(no subject)

[heartsink]

[ the name attached to this account, and thus with all applicable comments within this entry, reads Haruka Takahashi, as usual.
for those of you just joining us, some info. ]

Zombies, right? From the scorch marks and the blood stains everywhere, it seems more likely than ghosts — but maybe spirits can bleed if you do them enough harm. I'm no expert on this sort of thing.

Though I can't say it's a "welcome back" I prefer, I can't say it's a complete surprise, either. Has the danger passed? Do you know? Or, should I expect some living corpses to leap out from the air vents and shower stalls?

Thanks in advance.



[ooc tl;dr: girl went on a mission specifically to avoid halloween around transports, returns fifteen minutes late with starbucks. literally, where the coffee's concerned. ]

Comments

action;

[heartsink]

[ she has to nudge the door closed behind her with her foot, hands occupied. she looks a little different from when she left, skin a little darker for a tan and hair looking more vibrant for actual showers with actual hair care products that cost more than instant noodles. the clothes are new, too, though the sunglasses now perched on her forehead are not.

she shrugs the duffle bag off her one shoulder, still balancing the cup of too-expensive coffee in the other.

between zombies and wherever she went, she obviously had the easier time. ]

Hey, I'm—oh hey, you. [ the first to mahdi, the second to the cats. ] I wasn't gone that long.

[moralperil]

Long enough for things to get crazy. Again.

[Mahdi gives a shrug, setting the tablet aside.]

Looks like you had a nice time!

[heartsink]

It was fine enough. No mysterious bloodstains, at least.

[ The bag, much bulkier now than when she left, goes down gently, and one erstwhile feline is scooped up on the return ascent. Caramel, who was more carelessly in her attempted walking space and thus in much more danger of boot-on-paw collisions, remains pinned under an arm. ]

You had a question for me? [ Best to get it out of the way, she thinks, building up her guard again. If Ashraf needed to mention it, too, then it had to be something they'd talked about while she was gone. And if that were the case, then... ]

[moralperil]

Right! Um, there's a boy. A friend of mine. [A little quickly:] But not my boyfriend! Anyway, his name is Jack Kelly. I've invited him to stay with us... if it's okay with you.

[heartsink]

[ The quickness of the denial is the part that has her visible eye momentarily narrow in analysis—there's only so many reasons to say something like that, after all.

Her head tilts to one side, giving her good eye a little greater clarity of vision, while her arms shift to better hold onto the squirming cat.]

Does he kill people?

[ Said with all the casual seriousness of "does he smoke" or "does he shower regularly" ]

[moralperil]

[That one actually gives Mahdi pause.] Well, not like... as a hobby or anything, but he's fought in the war.

[heartsink]

[ Whatever answer Mahdi gave, it would still be better than living companions she's had in the past.

But cases like that were tough to top. ]

Does he snore?

[ Spoken in the exact same tone, as if the questions were comparable. ]

[moralperil]

No. Sometimes he has nightmares, though. But they don't seem to happen that much when I'm around.

[Mahdi fidgets with hir sleeves, voice quiet.] That's kind of why I think it'd be better if we live in the same place. But, if you're worried about it, that's fine - it's your room first.

[heartsink]

[ Nightmares, huh?

It's nothing she can say much about—nothing disparaging, anyway. Even before losing her eye, and everything that came with it, she's suffered nightmares, and driven herself to insomnia as ill-fitting counterweight.

She empathizes, but she doesn't show it. Her shoulders roll up in a shrug, and she releases the still-struggling Caramel to the ground—barely avoiding spilling the remains of her drink on the floor. (God Caramel that was three dollars.) ]

Something like that isn't any concern of mine, so do what you want.

[moralperil]

Okay, as long as it doesn't bother you. I want everyone to feel safe and happy here, as much as we can. [Mahdi's pretty sure this will result in the usual aggressive indifference from Haruka, but, oh well. Safety is important to Mahdi.] Jack's a student's of Ashraf's, too - so you know he's an alright guy.

Oh! And he might be bringing his kitten, Cassie. We haven't really discussed it. We're pretty sure Cassie is Truffle's sister. I'll keep on doing my best to take care of the kittens, so don't worry about that.

[heartsink]

[ Nail on the head, Mahdi; she only spares a couple glances from her current endeavor of getting her bag onto her bunk, and slowly starting to unpack clothing.

They're all very clearly new purchases. ]

You don't need to concern yourself with things like that. At least, not from me. [ Unrolling and refolding a shirt as she speaks—long sleeved, as usual, tone matter-of-fact, as usual. ] I never feel safe, in the way you mean, so something like that isn't something any person can accomplish.

[moralperil]

I'm the same way. That's why I want to be considerate about it. So, thank you for listening and thank you for letting my friend stay with us.

[Mahdi hops off the bed quite suddenly, doing a yoga-esque stretch.]

I'm going to the kitchen for awhile. Need anything?

[heartsink]

No. I'm fine. [ It's not the answer she expected, and for that matter, it doesn't seem like it's meant the same way as hers. How could it be? ]

Was that all?

[moralperil]

Yup! I've been waiting for you to come back so I could ask you. That's all.

[Mahdi smiles.] Unless you wanted to talk to me about something?

[heartsink]

No. [ It's not defensive, or quick, the way the boyfriend line was before; Ruka doesn't talk about her problems or feelings to anyone, after all. ] There's nothing.

[moralperil]

Okay. If you ever need to chat about anything, or you want advice or whatever, I'm here. Always. It's what I do best.

[Not that Haruka doesn't know that. They've more or less fought about it before. But even in a few months time, Mahdi's become a bit more understanding. Or maybe it's just giving up.

Whatever the case, Mahdi doesn't press the subject and leaves for a short time, headed for the kitchen.]

[heartsink]

[ The departure gets something like a wave—though it might be something closer to dismissive than a farewell. Whatever Mahdi's reasons for edging back, Ruka doesn't allow herself particular investment; so long as the overtures of friendship or companionship cease hanging over her, the difference between "giving space" and "giving up" are distinctions she doesn't want to make. ]