cancry | sleepover sleepover SLEEPOVER

[ With the handful of new Executors awakening after the first batch, Rei's starting to get a little bit dithery. They're getting to be a big group now and while she's more than grateful for the help (and the company), she still finds herself worried about the group's cohesion. After all, Lion had admitted that he'd lashed out when he'd first awakened, Kingslayer and Pariah were at each other's throats and Iris wasn't even sure she wanted to be here at all.

Not that Rei could blame her.

But if they're going to be a team, then they at least need to be civil with each other. And getting in a bit of bonding before they have to go down and potentially double-die couldn't hurt.

So Rei borrows one of the hotel suites – a 'luxury' suite, according to the receptionist but to Rei's eyes, it just looks tacky as all get out. But it's big enough for the whole group and after spending an afternoon dragging in all the blankets she can find (and a few mattresses – thank god there aren't any other actual guests here to complain about her pillaging their rooms), Rei makes one final trip to the conbini to get... pretty much everything she can carry. Alcohol is right out (sorry, wine grandpa) but she brings back bulging bags of sodas, sweet drinks of all kinds and pretty much anything that looks made to be chugged. After that comes everything vaguely snack and candy-like in the store and a few things that might not actually be good to eat, and Rei feels confident in saying she's done.

She'd mentioned to a few of the others that she was having a bit of a get together that night, so all she can really do is wait for them to show up. She's in her pajamas, she's looked up sleepover games in the library and snacks, there's a TV mounted on the wall and she has... never held a sleepover before.

This is gonna turn out just fine. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Overhearing just enough to speak up defensively – ]

S–some of my things are white and blue as well, you know!

[ Area Executor Not Helping Her Case ]

You're Rei! Hi!

[Okay you're SURROUNDED by older kids but you can be cool too just watch.]

I can handle monsters!

[Nailed it!]

You can– monsters–?

[ It takes her a moment for her brain to catch up with this other girl's mouth but when it does, Rei finds herself spluttering a bit. ]

W–wait! Are you really sure you've gotten the full story? You don't need any time to think it over?!

She- [She jerked her thumb at Wolfsbane.] -gave me the gist of it! Dead spirits can't pass on until we fix purgatory, and you need help to do it! It'll be super scary and dangerous!

Have I got the basic idea?

Well, yes, but–

[ It certainly sounds like she's got the full story, but this is the first time anyone's been quite so gung-ho about the whole Executor business, so she's a little flummoxed. ]

It really will be dangerous, you know! Aren't you worried at all?

Worried that I won’t get to help, yeah! I don’t want to just sit around in this dreary town while everyone else is fighting for their lives!

Er. Not “lives” but you know what I mean.

[ Rei just stares her down for a moment and then sighs, resigned. ]

And I don't suppose there's any point in asking if you need any time to think it through?

I mean.

I know I’m a kid compared to most of the rest of you, but I still think I’d go crazy if you made me stay up here and just sit around while the rest of you were off having adventures! I know I can do this if you just give me a chance!

... Alright then. If you're really sure, we'll establish the contract.

[ Second verse, same as the first – you've gone through all the fancy contract establishment beforehand, so we won't go over it again. Just be sure to scoot over to the Memoria and Power page to get your freebies and we're good. ]

... There. It's done.

Are you sure, it didn't feel like-

[And then she froze in place as her eyes started glowing. A mark appeared on her upper arm (though it wasn't visible through her clothes right now) and a glowing, cherry red umbrella appeared in her hand. Apparently, that was her executor weapon.]

Holy cannoli!

[ Rei laughs a little. It sounds as though it's a noise she doesn't make often. ]

Well, it's definitely taken at least. Though an umbrella's definitely an unusual choice for a weapon.

I remembered something! I remembered sports!

No wonder I keep thinking of myself as Jock!

... Sports as a concept, or...?

[ Purgatory be weird! She's gotta ask! ]

I remembered playing hitball at school.

[She took a moment to sort through the memory herself. It was a busy memory.]

Also I think I had super powers? That or just a very overactive imagination.

Do I even want to ask whatever hitball is?

[ Even the word has a palpable Energy around it. ]

It's dodgeball. Coach Oop wasn't allowed to make us play dodgeball anymore so he came up with a new game that has all the same rules of dodgeball but has a different name.

I dunno why dodgeball was banned.

[ Deadpan: ]

Yeah. I can't imagine why.

... how are you feeling, though? Does everything seem okay?

[To her credit, she did actually think about it for a moment. No pain. Slightly less unbearable crushing depression from not knowing anything about who she was. She could feel the executor power inside her, like a sort of switch she could mentally flick, but decided to mess with that later.]

...Yeah. I think I'm good.

[ She gives a little nod. ]

That's good. I know right now we're all just playing around, but... tomorrow, when we're getting back to our usual routine, I'm sure there'll be someone who'll help you train. Even if it's just me.

Awesome! I can't wait to try all this out! I get to be a real life superhero.

Well...not real life but...

Look you know what I mean!

... Can I ask you a question? Maybe it's a bit late to be asking this now, when you've already agreed to help, but... why are you so enthusiastic about this?

What? I dunno.

[What is self reflection? It sounds scary.]

It just sounds cool. We're like super heroes. Who doesn't want to be a super hero?

Even though it's so dangerous?

[ She's starting to sound like a broken record and she knows it, but she really can't get her head around it. ]

It's just... when I first got here, I was so scared. I only carried on being an Executor because I had nothing else. But everyone's been so gung-ho about it...

Well, like...

You were alone. That'd be way scarier. We've got a whole TEAM situation going on here, right?

But I guess it's mainly just...I'm not scared because I'm not scared? I dunno how to put it any clearer than that.

[ Rei huff out a long sigh and gives her a weak smile. ]

I guess I'm just a little jealous. Even with everybody here... I can't even pretend to have that kind of confidence.

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