128. Dual [voiced/action]

[corrinesbell]

[locked from Mithos and Martel]

Okay, guys. Raine brought this up a while ago, but some of you are new and things've changed a little. There's a kid here in Luceti named Mithos - he looks like he's about thirteen, with blond hair - he's from my world. And he's dangerous. Not like he wants to go around tearing the place apart or anything, but...more like, he doesn't trust anybody. He doesn't need a logical reason to attack you if he thinks he's gotta.

I don't want anybody going after him or anything, 'cause that's not what this warning is about. It's just a warning. He's come after me, and then Sayo, and just recently Raine and Yuan. You don't wanna provoke him and if you can, you wanna stay outta his way. Most people, he's gonna dislike or outright hate, so it's not like he'll be coming after you for conversation.

But like I said, it's just a warning. Nobody do anything stupid. 

[/locked]

Anyway, I was hoping some people here were still interested in working in the tea shop. It's been great so far, but there's no way I can be there all day every day myself and not go totally crazy. I'd need someone who knows how to brew tea, and a couple people willing to take orders and serve it and stuff. I remember people saying they'd like to do it before - that's still true, right? I promise I wouldn't make you work too hard.

[The tea shop is where she happens to be at the moment. Though it's noticeably low on customers this evening.]

Comments

[action]

[wise_maiden]

I'm all right for now... though I suppose I couldn't say no to some tea if you have any ready.

[action]

[corrinesbell]

Yeah, I've got some. [It's plain old jasmine tea, and she's been slowly working on a cup of it while she watched the rain.] It'll warm you up, at least, hang on.

[one pot of tea and new empty cup later, there's a place set for Raine at the table she's using.]

Y'know, the point of me going to your place was so you wouldn't really have to go anywhere.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

I was resting all day. I didn't mind the walk. [Ignoring at how she was wandering around in the middle of the night due to restlessness.]

[action]

[corrinesbell]

[Then again, after a couple of the things Albert said, maybe Raine wanted to get out of the house.]

Are you really doing okay?

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[She lifts up the teacup and just inhales for a good long moment before sipping.] ... Physically, anyway. Isn't that how it always is?

[action]

[corrinesbell]

[Raine was in all likelihood physically okay about five minutes after leaving the tunnels. Give or take.]

So then you know that's not what I was asking about.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

Of course I knew what you were asking. [But she's not answering, either. Or offering, for that matter.]

[action]

[corrinesbell]

[And this time, Sheena's not fishing. She just refills her cup and waits. If every conversation with Raine turns into a grilling session, Raine'll just stop having conversations. ...At least, that's what she thinks.

And she doesn't feel up to the argument just now. Letting the tea warm her fingers and her face is easier.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[Raine knows that she shouldn't be doing this. Sheena is supposed to be safe, with all that they had been through.

Yet they always manage to slip back. Slip back into those old, easily slipped into habits.

For a while she's quiet, looking into that tea.]

[action]

[corrinesbell]

[You're probably gonna regret giving me permission to tell you you're being difficult.

Sheena swirls her teacup around, watching the leaf fragments in the bottom whirl up and settle again.

It would be a lesson, and I take those seriously.

It isn't fair on either of them, to have to press Raine for information all the time.

It shouldn't feel wrong, sharing with you.

But what more is there to say?]

I'm not gonna interrogate you until you say something, Raine. Talk when you're ready.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[It's still a moment or so more before she finds herself speaking in the quiet:]

I suppose it does no good for us to sit here like this. It's not like I can change anything that's already happened, and at this point it's too early to make the next step.

[action]

[corrinesbell]

I don't even know what the next step is. Have you thought of anything?

[action]

[wise_maiden]

Aside from going to Martel with a larger group to take him back down there that ultimately would result in something more chaotic? No, not particularly.

[action]

[corrinesbell]

Thought about it. I figured she might not even let us in.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

She might. She did say she forgave us for our part in locking him up. Perhaps him escaping will give her all the more reason to try and correct him.

[action]

[corrinesbell]

You think maybe I should've let her hear the part about how you two got hurt?

[action]

[wise_maiden]

It's probably too late for that now. Besides... she'll seek the truth eventually. I'm sure of that.

[action]

[corrinesbell]

I really hope so.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

There isn't much else that can be done.

[action]

[corrinesbell]

I know, and it's not like sitting here talking about it is gonna make a big difference. [But, maybe it gets her out of the house for a while.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

Exactly. So why are we still talking about it?

[action]

[corrinesbell]

[Even if she doesn't always notice it, Raine definitely has the ability to set the expectations for a discussion.]

I dunno. [Is the answer to stop talking, then?]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[They were still talking about it because Raine was still blaming herself for the incident.

Which was, perhaps, illogical.

And perhaps, made it more frustrating.]

... All right.

[action]

[corrinesbell]

Is Yuan remembering any better? I haven't talked to him in a little while.

[He does seem to be avoiding her.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

I've filled him in on a few things, but he doesn't remember them very clearly. I suggested that he not try to leave the clinic until he's made some more improvement in that regard.