lifenet | farstones; backdated to aug 26th

Entry tags:

farstones; backdated to aug 26th

[The last time he used the Farstones, he was making a pretty big deal about the whole dying-of-flowers thing. Kind of embarrassing in retrospect, but -- more anticlimactic than anything.]

[It went just as he'd expected it to go, waking up the same way he had died: alone.]

[That's how he'd wanted it. That's why he'd had no complaints as he'd picked himself up from the cold, flower-laden floor of the Storyteller's Temple, shook the petals out of his sweats, and went home. Slept on and off for a couple days. Scrounged around unsuccessfully for the courage to check which one of his friends had made it and which ones hadn't. No big surprise in any of that.]

[Anyway, this time, there's no melodramatics; Ichimatsu's voice pops over the network in a sigh, and then a simple question:]

Everyone's done dying now, right? So I have a question. Especially for you guys who got kittens from Karamatsu.

Did anyone's pets get sick, too?

[His voice is nasally, as if he has a lingering head cold, but it's far off from sounding like anything from the Overgrowth.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

ESP didn't get sick.

[She was petting him frequently enough to know that not one single bloom appeared on his cute lil body.]

I think Johann and Hot Boi and Lobstar were okay too.

[Oh, thank whatever shitty gods rule this world, the rabbit included. Ren. Ichimatsu has to tuck his Farstone away for a moment out of sheer, dizzying relief, pinching the bridge of his nose to steady himself.]

[Ren and ESP. That's about as lucky as he can ask for.]

That's good. Must be because you took such good care of 'em. [He sniffs.] ... and how is Ren-chan doing?

[The lump in her throat that kept her from talking for a whole week comes back suddenly. There were a few days when the other members of camp had to take over-it wasn't entirely her, but that's not a topic she wants to broach now. Not when he's finally back and seemingly okay, despite the weird tone.]

I tried, but I think their strong hearts kept them safe. They're good animals.

[And, well, she's alive. She's doing great. She got to come back and everyone still smiles at her, so it's been a good week.]

Nothing's hurting me. I'm okay. Are you still sick?

True... they are.

[It comes easily enough, but his relief is quickly dented by her question. Not because of the question itself - anyone with ears could hear that he's still got some weird sinus stuff going on - but because of their last conversation. Shit, he owes her... he doesn't even know. An apology would never cut it. He wandered off and left her alone, even if he still thinks it was the best thing to do; even now.]

[But how could he ever tell her something like that?]

... I'm fine. Just had to go away for a while.

[The empty tree nest already told the truth he's trying to hide now. Had to go away like they all did, but that doesn't explain why he didn't resurrect with the rest of them. Talking about his brothers hadn't been enough to save him and that realization had hit her the second she had pulled his confused, hungry companion into her arms all those days ago.]

We're happy you're home now. We missed you.

[There's a chorus of meows in the background, as she lowers the rock to her cat friends so they can hear his voice. There's your dad, Pachinko-chan. It's all good.]

I --

[Whatever he was going to say dies in his throat with a soft, folding crackle. Sitting here in the dark by himself for the past couple days... he's not sure if it was his way of punishing himself, or if he really needed that time. Either way. He doesn't really have the right to say I missed you too, does he?]

[Even if it's true. He's only been alive for two days, but hearing Ren's voice and ESP and Chi's meows... it feels like it's been weeks since he's seen them. How is that fair, this feeling of their absence reaching back through all that time he was dead? Obviously, they're getting on just fine without him, but...]

...

Is it... okay if I come visit?

[The hesitant request throws her off. It's as if he thinks there's a chance she would say no. Like they wouldn't collectively jump at the opportunity to see him.

She's already gathering the cats into her arms with a hushed I'll carry you and good boy, good girl as she brings the feline bundle together, almost forgetting she hasn't answered him yet.]

Are you at home? We'll come see you. We'll walk really fast.

[Ah. That gets Ichimatsu to sit up straight. He quickly eyes the state of his nest, which is just short of disastrous: blood and clothes and unswept cat hair strewn all over the floor, not to mention his own unwashed state. Ichimatsu swallows and quickly holds up his farstone again.]

Ah... n-no, it's better if you walk slow. I gotta take care of some stuff, so it's fine. Let Esper and Pachinko do some hunting on the way here.

[he's got to clean this place holy fuck!!]

[Whatever some stuff means, she won't pry. A cat's business is their own and all the truths they were forced to speak about in the previous month have left her exhausted when it comes to pursuing much else. He'll be able to clean in peace, with an occasional play by play of their hooliganry along the way.]

Okay! I'll call you if they catch something so you can say 'I'm proud of you' to them. We'll be there very-

[A pause. Not soon. Because they gotta walk slow.]

Late?

Um, S-Snowball and...and Nightshade are okay. I don't think that curse worked on animals...

[Chip hesitates for a long moment before adding,]

Are...um. Are you okay?

Eh? Nah, I died.

[Though, this voice sounds kinda young... maybe he should be a bit gentler or something.]

It's fine now. And that wasn't a curse, kid - just a bunch of dumbasses getting sick. ... good to hear your cats stayed healthy, though.

Oh.

[What are they even supposed to say to that? "Sorry"? "I'm glad you're alive now"?]

Curses can be getting sick, too, idiot.

[...yeah, that works.]

Hah? No... if that's the case, I would be sick all the time. [He is the most #cursed thing he knows. Well, him and his brothers, but mostly him.]

... a-ahh.

[He sneezes.]

Why, 'cuz you're too dumb to get it broken?

[Ichi can probably hear the shitty kid grin in their voice, honestly.]

Caravaggio ate all my acid octopuses and seems VERY FUCKING PLEASED WITH ITSELF. [it's possible Connor is actually talking to Caravaggio and not Ichimatsu, but.] But nah. Why, the fuck did your stupid ass get hit with?

That's what you get for leaving your stuff out.

[Cool. It looks like neighbor is alive, so that's good, or something. It saves Ichimatsu the nagging of his conscience over he hasn't dragged his ass next door to check on the asshole yet.]

Obviously, I caught the same shit as everyone else. Don't tell me you actually got out of it alive.

I mean your death price, you furry. [He'd specify what his was, but it actually fucked him up so he'd rather not.] You sound like you have hayfever. It's not an improvement.

... feels like it. But I haven't had allergies since I was a kid, so... dunno. Maybe I'm just dying again.

[truly, he sounds beleaguered by the thought.]

... think it'd help if I used our shit? [he'll probably never not be skittish about referring to weed directly.]

It might? Some people use it for allergies, but they usually use oil instead of smoking 'cause smoking kinda makes the shitty parts of having a stuffed nose worse.

[There's a several second pause.]

. . . Do you want me to, like. Bring over some weed oil?

[Is this what being neighborly is. Is Mister Rogers proud of him yet.]

[A few beats of silence in return. His reply comes out a little bit haltingly, more surprised than anything else.]

... seriously? [a pause and sniffle.] ... you don't have to feel bad and do anything just because I died, you know.

Listen? If you die again, I'll probably have to take care of your stupid cat? Because I'm not a sociopath? And I know your stupid cat is the one eating my chickens so basically I'm preventing the total destruction of my hard work toward becoming the farmhand I was always meant to be. [A beat.] Also I want to make fun of you for being a loser who has allergies in person.

[But, like. In a friend way. Mostly.]

[how dare u slander his beautiful princess like that?? But Ichimatsu behaves, working down his temper and instead just making a mental note to stomp through his neighbor's boobytrapped yard in the middle of the night and kick as many chickens as he can reach.]

[But like, also in a friend way? Sort of.]

... sure, then. Come over whenever. I'll make some food or something.

[He probably won't even spit in it.]

[There's a five minute gap between when Connor hangs up and when shows up in front of Ichimatsu's house, announcing his presence in . . . a typically Connor-esque fashion.]

Can you actually cook? 'cause you're kinda useless.

[is this friendship]

[Ichimatsu's greeting is equally cheerful, especially considering he doesn't even look up when Connor appears.]

Shut up. It's not too late for me to sneeze on yours.

[He's referring to the rice he's currently packing into a sheet of nori; a depleted jar of pickled plums sits next to him, and he scoops the last of it into the onigiri before he starts folding it up.]

Unless you want chicken instead.

Edited 2018-09-30 19:34 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

farstones; backdated to aug 26th

istone

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject