imeeji_frontstage | (no subject)

That helps a great deal. [He even manages a tiny smile, weak though it is.] Thank you, Aliza.

[ She'll take a weak smile, certainly. ]

Of course. [ A light squeeze as she fights down a wash of relief. Him being shaken, she can handle. Broken would be a struggle (but she'd do what she could). ]

Can I do anything for you? Whether that's leave you to think or be a distraction or anything in between.

You can help me think of what to say to my unitmates, perhaps? I may have worried them a tad...

I can manage that. But I think whatever you say will be fine, you happen to be in a unit with some of the most understanding people I've met here. [ Zhongli and Alisaie in particular have forgiven her of some less than stellar behavior when her past reared up and bit her. ]

If you explain that you took a memory, they'll probably understand that. If you'd like to tell them more, I expect they'll listen.

Indeed, they're likely too good for me.

[A team full of heroes... and him, the odd man out.]

And here I was thinking that they're just as good as you deserve. [ Being biased doesn't make her wrong. ]

Again I'll say the same thing you said to me: you're shocked and horrified by that memory, and that says just as much about you as what was in it.

...I want to help people. But not like that.

[Not by covering for a killer. Even if they are young.]

-Oh, that's right. I didn't think much of this because the rest of the memory took precedence, but I seemed to be human in that memory...? At least, no horns or wings.

[So that's weird! It's weird and he doesn't know what that means.]

Hm. [ That is a little odd sounding, but she could have easily been mistaken in her second memory for a human if she hadn't known better. ]

Another little shock on top of a shock. However they choose what we get, it sure seems designed to hit us hard.

[ It's awful, in short. Awful and unfair. So she rubs his back a bit and tries to focus more on being with him and less on hating this place. ]

Do you know, I haven't even been here a full month, I believe?

[They really are not easing him in! Rude!]

I've not been here too much longer. I wonder if it gets easier as we go on, or harder. Probably some of each. [ That's how life goes, hm? Even in hell. ]

Now I'm wondering what I was wasting time with that I didn't meet you sooner. [ Slight affectionate mood lightener? ]

Flattering me even at a time like this. You're sweet.

[He's so lucky to have met her.]

You've earned every bit of it. And you can be assured that it's the truth because I'm the city's worst liar. Maybe the multiverse's worst. Truly, it's impressively bad.

Would you like some company for a while? I was going to practice a bit, or I could flatter you some more. There are options aplenty.

Now sounds like a lovely time for some tea, if you aren't too busy. Of course, I won't say no to more flattery.

I believe I can multitask: tea, flattery, possibly a serenade, and whatever cuddling you're up for. [ Deal? ]

That would be wonderful.

[He unhugs, just to take her hand and squeeze it gently.]

[ Squeezing his hand back as she stoops down to retrieve her violin and sword and rope dart with her free hand. ]

Anywhere you had in mind for tea? [ She'll go back to his unit with him if it'll help him walk through the door, if not then wherever. ]

A soothing sky room? If that wouldn't be too bold of me.

You don't need to worry about being too bold with me. That sounds perfect. You'd better make the tea, however. I can manage it, but yours will be better.

And I get the impression that preparing it is soothing for you. [ Grounding rituals are important after a shock! ]

You know me so well. Indeed, I'd be happy to brew some.

You are a fascinating subject. I may not be the best with words, but I watch how people move. [ Actions speak loudest with her on every level. ]

Aradia keeps all sorts of tea around, I'm sure you can find something. Possibly something sweet as well, and I can even join you since I've had my scars fixed up. [ Thanks to an unsolicited gift she feels horribly guilty about, but she felt she had to use it once they refused to accept it back. ]

Oh, I am glad to see that.

[Not being able to enjoy food is surely the worst thing that could happen to you here.]

Hurricane suggested that Zhongli and I have a live showing off our tea collection.

It is better to have them gone. Yvette gave me the points because I was complaining about not being able to eat, and then she wouldn't take them back. I'll have to find a way to make it up to her. [ 4,000 points is a lot! ]

That sounds nice. I'll bet you could work with sIV and their self-care activity if you wanted more points for it. Or LiliS, I'm sure they have something that would coordinate well.

Oh, I could. I've been meaning to visit sIV anyway to pet their ghost cats.

Edited 2022-03-11 01:29 (UTC)

You'll sit at the kotatsu and then have to live there, I'm sure [ not really though because of sofaform ]. I can't speak to the ghost cats, even they're afraid of me. Do remember to mind the faucets.

And you'll get to know some of my favorite people. [ sIV is basically her second home, between Venti and Kitsu. And Freya, she's hoping. ]

Could I purchase a kotatsu for HSS dorm, or is that sIV exclusive?