KENOS INBOX

[erbe]

COMMUNION

Reaching out to Rin is like stepping into a moonlit parlor. Everything is quiet, muted, and neatly tucked away. Almost like a "lobby," of sorts to keep visitors away from the rest of what goes on in her head... and her heart. This space is cool, and placid. Much like the surface of a lake in winter as it reflects the pale glow of the celestial bodies hanging above it in the sky.

A reflection of serenity rather the true thing. A mask of elegance to hide anything that may be unsightly. Anything that may betray her.

✧ Specifics

✦ Unable to block out: Harbinger
✦ Compatible with: Iconoclast | Advocate
✦ Discord Accrual: Exalt

(CODE)

Comments

[erbe]

[Rejected. Tohsaka finds herself relieved. There's also no need to question why Hayame wouldn't talk to her. It's quite obvious, really. But now that she has been determined to be alive... what other responsibility does Rin have to this?

Her childhood ideals would be to claw and and fight her way to Hayame to make sure she's okay and protected, but over time Rin has learned that her own wish for the world is nothing obtainable and even more of a joke for a mage. Does Hayame have other people who would care for her? Probably Dimitri, right? The Meridian who is so willing, so ready, so eager to step on mines for others.

Yet she cannot help herself. On the second day she softly reaches out. As if she stands on the steps and places her hand on the door without the courage to properly knock. If she's not called out for resting on that border she will waver on it for about twenty minutes before:]

Are you currently held captive? [No, she cannot ask: are you safe?]

the second day

[warmare]

[Though a day has passed... Rin will find that the state of Hayame's mind remains unchanged. For whatever reason the locks had been bolted shut, shut they remain. There is no indication that the person "on the other side of the door" is even aware of someone on the steps, as if since barring the doors they have simply gone to sleep and refuse to wake up. Their aspects are not so remove that Rin cannot sense the person is within...

But they still do not answer. They have retreated too far.]

[erbe]

[Hayame has every right to keep her out, and Rin shouldn't be doing this, but she is. If Rin were a good mage she'd leave it be. If she were the type of person she should be, she'd move on. But she can't. Not when she was so helpless in her own circumstances, so helpless to save Lucien and Dark from their discord, so helpless even in this.

What she should be and what she is are at odds. And so Rin "knocks" again. Third, fourth, fifth day... it doesn't matter. Once a day, she calls out. Just her name this time, and the following times. A brief touch to be withdrawn if ignored.]

Hayame.

the fifth day

[warmare]

[Eventually... Rin receives a response.

Or, perhaps it's not appropriate to call it a response. It doesn't come right after her name is called, but several hours later, and what it addresses is-]

Do you have my "tincture", mage?

[erbe]

[Another wave of relief, but this one more subdued. There's hesitation before responding, but only because of Rin's clear surprise.]

Yes. I am ready to deliver it when you are ready to receive.

[warmare]

You need not trouble yourself personally.

I can provide an address for the courier.

[… Is that it? Was she ignoring what had transpired? Did she even know what had? It is impossible to say.]

[erbe]

No. A courier will not be able demonstrate the failsafe.

[You are my precious first customer. I cannot fail you.]

If you will be indisposed for long I can send a temporary sachet to hold you over.

[warmare]

Why would I be indisposed?

[There isn’t a reason for that. Who would have a reason they couldn’t just receive a parcel in person?]

I will make time in my schedule tomorrow.

[erbe]

[Why indeed? But Tohsaka knows exactly what Hayame is doing because it's what she would do. This is why Rin doesn't press. She respects that boundary because that is what she would want.]

The same location as before?

[warmare]

[She almost says “yes”.

But that would mean leaving Alenroux along the same route as that day. It would mean showing her face all over Springstar. … And the demon already knew. What did it matter anymore.]

No. You will meet me in Alenroux.

[erbe]

I will. As for the time, I am not one for early mornings. Otherwise I am flexible.

[She also can't seem too willing to turn her whole schedule upside down for the other woman. They're on opposite sides after all.]

[warmare]

Late afternoon, then.

[It's not like she's going anywhere.

She "sends" the location. A home that stands alone far from the main settlement, near the edge of the once-monster-filled woods.]