soundoftheseas | DIAMARI CATCHALL

Oooh, Dia Dia Dia Dia...

Why did you message ME if you didn't think I was going to get like this?? (n˘v˘•)¬

Besides, this is the BEST way to deal with love sickness! 100% Dr. Mari Approved, 9 out of 10 pharmacists agree!!!! But, if you REALLY want me to put on my Very Super Serious Face, I can do that, too...

Dia can probably almost hear the giggling, even though it's just text. If this is a game, she's having quite a bit of fun playing it; that much should be evident from the quick responses and the little teases.

Okay. No more messing around, I promise. Serious Time. ಠ_ಠ

Do not give me that accursed face!
You! are! INCORRIGIBLE!!!

Dia's face burns even hotter. This is stupid-- what is she doing, getting riled up for real? But she can't help wanting Mari to take this seriously, even when the crux of this conversation was pulled from thin air. Because-- because what if it was real, and she sincerely came to Mari for support? And why does Mari keep making those nonsensical jokes about fighting for her heart if she's not even going to stick by them--

--that's-- that's not the right thing to get upset about, is it? No-- it's all stupid. Dia's going to win. She's going to get Mari invested in her fictional romantic endeavors with every fiber of body and soul! She'll get her so into it she'll even drop those obnoxious smiley faces that Dia can never fully make out! She just needs-- some sort of hook, something that'll reel her in-- No! Not just a hook, she'll get her hook, line and sinker!

It's Kanan-san.

... is what ultimately comes out of this internal volcanic eruption, and Dia's so caught up in it that it doesn't yet occur to her to regret it.

Take that, Mari Ohara!

Mari's about to send her just one more tiny dig, but that second text leaves Dia's phone, and not 15 seconds after the delivery, Dia's ringer goes off; a call from Mari.

If she doesn't answer it, it'll just ring again and again until she picks it up, so leaving it hanging for too long is an exercise in futility. Hell, after a text like that, it may be a surprise that she settled on a phone call instead of just coming straight over to her house, but, the fact of the matter stands, and if Dia's goal was to get Mari invested, well, consider it a complete success. The time for coy little emojis and little jabs at her love life is probably over now; time to see if she can keep the charade up for that much longer, right?

The color that had risen up to Dia's cheeks drains at once when her phone begins to buzz. Oh no. Oh no, no no. Dia is not one tenth as adept when it comes to keeping level off-text. What is she going to say? She didn't think this through at all! And with Mari being Mari, she may well keep calling until daybreak if Dia doesn't pick up!

Screwing her eyes shut with a deep, steadying inhale, Dia goes to face her destiny.

"Wh-what is it? Did you exhaust your supply of ridiculous smiley faces?"

"Is it true?! You and Kanan, are you serious about her?! Serious serious?! When did this happen?! How long ago was it, that I didn't notice it?! I had no idea!"

Guess there's no smiley faces now. In fact, she sounds gravely serious. Was this going on behind her back for a while now, and she just hadn't picked up on it? Has Kanan noticed it, too? In a situation like this, she's obviously jokeless--

"Why didn't you say so from the start?"

There is exactly one thought running through Dia's head right now, and it is oh god in an infinite loop. Mari's not laughing anymore -- she got what she wanted -- but she is not remotely equipped to deal with it. Before she knows it she's up and off her chair, pacing in circles all across the bedroom, as if to shake the torrent of questions off from her shoulders.

Oh god oh god oh god oh god.

"What's it to you!" she blurts out dumbly, the first coherent chain of words her panicked brain successfully forms. Dia cringes at herself. A no-less-frantic attempt at salvaging is made, a bit too strained to sound like a joke: "I-intending to fight her, are you?"

There's a small sound from the other end of the line; a sharp intake of breath, the rustling of blankets, a slightly strained exhale before she continues.

"Dia, I..."

There's a lot she wants to say, now, but none of the words that form on her lips in that pause seem right. There's a joke somewhere buried in there, about how well the last time she and Kanan fought went. There's an outburst hidden in there, too, confused at how this could have been a secret for so long (or, at least, she imagines it's been quite some time, feelings for someone who's been so constant for her [far more constant than Mari ever was, most certainly] don't just blossom overnight). On the tip of her tongue, there's a confession there, too; a declaration that just because Dia loves Kanan doesn't mean Mari will be so willing to give her up, herself. That one stays put, solely because she doesn't want Dia to interpret it as yet another joke.

What ultimately comes out is an apology. But even that seems unfitting.

"I'm sorry, Dia. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, I didn't realize..."

Dia freezes mid-pace, feet rooted to the wooden floor. Mari's voice sounds so small, smaller than she ever wanted to hear it after everything between the three of them was resolved. And Dia singlehandedly brought it about just now, all because of... what, some prank? A one-sided war she'd declared on her own pride?

How in the world could she have thought this was worth it?

There is nothing but silence in the wake of Mari's words; Dia rolls her tongue around her dry, dry mouth, swallowing with difficulty. It's far too late to nip this off cleanly -- she might as well just spit it out.

"That was a lie, just now." Dia pauses. Swallows again. "All of it."

"A...lie?"

It takes Mari a moment to process what Dia just said; it's a good thing they're on the phone, because her face shifts through a whirlwind of emotions (most prominently, relief, because goodness gracious that had so much potential to turn ugly and that's absolutely the last thing she wanted, after everything the three friends had gone through) before eventually settling on...

"A-ahahaha! Oh, of course, you were just playing a joke! You got me really good there, Dia!"

She sounds almost like she's still trying to convince herself of it.

"I-I should have known! If you had really fallen for Kanan, I'm sure I would have known by now, ahahaha..."

Her laugh certainly feels more forced than usual, and Dia of all people should recognize that, seeing as though her giggling is so prominent.

"I guess I totally did it to myself, though, didn't I? I was being presumptuous, after all...silly me! I really overreacted there, huh?"

She probably won't be trying that particular approach again anytime soon, when Dia texts her on a Saturday night.

On the other end of the line, Dia listens in quiet unease. She had expected Mari to get mad, at least a little -- this self-deprecation doesn't suit her one bit. And even though she's come clean, the guilty knots in Dia's stomach only pull tighter.

Any other time, Dia would have justified herself: well, Mari's always telling those insufferable jokes, isn't she, so how about a taste of her own medicine for once? But this doesn't feel right. Mari's laughter doesn't sound right, either.

"... I apologize," Dia tries, awkward. "It was in poor taste. So if you're angry with me, go ahead and let me hear it."

"Ah, what's that, you say? Don't tell me my lovely Dia is feeling guilty because of little old moi..."

That...sounds a little better. Frankly, her heart was too far in her throat for her to react with anything other than that overwhelming sensation of solace, after what could have been a call way too close for comfort. Hearing Dia sound so remorseful is a bad look for her, too; it may not have been the funniest joke, but, she's not one to let an awkward situation hang for too long, if she can help it. Push those feelings of "but what if that does happen, someday?" or "many a truth is said in jest" straight towards the backburner, go back to business as usual--

"What kind of person would I be if I couldn't take a joke? Come now, Dia, you're cute when you're flustered, but not this kind of flustered! Do I need to come over there and give you a forgiveness hug? I'm in my PJ's right now, but, if you don't mind that..."

Frustration's bubbling up in Dia's throat again, making her flush -- but it offers a faint sense of relief alongside it.

"Just wipe this entire conversation from your memory, please and thank you!"

Yes, this is better. This is normal, after all. Mari sounds like herself again.

Dia should know by now that Mari wouldn't dare let her off that easily. She may be forgiven in an instant, but forgotten is another story, especially when it comes to Mari.

"Ooooh~? But, Dia, I couldn't possibly do that...I mean, you never even told me why you texted me so late to begin with! And to think I was so curious, before you decided to catch me with that mean little trick...honestly, Dia, I didn't think you had it in you, but, you might just have a prankster's spirit after all! I'll have to keep my eye on you just a little bit more closely from now on!"

After all, she doubts she just texted her to play a joke on her; surely there must have been something she needed?

"So, so, so! If it wasn't a desperate matter of the heart, what was it? You can tell me anything, bellissima, you know that! All joke aside, of course, you don't need to be shy, you know I would never bite..."

Not unless prompted, anyway.

Dia heaves out a sigh, trodding over to her bed and plopping down onto its edge. When she called, she'd thought to play coy -- far be it beyond her to admit her failings so plainly, much less to Mari... but this whole whirlwind of a conversation has left her far too drained for any more games.

"I just meant to ask how you were doing with the lyrics, is all."

"The...the lyrics?"

If she was actually talking to her in person right now, Dia would probably be getting a look as if she had three heads? What on earth is she talking about, lyrics--

And then she remembers; the concert, the Friday deadline...that's what Dia was asking about, this whole time?! No scandal, no gossip?! After all of this, she texted her because of that?!

Honestly, Dia...it's fun to tease you when you play it close to the chest like this, but can't you wear your heart on your sleeve, just a tiny bit more?!

"We haven't even started ours, yet! Our cute fallen angel and I were going to work together to write them on Thursday...we were thinking of writing something with a little bit less of a pop, do-kyuun~!, and a little bit more of a jakka-jan! We listened to the Nine-Inch Nails the other day, and we told sweet little Riko-chan to try and make something like that!"

So, needless to say, poor Riko has her work cut out for her. Maybe they can write some kind of power ballad about those zebras in space Hanamaru mentioned--

"Oooh, don't tell me, don't tell me, are you having a little bit of a writer's block~? And you decided to come to your closest friend Mari for guidance...I'm so touched! If you were looking for the most brilliant creative mind of all, you need look no further! They don't call me Mariam Shakespeare for nothing!"

...Of course, no one calls her that.

"The day before? Really? That sort of reckless behavior might be fine when you alone are concerned, but please take some pity on Riko-san."

Another sigh as Dia drops back onto the mattress, bobbing slightly as it sinks and rises beneath her weight. "Nobody calls you any such thing," she offers an obligatory retort, but doesn't have enough fight in her to rebuke the rest.

"Fine, then. If you're so confident, do go ahead and inspire me, o great most brilliant creative mind of all."

Edited 2017-02-20 23:08 (UTC)

"Oh, don't be like that, Diaaa! The lyric deadline is Friday, not the whole song!"

Just because she's correct on this one doesn't make her right--

"Besides, it's not like Riko-chan has to do it alone! Need I remind you that Guilty Kiss has an Ultra-Double-Secret weapon, untapped potential waiting in the wings for the perfect moment to go full-force?!"

Is that what she calls it...

"If she needs a back-up composer, I'm most certainly up to the task! And there's no way I won't do justice to my most favorite genre! We'll be Metal Idols, the first of our kind!"

Except, you know, the others.

"I call myself such a thing, silly Dia! And besides, isn't it obvious what you have to write? Obviously, it needs to be a love song, doesn't it?! Unlike Guilty Kiss's devilish charms, AZALEA has a much more gentle and elegant image! Like a patient young bachelorette, waiting for her true love's first kiss! Her heart throbbing, her knees shaking, her stomach full of tiny butterflies, her eyes glistening with the wonders of love! Could there be anything more pure?! That's the image you need to go for with your melody, my beautiful fiorellino!"

"This again...?" Didn't they just manage to veer away from this subject a mere three minutes ago? "Look, you should know this from two years ago, but we've already decided to rescind this approach. Haven't you heard of 'write what you know'? And besides--"

She shifts a little on her back, scuffs the heel of her foot against the floor. "Don't you think you've been fixating on this love nonsense an awful lot, lately?"

"Well, it's just because I'm trying to help you! That was then! This is now! It's been two years, so surely you must have at least felt something, even if you've never quite been in a relationship!"

Way to rub it in...

"Think about it, though! CYaRon has a bit more of a cute touch to it, a bouncy sort of energy! And Guilty Kiss, well, we're focused on a sort of wicked allure! But between you, Kanan, and your patatina Hanamaru-chan, you need to focus on tapping into that graceful, mature image! And, really, at least one of you must know a bit of the feeling, riiiight~? At least a teeny, tiny little sliver of it!"

After all, when she initially brought up the topic, Dia did say that she wasn't too far off the mark. Maybe it's not too far-fetched? She conveniently skates around that last question, offering up an alternative...

"If you're that stuck, perhaps I can help you get started! It's not really cheating or anything if I do that, is it?"

Dia rolls onto her side with a weary grumble, listening to Mari chipperly prattle on. There's no doubt in her mind that this is a terrible line of conversation to pursue, and she's had more than enough love talk for the next twenty years, besides--

So even she's caught unprepared by the words that slip past her lips.

"Do you? ... Know that feeling."

There's a tiny little giggle from the other end of the phone line, before she continues!

"Of course I do! I've only been telling you as much for ages now, Dia dear, do keep up! I've said it a hundred kablillion times! The feeling of someone being more precious to you than anything else in the world! Of knowing you would do anything to make that person happy, that you would stick by them through the deepest, darkest, most violent storms! ...Not just literal storms, of course, that was a metaphor, you see, but..."

Dia gets it, right?

"That's love, yes? You've felt that way, I'm sure! You can't put that feeling into a song?"

"A 'kablillion'...?"

You can practically hear Dia's eyes squint over the phone. Questionable word choices aside-- they're talking about love, aren't they? Of the romantic sort. So why is Mari making it sound like...

Dia shakes her head. No, no, impossible. Absolutely not.

"I somehow get the feeling we're having two different conversations. Or rather," she concludes, "I haven't a clue what you're on about."

Edited 2017-02-22 08:49 (UTC)

"If you don't quite get it, don't worry your pretty little head about a thing. I'll be more than happy to tell it to you a kablillion-and-first time, and even more times after that. I'm sure you'll understand eventually. ...Still, that doesn't exactly help you very much with the lyrics now, does it..."

Her fingers start to drum on her mattress as she mulls it over; all Dia can hear on the other line, until she comes to her thrilling conclusion, is an over-exaggerated "HmmmMMMMMMmmmmmmm~", which jumps up and down in pitch. Dia can decide whether it's actually the sound of her trying to think or whether she just enjoys the sound of her own voice too much to let the conversation hang in silence.

"Well, why don't we turn it into a fun little game, then? A battle of the ages, Mari and Dia's Super Extreme Dueling Hearts Challenge! Deluxe!"

If Dia didn't have a clue what she was talking about before--

"Just as a fun little writing exercise! After all, you want to get this over and done, and I still have about four more days before I get started on the real lyrics, so, I have more than enough time to play with you~ The rules will be simple! Whoever can write the superior love song wins! ...And, just to be nice, I'll let you decide what to get if you win! Isn't that generous of me? And, you know me, it can be absolutely anything!"

Edited 2017-02-22 09:32 (UTC)

"A competition, is it?"

Well, Mari knows Dia well enough, that's for sure: just the mention of the word challenge instantly has her keen and alert. The sparkle in her eyes is all but audible. That's not to say, however, that she's blind to any potential fallacies in the contest's logic -- for example: "And just how would the winner be determined, here?"

DIAMARI CATCHALL

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