THE PASSAGE OF TIME

[wooliefrand]

WHO: All
WHERE: The Pasture
WHEN: Day 24 Morning thru afternoon

[THE STORMS HAVE FINALLY CLEARED and the life sliced so now what

how yall doin]

Comments

[catposting]

...

Well, tell me it goes with Hope. I'm interested in her fate, too.

[ turning to leave lmao ]

[heavyliesthecrown]

Wait-!

[ Hand out-stretched ]

[catposting]

[ ? ]

[heavyliesthecrown]

I need to know something.

[ Very seriously. ]

What... is your favorite flavor of candy!

[catposting]

Strawberry.

[heavyliesthecrown]

. . . I am surprised. That is such a cute answer.

[catposting]

A flavor is a flavor.

[heavyliesthecrown]

It is a little bit cute though.

[catposting]

Was there anything else?

[heavyliesthecrown]

Yes. I am still confused.

[ A hand brushes one of his ear tips and he meets his eyes. There is a touch of apprehension in his voice, but the desire to know outweighs it. So he speaks evenly ]

You offered to remove this- But there had to be a reason as to why you gave this to me in the first place. This is why I wish to ask you once more... why did you ask about removing it now? What has changed from then to this point in time to make you ask? Regardless of whether it was believed possible in the past or not.

[catposting]

...

You can't ask a question, then refuse to accept the honest answer, just because you want to hear something else. Something more. It doesn't work like that.

I wish yesterday hadn't happened to you. I wish you had the ability to do the things you want. But if you're looking for validation, or a damning, or some kind of hidden meaning — you're asking the wrong person.

I realized that there could be a way to undo it earlier today, so I asked. The thought hadn't occurred to me before, because there wasn't a way to undo this kind of thing back home. That's all.

[heavyliesthecrown]

[ He shakes his head. ]

No. The answer is fine if that is how you truly feel. I just wasn't sure if you were being honest.

[ Actually-

He holds a hand to his stomach. ]

Suddenly my stomach felt so twisty, as though a pit had formed.

[catposting]

You should get some rest.

[heavyliesthecrown]

I did manage to get some last night

[ At Rose- ]

But you seemed to barely be around. Before that, Blood Fiend-san, are you alright? I know you helped all of us at Bluebell. And I am grateful for that.

If you are struggling at all, though, please do not hide it. Allow others to help you in turn. We certainly owe you that much. But even if we didn't, you are a friend. I would help regardless.

[catposting]

[ an easy laugh ]

What, did you think I was helping you guys for free? I'm cashing in, don't worry. There's nothing I need from you right now.

I do need to finish up some chores, though.

[heavyliesthecrown]

What about your memory?

[catposting]

It can wait.

1/2

[heavyliesthecrown]

If you would like the privacy of watching alone, I can leave. I would not do something so inelegant as to force my presence on you. And the memory you shared earlier was amusing if nothing else so I feel satisfied. Though I'm still curious...nngg

[At least the one memory was lighthearted in the midst of everything that seems to be happening all of the time.]

[heavyliesthecrown]

However, if you do intend to come back later, please rest. I feel you are always going nonstop. The adults here are all bad at taking care of themselves. Please take responsibility and lead by example.

[ ALL OF YOU ADULTS. ]

And, once you have had a couple of days to rest, let us finally train. ♪ I am doing so with Styx-san, too, so I look forward to learning various different techniques. ♪

[catposting]

[ looks at him impassively, briefly contemplating saying something, but




nah. ]

Mmmmm. Take care.

[ LEAVES ]

[heavyliesthecrown]

[ Why are you like this. ]