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[madamemoiselle]

{A girl appears on the Plane, looking quite confused after a moment. It's not at the surroundings, but it seems to be at herself. Her skin is quite literally the color of snow, and her long green hair looks like some kind of pattern. She's wearing a bright and colorful kimono with an odd, but very pretty pattern as well.

It might seem like someone new to the Plane, but when she speaks, it's unmistakably Diva's voice, just softer.}

Ne, what happened?

{She holds her hands out in front of herself, a bit worried.}

It's...gone.

Comments

[madamemoiselle]

How do you mean?

[contract_star]

Just that it sometimes feels like I never had a life before South America. I don't really know how to explain it. The idea that I had a normal life before the Gates and everything, that Bai and I could have grown up normally...

[RICE IS DONE. Now he can start frying it.] It should be done soon.

[madamemoiselle]

{She takes a deep breath, smiling} It smells good already!

Ne, do you think it's because of the Gates and everything, then?

[contract_star]

[HE DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS D:] It's not like the Gate erased my memories or anything. It's just...

[He pauses and watches as the fried rice starts cooking.] In that situation, you had to live in the moment. If you didn't, you'd be caught off guard and killed. And I didn't...really like thinking about it. There was no point in wishing that the Gates had never appeared and that my sister had never become a Contractor. It had happened, and I had to deal with it.

[madamemoiselle]

{Nods}

I understand that, of course. That's like the tower, it's hard for me to remember individual things since I was living for the nicer things. But...I think it's worse for Hei. You knew what it meant, but I didn't. Don't people say 'ignorance is bliss'?

{Warmly} But it had to have happened for a reason, right?

[contract_star]

I don't know if it's worse or better. You're losing something either way.

[A rather cynical smirk.] Maybe. I don't know. It's hard to believe that things happen for a reason without believing in God or a higher power.

[madamemoiselle]

Ne, it'd be hard to tell what was worse or better! But I guess there's no point being sad over what could have been, since it never will be.

Well, I certainly don't believe in those things, and I think things happen for a reason. Like, um...Ah, that experiment recently, for you and Misaki. Even if it was a bad thing, you two are closer now, right? Or for mine, since I'm able to spend time with my Chevalier now, for who knows how long...I think I'll be able to let go of them once its over. That makes sense, right?

[contract_star]

[He's silent for a bit.] ...When you put it like that, I suppose it does make sense.

[He starts scooping the fried rice out onto two plates.] It's done.

[madamemoiselle]

{She claps her hands together excitedly, hopping off the table to take a plate}

Ne, of course it does! That's why I so...so...people say it a lot to me, that I'm "optimistic", isn't it?

[contract_star]

[Laughs and hands her a proper spoon as well.] You are quite optimistic, really.

[madamemoiselle]

It just seems like life would be a lot sadder if I weren't, right?

{Diva takes the spoon and dips it into the rice. There's a moment of hesitation as it's poised in front of her lips, but she takes a bite.

And she just glows. ♥}

Ah~! I can taste it, Hei!

{She takes a few more bites quickly}

It's delicious!

[contract_star]

That's very true.

[He watches her reaction and beams.] Really? I'm glad. Thank you.

[madamemoiselle]

{She takes a few more bites before she looks back to Hei brightly}

Ne, what other kinds of food do you like?

[contract_star]

All kinds. My favorite is Chinese, of course, but plenty of food from other countries is really good too.

[madamemoiselle]

Do you think you can make me one more thing, maybe? Something else that you like?

{Because this bowl is almost empty! Diva had no idea how tasty human food was.}

[contract_star]

[Holy shit you're faster than Hei! He grins.] Absolutely! Let's see...how about egg-lemon soup? I made it before and people seemed to like it.

[madamemoiselle]

{Well, this is a first time experience for her! And she's enjoying it. ♥}

Oh, sure! Anything that you like!

[contract_star]

[Yay! He starts gathering ingredients for egg-lemon soup and la dee da starts cooking.] This is a bit like egg-drop soup, but tarter.

[madamemoiselle]

Mm, I wouldn't know, of course! But, ne, I remember that texture, sort of. Karl enjoyed it, actually! It might have been his favorite.

[contract_star]

He had pretty good taste, then. [Time warp and YAY done. He ladles it out into two ginormous bowls and offers one to Diva.] You should probably let it cool off first.

[madamemoiselle]

{Thanks for the warning Hei, since she was about to take a spoonful}

Ah, alright then! {Nods, then thoughtfully as she waits for it to cool} How did you learn to cook?

[contract_star]

I learned some of it from my mother. The rest I had to teach myself while we were in South America. Mostly I just wanted to keep Bai fed, but I usually ended up cooking for my team.

[madamemoiselle]

...{She smiles warmly} What was your mother like?

[contract_star]

...I...don't remember, really. She was nice, but strict. Moreso than my father, even. But she was an amazing cook.

[madamemoiselle]

It sounds like most mothers are like that, from what I hear. I only wish that I had ever even known my mother! She died a long time before I was born, though, so I have no idea what she even looked like.

{She looks at the spoon again, carefully taking a sip and her face lights up again} My, my~! This is really wonderful too!