imatreenow | fifteen [action] | early Saturday morning

[Martel had been kidnapped by the Malnosso droids about a week ago and no matter how many times she's taken from him, Mithos can't get used to it. There's the same plummeting feeling in his stomach, the same moment of weak knees nearly buckling. The aching that won't go away. And at night, indelible memories scrape through his head with a vengeance. Crumpling to the ground with blood blooming on her clothes and color draining from her face-- He startles awake long before the sun rises, feeling small in the empty house. Still and silent, he sits in the dark. He can think of one person who is undoubtedly awake at this hour too, and after a long moment of debate he decides to reach for his journal and start writing.]

[WRITTEN - private to Sayo | 100%]
~~I had a~~ Are you awake? [He already knows the answer, but he doesn't know where else to begin.]

[ACTION]

[He falls back into uneasy sleep eventually, and when he wakes up again he has errands to busy himself with. Food is running low...and he wants to check on something on the flower shop too. Hoping to avoid people as much as possible, he ventures out early in the morning with a canvas bag for groceries slung over his shoulder. Maybe he shouldn't be living by himself, but in the months since his death penalty was first placed on him he's become more skillful with his crutches. There is something to be said for stubbornness too. Above all else, he has to convince himself that his sister will be returned soon... He moves through the village as briskly as he can, eyes vigilant and senses finely tuned - the sooner he can return, the better.]

[Later in the morning he opens his journal again, because there's someone who he needs to see more than anyone else in the cloying absence of his sister...]

[VOICE - private to Kaori | 100%]
You're not busy today...are you?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Alright. ...Please be careful.

[And true to his word, he'll maneuver himself out the door to sit down on the front step. Maybe there's no need to wait there just yet, when she hasn't even left her house, but he can't think of anything else he'd rather do until she arrives.]

[And just like she told him, Kaori puts in the extra effort to get to his house as quickly as possible, though it still takes longer than it would the average person given her circumstances and the fact that she had not yet memorized the route as she had others in her time here. There's a smile of relief when she senses Mithos nearby, encouraging her to get to him even more quickly.]

You didn't wait long, did you...?

[He starts climbing to his feet as soon as he spots her up the road, so he's standing by the time she arrives in front of him. There's a quiet smile on his face too.]

No, it was nothing. I'm just happy to see you.

Really? [The thought that her mere presence could be enough to make someone happy still hasn't fully settled with her yet, but with Mithos it was just a little more believable to her because of the way he made her feel.]

If you want... I can try to come over more often? It should be easier, now that the weather is starting to get better.

Yes, really. That would be...nice. [For a while now he's been hoping to see her more. She's an instant cure for everything wrong crashing inside of him, even if the relief is only temporary.]

...It's been lonely around here, since Martel was kidnapped last week. [and even when she is around...there are topics he doesn't dare breach with her. Things he can't share with his own sister, things that leave him feeling incomplete.]

... Martel's been gone? [Why hadn't he said anything sooner? How long had he had to be by himself, looking for her? Even thought it didn't matter now, she can't help feeling guilt that she had not noticed his loneliness and what she was sure to be fear.]

...Yes... [He turns to lead Kaori inside; she should be able to follow the uneven thud of his crutches as he limps over the threshold. Inside, he'll amend his answer in a voice that borders on unhinged.]

She'll be back soon, though...her things are still here, so she hasn't returned to that filthy world where she can no longer be alive. She'll be back with me any day...

... Yeah, she will be. [There's a firm resolve in her voice, because she refused to allow those Malnosso to force Mithos into the state he had been last time they had taken away his sister, when she had been returned to that horrible world that refused them. Even though she had had the mind of a child, the tears her friend had shed was not something she thought she would ever forget as she carefully followed him inside.]

Maybe... maybe we can make something for her? For when she returns? What kinds of things does she like?

[He pushes the door closed with his shoulder and turns to face her, trying to focus on her being here for him. Trying not to descend to the dark places he has already spent too much time in this week.]

She likes plants... [a thoughtful pause as he moves to begin leading her farther into the house, but then he remembers--]

Ah... Would you like me to talk you through again?

fifteen [action] | early Saturday morning

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