Catch-all: Shinobu

[ercnerd]

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week 7: saturday

[wisterin]

[ me, trying to remember who housed the catchall since it was FROM WEEK 0 :/

anyway what's up they're all here and checked out. who knows if this is before or after party games. idk! ]

I can focus on myself and other people.

[ looks like she didn't forget where their conversation left off. ]

[ercnerd]

[Ah, how time flies.

But she's so uptight. That's not good for her health.]

Then you don't have to focus on me. I've lived long enough to know my way around.

[wisterin]

[ she's poison. there is no helping her health anymore. ]

I think you are concerning, no matter your age.

[ercnerd]

[Concerning.]

I'm not saying that I'm not. I'm saying that I know how to manage myself.

[wisterin]

[ thoughtfully: ]

That sounds a bit lonely.

[ercnerd]

I've been alone for a long time.

But that doesn't mean I'm lonely. There are people I can be with in this era.

[wisterin]

[ she is like, that sounds like bullshit. ]

I am glad you have found people to be with. That's always something to look forward to, isn't it?

[ you know, when they aren't dying on you. ]

[ercnerd]

[Isn't that the tragedy?]

Suppose so. I'm not accustomed to returning to people . . . but this era's been full of surprises.

[wisterin]

Some would say that kind of surprise is a blessing.

[ her smile is fond. ]

It keeps you living.

[ercnerd]

Mm. It's a better reason than most others.

[He won't deny that. It's selfish, but there's nothing wrong with being a little selfish in most cases.]

[wisterin]

It's not wrong to want to be with others.

[ she says that softly. ]

Although some things you do to stay with them can be.

[ercnerd]

The same can be said for a lot of things. But you're not wrong.

[There's a beat before he pauses.]

By the way . . .

[wisterin]

By the way?

[ercnerd]

. . . It doesn't matter anymore, but did you ever receive a present?

[wisterin]

[ she tilts her head. ]

What manner of present do you mean?

[ercnerd]

[He shrugs a shoulder.]

I don't know. I was just told to pick a package and three names. Alphinaud didn't get it, so the recipient must have been you or Harrowhark.

[wisterin]

I did receive a package with a house symbol a few weeks ago.

[ ... ]

You didn't know what it was going to be?

[ercnerd]

Oh, so it was you!

No, I wasn't told what it was—just that it'd be helpful.

[wisterin]

[ she closes her eyes and is silent for a beat longer than is usual. ]

Thank you for making me one of your options. I'm more grateful than words can say.

[ if she didn't have her haori, i can't imagine how worse she would've been in these last few weeks. ]

[ercnerd]

[Perish (no).]

Hm? What if I were to say that I drew the names out of a hat?

[wisterin]

[ she smiles. she's not offended by that possibility even if she doesn't think it's true. ]

I'd be grateful either way. If it were to whim or whimsy, that doesn't change how significant it was to me.

[ercnerd]

[Wow. It must've been something really special if she isn't commenting on his humor.]

What was it?

[wisterin]

[ his "humor" ]

A memento of my sister's.

[ she glances at her haori. ]

[ercnerd]

[He thinks he's funny, but all the children hate his jokes.]

. . . So that's what the house meant . . .

Then it's good that you were the one to receive it.

[wisterin]

[ his dad jokes fall on deaf ears for good reason. ]

I cannot pretend I'm not grateful and that it is the one thing I wanted to have here, more than anything.

[ she would have traded her sword for it, as much as her sword symbolizes and is an extension of herself.

it's something she wouldn't hesitate to be selfish about (even if it also another way of giving up herself). she will not say it would have been fine had it been someone else. ]