feistytrader | empatheias IC CONTACT

...What did he ask you to do?

[He can smack Black- or that guy, he's not sure which- upside the head, sure, but that's kind of important.]

[-- Ah.]

Nothing! Thanks again, Silver, I really appreciate your help!

[... she's cutting it off quick there, but it's not like he doesn't know where she lives.]

[...Uh-huh. Sure.

He doesn't go to her house right away; he does what he set out to do first, which is look for Black. But when he doesn't find him, to White's house it is, and he knocks right on her front door.]

[When he doesn't immediately come, it's a relief.

... It also means that there's a lot of dead vines curling around her living room now, the flowers her brother creates so effortlessly wilting in her grief and self-loathing, and when the knock comes she doesn't waste a second in throwing it open--

and kind of freezing, because Silver's not who she wanted to see, grip tightening on the door itself as sparks bounce around her feet.]

... No luck?

No luck. Sorry.

[He doesn't look like a man on a mission, at least, and when he sees White looking like a nervous wreck he lets out a quick sigh and just.]

I'm not gonna ask you again. I just thought you might not want to be alone.

[... She's still not wholly relaxed, but she'll take his hand and bring him inside. Careful of those dead plants. There's something she's playing with in her other hand, actually, but she's palming it.]

I still have Benny and Socks.

[But it's not the same, and there's only so much two pets can do for her. Socks meows in greeting to Silver, at least, but Benny's sleeping on the couch herself. The dog is taking Black's disappearance about as well as White is -- she's tired out.]

But thanks. I... really don't like being alone.

[It just happens that most of the time, back home, she was. By her own choice. Maybe she should get used to it again.]

And now you have Benny, Socks, and me.

[Admittedly, it's hard to shake the fact that White is up to something out of his head, and he needs to press her about that later.

But... Now's not the time for that. And besides-]

What are friends for?

[...Boyfriends? Whatever. He's not correcting himself.]

[She won't correct him either, because it's friends first and that second. He might not always be her boyfriend, but he'll always be her friend.

... Maybe.]

Distracting. Really, with this on top of the products I need to replace from the earthquake... It's just not my week, is it?

[White laughs a little, though it's... not like her usual. Let's see. Replace products, look for Black, keep it together. A short and difficult list.]

...I'm pretty sure this entire month is just going to suck, one way or another.

[Would you like a hug, White, because he's giving you a nice and warm, uh... One armed hug. With the good arm. Yep.]

I hope not. It's getting to be the end of spring, I think, and... in my world, anyway, me and Black were born at the end of May, just before it started to get hot. So around this time of year, I think, though with their new year being in spring instead of winter it really makes it difficult to say.

[let her birthday be fine.......]

...If my birthday was five months ago, then this should be May, right?

[More or less, anyway.]

What day is it? Do you want a party?

[He's not going to be able to pull the same surprise that White did on him. No way.]

[More or less, anyway, and she takes a moment to register what he's asking.]

Oh-- you don't have to, Silver. I'm sure Black wouldn't want anything large either, and... we haven't celebrated our birthday with anything like that in a while.

[Just a guaranteed day off, a guaranteed visit, presents for her and no trouble for him.

... Like, don't get her wrong, she wants a huge celebration and to invite every single person she knows, but-- You know. Habits die hard.]

May 29th, though. If you want to do anything.

...Who am I inviting? I don't think I know all of your friends. Or Black's.

[Sure he can yell at the entire network, but why do that when he can hear it from the birthday girl herself?]

Well, I can say that Black and I more or less consider the same people friends. It's always been like that.

[... Except for Junko, but Junko is Junko.]

You, Tsukiyama, Jude if he's not too busy with his clinic... That seems like such a small party though. Maybe we'll do something for just the two of us like usual.

...You don't have to decide now. Just let me know, okay? You should have the birthday you want.

[...]

We can always hang out the next day, too. I think I know where I'd take you.

[It's probably something she'll talk to Black about if-- when he gets back. When. Just because he doesn't have his crystal doesn't mean he won't come back, even if that guy's controlling his body. He has a certain level of self-preservation that her brother lacks.

-- Oh. Well. Some of the flowers seem to be looking better now.]

Is it a surprise, or are you gonna tell me where?

It's something you have to see to really understand.

[Because that sounds a whole lot cooler than "a tree I like."]

Wow, aren't you deep today.

[But that seems to have perked her up a little -- being able to go places always did, especially if someone was taking her themselves -- though there's still the worry on her mind.]

Party or not, though, I will take you up on that. Maybe it'll become my new quiet space.

Maybe. It's really nice. I'm sure you'll like it.

[He hopes she'll like it. It's getting a little warm...]

[A little warm? Talk more like toasty, and White leans into his hug more after a hesitant moment.]

Thank you. And... I'm sorry I was so tense earlier, it's just... I can't talk about sort of stuff. Or rather, it's more like I never had anyone to talk to about it before, since, you know.

[Her brother.]

... It's nothing bad though, I promise. At least... I don't think it'll cause anything really bad to happen. Maybe even the opposite.

[Unless it does the thing that Thras told them not to do again.]

[...Something big, from the sounds of it, but something that might do good...]

Alright. I trust you.

[White could be lying to him, but... He'd like to believe that she isn't. If it was something really dangerous, they could work it out together, right?]

If things turn dangerous, though, tell me, okay? I don't want you or Black to get hurt.

... Mmhmm. Okay.

[Well, doesn't that just sound half-hearted. She's drawing away, too, going to pick up Socks and hold him.]

How's your shoulder? You didn't strain yourself too much, did you?

[...Before he can really say anything about half hearted that was, there are questions about his shoulder.

She did that on purpose, didn't she.]

No, it's fine. It shouldn't take too long to heal.

[Now you're getting her game. Last resort includes kisses.]

Are you doing anything once you're better?

[His expression lights up for a moment... And then he shakes his head. No, no, don't-]

Don't do that.

empatheias IC CONTACT

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