Audio: UN; redkey

[princessascended]

Hey everyone. This is Kairi.

I just want everyone to know, I checked this morning and I've been looking around to make sure, and it's confirmed at this point... Sora is no longer with us.

I... Light, I really don't have much else to say beyond that. He wasn't at home when we were brought here, and I don't know what's going to happen to him when he's sent back, but... hopefully, some way, somehow, he manages to make it back to the islands.

That's all I've got. If you'll all excuse me, I'm gonna eat all the ice cream we've got in the house.

[And then cry herself to sleep.]

Comments

text; un: no

[terribletwos]

[ He knew before he saw the post. Of course he knew. It was the same disorientation he felt whenever Sora was crystallized in this place. Only worse this time. As if something he severed the connection entirely, rather than just suppressed it.

Normally, he would just rush over there. It doesn't matter how bad at this he is. Kairi shouldn't be by herself right now. Not after losing everyone else.

And he doesn't want to be alone either.

But unlike last time he paid a sudden house-call, he doesn't want this to be a surprise. Since like Kairi, he knows this is about more than just Sora returning to their world. Neither of them knew for sure just where in their world Sora returned to. If anywhere...

So he manages a quick text before he's off. ]

i'm coming over.

[Text] un: redkey

[princessascended]

[She's almost annoyed at the fact that someone's texting her while she's busy mourning, thank you, she just sent out this message for the sake of all Sora's other friends...

But when she recognizes Roxas's username, that flies straight out the window. Light, the poor boy... he's probably feeling just as awful as her.]

I'll leave the door unlocked. I'll be in the kitchen.

--> action

[terribletwos]

Thankfully, it's the only text she'll be getting because his light steps means he's at her door not that long after sending it. Though it also means he might be more out of breath than usual. Since light steps still require Chroma.

He doesn't bother to knock this time since she mentioned leaving the door open and just quietly pulls it open so he can walk inside.

"Kairi... ?"

[princessascended]

"Hey."

The quiet call comes from the kitchen, where Kairi is settled at the table, slowly making her way through a bowl of fruity ice cream. She lifts her spoon in greeting, looking at his face, before her eyes fall again.

"If you feel as bad as I do, we're quite a pair right now, you and I."

[Text; UN: Verbatim]

[jobshadowing]

Why is that? Why would you eat all the ice cream you have in the house? Is it to solidify that you're alone? If you eat it all that does imply you're not leaving any for anyone else. It seems like a fickle thing to do. Maybe even spiteful. Are you feeling spiteful, Redkey?

[princessascended]

[Under other circumstances, she might find a text like this funny. Right now? She mostly just wants to press the ignore button.

But politeness wins out, even in her current state, and she manages to type up a pretty simple response.]

I'm using humor to cope with a bad situation, Verbatim.

[jobshadowing]

[[She should've pressed the ignore button. People raised like him don't know how to help anyone, let alone raised and exactly like him. So he continues.]]

Ahhh. That's why I couldn't understand. It seemed more like a stressful situation, not a funny one. Coping with loss is usually done in stages, some say twelve but I think that's excessive and believe that five is sufficient to mourn loss. There's the stage of denial, which you've already gone through and confirmed for yourself in my opinion, then anger, which I think you're on the cusp of. Bargaining I don't think really ever fit any situation, depression and acceptance. Then again I don't think there's much concept to those being in all sorts of order, really.

Oh, and please. Rue, or Ryuzaki-san. Either of those will suffice.

[princessascended]

[Oh dear Light that is way too much text right now. She just does not have the energy for this. Skimming... is he talking about the five stages of grief? Sure, weirdo, whatever.]

Pretty sure I'm stuck at anger or depression. Maybe both at once.

Ryuzaki-san, sure. I'm Kairi.

[Why is she encouraging this?]

text (sn: healerprincess)

[im_gonna_heal_u]

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that, Kairi!

Can I get you anything?

[princessascended]

I appreciate the thought, Konoka. But I can't really think of anything that'll make things better right now.

Maybe when I'm feeling less rotten. I dunno.

[im_gonna_heal_u]

Since you say so.

I'll check on you later, every now and then, okay? Take the time you need to recover.

UN: shinigami

[divine_braid]

Do people disappear from here a lot?

[Does that mean he might get out of here?]

[princessascended]

It happens on occasion. No way to know who's going to leave or when, just like you don't know who's going to show up.

[This is not the talk she wants to have right now, but at least it's one where she can basically just rattle off her response without thinking about it. Makes things easier.]

[divine_braid]

[That was not as promising as he had hoped... huh...]

Oh. Well that sucks. Sorry about your friend. Losing people's no fun.

text; un: starlight

[threelights]

[ It's probably not her place to comment on a stranger's circumstances, much less the loss of a friend. Still, it's difficult to ignore the pain in this girl's voice, pain that is all too familiar. It makes her want to try and comfort her, even if all she can offer is platitudes: ]

He'll find his way home. You'll meet again. Believe in him.

[ There's a few seconds gap before a second message comes through: ]

Until then, eat all the ice cream that you want.

[princessascended]

It's about all I can do, right? Believe in him, wait for us to meet again whether it's here or at home...

And eat myself sick and stupid in the meantime.

[She manages a weak little laugh from the sheer silliness of her response, not that it transfers through the text.]

Text - Anonymous

[suspecteverything]

Check outside your door before you start on the ice cream. You'll probably want to use it right away.

[What it is won't be explained until she finds the small package on her doorstep. There's a jar of homemade caramel sauce, a small container of homemade whipped cream, and packets of chocolate pieces and nuts. She should be able to make a pretty good sundae with all of that.]

[princessascended]

Um, okay?

[That probably wasn't supposed to be ominous, was it? It seemed kind of ominous. Regardless, she's curious now, and hey, it's not like she can't defend herself if there's a weird stalker outside, so she hops out of her chair and goes to investigate.

... Huh. Wild ice cream toppings. Neat. She gathers them all up and goes back in. She can at least message the anonymous gifter.]

Hey, uh, thanks. This is kind of exactly what I need. But... how exactly did you find my apartment?

[suspecteverything]

The comm unit.

[No, he's not going to go into details.]

audio | un: demonchef

[satanslash]

[Well that sucks.]

I think I only talked to him like once or twice, but Sora seemed like a good guy. Sorry that he's gone.

[A pause, then:]

Want some teppanyaki to go with your ice cream?

[Probably the worst combination of foods ever but it's what he's got.]

[princessascended]

[Ffffff, Audio. Is she up to that right now? Maybe not. Maybe it's safer to just stick with this.]

He was. Is. It's not like he's gone, gone, just... you know what I mean.

[Except there was that whole fading into dust thing... but she believed she'd find him regardless. Somehow. He'd never failed to come back to her before.]

Nah, I'm good. Thanks though. It's nice to know I could pass the message on. Kinda why I made this post.

[satanslash]

[Text is fine, too. Whichever works best for her.]

yeah i get it
ive been there

both with people who weren't around in their worlds anymore and ones who just got to go home no problem

still sucks to not get to see them all the time though

Action (Since roomate)

[koishi_komeiji]

Koishi tended to be missing on and off, the little youkai's very nature keeping her out of sight, only little displacements of furniture and her shoes by the door marking her presence. Today was a little bit different though.

Once Kairi was settled in on the couch she would feel something settle on top of her head. A wide brimmed sunhat. Followed by a shift in the couch as Koishi materialized next to her, leaning against her shoulder.

"The ice is all slush now..."

[princessascended]

The hat's appearance confused her for a brief moment, before she felt Koishi settle in next to her. Ah, that explained it.

Well, at least she still had a friend here with her.

"Apparently eating a whole bunch of ice cream didn't help with that." It was a weak joke, and she knew it. Kairi couldn't even crack a smile herself. But she tried, at least.

"Sorry, Koishi. You're gonna be getting some pretty unhappy feedback from me for a while."

[koishi_komeiji]

"You shouldn't eat so much chilly stuff. It makes your head hurt. Unless that doesn't happen to humans." Koishi leaned in more. She was cuddly as ever. Which was something, at least. Even if she didn't experience empathy in the same way.

"You don't have to apologize. I like the taste of sorrow and melancholy. But I also don't like seeing you sad. The brightness flickers. And everything around it is a lot more chilly."

"I'm not sure if I should help though. I can make humans feel better for a little while but that wont make the hurt actually go away. That's what mourning is for, right?"