fujimaru | Reverie Inbox

[ She's allowed to. Maybe Tsuruno hasn't quite registered what her hand's doing, beyond taking some of the bottles, but nonetheless, it's contact.

She's warm to the touch, warmer than most people, but. Phoenix. And maybe a little warmer than her usual, but not alarmingly hot. But there's disorientation from the dizziness, a warm concern that accompanies the acknowledgment that this is a good friend, but twisted beneath all of that is a deep, weary guilt and sorrow and frustration-- not directed at Ritsuka, and it's just a flash of it, something always present but very rarely breaking free. ]

...?

[ Ritsuka's not entirely unused to someone else's feelings in her immediate awareness; some Servants are less polite than others about how much they utilize their bond. It's not familiar, but it isn't entirely alien either, and she responds automatically: a sense of immediate concern, the desire to fuss that she reigns in with some practice. She's not the sort to smother, but she still worries.

Other than that, she's steady; the foundation that Dantes guards for her is sturdy, and while she's also tired, worn at the edges--none of it has to do with what has been happening here. It's an old feeling, familiar as a friend. ]

Maybe you should sit down for a bit...? Unless you've got somewhere else to be?

[ Tsuruno's a little more accustomed to processing emotions that aren't her own, though it's still always such a strange feeling when it happens, and especially here. But she shakes her head, breaking that contact as gently as she can. ]

I can't stay for long-- I'm one of the ones who's doing better than the rest of Kraken, so I've been trying to help out there. How are your teammates holding up? How's Saturn?

You can at least sit down for a bit. --And he got hit harder than both of us. I made him lie down until he fell asleep, but it was a little bit like trying to convince a five year old.

[ She says it fondly, though, in spite of her exasperation. ]

[ There's no real reason to protest so she just kind of plops down on the nearest available-- thing to plop down on. Her expression softens as she listens. ]

Aww, I'm a little sorry I missed it. That sounds kind of cute.

It was, but don't tell him that. Do you want me to text you when he wakes up?

[ She plops down agreeably next to Tsuruno, not close enough to touch, but close to be companionable. ]

Only if he's up to talking. Otherwise you can just send me a picture.

[ And she flashes Ritsuka a grateful smile, recognizing the consideration. ]

But a text update on how you're feeling later too is also good. I don't know how long this is supposed to last.

The real question is, when is he ever not up to talking?

[ She's still fond about saying that. Some people hate talking a lot, and some people regularly volunteer to make the big speeches about what needs to happen as a team during tasks. ]

Anyway, I'm pretty sure this is just the Warden throwing some kind of tantrum. I doubt it's gonna last that long... I do feel a little bad everyone is getting the backlash for helping out, though.

Well, if you feel like he should be talking, then.

[ she'll trust Ritsuka's judgment. ]

Anyway, don't feel bad. You didn't ask for any of this to happen, just like the other people didn't ask for it. And we weren't forced to go in and help-- she's just a jerk for taking it out on everyone when she's the one who wasn't communicating with us properly in the first place.

[ Another pause to let the tiredness pass her by and then she shrugs. ]

I've felt way worse and at least I can help the people who aren't handling it so well.

Even if you weren't forced to... that sort of thing is pretty big, right? On both sides. The people who had to help, the people who needed help--no one asked for this.

[ She leans like she's going to bump against Tsuruno's side, then catches herself at the last second. ]

I still feel bad. I don't think anyone got injured helping me out, but... I know there's a lot in here. [ She taps her chest. ] So that's not anything I'd want to just dump on someone.

[ ... She notices that, debates the pros and cons-- and honestly, she's far too tired to care. ]

You can lean on me, if you want. And honestly, that's just how hearts are. No matter whose... but so many people wanted to bring you back, Ritsuka. I think that would have been worth any amount of risk, physical or emotional.

[ She hesitates a beat, then leans to rest their shoulders together. She's more concerned now, and there's an almost immediate sense of disbelief at the comment. There's no real need for anyone to risk anything for her? Seems fake. ]

I don't know... I don't really want anyone to risk anything for me.

[ There's an immediate swell of disbelief from her, too. Ritsuka, please, have you not gotten to know the people here-- ]

I'm sorry that what happened took your choice from you.

But the people who went in made that choice for themselves. They wanted to risk it. And no one can take that choice away from them.

[ Listen, Ritsuka would do this about her Servant body as a whole, too,

But she cocks her head a little, bemused. ]

I know that. I'm not saying that it was anything they didn't choose to do... I just don't have to like it, either. I'm just me, you know? I mostly get into trouble and then need to be helped.

And people like just you.

If anything happened to anyone else, I'm pretty sure you'd be there to help. [ she's pretty confident in that. ]

But either way, I think we can both say we're fine with it never happening ever again, right?

Definitely.

[ It is easier to focus on being wryly amused rather than argue; being liked by someone doesn't necessarily mean they'll help her. ]

I'd be a little surprised if this is some kind of one-time thing, but we can hope.

[ Tsuruno abides by the rule of helping everyone, whether they like it or not, but it being more of a given if it's someone she definitely cares about-- well, but maybe she's odd. She's accepted that. Not everyone is like this and that's okay.

Still, she also thinks it's a given that the people who care about Ritsuka would have definitely wanted to help her. ]

I'm sure a bunch of other things can happen that'll be just as exciting, in exchange.

[ Or a pain, but. She'll be optimistic. ]

[ Ritsuka herself is always willing to help, but she's less used to other people volunteering for her sake, and more her having to ask to what she gets. But those are just details, in the end. ]

Yeah, probably... I think I could use a break from excitement for a bit, though. Maybe the next task can be just arts and crafts or something.

[ She nudges Tsuruno, playful. ]

How good are you at origami?

Absolutely flawless.

[ Well. She cracks a grin a second later. ]

I mean, they look like birds? A lot of the time!

[ She grins at that, an immediate fond amusement at the clarification. ]

Yeah, I know how that is. I used to be pretty good at making frogs, but it's been a while. So yeah, my vote's still for arts and crafts.

Okay. [ equally fond. ]

Maybe if we both think it really hard, it'll just happen.

Just manifest it into being? I'm all for that.

...Or I guess, since that bingo game stole my idea for making truffles for everyone, we could just see if we could set up a craft table somewhere when we get back to that village...

We'd have to probably get fun paper from the box, since I don't think there's a lot around... when the box is feeling up to it.

Yeah, after they've had a bit of a break... I think it'd be cute, though. Maybe some paint markers, if people want to make extra decorations.

Yeah, definitely.

I'm looking forward to it. [ something safe and nice and creative and fun ]

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