[ tea... with his beloved miss sara? alright, he'll take it. haha ranmaru, fuck off, he doesn't have a third party interrupting HIS date. huehue. ]
Both. Eight tablespoons of sugar, and seven tablespoons of whip cream. Five dashes of honey, and a slight drizzle of chocolate syrup if the tea is brown. Reverse if opposite!
[ for someone who wants him dead, especially after that spectacle in the hallway where she lied about her name, midori now inquires what he should do about that. given her name is on the class rosters... ]
For the tea party, shall I call you Miss Sara or Miss Namida?
[ it's because he's been onto her games for awhile now, but they should play "fair". he leans up, blinking slow with a smile as he crosses his legs. he fixes his scarf around his neck, the red fabric settled comfortably before he rests his hands into his lap. ]
[Hey guess who is stalking this guy in the halls and looking like a total weirdo.
This guy:
He spotted Sara talking to Midori and was like 'what the hell is she doing' and is now kneeling in the crawlspace above the room with one ear turned towards the 'floor', being as quiet as possible to the point of having his scarf over his mouth so he doesn't cough from all the dust. This isn't a well-travelled part of them...
He rolls his eyes when he hears Midori's drink order. Ugh, of course... he really hasn't changed, huh? Still a glutton for sweets... it's a wonder if there's any tea flavour left after all that's being done to it.
He mouths 'Miss Namida?' to himself and leans closer... there's the tiniest shift of the wood with his weight and he winces and stills.]
Wrong! Totally wrong! You only get sugar, too bad for you! ...But there's milk in the fridge.
[ If there is whipped cream or chocolate in there it is NOT hers and Sara respects the law of the yogen dorm kitchens. She puts her name on stuff, and doesn't steal! Anyway, To prove her point, she rips open a splenda package and dumps it in his tea.
It's green tea, by the way. Sara didn't feel like mentioning it wasn't black tea before. Enjoy! She's going to add a second as she talks. How many can she add to his cup before he stops her? ]
Ok, fine. You got me, the Namida thing was a joke. I guess you can call me Sara... [ It's still weird how respectfully the floormasters address them. Even Ranger called her Sara-sama at least once, back in the game. She doesn't love the idea of going by her last name either so...fine. It's her name, might as well be called by it. ]
So you were faking. Why are you even pretending to have amnesia? It was annoying when Sou did it, and its annoying now.
i always feel like... somebodys watching MEEEE and i have no PRIVACYYY
[ he sounds confused now, wondering if he's getting this wrong. his eyes widen, head tilts to the side as he brings up the difficulty that he's having.
...
not that he feels being watched or something. ]
I checked the class roster, and there's no Miss Namida, so I explained how you looked, and I learned that you're in fact: Miss Sara!
[ yeah, he's going to play amnesia, look, just because shin failed doesn't mean midori will fail, not as long as he has valid points. ] ...
[ he frowns a little bit, almost like he's disappointed that she couldn't be honest with him. he moves on. ]
It's fine, I won't take it toooooooo hard if you give me twelve tablespoons of sugar!
[Shin is very glad he raced to change the roster after the meeting came to an unhappy conclusion... He really should have done it right from the very start when he arrived, but then nobody noticed and it didn't seem to matter... until now. The school can just deal with there being a big black bar where his name was. Shin Tsukimi has been erased yet again.
Amnesia... Oh, he's absolutely faking it, the- he can hear that innocent expression. So that's his move. Shin's not sure why he's even bothering. Nobody else knows him, and surely no-one from their world would fall for it now? After being warned? Sara sure hasn't, which is just a little bit of a relief, even if hearing it described as annoying smarts. It was a good plan at the time...]
[ he's kind of bummed!! both her and the rats can hear it. he'll take the cup, holding it by the handle, and the other underneath the cup. it's pretty warm for green tea, and probably sickly sweet just the way he like it. ]
We can talk about important things now, like... are you Miss Namida's cousin? You two must be acquainted! I will say, you're prettier than her...
[ old habits die hard... he slowly brings the drink to his lips, but then pulls away as he hears about his love life, and a soft "oooh...!" leaves from him. ]
My love life? Oh, you must mean Maple! Ahaha, she's one of my many creations. She's programmed to love and make tea, isn't that wonderful?
[ going to imagine he has a spoon so he can stir it slow as he watches sara with interest. he blinks... normally. ]
[Maple... Shin's still remembering that incredibly awkward conversation at Disneyland. Maybe he should have considered it a sign of things to come... like the world itself has been trying to warn him and he's been sticking his fingers in his ears about it.
He slowly shifts his weight trying to get a better position because one of his legs is starting to cramp up a little... He leans forward...
And that's the last straw for this particular piece of ceiling. Light as Shin is, it's probably got woodworm all throughout it or something, and he's not weightless.]
Waugh!
[He's crashing down into the room in a cloud of dust and wood dust and lying there stunned. It's probably only last minute hard-earned parkour skills that have him winded on his front instead of accidentally killing himself in the most embarrassing way possible.]
Well if you can't remember then there's no point in talking about it...right?
[ See how its annoying? If there was something she might want to talk about...with a person she might know...well if he can't remember there's no point! Please stop this silly charade. ]
Miss Namida was my temporary doctor...but that's not important. Didn't you two break up-
[ She lifts her own mug of tea to her lips, just before Sou falls right onto the table, covering them both in dust and woodchips. Sara...slowly...puts her tea down on Sou's prone lifeless body. No...no she will not acknowledge this. Not right now. She's going to pretend this didn't happen. If she says one word to Sou, she'll won't be able to stop something snide and snarky, and Sara doesn't want Midori to know they're fighting. ]
Anyway. [ Anyway. ] When someone says you'll die together, do you stay in a relationship after that?
midori looks down at the person on the table, and it's not hard to mistake that person — briefly what heart he has left skips — yet he keeps that inside, and it's not visible on his face. rather, it's a long stare as he tries to control himself the same way sara seems to. ]
That isn't surprising, she's good at her work. She's solved so many cases, cured so many diseases. Could you tell me what you were inflicted with?
[ he looks up at the ceiling, and then down to the body... shin... his precious little meow meow interrupting his date, and you know what, he thinks that's fine. if anyone could be so inelegant, but wanted, it was shin tsukimi... though the scarf he wears is a different color, one that midori doesn't recall on him. but on another...
...
he sets the mug down on top of shin's head, following sara's motions. ]
Hm? In my company, the idea of human and artificial intelligence is against the rules. Our goal is to spread love throughout the world, so we work on various ways of doing that. Maple had been one idea... but "dying together" is way too intense...
[ he's going to reach for a splenda packet to open, and while watching sara sheepishly, he holds his hand out to pour it into his tea, but accidentally (purposefully) drizzling the white confection on shin's head, until he looks to see if the packet is empty. ]
[HE CAN'T GET OFF THE TABLE YOU'RE PUTTING CUPS OF TEA ON HIM??? He can't see them but they can't really be anything else from the weight and warmth, he's just going to lie here and wish he could keep falling even further, all the way into the basement.]
Ugh... No way.
[And now something's going into his hair... You've got three seconds before he decides that you know what, it's fine if your hot tea goes on the floor and/or you two. Don't say he didn't warn you (he's not warning you).]
[ Sara watching Midori put more sugar into his dust and wood chip filled tea like....
Its not even proper tea any more thats like sugary asbestos and Shin dust with a little water. ]
This is... [ So many emotions can be contained with a single glance, but Sara's can communicate an entire sentence. Why are you here and for the love of god get off the table . She flicks a woodchip out of her hair and onto Sou. What to say, what to say...he's obviously not her boyfriend, duh! Way to old for her. So um...friend? No. Rival, enemy? Uh...um... ]
My long lost brother.
[ This is the worst thing she could say in this situation he's still mad about Kanna and she's rubbing it in. With Midori of all people! It's just...the first thing that she thinks of when she thinks about Sou! He's so obsessed with Kanna so why wouldn't she think about it! Maybe if she takes her tea back fast enough she can skip the part where he throws it at her. ]
He likes to climb in vents. Its a surprisingly popular hobby here. [ Along with listening in on conversations Sara didn't want him around for!! ]
My condolences, I've lived alone all my life, so I wouldn't understand, you're correct.
[ why is he here? it's brave of him, even now, midori could reach out and do what he failed doing before — killing him with a snap of his neck, and that would be because of love.
he reaches out towards his head, but instead picks up his tea to take a sip of the beverage. it's perfect, this is the best green tea he's had in a long time now. taking another sip, he glances down at her "long lost brother", and they look nothing alike. they only have green haired children in that family.
...
however, he can only sip so much until the doctor part of him tells him to check on the person before him. he has to play the part as he sets his cup to the side. ]
So this is your big brother? He must be good at his job, watching over you [ he looks up above them, then down at the body on the table ] as he was.
[ holding up a three fingers, he places them in front of shin's face if he tilts his head up. ]
How many fingers am I holding up? [ then to sara: ] Hm... Miss Sara, can you fix him a cup of chamomile?
[It really is brave of him... Despite the fact that they're not getting along and for good reason as far as he's concerned, he wouldn't wish Midori on his worst enemy... especially given what's already happened that she's told him about. He turns his head away from the fingers to shoot Sara 'why are YOU at the Devil's sacrament' and 'brother??? seriously???' kind of looks at her in turn, before levering himself up (ow) and rolling off the side of the table and coincidentally and 'accidentally' elbowing Midori's cup onto his shoes as he does so.]
Don't bother, I'm fine. I don't have a concussion... whoever you are.
[He's not calling him Hiyori if he can help it... but also that amnesia, sure seems to be going around, huh? Once upright he stalks around the room hunting for his beanie and when he finds it ruffles the dust and sugar out of his hair as best he can with a hand and attempts to pat it out of the article too before pulling it back onto his head. He swipes down his front to try and get more dust off... it's not all that successful, although it does get more onto the carpet.]
[ She! Said! She'd! Be! Here! She's just not a freak who hides in vents!! What had Shin imagined keeping an eye on someone entailed? Locking them up in basement and hitting them? (Tempting. Good thing she gave her gun away to Komeada). ]
Well he's long lost so I don't expect much from him. [ She presses her fingers together as Sou rolls off the table. ] You know...long lost, raised apart, all that. Practically strangers!
[ Tea...yes actually, please don't leave her alone to get grilled about her fake brother backstory. There's still hot water in the kettle, so Sara gets another mug and drops a teabag in it. Offering it towards Sou is kind of an apology, even if its just doing what Midori told her Now don't leave!! ]
Er...[ What should she call him..? Pensive. 1). Commit to the bit. 2). Call him the stolen name when he might not want it.
...At least the former mostly damages her pride. ]
Here, nii-san. Please stay out of vents? The dust can't be healthy.
[ he's even looking at her and ignoring his fingers... they're a mess chief, a mess. midori has to hold back shaking his head.
...
not his shoes that he's been taking care of, he looks down at the spilled tea, and he will excuse it. instead, he'll pick up a few napkins to start wiping his shoes, and the tea from the floor as he picks up the cup he was using.
he's disheartened... all that sugar, wasted. though, nothing breaks his heart more than their half-ass story, and sara's commitment to playing the role of a family member. he can't say anything though because of his amnesia, but... ]
You'll worry her sick, nii-san!
[ he follows, smiling as he finally cleans up the mess on the floor. watching shin, he wonders what he should have expected for them being here so long, has the other always been so... uncoordinated? falling from crawlspaces which happen to be the alternate route from getting to point a to point b, he thinks creating a monster that runs through the vents might be fun. ]
So do tell... what's the story? Separated at birth? One of you strangled the other in the womb? Sunset, [ to shin, before looking to sara ] Sunrise?
[ you know, how some twins have a chance of killing their other twin in the womb... then the twin just grew up here? you know, he's making up narrations so sara can choose how she wants to paint their relationship. ]
[The crawlspace already has one critter in it, Midori! Shin would like not to have to keep an ear out for two... he has to take enough detours in there as it is sometimes.]
I'm not going to die just from a little dust...
[He does cough a little, though... it's fine, he was breathing through his scarf for most of it... now is not the time to be worrying about his lungs. He takes the cup of tea... he saw it being made, so it's probably not poisoned. If he was here alone his first instinct would be to leave immediately... it still is.
Having a reaction in front of Midori is a death sentence, so Shin hides his wince at 'strangled the other' internally, burying it down where the rest of him is so it can't freak out and ruin things. He can go 'nii-san???' and die later. His thumb rubs across Nene's scarf, the weave of it.]
Nothing that complicated... Our parents just divorced early on, that's all. Right, Sara?
[Take the cue, for once. Neat, clean, simple, and doesn't require him to have to wonder if that's even logistically possible, in this afterlife. He hasn't noticed anyone aging, but it's been only eight months. He takes a sip of the tea... the warmth is helpfully grounding at least.]
Seems like you're just as bad at math as anyone here... we'd have to be the same age to be twins.
[Strangled in the womb? The same womb, four years apart? Shin knows customers kept asking him how school was going, but that's a bit much for Midori. It's probably more of his usual messing around... he's enjoying this, isn't he?]
[ Sara, much less prepared for Midori encounters as always, does wince at the mention of strangling. It's hard to keep the guilt away, when she can imagine Sou glaring at her from where he stands by her side. It's almost like Midori knew...but Ranger wouldn't tell. Sara has to trust that. ]
Not very interesting. [ She echoes. Short and sweet. No better way to give the hint to drop this plot thread. Unlike Midori, Sara and Sou can let their annoying plotlines die in ditches! ] You know, you get separated. You meet. You both die. You end up here. Pretty typical.
[ She is actually pretty flattered to be assumed to be in her twenties. Twins... She must seem mature! Even if its a compliment from Midori, she'll take it. ]
Well Midori probably takes the practicum every year so he doesn't need to study. [ Nods nods. ] I don't know if people grow here...I don't think so! Did you know Seiya is like 800 years old? He's like a scary old guy in a grumpy teen body.
It has nothing to do with the subject, it's because this place has a time discrepancy. I wasn't aware you two had a gap in age, but there's a childish charm to you both.
[ cannot believe shin has the nerve to make midori look dumb, so we're going to fix it. it's with a gentle smile that he places the wet napkins into drier ones, so they can be sat towards the side.
the idea isn't insane, which it could be possible, ah... what happened to his shin that had imagination and creativity? ]
But my condolences if you're having trouble with math.
[ just going to throw that in there, considering he used "anyone here". shin really let himself go, but he's content as he will be about anything else as he sits back down to watch them both.
his gaze unnerving, until he blinks, like its set on a timer. ]
We can talk about it over tea, you should sit with us, niichan. [ there's a little gasp, eyes widening at someone so old though, he focuses on sara. ] Finding older men interesting? I learn something new about you every day.
[If he doesn't have this much nerve how else can you get on it? The part of Shin that is now an adrenalin junkie is going 'hey this is kind of fun' and the rest of him is hissing 'what are you doing???' at it but actually getting a hit on Midori feels amazing. There's a small quirk to the corner of his mouth at Midori's comeback because even with that accidental opening knowing he got that mark kind of undermines it, turning his head towards Sara.]
Hm. The practicum does suit him, huh?
[He's not going to push his luck too much, but he doesn't need to prove his math scores here. Childish charm, ugh. That gets so much worse, knowing everything... his eyes narrow at the last sentence. Don't fall for it Sara, it's flattery but it's a trap!]
...Guess I have a little time before I need to get back to the office.
[Which sets up a way out for him in advance. He sits on the couch's armrest, legs crossed, hands around the mug and spine curved. His eyes are sharp, looking sidelong. That gaze... just let it roll off like oil on water... you've seen scarier, come on.]
So which highschool were you going to when you died? Maybe I know it.
[There's vicious jabs and then there's pointing a harpoon at someone.]
[ She wants to be mature, not childish...and shes not into Seiya! The older guys Sara finds somewhat interesting have white hair and...nevermind.
There is something about lording all the yogen lore they know over Midori like so much bait on fishhooks. Gonna ask what the practicum is? No? Good! Bet he doesn't know not to take books out of the library...maybe they can get Haruka to steal his hands. ]
Well...he'd cheat either way.
[ It's been a while since she's felt this kind of solidarity. Taking on Midori alone had been....fine...but Sara's shoulders loosen when Sou does his terrible little sit on the couch near her. She'll sip her own tea forgetfully, then make a face when she tastes the dust. ]
Bleh...highschool? [ ??????????????????????????????? Why is Sou asking...oh. ]
[ ranger spent three days telling him everything, it should be suspicious he's NOT asking! he docks one mark off the kids because they're just as bad at this as they've ever been. ]
Oh... you died going to high school? You even appear to look over twenty... No wonder you're so worried about math...
[ he gasps, finally making sense of it in his mind. shin looks to be on the older side considering him saying that he's older than her. or that's the narration he places onto shin because of his inquiry.
he looks to sara like he can't look this man in the face for his failures, especially because people don't age too... damn. ]
But I didn't die in the same way that you did. I'm a successful medical practitioner, the last thing I remember is looking into something for the company, and then I fell asleep. Oh, did you know that scientific researches shows that 1 out of 8 people die in their sleep which is also mostly nearby 4 AM?
[ there's something about paranormal activity that happens around then. ]
[Ugh, why is it always like trying to catch smoke with him!]
Jeez... your listening comprehension is as bad as your math. They'll let anyone through medical school, huh?
[But he's gotten annoyed, and that's basically the same as a loss... He's kind of stuck in this fencing match now. Thanks for the new fact that's going to camp unwanted in his brain, he'll put it with the others.]
That's kind of a rude question, isn't it?
[He can't help but think of Sara's reaction to his own speculation on the matter.]
[ She doesn't think to question the lack of queries. That damn trust acting up again... She didn't think Ranger would be this attached to the guy who's only goal in life seemed to be betraying everyone he ever met. Learn something from poor Hinako. ]
You died alone, huh?
[ She puts her tea down on the dented table with a click. Midori's eyes always make it hard to focus, like he blinks out of sync just to distract Sara, so she fiddles with her hand, staring off at a wall before she turns back to him. ]
That's sad. I'd feel sorry for you. [ Alone in a coffin with no way out...how terrible. Nicer to imagine dying at 4am... If Midori gets to pretend, why can't she? Not the death Sou had suggested, but something a little more pleasant. ]
Maybe I died in a blaze of glory...and rescued three people. Then nobody ever saw me again after that, and nobody felt sad.
Ahaha! It's rude for you to talk to someone you're unfamiliar with like that, isn't it?
[ which means, he doesn't understand the way shin's speaking with him. normally people try to act nice, but it seems the other has been itching to catch hands. luckily, he's not showing off that ability at this time, and only giving his concerns as he looks at shin finally.
he knows it still gets under his skin, oh my.
playing around, he'll pass it off as bad manners. ]
Isn't better to die alone, one shot, one kill. I wouldn't want to take four people with me...
[ but it's the opposite, always has been. he managed to take some, but not all, he didn't get the one that he wanted to die, he didn't get to see sara in her glory. they're all incomplete, and if only there was a way to fix them. he leans back in his seat, his true death isn't one he's fond either, but thinking about it would do no good. he must remain composed, and he shows no worry on his face.
he wants tea again... ]
Dying alone, dying and no one grieving you... we're quite the same, aren't we? At least niichan had a whole school to die with.
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no subject
Both. Eight tablespoons of sugar, and seven tablespoons of whip cream. Five dashes of honey, and a slight drizzle of chocolate syrup if the tea is brown. Reverse if opposite!
[ for someone who wants him dead, especially after that spectacle in the hallway where she lied about her name, midori now inquires what he should do about that. given her name is on the class rosters... ]
For the tea party, shall I call you Miss Sara or Miss Namida?
[ it's because he's been onto her games for awhile now, but they should play "fair". he leans up, blinking slow with a smile as he crosses his legs. he fixes his scarf around his neck, the red fabric settled comfortably before he rests his hands into his lap. ]
no subject
This guy:
He spotted Sara talking to Midori and was like 'what the hell is she doing' and is now kneeling in the crawlspace above the room with one ear turned towards the 'floor', being as quiet as possible to the point of having his scarf over his mouth so he doesn't cough from all the dust. This isn't a well-travelled part of them...
He rolls his eyes when he hears Midori's drink order. Ugh, of course... he really hasn't changed, huh? Still a glutton for sweets... it's a wonder if there's any tea flavour left after all that's being done to it.
He mouths 'Miss Namida?' to himself and leans closer... there's the tiniest shift of the wood with his weight and he winces and stills.]
damnb whats that sound
[ If there is whipped cream or chocolate in there it is NOT hers and Sara respects the law of the yogen dorm kitchens. She puts her name on stuff, and doesn't steal! Anyway, To prove her point, she rips open a splenda package and dumps it in his tea.
It's green tea, by the way. Sara didn't feel like mentioning it wasn't black tea before. Enjoy! She's going to add a second as she talks. How many can she add to his cup before he stops her? ]
Ok, fine. You got me, the Namida thing was a joke. I guess you can call me Sara... [ It's still weird how respectfully the floormasters address them. Even Ranger called her Sara-sama at least once, back in the game. She doesn't love the idea of going by her last name either so...fine. It's her name, might as well be called by it. ]
So you were faking. Why are you even pretending to have amnesia? It was annoying when Sou did it, and its annoying now.
i always feel like... somebodys watching MEEEE and i have no PRIVACYYY
[ he sounds confused now, wondering if he's getting this wrong. his eyes widen, head tilts to the side as he brings up the difficulty that he's having.
...
not that he feels being watched or something. ]
I checked the class roster, and there's no Miss Namida, so I explained how you looked, and I learned that you're in fact: Miss Sara!
[ yeah, he's going to play amnesia, look, just because shin failed doesn't mean midori will fail, not as long as he has valid points. ] ...
[ he frowns a little bit, almost like he's disappointed that she couldn't be honest with him. he moves on. ]
It's fine, I won't take it toooooooo hard if you give me twelve tablespoons of sugar!
truly the transformation has been completed
Amnesia... Oh, he's absolutely faking it, the- he can hear that innocent expression. So that's his move. Shin's not sure why he's even bothering. Nobody else knows him, and surely no-one from their world would fall for it now? After being warned? Sara sure hasn't, which is just a little bit of a relief, even if hearing it described as annoying smarts. It was a good plan at the time...]
stalker senses...go!
Adds a 5th packet of splenda. At this point, there's a pretty visible amount of white residue at the bottom of this cup... ]
Oh...is that so?
[ Still going along with it... why didn't he hit himself with a stick for Accuracy? Both of them are such drama queens. ]
Well, if you stop faking it, maybe one day we can talk about something that matters! Until then...
[ Adds the last and 12th packet as she pushes the cup towards him. ]
...How's your love life? You're not the only person who can check the roster, Midori.
[ She saw a certain name there a few days ago! ]
thinking about him up there like a lil cockroach... runs in the greenmily
[ he's kind of bummed!! both her and the rats can hear it. he'll take the cup, holding it by the handle, and the other underneath the cup. it's pretty warm for green tea, and probably sickly sweet just the way he like it. ]
We can talk about important things now, like... are you Miss Namida's cousin? You two must be acquainted! I will say, you're prettier than her...
[ old habits die hard... he slowly brings the drink to his lips, but then pulls away as he hears about his love life, and a soft "oooh...!" leaves from him. ]
My love life? Oh, you must mean Maple! Ahaha, she's one of my many creations. She's programmed to love and make tea, isn't that wonderful?
[ going to imagine he has a spoon so he can stir it slow as he watches sara with interest. he blinks... normally. ]
We Don't Talk About Sou Hiyori
He slowly shifts his weight trying to get a better position because one of his legs is starting to cramp up a little... He leans forward...
And that's the last straw for this particular piece of ceiling. Light as Shin is, it's probably got woodworm all throughout it or something, and he's not weightless.]
Waugh!
[He's crashing down into the room in a cloud of dust and wood dust and lying there stunned. It's probably only last minute hard-earned parkour skills that have him winded on his front instead of accidentally killing himself in the most embarrassing way possible.]
puts down elden ring 4 this
[ See how its annoying? If there was something she might want to talk about...with a person she might know...well if he can't remember there's no point! Please stop this silly charade. ]
Miss Namida was my temporary doctor...but that's not important. Didn't you two break up-
[ She lifts her own mug of tea to her lips, just before Sou falls right onto the table, covering them both in dust and woodchips. Sara...slowly...puts her tea down on Sou's prone lifeless body. No...no she will not acknowledge this. Not right now. She's going to pretend this didn't happen. If she says one word to Sou, she'll won't be able to stop something snide and snarky, and Sara doesn't want Midori to know they're fighting. ]
Anyway. [ Anyway. ] When someone says you'll die together, do you stay in a relationship after that?
[ GET OFF THE TABLE SOU. ]
I HAVE BEEN CRACKING UP OVER THIS THREAD
midori looks down at the person on the table, and it's not hard to mistake that person — briefly what heart he has left skips — yet he keeps that inside, and it's not visible on his face. rather, it's a long stare as he tries to control himself the same way sara seems to. ]
That isn't surprising, she's good at her work. She's solved so many cases, cured so many diseases. Could you tell me what you were inflicted with?
[ he looks up at the ceiling, and then down to the body... shin... his precious little meow meow interrupting his date, and you know what, he thinks that's fine. if anyone could be so inelegant, but wanted, it was shin tsukimi... though the scarf he wears is a different color, one that midori doesn't recall on him. but on another...
...
he sets the mug down on top of shin's head, following sara's motions. ]
Hm? In my company, the idea of human and artificial intelligence is against the rules. Our goal is to spread love throughout the world, so we work on various ways of doing that. Maple had been one idea... but "dying together" is way too intense...
[ he's going to reach for a splenda packet to open, and while watching sara sheepishly, he holds his hand out to pour it into his tea, but accidentally (purposefully) drizzling the white confection on shin's head, until he looks to see if the packet is empty. ]
Oh. Whoops. [ ... ] Is this your boyfriend?
SAME
Ugh... No way.
[And now something's going into his hair... You've got three seconds before he decides that you know what, it's fine if your hot tea goes on the floor and/or you two. Don't say he didn't warn you (he's not warning you).]
no subject
[ Sara watching Midori put more sugar into his dust and wood chip filled tea like....
Its not even proper tea any more thats like sugary asbestos and Shin dust with a little water. ]
This is... [ So many emotions can be contained with a single glance, but Sara's can communicate an entire sentence. Why are you here and for the love of god get off the table . She flicks a woodchip out of her hair and onto Sou. What to say, what to say...he's obviously not her boyfriend, duh! Way to old for her. So um...friend? No. Rival, enemy? Uh...um... ]
My long lost brother.
[ This is the worst thing she could say in this situation he's still mad about Kanna and she's rubbing it in. With Midori of all people! It's just...the first thing that she thinks of when she thinks about Sou! He's so obsessed with Kanna so why wouldn't she think about it! Maybe if she takes her tea back fast enough she can skip the part where he throws it at her. ]
He likes to climb in vents. Its a surprisingly popular hobby here. [ Along with listening in on conversations Sara didn't want him around for!! ]
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[ why is he here? it's brave of him, even now, midori could reach out and do what he failed doing before — killing him with a snap of his neck, and that would be because of love.
he reaches out towards his head, but instead picks up his tea to take a sip of the beverage. it's perfect, this is the best green tea he's had in a long time now. taking another sip, he glances down at her "long lost brother", and they look nothing alike. they only have green haired children in that family.
...
however, he can only sip so much until the doctor part of him tells him to check on the person before him. he has to play the part as he sets his cup to the side. ]
So this is your big brother? He must be good at his job, watching over you [ he looks up above them, then down at the body on the table ] as he was.
[ holding up a three fingers, he places them in front of shin's face if he tilts his head up. ]
How many fingers am I holding up? [ then to sara: ] Hm... Miss Sara, can you fix him a cup of chamomile?
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Don't bother, I'm fine. I don't have a concussion... whoever you are.
[He's not calling him Hiyori if he can help it... but also that amnesia, sure seems to be going around, huh? Once upright he stalks around the room hunting for his beanie and when he finds it ruffles the dust and sugar out of his hair as best he can with a hand and attempts to pat it out of the article too before pulling it back onto his head. He swipes down his front to try and get more dust off... it's not all that successful, although it does get more onto the carpet.]
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Well he's long lost so I don't expect much from him. [ She presses her fingers together as Sou rolls off the table. ] You know...long lost, raised apart, all that. Practically strangers!
[ Tea...yes actually, please don't leave her alone to get grilled about her fake brother backstory. There's still hot water in the kettle, so Sara gets another mug and drops a teabag in it. Offering it towards Sou is kind of an apology, even if its just doing what Midori told her
Now don't leave!!]Er...[ What should she call him..? Pensive. 1). Commit to the bit. 2). Call him the stolen name when he might not want it.
...At least the former mostly damages her pride. ]
Here, nii-san. Please stay out of vents? The dust can't be healthy.
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...
not his shoes that he's been taking care of, he looks down at the spilled tea, and he will excuse it. instead, he'll pick up a few napkins to start wiping his shoes, and the tea from the floor as he picks up the cup he was using.
he's disheartened... all that sugar, wasted. though, nothing breaks his heart more than their half-ass story, and sara's commitment to playing the role of a family member. he can't say anything though because of his amnesia, but... ]
You'll worry her sick, nii-san!
[ he follows, smiling as he finally cleans up the mess on the floor. watching shin, he wonders what he should have expected for them being here so long, has the other always been so... uncoordinated? falling from crawlspaces which happen to be the alternate route from getting to point a to point b, he thinks creating a monster that runs through the vents might be fun. ]
So do tell... what's the story? Separated at birth? One of you strangled the other in the womb? Sunset, [ to shin, before looking to sara ] Sunrise?
[ you know, how some twins have a chance of killing their other twin in the womb... then the twin just grew up here? you know, he's making up narrations so sara can choose how she wants to paint their relationship. ]
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I'm not going to die just from a little dust...
[He does cough a little, though... it's fine, he was breathing through his scarf for most of it... now is not the time to be worrying about his lungs. He takes the cup of tea... he saw it being made, so it's probably not poisoned. If he was here alone his first instinct would be to leave immediately... it still is.
Having a reaction in front of Midori is a death sentence, so Shin hides his wince at 'strangled the other' internally, burying it down where the rest of him is so it can't freak out and ruin things. He can go 'nii-san???' and die later. His thumb rubs across Nene's scarf, the weave of it.]
Nothing that complicated... Our parents just divorced early on, that's all. Right, Sara?
[Take the cue, for once. Neat, clean, simple, and doesn't require him to have to wonder if that's even logistically possible, in this afterlife. He hasn't noticed anyone aging, but it's been only eight months. He takes a sip of the tea... the warmth is helpfully grounding at least.]
Seems like you're just as bad at math as anyone here... we'd have to be the same age to be twins.
[Strangled in the womb? The same womb, four years apart? Shin knows customers kept asking him how school was going, but that's a bit much for Midori. It's probably more of his usual messing around... he's enjoying this, isn't he?]
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Not very interesting. [ She echoes. Short and sweet. No better way to give the hint to drop this plot thread. Unlike Midori, Sara and Sou can let their annoying plotlines die in ditches! ] You know, you get separated. You meet. You both die. You end up here. Pretty typical.
[ She is actually pretty flattered to be assumed to be in her twenties. Twins... She must seem mature! Even if its a compliment from Midori, she'll take it. ]
Well Midori probably takes the practicum every year so he doesn't need to study. [ Nods nods. ] I don't know if people grow here...I don't think so! Did you know Seiya is like 800 years old? He's like a scary old guy in a grumpy teen body.
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[ cannot believe shin has the nerve to make midori look dumb, so we're going to fix it. it's with a gentle smile that he places the wet napkins into drier ones, so they can be sat towards the side.
the idea isn't insane, which it could be possible, ah... what happened to his shin that had imagination and creativity? ]
But my condolences if you're having trouble with math.
[ just going to throw that in there, considering he used "anyone here". shin really let himself go, but he's content as he will be about anything else as he sits back down to watch them both.
his gaze unnerving, until he blinks, like its set on a timer. ]
We can talk about it over tea, you should sit with us, niichan. [ there's a little gasp, eyes widening at someone so old though, he focuses on sara. ] Finding older men interesting? I learn something new about you every day.
[ ... ]
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Hm. The practicum does suit him, huh?
[He's not going to push his luck too much, but he doesn't need to prove his math scores here. Childish charm, ugh. That gets so much worse, knowing everything... his eyes narrow at the last sentence. Don't fall for it Sara, it's flattery but it's a trap!]
...Guess I have a little time before I need to get back to the office.
[Which sets up a way out for him in advance. He sits on the couch's armrest, legs crossed, hands around the mug and spine curved. His eyes are sharp, looking sidelong. That gaze... just let it roll off like oil on water... you've seen scarier, come on.]
So which highschool were you going to when you died? Maybe I know it.
[There's vicious jabs and then there's pointing a harpoon at someone.]
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[ She wants to be mature, not childish...and shes not into Seiya! The older guys Sara finds somewhat interesting have white hair and...nevermind.
There is something about lording all the yogen lore they know over Midori like so much bait on fishhooks. Gonna ask what the practicum is? No? Good! Bet he doesn't know not to take books out of the library...maybe they can get Haruka to steal his hands. ]
Well...he'd cheat either way.
[ It's been a while since she's felt this kind of solidarity. Taking on Midori alone had been....fine...but Sara's shoulders loosen when Sou does his terrible little sit on the couch near her. She'll sip her own tea forgetfully, then make a face when she tastes the dust. ]
Bleh...highschool? [ ??????????????????????????????? Why is Sou asking...oh. ]
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Oh... you died going to high school? You even appear to look over twenty... No wonder you're so worried about math...
[ he gasps, finally making sense of it in his mind. shin looks to be on the older side considering him saying that he's older than her. or that's the narration he places onto shin because of his inquiry.
he looks to sara like he can't look this man in the face for his failures, especially because people don't age too... damn. ]
But I didn't die in the same way that you did. I'm a successful medical practitioner, the last thing I remember is looking into something for the company, and then I fell asleep. Oh, did you know that scientific researches shows that 1 out of 8 people die in their sleep which is also mostly nearby 4 AM?
[ there's something about paranormal activity that happens around then. ]
How did you die?
[ that's you sara. ]
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Jeez... your listening comprehension is as bad as your math. They'll let anyone through medical school, huh?
[But he's gotten annoyed, and that's basically the same as a loss... He's kind of stuck in this fencing match now. Thanks for the new fact that's going to camp unwanted in his brain, he'll put it with the others.]
That's kind of a rude question, isn't it?
[He can't help but think of Sara's reaction to his own speculation on the matter.]
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You died alone, huh?
[ She puts her tea down on the dented table with a click. Midori's eyes always make it hard to focus, like he blinks out of sync just to distract Sara, so she fiddles with her hand, staring off at a wall before she turns back to him. ]
That's sad. I'd feel sorry for you. [ Alone in a coffin with no way out...how terrible. Nicer to imagine dying at 4am... If Midori gets to pretend, why can't she? Not the death Sou had suggested, but something a little more pleasant. ]
Maybe I died in a blaze of glory...and rescued three people. Then nobody ever saw me again after that, and nobody felt sad.
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[ which means, he doesn't understand the way shin's speaking with him. normally people try to act nice, but it seems the other has been itching to catch hands. luckily, he's not showing off that ability at this time, and only giving his concerns as he looks at shin finally.
he knows it still gets under his skin, oh my.
playing around, he'll pass it off as bad manners. ]
Isn't better to die alone, one shot, one kill. I wouldn't want to take four people with me...
[ but it's the opposite, always has been. he managed to take some, but not all, he didn't get the one that he wanted to die, he didn't get to see sara in her glory. they're all incomplete, and if only there was a way to fix them. he leans back in his seat, his true death isn't one he's fond either, but thinking about it would do no good. he must remain composed, and he shows no worry on his face.
he wants tea again... ]
Dying alone, dying and no one grieving you... we're quite the same, aren't we? At least niichan had a whole school to die with.
[ ... ]
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