[ Video / Action ]

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ It's the afternoon when Subaru appears on the vine. She is seated on the edge of an open door facing outside the background obviously a traditional Japanese style building that long-term residents will recognize. The young woman is wearing a plain t-shirt and shorts, though she looks like she's been rolling around in the dirt. Her gaze is far away, like she didn't notice the mirror creeping up on her. Truth is, she just forgot about it in the brief few moments it took to coax it into unfurling for her. ]

...ah! Hi there. [ A smile. ] It's Subaru. I've been sort of keeping to myself lately since the incident with the sky pirates so I wanted to apologize to everyone, and see how you're all doing. [ It feels to her like she knows most of the Gardens by now, or has at least casually spoken with them all once or twice. That's almost as good as becoming her friend, in most cases. ]

I wanted to report on what I've been busy with! The roof of the inn is completely restored, now, so no more weird leaks or sudden noise from the wind. I'm also almost done building the swimming pool out back, but I'm still working on a pump and filter so that it won't end up looking like a murky pond after a few weeks, eheh...

[ Then her eyes are downcast, which does not go with her otherwise enthusiastic expression. ] I also... wanted to make a note that all the other rooms here are free, now, except my own. [ She pauses, looking over her shoulder into the building. ] I've been meaning to say something about it, but Vivio has been gone for some time. [ There is a sad smile there for that, but it's hard to tell with her turned away like that. ] I'm sure she's back at home, now, with her two mamas. ... I can't say I know what Suruga Kanbaru has gone home to, but I think it's the same for her. Her room was empty this morning except for the same kind of flower petals I swept away when Vivio disappeared.

[ After another pause, she turns back to the mirror, smiling a little easier even if it is a strain on her. ] So please, feel free to come visit at any time. You won't be a bother to me at all, and you can use any of the facilities here at your convenience. The onsen, the training mats in the corner rooms, the futons... even the kitchen and the ice cream maker! [ A wave. ] I think I'm going to go enjoy a cold treat right now, so I'll see you all later!


((ooc: Action available for anyone who wants to stop in at the inn! Whether it's while she's in the kitchen, out back working, or relaxing in the baths. o/))

Comments

[video]

[tookupthesword]

... Yeah, I kind of figured Vivio left. Haven't seen her in a while.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

Mm, I'm sorry for not saying something sooner. I know she had some friends here who would be waiting, but...

[tookupthesword]

But that's the past now... as for the present, saying all the rooms are free, but not your own. What would someone have to pay for that?

[video]

[heartovertime]

That's really nice of you to help repair the inn on your own, Nakajima-san. [Sure, Subaru might have told her to use her given name the last time, but she wasn't entirely sober then.]

[And then, the more bittersweet part, tugging at her eyes though she still manages a bit of a sad smile.] I'm sorry to hear about Kanbaru-san and Vivio-san both... [She didn't know the latter well, but they had spoken a little at least.] I hope they're happier back home.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

The damage was partly my fault, Homura, so it's just natural. [ Fighting has many consequences. Even if people don't get hurt, there is usually property damage. ]

[ Subaru nods. ] I hope so, too. I don't think they really disliked it here, but... they belong at home.

[heartovertime]

Yeah... but it's still kind of... [She stops there, cutting off before the word "lonely" and changing the subject back to the inn, looking just a little embarrassed. Better to focus on the positives, after all. The disappearances only help to remind of her Mami's disappearance, not the sort of feelings she wants to rub off on other people.]

M-Maybe Madoka and I will see about visiting sometime. It's been a while since I've used anything but our apartment bath.

[whataprettyname]

Hi, Miss Subaru. [Chihiro gives what she hopes is a reassuring smile.] I'm really sorry about all of your friends.

It's nice that they're back with their families, though. [Even after all these weeks, that's still where Chihiro wants to be, more than anything.

After a pause, she adds:]

I've never seen an ice cream maker before.

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ She smiles warmly at the sight of a new face, not wanting this to be a Subaru Pity Party. ] Thank you. And you're right! It is. I wish I had known in advance... I would have told Vivio to tell my family not to worry. [ It is a pointless sentiment, since time supposedly "stops" back home, but she thought that seemed rather cold. ]

Ah, you haven't? I admit mine's a little primitive, but it works.

[whataprettyname]

That's okay. I'm sure she'll think of it on her own. I mean, you look like you're okay, right? And it's not that dangerous here. Not when there's no pirates, I mean.

[She hadn't actually been here for the pirates, but, well. People talk.]

What kind of ice cream can you make?

[fionna_time]

Oh. I'm real sorry about Vivio.

Are you ok, Subaru?

[of_the_highest_caliber]

It's okay, Fionna. It was bound to happen sooner or later. She's been here longer than I have, after all. [ And that hopefully answers the question well enough. ]

[voice]

[cobbledtogether]

Subaru.

[Lambda isn't any good at picking up the nuances of expression, but she remembers how Kris behaved when Akiha disappeared, as well as her own feelings of restlessness. She thinks about about what Akiha said when she returned. She doesn't know what exactly Subaru's relationship with Suruga or Vivio was, but—]

Are you...upset?

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ Straight to the point, the question is, but she isn't surprised by it. Subaru nods. ] Mm, just a little, Lambda. But I'm happy, too, since they didn't belong here.

[ported]

Did she really go? That's kind of sad...

[Talking about Vivio, of course. Not that she specified it or anything.]

[of_the_highest_caliber]

I would have been able to find her if she was just somewhere in the Gardens or the other areas. Mach Caliber and I both checked thoroughly.

[ritsu_kouyou]

I'm sorry to hear the girl is gone. [pause] If you decide you don't wish to reside alone, I can accommodate you here. I'm already fixing one room up; I can easily get another ready.

[Even if Subaru being there disrupts the blonde harem-ness.]

[of_the_highest_caliber]

Thank you, Akiha. [ It means a lot that she would offer. ] I think I'll stay here for right now. I still have a lot of things I need to work on.

[grandtheftmecha]

[ Well, instead of responding to the video and... all that... Katina's just going to take the offer to visit. It's obvious that Subaru's a little down about Suruga leaving, and to be honest it's disappointing for Katina too, so she'd much rather hang out with Subaru than most other things right now.

She slips into the inn, looking around for Subaru. ]

Yo!

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ Distracted, she doesn't hear Katina inbound to her position. In a yukata, mostly fresh from a shower, Subaru is chilling out in the kitchen next to the ice cream maker. Today's flavor experiment is pineapple and strawberry. It either isn't working out to her satisfaction, or there's another reason she doesn't look quite into it as she takes a bite from her spoon and contemplates it. ]

Action

[bladeofexile]

[Riven is checking out the inn. She had been sleeping outside for the most part but she would prefer to have a roof over her head]

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ At this point, Subaru's just making the rounds inside to make sure there is no other damage from the aerial fight. Cannonballs have to land somewhere, after all. She already had a grappling hook and a good length of chain rolled up in a corner of one of the empty rooms. Kind of... a souvenir.

Hearing the dull thump of footsteps on the tatami mats in the hall, she pokes her head out of one of the sliding doors and her face brightens up. ] Ah, a guest! Welcome!

[hopelessdreamer]

Suruga's gone again...?

[she looks a little disappointed, but got to be happy for friends returning home, too.]

What's this about flower petals?

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ She nods. ] I feel bad because I didn't notice the first time, but ... it was a lot easier this time since she didn't show up for jogging, or at breakfast yesterday. That's not like her. I confirmed it when I found rose petals in her room... the same as when Vivio left.

[Action]

[sunbloom]

[Itsuki's not entirely sure why she's made her way to the inn - having somewhere to sleep is a good start, at least - but she smiles when she takes a step inside and gets a good look.]

This reminds me of home...

[of_the_highest_caliber]

[ It's a whole lot roomier looking from the inside than the outside, though that might have to do with the sliding doors all open and the entire structure empty except for one sweeping combat cyborg. ]

«It is detected.»

Huh? A visitor? [ She's thankful for Mach Caliber's heads up, and she steps out into the hall, dirty as she was before, wielding a dustpan and broom pair. That's when she sees the girl down the long hall. ] Ah, hi there!