HIGEKIRI: My, oh my.

[applechemist]

i'll put something here later

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Week 0 | Sunday Evening

[applechemist]

[ Those were certainly. Some sounds. And Higekiri was suspiciously absent, huh? Along with Junpei... And Escha doesn't know Beck yet, but still! She's seeking out Higekiri wherever he's at, because a part of her is worried that she encouraged him to read the book and then...? Sex sounds?? Who knows. ]

Higekiri?

[ Hm, or maybe she shouldn't be using his name, since that's not how he does things? But she doesn't know what else to say?? 'Spirit' just seems reductive! ]

[banzais]

[definitely call him spirit

but higekiri is actually just lounging somewhere while he seems to be going through the information no the clam?? he seems to actually be thinking deeply and a slight dampness to his hair implies that he showered recently....

but then he'll hear footsteps and glance up, even though he definitely wasn't registering his name]

Ah... Hello.

[he offers up a smile]

Are you well?

[applechemist]

I think so.

[ She can't quite bring herself to say yes, given that she is still a captive victim of a kidnapping, but. She's more concerned about him? ]

... Are you? I couldn't find you earlier, and we heard some... Strange sounds...

[ Like, she knows they were sex sounds, but. Still. ]

[banzais]

You were looking for me?

[that's actually

his first surprise point because he doesn't really expect that? but then he's just going to tilt his head before actually hearing about something more pressing]

May I ask where you heard the strange sounds coming from?

[applechemist]

Well, I didn't see you around...

[ So, basically, yes? ]

It sounded like they were coming from beneath us. Like from a basement or something?

week 0, post-investigation

[banzais]

[hello escha - higekiri is around even though he missed a lot of the exciting stuff during investigation. he seems to simply be walking around, patrolling and somehow not getting any blood on his perfectly white clothes?

it's fine.

but when he sees escha, he'll start walking toward her]

How are you feeling?

[he'll get right to it!]

[applechemist]

[ How is he doing that... What is his secret...

Escha gives him a weak smile and a nod in greeting. ]

Not very well. [ Which might be a little bit of an impolite answer, but she thinks it's. Probably fine, given. ] How about you?

[banzais]

... nostalgic, but not in a very pleasant way.

[like he's stepped foot on a battlefield again]

Were you one of the people who were able to find news in the morning?

[applechemist]

I see... I'm sorry to hear that.

[ Nostalgic means he's familiar with this sort of thing, and that's. Bad. ]

... Yes. Beck and I found a knife.

Week 0: Saturday

[applechemist]

[ She doesn't exactly look... Happy? The dead came back, but the fact that Polly did that... And then the thing with Carlos is. Hm...

But even so, she's trying to keep it light, as per usual. ]

You were a big help today...! Was it hard to remember so many details like that?

[banzais]

[oh - higekiri laughs a little bit]

Not really... It's easier when I think of things as a mission - and when all of your safety is at stake, then shouldn't I be trying harder to uphold my mission to keep you all protected against demons?

[applechemist]

You're right... It's easier for me when I think of it like an assignment, too.

But that doesn't mean it isn't hard to be out of my comfort zone. So I thought the same was probably true for you.

[banzais]

Mm... My master used to give myself and my little brother secret orders - which I had to be mindful of when I was on my missions.

But today... My little brother was away for a little while, so I had to be the reliable one.

Maybe it's something like that?

Week 1: Friday, post invest

[applechemist]

[ So the kitchen is. Kind of fucked up because of the fire. Escha seems like maybe she wandered there absentmindedly. Reflexively, maybe she thought cooking would be a good way to get her mind off of things, but...

That would kind of be tampering with a crime scene that they might need to look at again tomorrow, so instead now she's just. Standing in this room in a bit of a daze until she spots Higekiri. ]

Oh... Hello.

[banzais]

[in truth - higekiri was doing the same. at least he's wearing gloves, and is looking like he's just trying to see if anything can be salvaged for a quick snack.

when he sees escha, he crosses an arm over his chest, and then rises.]

... hello.

[it looks like he's managed to be dragged down a bit from everything too - his expression lacks its usual levity and buoyancy]

[applechemist]

Were you hungry? There's still food in the cafeteria.

[ She gives the room a slow survey, though. Huh. They'll need to figure this out. The idea seems impossible already. ]

[banzais]

[they sure will,]

Mm... I wanted something small for my brother - I don't know if he wishes for a full meal at the moment.

[it's always going to be about his brother]

week 2, friday

[banzais]

[it takes some time for higekiri to actually be pulled away from his brother - but once he is, he'll let his knuckles knock against the door to what he recognizes as escha, dick, and junpei's room]

... permission to visit?

[applechemist]

[ Escha comes to answer the door with dragging feet and still damp cheeks. She wipes at them with her sleeve, but it isn't very effective. Her breath is fast and uneven from crying. ]

I won't be... Very good company.

[banzais]

[ . . . . he wants to hug her so badly

his brow furrows]

... you need only to be you...

Do you want company? Or shall I go prepare some tea?

[applechemist]

... I'd - like the company. If you don't mind.

[ ... Which means she should probably let him inside. Escha steps aside. Welcome to the trio-room. There's a conspiracy board, please ignore it, and a potted plant, which Escha gestures towards. ]

Um, please be careful and don't touch that.

week 2, saturday

[banzais]

[god higekiri hates the panthouse

but he's at least been freed of his stupid stupid gag by now, and when he comes back up to the panthouse to visit escha, he brings a pot of tea as well as some cookies. he imagines she's probably not that hungry but....

well, he'll try anyway]

... permission to enter?

[just in case she's turning people away]

[applechemist]

[ When Escha answered the door after Logy's death, she was still in tears. But when it's her own death she's facing, she's oddly calm about it.

She steps aside for Higekiri to come in. ]

It's not a very comfortable room. [ She feels bad that people have to hang out in this place to talk to her tonight. ]

[banzais]

[higekiri will enter then, offering her a soft smile - even now she's considering other people before herself]

All the more reason to prevent you from being left alone in it.

[applechemist]

[ Escha pads back over to the jouch and takes a seat. She would normally be a better host and let him know he can sit anywhere he likes, or maybe even offer to take the tea and cookies to serve to both of them herself, but...

She just sits. ]

Thank you. That's sweet.