[Of course he is awake. Of course he answers her promptly. … But no, not “of course” anymore. After their last exchange in the Greenwood Yards, after she had ignored his attempt to speak to her, perhaps on that issue…
Why does he answer her? (Why had he bothered looking for her?)
Normally, Hayame’s presence is intense in Communion, partially because she dislikes it as a medium so much that she forces herself as a baseline, and partially because… well, she’s inclined towards intensity in person, too. But the jinba Liem “meets” there today… is a shadow of that one. One that can barely stand to have “eyes” upon her, that doesn’t want to emerge from the shadows of the corner and be seen, even in this sort of spiritual space, that doesn’t want to admit that-]
Liem Talbott.
[“Dhampir”, inquisitor, former… former…]
… I am informed that you were inconvenienced yesterday.
[That’s all it was. An inconvenience. And inconvenience borne of a mistake, a weakness she hadn’t been able to keep to her fucking self once the pain became too great and her mind lashed out for anything, anyone, any place to run.]
It was not my intent.
[How to explain-]
Claude von Riegan-
[She starts to try and blame him just to save face, to say that he shouldn’t have involved anyone, that he worried over a simple missed appointment, but. No. Even to deflect from her own situation, even if just an excuse… she cannot besmirch him. Not when she had done the same thing when Set had vanished, for all that worry had been understood. Not when she’d spent the night oscillating between nightmares and bitter weeping cradled in his lap.
So what-]
… I am no longer indisposed. You are relieved of your search.
[He can go back to his… to his duties and his foul diet and-]
no subject
Why does he answer her? (Why had he bothered looking for her?)
Normally, Hayame’s presence is intense in Communion, partially because she dislikes it as a medium so much that she forces herself as a baseline, and partially because… well, she’s inclined towards intensity in person, too. But the jinba Liem “meets” there today… is a shadow of that one. One that can barely stand to have “eyes” upon her, that doesn’t want to emerge from the shadows of the corner and be seen, even in this sort of spiritual space, that doesn’t want to admit that-]
Liem Talbott.
[“Dhampir”, inquisitor, former… former…]
… I am informed that you were inconvenienced yesterday.
[That’s all it was. An inconvenience. And inconvenience borne of a mistake, a weakness she hadn’t been able to keep to her fucking self once the pain became too great and her mind lashed out for anything, anyone, any place to run.]
It was not my intent.
[How to explain-]
Claude von Riegan-
[She starts to try and blame him just to save face, to say that he shouldn’t have involved anyone, that he worried over a simple missed appointment, but. No. Even to deflect from her own situation, even if just an excuse… she cannot besmirch him. Not when she had done the same thing when Set had vanished, for all that worry had been understood. Not when she’d spent the night oscillating between nightmares and bitter weeping cradled in his lap.
So what-]
… I am no longer indisposed. You are relieved of your search.
[He can go back to his… to his duties and his foul diet and-]