i'll wait, so show me why you're strong

[ravagers]

[ Generally, people need time to cope and gather themselves after a... thing... like that. Unfortunately, that's not how Vanille sees it. Her thing is avoid, and once she gets out of that hellhole that's the courtroom, she makes her way to the supplies closet, then to the library. She spends some time setting up things, pushing things aside to make room. Once she's finished, and she's met up with the Party Brigade, she makes enough invitations for everyone. She slips them under everyone's doors, or hands them out if she sees someone walking around.



Inside the library, there are candles set up to provide some soft, comforting lighting. There are pots of tea, courtesy of Mercy, pancakes made by Viktor, and books (picked out by Estelle, of course) laid out on the surrounding tables. The others have provided their own touches, and Vanille's even managed to make something: sugar cookies, which are actually very good. They're flavored lightly with all sorts of flavors--not all in the same cookie, okay--and each plate is marked with whatever flavor she's put in them.

After a successful trial, it's healthy to indulge, right? Let's mingle. ]

Comments

[oyashiromama]

[At some point, Hanyuu takes a seat next to Orihime, and for a moment, she doesn't say anything. Then...]

It's wrong that you had to push so much in there. All of this...it's wrong. And I'm sorry. I wish I could do more for you.

[introspects]

[ Oh, Hanyuu. You did so well. Her honesty and thinking about what happened back there combined gets Orihime to tear up again. It wasn't Hanyuu's intent, surely, but she just... ]

I-I'm sorry too, Hanyuu-san, you--you had to fight so hard, didn't you? This is--this is unfair!

[ She wipes at her eyes with the back of her hand. ]

[oyashiromama]

[This poor girl. These poor people. All of them, none of this-- Forcing tears of her own down, she puts an arm around Orihime, gently shushing her.]

You've nothing to be sorry for. You fought your hardest and did your best, even though you aren't meant for anything like this.

[introspects]

I--I could have helped them, if I just...if I had my powers... I could have helped them!

[ That's the hardest part to accept. She could have done something. She could have at least tried to save Adelina when they found her body, but she's powerless, crying as Hanyuu wraps an arm around her. ]

This isn't fair... Nobody...nobody deserves this.

[oyashiromama]

[Her voice almost catches in her throat.]

It's not easy...to be powerless and watching. [Begging, pleading, please stop, this isn't what I died for, please--] ...especially in a world of demons and monsters such as this.

[There's nothing she can do except squeeze her tighter.]

But it's not...your fault. None of this is your fault.

[introspects]

[ And that's the sad truth. There's nothing anyone can do to bring them back, now. ]

I don't know what to do, Hanyuu-san, I don't know what to do, I don't know...

[ She's not expecting Hanyuu have any answers. She's mostly just very frantic, stressed, and feeling a huge sense of guilt for something that, objectively, isn't any of their faults. ]

[oyashiromama]

W-we...

[She has none. Still, she has none. And yet...]

...we take hold of...the good memories we're making here...and we don't let anything soil them. No matter what.

[introspects]

[ ...Good memories, huh...? ]

Then...I want to keep on making good memories with you, and everyone else... Memories that I won't forget, and hold dear to my heart...

[oyashiromama]

I-I do too. [She forces a smile.] Let's hold on to that, and use it to push away the bad.

[She doesn't know how much it would work, but...]

[introspects]

[ What a kind, kind woman.

Orihime's already taking a liking to her. And yet... ]

Hanyuu-san...remember how you wanted to get to know me last week? Well, I want to get to know you better, too.

[ She gives Hanyuu a small smile that has a glimmer of hope behind it, sniffing the last of her tears away in an effort to try and do exactly what they'd just said--make more memories. ]

[oyashiromama]

[That startles her a little. Her? Why, when she's just...?]

Y-you do? A- aah, I-I'm afraid I don't know where to start. Or...how to.

[It's been so long, after all.]

[introspects]

[ Because Hanyuu just seems like such a kind soul. She asked Orihime first, didn't she? So Orihime will return the favor! ]

Well...hm! [ She's thinking of something to help her out here-- ] Oh! How about...you tell me about the story behind your age? If your profile's correct, it says you're over a thousand years old. I'd love to know why.

[oyashiromama]

Behind my... Aah... [Well, that's something. Hanyuu frowns a little and awkwardly looks away for a moment.]

Well, my...my species is already long-lived, but...the majority of that time I wasn't exactly...what you would call alive.

[introspects]

[ For whatever reason, Orihime suspected that something like that was the case with Hanyuu. Though...Hanyuu would be considered fairly old in even Soul Society terms. The fact that she looks so young is actually amazing?? ]

So...does that mean you're a spirit...?

[ She doesn't seem super surprised by this. ]

[oyashiromama]

[Orihime's two for two on throwing Hanyuu for a loop. She very slowly nods, remembering Watanuki first responding to her.]

I- I... yes, I am...was, I suppose. The...the village's belief in me made me a god, but I...couldn't communicate with anyone.

[introspects]

Wow...you're considered to be a god... That's amazing, Hanyuu-san!

[ Technically her friends in the Soul Society are...gods...death gods. Still, she's amazed at Hanyuu's status, and claps her hands together once. ]

I'm sorry about not being able to communicate with anyone, though... Were they just unable to see you?

[oyashiromama]

[It's still so strange to her, that she says that and so many here treat it with an exciting twist. However, her eyes drop to the ground, and she stammers a little.]

M-mm... No, I...they couldn't hear me, or sense me either.

[introspects]

Ah. I see... The villagers didn't have spiritual awareness, then? That's how it is in my world, too.

[ There's something about that answer that sounds so...melancholy and sad. Orihime won't press the issue, but she can sense something's bothering Hanyuu. ]

[oyashiromama]

Yes, it... No one did, nothing I did would affect the living world at all.

...Are...you like Watanuki? [...give her a moment to clarify that-] He can talk with spirits, are you the same?

[introspects]

[ Ah...right. Watanuki had told Hanyuu about that. He'd mentioned it before. ]

Yes...we have the same ability. If...if I had been a villager, I would have kept you company.

[oyashiromama]

M- mm... [A very sad smile.] If...you would be able to... It's said I can't...make any contact with humans until... Until for eight generations, a girl is first born in the Furude family. It's...what I was so fervently waiting for back home.

[And from her tone, it doesn't seem like she thinks it'll happen soon.]

But...that would've been nice. A girl like you, to talk to...I would've liked it.

[introspects]

...Oh...Oh, Hanyuu-san...

[ Don't mind her, she's just going to come over and put a hand over hers to offer some form of comfort. It's all she can do, for now. ]

I'm sorry...you must have been lonely. But...I'm glad you're getting your chance now, even if--even if it's not the best of circumstances.

[oyashiromama]

[Ah... She's...very quiet, but:] I wish none of us had to experience this, but...

...it's the only reprieve I've had from my loneliness in one thousand years.

[So yeah. She's appreciating what little good she's got.]

[introspects]

...When we get out of here [ not if ], if you come to Karakura Town, I'll definitely keep you company.

[ She's almost sure Hanyuu's from Japan, so... ] There's a few of us who can see spirits, so you'll never be alone.

[oyashiromama]

[O-oh... Oh-]

I- I-I would have to...keep around Hinamizawa, mostly. A-as their...guardian deity.

[But she looks and sounds incredibly grateful, incredibly touched.]