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

[peninhand]

[ No escaping, Ravus. Especially since your first poem-sharing partner just so happens to be the club president herself. ]

Hm! That's pretty good. It's the first time I have a club member write a haiku.

[ Then she sees him flips through his pages. ]

I know exactly what you're thinking. I had a club member who used to think the same way. Please don't. Because it is short or a style others won't easily understand, doesn't make it back. Haiku are very expressive and very short, most people won't realize it but it's pretty difficult to write one successfully.

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus frowns into his book. This girl presumes to understand what he's thinking. He dislikes being so easily read.]

I only began composing when I arrived here. This form seemed the easiest starting place.

[He keeps flipping pages.]

I am not a poet.

[peninhand]

I don't think anyone here's a poet.

[ What a grumpy man. He probably wouldn't fit in a setting like Doki Doki! ]

But we all try to put our hearts into words and that's what matters, wouldn't you say?

[sonoftenebrae]

Our actions should speak louder than words.

[Ravus...isn't good with words, his attempt at poetry should get that across.]

But I suppose no one here will reach the level of actual merit without practice. Extensive practice.

[peninhand]

Practice makes perfect. But you shouldn't aim for perfection.

[ Time for an encouragement speech! Hopefully he'll appreciate... Probably not. ]

Just aiming to do better than your previous attempt is enough. Surpassing yourself is far more challenging than trying to surpass the world's best and failing, I think. And then as you keep surpassing yourself, without realizing it someday you're contending with the world's best. That's how most people who get there do it, I think.

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus wrinkles his brows at that. It's a different view from his own.]

I think it important to always strive for perfection. That is the only way to push the boundaries of what is possible, even if you struggle or fail in the attempt.

[Like wanting to kill a literal god, or change fate. A part of him had always known it was impossible, but he'd still had to try.

...that is very different from poetry, though.]

That is...if I resolve to do something, what reason do I have not to attempt to be the best?

[peninhand]

Ah, I suppose it's a way to go about it...

[ Not one she agrees with, anyway. ]

But you won't reach perfection, not at the first try. You'll fail, over and over again. And when you keep failing, it builds negativity you know? You keep trying even harder but all those failures keep weighing you down... In turn, it affects your performance. You end up wondering why you keep failing. You don't find any joy or satisfaction. It becomes a chore and when you get close, the negative loop is such that you just can't escape from it.

[ A pause. That's heavier talk than she had anticipated. ]

Whereas if you only try to best your own performance, failure is much less likely. Even if you barely manage to do better than your last attempt, it's a success. It builds positivity, you feel all the more confident and satisfied. It's with that kind of confidence and attitude that you reach the boundaries of what's possible. And eventually, before you even know it? You've made the impossible possible.

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus has always found that the humiliation and anger of failure pushes him to work harder to not fail again.]

We shall have to agree to disagree. Our views on motivation may be irreconcilable.

[He looks around the room at the other club members reading poems to one another.]

You had a decent turnout. I think you can count this first meeting a success, however you choose to measure it.

[peninhand]

Hm, I suppose you're right.

[ That was a shame, but agreeing to disagreeing was the best. And really seeing how she was younger than him, he could easily rebuke her on the basis of age alone.

Still, she beamed as he mentioned the club. ]

Isn't that great? Man, back home the club I held had only four members. It was so tiny, I'm glad people here have an interest in literature like you do!

[sonoftenebrae]

Quality is more important than quantity, but yes, it is good to see that there are a good number here who can put aside their mog devices and appreciate the fine arts.

[Plus it raises the likelihood of a least some members surviving if Monika goes on a deleting spree.]

Do you plan to focus on composition every time, or could we read and discuss a book for our next meeting?

[peninhand]

Hm, I'm not too sure.

[ She remembered the main character had had doubt about just exchanging poem... And without the whole dating sim thing, it made little sense to have just that. ]

I'm happy to accept suggestions though! Do you think it'd be better if we had a greater focus on reading and discussing all together?

[sonoftenebrae]

A variety of activities is best, if you want to draw in more members. That will give the club a wider appeal.

[Then Ravus won't have to share more poems.]