[ citrus will be able to find him in the locked room, working on a painting. the night sky is a deep blue, with colorful bursts of fireworks in the background. the foreground is the part he's working on - it's only got a base layer, at the moment, but citrus may recognize their silhouettes as team fox. even norma is there.
he's very focused, so at first he doesn't notice. but after a minute, kazunari sets down the brush with a sigh and looks away from the canvas, and starts when he sees citrus there. ]
[ It's easy not to hear Citrus. He's good at appearing out of nowhere, his steps so controlled and quiet that he doesn't even do it intentionally. When he sees what Kazunari is painting, he also makes no move to interrupt him.
Rather, watching the process is relaxing in a bittersweet way. ]
... it'd be nice if we could all stay like this.
[ The figure are only sketches right now, but he can't take his eyes off them anyway. ]
Yeah, it would be. We never even got a chance to see fireworks as a team, and I really wanted to... [ there's a soft smile on his face. ] It's a big thing for us back home, you know? Summer Troupe always celebrates with fireworks.
They're pretty... The least fireworks display I've seen hasn't been at a great moment, I'd love to overwrite the memory.
[ The last time Citrus stared up at a sky lit by fireworks, he knew that he'd have to give up his freedom and return to being Citrus, the bottle king, sooner or later.
It would be fitting to watch some fireworks again here, to mark a rebirth as Citrus that feels entirely different in tone. The Citrus of Fox dorm who can get silly nicknames, who can be called a friend and a son with ease, is an entity that feels entirely different from the bottle king. He likes it. ]
[ The small one is already very pretty! It draws a smile out of Citrus. He grabs another stool and sits down close to Kazunari and his work in progress. ]
Yeah, we should try for that. A real nighttime festival just for us.
[ Imagining it is so comforting and yet so sad, after today's announcement. ]
[ Citrus gives a nod. Having spent a lot of time in his vicinity now, Kazunari will be able to tell that he's tenser than usual. ]
... mhm. There's a lot I want us to figure out before next Thursday.
[ One hand goes up to play with the dog tag around his neck. It has a draco constellation engraved and in Citrus' old world, it was nothing more than a fashion statement. It feels a lot more morbid now. ]
But if we don't... I made up my mind. One way or another, I want to take this burden off of them.
If you need me for anything, please let me know? I can't help with planning or following through, but if you need something, I can at least point you in the right direction, okay?
If nothing else... we can just spend as much time together as we can, before we can't anymore.
[ his smile is bittersweet. ]
You're pretty brave, aren't you? It makes me proud to say we're on the same team... though, I still wish you didn't have to be.
[ If he was brave, shouldn't he feel more afraid? He'd feel the fear and overcome it for the sake of something precious. But this is... well, he's not happy about it. But it's more sadness than fear, more resignation and annoyance than terror. ]
It's like... the thought of any of you dying? That scares me. I'm just trying to do what I can to prevent that fear from becoming reality. And I'm only that determined because what you guys have done for me is so amazing that I barely know how to repay it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Week 4, Tuesday
he's very focused, so at first he doesn't notice. but after a minute, kazunari sets down the brush with a sigh and looks away from the canvas, and starts when he sees citrus there. ]
Ah... Cici! Sorry, I didn't hear you.
no subject
Rather, watching the process is relaxing in a bittersweet way. ]
... it'd be nice if we could all stay like this.
[ The figure are only sketches right now, but he can't take his eyes off them anyway. ]
no subject
Yeah, it would be. We never even got a chance to see fireworks as a team, and I really wanted to... [ there's a soft smile on his face. ] It's a big thing for us back home, you know? Summer Troupe always celebrates with fireworks.
no subject
[ The last time Citrus stared up at a sky lit by fireworks, he knew that he'd have to give up his freedom and return to being Citrus, the bottle king, sooner or later.
It would be fitting to watch some fireworks again here, to mark a rebirth as Citrus that feels entirely different in tone. The Citrus of Fox dorm who can get silly nicknames, who can be called a friend and a son with ease, is an entity that feels entirely different from the bottle king. He likes it. ]
no subject
Yeah? Then maybe we can give you a better one sometime.
[ he holds out a hand, palm up, to let a miniature firework take off and burst in midair. ]
Something bigger than this, with all of us there to see it. We could even do some light writing with sparklers.
no subject
Yeah, we should try for that. A real nighttime festival just for us.
[ Imagining it is so comforting and yet so sad, after today's announcement. ]
You saw the news, right...?
no subject
[ he kind of deflates a bit. ]
...before Thursday.
[ because yeah, he heard. ]
no subject
... mhm. There's a lot I want us to figure out before next Thursday.
[ One hand goes up to play with the dog tag around his neck. It has a draco constellation engraved and in Citrus' old world, it was nothing more than a fashion statement. It feels a lot more morbid now. ]
But if we don't... I made up my mind. One way or another, I want to take this burden off of them.
no subject
If nothing else... we can just spend as much time together as we can, before we can't anymore.
[ his smile is bittersweet. ]
You're pretty brave, aren't you? It makes me proud to say we're on the same team... though, I still wish you didn't have to be.
no subject
[ If he was brave, shouldn't he feel more afraid? He'd feel the fear and overcome it for the sake of something precious. But this is... well, he's not happy about it. But it's more sadness than fear, more resignation and annoyance than terror. ]
It's like... the thought of any of you dying? That scares me. I'm just trying to do what I can to prevent that fear from becoming reality. And I'm only that determined because what you guys have done for me is so amazing that I barely know how to repay it.
no subject
...Though I'm pretty sure every one of us would tell you that you don't have to repay anything.