Haine

The girl's form visibly tenses and it's almost ominous, given the moment of silence and her lack of eye contact. The only indication of any response Haine gets is the trembling of her shoulders, knuckles paling against the table. That's when it comes, a gradual build up of those harbored emotions spilling out. One word after another and Haine feels her gut turn. It hurts to hear and gets more difficult to rationalize and comprehend at the same time. Her eyes prickle and she squeezes her fists, head lowered in shame.

"I-I..."

Ruri doesn't stop over her sister's barely audible interruption. Haine holds her tongue and takes the rest of the insult. By the end of it, she feels the slightest ire emerge from the shock. How could Ruri understand or see things from her perspective? She hadn't walked in her shoes. Even for all the shock she would be put through, Ruri wouldn't think of Haine's plight when she's trying to sort out her thoughts. She couldn't blame her at all but. How could she say that to her?

As the enraged, shorter bluenette slams the table, the polar cub at her side skitters away. Off to the living room he goes to join his sister, the duo glancing their way to observe the sudden ruckus. The artificial concern in their reactions were well illustrated. Haine springs out of her seat, storming behind the younger. "Ruri. Ruri wait! Please, you don't--" The words are lodged in her throat and unable to form as the girl clears the door frame. Main door slammed open and her frame vanishes. Haine scoffs in all her frustration and paces through the corridor. She slumps against a wall and feels her eyes well with tears, of both anger and hurt.

Two miniature creatures peek through the clearance, heads cocked in mock concern.

Such a distasteful way to begin the day. Haine tilts the glass of coffee in her grip, the warmth having long left its contents. Chin propped over her palm, she glances down at the mug. A little more to go. She chugs it in one clean go, slamming the glass down. The idle moment leaves room for her thoughts to wander, onto her plans from here on out. Her goals seem so clean cut, simple in theory, but never enough. It seems simple enough to push her threshold, satisfying enough to watch it tick up little by little. It's still not enough. Haine thought it would've been enough to feel competent, that all the answers would reveal themself come now, but she's still lost. Standing among her stronger comrades, she feels more like a child wearing adult shoes. Appointed a leader, but feeling like one of the flock. She looks up to them, up to the exteriors they uphold, some intangible aura she can't replicate. She's aware then of how little she knows of them.

She pulls away from her thoughts and directs them towards something more purposeful. A quick perusal of the quest list reveals something about a hidden village, the gist in which she'll defend them, and the list goes on. She never tells others that she doesn't read into it too much. All she needs to know is if it poses as any significant danger. The rest is up to her party and her vigilance. She wouldn't make that apparent to them. Some sort of leader she'd be if they knew she went in without some foolproof strategy.

Haine waits and hopes for some of this tension to disperse, filling the idle silence with the clattering of utensils. She prolongs the process, giving the other time to say something, though all she's met with is a frustrating silence. It leaves Haine's hands tied, boxed into one apparent solution, one circumstance she's hesitant to face. Haine feels a thin film of sweat on her forehead, and now she isn't sure if it's from the steam or the pressure of her actions. She shoves the half eaten bowl aside and folds her hands in her lap, clenching the fabric of her tunic. A flicker of amber eyes across the table reveals the girl's hunched form, rigid, lacking a pep known to her. No witty comments, no absurd propositions to keep it going. Just dead silence, and her unwillingness to meet Haine' eyes. She's certain the bluenette can feel her eyes boring at her, seeking some sort of communication.

To no avail.

Haine squares her shoulders and scoots her chair forward. She's done all the stalling she can, all the coddling she could do before she drops the bomb. The woman wills the corners of her lips to curve into a warm smile. "I've been searching for a good time to tell you about things. But I think now is best." She clears her throat and pushes on. No more skirting around edges. "Kiluia and I are..." Haine lifts two index fingers, drawing them close together as a gesture. "We're together now." She points to the ring on her finger as if that hadn't been apparent already. "Well... engaged?"

ph

-----------

eeee

-----------

resting 2

Haine's limbs strained as she moved and an artificial sense of fatigue weighed over her. She willed her limbs to move efficiently, though they grew heavier, almost like a weight had been attached to them. She panted as she pushed on. Glaive stowed away, she didn't see any lingering threats from this distance. In the distance, Kiluia delivered the final blow to the golem. Gone it was, reduced to bits. She dusted her coat and moved ahead of the trio. Their familiars, smaller in size and more agile, had barely scratched the surface of their energy. A flash or bright white and onyx flew through the valley, rounding about trees and bushes. Haine snorted. "You guys having too much fun?"

Kiluia followed, jogging to catch up. "I'm fine, Kil," she managed, fingers combing her matted bangs back. "It's hot out here. I need to cool down." She moved past the clearing and slumped against a tree stump. "Come. Let's rest for a bit and sort our loot."

This was it, the final stretch. It empowered her, gave her an extra pep in her step. No casualties, even through the hairy sides of combat when she feared for the worst. Her shoulders relaxed and a wave of peace washed over her. Sure, the thing wasn't dead, but it would be in the blink of an eye at this rate. She spared a moment to enjoy the rift between Shadow and Orgoth, like a scene out of some dramatic tv show. Riveting, oh how the tables had turned.

Shield approaches, a soft glow concentrating on his palms. The glow emitted on her skin, renewing a portion of her strength. Her body moved swift, an effect of the buff. "Alright. Let's kill this thing." She nods to Shield, and then, to everyone else in her party. She moved in overdrive, adrenaline taking over her.

All rationality out the window as she rushed in hasty, breaking the solid form she practiced. Pathetically enough, all it took to faceplant was a pebble in her way. Soles impacted with the pebble, rolling the soles of her boots backwards. Her weight toppled over and she fell over, palms digging into the dirt.

"Eugh. Well sh**."

Seriously?

How anti-climactic.

ID: #186061
BD: 1 [ MISS ] | Dimension Stampede vs. Shadow
+5 EN -1 EN

"Mhm!" She accepted the request with a simple swipe. The brief exchange was short lived when the rambunctious duo attacked. Her efforts to quell them both were part wasted. She sighed. At least her own remained obedient, as obstinate as they were. It was slightly embarrassing to have them in the way of her questing, terrorizing her now party member. She cringed, waiting for a reaction, filling the moment with what blurb she could to deviate from what happened. The man, Alkor, seemed taken aback for a moment, though not so much so as he appeared pleasant. Maybe it was courtesy. Who would know how to react to being attacked by two wild animals in cub form? She scratched her head and worked out a reply. 

"Yeah, figures. Don't be afraid to shoo them away if they bug you too much!" She played it off with a wave of dismissal. Her train of thought was cut short by the man's comment. "Oh, yeah?" She turned to the meek cub by her side, ears flattened and all. "That one's mine --- you could probably tell. He listens." She jerks her head ahead, a gesture to the penguin waddling in circles by Alkor's side. "That one is my fiance's. When he leaves her back, I babysit the thing." She rolls her eyes. The topic shifts to the quest and she cuts the chit chat. "Ah, yeah, right! The quest." She draws a blank for a moment, letting her thoughts collect. "I know... the gist. But I promise we'll be fine. A matriarch and a couple of minions, yeah?" She rolls her shoulders. "If you have the details, I'm all ears. I think we're more than equipped for it," she continued, sizing him up in the most inconspicuous manner she managed. He seemed to have a head on his shoulders and quality gear, for all it was worth based on assumptions.

The woman's eyebrow twitched as she tried to ignore the sounds of a bowl clattering, chopsticks striking at it. Her prayer was brief and distracted, and when she looked back at the girl, eyes widened at the scene. A bowl drunk clean in a matter of a minute or so. Haine was astounded by how ravenous she appeared to be. Hunger was synthetic in this world, a faux urge pushed to immerse them in this world. The artificial hunger was easy to ignore, but in Ruri's case, she appeared to cram at it in record speed. Haine gaped for a moment and noted the bowl pushed aside.

And awkward glance away and an oh so subtle charade of gestures and glances. It was somehow adorable, a much needed moment of light heartedness to ease her nerves. The bluenette exchanged a soft chuckle and reached for the bowl. "My, I knew you had an appetite but geez." She snorts and reached for the ladle, scooping in a generous bowl to the brim. She pushed it forth to her. "Here, help me finish this pot will ya?" She looks to her plate and takes a slow sip of broth.

A moment of silence lingered, uncomfortably so as Haine went through the motions. She busied herself arranging the kitchen in order, any busywork to keep her mind in order. She rubbed the sweat from her brow and sighed. She reached for the coasters and mitts, securing the pot soon after. A wobble to the table and she arranged the soup right in the center. Waves of steam warmed her face, comfortingly. She clicked her tongue and gave a glance to her sister, who busied herself setting the table. They worked in silence. Haine disliked it, witnessing the distance between them.

She settled into her chair, the room unsettlingly quiet all save for their chairs squeaking. She reached for the fork and mumbled a quick prayer. A habit instilled by her mother, even though family dinners weren't commonplace. Eyes fluttered open to the bowl of poorly made soup. Of little concern. She only prepared the meal as a means to break the ice, if that even worked. She dug in, twirling the tines. She scooped the udon and slurped. A humm of approval for courtesy, to make Ruri fill a little less insecure about her blunder. "Mmm, it's not so bad. Heh, I think the burn flavor gives it more pizzazz." She picks up the bowl and sips, setting it down. She cleared her throat and glanced at Ruri. "Do you... like it?" 

The shackles broke as soon as they tethered to her party members. Control was in order with their tanks back up. An invisible weight lifted off the woman's shoulders as she approached them. "Back in commission? Let's finish strong." She clenched her fist and pumped it as a gesture of motivation. Soon, they were thrown into battle, metal clashing into wispy shadows.

Keep pushing, she thought, it was only a matter of time till it would be over. She held on this far, she'd be damned if she fell off the boat. A glimmer of determination and hope, and she had her sights set on the prize. She struck Shadow and returned to find NIGHT aiding Baldur with his shackles. The team, for the most part, was stabilized. When all of this was over, she would go home and rest her nerves. It was a hectic, chaotic start as a frontliner. She hoped there would be more to come. She'd fight for her life and be of better use to them someday. She would do it for Ruri.

ID: #185562 | BD: [10] CRIT2! vs. Shadow, The Malevolent
-14 EN / Dimension Stampede
DMG: 27+6+2CRIT=35*15=495-150=345
+ 5 EN REC

Tears spilled onto the countertop as the woman battled her resolve. It was harder to stay intact under the pressure and guilt. Knuckles squeezed, turning white as she swallowed hard. "Okay." She wiped her tears with haste and cast a sideways glance at her sister. Too ashamed to show the other her teary expression. She wasn't supposed to be crying. This wasn't about her. She was to focus on her sister, help her facilitate with these new surroundings. It was a relief to hear the bluenette didn't blame her. Haine rationalized the outburst. What else could Ruri do in her shoes? She needed time. She had a tendency to explode in situations of pressure. Haine sighed. She wouldn't take it to heart.

"I'll be honest with you, I promise." A moment later, she faced her sister, eyes tinted red. "I just wanted us to enjoy this meal together." She drifted her attention to the window outside, letting the younger handle the stove. Her mind wasn't functioning then, she missed the important fact that Ruri absolutely sucked in the kitchen. A more stable Haine wouldn't trust the girl with dinner. The sounds of fizzing and burning brought her back to reality. "Oh Christ, let me have that!" She swatted Ruri's hand and secured the ladle. She gawked at the near maximum heat. "This shouldn't be more than medium-high. And you gotta babysit it." She gesticulated with a wave of her finger. Nose leaned in and she inhaled. "A little... off? But edible. Let's eat."

She moved the pot off the burner and pointed at the cupboard beside her. "Can you bring out the bowls?" She then gestured to the drawer near the island. "Forks and spoons are in there."

Panic had all but engulfed her for a moment, eyes glistened in a mixture of panic and rage. Her priorities fell out of order as she charged at the culprit, glaive slashing into the shadows. She pulled away and wiped the sweat from her brow. A piercing noise calls her attention across the battlefield and towards her comrade, Freyd. A metaphorical slap in the face at the other's suggestions. She squared her shoulders and cast a brief glance at her group.

Their state was dire, with both of their main tanks shackled. "Gotcha!" Haine affirmed. The two tanks safety was priority. Until they were freed, the group was in a pickle of a situation. A following bark of orders from Baldur and she snapped into shape, a word of acknowledgement later. Moments later and the shackles weakened. They were bound to break any moment now. Her focus moved to the minions beside them, the only distractions in their way.

A breeze beside her, and the younger approached. The atmosphere tensed as she spilled her heart, her genuine, unfiltered opinions. A jab at the woman's heart to know the honest truth. This wasn't how she expected their reunion to go. Hell, she didn't know what to expect. She slaved to be as powerful as she was now, though not without purpose. She did it all for Ruri, relentlessly, all while battling her own demons and self doubt. The more she trained, the more numb she felt, the less hope she had until the girl had suddenly awakened.

The reality of this new dynamic settled in.

Haine clenched the handle of the pan, every emotion at once coursing through her. They wanted to burst, though her resolve held them at bay. To be strong for Ruri, or maybe even to escape emotions she'd rather not feel. Things would never be the same, not with their brother missing, not with this separation between the two. Ruri moved to the pot and took over the stirring, leaving the woman idle in her own thoughts. Hip pressed against the counter, Haine's eyes stared vacantly at nowhere in particular. Lips parted as she searched for words.

"I could understand why you feel this way and it's completely valid," Haine started. "Four years is... no joke." Gaze flickered to her sister stirring the pot. Nostalgia washed over her, like a twist of a blade in her gut. Emotions aside, it seemed almost familiar, the two of them cooking together in the kitchen, only this time Haine didn't royally suck. No kitchen fires or over salted mush. "Time won't stop for you to play catch up. It's confusing... and lonely." Tears prickled amber eyes and blue bangs cascaded to shield them. "It's hard." Her voice quivers. Having Ruri back should've been the missing piece to her puzzle, though it hurt even more to see her suffer, or know that she would shortly.

What should she do?
What should she say?
How would she fix what she couldn't control?

"It's hard," she iterated, tears spilling onto the countertop. She gripped it, knuckles turning white. A haze of emotions hindered her ability to think rationally. "You didn't deserve this," she whispered, shakily.

The comment piqued her attention. Ruri was right. Haine paid more heed to the way she worked, chopping and dicing with ease when before she'd been a clusterfuck. "It's a good skill to pick up. Sometimes it's even fun," she noted, scooping the aromatics onto an oiled pan. On the side, a pot of noodles boiled. In actuality, all of these little skills were honed from a need for distraction, when the going got tough. From across the kitchen, a dejected Ruri turned away the cub. Round ears flattened against his skull as he huffed. He stayed close, claiming a spot on the floor across from her. Cobalt eyes noticed the dullness in her eyes and expression. He sensed some form of sadness from this stranger.

Haine scooped in the vegetables and stirred. The other's words didn't go unnoticed, it hurt Haine to witness her like this. She sighed and looked over her shoulder, a reassuring smile on her face. Ruri stared out the window, drained and seemingly empty. Of little words, of little spirit unlike usual. "I know you're confused Ru," she called out. "I know you're worried." She turned to her pan and gave it a flip. "And you'll have your answers. But for now..." Haine's voice slightly cracked. She choked back her emotions, busied herself with the cooking. " I miss my little sister. And we're going to have some kickass soba, kay?" She reached for the sauces and drizzled them.

The snippy remark from Ruri was unlike her. Sure, she was a smart aleck, but there was an edge to her tone that Haine recognized in her sister's rougher moods. She chewed her cheek. "Don't worry about it." Pingu ducked her head in intimidation. There was something to the girl. Whoever this interloper was, she had an inkling she'd go through with that threat. A guttural screech later and she was wobbling to the kitchen. Haine worked on a smile and set the cub on the ground. She rolled up her sleeves and set to work.

"On second thought," the bluenette started, "You can watch me cook today. Need to make sure those limbs recover first." She ruffled Ruri's hair and moved to the fridge. The steps for cooking were easy in this world, a cheat of the system. The tedious tasks were skipped through and the taste always stayed the same. Fortunate for Haine, a poor cook. She treated it as a science experiment back home.

She hummed a chipper tune, setting out the vegetables and proteins to dice. The silence was uncomfortable, it raised her anxieties as she mapped out a plan of action. She thought of the many ways to fill Ruri in, each exceedingly messier than the last. There was nothing she could do to avoid the confrontation, knowing the girl's volatile nature. The situation at best was like a matchstick to fuel. Haine remained silent, lost in her own train of thought. The only company Ruri had was that of a polar cub, moist snout bopping her leg for attention.

She noted her sister's astonished face. It wasn't out of left field. A mini mansion in its own right was something Haine wouldn't normally buy, at least not all for herself. She moved her attention to the lock and twisted the key. Stepping in, Haine waved her hands in a flourish. "And here we are." A winding staircase right at the entrance, leading up to a cozy loft. Down below, an open concept, almost rustic interior. She didn't have long to show off until the two animals came bounding their way. The furball attached itself to Haine's leg, almost like a clingy puppy. Pingu, on the other hand, was first to notice the interloper. Pitch beady eyes squinted, chest puffed. She slowly circled around Ruri, sizing her up. Haine looked over her shoulder and noticed that.

"Hey, that's my sister over there! Be nice." She shooed the blubbery bird away and scooped up the cub in her arms. "That pain in the ass is Pingu." Fingers scruffed the cub's head and she turned to Ruri. "This is my familiar, Mishka." She moved backwards and closed the door shut with the weight of her back. She crossed the doorframe and rounded to the kitchen. She debated on a house tour but decided not to push it yet. She had yet to tell Ruri she was living with Kiluia, let alone tell her she was soon to be wed. She knew the girl wouldn't take well to that.

"Kitchen's that way. Let's cook."

A teleport crystal brought them to the outskirts of the sixth floor, to a wooded getaway from all the noise. Warm rays of sun filtered through the treetops, like a comforting, warm blanket. The walk up to the cottage was a brief, with Haine aiding her sister up the wooded path. Beyond the foliage lied a massive, ostentatious building, the culmination of her love's hard work and design. Fashioned of cobblestone and wood, it reached two stories tall, wide as can be. A perfectly manicured garden up front, lilies and rose bushes decorating the path. The sounds of birds chirping and the trees rustling provided a serene setting for a getaway. This was unlike anything the sisters had shared before, back in those days. They'd known inns and rental homes, being vagabonds of sorts. It was a game to them, enjoying life in places they couldn't afford otherwise. A subtle fuck you to Aincrad, a way to enjoy life despite the circumstances.

"Home, sweet home," Haine started, with a flourish of her hands. She gave the bluenette time to process it all before she slid open the gate. Instantaneously, a squabble would be heard from inside the home. Through the spacious windows, two furry companions pressed themselves against the glass. A tiny polar cub was seen struggling under the weight of a plump, rowdy penguin atop its back. Beak pecked against the glass, almost as if to break it. She snorted. "And these are my children. They aren't feral, I promise." Haine tapped the glass by the main entrance where the animals were. A moment later, she fished for her keys.

The sarcasm was a subtle jab at Haine's poor attempts to deflect these questions. A quirk of her brow in exchange was all she needed to know. Fortunately the girl gave her the benefit of the doubt, even if for a little. A temporary weight lifted from the bluenette's chest. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and assumed a soft smile. "Yeah, that's the spirit. We'll do lunch at my place! I think you'll love it there." She waited for the younger to move off her chair. Once she stood and stumbled, Haine noticed the absurdly large red coat round' her frame. It was comical, she was practically swimming in it. Arms flailed as Ruri gesticulated, the back of the coat dragging on the ground like some bridal train. Haine stifled a laugh. 

"If you need another coat, just ask me, kay?" She pat Ruri's shoulder and pulled up her HUD. A few swipes produced two teleport crystals. "Here ya go." She placed a crystal in her sister's palms. The plan for now, a filling lunch, a calm before the storm. 

She maneuvered around flocks of parties and couples. She had a clear opening until a wave moved in front of her, shrouding her in the back. She jumped, seeking a view of what lied ahead. To no avail. She huffed and turned to the fountain. It was apparent then how short she was, of only 5'4" in a sea of taller, well armored figures. She would have no chance being found here. She left the fountain behind and weaved through the front of the scene. She'd be noticed for sure, with bright, loud, azure locks.

A beak, and a set of razor-like teeth nipped at her ankles. "Ouch!" Haine jumped. Attention fixed on two furry culprits, a pudgy penguin and a polar cub. She pinched the bridge of her nose. "You. How'd you get here?" She pointed at the penguin, whose beady eyes mirrored no emotion. Clever thing followed her up to the teleport stile. Haine clicked her tongue in thought. She found it odd how Kiluia left his familiar behind, not a message as to why. She'd press the question later. For now, she was stuck on babysitting duty.

An approaching figure called her attention, a tall man with dark hair. He seemed intimidating until he spoke. Haine's form laxed, a soft smile following. "Yup, that'll be me! You here for the bee thing Alkor?" A rhetorical question, an attempt at an ice breaker. She parted her lips to speak, only for the cub beside her to leap forward. The bird soon followed, and soon enough, he was the center of their attention. A beak pecked at his shoe laces, followed by a cub smothering fur on his pants.

"Ishouldhaveleftyoubothhome" she muttered under her breath. She snapped for their attention, face stern. "You two. Over here!" The cub knew better than to argue with that face. Ears pressed flat on his skull and he trotted away. As for the penguin, only her owner could manage to tame her. That was Kiluia's headache. Haine laughed nervously. "I-I'm really sorry about that. They just love people. But anyways, about the que-" Pingu let out a guttural squawk as if to assert her dominance, standing firm beside Alkor. She liked him. He smelled like a bakery. Maybe he had food.

Haine pursed her lips. Either the girl was perceptive or Haine was a terrible liar. She pinched the bridge of her nose and combed through her recollections. She didn't recall several of those names, only Miaki, one she considered a comrade long ago. He was doing well, she supposed, he was alive at least. Time had a way of severing connections as people outgrew each other, grew into different circles. "I don't know half those people that well. But Miaki's kicking?" That should've been enough to quell these questions until she went on. She probed at more questions the woman would rather not answer. Not now, when the girl had just barely woken up. The guilt weighed heavy on Haine's shoulders. She had to be the one to break it to her.

Then she mentioned their brother. She averted her gaze. It was harder to evade the topic with her eyes boring holes through her. She missed her brother dearly. It had been years since he up and vanished from the radar, alive, but missing in action. She gave up hope, she was at rock bottom and about ready to accept she'd lose them both. She never thought she would have to explain these things to her sister. It was harder than she imagined it would be. The woman gulped.

"Look, Ru, can we just chill for a bit? You've barely woken up." She cast a sideways glance at Ruri as she eyed the doorframe. Her expression darkened at every question unanswered. "I... promise I'll tell you all about it later. But for now, you look beat up as hell. Let's take you home, have some lunch?" She left no room for arguments and moved out the door frame. "C'mon, I'll make your favorite. Soba?"

"Yup. No wall smashing in the chem lab or you're takin' it up with Raidou!" A chipper comment to ease her into the reality check. She listened intently as the younger struggled to recollect memories. She didn't blame her for that. With a coma that long, it was fortunate she remembered anything at all. The bluenette nodded in affirmation. "Yeah, that's one of the side effects." Haine didn't recollect all those memories until a while after awakening. It wasn't an onslaught of memories at once, more of a gradual recollection as little things reminded her of those times. She pieced them together as she tried to assimilate again.

There was the fear in Ruri's eyes, fear she wished she could shield her from. "I know, I know..." She bit her lip and wracked her mind for anything else to reassure her. Not after that bomb dropped. Nothing in the handbook prepared her for this kind of life. A melancholic smile formed on her lips as she tucked the younger's locks behind her ear. "You didn't miss that much," the woman fibbed, a convincing enough cheer to her tone. Maybe Ruri would call bull right then and there, because four years was sure as hell a lot of time. Haine knew it was. She'd woken up to find many of those she held dear long gone or estranged, some completely transformed from the brutality of this world. She wanted to protect Ruri from it. That had been her sole drive, the only thing keeping her afloat.

"Think of it as a fast forward button. Skip through the boring crap, all of these floors." She mustered a brighter smile and slapped Ruri's shoulder. "I finally got that sweet house I wanted. You can move in and -" her demeanor shifted and her nerves worked, struggling to save the other of these impending emotions. "And I can show you around the guild?" Haine's foot tapped as she continued. "And...-" she moved to continue, though something about Ruri's expression cut her off before she could.

Her attention fixed on her sister, solely, as she ensured the vial's contents were downed. She was lucky she wasn't the one stomaching that. Ruri had a stomach of steel to keep that down if the mere smell of it seemed repulsive enough. She tousled her blue locks and pulled away. Ah. To the point already, with one short question that seemed so hard to answer. How could the woman begin? She could iterate a recollection of what she was told when she awakened months ago. Even that was too much to process, the idea that all these years flew by. If it were anything like the way Haine experienced her awakening, her entire coma would have felt like a good night's rest. She would wake up in a world that hadn't stopped for her to play catch up.

She grinded her teeth and paused. "Uhh..." Idle sounds to fill the pause as her brain worked. "This is going to sound crazy, but promise me you won't flip... okay?" Amber eyes glanced at Raidou, who seemed busy tinkering with random vials as the sisters shared a moment. A return to the little bluenette, eyes trained as she sought these answers. "Me, you - and Kiluia. We were all fighting that worm thing, remember?" She held Ruri's hands and brushed her thumb atop them affectionately. "Well, that worm thing KO'D us all. And we were stuck. For... a really long time." She recollected memories of the cavern and its cocoons. She'd never feared the dark before, for she didn't believe in boogeymen and ghosts in the dark, but being trapped and helpless, gradually falling into that coma, it was haunting. They all experienced that fear, whether or not those memories returned. 

She searched Ruri's expression for a change. "Long as in four years. But that's alright. All that matters is that everyone's safe and," she paused to catch her breath, "And we're here to help you adjust to this." A deep sigh escaped her as she braced herself for an onslaught of questions. Another one of her trademark retorts.

It felt surreal to hear her sister's voice after all these months. All she had of her were memories replayed in her head. She feared this day would never come, that she would wake up to find the girl had succumbed to whatever the hell was leeching her vitality. Registering her presence was a weight off her shoulders, a feeling of tranquility. She could finally breathe with her around, ease off the cutthroat mentality. All that mattered was she was here. To hell with it all. "Yeah, you think that," Haine snorted. It was refreshing to have that sassy spirit back, even though that was the source of many headaches long ago.

A tap on her shoulder and Ruri's weary voice brought her attention back. She squeezed near all the oxygen from her lungs in that hug. "Oh, sorry," she sniffled. She wiped her tears and shook her head. Then came the questions, and they were a lot to unpack. Would she believe them if they explained it all? Putting herself in her sister's shoes, Haine felt that same feeling of bewilderment, that jarring feeling of being stuck in a fever dream. She squeezed her shoulder and turned her attention to the man she was indebted to, Raidou. He seemed unfazed at a first glance, though the way he evaded eye contact as if to frame his face spoke otherwise. Her expression softened.

He produced a vial and handed it to Haine. "Now, one step at a time yeah?" She cleared her throat and held out the vial. Ruri cringed at the strange vial and its chemical scent. Haine held out a finger. "Uh-uh. Drink it and you can ask us anyyy question." She held the solution up to the bluenette's lips and moved to tilt the vial.