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[daughterofthemark]

Hello! You have reached Arianna Wakasa of Caledonia. It seems I am unable to answer you at this time, for which I must sincerely apologize. If you would leave a message, however, I will contact you at the earliest opportu--BEEEEP

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[daughterofthemark]

[This response takes a longer time.]

I began to worry after not seeing her for a week, but I wasn't certain until I said it aloud to you.

[serrata]

[ Right. That's what she was afraid of. ]

If he was here, he'd respond, wouldn't he? He must know how worried I'm getting. But maybe his phone got broke? Or maybe he lost it? What do you think?

[ denial: not just a river in Egypt. ]

[daughterofthemark]

Perhaps. He may even be on his way back now.

[well, he's definitely on his way back, it's just a matter of back to where]

Where are you now?

[serrata]

I'm in my room – but you don't have to come over. I didn't mean to make you worry.

[ She says this, but knows Arianna will probably be at her door in .2 seconds anyway. ]

[daughterofthemark]

Don't move

[It actually takes a whole thirty seconds before there's a loud and insistent knocking on the door. The elevator was slow.]

[serrata]

[ That is surprisingly long for Arianna, as soon as she knocks, Yuuri's there to open the door. It's not exactly late enough for bed, but she's already in her pajamas. Which is unusual, but possibly explained by the soot cat she's cradling in the crook of her arm. RIP in soot, Yuuri's pajamas. ]

Arianna, you really didn't have to...

[ But even as she says that, she's very obviously grateful she's here. ]

[daughterofthemark]

[Arianna gives her a very careful hug, not wanting to squish the poor cat.]

No, I did.

[serrata]

[ It takes a bit of maneuvering, but Yuuri manages to shift herself around and hug her in return without getting either of them scratched by the slightly perturbed cat in her arms. No promises about the spreading of soot, though. ]

... thank you.

I know I'm probably just overreacting but I... I really did think we'd all go home together. At the same time, I mean.

[daughterofthemark]

[A small price to pay for hugs. Don't worry, kitty, you'll get pets eventually.]

No... it's the same for me. I never wanted any of us to be apart again.

[serrata]

Do you think, maybe–

[ And then she stops herself. Nice as it is to not be alone, the last thing she wants is anyone else (hem hem, uncle shitweasel) seeing them in the corridor and catching that something might be wrong. ]

Let's go inside and sit down, then we can tall properly. Okay?

[daughterofthemark]

[It does seem like these two are likely to attract him. Only Ardyn would make his arrival more obviously imminent. ]

Yes, of course.

[Inside we go!]

[serrata]

[ In they go!

It's not quite cold enough for the kotatsu, but it looks like it's been set up already – probably more for the cats than anything else if the very content looking kitten purring away under there is any indication. ]

Just sit down and I'll make some tea. We might as well have something to drink while you're here.

[daughterofthemark]

[Arianna makes no comment about not wanting to impose on her. Imposing is helpful, now. Yuuri does better when she has something to work on. So instead she sits, and says hello to the kitten.]

I should have brought Dame Quona. She would have liked to visit.

[Hm, she'll send some texts while she's here.]

[serrata]

We should try and arrange a little get-together for them all at some point. I'm sure it'd be nice for them to all play together again now they've settled in.

[ It seems like she's working – she's a bit less frazzled when she sets their drinks down on the kotatu and takes a seat under it herself. She's not exactly happier but... calmer, maybe. ]

... I just keep wondering if maybe I'm worrying for nothing. Maybe he's just gotten himself into some kind of trouble and now he's on his way back.

[daughterofthemark]

[Isn't it nice when families can all be together instead of being separated?]

I hope that is the case.

[Yep, families being together is good. She had a conversation or two about that...]

...Rii-san?

[serrata]

Mm.

[ There's a horrible swirl of guilt in her stomach that Arianna is here and they're talking about this. It's not like Yuuri is the only one who's had someone leave – Arianna was here missing someone from the start and Touko had disappeared too, just as Junpei had. It's not fair that she should be making Arianna sit here and commiserate with her.

She's lost in that train of thought and doesn't immediately respond. But then she seems to realize Arianna's spoken to her and she glances up. ]

Oh– what is it?

[daughterofthemark]

[She takes a deep breath and lets it out. It's time to find out whether her idea is a good one, or a stupid one that only makes things worse.]

What if I stayed here?

[serrata]

[ At first, Yuuri doesn't immediately peg what she means by here – she thinks of the station, this world as a whole and doesn't get what Arianna means but then it clicks. ]

Oh, you– really? Are you sure?

[ Because the question of if Arianna can or should isn't even really a question to Yuuri at all. The part that matters is if it inconveniences Arianna too much. ]

I'd love for you to be here but aren't you already staying with a friend?