dishearten | futurology ic inbox

[ the downside to a small living space? it's hard to be the earlier riser. though it's certainly not nearly as hard as the later one, especially if the earlier riser has a habit of wearing hanging metal discs along her hip that jingle and chime as she bustles about the space, trying to make breakfast for three as quietly as possible. it seems that after so many years of wearing it, olivia has all but forgotten them by now.

but, by now, it should be a familiar sound for graham. a familiar sight, too, to see the pink-haired woman moving around the little kitchen area, somehow always managing to whip something up with the small amount of food she purchases from the market every week. their arrangement has only been going on for a few weeks now, but it's been a fairly successful one, as far as olivia is concerned. at the very least, they don't want to kill each other. that's always nice.

but olivia already realizes there isn't much that she knows about her almost-roommate (the permanence of their arrangement is still up in the air) and while she normally wouldn't pry... a few weeks' worth of shared living space has probably earned her a pass for her curiosity, right? so she's putting a bit of an extra touch to today's breakfast, hoping it might entice the other to open up a bit more around the table. it certainly can't hurt! ]

[On the morning of the 25th, wherever the hell Graham's staying, there is a nicely wrapped package, with a written letter tucked in at the top, next to a large ribbon.

Inside his present is a container of (now cold) spaghetti, a knit hat in black, and several bones.

Opening the letter reveals a maybe somewhat familiar font, which says:]

GRAHAM,

MERRY CHRISTMAS! THE BONES ARE FOR YOUR DOG FRIEND. I WANTED TO GET YOU TWO MATCHING PRESENTS, BUT IT'S AWFUL, THEY DON'T SELL HATS FOR DOGS HERE?? UNBELIEVABLE. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SPEAK TO MANAGEMENT ABOUT THIS.

NYEHFULLY YOURS,
PAPYRUS

Hi-hi....! How is Him?

Rested? Well-fed? Safe? Cuddly? Still fluffy? ー( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ ✩◝(◍⌣̎◍)◜✩

[The message is weeks overdue, but Riza's learned over the course of a lifetime better late than never.]

I wanted to say thank you to your furry friend for keeping an eye out for me on Nalawi. [In case there's any doubt as to which friend she's referring to.] You're very lucking to have him as a companion.

[ She saw his message to the entire Audentes, but finds that she has no fitting words of comfort to offer. And so, it has taken her days to finally knock on his door, in a way, opting to give consolation in another form. ]

Does your brother have a taste for lizards?

I am ready.

[jazz hands assume she texted him before she left for her hiatus mission so Graham wouldn't worry NOW...]

Graham? It is I, Sieglinde Sullivan.

I see the inn has burned down in my absence. ... Where might I find everyone?

[You.]

[ in the morning, graham will find a small package waiting for him just outside his quarters. inside, he'll find a white, pouch, holding an assortment of individually-wrapped cookies, both of which were clearly handmade. beneath the pouch is the familiar alastair symbol in its traditional purple.

along with the package comes a simple card that reads:

To: Graham
From: Olivia

Happy Holidays! ]

Edited 2016-12-25 11:50 (UTC)

[It's later at night when she messages, after dinner's been made and the dishes have been done and the rest of her "family" is busy puttering around the house with their own tasks. She's curled up on the couch with a book, but she hasn't paid the words on the page much mind for the past fifteen minutes, mind elsewhere.]

Can I ask you something, if you're not busy?

[ Meanwhile, back in a treehouse: ]

I know the police's strength is engaged in the fighting near City Hall. I only wished to say that I hope you fare well, and that the hordes cannot reach you.

Bring me your tidings the moment you can spare them.

[ Translation: She is worried about you, buddy. ]

I won't be at the apartment when you get out of work today, Graham.

[ as for why, well - three guesses, and the first two don't count. they both know she's been ... off, now Emma knows why.]

Look after Sunny for me?

Far-shooting Graham, it is your friend Achilles, son of Peleus, who calls upon you. Where might I have your audience, that I may share with you this news I have just lately received.

It's official, even the fruit around here sucks.

graham!!! did you see the beetles

they're HUGE (´ ꒳ ` ✿) ♥

Hey, I've been thinking. Is there anything you want to do now that you have a heart again?

( FROM HERE.

no, photographs weren't the same. in that Graham is just about as old fashioned as Sieglinde is. a photograph is never as strong as the memory, the lingering ghosts of senses that never seemed to entirely fade. in the end that wasn't exactly foolproof, either. time faded most things. maybe it wouldn't take it away, maybe there would always be a few reminders left behind, yet they were bound to fade with time and distance until there was almost nothing left.

he can't tell if that makes this better or not. that she will forget mostly everything about him sooner, or later. it may be better for Sieglinde, it is just that nobody wants to be forgotten. )

I won't ever forget you, ( is his promise, and he knows how difficult that will be to achieve. to hold someone in your heart even after time corrodes and distance disappoints. he will keep her in his thoughts; it's the only way he will be able to hold onto her after this. ) I hope you can forgive me, one day. ( for leaving, because he knows how much it hurts. the mother that abandoned him had never been a strong concern when his heart was gone, yet he remembers that ache now. wondering why he hadn't been enough, why it happened. at least Sieglinde will know why, and he hopes she understands that it is not a matter of not being enough.

it is just that their worlds are separate, and sooner or later, this day was bound to come. )

futurology ic inbox

action; backdated to... sometime before christmas??

no subject

text @ happybirthday

early oska arrival, idk

text; un: shuyi

text | un; sieglindesullivan

12/25 | package

woodhurst, wk 1