Seasons: IC Contact/Continuations

[abnormalizes]

This is Evangeline! Sorry, I'm a little busy right now, but leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

Comments

[roundandaround]

[Rinku squeezes back and smiles.]

That's great! 「Happy --」

[The attendant hastily reminds her to please not Happy Around in the chair when she's about to get stabbed with needles. Rinku freezes and sheepishly complies.

The actual process goes fairly quickly from there. Just checking the placement in the mirror, sterilizing, and then a few seconds of pain where Rinku squeezes her sister's hand as the needle goes in each lobe. The earrings go in right after the needle comes out, and the attendant wipes off the area again and walks her through the aftercare pamphlet.

Rinku thanks them, gets up, and lets go of Evangeline enough to go up to the front and pay. Taking the little bag with pamphlet and cleaning solution in one hand, she hugs Evangeline tightly and rubs her face on her.]

Thanks, Neechan.

[abnormalizes]

[Squeeeeze.]

Any time. It wasn't that scary, right?

[roundandaround]

Hm... Not really! But I'm still happy you were here. It was a lot better with you around to talk to.

[abnormalizes]

I'm happy to talk to you whenever you want! Especially if you need me to get your mind off things.

[roundandaround]

[Rinku smiles. She thanks the clerk again and starts heading out of the shop.]

I guess I have been worrying about a lot lately. But I think I'm better now.

[abnormalizes]

[Following along!]

About the same stuff as before? Or new stuff?

[roundandaround]

I think all the stuff I told you about. I was worrying since... basically August. But I think things are a lot better, and now even if there's still problems, I'm okay.

[Even if she's still not as strong as others, Rinku can hold on. A lot of things have been plaguing her. Trying to prove herself, being treated like she's still too weak. The mind control she couldn't deflect. The blood and mess and pain of the Faemoose trial, worse than she'd ever seen, knowing she would've died being tossed by those things without the Nine Lives.

"So, how powerful do you want to be?"

"Maybe that's not the right question."

Evangeline. Her precious sister whom she doesn't want to lose. Who wanted desperately to stay, went to find a way to make it happen, and came back agreeing to leave. But...

"But I promise, it's not because I don't love you, or because I don't want to be with you anymore."

She's still here. And everyone's still trying for her sake.

"I'll try my best, so that you don't have to worry."

And all the other problems, Rinku's going to get through.

"I'll keep changing here the way I have been, and I'll always keep getting better than I am now."]

Thank you.

[abnormalizes]

There will probably always be at least some problems happening with some people. That's kind of just how life is, even in a nice place like Ellipsa.

But you'll get through them. I have confidence in you, Rinku.

[She reaches over to scritch her head gently.]

[roundandaround]

[Rinku... well, she doesn't shift her ears, they're still sore and going to need a couple months to heal. So it's just the ossicones and tail that come out, and she nudges into the head scritches.]

You're the best, Neechan. [Her eyes water, and she smiles brightly.] I'm gonna do everything I can.

[abnormalizes]

And you're the best little sister. [scritch scritch scritch] I'm glad you're here.

wrapup i assume

[roundandaround]

[Rinku makes a happy little noise. She steps away from Evangeline only enough so she won't hit her with her arms or the bag when she spins.]

「Happy Around!」