Forty-Second Spool of Thread - [Voice/Action for Housemates]

[so_shik]

[Currently, Shiki is sitting in her bedroom at House 10 with Mr. Mew. She's got her cell phone in her hand, and even though she doesn't have reception in Luceti she's got a battery. It makes her cringe and it makes her want to throw the phone out the window, but she's currently watching a video she recorded of two people she knows in a rather...compromising position.

What? It's not every day you get to watch your boyfriend make out with another girly boy. Besides, in light of recent events, Shiki's not really feeling up to going out to the shop anyway.]

...what makes us attracted to things that are bad for us? You know, like why do we pay money to watch people fight, or why do we continue watching things we know shouldn't be watched? Does that make any sense? Probably not.

And anyway...this weather sucks. It's making me depressed or something, I swear.

...Minato, are you busy? Can we talk?

[Minato's the only reason she'd go outside right now, but her housemates are free to barge in and see her while she replies to anyone who speaks to her over the journal.]

Comments

[voice]

[so_shik]

[Somehow, she's figured as much.]

I think Haruhi and Neku are out at the moment, so you're definitely free to come here. Besides, it might be good for you to get out a bit.

[voice]

[emp3thy]

[...that statement is so ominously ambiguous.]

Then I'll be there soon.

[voice]

[so_shik]

I'm making tea. See you in a bit.

[This. Might actually be a bad idea to let her make anything. But she's going about preparing tea and waiting for her not-bro.]

[action]

[emp3thy]

[...he hopes she can manage tea bags and hot water.

He invites himself into the house when he arrives. Please don't have third degree burns now.]

[action]

[so_shik]

[Sometimes Shiki walks away from things that are boiling, that's all. But fear not, today she's doing well! In fact she's busy moving the pot onto the kitchen table by the time Minato comes in.]

Hey there. It didn't start raining again, did it?

[action]

[emp3thy]

No, just clouds.

[which is good. Too much bad weather lately.]

[action]

[so_shik]

Good. Maybe that means I can finally put the umbrella away. [She's preparing him a cup, pushing it across the table.] Have a seat.

[action]

[emp3thy]

[He sits, and takes the tea, sipping it slowly. From the way she said that he figures she'll get to the point soon without him prompting it.]

[action]

[so_shik]

...so...I have a few things I want to ask you, but I'm not sure which one to start with first. Maybe I should just start from the beginning. How are you?

[action]

[emp3thy]

[she'd see through a noncomittal reply. so, he decides to come clean. the answer sort of doubles as avoidance too.]

Minako went home.

[action]

[so_shik]

[She nods, almost as if she knew that and was confirming for certainty.]

When did you find out?

[action]

[emp3thy]

Thursday.

[so yes, he's been avoiding you.]

[action]

[so_shik]

...and you're just now telling me!?

[action]

[emp3thy]

Yes.

[what'cha gonna do, Shiki?]

[action]

[so_shik]

...that explains that plushie, doesn't it? [That was a very Not Nice thing to do, Minato =\\

[action]

[emp3thy]

[Hey, he was going to tell you. Tomorrow, when he'd given himself some time.] Yeah.

[action]

[so_shik]

...I'm so sorry, Minato. [Especially so soon after Mitsuru, too.]

Does that mean she...[It's hard to properly ask what happens to your bff's twin sister when she goes back home, especially since in Minako's world she's pretty alive.] You know.

[action]

[emp3thy]

[he just nods. It's not hard to figure out where she's going with that.]

[action]

[so_shik]

[Here. She's putting her tea down and getting up to give you a hug whether you want it or not, Minato.]

[action]

[emp3thy]

[he holds her. It's maybe a little tighter than a normal friendly hug. But other than that, he doesn't react. It's the same as always - he's shut up his emotions deep inside, and is already trying to move on.]

Was this why you wanted to talk?

[action]

[so_shik]

[This is okay. She gets he probably needs it, but she won't pry until he feels like he wants to.]

Not exactly, just partially. ...I was curious if you'd spoken to Keiichi lately, too.

[action]

[emp3thy]

[...?]

Yeah. He chased me down.

[action]

[so_shik]

And...what'd you guys talk about?

[action]

[emp3thy]

[he doesn't get it because the conversation she wants to hear about was ages ago by his view.]

About how he shouldn't climb out community building windows.

[action]

[so_shik]

[She's gauging mostly; she really doesn't want to hear about how it went, just that it went in general. Granted, that suddenly catches her attention.]

He did what?