-47 [written]

[fortunefail]

[All you get is one quick, untidy scrawl.]

I'm back.


[Of course, that's no indication Yuan is okay. He snuck out of the forest while nobody was around to see him and promptly locked the door behind himself. Those who pass his house or even want to try and visit might notice the bloody smear he left on the handle.]

Comments

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

Yuan, open the door, or I will open it for you.

[Action]

[fortunefail]

... No.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

You have ten seconds. Should they pass, your door will be opened by another means that may leave you without a door for a while. Your choice.

[Action]

[fortunefail]

Dammit. I'm not opening it.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

[She's counting, Yuan.]

[Action]

[fortunefail]

[he's not doubting her bluff whatsoever. But he's still not opening that door.]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

[When she reaches '10', there's suddenly silence.]

[Action]

[fortunefail]

[He's already bracing himself for any kind of explosion that might follow the silence.]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

[And there's still... seemingly nothing. Was it just a bluff? Could she actually have given up? What do you think, Yuan?

Hint: Always make sure all of your doors are locked before going somewhere.]

[Action]

[fortunefail]

[He would've if the Malnosso had given him a chance to! Ever since he got home, he hasn't gotten much further than the front door either. In fact, he collapsed against the wall beside it.]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

[The distance between the back and front doors isn't very long at all. Surprise, Yuan! You have a house guest.

Raine doesn't say anything just yet, only giving Yuan a look, waiting for him to register her presence.]

[Action]

[fortunefail]

[His gaze is on the floor as he sits there, determined not to acknowledge her yet. He's breathing more harshly than any guy usually would and his arms are crossed tightly over his chest. There's still a few traces of blood running down the side of his face, but he managed to wipe most of it away.]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

...

[Oh Yuan, why must you always make things difficult? She moves closer, but doesn't say anything yet, studying him]

[Action]

[fortunefail]

[Don't get too close, Raine. He won't like that.]

... Leave.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

[Oh, she's keeping her distance, for now.]

After I've gone through the trouble of coming all this way? You can't expect that I'd leave you like this.

Interesting curtains, by the way. I wasn't aware you liked decorating.

[Action]

[fortunefail]

[Raine gets a pained grimace for that. Way to kick a guy while he's down.]

Usagi paid a visit while I was gone.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

I see. How generous of her.

You've missed quite the week.

[Action]

[fortunefail]

Is that so?

[He's still not looking up to meet her eyes.]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

We haven't found out what the reason was behind it. Assuming that we may in the future...

It consisted of rehashing five or six previous experiments simultaneously. Well - one person affected at a time by a particular experiment, at least.

[Action]

[fortunefail]

Hm.

[A flinch can't be supressed when he tries to shift into a more comfortable sitting position.]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

I'm surprised that they would take people, during something like that.

Of course, had you been around, it probably would have been easier for me to grasp part of the situation.

[She's keeping an eye on him, but not making any sudden moves, about five or so feet away]

[Action]

[fortunefail]

How so?

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

The experiments involved ghosts, personality changes, gender changes, the disease, people changing into animals and other beings, and either growing older or younger.

[Action]

[fortunefail]

... Which has to do with me because...?

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

I'm sure you remember full well what happened the last time I was younger.

Regardless, it doesn't matter now, I suppose. You want to avoid going to the clinic, don't you?