108. Plain

[corrinesbell]

That wasn't me.

I dunno what that was but I promise it wasn't me. I'm really sorry if I said something terrible to any of you.

...Especially you, Colette.

Shirley, I think...can I talk to you?

[And there are some apologies that only work in person. Which is why later in the day she'll be going to house 42 and knocking hesitantly on the door]

Comments

[action]

[corrinesbell]

...You understand him. How'd it happen to you?

[Re-diverting the subject again. Or at least trying.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

Just because... I understood him, didn't mean that he was willing to listen. And the others... didn't want to believe me. Her. The rest happened so fast. [And yet was so slow. Painfully slow, now that she could see it so vividly.]

[action]

[corrinesbell]

[Too fast to do anything about it but slow enough to give you time to memorize every detail of facial expressions, twisted in flashes of light, and to still hear--

Sheena shakes her head hard, then looks at Raine until she chooses to look back.]

It wasn't real. I dunno if it matters when I say that, but it...didn't happen.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

I know it wasn't ... real. I'm just not certain if ... all of me realizes it. [Because as easy as it was to advise others... she really couldn't do a thing for them before figuring out whether she should accept or reject those recollections entirely.

Maybe they would fade.]

[action]

[corrinesbell]

[There's another question, but...but no. It could go all the wrong ways. And the more Sheena thinks about it, the more she doesn't really want to know about what didn't happen in a past that isn't real.]

Sorry.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

... You don't have to apologize.

[action]

[corrinesbell]

It's not exactly apologizing like I did something. ...I'm just sorry you've got memories of it happening to you.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

It's -- just something I need to learn to deal with, that's all. It's not something you need to apologize for one way or the other.

[action]

[corrinesbell]

It's just sympathy, Raine!

[Sheena isn't mad. She's just frustrated. And probably hurting, if Raine wants to chalk it up to that.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

Shouldn't it be the other way around? I've... never had this insight about ... how that experience was for you. With me in that role, you were able to live a more... uncomplicated life. But I can't really pass that experience onto you.

[action]

[corrinesbell]

[Nobody's ever had that insight. It's why she offered sympathy in the first place. In theory Raine spent a whole life with that in her past, but really, here and now, it hit her after a week. No time to get used to it.

And Sheena saw an 'uncomplicated' life, in its own way. Not the one she would have had in Mizuho without tragedy, for sure, but...a different one.]

I don't want a less complicated life anyway. And that's not important right now.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[She shakes her head.] ... No. What's important is our current situation. And your injury.

[action]

[corrinesbell]

That's not what I was going for either.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

What else could there possibly be?

[action]

[corrinesbell]

...I dunno. Never mind.

[It's the stuff that Raine's not saying but she must be thinking about. The things that can keep you up at night. She doesn't expect that they'd talk about any of it. Raine's just not that sort of person, really. ...But having the focus turned back on her doesn't feel right.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

That's what I thought.

... Your tea will get cold if you don't drink it.

[action]

[corrinesbell]

[Well then. She's a little slow about it, but it's good tea and worth drinking.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[She'll pick up her cup and start drinking too. It's not like either of them are getting anywhere with their queries.]

[action]

[corrinesbell]

[At this point she's sort of waiting for Raine to take her turn again and ask questions. ...Then again, this has become all about Volt now and what a touchy subject for everybody.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[She's just waiting for Sheena to continue on or volunteer the information she's waiting for. It's not like she has much to go on at this point. ... Else she'll just send her back home to rest. Or just to rest.]

[action]

[corrinesbell]

[She's not sure exactly what Raine wants or needs to hear. After that first question...she's afraid to say anything else.

Then both hands release the cup of tea without her telling them to. It doesn't have far to fall, so it shouldn't break. But there's tea everywhere.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[Raine frowns, hurriedly getting to her feet.] Did it get on you?

[action]

[corrinesbell]

No, it's fine. It wasn't that hot anyway.

[It's all over her hands actually.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

Don't be ridiculous. It's all over your gloves, soaked through. [She moves to grab a few dish towels to throw on the table, then gives her a pointed look.] Take them off.

[action]

[corrinesbell]

It's not a big deal.

[but there aren't many defenses against that look. All she can do is take her time with it, pull them off slowly, and try to hide her right arm under the table before Raine sees anything unusual.]