corrinesbell | 108. Plain

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108. Plain

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]

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I'm not being ridiculous! It doesn't hurt.

[Fine. She puts her arm down on the table, palm up. Starting under the band of her exsphere bracelet, and going about halfway to her elbow, is a branching mark that looks almost like lightning. It's faint, only a little darker than her skin, and if Raine touches it, it doesn't feel like anything. She would have had a few more of them the first time Raine saw her, when she came to the barracks.]

Those marks...

[Shoving her uncomfortableness aside, she'll study it carefully.] ... I see. This must have been where the strike occurred. I... should have known that.

I know that. ...I had my hand out. I thought I could...I dunno, deflect it, or at least part of it.

[While that is partially true, most of her attention was on how Volt was aiming for Zelos and she refused to let another person she cared about die like that.]

The other ones all went away after enough healing spells.

... I know. [She's visualizing it, thanks to that stupid fake memory when she saw it happen.]

It's... a remaining side effect, among the others I'm sure you're experiencing. Volt's energy is far more powerful than an ordinary thunder blade or lightening attack. You need to be taking it easy.

Then you're gonna have to tell me what you mean by taking it easy.

[But she doesn't sound like she's against the idea, right now]

No patrols or roof-hopping. I think you've gotten into enough trouble already. [But that's not said unkindly.] Try to let Colette and Zelos handle your usual chores, whatever they might be. And if anything gets ... worse, don't hesitate to tell me or ... another healer you might feel comfortable with about it.

So you're telling me I should sit around the house all day.

[That's not said unkindly either. It's more resigned than anything. She seems pretty certain that this incident was a lot worse than the usual.]

...Of course I'd tell you.

You can go out for air, obviously, but I don't think you should go much farther than you have to, until you honestly can sense improvement.

[She shrugs slightly.] You almost didn't tell me this much.

The way I am now is improvement over a week ago. [Ah, the sound of forced hopefulness.]

I was gonna tell you. That was before I knew about...the other past you picked up this week. I didn't wanna make it even harder for you. It's not something I love talking about either.

[She understands that Sheena was being well intentioned, but she can't help but sigh at that.]

... You didn't think I would be able to handle treating an injury...? It's not as if I didn't already know what had happened to you.

That's not what I meant. ...I just didn't wanna give you another problem to deal with. [When you are clearly already dealing with a lot, internally.]

It wouldn't have been a problem.

You flinched when I said it, Raine. ...And you just seem like you're doing way more thinking than anything else, and I've been there, okay? I didn't wanna...remind you of anything.

Sometimes we need reminders. I probably wouldn't have acknowledged it at all had you not come here.

You wouldn't? ...Why?

Because... there are more important things going on than just what's inside my head.

But you can't really deal with that other stuff until you're done with what's in your head.

No, not really. So the entire thought that I could was foolish.

...So that's why I was gonna wait.

So that you could continue to push yourself? Don't be ridiculous.

What makes you think I was gonna push myself? [And here she folds her arms. Not in the obstinate way, but more like she's cold, or something] I know it's serious.

Because I know that you would, whether or not it was intentional. [By now all the tea has been cleaned up, of course, but she's still standing.]

[Eventually she looks up at Raine. Her expression might be hard to read, though.]

So what do you want me to do right now?

... Come into the sitting room. You can rest on the couch for a little while. I'll get some herbs together that you can use to help you sleep later on.

I don't wanna be in your way either. ...Would more healing spells help any of it?

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