veth wanted some kind of a mingle so here is a mingle

[dialo]

[You are in some sort of generic jamjar! There is a speed dating event, which you are participating in because you are literally locked in here. And also you're depowered, if that's a thing you need to be concerned with.

Anyway, it looks like you're not getting out of here until you do the thing, so you might as well do the thing.]

Comments

[misblamed]

Oh, yeah! You wouldn't know about Deadman Wonderland.

[ Ganta tries to keep out any undertone of "lucky you". He really does. ]

I mean, I guess I can't really call it a death game. It's more of a... get one of your organs removed if you lose, game. A non-vital one, if you're lucky.

[ His hands clench and unclench. ]

I haven't lost yet.

[dialo]

...I'm not very good at them, but do you want a hug?

[Because like. What the fuck, actually.]

[misblamed]

...

[ .........

It's been a long time since anyone offered Ganta a hug, unless you count Shiro's glomps. Which, don't get him wrong, are fine! In moderation. But it's not the same as being hugged by someone who understands.

Wordlessly, he nods and gets to his feet. His eyes feel moist. ]

[dialo]

[She hugs him gently. It's a little awkward - it's been a long while since she's hugged anyone but Chelan, and Chelan usually initiates those - but she's warm and soft.]

I'm sorry. No one deserves that.

[misblamed]

[ Yeah. Okay. He can get hugged without having a breakdown. Like a normal person. He's fine, he's fine, he can do this.

Ganta's not one to complain about hugs being awkward. He's pretty rusty himself. But he lets instinct take over for now, wrapping his arms around her and trying not to press his face too fiercely into her shoulder. After a moment, self-consciously, he clears his throat. ]

Maybe this wasn't exactly what they had in mind when they wanted us to talk about ourselves.

[dialo]

Maybe not. But it seemed like you needed it.

[She rubs his shoulder lightly. There, there. It'll be okay.]

At least here is safe.

[misblamed]

Yeah. Can't complain. Worst we have to worry about here is being turned into stuff for a couple days, or, like... were you here for the time they made us sing everything? Eesh.

[ He'll take dying of embarrassment over regular dying, but sometimes there's a slim margin between those choices.

At this point, the hug's been going on long enough that Ganta feels he probably ought to disentangle himself before he makes it weird. He pulls back, offering Dialo an uncertain smile. ]

Sorry for dumping that on you. I've been trying not to think about it too much, you know? But... thanks.

[dialo]

That was awful, I sounded like a frog.

[She doesn't sing! What about her says 'singing person' to you.]

Any time. It seemed like you needed it.