artisticliberty | [imeeji

A: I'm sorry I didn't show up last night. It wasn't anything personal; I underestimated how exhausted I was.

[fox is typing...]

Fox: Thank you for letting me know.
Fox: It's alright. Were you able to get some rest?

A: I don't know that it was particularly restful, but I have been getting a good deal of sleep. That place took quite the physical toll on me.
A: How are you doing?

Fox: Better than I have been all week, technically speaking.
Fox: Tired, mostly. And feeling like I shouldn't leave Taisho for a while.

A: That might be wise. Rest while you still can.
A: Would you like me to bring you some sleeping potions?

Fox: B came by with some yesterday, but thank you.
Fox: I can barely stomach anything right now.

[fox is typing...]

Fox: You could come by for some tea and sweets, however.

A: That sounds nice.
A: If you're not busy now, I can come over once I've had a shower.

Fox: I will be here.

[A will show up at Taisho's door in around an hour, clean and groomed and wearing a brand new outfit]

[fox answers it, looking similarly]

Come in. You are looking well.

[there are two steaming mugs of tea along with a plate of some japanese sweets on the table for them]

Thank you. All of this looks delicious.

[taking his seat]

Help yourself.

[fox will take a seat and nurse his tea as he's not hungry, for some reason?]

How is AlcheME?

Hunkering down to lick our wounds, for the most part, but ultimately we'll be fine.

[picks up his own tea]

And Taisho?

The same, more or less. It feels like the others are handling themselves far better than I am. Well... Kaguya is having a difficult time. But she has Zero to support her. I wonder if he isn't pushing aside his own pain in order to care for her, but I couldn't say he was wrong for doing so. Skylark seems largely unbothered by the entire thing, which I have to admit I am slightly envious of. And our newest, Auracite, is... well. I can only imagine what he is suffering right now.

Shu was spared the worst of it. For that, at least, I am grateful. It feels like we've had more visitors here in the past 24 hours than we have in months.

[wow I don't know who most of these people even are]

...Mm. It's natural to want to reach out to others in times like these.

It is. These moments of rest and respite we have now... we must all surely need.

[...]

I had some points saved up, so I used them to remove most of the scars from the game--including yours.

Mm. I"m doing the same. Thus far I've taken care of anything not covered by my clothing.

Does it ever feel like you're a rag doll that keeps getting sewn back up for another round of playing?

Yes. That's exactly how it feels.

[a few tails pop up as he frowns deeply, swishing unhappily]

What an insult to our dignities.

[peering into his cup]

I think I've always felt that way.

[and then immediately backpedaling]

—Sorry. I always say such stupid things when I'm around you, don't I?

I do not think it is stupid. I would prefer you to speak honestly with me, when you can.

Honesty is subjective and multi-faceted. The worst version of myself is not the form of honesty that I wish to convey.

Do you think your "honest self" and your "worst self" are the same?

Not... entirely, no.

Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156

Re: Day 156