CARMEN.

❝ It is… High noon. ❞

❝ Draw! ❞ 

The way Ann was acting was quite endearing, to say the least. Some would view it with many other terms, but she couldn’t help but continue to smile. She bowed her head in turn, before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She was certain she’d never talk to someone like Ann under normal circumstances, but that was more because the opportunity had never arisen before. She was very different to her, yet she couldn’t find herself minding that fact at all. Her latter statement was even enough to draw a quiet laugh from her lips.

❝ I’m not going to dispute that. But… As overplayed as it might be,     normality is just a social construct. It doesn’t detract or add to     a person, only they can do that. ❞

And Ann was certainly winning her over. Not that it took much, she was just happy she was talking to her more than anything else.

❝ So, if you don’t mind me asking. What brought you here? Did     you just want to talk? ❞

Perhaps she wanted to learn more about shogi too, for unknown reasons. It was obviously fairly suspicious, but she was fine with it. She trusted Akira, and speaking to Ann… She was beginning to warm up to her already. Whatever intentions they had in mind from what they learned from shogi, they were intentions she trusted.

Hifumi’s smile was not one of formality—of artificial amusement by and superficial tolerance of her presence in all its overt eccentricities, expression simultaneously as hostile and harsh as it was deliberately neutral; cordiality a masquerade unable to conceal deprecatory intent—of the requisite permission those around her afforded her in their “solicitude” (a consideration for her thoughts and emotions that extended only as far as her earshot). It was earnest—her entertainment at her error sincere but not condescending—her delight genuine, heartfelt in a communication reminiscent of ( and seldom seen beyond ) a child's expressions ( their features the medium in which their emotions took form and performed themselves, honest and unaffected by the charades enacted around them. ) Hifumi’s cues were more understated, more subtle in their fulfillment (containing none of the capricious ardor of children) but still held that note of indisputable truth. It was enchanting.

But enchantment had the potential to be perilous and perilous it had proved to be, her attention fractured and distraction apparent in her unreliable recollections of only portions of what she had said to her. Something about social subtraction…? Math? Ann hoped not. ❝ Mmhm—? ❞ A noise of agreement reinforced by a nod—neither of which were especially convincing.

It was then that Hifumi rescued her from her own confusion, asking a question Ann could answer ( or, at the least, fabricate an answer to ) and sparing them both another incident of probable embarrassment. ❝ No—of course! ❞ Much more certain of herself, her bearing reflected her confidence, posture correcting itself as her body turned the remainder of the angle to face Hifumi. ❝ Sorry. All these random Shujin students approaching you and asking you about shogi——it sounds even weirder out loud but I guess you’re somewhat used to it, huh? ❞

❝ I… ❞ She had no specific reason. Her decision to come had been more impulse than a strict calculation. ❝ I don’t really have a reason? —not like Kurusu-kun with the shogi—so… yeah. I guess it would be to talk. ❞

me thru my tears : take that back

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❝ Awh! Carmen says thanks! ❞

popular text post meme | selectively accepting

It’s less strange to hear it from Akira than it had been Ryuji. Still, she’s adamant that one curse word doesn’t really constitute ‘venting’ but who was she to contest their outlet of frustration?

so i finished p5 this weekend and oooooo b o i this particular dialogue sequence

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❝ Then why don’t you? ❞

Quick to realize her potential insensitivity ( she knew almost nothing about his circumstances, after all, and who was she to question and insist upon an option that might be impossible? ) and even quicker to correct her mistake, she clears her throat, shakes her head, smile sheepish in an apologetic expression.

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Her silence contains and reflects her astonishment. Fuck——That was a first from Ryuji.

Usually only capable of ‘freakin’’ ( or ‘ffffuuuuuh’ in moments of exceptional frustration ), incoherent noises of discontent and excessive use of other curse words, to hear Ryuji finally use the expletive in its unaltered entirety is cathartic, if a bit underwhelming in its instance of use.