Oh, please do! I'll pull over another chair—and I can make a pot of tea, if you like.
[ she goes to get a chair from where a few others have been stacked in a corner, and motions for Amaranth to sit.
The table is modest, and wooden—unvarnished. There's a little ring where she probably puts a teacup a lot, a rough-woven placemat that was cut close-to-rectangular from a bolt of cloth.
It's set for exactly one person; there's a notebook sitting next to the singular place setting, closed. ]
[ it's got a sewn binding, with a slightly heavier-weight cover; it looks a little more modern than what one would expect from Creation, but not quite to the point of industrial manufacture.
and Shrike... pauses, turned away. ]
Well—we both always knew we had things we needed to protect. That we'd both be needed at home, someday, for business we'd regret not finishing.
[ a pause, stopping herself. probably just going right into yelling about how this ideal world SUCKS and she should LEAVE is too much sacrificing the advantage. ]
It isn't like Nero at all to make that kind of compromise. It doesn't suit him.
The notebook feels especially private, but she'll open it to the first page, at least, to get a sense for what it is. Otherwise, she's most curious about the wooden board with its memorabilia. ]
[ it's a lot of little bits and lines of poetry—naturally. it seems like more of a place to scribble down ideas—attempts to describe the color purple in new and exciting ways, couplets, descriptions of the sky.
the notebook seems to be creased to open easily to a page toward the center, but if you're trying to avoid prying, maybe you want to avoid that?
Moving on, 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. In fact, there's even some clippings from Amaranth and Cardinal's own graduations, as well as some memorabilia from their subsequent wedding.
There's also a few little bundles of dried herbs pinned to the board, and some flower pressings—she seems to have been making them to send to people. ]
[ For now, she leaves the notebook be. Then again... being here at all is invasive. She'll have to think about this one.
There's a tight feeling in her chest, looking at this imagined vision of her and Cardinal, finally married. Cardinal would almost certainly be willing to come to Creation... but could she? And never mind the issue of that kind of surrender.
What are the current Imeeji Happenings, according to the clippings? ]
[ well, not least, it seems like the show's taken a gentler, less murderous turn, though she doesn't seem to clip much about games at all. it also seems like most of the current cohort has graduated, gone on to beloved homes or better things.
Among many others: Shishiou (named officially as Leo Tsukinaga in the article) is pictured playing the piano at his graduation; Kohime seems to have been adopted by Req and Nem somehow and they live some life of mysterious wacky adventure now. ]
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Re: THE COTTAGE
[ she goes to get a chair from where a few others have been stacked in a corner, and motions for Amaranth to sit.
The table is modest, and wooden—unvarnished. There's a little ring where she probably puts a teacup a lot, a rough-woven placemat that was cut close-to-rectangular from a bolt of cloth.
It's set for exactly one person; there's a notebook sitting next to the singular place setting, closed. ]
Re: THE COTTAGE
Just one place setting? You mentioned Lark is traveling, but what about Nero?
Re: THE COTTAGE
and Shrike... pauses, turned away. ]
Well—we both always knew we had things we needed to protect. That we'd both be needed at home, someday, for business we'd regret not finishing.
Re: THE COTTAGE
What?
[ a pause, stopping herself. probably just going right into yelling about how this ideal world SUCKS and she should LEAVE is too much sacrificing the advantage. ]
It isn't like Nero at all to make that kind of compromise. It doesn't suit him.
Re: THE COTTAGE
...Amaranth, it's—
I wouldn't just ask him to abandon his home, and all the people he's responsible for protecting!
Re: THE COTTAGE
Which is why, if you were doing this properly, you'd have gone together to his home, and then together to Creation.
With the power the two of you have at your hands, I refuse to let you tell yourself that it isn't possible.
Re: THE COTTAGE
...I'm just—going to start boiling water, all right?
Re: THE COTTAGE
[ but she sits back down. ]
Re: THE COTTAGE
[ but she doesn't quite wait for an answer, rather, ducking into the kitchen.
for now you're left alone to peek at things, if you want. ]
Re: THE COTTAGE
The notebook feels especially private, but she'll open it to the first page, at least, to get a sense for what it is. Otherwise, she's most curious about the wooden board with its memorabilia. ]
Re: THE COTTAGE
the notebook seems to be creased to open easily to a page toward the center, but if you're trying to avoid prying, maybe you want to avoid that?
Moving on, 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. In fact, there's even some clippings from Amaranth and Cardinal's own graduations, as well as some memorabilia from their subsequent wedding.
There's also a few little bundles of dried herbs pinned to the board, and some flower pressings—she seems to have been making them to send to people. ]
Re: THE COTTAGE
There's a tight feeling in her chest, looking at this imagined vision of her and Cardinal, finally married. Cardinal would almost certainly be willing to come to Creation... but could she? And never mind the issue of that kind of surrender.
What are the current Imeeji Happenings, according to the clippings? ]
Re: THE COTTAGE
Among many others: Shishiou (named officially as Leo Tsukinaga in the article) is pictured playing the piano at his graduation; Kohime seems to have been adopted by Req and Nem somehow and they live some life of mysterious wacky adventure now. ]
Re: THE COTTAGE
Well, there's no sense holding that kind of wishful thinking against a dream, even if the contrast with reality is quietly melancholy.
Alright.
Time to take a peek at that well-used crease in the notebook—though only if it seems like she can manage it before Shrike returns. ]
Re: THE COTTAGE
Mark the days.
Mark the course of the sun
across the sky, every morning
cup of tea, just one.
Open the page of my mind
to you, my favorite story.
Tend the garden, tend
toward nostalgia, think of
the turn of the seasons, and how
everything feels like forever
and no time at all. I have
only the clock of the sun
to guide me, and nothing
to be late to, here.
It doesn't matter. No matter
how long, when the distance
between the last time and next
is never, it's all just eternity. ]
THE COTTAGE: 1/2
That's lovely but also just... thanks, I think I'll lie down and die, now. ]
THE COTTAGE: 2/2
With a long sigh, Amaranth shuts the notebook again and sets it aside, then returns to her seat at the little table. ]
Re: THE COTTAGE: 2/2
You still like rice green, right?
Re: THE COTTAGE: 2/2
Rice green would be perfect.
Re: THE COTTAGE: 2/2
...is something the matter?
Re: THE COTTAGE: 2/2
[ a pause, considering. ]
After tea, I'd like you to fight me.
Re: THE COTTAGE: 2/2
Re: THE COTTAGE: 2/2
I want to see how your skills are holding up. For memory's sake, if nothing else.
One round of sparring would be fun.
Re: THE COTTAGE: 2/2
Even if—well, I mean... I don't even keep weapons anymore.
Re: THE COTTAGE: 2/2
As noble as that ideal is, though, it's a needless risk to take, Shrike. Even in times of peace, Creation can be dangerous.
You don't even have any staves around?
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