open broadcast

[tealeafs]

Um.. I'm sorry for announcing this inbetween everything else, but-- I wanted to make sure I wouldn't do it too late so that it'd be inconvenient for other people..

[ Yes, sorry for interrupting all your talk about PSYCHENet and Trumps and love confessions and god knows what else.. at least she's keeping it in theme, okay. ]

But as some of you already heard, Toshizou and I are going to get married during this Jaunt. [ And despite somewhat natural nervousness of but whAT IF IT'S INCONVENIENT FOR EVERYONE ELSE lingering in her tone, she does sound very happy. It's not hard to tell. Just some nervous happy jitters about it still, really. ] It'll be on the 11th, so.. if you want to come, you can..! But I understand that people are busy with more important things as well, so please don't feel obligated at all..

[ .. look, maybe it's not the best announcement, but it could've been worse. It could've been Toshizou "COME OR DON'T IDGAF SHIT DAMN PISS HELL" Hijikata saying it. Instead it's just lingered with Chizuru's constant need to put her own needs fifteen miles behind everyone else's. ]

I think PSYCHENet is going to officiate it, so it could also maybe be helpful for finding out more about this Jaunt. If people are wondering about that sort of thing instead, I mean.

In either case, thank you for listening..!

Comments

[hakodate]

...you know.

[Because now he's a little worried.]

Given all the speculation flying around right now about what PSYCHENet actually is...if you want, we can change plans a little.

[Not that he knows shit about doing this stuff, but someone's got to, and...if she feels in any way weird about the potentially suspicious computer doing it, he doesn't want her to be stuck with that!]

[tealeafs]

Are you worried..?

[ See, this is her main concern. Don't worry about her, Hiji, she's just going to worry about you in return and it'll be a neverending spiral of worries.. ]

I actually didn't think it PSYCHENet seemed all that bad.. [ Even though.. well, it's Chizuru. She always gives everything a chance. ] So I still wouldn't really mind. But if you'd feel more comfortable with something else, then we can look for an alternative.

[neverfeltthatway]

Congratulations, Chizuru! I'm really happy for the two of you.

[Given the occasion, Armin decided to congratulate her in person - which is why he projected not just his thoughts but his image over the psychic network, so they can have a face to face conversation.

He's quiet, but his words are genuine - though he's had a rough time recently, he does indeed look happy, smiling softly at her.]

Is... is there anything I can do to help?

[tealeafs]

Thank you, Armin-san! It's so kind of you to say that.. [ Still happy, yup. Nothing is going to ruin that for now, at least..

Although she has to think about the latter point for a moment before she goes on. ]

Um, well-- I wouldn't want you to force to help, but if you insist on wanting to do something, there are a few things we could still use help with.. Are you sure you want to?

[devaluates]

Chizuru, of course people are going to want to come to the wedding.

[Otherwise he will be loud and annoying and drag their asses to it! She deserves to have as many friends as possible there.]

I'm not good at this stuff but if I can help you guys, I'll do my best.

[Even if he looks ridiculous right now with damned cat ears and a tail... ]

[tealeafs]

Oh, I'm sure you'll do fine, Heisuke-kun..! You're always great no matter what you do! [ YOU CAN KEEP PUTTING YOURSELF DOWN, HEISUKE.. but Chizuru will be here to pull your self-confidence back up a few inches every single time. Especially since it's not even lip service with her or anything, she really does think Heisuke is amazing in his own way. ]

A-and I know there were already people who wanted to come, it's just.. I really don't want to keep anyone from solving the Jaunt foremost. That's why we're here, right..? It'd be selfish to pull everyone's attention away from that.

[thirdarrow]

[ It is nice to have some happiness around. Everyone here could sure use it. ]

In the event that PSYCHENet might not be suitable, I can offer my services. I have done it a few times before.

[ Officiating weddings, he means. He did it for several retainers and quite a number of his people. ]

[tealeafs]

.. Eh? Really?

[ The surprise is audible even in her mental tone. It's not even anything bad, it's more just that she sounds amazed by the announcement. ]

I didn't know we had someone that amazing among us..! [ Okay, so maybe to most people being allowed to officiate weddings and all wouldn't be that incredible.. but Chizuru is easily impressed, okay. It just happens. ]

[hakodate]

I think I'd trust you over PSYCHENet, honestly.

[Because notable samurai > these mysterious computer things???]

But this might be a good chance for us to find out a little more about it.

[If everything goes horribly wrong, though, Takakage is the first person he will call for the do-over...]

[shiroganeheir]

Congratulations!

[Weddings and marriage are not something that have really crossed Naoto's mind, but she is genuinely happy for others.]

I do not know if there is any help I can give, but if you need anything from me, I would be glad to assist. I will likely be there, at the very least to keep an eye on PSYCHE-net if you do not mind.

[A pause, as she realizes how much of an ass that makes her sound.]

Er, and to offer my own well-wishes and support as well, of course.

[tealeafs]

Thank you.. and please don't worry about it. [ At least there's a soft mental equivalent of a chuckle following it.. it must mean that Chizuru really doesn't mind the statement, regardless of what Naoto might have said at first. ]

I know it's really important to the Jaunt, so I'd actually be glad if someone could learn a little bit more that way.. you must be a very observant person.

[zerothtohero]

If I am permitted, I will certainly come, Miss Chizuru.

[Huh, maybe he can't call her that anymore. Lady Chizuru would be the Auroran progression, and if she keeps calling him Daneel-san then he has to follow suit.]

[tealeafs]

Of course, Daneel-san..! [ Yes, she sure is still using that. ]

In fact, I'd be really glad if you came.. you're one of my friends as well, after all.

[upcard]

Chizuru-san...! Of course everyone will want to come!

[sparkle sparkle why wouldn't you want to come what is wrong with you]

You're so kind to everyone, and Hijikata-san is always helping and protecting everyone...! So you're both so important....

[tealeafs]

[ MAI IS THE #1 GUEST.. but it's still really good to see her so excited over all this. This Jaunt really seems to be doing wonders for Mai, it makes Chizuru so glad... ]

A-.. ah, well.. not more important than the Jaunt, still..! [ THAT'S THE ONE THING SHE CAN NEVER PUT HERSELF ABOVE. Nope. Nuh-uh. Not going to do it. ] I know Toshizou is very important to the group, but we should still focus on bringing all of this to a good end as well.

[ Suspiciously leaving herself out of there.. low self-confidence until the end, honestly. ]

[fridgeninja]

Congratulations!

Although, is that really the only choice of officiant?

[tealeafs]

Someone else has offered their services too! So.. um, are you one of the people who doesn't trust PSYCHENet either..?

[nicotinized]

[He shouldn't be surprised, but he is. Mostly because this whole Jaunt has him off-guard. He tries to hide his surprise, though]

Congratulations - I'll be there, and I'll make sure Souji comes too.

And if you need help with anything, just ask.

[tealeafs]

Don't worry, Souji-san already guessed at it earlier.. He was really excited about it. [ To put it lightly. But at least it was a good thing, she likes seeing Souji actually happy. It was oddly cute. ]

I would feel bad imposing on you though, Hijikata-san-- it's already an honor to me if you'd come! You don't mind going, right?

[ Since she did realise when she was talking to Souji that it's maybe a little awkward, since it's true that the Hijikatas are a little more alike than the Soujis.. but if he doesn't mind, then Chizuru sure seems no reason to mind it either. ]

[rekkaning]

[There's lingering guilt over the last Jaunt in her mind as she dithers whether she should say anything, but if she doesn't say it now, it might get a lot more awkward later, so...] Congratulations.

[And that's all the positivity she can manage for the day. Good job Rekka you tried]

Is...PSYCHENet a good idea for this? [That's...not the question she really wanted to ask, exactly...]

... Are you okay?

[tealeafs]

[ At least most of Chizuru's guilt seems to have faded.. at least enough for her to be able to cope with it and still think of different things instead of just blaming herself for the same things over and over. In fact, it hardly even seems like she's thinking about the last Jaunt, even though it's the last time she spoke to Rekka. But technically that wasn't "her", anyway. ]

Hmm.. I'm alright, thank you. [ It's probably a little moderated by the memory of the last Jaunt, but it's not enough to wipe away the happiness she's found with the subject of this announcement. ]

And I sort of want to trust PSYCHENet.. but even if it does turn out to be something like a Trump or maybe something else bad, Toshizou and I are prepared for the consequences together. Especially if finding out more about it might help out everyone in the long run.

[ Chizuru not sacrificing herself for the sake of others? It just doesn't happen. Ever. ]

[brannewbrains]

[ aw, well, this is really adorable. ]

Congratulations to you both. Of course I'd like to attend, and... well, I dunno how much help I'd be but I'll do what I can. Are you having a reception? Do folks need dance lessons?

[ will there be sake? ]

[tealeafs]

Oh.. dancing would be nice!

[ She danced with Hijikata at the masquerade, at least.. and that didn't go too splendidly.. but to Chizuru it was still one of the most amazing things ever, and she's immediately near sparkly eyed at the idea. It carries over into her mental tone. ]

Do people usually do that at weddings..?

[howexciting]

I had heard this from him earlier, but congratulations! I am very happy for you both.

[And his mental voice really is beaming. He gets stupidly excited over weddings, gosh. And being able to help with one is even better!]

If you need anything at all, Chizuru, just ask. I... may have to take a few trips to Liminal Space in secret, but I will provide anything you want or need that we cannot find here.

[tealeafs]

Thank you, Leonardo-san.. you really are too kind. [ If not for the congratulations, then for the fact that he sounds so.. happy about all of this? Even though it's not his wedding.. It makes her really happy to hear that kind of excitement. Especially considering he could use something to cheer him up too after the last Jaunt, she's sure. The guilt had already been heavy enough on her, so it must've been even worse for him. ]

Um, I wouldn't want to impose on you, but.. actually, I was wondering where to get clothes from for the wedding.. do you think it might be easier to get them that way..?

[knightceties]

Congraaaatulatiooooons!!

I promise not to crash the wedding at all!

[tealeafs]

Ah.. thank you, Ace-san..

[ A little awkwardly since that's.. sort of an odd thing to say, but she assumes that he means it in a nice way, so she's sort of glad at the same time?! This is hard. ]

I really hope the wedding goes smoothly. [ hint hint ] Toshizou's already had a lot to deal with, so..

[creatic]

Is there going to be an open bar?

[undefine]

Souji. [DON'T BE RUDE?? Except it feels sort of wrong to say that, even if that's probably exactly what he should be saying.] ...I believe alcohol is inappropriate in this setting.

[ah yes that's better]

[undefine]

[Truthfully, Saitou hasn't given this wedding thing a whole lot of thought because it's— well, so completely out of his element, he just doesn't know how to grasp it. There's something sort of surreal about it, even as Chizuru openly acknowledges what Hijikata could barely say before. Maybe it's just strange because he never imagined even being around (alive) long enough to see any of his closest friends get married.

...he's not sure if that's what it is, but it makes the most logical sense, so he'll just go with that.]

Congratulations. [...it feels so strange to say, but it's only polite to do so. (And he feels like he kind of has to make up for Souji, too, who... doesn't seem to be all that happy lately.)] If there is anything else we can be of help with, please let us know.

["Us," he says, like it won't really just be him...!!]

[tealeafs]

Thank you..! [ It means even more when one of the guys say it, really.. because she knows it must be really important to Hijikata. All of them are already important to Hijikata as people, so their congratulations must mean a lot to him as well - to not even mention their presence at the wedding. ]

I'm sure it'll be alright though.. Okita-san already seemed really enthusiastic to get to work.

[ This is not a good thing, Chizuru. ]

[maruniichimonji]

[ To say that he actually knows how to respond to this would be grossly incorrect. Not only does he not know what he would say, but he doesn't even know how to reply. Nobody's ever explained this whole "voice in your head" thing to him, and so he has absolutely no clue how it works to say something back.

It's because of that that he doesn't think to check himself before reacting, instead thinking out loud, as it were. Unfortunately, he never really intended for his attitude toward things at present to be "out loud", and as such, his tone conveys more of how he's feeling than his outward appearance has since his arrival: flat, disinterested, and hurt. ]

...Congratulations.

[tealeafs]

[ .. huh?

This is one of the responses she didn't expect to get. Not that she didn't expect Sano to pipe up, that's not it.. but it's more the tone of the voice she hears in her head. He was so kind to her when they saw each other again in Liminal Space, and now it's..

Is he in pain..? It's not even the disinterest hurting her as much as she worries at him sounding so different all of a sudden, and she immediately thinks back at him. ]

Harada-san..? Is something wrong? [ Despite the tones being mental, her own is still soaked with worry. She's not even bothering to try and be subtle. ]