thirty ninth dance | voice;

[motioned]

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm all back to normal now. Um, thank you for everyone who was concerned or offered to help. It really does mean a lot.

[Still, despite that good news, her voice doesn't very relieved or happy. It doesn't sound sad, either; it's carefully neutral instead as she moves on.]

That's not really all I wanted to say, though. For anyone who knew Davesprite while he was here, he's gone home. He was, um, the orange boy with the wings. The timing seems pretty bad, I know, but I'm sure he wasn't in the hunt, so nobody should worry about that. I called and it kept ringing, so... For what it's worth, though, I'm sorry to all the friends he had here.

I guess that's all I really had to say.

Comments

text

[reassures]

He was already gone before the hunt happened.

text

[motioned]

i know, that's why i was sure

but thank you. were you his friend?

text

[reassures]

I--

Yes. I liked Dave a lot.

text

[motioned]

i'm really sorry, then.

we don't know each other, but if you want to talk about it, i can listen.

text

[reassures]

What is there to talk about?

He's gone.

text

[motioned]

i just meant if you're upset, sometimes it helps to talk about things like that

i'm sorry if i said something wrong, though

text

[reassures]

No-- you didn't. There just isn't really anything to talk about. It won't bring him back.

text

[motioned]

but i think even if he's not here, it's still important that he was here. i don't know if that makes sense but he still matters, so... how you feel about it still matters, too.

it's fine if you don't have anything to say, though.

[whitefeathered]

I . . .

What?

text | sorry about that!

[reassures]

Of course he still matters. Why wouldn't he matter?

I'm sorry. I don't have anything to say.

[motioned]

He went home. I'm sorry.

text; no worries! sorry about the edit fdhf

[motioned]

i just meant that since he matters, what you feel about him leaving still matters, even if it won't bring him back.

don't apologize!

text; s'all good o/

[reassures]

...I didn't want him to go. But-- there's nothing else I really have to say.

[whitefeathered]

[Aoko's voice is very, very small.]

. . . Really?

[As though trying to give Ahiru every possible chance to say it was wrong.]

text;

[motioned]

that's okay, you don't have to say anything. i just wanted to try and help somehow

[motioned]

I wouldn't have lied about something like this. That would be much too cruel.

[whitefeathered]

No, it's not that, it's just . . .

[A quick, tight shake of the head.]

Haven't had anyone go home before. Not here. And . . . he was helping me . . . with some things.

[Her voice wavers slightly, and she curses it. These days she just can't seem to get it together. Keep it together.]

[ Action ]

[maddeninghatter]

[ ALL OF A SUDDEN! Break pops out from under the sofa Ahiru is (presumably?) sitting upon. ]

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~☆

[motioned]

I know how hard it can be the first time. I'm really sorry. If those things are things someone else could help with, I would be willing to try.

[ Action ]

[motioned]

[There's a pause, a moment of pure shock, before she jumps off the couch and screams, promptly falling on her behind.]

Qua-! W-W-What were you doing there? You can't just do that!

text;

[reassures]

I know. Thank you.

text;

[motioned]

there's nothing to thank me for

[ Action ]

[maddeninghatter]

[ It's the little things, in life. ]

What are you doing down there?

[ He sits down on the sofa, in the exact place Ahiru has just vacated. Oh! And there's a steaming cup of tea on the side table, which definitely wasn't there before. Break picks it up and sips at it. Then he pats the sofa next to him. ]

Come and sit down, the floor's no place for a young lady.

[ Action ]

[motioned]

D-Don't just act like nothing happened!

[But she doesn't want to seem undignified (or at least, more undignified than she already seems), so she gets up and sits down next to him on the couch.]

What were you doing down there?

[whitefeathered]

[She swipes at her cheek with the back of her hand. She's wearing a sweater down past her wrists, in spite of the heat.]

He was just . . . oddly kind in a way. You know? When he wasn't busy trying to be a jerk.

[She's silent for some long moments, wrestling with herself back and forth.]

Mm . . . I really appreciate it, Ahiru. Just . . . I'm not sure you know what you're asking for. --I don't mean that as insulting. Really. It's just . . . big. 'M not sure anyone wants it -- including me.

I don't want to give you more than you want.