This means nothing to me

[restingstitchface]

WHO: Crane and Various
WHERE: Nonah
WHEN: September 20th
WHAT: Mysterious packages
WARNINGS: None


Admissions Office, Nonah | Haru

When the door to the admissions office opens that morning and welcomes Crane inside, he steadfastly manages to refrain from commenting at the students annoying the breath out of him. He decides it best to push through and swipes his files, applicants to his Psych 101, but is too quick to swirl around when he collides with someone.

"Excuse me."



Psychiatrist's Office, Nonah | Boba

There was light shining through the door. The warm, muted radiance of a lamp from the hallway.

The house Boba visited appeared to be an old mansion in the earliest quarter of Nonah, gothic architecture running from its pointed rooves to the porch outside the front door. Besides the lamp, there wasn't much else visible in the hallway. There was nothing that was untoward about the building, it did seem like the sort of place where one could find people who appreciated the sort of delivery Boba was making, but the fact the occupants name was already known to the shadier elements of Maurtia Falls might give anyone room for pause.

A figure approaches down the hallway, coated in haze until keys jingle and he opens the door. A slender, aesthetic man who observed his guest from behind a pair of thin-rimmed spectacles. A gesture towards the hall and he's stepping back.

"Please. Come inside."

Before anyone sees you.



Birthday Reflection, Nonah | OTA

It surprised him how quickly his birthday seemed to roll around. The circumstances through the year had been extraordinarily stressful. Old enemies who had caused him no end of grief were gone. The loneliness had surprised him - but oh, had it been excruciating.

He reads his paper sternly, ignoring the doorbell. Surely people didn't believe he derived pleasure from being complimented? But there he is, coiling his fingers round his curtains and wondering just who is ringing his door at this hour?

Comments

[restingstitchface]

[Ouch.

Crane sighs a little bit and gently rubs his side. He stubbornly refuses to look near Archie for a while and walks around him, grasping his hands at his back. A short time after the initial blow, he moves on other to the closed door at the end of the hall and opens it so they can go take a seat. The kitchen itself is just as old and grand as the rest of the building, though unlike the kitchen of his childhood plaster isn't coming off the walls.]

So you've come all this way. Need refreshment?

[h2no]

[he winces a little sympathetically-- it wasn't intentional. archie certainly seems like he's out of place in the grand old kitchen, he's feeling it, too. he's used to more modern layouts or, uh. the team aqua base cave.]

I could go for a drink. [a pause. he looks over at the fridge.] That thing for anything in it other than aged whiskey?

[restingstitchface]

It's not much for anything.

[He opens the door with a languid pull of boredom. Scant food and drink sits on the bottom and top. A case of cans and a couple of packets of microwave rice alongside some butter.]

Well, I guess Harley won't object if I offload her excess onto you.

[h2no]

[archie cocks his head at the Grand Reveal, or... lack thereof. he expected more? it's a weird clash. like he expected some expensive meats or wines. this is shocking.]

Cool. [AND SO: he reaches in and grabs a can, then pointedly looks back to crane.] You want one?

[he expects the answer to be a resounding no, but gotta ask anyway.]

[restingstitchface]

[Crane holds up his hands.]

You must be joking.

[That'll be a no, then.]

[h2no]

Hey, you never know. [he shrugs, puts the extra back and closes the door.] This is a nice place you got. Thanks for invitin' me in.

[he's trying.]

[restingstitchface]

You're welcome.

[Crane walks round the table. It feels difficult to muster up energy for something so simple as conversation sometimes. Eventually, he stops and gestures to a chair, before his fingers grasp behind his back.]

Take a seat.

[h2no]

[he obliges, taking a seat. it doesn't take a genius to see that crane is uncomfortable.]

You don't gotta have me, you know. Or-- I dunno. We could sit in stoic silence.

[restingstitchface]

Ha. I suppose.

[Taking a few breaths, he leans on his hand, leaning over the table.]

You're just burning to enjoy my company, aren't you?

[h2no]

[he shrugs, taking a drink.]

Maybe. I'm sure there's a million theories about easy attachment and emotional issues. Or maybe I just already do.

[restingstitchface]

[Almost immediately, Crane withdraws from the table and begins eying the mess in the sink.]

And during which of your lonely nights did you hone that realization?

[h2no]

[he swirls his drink in the can.]

Didn't I already tell you? You kicked me into it when you told me straight up how moronic I was being by putting on such a stupid front. That was the middle of the day, if I recall correctly.

[restingstitchface]

[He wrinkles his nose at some especially crusty grime. Being listened to? Well doesn't that just feel... nice?]

Oh? I was under the impression you refused to listen to me whatsoever.

[h2no]

Yeah, that was part of the front. Bit of a Mobius Strip, ain't it?

[he just grins. a little shittily. a very small part of his stupid mask through, though it's also genuine.]

You were right, though. I was using it to deflect responsibility. It was holding me back.

[restingstitchface]

Oh, well, that's perfect. I always like to hear that my advice helped someone.

[He pauses briefly. His words are truth, even for someone unpaletable like this man.]

[h2no]

It feels like there's a but there.

[restingstitchface]

Well, I don't enjoy making my living as your psychiatric pez dispenser.

[His brow wrinkles. Archie's. Anybody's, really.]

Men switch themselves off at the bar. Me? I prefer to curl up at home.

[And not be, you know, on the job. Or maybe this is BS and he loves it.]

[h2no]

--Ah.

[that... is a bit how he'd been treating it, isn't it? he frowns a looks away, going a bit red. arceus, he is bad at this.]

H-hah, I'm gonna assume you don't mean watchin' something mindless on TV. How's, uh, how's your crow?

[restingstitchface]

[His brow furrows.]

Which one?

[h2no]

[well, that dissipates any bad feelings. archie looks instantly delighted.]

You have more?!

[restingstitchface]

[If anything, Crane seems reluctant to respond. He strides to the window, pushes it wide. Two trees stand parallel near the backyard, both covered with a fair number of the birds in question.

Then he steps back and gestures. That many.]

[h2no]

[archie

looks

fucking

delighted

who's birthday is it again? he gets up to have a better look.]

...This is a power thing, right?

[restingstitchface]

[Crane scratches under his neck and glances out the window. Oh course, it wasn't with people he was making friends.]

Much to my amusement, yes.

[h2no]

Hey, at least you like 'em! Worst case ya could have the power to attract things you don't care for.

[haha. awkward sip.]

Are they all the same old ones, or do new ones join in?

[restingstitchface]

[Feeling the chill, Crane closes the window. He cannot fathom why Archie is so interested in the things.]

All are from the same family, I believe. They are social creatures. [Unlike him.] Remind me again why you're asking.