Shrike's Ideal World 🌾 Run #1

[idolpro]

Comments

Re: THE ROAD

[softlyfalling]

It's the wrong climate for rice, so I mostly get that when people come by... so wheat, bok choy, soybeans for tofu, cilantro, green onions, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes...

It'd be hard if I was trying to grow them in large crops, but it's not too bad at this scale.

Re: THE ROAD

[calmthefoxdown]

They look great, so you must be doing a good job.

Re: THE ROAD

[softlyfalling]

It's a nice occupation to put most of my time and energy into. Making something grow.

I did always think I'd like to retire to the countryside, so it's nice to be able to do that.

Re: THE ROAD

[calmthefoxdown]

It's a really nice retirement.

Is it just you out here?

Re: THE ROAD

[softlyfalling]

Just me, mostly.

I get visitors now and then like this, but of course it's kind of out of the way, so most of the time it's pretty quiet.

Re: THE ROAD

[calmthefoxdown]

Oh...

[ No Nero??? ]

I kind of... expected a few people to be here with you, honestly.

Re: THE ROAD

[softlyfalling]

Well—

[ she sounds... studiously neutral. ]

I had to come back to this world to finish what I started, after all. If I hadn't, I'd regret it every day of my life.

Re: THE ROAD

[calmthefoxdown]

Mm... I can understand that. Did you finish it?

Re: THE ROAD

[softlyfalling]

...I did.

The masters I used to serve are gone, and the world goes on. I think... things will be better, now.

Re: THE ROAD

[calmthefoxdown]

But... you want to hang around in case it regresses?

Re: THE ROAD

[softlyfalling]

To protect it. To give something back to it, to see what beauty I can add to it in the place of what I took away.

And I chose this world above any others, after all.

Re: THE ROAD

[calmthefoxdown]

Mm... makes sense. It just seems a little lonely in some ways, after all the connections you made in Imeeji.

Re: THE ROAD

[softlyfalling]

...well. People do still visit, sometimes, and—Amaranth and Cardinal and Persephone and Eclipse and Hlasoh come by more often, so...

And I keep in touch, and everything. It's really nice to see everyone finding their happiness, like you and B...

Re: THE ROAD

[calmthefoxdown]

[ How honest to be with Shrike... ]

[ > Max honest. ]

... Honestly, I kind of thought you and Nero would always be together.

Re: THE ROAD

[softlyfalling]

...we always knew we couldn't be.

[ and something happens... ]

I mean, he promised to protect his world and I promised to protect mine, so...

Re: THE ROAD

[calmthefoxdown]

[ Glancing up, then back towards Shrike. ]

But couldn't you protect both your worlds and still be together? I mean, stuff like portals connecting your world or traveling to each other's places or something...

Which sounds kinda wild, but after Imeeji, I think stuff like that could really be possible.

Re: THE ROAD

[softlyfalling]

Well, I knew I couldn't just... depend on that being possible. Even as much as I...

...well, it's better, this way.

Re: THE ROAD

[calmthefoxdown]

Is it? It sounds like you wish it was a little different.

Re: THE ROAD

[softlyfalling]

Well—the things I want...

...some of them just don't go together.

And I don't want to hurt anyone ever again, most of all.

Re: THE ROAD

[calmthefoxdown]

Aren't you hurting yourself?

And maybe Nero and Sekhmet and Raven too? By accepting that this is how things have to be?

Re: THE ROAD

[softlyfalling]

[ WEH ]

I'm just—I can't figure out a way to—

[ she just starts crying??? ]

Re: THE ROAD

[calmthefoxdown]

[ Going to dig into his pockets to find a handkerchief for her. ]

You don't have to figure it out alone. There's so many people around you who would be willing to help.

Re: THE ROAD

[softlyfalling]

Yeah, I... I guess...

[ she reaches out to take the handkerchief, and her hands sort of just... ghost through his. ]

Ffffuck.

Re: THE ROAD

[calmthefoxdown]

[ I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOOD AND WHAT'S BAD ANYMORE. ]

Shrike??

Re: THE ROAD

[softlyfalling]

[ HONESTLY SHE DOESN'T EITHER ]

Ah, sorry, I forgot—

[ she plucks the handkerchief by its edge, rather than reaching for his hand, and manages to take it. ]

It's mostly useful, but...