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Date & Time: backdated to about November 22
Location: moonbase room #161
Characters: Mikuni Oriko (

precludes); Kure Kirika (

postpones)
Summary: whoa that mutiny. it sure was a thing. or, who decided it was acceptable for two dorks with abandonment issues to get split up across spacetime?
Warnings: unfortunately, absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder.

[her ears pick up on a familiar rhythm of footfalls outside their room, and by the time the door opens, there she is, taking in the sight of her partner -- rather, the barely-restrained fatigue, held together with Oriko's practiced veneer of calm.

Though she had decided to welcome her back with a smile, it still causes a twinge she can't quite ignore, fingers coming up to brush away a stray lock or two, even while her other hand moves to claim what little luggage stands off on the side.

No matter how many times they return to each other, separation hardly got any easier, more so after the recent episode with the equipment and the possibility that they would be apart for good...

The physical contact, light, a little disbelieving, is as much reassurance for Oriko as for herself]

Hey.

How'd the mission go?

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[It is fatigue that has hold of her, and though she's still dedicated to hiding the worst of it, some of that shield lowers as soon as the door closes behind her.]

Kirika! [Oriko whispers. It's rare that Kirika enters Oriko's space first, and maybe that surprises her. She looks a little startled, but she breathes, softly. She's reassured to have her here, back here, whatever she says.]

Never mind that, if everything we intended to do has only brought us back here, to this. So long as things continue this way... [She balls her hand into a fist.]

[too soon yo, too soon.

Her fingers, raised to smooth out Oriko's expression, pause and hover shortly, until she seems to recall what she intended and resumes doing so]

I understand how you feel. [which allows her to see how the supposed "mutineers" could lose their patience, strung along by the Initiative all the while.

Look how that turned out...] But what are we to do about it?

[Being so constantly vexed by the past, always seeking to change it... She can see the appeal of it far too well now, though it goes against everything that she is.

Her silence is telling. Oriko hasn't had time to reorganize a plan, yet. Her mind is going through their options, antsy from being empty-handed.

She's probably mortally wounded the moment already, but maybe she hasn't quite killed it. Smiling half patient and half fretful down at her, she says,]

Were you caught up in all of this?

No. [the wry something-like-amusement resurfaces] I don't play well with others, you know that.

[notable exceptions notwithstanding.

Would it have been different, if they participated? Not much point in dwelling on an unrealized possibility, fascinating as it can be. For a successful follow-up, they'd have to examine where the previous attempt went wrong]

You might want to go over certain conversation logs, though.

No heroics? [She had hoped that Kirika would not act rashly. Oriko takes a seat on the bottom bunk, her bunk, knees pulled stiffly together.] It seems we're all in hot water. I'll see to them.

[She brushes the back of her knuckles absently against the lock of hair Kirika had smoothed away.

How strange it is for their positions to be reversed like this.] What is it that you always say when you come running home...? 'I'm famished.' [But she doesn't feel that hungry, really.]

I could fix up something, if you wanted.

[is what she says, despite opening the suitcase to begin unpacking instead, feet crossed beneath herself. Left unattended, she has a mild suspicion that it would lie forgotten and neglected easily enough.

Oriko appears so much smaller, more delicate, in her current position -- she isn't inclined to leave, and staying occupied serves the purpose plenty without pressing too close]

Did your magic act up again?

That's all right.

[She lets Kirika dig into the busy work instead, though. It is too much to ask more things of her. If anyone gets food, it can be her.

The mention of holes, potential shortcomings in her magic, draws an uncomfortable sigh from the back of her throat.]

It's not that! [The defensiveness is a little reflective. Honestly... Oriko bites into the inside of her cheek.] They shouldn't be acting up. I don't know what it is. [ her knees pull tighter together. She has thought and searched and thought of all the possible problems. It's difficult.]

You can't expect me to know, when you don't.

[shrugging, she sets down the stuff in her hands, and stares at the suitcase's contents (what a mess. how did it turn into such a mess. was everything thrown together in ten seconds or.) for a protracted moment before raising her eyes in an bid to reach Oriko's]

How's it feel? [leans over! Here, have a tentative sort of pat on the ankle closer within reach] Bad? Icky? The kind of weird when you forget to change uniforms for the season?

[That can't have anything to do with Kirika going through them, can it...?

Her hand pauses just over Kirika's hair at that rather specific description of a bad feeling.]

Isn't that why you lay them out beforehand? [It's really just a head pat that she intends, but Oriko's fingers hesitate against Kirika's bangs, her forehead.]

It is bad, of course. These outcomes seem so uncertain.

I suppose there are so many cooks in the kitchen, and it has been that way. [The future of this world is turning on so many axes and actions.

There are things here still that must be set right, but...These recent events, the separation. There are things in this world she must preserve.]

[her neck is craned, head tilted while she shifts, seemingly undecided between a bid to look closer at the hand before her without going cross-eyed, and settling into the contact.

It mostly just comes off like an uncomfortable position she will regret later]

Always, yeah. [what can we say, the assessment of their situation isn't unexpected]

For now...take a break first, alright? [Oriko's opinion aside, she finds it more than well-deserved] You don't see how wound up you are.

Edited (bluh) 2013-12-31 11:29 (UTC)

I am?

...Are you worried about me? [She doesn't brush it away, this time.] I'm sorry.

[Oriko returns Kirika's bangs to where they were before she pushed them out of place, and then embraces her loosely around the shoulders from behind. For an instant it is simply nice that they were both here to come back to, out of place as they are.]

No need for that.

[returning the gesture is harder than it should. Eventually, she has to make do with reaching around herself, ignoring the bed frame pressed into her side while she turns as much as allowed]

You're my partner. Who else am I to worry about?

[how does somebody so intelligent manage to be so...not]

[One could chalk it up to exhaustion if it weren't...completely independent of tiredness.]

Honestly...

Worry about yourself, as well, sometimes.

[Things are different than they could have been. She chuckles tiredly--but maybe Kirika will still knock herself out first.]

Priorities, priorities.

[it would be telling were she to admit that she doesn't think she has much worth worrying about, if at all; the time and effort is more worthwhile when spent on actually doing something about it.

Like now.

She gets to her feet, in some part out of a stubborn refusal to doze off first, and shoves Oriko's shoulder lightly]

Don't act like I can't see what you're doing there.

[Oriko covers her mouth to stifle something half-laugh and half-yawn. She's surprised, however briefly, to be shoved; those things she doesn't expect coming are always the most...vulnerable.

Blink-blink.]

That would be rude--to try and fool you. I shouldn't say 'I have no idea what you're talking about.'

[She pulls her legs up onto the bed with her.] Once all that is put away, I think this day is over.

[the grin tugging at the edge of her lips establishes itself in full, triumphant.

There.

Took a while, but she'd finally gotten Oriko to smile]

Let me deal with it. [nothing she hasn't seen before, anyway] Get some sleep. I'll be here when you're up.