IC Contact;

[tea_rs]

[All messages via the crystal network or messenger bird go here!

Be sure to indicate the date and method of communication; messenger bird, text, audio, or image!]

Comments

[today! - by messenger bird]

[ex_pictureimperfect647]

[The contents of the letter are as follows:]

Dear Hibiki,

Are you well? The weather's been cold lately. I hope you didn't catch any weird diseases you've been keeping warm.

[Someone is trying really hard to write a formal letter to varying degrees of success... that potentially offensive bit is struck through multiple times, but it might just be legible with effort and strong lighting.]

I have some new clothes I want someone to help model for a photoshoot. I think they would fit you. Are you interested?

Don't forget to reply.

-Trip

[tea_rs]

[Luckily, Hibiki's not the type to really look too deeply into such things, whether or not that part had been scratched out.

Modeling though? Goodness!]

Dear Trip,

I have been well. Even though it's cold outside, I've been keeping warm, so I haven't been sick at all this year. I hope you have been staying warm as well!

I don't know very much about modeling, but if you need help with it, I'll do my best!

Sincerely,
Hibiki

[Because he would have to be pretty desperate if he's asking her of all people to model clothes for her, right? Hopefully she can help even a little...!]

[justpastdawn]

[After, Kevin gets them home as fast as he can. He'd like to hop up to the rooftops and run, cut the distance into a mere fraction of what it currently is, but his feelings are far too unstable just now -- the last thing anyone needs is for a stray bit of temper to cause a spark to catch atop some building and set the whole thing ablaze, it's not worth the risk. He keeps to the alleys instead, shortcuts where there won't be many people, no crowds, no noise. His pace is a little awkward, as fast as he can go without breaking into a jog and jostling Hibiki, and all the way home, he kicks himself.

He should have anticipated something like this. He'd known, vaguely, that Pride would ultimately be rehabilitated; he should have made the connection that he'd be back in town, that this could happen. If only he'd realized sooner. If only he'd checked the records to find where Pride would be and when, and told Hibiki where she should not be. If she'd had even a warning, it would have helped, because it's helped Kevin to know what's coming, what to avoid, what to watch out for, because the truth of the matter is that they're just alike this way and so he should have known and should have thought and should have given her that same help because she doesn't know to seek it out for herself and if, if, if --

Kevin's never had a problem thinking of himself as "broken". But, seeing Hibiki want so badly to move on with her life, he hasn't had the heart to allow that word to stick to her. One of these two ways of thinking, perhaps, was a mistake.

Just now, Kevin's not sure which.

He has just enough presence of mind to get in touch with the others and "suggest" that they be elsewhere for a while. By the time they reach the house, he's calmed enough that he deems it safe to go inside, at least. His rage at Pride and the situation at large has turned itself inward, and that, in Kevin's experience, usually doesn't hurt his surroundings much. Still holding Hibiki, he unlocks the door and lets himself in, and the house is calm and quiet but for the idle clucking of the chickens and the stirring of the occasional squirrel. Kevin unfastens his sword from his belt as he enters the parlor. But he doesn't bother with anything else as he sinks down onto the chaise with a sigh, still holding the girl close. It doesn't really occur to him to try and put her down and move away.]

[tea_rs]

[At some point along the way, a soft curl of fur nestles up against her chin, about the only comfort Shirotsuki can provide at times like these when the enemy isn't one so easily defeated as a troublemaking teen, when the consequence for failure was only exacerbating his apprentice's fear, her sorrows.

Between this and the time it takes to return, she's out of tears when they finally arrive. All she can do anymore is wearily cling, even as they sit on the chaise where they are safe, far from Pride, far from anything that might want to hurt her.

It takes a while, before she can summon up the words. Even though they're so simple, so soft, her voice still cracks.]

I'm so-- s-sorry...

[He was so angry, and she... She doesn't know what she should have done. But there's something, she's sure of it, there always is, but she never, ever can figure it out, and this is why all she could do was collapse, why all she could do was cry.

If she were stronger, maybe... If she were anyone other than herself, maybe...

Maybe things would have turned out differently.]

[justpastdawn]

[Kevin is still angry. That's the one problem with letting her cling to him; she can probably tell that he isn't calming down any more than he already has. The tension in his body isn't easing up in the slightest, and from time to time as they sit there, he stars to bounce his leg, catches himself and stops. He'll need to get Bulat to help him later on. The new knots knitting themselves into his back won't come out with stretches alone.

But that's not Hibiki's fault. It's not as though she asked for what Pride did to her. Either time. It isn't a surprise to hear her, but she isn't the reason he's seething, not really.

He's silent for a long while, even after she apologizes. It's an unpleasantly heavy quiet, despite his best efforts. But when he finally speaks, his voice, at least, has lost the sharp edge it had taken on before.]

Do you remember...when I told you that it's okay to cry? That, sometimes, the rest of us in the house -- we do it too?

8-09

[justpastdawn]

Kevin walks home slowly, after his conversation with Mrs. Bradley. It wasn't truly pleasant, by any means, but...it was good. He's glad they had it. The question now, though, is what exactly to do about it, and that's arguably more difficult than having spoken to the woman in the first place.

He pauses just inside when he gets to the house, his hand lingering on the doorknob after he closes it. Everything feels right, here. His house is a good place, a comfort. She'll be alright in the end, he reminds himself. Hadn't he said so earlier...?

"Miss Hibiki?" he calls, releasing the door at last and pulling the yarn he'd purchased out of his bag. "Are you about...?"

Probably, unless she's gone out with one of the other housemates. She's timid about leaving on her own again, he's noticed. Not that he blames her. Ugh.

[tea_rs]

“Kevin-san?” Sure enough, she peeks over the top of the chaise, the one hand she rests on it currently curled around a crayon. It’s not difficult at all to guess what all she’s been up to in his absence.

But now that he’s home, she carefully sets the crayons back into their tray and scurries around the furniture to meet him, expression bright—only to falter when she sees his.

“…Um, did you find everything…?”

[justpastdawn]

"Yes, everything's fine."

Kevin has long since learned that one never says "we need to talk" without any reassurance at all, because it gives nervous people such as himself a million heart attacks. ...alright, one never does that unless one actually wants to give somebody a million heart attacks, which does happen sometimes.

"I'd like to speak with you, if you don't mind," he adds, moving into the parlor to drop the yarn into the little basket he keeps for this purpose. "Shall we have a snack...?"

09/08/16 [Action]

[lukeim_yurlin]

[On the morning of the eighth, there's a knock on the front door of the house. It's a firm call for attention, though not urgent in nature. Whoever answers it will find no one there, but there is a small something sitting outside just a few feet from the threshold.]

[It's a black furred teddy bear with a tan muzzle and paw pads. Around its neck is a satin green ribbon tied in a bow, a silver charm bracelet attached with a number of cute little silver animal charms on it. In the bear's lap is a small dark green box containing a number of chocolate dipped madeleines on a bed of lighter green paper. "Hibiki" is inscribed in neat handwriting across the top of the box, the words "Happy Birthday" in smaller lettering just below.]

[Just off the property, there's a wind seraph in hiding, crouched in a shadowed area while he "watches" the front door of the house through the wind. It's not too likely he'll reveal himself, but he'd at least like to stick around long enough to make sure the gifts are found and taken inside.]

Re: 09/08/16 [Action]

[tea_rs]

[…? That’s strange. There’s no one here…?

It takes her a bit before she looks down – she’s nearly shut the door again, actually – but once she does, she opens the door fully so she can crouch down and examine the teddy bear properly. Just how did this get here?

And then she sees the card, and spends another moment or so flipping it over for any hint of who it could be that remembered her birthday. It takes her some time before she recalls…]

Dezel-san?

[And then she’s picking them up, teddy and chocolates and all, standing so she can try to spot the seraph.]

[lukeim_yurlin]

[Thanks to his keen hearing and ability to read the wind, Dezel knows he's been found out. Kind of his fault, though, since he did say he might bring something by on the eighth. He supposes he'd hoped that either Hibiki wouldn't recall that or that he wouldn't be the only one to drop off a gift that's sort-of-kind-of belated, if just because it didn't get delivered for the party.]

[But eh...what to do now? She doesn't know he's there, so it'd be easy for him to just disappear into the wind as originally planned. Somehow he feels a little guilty about that, though, and more than likely whenever they catch up with one another next, she'll make mention of the gift. One way or another, he'll have to deal with being thanked.]

[So while it takes a few seconds for Dezel to show himself, Hibiki may catch movement across the way as the seraph emerges from the shadows between two other residential buildings. He closes the gap in a near instant, vanishing from one side of the street and reappearing on the other in a gust of wind and a swirling of bright green energy. From there he walks up closer, one hand reaching to adjust the brim of his new hat. He can't help but look and feel awkward as he stops a few paces from Hibiki, however, hat pulled low to keep his bangs pinned and his eyes hidden.]

Hey...

[A brief pause while he tries to figure out what to say before just going with something obvious.]

Happy Birthday, kid.

[sometime early june - by the actual mail post]

[lionroll]

[Hunk has handwritten apology notes for those he hurt during his amulet's theft. The poor mailman who has had no mail to deliver now has a letter for Hibiki and deliver's it to her home.]

Dear Hibiki,

I am so, so sorry for the awful prank I played on you. Hurting you the way I did was awful and I regret it deeply. I want to make it up to you somehow. Please let me know if you'd like to be taken out for a treat, or do an activity together? I really value our friendship and want to make things right.

Sincerely,
Your friend Hunk

12/24-25

[unyieldingdragon]

[It's the night before Christmas and a man in red has come to Hibiki's residence, not to steal, but to leave presents! It's rather late at night, when people should be asleep though, as he's not supposed to get caught. The gifts will have a tag included saying "From Santa".

Her gift comes with a book of princess stories, a stuffed animal and a pair of mittens, courtesy of Asbel, Hunk and Mrs. Bradley!

With his his task complete, he'll soon disappear into the night...]

12/25

[lionroll]

[For Hibiki, Hunk has put together a tin filled with cookies best enjoyed with tea. In fact, there's a little hand drawn card listing which cookies pair best with which teas. Made with love, they should leave whoever enjoys on feeling very content and happy! Attached is a card where Hunk has drawn Hibiki and himself building a snowman.]

Happy Holidays Hibiki!

May they be merry and bright, and bring you lots of joy!

Love Your Friend,
HUNK

Mystery Gift - December.

[empc]

[ When Hibiki wakes, she will find that her crystal is glowing! Her emotion drops for the month of Ennea have resonated with Empatheias' giant crystal, and a reaction has been formed.

By her feet, she will find a box that reads "Hurricane"! It's actually Twister, but due to copyright issues and the fact that Twister does not exist in Empatheias, she gets the Empatheias bootleg version.

(Thank you for submitting to the Emotion Tracker!) ]

Endeca (February) 14

[heartofalioness]

Sometime during one of her visits to the house, Allura will discretely leave a small bundle for the recovering Hibiki to find the next time she goes to the kitchen. Along with the note, there are three canisters of tea: dandelion, peach-flavored white tea, and lavender.

Dear Hibiki,

I’m very glad that I’m able to give this to you today, and I hope it finds you well. You’re already incredibly brave to keep going after such an experience, and of course it’s all right to be unsettled after this and admit it, but here are some teas that might help lift your spirits should you choose to use them. They’re individually infused with bravery, joy, and calm, and they taste very nice when blended in any combination. (Of course you'll know how to blend them best.)

Happy Valentine’s Day, and please take care,
Princess Allura

[tea_rs]

[It's with some effort - she's still so awfully weak - but she does begin going to the kitchen once she can, finding a little comfort in being able to make simple foods for herself if nothing else.

When her eyes settle on the teas and she finds and reads the note, she hugs it close for a moment, tucking it away into the pocket of her robes to take back to her room.]

Early June

[lionroll]

A certain fat, golden scaled wyvern is out on a special mission.

Gordon has come bearing a personal invitation to you!

Hunk and Keith are hosting an open house at the Golden Afternoon Bakery to celebrate summer!
There will be free food, drinks, and live music!

No reservations are required, but they do hope you'll attend!

dream sharing, hope that's ok!

[earphoned]

[ With the crystals going awry, weird stuff just keeps happening. Not that Minato isn't used to that, and this time around he takes everything at face value as well. What he doesn't expect, however, is that it's going to affect his dreams; this has never happened before, so he expected just his thoughts getting broadcast to random people, that's all.

He's back in his dorm room and there's a certain boy in striped pajamas sitting on the edge of the bed, smiling at him without saying a word. Minato shakes his head and sits on the bed, realizing that there's someone else here. ]

Hibiki?

[ As soon as he says that, the room starts to dissolve, leaving them...literally in the middle of nowhere. The boy is still around, but there's nothing else besides them. ]

[tea_rs]

[Hibiki has the dazed look of someone not quite sure where they are or what to do about it right up until Minato speaks - and then confusion replaces it as they end up in a void instead.]

Eh-- M-Minato-san?!

[Wait. But where? How-?!]

misfire (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡

[exponere]

[ when you are the type to overthink and keep a lot of private thoughts to yourself, a misfire event like this is literally the worst thing that could happen. he already had a few embarrassing thoughts come out, but now here's an actual serious one. god, he can't wait for this event to be over so no one has to hear his thoughts anymore. ]

I have to get better... I can't keep running away...

[tea_rs]

[That sure is a voice suddenly in her head.]

...Huh? Running away from what?

Early May, a little while after the Flower Festival, a package and note

[showmystar]

[ One morning, Hibiki will find a lavender pouch tacked to the door of Pleasantea Pastries. Inside the pouch is a bunch of pink flowers and petals from the trees of Diateris. Sitting gently on top of the bundle is a small handwritten note in the careful script of someone who usually has bad handwriting and is trying really hard. ]

For your flower tea
A.W.

a few days after she returns from update

[lostapprentice]

[Kylo Ren kicks in the door to Hibiki's room.

Okay, no, not really. The notice that the girl has come to significant harm has sent him into something of an anxious state, however, whether it was given to him straight or he had to demand answers after getting one of those trademark Bad Feelings. But the situation has... ostensibly been taken care of, and Kylo knows that sitting around recovering and stewing in your own negativity, whether that's despair or boredom, does not help.

So when he does step into Hibiki's room, the normal way, he's brought with him two mystery novels and a kit of building blocks meant to build a detailed airship, but obviously she can make whatever she wants with them. ... these were going to be for her birthday, but uh. Well, she's getting them anyway.]

[tea_rs]

[Even though Kevin healed her completely, she so often needs to stop and rest these days. Maybe it's because the nightmares of the oncoming rocks keep her up at night. Maybe it's because of how often she wakes up crying from dreams of loved ones she may never see again. Either way, it's left her pale and drawn, even as she tries to muster the energy to go about her normal tasks again.

She's resting when he comes to visit, too. Propped up in bed with a large and illustrated book spread over her knees, though judging from her listless expression, it's taking her a bit to get through even this much.

When Kylo enters however, her head snaps up, and she looks to see just who it is visiting her.]

Ah- Kylo-san...?