audience: ponta

[becomemod]

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Week 3, Tuesday

[becomemod]

[ they're bringing in a box of cinnamon rolls and tea from the cafe this morning! ]

Morning, Cici! How's it going?

[bottleking]

Morning! Well, I hope today we'll have no more unforeseen power catastrophes, so... alright?

[ Mmmmhh, this smells good. He's beelining towards the rolls, he wants one. ]

Talk about a tumultuous start to the week.

[becomemod]

Here's hoping! But you guys should have figured out how the new powers work by now, right?

[ they step aside to let him grab one! ]

At least none of you set anything on fire.

[bottleking]

[ He laughs at that. ]

Low bar, but hey. We did it!

[ And after chewing a bite of cinnamon roll: ] Did you figure out what you got yet?

[becomemod]

I'll still take it! I heard some of the other dorms were having a lot more issues with their new powers, you know?

And, yeah, I've got Emmy's power now.

[bottleking]

Nice. Good to know so you won't be surprised by it later.

[ Since that seemed to be the biggest cause of chaotic incidents yesterday. ]

Guess it also helps that none of us have super offensive powers.

[becomemod]

I don't think it would be easy to be surprised by it? It's kind of like mind - except instead of drawing, you have to write something.

That's true, too! But I still like our powers best. We're pretty well rounded, if you ask me!

[bottleking]

[ Hey, you never know when you need to write a note that can somehow go awry! ]

Agreed on that - though we might be a tad biased?

[ TEAM FOX NUMERO UNO!!! ]

[becomemod]

So what? We deserve to be biased! We're a good team, and I'm really lucky to have you guys.

[bottleking]

... yeah.

[ Citrus' expression softens considerably. He leans against the kitchen counter and gives the whole room a look over. There's a lot of memories associated with it already, phantom images of everyone else on Team Fox going about their daily lives in here. ]

I'm grateful, too. I'm still... honestly, I don't feel a lot even now. This hero game's trying to force me back into feeling like a robot, only doing as is demanded of me while the emptiness grows. But when I'm in here, with you guys... I don't know if I'm happy, but it's a place that makes me want to come home. Y'know?

[becomemod]

...Mm. It's doing its best to push everyone to their limits, isn't it? I am sorry you were dragged into it, because of that.

[ they give him a gentle smile. ]

I get it. And, you know - wanting to come home? That's a step toward feeling happy again. Maybe not here, but sometime. And I'm really, really glad to hear it.

...Do you trust me?

[bottleking]

[ That's a loaded question... Citrus has to pause for a moment, leaving the kitchen in gentle silence as he sorts out his head. ]

I want to.

[ Trusting anyone but himself is a rough process when he's felt alone for so long. Even loving people is easier. Trust requires a willingness to let yourself fall. ]

I didn't trust you at all in that first week. When Rocket and Mika died, I thought that was my proof that you were all just leading us to slaughter while pretending to be in the same boat. I don't think that now. I think that's the position you've been forced into without your say-so.

[becomemod]

That was... a lot to take in. [ sorrowful. they didn't know either of them well, of course, but fox did think they could have been friends. ] It's no wonder you'd think we were responsible when we came to welcome you.

But if we'd known that would happen, I don't think I'd have been nearly as excited to meet you guys. I wish it was different. Like... a nice vacation with some new friends before you had to go back home.

[ but it isn't, so fox sighs. ]

I'm going to trust you, though, okay? You were honest with us, so I want to be honest with you, too.

[bottleking]

Please do.

[ He actually puts his hand over his heart for that. Swearing by a heart that you feel is unbeating may not be the greatest vow to make, but it's the best he's got. ]

Whatever happens, I want our team to make it out of this. I'm on your side, our side, until the end.

1/2

[becomemod]

And I'll be on yours, too. I still want everyone to go home, but you guys, most of all.

So it's past time that I introduce myself properly, isn't it?

[ without another word, fox pulls off their mask, and for once, their appearance doesn't melt into an illusion. ]

[becomemod]

[ smiling, he bows his head, just a little. ] Kazunari Miyoshi. It's nice to meet you - for real, this time.

[bottleking]

[ Whoa! After all the different shapes he's seen Fox take, it's strange to think that this one is the real deal, the person Fox was before this life pulled him in.

Even just thinking of him as 'he' is a novelty. ]

Kazunari! Heh, this really feels like an honor. So that's your real face...The Fox nickname suits you.

[becomemod]

It's fun to play around with the illusions, but it's even better being able to talk to you face to face. You think? And here I was just thinking it was kinda cute!

[bottleking]

I mean, that too!

[ Ponta laughs - despite his generally muted emotions, acting cheerful still comes easy to him. ]

But you do have a mischievous vibe. Ah - I mean that as a compliment, though.

[becomemod]

I'll take it! There's nothing wrong with a little mischief now and then. [ ... ] Though I still kinda wish they'd give us our door back.

[bottleking]

... no kidding. I'd suggest getting a new one from Tarkea at this rate, but... uh.

[ It's not looking good for doors of the non-crispy variety this week. A dark, dark time for home improvement. ]

Did Tiger ever share who did all of that?

[becomemod]

Mm, maybe we give them a little time to fix up their stock first. Nope. Why, do you think they know? We could totally ask!

[bottleking]

They said on the network that they got it on camera, but they didn't specify.

I figured that maybe they'd be more likely to share with a fellow team leader.

[ So he's totally sneaking to find out through Connections(tm). Look, door thief, he's not mad. He just wants to talk. ]

[becomemod]

Ohhhhh, okay. That makes sense! They do run a whole security agency and stuff, so of course they'd have cameras. I can ask 'em later. And if they don't give our door back even after that, we can just fight back, Fox style! [ what does that mean ]

[bottleking]

[ Does Citrus know what this means? Not really! Does that make him laugh? Yes, absolutely. ]

They better yield right away! We take the home improvement war seriously around here.