idolpro | Shrike's Ideal World 🌾 Run #2

[ You head inside the cottage, following Shrike. The decoration's pretty sparse—mostly limited to a little wooden board next to the door where she's pinned up what looks like letters and photos. There's a number of little gifts on a side table there, too, partially-opened—like they came from visitors.

It's really... mostly one room—a small table for eating in the center of the room, with one chair at it and a few others pushed to the side, out of the way.

A curtained-off area looks like it has a sleeping mat and a small chest of drawers behind it. The only other real room is through a door to the side with a kitchen. ]

[He pauses to look at the wooden board and gifts as he comes in]

...you live by yourself?

[ The board is pinned with little photos, and clippings from reports on current happenings on Imeeji Idol Productions—she's clearly been following her friends and any happy news that comes up.

There's also a few little bundles of dried herbs pinned to the board, and some flower pressings, like she was preparing them to send to people. ]

Huh?

Well, I suppose so—I keep up a lot of correspondence where I can, though, and people visit plenty.

It's still going on?

[He taps at the clippings]

Imeeji, I mean.

Ah—well, I haven't been paying that close of attention recently, since almost everyone I know graduated, but I was glad to see they eased up on... well, you know how it was.

It's funny, but I look back on it fondly, now?

You do?

Well, I met a lot of people who remain precious to me, and I learned a lot about myself, so—

...well, even if there were hard things, I learned how to hope, I think. And how to love.

How've you been, by the way?

The same as always.

[A beat]

How long do you think it's been?

Well, good, then, and—

[ she ticks some time off on her fingers. ]

What, something like... a few years, give or take?

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Ah, right-- I'd bet anything the garden is thriving too, right now.

[Lance looks over at the partially opened gifts and smiles fondly.]

It looks like you still get plenty of company out here. [...] Sorry I didn't bring anything.

Oh, really, just yourself is fine, honestly!

And the garden's great—I mean, you can see how it's doing, yourself, if you like. It's a labor of love.

[That makes him laugh a bit.]

I don't know how much of a gift that is but... thank you.

[...]

How much time has it been now? Since you started living here?

Oh, goodness, well—

...how long has it been? It's easy to lose track, but it's been a few years. Still a lot to work on.

Don't you think you're being a bit hard on yourself?

I think it's impressive, everything you've managed. You're finally able to live the kind of life you wanted, right?

Well, honestly, that's the fun part for me, so it's not really being hard on myself...

...it's a project. Something to look forward to, every day. So I guess that really is.

I see. I suppose that would be exciting in it's own way.

[He curiously pinches the fabric of the curtained off area just a bit to get a better look inside.]

I take it you're living here by yourself.

[ a peek behind the curtain ]

Mm, but I keep myself busy.

Oh, wow! It's really nice in here.

[Running her fingertips across the surface of the side table before picking up one of the gifts to examine it.]

This must require a lot of work.

Ah—thanks, it's really been rewarding, I think. It's peaceful...

[ you pick up a book. the book is... is this some kind of romance novel? the inside is signed "with love, your brother." ]

Edited 2020-08-07 00:52 (UTC)

It definitely feels peaceful to me.

[Looking up from the book, she adds-]

This book... are these things all presents from family?

[She can’t help but feel bad for not asking about her more outside of this place.]

Some of them, anyway—Persephone didn't bring that by himself, since he's like me and sort of a homebody, but I know he was very proud of how that one came out—

...er, I don't know if that might be a little saucy for you, though.

[ it is some trashy m/m romance. ]

I'm not a little kid, you know.

[She can read porn, Shrike!! She is absolutely an adult. (Almost)]

Ah- Persephone... you mean from SensitIV?

[Not that Shrike knows what a SensitIV is.]

Oh! Yeah, I forgot if you met him while you were on Imeeji, but we came back to this world together, after all.

We're not related by blood, but it's one of those things where it feels like we might as well be, so I'm always glad he's doing well.

[Just filing this information away for the moment.]

I see. Do you live here by yourself?

[It's small enough for just her at least.]

Oh—yes, it's just me, when there's no visitors. I do keep up a lot of correspondence, though, and I keep busy...

[ it's getting kind of overcast out... ]