[ hey koharu. today, gabriel's just sitting on the bar again and seems to be in deep thought as they scribble something down in a worn-out notebook. but they look up as she enters, pausing a little to watch her. ]
... do you want to sit down for a while, or do you wanna go and pet some cats?
[ animal therapy for the traumatized child, god. ]
[ yeah. yeah, they thought so. they're tucking the notebook away and sliding off the bar, approaching her to get a better look at how she's faring re: injuries and the like.
either way, they do offer her a hand, a brief flash of a wristband appearing before disappearing into the glow. ]
[ She can, at least, walk fine; the burns are mostly contained to down her back and her wings got pretty crispy, and she isn't using the one injured shoulder much. But she's walking.
Gingerly, Koharu accepts their hand, blinking as the flash around their wrist comes and goes. ]
Okay. [ that's still not great, but it's the best they can hope for. so they nod, and once they have her hand they just teleport the two of them right into the cafe.
several of the kitties perk up, mewing cutely and staring with wide eyes. visitors! ]
Yeah, probably should've warned you. Sorry. [ but they move to just sit on the floor and let a few cats approach them. ] Careful sitting down. Do you need a pillow or anything?
[ there are definitely, like, chairs and stuff. they just chose the floor. ]
[ watches one slowly approach and offers a hand. ]
What a life, right? Just hanging out and doing whatever you want with people wanting your attention. [ this does not entirely sound like a thing they want and more like a comment. ]
[ there's a slight smile visible through the glow of their face when the kitty starts purring. the other one approaching them immediately crawls into their lap and flops over uselessly. guess they're not getting up. ]
Yeah. I think when this project's over we'll try to push for more people to come back and visit this island to hang out with them. Give them people to spend time with.
Yeah. Right now you guys are closed off from the rest of the residents of heaven, but after this is over it'll be back to just the people who were already here and whoever chooses to stay.
Come on. If I was doing something important, would I have offered? [ scritches under the chin now... ] It was a rough day. And things got really... really intense at the end. Worse than usual.
[ Pet, pet; at least her hand has something to do while she thinks, then speaks. ]
... I don't know how he is with others, but he keeps to himself a lot, and I noticed over the week he wasn't feeling well, but... then this weekend happened.
[ continues cuddling this cat as they listen patiently. ]
He came by the bar yesterday. I let him go at it with a punching bag I had out back and he broke the thing, but it was better than him going out and doing something I know he'd regret later because he can't control what grief's doing to him. [ pensively. the cat's tail winds around their wrist, and their fingers brush over it idly. ]
It's hard to want to be there for someone you care about, but you don't know if it's better or worse to do that. In some cases, it's hard for a person to see reason at all because they're too trapped in their own sadness. They'll lash out, because it's the only way they can try to process their feelings. [ a pause. ] I don't want him to do that to you. None of this is your fault, and it wouldn't be your fault giving him some space. You have to take care of yourself, too.
[ yeah see, that's not where they wanted her to be. ]
... I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a step back. Wanting to help is fine. I want to help as much as I can, too. But you can't put yourself in a situation you don't feel safe. You get that, right?
Uruha's back Monday, right? Maybe... try talking to him. Not like Marcoh's not going to need support even after he comes back. It's not the kind of thing a person gets over so easily.
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week 6, saturday
... do you want to sit down for a while, or do you wanna go and pet some cats?
[ animal therapy for the traumatized child, god. ]
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... Honestly, I wanted to find somewhere the others wouldn't find me.
[ a beat ]
We can go pet some cats.
[ which is probably the best suggestion anyone could make right now ]
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either way, they do offer her a hand, a brief flash of a wristband appearing before disappearing into the glow. ]
Cats it is.
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Gingerly, Koharu accepts their hand, blinking as the flash around their wrist comes and goes. ]
Yeah. I'm ready whenever you are.
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several of the kitties perk up, mewing cutely and staring with wide eyes. visitors! ]
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[ She stares, and blinks. ]
I don't think I'll ever get used to that...
[ BUT CATS!! ]
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Yeah, probably should've warned you. Sorry. [ but they move to just sit on the floor and let a few cats approach them. ] Careful sitting down. Do you need a pillow or anything?
[ there are definitely, like, chairs and stuff. they just chose the floor. ]
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[ 'Here' being Koharu has now decided to carefully set herself down upon a comfy seat. There are already like three kitties lazing about here. ]
Eventually they start crawling on you on their own.
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What a life, right? Just hanging out and doing whatever you want with people wanting your attention. [ this does not entirely sound like a thing they want and more like a comment. ]
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[ Koharu starts scratching at a tabby's head; needless to say it isn't long before it turns into a purr machine. ]
But I'm glad. I'd hate to see them get lonely.
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Yeah. I think when this project's over we'll try to push for more people to come back and visit this island to hang out with them. Give them people to spend time with.
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... sometimes it's nice to just come back to a place that feels simple. Especially when everything else feels so complicated.
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Yes... it is. I hope I didn't pull you away from anything important, but... I did need one thing to feel right, for once.
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I— I'm really worried about Marcoh, but I don't think there's anything I could do.
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... wanna tell me a little about it? [ like what she's thinking about marcoh's situation, or why she feels that way. ]
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[ Pet, pet; at least her hand has something to do while she thinks, then speaks. ]
... I don't know how he is with others, but he keeps to himself a lot, and I noticed over the week he wasn't feeling well, but... then this weekend happened.
[ ... ]
W- well. I think maybe I should leave him alone.
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He came by the bar yesterday. I let him go at it with a punching bag I had out back and he broke the thing, but it was better than him going out and doing something I know he'd regret later because he can't control what grief's doing to him. [ pensively. the cat's tail winds around their wrist, and their fingers brush over it idly. ]
It's hard to want to be there for someone you care about, but you don't know if it's better or worse to do that. In some cases, it's hard for a person to see reason at all because they're too trapped in their own sadness. They'll lash out, because it's the only way they can try to process their feelings. [ a pause. ] I don't want him to do that to you. None of this is your fault, and it wouldn't be your fault giving him some space. You have to take care of yourself, too.
Easier said than done though, right?
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A little. But.
[ She stops, uncertain, and then hesitantly: ]
As... much as I want to help... I guess I'm afraid to now, because of that.
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... I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a step back. Wanting to help is fine. I want to help as much as I can, too. But you can't put yourself in a situation you don't feel safe. You get that, right?
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I guess leaving it alone is all I can do, then.
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Uruha's back Monday, right? Maybe... try talking to him. Not like Marcoh's not going to need support even after he comes back. It's not the kind of thing a person gets over so easily.
[ which is gonna make tomorrow brutal. ]
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