2214/Recovery Loop: Rashmi

Recovery Loop: Rashmi
Date of Scene:	08 January 2025
Location:	Plot Room 1
Synopsis:	Hinoiri reaches out to Rashmi for advice and help after her perfect loop... and learns some things. For example, Rashmi DOES have a breaking point. But also maybe it's okay to accept that not everything depends on her entirely.
Cast of Characters:	Hinoiri Kirara, Rashmi Terios
Tinyplot:	Hinoiri's Endless Loop

---

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara was still in her slump, though she did feel better. A loop with Sayaka had been nice. She was no closer to finding out what was going on, but she felt a little better. And some of what Sayaka said had penetrated. Not taking it all on herself...

So she decided to hit up Rashmi next. The girl was one of the nicer girls she knew and, more importantly, easy to work with. Also, she could get all the korma she wanted, because her funds just refreshed in the morning anyway. So who cared?

However, Rashmi had roommates, so instead... well...

Hinoiri texts Rashmi: Can you skip class today? I need to talk. On roof of the club building. See you there.

Knowing Rashmi, she'd... probably... accept it.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
TXT to HINOIRI -- Um... Sure? I'll be right there.

Skipping class is a Pretty Big Deal, when there's not a youma nearby. But Hinoiri so rarely *asks* to talk, it must be a pretty big deal. Besides, her next class is Trigonometry, and well... Rashmi has never really had the head for complex math, so it's *like* she'd be attending, only without the potential embarrassment of being called on!

Delinquency justified, she lands on the roof of the club building about ten minutes after sending her text, Barrier Jacket shattering away to reveal she'd stopped by her room to bundle up against the winter chill.

"So what's up, Hinoiri-chan?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara glanced over and gave a sigh. "Don't worry, you won't remember this. I'm stuck in a whole time loop thing. This is day..." She trailed off. "I don't even know any more. Hundred? Thousand? Ten thousand? Probably somewhere in that branch. I lost count... buck, so many loops ago."

"... I talked to Sayaka last loop. She had some suggestions, though I can't lie... starting to feel like the whole thing is inconsiquential. I did the perfect loop, earlier. Fought all the monsters, made sure nobody got hurt, dealt with everything and... still stuck. Still trapped. Tomorrow just... refuses to come. You're... kind of... like... one of the seemingly nicest people I know and seem to have a somewhat good head on your shoulders. Figured I'd talk with you, get your thoughts. So, how you been?"

That uhhhh... that was a lot to dump on a girl, all at once, admittedly. "Oh, and I can surf now. Okay, so it wasn't last loop, it was the last few loops. They kind of blend together after a point."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"...Time loop," is the first thing Rashmi answers, in the flat tone of 'I pride myself on being sanguine about magic stuff but this is burying the needle on my weirdness meter.' And she just... sort of stands there for a moment, processing that.

"Hooooo," she sighs once she thinks she's wrapped her head around the concept, taking off her glasses and massaging the bridge of her nose. "That... *is* a lot. Okay, so... Biggest thing is I've got a new project; looks like I'm gonna qualify yo *actually* be a Device mechanic soon... *if* I pass the test. And if I fail the test, I could lose my Device, so... yeah putting a *lot* of work into not failing."

Letting out a breath, she leans against an HVAC unit, tilting her head. So d'you remember what happened to *start* this whole mess?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small shrug. "Not a clue. If I could get back home, I'd probably try and break into the restricted section of the castle. We had a wing dedicated to time magic, but I didn't delve into it that much. Most I ever managed was a closed time loop, once. This? Is... not that."

She paused and shuddered. "It... took me a long time to get here, though. I tried getting some help from Riventon, once. Bad idea. And... good idea? He died to save me. Then in another loop he tried to take over the world. It was... it was a thing. Oh. It was a heck of a thing. Saw Ladybug die. Saw Ladybug... die a lot, actually. Punched a few people who deserved a punch. Stabbed Joker, he stabbed me back. His was more effective. Cried. Laughed. Yelled a lot. Met a fun kid..."

She crossed her arms and leaned back against the railing of the roof. "This school has... so many messed up people, you know that? Some people... I like. Some I want to hurt. I didn't think I did anything that big on the first day, you know? Nothing like this. I didn't even like... run into any problems. It was just... a day. Another day. A day like any other. And... that... was fine. I was fine."

"Now I'm not so fine... I did everything perfect. I stopped the witch, fought the library, save Ladybug. Nobody got hurt. Nobody got so much as a scrape. I did it all perfectly and kept everyone out of harm's way and it's... still... repeating... it's all the same..."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
The story is just about as horrifying as Rashmi could expect, and it shows on her face as Hinoiri continues to talk. Finally, at the end, she just steps forward and puts her arms around the other redhead, squeezing. "I'm so... *so* sorry this is happening, Hino-chan. It sounds *worse* than th-- some things I've seen, which were pretty existentially awful to begin with. So... C'mon. Let's get a warm drink and some snacks, and really talk this over, okay? It sounds like you answered the wrong question, but we're gonna have to chew on it for awhile, and if I had anything to do today apparently I can finish it some other today."

Squeezing again, she steps back, and on her face is the sad, genuine smile of someone who *dearly* wants to help a friend in pain. "C'mon... I got you."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara blinked a few times when she was hugged, she opened her mouth to object, but then sighed. "I... think I'd like that. But, ummmm... there's something else I should tell you. First. I told Sayaka, and she took it well... but... I owe you an apology. I haven't... exactly been entirely honest with you. About everything. About a lot of things."

"... I'm ummmm... also... sorry about what I did when I made a mistake. Before. I was trying to help Catra and... I did it... poorly. As I just keep doing... but... I'm... Equivalence. So... before... we go and get that warm drink, I figure I should... tell you that."

She eyed Rashmi, wondering if that meant this loop was going to... well... was she going to have to redo it?

Rashmi Terios has posed:
'I'm Equivalence.'

For a moment, Rashmi looks confused at the admission. Then, the Veil *visibly* draws away, and every assumption and supposition all slams home at once in the Devicer's mind. There is a moment... maybe the span of two heartbeats. A moment where Rashmi is hurt and furious and quite possibly wants to strangle Hinoiri, and it all shows on her face. Then she steps back, closes her eyes, and sucks in a long, deep breath through her nose, hands coming together and fingers pressing against her mouth.

"...Okay so we need to have a *long* talk about your decision-making reflexes, later. But for right now? I'm just gonna leave it at 'If you wouldn't boot a kitten off a bridge, don't attack a Device directly. If you *would* boot a kitten off a bridge, odds are you're gonna deserve what happens to you if you attack a Device anyway.'"

This is followed up with a long, long stare, as if Rashmi is waiting to *see* the information slot home in Hinoiri's brain... then nods. "So let's get some cocoa. You can apologize by paying."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara blinked a few times, looking confused. Then... "I'd punt kyubey off a bridge. Did, actually. Well. Out of a doorway. But... ummmm... yeah. Kicking it was... I mean... I guess it's like kicking your wand? I didn't think it'd do much damage, just disrupt it. But... I didn't think it'd cause that much of a problem... And... sorry. Yeah. Anything you want, my treat," Hinoiri said with a smirk before reaching up to rub the back of her head.

"I mean, at least this time I just kicked it and didn't like... light it on fire like last time? Okay, yeah, that sounded better in my head... my decision making reflexes do suck, don't they? Maybe I should just like... try this again tomorrow."

Well, at least Rashmi could probably gleam that Hinoiri didn't entirely understand what devices were.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"You're part right," Rashmi says gently. "But Intelligent Devices, like Nicomachea, have magical AIs in them, too. That's the *Intelligent* part, it means they're also our friends, not just the things that let us do magic. Think like... Okay would you kick *Ula?* And if you did how would Sayaka-chan react? C'mon... you can think about it on our way down."

And with those cryptic words, Rashmi's Barrier Jacket blinks back into existence, and she loops one of Hinoiri's arms around her neck. Then, golden dragonfly-like wings unfurl from *both* girl's ankles, and once she has a firm grip on Hinoiri, Rashmi just... tugs them both over the side of the building.

"Hold on as tight as you need, I've made sure you won't fall but this is the quickest way there," she says... and the two of them start flying toward a Mitakihara cafe she favors. No frills, no showing off, just a straight flight to the delivery lot behind the cafe.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
"I would never kick Ula!" Hinoiri said almost instantly. There wasn't even thought there. Kicking Ula would be like... wow. That'd be like kicking Sayaka's pet fish! Or something! What kind of monster would kick a fish?

Of course, after telling the girl 'Hey, I was the one who attacked you that one time', she maybe wasn't entirely keen on magically flying over the city... then again, if Rashmi dropped her, she'd know to not mention that next time.

But, once they got there... and she was put down without being launched towards the ground...

"... How do you do that? I mean.... like.... when someone hurts you, or pisses you off, how do you... still try to help them? How do you just... forgive them and keep trying to make them better? Even when you can't understand them?"

Rashmi Terios has posed:
And Hinoiri asks the *right question* for a change. It's enough to make Rashmi throw her arms into the air, in a pose that could either be 'Finally!' or 'Goddamnit!' or any one of a number of silent outcries. "It's simple, but hard, Hinoiri-chan," she says, turning to face her friend. "I *stop* and *think* when I have a big feeling. I try and ask myself 'why' and answer based on what I know about people, over and over until I can understand the logic that made someone do a dumb thing. Because reacting immediately to big feelings means you miss all the *important* things that help you understand a person. And if I *understand* them, I can *help* them."

Barrier Jacket and wings shatter away as the magic is dispelled. "And I *help* people, because most of the time, people don't hurt you because they're monsters. They hurt you because *they* hurt, and running on reflex. Or they just don't *notice* they're hurting you. And people like that *always* deserve second chances to do better."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small nod, glancing off and away from her. "I... see. I... try to do that. Lately. Or... I've been working on it. But I just... I get so... mad, when I get flustered, you know? Like... I'm going to erupt. I don't know what to do."

"And then I just do it, half the time before I even realize I'm doing it. It's like my body is just moving on instinct and I can't control it until a good ten seconds have already passed. I'm trying to get better at that, though. Cutting out dark energy helped, at least. I think I am getting better at understanding people. Just... wish I could control those 'big feelings' a bit better."

She had her arms around herself as she walked, looking slightly forelorn. She almost asked why they were at a cafe and didn't go to the Korma... then right. Rashmi's parents. "Oh. Hey. Since I'm in a time loop and you're working on some project. Wanna take some risks on it and I can tell you how they pan out each day?"

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"It's a skill," Rashmi says gently, coming up behind Hinoiri and resting a hand on her shoulder. "It takes lots of practice, and practice is just trial and error. You're trying, and you're erroring, so you're already on the way there," she says, chuckling.

When they go inside the cafe, Rashmi orders a minty confection of a drink with *pudding* at the bottom, then considers Hinoiri's offer. "I mean... Speaking of trial and error that'd be great... for any other project. See what I have to do is, using parts sourced only on Earth, I have to disassemble Nicomachea, rebuild him with upgrades, then stress-test my build against my boyfriend. Who... one of his great virtues is he *never holds back* on me when we're sparring. So... I know I failed the test, if Nicomachea *breaks.* And since he's more or less my Ula... I want to pass this test the first time."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
"That, at least, I get. You know, back home? They used to think I was perfect and impeccible. I did everything better than everyone else... but that wasn't really it. I just did a lot of my failures in private. I was more determined, so while everyone else was reading a spell for the first time, I'd already spent weeks practicing it a thousand times so when it was time to learn it, I'd already mastered it."

She ordered... a jello parfait. Not even really a drink, for her. Just a parfait. With a cherry and whipped cream.

"Really? And like... it's a lot like Axion, right? So... I've admittedly never been able to figure that stuff out. Like, I figured out how to make an app for my phone, but that's about as tech savvy as I can get. Mixing magic with wires and metal just still feels so weird to me. You people don't even use properly arcane aligned crystals or anything. It just... so weird. But I can understand wanting to do it right the first time."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Gonna be honest," Rashmi says as they find a booth, "after everything I've learned? I *get* why Hannah-chan and Chrono just *recoiled* when they saw Axion the first time. It's like... if someone took your tower design, except they used rebar and a smartphone and duct-taped it all together and somehow it worked mostly right. But nobody knows Dark Energy like Riventon, for better or worse."

Casually stirring her drink, she looks up, tilting her head. "So, a thought occurs... Why didn't you *want* to learn with everyone else? Was it the pressure of being Sora's protege?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
"Really? I just figured that was how they all worked. Axion is basically like... his familiar. Even if it broke, Riventon could probably remake him. I figured that was how all of those are. But... I guess not... if they're like... Ula. Ummm. Sorry for trying to break it that one time... and kicking it that other time," she said, lightly taking a spoonful of her parfait.

"... I did want to learn with everyone else," Hinoiri said before giving a shrug. "But... failing... wasn't... really an option. When you're the personal student to Sovereign Sora, well... getting every spell done right the first time is the least of the requirements."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"I mean, depending on *how* Nicomachea broke, I *could* fix him... or he could fix himself... but not if his core was destroyed. Same with Axion, really... There's a lot that can be fixed, but destroy the core and that's that. Which is why I want to get it right the first time; if I don't, I'd be risking his core, his life, and my magic."

At the apologies, Rashmi's smile thins a bit, and she digs out a spoonful of cocoa-soaked, whipped creem-covered chocolate pudding, and pops it into her mouth. "Just... try to remember that in the future, and don't attack the Devices. They can't really fight back unless they have permission to auto-cast defenses."

As hinoiri regales her tales of her school life, Rashmi purses her lips. "But was it really required, though? That's what I mean... Are you sure you weren't just making assumptions, under the pressure of all that importance hanging over you? What if you didn't *need* to overperform?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small nod, listening as Rashmi talked. Then... "I see. I'll... keep that in mind, for the future. Devices have feelings, can be vulnerable. Don't attack them directly."

She got a bit of her whipped cream on the spoon, licking it off.

"... It was. Required, I mean. I didn't start off overachieving, you know. I used to be just a normal student. I'd do my homework. Even failed a test, once. Aced my projects, usually. But... finally I got told the truth."

"'Hinoiri, you're not really living up to your potential. Any student can do this, most do. You're wasting your opportunity. In all of Kirakirafantastica one pony is chosen to be the Sovereign's protege. Someone who is to be exceptional, incredible, chosen by the sun herself. Are you really satisfied just doing the bare minimum?'"

"... Turns out lots of students could be 'perfect'. I hadn't realized there was 'beyond perfect' at the time... but I learned quickly. Started really applying myself. Easy enough. Certainly made Sora look good."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"That..." Rashmi just *stares* at Hinoiri for a long moment, eyes wide behind her glasses.

"...is the *cruelest* thing someone could tell a kid. I'm glad you mostly managed to *live* under that kind of pressure, but trust me... This is what I mean about hurt people lashing out, no *wonder* you have so much trouble controlling your big feelings!"

Pausing, Rashmi takes a deep breath, and sets her spoon down. "Hinoiri-chan... You were taught some *terrible stuff* and it's gonna take you a long time to un-learn it. But that's almost *exactly* what I want to help you with anyway. You need to learn how to people. Pony. Whatever. Decompress. *Relax* a little bit and let people *help* you. Because you're strong, sure... in the way that a diamond is strong."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small shrug. "Eh. It wasn't like they were wrong. It was a tough school, lots of unicorns dropped out because they couldn't handle the workload. It wasn't even that hard, the magical formulas were a bit complex at times, but once you memorized all of the variables, making sure the math and arcane resonance was done right in your head wasn't so hard. Not to mention all of the theoretical stuff we worked on."

"... And yeah, I was strong. But I was replaceable. We've all seen what happens when I get too strong. I destroy the sun and, for some reason, you lot save me. Even if I don't deserve it. I still don't get why, somedays."

She took another bite of her parfait and shrugged.

"If I'd been better, maybe I would have been one of the greats. In the end? I was just a mistake, one nobody there even remembers. So it's not really that big a deal."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"That's why I say like a diamond, Hino-chan," Rashmi says gently. "They're made under mind-boggling pressure, and almost nothing can even scratch them... but you tap them the wrong way and they shatter. And honestly... Because it's actually really, really hard *not* to notice that half the things you say come from a place of really, really serious hurt and loneliness. And I can't *not* want to help with those things, y'know? But one thing..."

Taking a long drink from her cocoa, she sets the cup down, and jabs the spoon out, it coming to rest centimeters from Hinoiri's nose. "Stop. Talking. About my friend like that. She doesn't deserve to be called a mistake, and *never did.* You will put *respect* on her name when you speak it to me."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small chuckle and nodded. "Oh yeah. Shatter... shatter seems about right. I really did hold it all together so well, unphased until... well... the right hit. The perfect hit... then I just shattered everywhere, didn't I? Haven't been able to touch dark energy since without risking the world." She reached up to stroke her geode before glancing back to Rashmi.

She then chuckled. "Heh. I mean, I kind of was? Sora said it herself. I was her greatest mistake, before she banished me. Probably should have seen it coming, to be honest. I was probably a nasty baby, considering my parents just abandoned me in the woods when I was a foal. I left nothing but destruction and chaos in my wake, it just... took Sora longer to see that, than most. Banishing me was probably the wisest thing she ever did."

"... I'm doing a lot better here, though. Better environment. Less magic for me to ruin."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Hinoiri-chan you are doing *so much better* but you're also not listening and that *is* starting to make me mad," Rashmi says. "You need to be *kinder,* especially to yourself. Every time you say 'but I *am* a mistake' you undo some of all that hard work you've been doing, because then you go 'but if I just *work harder* then I won't be' and that's how you get things like what you were talking about on the roof."

Sighing, she turns her attention back to her drink. "Serious question. Stop and think about it before you answer. You said you did everything right, but nothing changed. That sounds like you were answering *the wrong test,* doesn't it?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
"Sorry," Hinoiri said. "I guess. Fine. I'm not a mistake. Just... training me was a mistake. Thinking I was good enough to handle the role of being her student was a mistake." She picked up the cherry and tossed it into her mouth. "And... I obviously made a mistake here somewhere. That's why I'm here."

"I need to figure out what I missed, but I'm not sure how. If I do everything perfectly, fight all of the monsters myself, nobody gets hurt, everyone is happy, right? So... obviously I have to be missing something important. Something staring me in the face. Something there that if I could just realize it's there, I could fix it and then, bam, I'd be out of this loop. You know? I'm just not entirely sure what, yet."

"... A part of me does wish I was back home. Even if it was stressful being her protege... and lonely.... at least... I had clear directions on what to do. If I hadn't gotten too expectant, maybe I could have stayed as her student. Instead I thought I deserved... more."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Uuuuuuuuuuuugh," Rashmi sighs, dropping her head in her hands. "Okay... Okay... we're talking past each other again, but I *need you to seriously think about this.* Don't just answer the first thing you think is right. Stop, work through the logic, tell me the answer you arrive at."

Lifting her head, she looks intently into Hinoiri's eyes. "What if it's not all on you?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara blinked a few times and stared at Rashmi. Blink. Blink blink. Blinking slowly.

Then... "I mean... I'm the only one who can remember things between loops, so... logically... it all has to depend on me fixing it. It's like... nobody else can access things, right? Or ummm... do you mean... something... else?"

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Hinoiri you have been Equivalence for how long, now? And you've been *around* us for a good chunk of those," Rashmi sighs. "This is a time loop, right? It's *bigger* and *weirder* than a vending machine. And how often does one mahou *ever* solo the big and weird stuff?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara perked up. "Ah, that's just it! Almost never. And I trained for months... possibly years... so I could handle all of those monsters on my own! Sure, I got hurt a lot along the way, but I managed to do it entirely solo in the end, without anyone getting hurt and why are you looking at me like that?" Oh, it was the way her face lit up that really showed how much she was missing the point...

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Thump. Thump. Thump. While Rashmi would very very much like to share in her friend's pride, the sheer *speed* with which she's sailing past the point is, frankly, gobsmacking. Thus, forehead meets table a fair few times, before Rashmi just sighs. "Almost never," she says slowly, "because *teamwork is usually the key.* Just because you're *capable* of running solo, doesn't mean it's *smart.* Molly-chan had to learn that lesson a few times, *once from you!* You're doing the dumb thing well, Hinoiri-chan, but clearly it's not the answer, right?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara flushed bright red, squirming in place a little bit. "I-I mean... y-yes. I ummmm... okay... admittedly, I DO normally try to group with other magical people this time, and help them. But it's..." she then trailed off.

"... So... when I do nothing... nothing happens. I mean... everything... the loop continues. So.... I have to be the one impacting it... right? Or..." she trailed off, sighing. "I did try to fight with other people, and help them. It just... they got hurt. So... I figured... I'd get stronger. Nobody else would get hurt. But it didn't help. What... do you suggest I do?"

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Hinoiri," Rashmi says gently, lifting her head up. "Apparently today is a *wildly* insane day for monsters. How many fights were you in in the *one day* you say you did everything right? Because it sounds to me like the problem is *delegating.* If it were me? I'd *delegate.* Learn as many mahou as you can. How they fight. Where their strengths are. Where their weaknesses are. What motivates them. How they shore each other up. Learn the *people,* Hinoiri-chan. Learn how they're stronger together than alone. Learn how *you* are stronger when you're *together with us* than you are on your own."

Finishing off her drink, she scoots the cup aside, and leans onto the table. "Do you know, you'd be imacting things *just as much* if you convinced a group of *other people* to do the fighting?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara blinked a few times. Opened her mouth. Paused. Blinked. Blink blink. Then.... "But... what if... one of you got hurt? Then again... if I just... sent people off to take care of the problems... I could focus more energy on not having Ladybug die in my arms again..." she mumbled. "T-that hasn't happened for a while, though," she said quickly.

"... But yeah. I guess.... delegating... might... be better. Maybe... maybe doing this as Equivalence... is the wrong move. After all, it's kind of... just cobbled together out of the magical stuff I found, anyway. It's not a real magical source, like the rest of you have."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"People get hurt *all the time* fighting monsters," Rashmi says, one corner of her mouth turning up. "And speaking personally, I'd rather *I* got hurt if it meant Ladybug-chan only gets hurt too, and doesn't *die.* For that matter... don't you think Chat Noir would be *personally invested* in making sure that doesn't happen to Ladybug? Don't you think Chat Noir and Ladybug have *friends* that would be personally invested in keeping them safe?"

"That's why we're so strong together, Hinoiri-chan... we *all look out for each other.* It's like... hotpot. Have you had hotpot, yet, since coming here?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara nodded a few times. "I... I guess... that makes sense. Maybe... you're right. Maybe..." She gave a light sigh. "Maybe you're right. Instead of trying to... oh. I should actually... send a text, then. Amy is going to need some help..." she said, pulling out her phone. Making a few quick taps.

"I don't have access to Chat Noir, though. But... I know others. And I really shouldn't have access to Chat Noir, either. I found out who Ladybug is when... well..." She trailed off. "Yeah. If Hawk Moth ever finds out? He's going to throw the world's biggest hissy fit."

"But no, I've never had hotpot. I mean, I've cooked in a hot pot, but... I know it's something else. I don't do the meat thing, remember? The consistency is just... ugh..." She gave a shudder. "Makes me gag."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"I do," Rashmi says simply. "And trust me... same. Just text me first, and by the time you get more support her way I can have him there too."

Leaning back, she tilts her head. "Lucky thing is, just about *anything* can be vegan if you work hard enough. Hotpot too. See... you can have hotpot by yourself, with all your favorite vegetables, and it's pretty good! Or you can have it in a big group setting, where *everyone's* cooking their favorite vegetables in the same broth, and with every new ingredient all the flavors get just... richer and deeper, and it's *amazing.*"

Rashmi's stomach growls, and she pauses for a moment, blushing. "...I think I'm gonna ask my parents if they want to have a hotpot night. Wanna come with? Papi has an old Playcube that still works, we can play Smash Bros after dinner?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small nod. "I... I guess. Maybe... I'll try that. Or... I don't know. I just... don't want to be Ladybug again. That was... not good. Tikki was nice, but..." She lightly stirred the jello around.

"... I... I'd really rather... not intrude. I mean, that sounds like a family thing and I'm not really a... family pony. Family person. I don't really... do that and wow the more out loud I say that the less likely you are to take it as an answer, are you?"

"... Buck it, fine, when and where do I need to be? Not like you'll remember it tomorrow..."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"She's learning!" Rashmi laughs. "And you'd be far from the first friend I've invited along when I invade my parents for dinner! Just... show up at the Korma around 5, I'll let them know you're vegan. Papi'll take it as a challenge, not a burden."

This is it. Hinoiri is gonna meet the people that largely made Rashmi who she is, and is she really, really ready for that?

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara sighed and looked at her phone for a minute before nodding. "I... fine. Five. I can swing that. It'll be a little tight, but..." Pause. "Or I'll text someone. Yeah. I'll be there. It'll be... it'll be fine. Fun, even."

Hours later:

"So... uhhhh... Rashmi told me to be here? I... I brought... Bok choy," she said, holding up a bok choy. It was from the market, so kind of fresh. Not really bad, or anything. Looking as nervous as could be. One timeline only. One loop only. How bad could it be?

Why did she feel so nervous? Eh. If it went terribly, it just wouldn't be done again. That was all...

Rashmi Terios has posed:
One thing is very true about the Terios elders... They are *extremely good* at making lonely people feel welcome and appreciated. The bok choy was received with a gruff-but-pleased note from Goro, that the home fridge had just run out (it hadn't) and it would fit perfectly with the meal. And while he attended the washing and preparing of vegetables, Ananda greeted Hinoiri like a long-lost relative, engaging her in conversation, somehow drawing stories out of Hinoiri, and in general seemed to be delighting in a private, obscure joke that neither Hinoiri nor Rashmi were really a part of.

And, as promised, not a single shred of meat was involved in the hotpot, even the broth. Four different kinds of tofu were, however, as well as five types of mushroom, and Hinoiri's bok choy became *two* separate ingredients for the cooking.

And at the end of the feast, thick soba noodles to cook in the remaining broth to finish.

It was, by all accounts, a fantastic meal. "So, Hinoiri-chan!" Rashmi chirps, leaning away from her empty bowl. "If you haven't played Smash Bros before, it's a four-player game. And don't worry, i've been playing it for years but I still get rocked almost every time."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small, sheepish smile through all of it... but, well. If there was one thing Hinoiri was good at? It was adapting to the environment. IT wasn't long before she was chatting it up, discussing everything, telling stories that likely seemed like strange euphanisms to Rashmi's mother... and if they were true, probably horrified Rashmi. (WHO BUCKING WALKED INTO A DRAGON'S SLEEPING MOUTH?!)

But she did appreciate the care and food. And the kindness in avoiding meat for her.

She'd never had anything like it, it was amazing... however... "Sure, sounds fun."

Rashmi, unfortunately, soon found out that Hinoiri... oh. She. Did. Not. Like. To lose.

She wouldn't cheat. Wouldn't be underhanded. But she had a competitive fire inside her that... wellllll...

Not long after.

Hinoiri stared with wide eyes at the burning Korma, her mouth hanging open. "I... I don't... know what went wrong..." she whispered.

She did, however, win.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Rashmi stands next to Hinoiri, watching her family's business, home, and greenhouse go up in a roaring inferno. Well... not watching it... watching a point a thousand yards *behind* the burning monument to her childhood. Given the conversation earlier in the morning, it's very, very likely that she's doing that 'try to understand, and thus avoid strangling someone' thing as hard as she can.

"...Hinoiri," she says, her voice utterly emotionless, not carrying far. "...You're stuck in a time loop, right? Which means tomorrow will reset into today. Right?"

There's an edge to her voice. One that says that she had better like the answer she gets.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gives a small nod. "Yup," she whispered. "Unless burning down the Korma Chameleon is what breaks the loop..." Pause. "I'm going to guess breaking the Korma Chameleon isn't what breaks the loop. I mean, Riventon almost destroying the world that one time didn't do it, so I really, really don't think... this is going to do it."

Hinoiri took a slow, deep breath. "... Honestly? You're taking this very, very well. I'd have definitely strangled me by now. Just... wow. It just... I don't even... wow."

"... The blue guy is definitely not someone I should play."

THAT WAS WHAT SHE TOOK FROM THIS?!

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Turns out there *is* a threshold past which Rashmi will try to strangle someone! The 'blue guy' comment was it!

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
The very next loop... Rashmi, after classes? Got a big hug from Hinoiri. "Hey. Ummm... sorry. Thanks, though."

And then she ran off. Leaving the poor girl likely VERY confused. At least for one day.