Siffrin...? (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
loopsiedaisy) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
bottlecaplogs2025-11-11 04:03 pm
loopsiedaisy) wrote in bottlecaplogs2025-11-11 04:03 pm
November+December Catch-All
Who: Siffrin (Shinx) + Shoka, Laios, Cedric, Chara, Anasui, Parvati
What: The fallout of the Network Incident, and also quests. Sometimes both at once!
Where: Spire, Canopy, wherever various search quests take them
When: One thread backdated to October, otherwise throughout November (including during the snowstorm) and December
Warnings: Potentially Siffrin's warnings (definitely spoilers & alluded-to suicidal ideation in Shoka's thread), the usual quest peril
What: The fallout of the Network Incident, and also quests. Sometimes both at once!
Where: Spire, Canopy, wherever various search quests take them
When: One thread backdated to October, otherwise throughout November (including during the snowstorm) and December
Warnings: Potentially Siffrin's warnings (definitely spoilers & alluded-to suicidal ideation in Shoka's thread), the usual quest peril
Cheri Housing, during the blizzard (Laios)
EDMpracticing their electric move control. Someone remembers and was thinking "absolutely not," and has banished them to the furthest mid-tier housing available... practically on top of each other. If they're going to be playing loud music, do it away from everyone else!!][Until the snowstorm, this mostly isn't relevant. Laios is avoiding Siffrin, Siffrin is telling themself that's only to be expected and not thinking about it, all is well (no) and quiet in this corner of the Canopy. But the uneasy silence only lasts until everyone's snowed in and Siffrin has nothing to do but think
and maybe huddle with stardust. They can feel themself going stir-crazy at the snowed-in days feeling the same, itching with the need to go somewhere different, and that's the point where they abruptly come to the conclusion: being ignored is worse. Someone acting like they don't exist is worse. They'd rather be outright hated, even by someone who they were(??) friends with.][Which is what prompts a Shinx just busting through the layer of snow at Laios's doorway.]
[They're not supposed to have been outside? It's fiiiine, they're literally right next to each other. Siffrin's absolutely not shivering a little because their winter coat wasn't done growing in, they don't know what you're talking about. Far more importantly:]
Have you been avoiding me, sparky? I'm so hurt!
no subject
The pit in his stomach after their last conversation still hasn't gone away even after a month. Confusion. Uncertainty. Concern. All things he struggles to manage, made all the worse that it's over a friend. Someone he thought was a friend. Are they still friends? He'd rather let that question remain unanswered than face the very real possibility that he misred who Siffrin was the entire time he's known them. It's easier this way. Worry about something else, they said.
Something like bundling up and bunkering down during a blizzard. He can do that. That's a solvable problem. Siffrin suddenly jumping through a wall of snow to barge in is not.
Laios immediately freezes as his lovely neighbor in question makes their grand entrance. The bone in his mouth drops to the floor. ]
—Siffrin? [ A gasp more than a name. He's too stunned to move. ] Um.
[ Rather than bumble out a blatant lie, he's going to completely ignore the question! ]
You look cold.
me giggling over the bone
[Moving on!! They wave one paw dismissively.] I'm fine!
[They'll warm up, they're sure. Meanwhile, they drop to the floor to prop their head up on their front paws - a pose that their current body is not made for, it can't be comfortable, but they're making it happen anyway - and smile winningly up at Laios.]
So what has my dear friend been up to? You know, since you've been so busy!
[What with trying not to shiver, though, they've forgotten about keeping their tail up to match the rest of their body language - it's low, swishing anxiously.]
his comfort bone in these trying times
... O-okay. [ He paws at his bone before sliding it behind him. ] I do have some blankets. Just so you know.
[ As much as he can't match Siffrin's cheeriness, Laios can at least play a decent enough host. Though, he can't help but stare at the way they hold themselves now. That does not look comfortable, buddy, even for a feline. ]
I was at the Spire for a bit. Helping with that new project? [ He pauses, distracted at the twitching tail before shaking his head a bit. ] But mostly just working with the Miltanks and Wooloos lately. N-need plenty of wool and milk for the winter! [ He wants to follow with a laugh, but all he can manage is an awkward smile. ] You've been busy too, S... Siffrin?
no subject
[On the other hand. The idea of rubbing against the inside walls of Laios's hut is kind of funny. Maybe they'll do that later. (They let the blanket offer by without comment.)]
Oh, just the usual! Quests, helping build roofs on the Canopy huts... I was wondering why I never saw you around, even though you live here!
But that explains it! You were just busy with the Miltanks.
[Their eyes are curved up into crescents, but uncharacteristically, they're looking directly at Laios.]
no subject
... O-oh, that's right. The roofs. [ He probably should have helped with those. Then again, Flowey was spearheading that project, and that is it's own can of worms. There's only so many of those he can handle at once. ] I'm glad you've been keeping busy too, without, um. Getting hurt or anything.
[ Or killing someone. ]
B-but the Miltanks just need a lot of help lately. I guess... it does seem that way! [ A beat, and an awkward one at that. ] ... I think I'm just still getting used to having all this extra space.
no subject
You say that like I get hurt all the time, sparky! [Their tail lashes more violently once, then goes back to that tense swishing.]
Not excited to have some more room to yourself? [Then, before they can stop themself, a little bit mockingly:] Or do you think we're all the way out here because Ribombee's annoyed with us?
no subject
N-no, I just meant — you know, because they, um. Quests can be dangerous.
[ His tail goes between his legs. He's really making a mess of this. ]
Mm. But... it was just nice sharing with everyone. Now it's getting colder, a-and... [ He pauses, hesitating. Not because of Siffrin's tone, which completely goes over his head, but because he hadn't thought about that. ] Wait, do you think that's why? We were pretty loud that one time...
no subject
[Privately, Siffrin does wonder if it was a little bit of both, now that Laios brings up their high-volume experimenting...]
[But at some point in the intervening months, they definitely figured out that all the extra stuff Laios was getting was favoritism, not doubt. And now they can't help but needle at it a bit.]
[Just... feels familiar!]
You can always invite people over, you know! Or they might start inviting themselves, teehee.
[Despite how it sounds, they don't actually mean themself... except for the second half, they do mean it for the second half. But "how it sounds" is exactly what this persona is for.]
no subject
[ When Siffrin puts it that way, it does sound a bit ridiculous. Doesn't really explain away just how isolated they are now though. Maybe there's some guilt in that thought too, considering he left Siffrin without a neighbor for a bit. ]
I was actually hoping to invite everyone over for dinner here. Might as well use up all this space for something. [ He sighs, glancing around at just how barren and empty it feels right now. At least he's not so alone right now. Funny that. ] We'll probably have to postpone it with blizzard though. Do you think... you'll still want to come?
[ That feels strange even asking. Months ago, it wouldn't even be a question. Now he doesn't even know if they'd bother, much less how he'll feel about it they do wind up showing up. ]
no subject
Oh, am I invited too?
[They're practically guilting him into it. It doesn't... mean anything.]
[It's an effort of will to bite back 'I thought you were too busy for me?']
no subject
[ Said with a quiet sincerity that could only be genuine. ]
Did you think you weren't? [ Now there's the sound of guilt mixed in there too. ] I... I know I've been... [ Obviously keeping his distance, but he can't bring himself to say it. ] But it'd be nice if all my, um, friends can make it.
[ There's some hesitancy when he says friends, like he isn't so sure Siffrin actually considers himself a part of that group anymore. ]
[1/2]
[And it wouldn't be unreasonable of him - it's not like they gave Laois any reason to think he should still be friends with them, last time they talked! And they're not a likable person. They just don't want to also be forgettable.]
[But now they're not sure what to think, between Laios's hesitance to call them a friend (expected!) but also his earnestness.]
[...]
[2/2]
[Their words sound as just as breezy as before, almost dismissive, but... their tail has stopped that agitated swishing, and lifted a bit.]
no subject
[ Just like them, he's a little taken aback. It's not like he doesn't want to believe them, but taking Siffrin at face value now doesn't quite feel right either, not when he still doesn't really know what's going on with them. ]
You can also invite other people, if you want. [ He glances back with a small smile, though it immediately starts to waver. ] There'll be more than just the food I like to eat, so it shouldn't be... weird.
[ After the whole debate that Akechi started, he's realized meat-eating is a lot more controversial than he thought. ]