fujimaru | Reverie Inbox

I mean more in the aftermath of that stuff
I don't remember a lot of what happened
But I definitely woke up to a lot of people giving me The Concerned Face

There was a lot I didn't really understand...
I think I'm just worried that what we did in there could have some kind of effect on you guys, beyond just us finding you and bringing you back.
I mean, we were in your HEARTS... what if we did something that wasn't actually good for you?

[ hypothetically. ]

I can't speak for anyone else but
I feel pretty much the same?
Just the embarrassment thing
But if you wanna come over and see for yourself, you're welcome to

Do you want me to bring anything? Instant noodles? Tiny painkiller packets?

If you can grab sports drinks that'd be good
I think I've replaced like half of my blood with gatorade

I don't think I want to test that out so I'll believe you.
Okay, give me a few. I'll be right there.

It's fine it's nostalgic
Like being on my old volleyball team again
But yeah just knock, I'll fight the door for you

[ She knocks! Eventually! Kind of!

With her foot, her arms are full of sports drinks. ]

[ She opens the door, and then has to bodily wedge herself against it to keep it from slamming rudely as she gestures Tsuruno in. ]

You're my favorite person here right now.

I'll enjoy that title for the next ten minutes.

[ Sage nod as she scoots inside.

And trips, stumbles, and somehow manages to correct her footing but still sinks onto her knees like ten seconds later, drinks still safely clasped. Whew. ]

C'mon, it'll be at least thirty, and it always circles back again.

[ She hurries forward whens he goes down, not quite hovering. ]

--Are you sure you're okay? I think everyone's feeling the Warden's tantrum right now.

Yeah, I'll be fine.

[ A moment to squeeze her eyes closed, letting the dizziness happen and subside. And then she rocks back, clambering to her feet. ]

I had a fever once and it was bad enough that anyone who touched me would get burned, so this is way better. I'll probably just go to bed super early today.

I think that's probably gonna be the case for most people.

[ She reaches to take some of the bottles from her, but also to try and put a hand on her forehead. ]

[ 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.

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