November+December Catch-All

[loopsiedaisy]

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

Comments

[loopsiedaisy]

[Teehee. Daggers. Something something typical for a Scissors type - except it's really not typical of Siffrin. Or it wasn't before.]

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?

[dunchies]

[ That immediately gets him flustered. He's not made for these games, Siffrin. ]

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...

[loopsiedaisy]

Sure, sparky. Ribombee gave us bigger huts because he doesn't like us.

[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.]

[dunchies]

Technically our points helped, but... yeah.

[ 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. ]

[loopsiedaisy]

[...]

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?']

[dunchies]

... Yes?

[ 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]

[loopsiedaisy]

[Well. Yeah. They did kind of think that, actually!]

[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]

[loopsiedaisy]

I can't turn you down if you're asking, sparky, can I? I'll be there!

[Their words sound as just as breezy as before, almost dismissive, but... their tail has stopped that agitated swishing, and lifted a bit.]

[dunchies]

... Really?

[ 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. ]