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[soul_sister]

This mailbox is currently useless and I'm not bothering with it. Please try my secretary.

((OOC: She will be answering things here, naturally. She's just a jerk.))

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[soul_sister]

[It's those last few steps towards her that she stirs, eyes opening with a wide yawn.]

Mmm the-[And another yawn interrupts.]-re you are.

[overclocking]

[He deposits himself on the floor in front of the couch, the picture of defeat.]

You could've used that time to sleep properly, you know.

[soul_sister]

You'd just be extra mean waking me up.

[There isn't a lot of accusation in her voice at all, possibly cancelled out by the sleepy tone. Her hands are clean -scrubbed up to the elbows where her sleeves are pinned- as she gathers up the length of his hair, gently sorting through it.]

[overclocking]

[He bends under her fingers, letting out another long (lighter) sigh.]

That's not a very nice accusation, you know...

[soul_sister]

[She laughs a little, starting to work on the ends of the wet hair and up towards his scalp slowly.]

It's true, though.

[overclocking]

It'll never happen now, so you can't prove anything.

[Despite the tension and exhaustion, and despite his own looming contrition, this is the one time of the day where he manages to relax. Muscles uncoil from snapping points, posture slips. The rhythm of the brush through his hair rocks him away from the precipice of his own stress.

He's almost grateful for the sheer volume of his own hair, as it drags the process out.]

[soul_sister]

[It is one of the very few things in life Rosette never seemed to rush through. She keeps a firm grip on his hair before the base, working through the tangles and the fussy nature of wet hair with her own serenity.]

You can't disprove it either.

[overclocking]

[His eyes fall closed of their own accord.]

Then it sounds like this is a draw.

[soul_sister]

No help for it, I guess.

[The rest is in a comfortable silence, the brush finally working up to the scalp, the strokes long, parting it into three sections. The braiding always goes quickly, a bright yellow bow tied smartly at the end.]

There.

[overclocking]

[He sits up a bit straighter when she finishes, bracing for the inevitable. In one final, hopeful effort, though;] Breakfast?

[soul_sister]

Go out while I look like this? [She gestures to herself, still half covered in ash and wearing slept in clothes.] You're crazy.

Gimmie your arms.

[overclocking]

[Foiled.

He braces himself and holds out his arms, wearily.]

[soul_sister]

[As it does in many situations, doom takes a little bit to fully settle. It's possibly her preoccupation with getting the dressing off of the burn tissue gently, then cleaning...

The first expression is surprise, and it quickly settles into confusion as she turns his wrist, comparing the burn against the length of her fingers.]

Ccchhhronnnoo...

[overclocking]

[Maybe, if he adopts an expression of genuine shock and ignorance, the doom won't be quite as serious.

Maybe.]

—Oh!

Well then....

[soul_sister]

[Perhaps, indeed, if he had managed anything remotely approaching genuine. There's a comical absurdity in how gently she lets his arm drop... and how bruising the noogie is that follows it.]

Is that all you have to say?

[overclocking]

[The response, likewise, is predictable.]

Ow ow ow- You're overreacting again! Rosette!

[soul_sister]

How is it overreacting even a little? You're a jerk, you know that?

[overclocking]

It's overreacting because it's not a big deal at all! It's just some minor burns! They don't even hurt.

[soul_sister]

[She knew Chrono well enough that he wouldn't admit it hurt even if it did.]

It doesn't have to for it to slow you down. Do you even know if you can get infections?

[There's no preamble, no warning, she just cracks the seal a tiny bit. Just like that.]

[overclocking]

[Of course.

He tenses, watching the burns pale and heal over, just as quickly as she cracked the seal. There's no sense in him resisting it when the power has already left her.

He doesn't object, at least not verbally, but much of the good humor from earlier slips away.]

[soul_sister]

[And it's closed the very next second.]

Honestly.

[overclocking]

[He turns his arms so that she can see, hoping to appease her.]

There. It's fine.

[soul_sister]

[While she watches the gesture, eyes scanning the smooth, unblemished skin, it's hardly with the critical look she normally would have. He wouldn't be making the offer if anything was actually left.

With a satisfied nod, she starts rolling up the bandages carefully. They're bound to need them again.]

Good! [She glances back at the wreck of the kitchen and sighs.] There's still so much to do.

[overclocking]

[He doesn't follow the glance. It's too soul-crushing.]

... Go get cleaned up.

We can worry about it after we find breakfast somewhere.

[soul_sister]

Well, I'm not going to turn down an offer for a break.

[She picks herself up and dusts off her skirts. The gesture, it does nothing.] ... This thing really is ruined...