AN: Next set of drabbles, featuring Tokyo Xanadu and a reference to jackass CSI intro Machias (among other things).

Unexpected (Machias, Emma, Alisa, Rean, Machias + Jusis Trial Chest)

"What," Machias began, staring at the blue box in front of them with a deceptively calm expression on his face, "in the world is this?"

"Um… something that we should remember for later so we can come back with Jusis?" Emma ventured, somehow managing not to collapse into a fit of laughter.

"Y-Yeah," Alisa managed, a giant grin on her face. "It's totally that."

"To be honest, I've stopped being surprised by these little messages," Rean added, trying very hard to keep his eyes from swinging toward Machias. "I guess it's nice advertising for Dorothee, though – "

"Stop. Talking. Please."

Grudge (Tokyo Xanadu, Yuuki, Sora)

"RING OUT!" came the loud roar from the speakers, signaling yet another defeat for Yuuki, and one could be forgiven if they had decided to discreetly slip out of thrown controller range.

"G-Good match, Yuuki-kun!" Sora said with a nervous chuckle. "That one was really – "

"Again."

"But – "

"Again," he repeated, his eyes narrowed in frustration. "I'll get you this time, just watch!"

With a sigh of resignation, Sora picked up the controller again and moved the cursor toward her favored pink fluff ball.

Hmm, maybe she could…

"And you'd better not throw this one, either!"

… Or not.

Anxiety (Bridget + Wind Orchestra)

Butterflies were flying wildly about her stomach. She'd thought they'd left her behind years ago.

"Any time you're ready," Hibelle encouraged, his eyes warm and welcoming. Her two new clubmates – Mint and Elliot, that's right – both nodded excitedly, having taken their turns to play beforehand.

On some level, Bridget knew she was being silly. She had experience, she'd played in front of others before, but the first time in front of new people… well, that was always different, wasn't it?

She took a deep breath, letting her fingers dance, and the opening notes were enough to banish the dread away.

Abstract (Ash, Altina, Musse)

"… the hell are we supposed to be looking at?"

Altina stared at the painting, her expression utterly blank. "I believe the term is 'avant garde', if I'm not mistaken."

"Cool. Doesn't answer my question."

"Who says we have to be looking anything, really?" Musse chimed in, her eyes sparkling with amusement when Ash grumbled under his breath. "Can't art simply be an expression of an artist's inner world with no consideration for style or form? Isn't it more liberating to put paint to a canvas while letting your muses – "

"You got no idea either, huh?"

"Oh, absolutely not."

Warm (Emma, Millium, Fie, Machias)

"… Are they near the Riding Club stables?" Emma asked, her brow creased in consideration with a hand idly resting on Machias' shoulder.

"Colder!" a beaming Millium chirped.

"Hmm, how 'bout the auditorium?" Fie added next, snickering when she saw the utterly outraged look on his face.

"Little warmer!"

She nodded. "Ja, so those two are ruled out. In that case – "

"Could we please stop indulging her and just find my glasses already?!"

Fie waved a hand at him dismissively. "That's what we're trying to do. Take it easy, y'might live longer."

"W-What was that?!"

"Machias," Emma soothed. "Breathe."

Snow (Kurt/Juna)

"So, you're telling me that this is one of Crossbell's summer delicacies?" Kurt asked, watching intently as Juna munched away.

"Mm-hmm! Shaved ice plus fruity syrup plus a paper cone equals one happy Juna. Cherry's my favorite, but I guess if you wanted to change it up you could have blue raspberry or lemon-lime or something. Some people like grape, but those people are wrong."

The vehemence in her voice drew forth a fond chuckle. "I see. I'll leave my flavor in your capable hands, then."

"Gotcha! Blue raspberry it is."

"… Is it because it'll match my hair?"

"Mayyyyyyybe."

Forgiveness (Machias, Laura, post CSI)

He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but it was safe to say that Laura breaking out into a fit of laughter wasn't it.

"H-Hey! I really am trying to apologize, you know!"

"I do," Laura said, her mirth fading as she looked at him thoughtfully. "I'd actually forgotten about that little comment."

"That makes one of us."

"Then let me be frank. While it was thoughtless, crass and insulting… I know you didn't truly mean it. You were so lost in your own head back then, Machias, and now – well."

"… I'm still sorry."

"I know. I forgive you."