paradisa | (no subject)

[backdated to an earlier hour in the evening --]

[filter: "House Sage"]

[the message appears without any pauses, she'd thought about what to write over and over before actually setting pen to paper]

Although those weren't the best circumstances to meet under, the fact remains that I was in your care for the past few days. I appreciate it.

Thank you.

[/filter]

Should that "holiday" be considered a world change? The gap between it and the previous one was shorter than before, I think.

And if it was, did we pick up any newcomers or past residents?

[there's still much more on her mind, but she needs to mull over those things longer.

For now, Shizuru is on the roof, very decidedly not for the most common reason folks come here, accompanied by a little tinkling critter hovering in the air just beyond the edge. It seems happy...probably because it was turned into a phone strap during the "family reunion" and misses having walkies (fly-ies? floaties?)]

Don't go out too far, I won't be able to pull you back.

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You need not thank me, at least. Though, I agree, the circumstances were not ideal, it was a pleasure to meet and care for so many I would not otherwise know.

[Pause]

I suppose it would be foolish to apologize for being overly familiar when we were all under the illusion that we were kin. [But she still kind of wants to...]

[have some footsteps approaching from behind. Between her crossed arms and the fact that it looks like that scowl is going to be etched permanently on her face, it's probably safe to say that she didn't think too highly of the events of the past week.]

Hey.

[scooowl. The cute pokemon gets a scowl as well, when she notices it floating there.]

[oh mamadriel] It would. I don't expect you to, though I only hope the others feel the same as us.

[and here comes one of said things on her mind.

Intimidated, the poor Chimecho falls back on the one habit she's never been successful at making it kick, and clings to her hair. Shizuru continues to look unruffled]

Hello.

[the hair accessory gets another look before she finally turns her gaze away and stares at the surrounding landscape instead.

After a few moments:] That was the dumbest week of my life.

[sort of]

As do I.

You are well, I hope? This past week seems to have troubled the hearts of many here. [Yeah... that ever-present maternal attitude? That wasn't castle influence.]

The castle outdid itself back there, compared to simply foisting children on us. [it wasn't that she minded being a family with anyone in particular, or anyone at all -- the filter wouldn't have been there if she did -- but there were other things, other details in that life, she would rather she not even have memories of]

I think I'm doing better than some. Perhaps many.

[she strokes her Chimecho, ostensibly to soothe it, but also to keep her hands from letting on more than she cares to say at the moment]

We'll give you some privacy. Unless you feel like talking about it.

[she doesn't, not much. She's not sure she can. That's irrelevant, though]

It did. It was a rather intricate deception. [Galadriel was rather fortunate in that regard. There was little in that life that she found truly objectionable. And she knows that further feelings, especially false feelings planted by the castle, do not diminish those she holds for her true family. So all and all, she's willing to just shrug it off.]

I am glad to hear it.

[have a sidelong glance, and silence for a minute. Wasn't that the whole problem? Not talking about anything important?]

I don't need a family. My own was messed up enough.

What about you? How have you been? [the question stems more from courtesy than actual concern. She realizes she has no inkling of what the others in that "family" are like as their actual selves to be able to tell how they'd handle coming back]

Well enough. Like you, I believe I am taking this better than most.

[Pause] It is strange to think we know so little of each other.

[so they are. Okay.

Okay.

As long as they don't bring her side of things into this]

Would you say that if the world change didn't end?

Which correlates to how we were so distantly "related." [makes sense, in a almost twisted way] Or are the others unfamiliar to you as well?

Many were, yes. A few are dear friends, but most I had never met.

[a scoff] That 'family' was pretty screwed up too. [muttering now] Though still sort of happy.

[there goes the theory she had...]

Might be less awkward that way. They say a close friend is like a sibling, yet some aspects are just not the same.

And you're upset to find you won't have that. That it wasn't real.

[more a statement than a question. If she can find the root of what has Natsuki so pissed, she'll know what she has to work with]

I believe the most difficulty I will have will be with those friends whom the castle saw fit to make my children or grandchildren.

While I am old enough to fill the role, I am inclined to think it a jest at my expense. [Yes, castle. We get it. She's old and motherly. hahahaha.]

I had a lot of fun as your cousin too! If you still want to hang out, I wouldn't mind, even if we're not related anymore.

[there's more silence as she mulls it over.

Slowly:] No. It was more of a slap in the face than anything else. Nothing I've done or gone through matters because everything can be fixed in an instant by some stupid sentient building.

[scowling again] Besides, I wouldn't trade you for the whole lot of them.

[This filter pulls some heart strings... in a good way. She's not sure who she's talking to though, but the feeling remains.]

It wasn't so bad, was it? Thank you for trusting.

Not a humourous one, if that is so. [and while she can admit to being curious about Galadriel's actual age, it places somewhere high up on her list of Rude Offenses -- a lady's age is a delicate topic! No class at all in asking!]

I do remember being impressed by how you appeared far younger than you were said to be.

[she would shake her head, except that'd dislodge her Pokémon. There is a suggestion of disbelief which flickers over her face, even reaching her eyes. Good that it's fairly dark out]

Thank you. [she'll be saying that a lot, she thinks] But I must disagree. The castle didn't "fix" everything. It didn't invalidate your past.

[and it's the four sets of memories, all of them always, eventually, having the girl before herself as their one permanent fixture, which makes her certain:] Whatever it can make you remember or forget, you're still you.

Glad to hear that.

I think we'd have to start learning about each other from the beginning, now.

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Tenma-kun