9th ❄ [text]

[persical]

[Claire is taking a break from the fair for a bit, and after a while nudged the Vine and asked a cat for a quill pen. The writing that appears is legible but a little unrefined, since she's still not used to penning letters with these fingers.]

I know how hard times can be here, so I'm happy to see everyone enjoying themselves. But I've been thinking, even if no one gets hurt on the outside, there are a lot of things that can trouble people. Things they might not be able to say to someone else's face for one reason or another. However, the Vine is a useful thing, then, isn't it? When we write like this, we can communicate without being afraid.

I'd like to think we could all speak in person without worrying, but I know the world isn't like that. I'm not able to do much, but I can at least listen, and try to help or give advice. I won't ask for any names. The Vine should deliver your messages to me if you ask.

Comments

[action]

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

[Reno's on the couch with her feet up, drinking beer and smoking, as usual. There's not much to do here, especially now.

She didn't go to the stupid fair, either. The Queen can throw her in the Labyrinth if she wants. She's not going. She doesn't have the stomach for that Gold Saucer shit.]

Why you bothering with those morons? They ain't worth it.

[action] notifsss /shakes fist

[persical]

[Claire is by the window with the Vine, of course. She looks up and sighs patiently.]

Maybe not to you. But seeing other people happy makes me happy.

Speaking of which, your mood hasn't been the best lately.

Notifs are being so cruel!

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

I don't get it. Other people aren't gonna be happy, y'know. If they're not now. You can't make people happy. You're just gonna be disappointed. Me, I get my job done. I give my boss what he wants, which I know I can do, and that's all I care about.

Why should I be in a good mood? I don't like this place, and it doesn't like me. [Her mouth twists, she frowns, then takes another swig of her beer.]

[persical]

That's not true--even a little help can sometimes cheer people up. Just knowing someone cares.

[she pauses, then folds her hands on her lap.]

I know you miss her. But you'll see her again.

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

[Kitty, you are way too naive in her opinion.] I'm just saying, cheering people up for a bit doesn't matter that much. They're happy for a minute, that's it. They need to learn to look after themselves.

[She snorts. She doesn't like to admit to anything bothering her.] Yeah, I know. I'm hoping it's soon. Maybe I'll just disappear in a second or two. [She waits.]

[persical]

[she is just optimistic okay.]

It does matter. Every bit of happiness matters. Would you rather be all miserable or miserable with a little bit of happiness?

We all need to lean on each other sometime.

[she pauses, unconsciously honoring Reno's "moment of silence".]

I'd be happy for you, if you went home. But I'd still miss you.

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

I dunno, being all miserable, you don't know what you're missin out on. If you give a miserable person a little bit of happiness, then it goes away, might even drive them crazy. [This is the kind of dystopia Reno is used to living in.]

No use missing me. [She just has to be difficult.] I'll forget all about you. Then once you go home, you'll forget me. So what's the point?

[persical]

Now you're just being depressing. [she huffs.]

The point is, the time we've spent together is real. Even if we don't exactly remember, it's still part of us. If it really doesn't matter, why haven't you left?

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

That's the way life is. I've been around. [Also, she is in a particularly bad mood following Rude's departure.]

I don't see how it means anything if I'm not gonna remember it at all, ever. How's it part of us? You can take out people's memories, you know, and then it's like they never happened.

[She raises her eyebrows.] Haven't left? What'd'you mean?

[persical]

[she puts a hand to her chest.]

Right here. You know when something happens, and it feels so familiar, but you can't remember where you saw it? Your heart can recall things even if your head can't.

I mean, you're still here with me. You could live anywhere you like.

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

[Sometimes Kitty says the stupidest things. Your heart remembers stuff? Right. Sure. That happens.]

Back home, I'd watch out if something felt familiar and I couldn't remember where I saw it, cause that'd probably mean I'm going to have one hell of a problem to deal with. [Weird, unexplained things are bad news in her experience.]

I dunno, Kitty. I doubt I'm gonna remember. What's going to remind me? Home's nothing like this.

[Reno shrugs, annoyed to be accused of being sentimental.] I'm used to it. Where else am I gonna live? I got no reason to leave.

[persical]

I won't try to change your mind, if you're so set on it. But I'll remember it.

[she looks down for a moment.]

And it's easier, right? Because I do all the work. That's the reason you asked me to live with you, isn't it?

[strangely enough, her tone isn't accusing. She's come to accept how flippant Reno is about relationships as a fact, even if it's a little painful for someone like her.]

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

Yeah yeah, you remember whatever you want. Not like I can stop you.

[But she shakes her head.] Kitty, you almost sound like you don't know me.

I was born a slum brat. I don't give a shit about clean clothes or clean dishes or clean anything. Anyway, if you weren't here, some fuckin' songbirds would do all the dirty work, this place is just that lame.

[persical]

[she actually smiles a little, because it's as good as Reno admitting it.]

So you do enjoy my company?

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

[Kittyyyy, stop making her accidentally admit to things! Well, she's just gonna play cool about, no big deal.]

What kind of idiot hangs out with someone if they don't want to? I'm not stupid.

[persical]

[she just puts her chin in her hands.]

It's nice to hear it, though.

[tasercopter.livejournal.com]

[Reno grumbles.] Yeah, well.

If it makes you happy thinkin' that, go ahead. You're all right.