psychometer | [IC CONTACT POST]

[left inside Lien's mailbox, there is a small black box, tied up with red string, not unlike how bakeries wrap up their goods. only, thing string is thinner, and more delicate (it still does it's job and keeps the contents of the box safe). should she open it, inside she'll find a pretty lavender hair ribbon (http://i56.tinypic.com/jhc579.gif) (...ignore the watermark 8( ).

underneath the ribbon is a small square of cardstock, and written in long slanted letters reads:]

[This was a pleasant surprise.

Lien opens the box and holds her gift in her hands while reading the very short message. She doesn't mutter or attempt to say anything witty aloud.]

[There's no need to.]

This is Doctor Kiriko. Thank you for the update you left me, Lien. I am relieved to know you have finished your job for the month and that you are unharmed.

I apologize for my rude behaviour, as well. My health is not at its best and this month has been very hard on me. It was not my intention to take my frustration out on you. I am also sorry if I have been neglectful of your feelings as of late.

I sincerely hope you find a safer place to land in your new home. Please, take care of yourself. If there is any medical assistance or otherwise you need in the near future, do not hesitate to contact me.

[And he hangs up with a small sigh.]

[A bouquet of flowers and a card addressed to "Lien Kha" have been delivered to the front door. Inside, the card simply reads, "Happy Birthday." There's no signature; apparently the sender wished to remain anonymous.]

[Lien spent half of her eighteenth birthday resting from the ordeals of the past weekend. Her hair was still long thanks to the perfume effects, and it sprawled across her bed as she lay still, trying to make sense of everything that had happened.

When she finally woke up, she opened the front door not expecting anything until she saw the card and bouquet. No signature on the card, but...

She only told a few people about her birthday.

She knew there was only one person who could have sent it anonymously, but all the same as she touched the card and traced the handwriting with her finger just to make sure who it was with her psychometry. She knew. The flowers were placed carefully inside a vase with some fresh water. But it was the anonymous card she clung to and it was crushed without meaning to; not because of malice, but because she couldn't even make sense of her own feelings anymore. She was supposed to be calm, sort out her thoughts, examine what was given to her and the intention behind it like a good psychic should. Don't be too attached, don't let yourself get hurt, don't invest so much in others when it could change all too quickly.

Lien wasn't a good psychic. She didn't know how she felt. She couldn't tell what was happening in her own heart. She didn't want to be angry and hateful, but for once it was too hard to be happy and brush off everything with a carefree smile she usually could muster up in the face of melancholy. Her strength had diminished. She thought she was strong. She thought she could make up for her weakness as an esper with a good heart, a heart that could be good to others in turn. She could be a strong minded person who made others smile instead.

But she didn't know if that was true anymore.

On her eighteenth birthday and for the first time since she arrived on the Thor the psychometer cried alone where no one could see her tears. She was eighteen years old, but still a shaking, sad, and insecure little girl who didn't feel strong anymore.]

hey there your favorite color is orange, isn't it?

Oh hi there

Hm, actually it's just ONE of my top favorites

the others are blues and greens

OK

Are you planning something Kaoru :OO

Working on a project

[He needs everything there is to do so he's not sitting around being depressed forever.]

Ok! :)

I hope it goes well.

I'll show it to you when it's done It could be a few weeks

I'll be patient then!

Have you been feeling okay lately? Just wondering

I'm not really sure

[Even though he knows in his heart that Hikaru is gone, especially after not seeing him for what feels like the longest time ever, he doesn't want to believe it. Even if his name was no longer listed, he wouldn't want to believe it. At the same time, he's believed it for a while already. Coming to terms with it was another story.

He really hated this place sometimes.]

Is that why you're trying to keep yourself busy? I do that too

[Lien is sharper than she usually lets on and that response tells her more than enough]

I don't want to do this again I don't feel good

Sorry :(

Hello, Miss Lien ♡~!

You are invited to attend Kaoru Hitachiin's ☆ Summer Slumber Party ☆ scheduled for Saturday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. Please R.S.V.P. by June 30.

Feel free to bring your most comfortable pajamas and stuffed animals. (◡‿◡✿)

Here's a picture of a sleeping kitten to entice you!

[ooc: You don't really have to RSVP haha. Just included it for kicks!]

[Give the recording a few seconds while Fenris tries to figure out how to say what he needs to say]

I want to talk to you about what I said a couple of weeks ago. I will meet you at that coffee shop.

[Wait, he forgot to add something]

It's Fenris.

[Lien was just drying her hair after she finished a workout. She lets the machine run the recording while letting her towel hang around her head. The girl pauses when she hears whose voice it is.

This isn't going to be fun.

Still, she'll pick up her guide reply and surprisingly with no sarcasm on her part.]

Give me an hour.

[Hey, coffee is coffee.]

Edited 2013-08-15 21:51 (UTC)

[If he received the message, Fenris makes no move to show it]

[Instead, Lien can find him sitting in the coffee shop, true to his word. He hunches over a lonely table towards the back, although it's unclear if he sought out the table for its seclusion, or caused it with his overtly isolationist attitude]

[In any case, he continues to nurse a cup of water while his eyes occasionally dart to and fro]

[And she arrives wearing her (fake) glasses, hands in her pockets and hair tied up. Lien ordered herself an iced coffee and approaches Fenris with a little hesitancy.]

... Hi?

Sit.

[It's that strange cross between a demand and an invitation that only someone as perpetually angry as Fenris can manage, but it's at least not him yelling]

[She raises her brows, but sits down across from him, sipping her coffee through a straw before remarking.]

So. Here we are.

[Okay that was lame.]

Did you come to a conclusion about anything?

Yes.

[He sighs anf steeples his fingers as he tries to find the right way to say what he has to.]

I wish to apologize to you. I was an arse.

[Lien blinks once or twice at Fenris. Her brow furrows for a second before she can even think of a reply.]

Um. Well.

[A SIP OF COFFEE FOR COURAGE.]

I did try to sucker punch you, but thank you for saying so?

[Wait, how does this thing work, social cues are hard]

I'm glad you took the time to think it over??

As am I.

[Wow this cup of water is super interesting]

Your... abilities still unnerve me somewhat, but I was reminded that I had given someone a chance once. Someone not unlike yourself. And although I was more angry that you had kept them a secret from me, I can also understand why.

I have not been the most hospitable of acquaintances, either. I want to change that, if you will allow it.

...

[It's hard to tell what she's thinking right now although she is watching Fenris very keenly and then casts her gaze at the table. She stirs her coffee with a straw thoughtfully.]

To be honest, it's not like I would refuse something like that. I'm a little grateful, have no mistake about that. And I was in the wrong for keeping it a secret from you.

But I guess I feel more guarded around you. And I wish I wasn't.

[A beat. Then she holds up her coffee.]

When I was younger, I had trouble eating.

[Well, that's an odd turn.]

[Fenris' arched eyebrow confirms that yes, indeed, what the fuck was that about]

[BUT he's also learned that if Lien brings something up, it has some kind of purpose behind it. Or, conversely, she's just being weird.]

[Either way, it wouldn't hurt him to find out]

Go on.

My touch can read minds and memories right? The tongue counts you know. So what do you think I saw when I ate a piece of meat or fish?

[Oh.]

[Well.]

I imagine it was nothing pleasant.

It took a while to kill off that sensation, you know? It was just a constant reminder of death instead of a simple way to nourish myself.

[A beat.]

I guess what I'm trying to get at here is that I'm used to feeling stress and killing it. Everyone in my commune had to learn. If you couldn't you weren't going to live long.

Our conversation last time? That was stressful. But trying to tell myself to get rid of it and not give it a second thought? I don't really like that.

I see.

[He didn't understand what she went through. He doubted he ever could or would, but he saw what she was trying to say. Somewhat. A little]

I cannot promise an end to my behavior. Sometimes I act without truly realizing the ramifications of what I'm doing, as I'm sure you have noticed.

But I can promise a new start, and that I will try. In addition, should it be easier on you, I understand completely if you wish to get rid of it in the future.

[It would probably be his fault anyway]

[She actually gives a gentle smile of sorts at him and gives a nod.]

And that's all I could ever ask for Fenris. Just a little understanding is all I need. Thank you.

[It's all she wants.]

And I can promise you, I'll still be myself, but I'll try to be a bit more low key. I know I can be god awful and obnoxious even if I think it's fun. Growing up is always a work in progress after all!

Why do I have the feeling you will never fully 'grow up'.

[His tone is dry, BUT it's not mean. Progress!]

Because sadly, I don't think I can give up candy or those fruit gummi snacks. Those are great, you should try those.

[WELL BACK TO NORMAL... SORTA]

[TEASING WITH INCREASED MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING]

[SORT OF]

I'm afraid you lost me at 'gummi'.

It means they're chewy and delicious.

[And for a second it seems like she falters from being cheerful because she's feeling something else. She's... happy, but it's a bittersweet happiness. So she bows her head, still smiling with her bangs covering her face.]

... Sorry, could you give me a moment? I'm feeling a little...

[He's about to make a quip about how their ideas of delicious are probably vastly different, but he holds back with concern when he sees Lien's sudden change in posture]

Are you ill?

Nah.

I'm happy.

You have an odd way of showing it.

And as you should know by now, I'm an odd person.

...

A fair point.

[IC CONTACT POST]

ACTION [morning of 3-14] (left in Lien's mailbox)

ACTION [checking her mailbox later]

[Voicemail, March 12]

[Front door delivery, June 21st]

[June 21st Evening] (fixed for bad grammar hnngh)

text

Re: text

Re: text

Re: text

Re: text

Re: text

Re: text

Re: text

Re: text

Re: text

Re: text

Re: text

INVITATION ADDRESSED TO LIEN LEFT IN MAILBOX

[AUDIO]

action/audio

action

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