blinked and stars flew,
one-thousand, two-thousand, three.
When I got the constellations all wrong,
you were you, and you never laughed at me.

And up above, within their spheres,
with luck held in their sway,
I'd not give up for fate itself,
the time we shared today.

...Yeah, that's it.

[What an odd poem. But he lowered the paper and stared expectantly, perhaps a bit pink in the face.]

I usually chuck the shit I write and keep it to myself. Well, no more, dammit!

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus nods as Kanji reads the poem, but does not offer feedback right away. Instead, he holds out a hand and gestures for the boy to hand over his paper for Ravus to scan. He wants to read it himself after hearing it aloud.]

The imagery is evocative. Water can symbolize rebirth and transition, a movement from innocence to adulthood.

[Ravus is not sure if he's actually meant to analyze the poem, or if he is supposed to act merely as an audience. Literature was part of his studies, but...his childhood was disrupted by Imperial invasion, and he has never partaken in a 'club' before.]

You would do well to treasure your 'her'- you never know how long you will have together.

[topgun_textiles]

[He handed the poem over for Ravus to read, and was interested to know about the evocative stuff. A lot of things had symbolism in them, and he wondered if he should think more about what stuff means outside of a literal sense.]

I didn't know that, all told. That's pretty cool.

[But his body language was rigid, shoulders high and head low when he finished his feedback. What'd THAT mean?]

Treas- o-of course I do! She's my best bud!

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus just raises an eyebrow. The student doth protest too much, he thinks.]

Whatever she means to you, be glad of the time you share.

[And because he's not particularly diplomatic and enjoys having the last word, he adds.]

The word choice is reminiscent of a love poem. Perhaps that is just a coincidence.

[topgun_textiles]

What? ...What!?

[Hold on, he needed to read it again. But the color in his face was deepening.]

S'it that obv-... that wasn't my, uh, intention...! Damn it!

[sonoftenebrae]

[Smooth, kid. Ravus decides to spare the child.]

My mistake. Have you given your poem a title? That can help convey your intended message.

['A Moonlit Night With My Pal' or 'Just Friends Alone Under Starlight' might help clarify.]

[topgun_textiles]

I tried to come up with a title all last night and this morning! I'm havin' a real bad time of it.

I'm bad at naming stuff, I'm told, and I guess they're right.

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus hands the page back to Kanji.]

It's your poem, and not a bad first effort. You can name it whatever you choose. Keep thinking on it, and concern yourself not with critics.

[topgun_textiles]

[He took it back, his gaze distant even when he looked at his own writing.]

Y-yeah, sure. I think I can make one about food next time. Been cookin' a lot to pass the time n' relax.

[sonoftenebrae]

Oh? [That is met with a bit more interest.]

Have you come up with any new recipes since you've arrived here? I have a [Ally? Friend?] housemate who loves cooking. He is always looking for new ways to innovate his meals.

[topgun_textiles]

New recipes? Sure. With so many people from all the different worlds n' all, I've been workin' up new types of dishes all the time!

From scratch, inventing a meal, though...? Nah, man. That's way above my level.

[sonoftenebrae]

[If putting slices of behemoth steak onto cup noodles counts as a ‘new recipe’ back home, Ravus is sure whatever Kanji is doing counts.]

Have you tried to make anything with ingredients you did not have on your world? Sampling and recreating local delicacies seems to be a prevailing method of culinary exploration.

[From Ravus’ sample of one chef. It’s probably true, though.]

[topgun_textiles]

Never. That sounds fun, though! I wanna make a unique Vaikuntha ramen or somethin'!

Like... a big-ass boiled chocobo egg dropped right in, too. Or is that too much? I tried one the other day and it was pretty damn tasty.

[zanarkandian]

[All of that sounds pretty familiar. Tidus gave him a smile.]

That was pretty good. It actually kinda reminds me of somebody I know.

[Sheepish grin.]

Not that I want to pry or anything!

[topgun_textiles]

[He frowned in thought. What a weird response.]

...Who's it remind you of?

[zanarkandian]

Well, me. And her.

[She's unavoidably on his mind today, and as embarrassing as it is...]

You really get what it's like.

[topgun_textiles]

Oh... I didn't mean to make anybody miss anyone. Sorry.

[zanarkandian]

Hey, don't think of it that way. You didn't make me do anything! That's just the way it goes.

But it's just nice to know somebody gets it.

[topgun_textiles]

Oh. Okay.

...Aw, no, not again...!

[He scratched his head.]

I, uh, got told I wrote a poem that kinda sounded like...

[Because he was an awkward weenie, he formed his hands into a shape instead.]

...But it ain't- it ain't like that, y'know? Just wanted to get that out there.

[zanarkandian]

Oh, so you don't have a...oh.

[He just smiles anyway.]

Still! It's cool that you understand people going through that.

[topgun_textiles]

Uh, s-sure. I mean, I like reading stories or watchin' shows about that stuff. Real emotional, y'know, especially if the writing's real good.

Plus I gotta work on my attendance and my grades before any, uh... that stuff. Figure my shit out, right?

[zanarkandian]

Oh, school! Yeah, don't worry! You've got this.

[Somebody is a student athlete dropout, but he's totally adult now so it's fine, right?]

[topgun_textiles]

Maybe. My grades are pickin' up a little bit, but my teachers are huge dicks. They're kinda jus' waiting for me to screw up and then they can give out their 'I knew it's.

[zanarkandian]

That's not right. But I know what it's like when everybody underestimates you. Keep fighting, prove 'em wrong!

[topgun_textiles]

Hell yeah! Watch me roll outta finals in the top ten! [A clenched fist.]

I ain't about to be Professor Tatsumi, but I'll at least graduate on time with everyone else, damn it!

No scholarships, though. I mean, the clubs are all kinda... [Cliquey. That and the Sewing Club didn't want him.]

But you probably rocked the sports scholarships, right?