01 | @hearse

[wheft]

Is anyone willing to exchange Christmas gifts with me
I really don't want the one they gave me and I doubt they'd let me return it
If not I'll just burn it or shred it to pieces I don't fucking care

[ attached to the bottom of this post is a picture of a printed sweater. it looks innocuous enough, but... well. it's a lot to unpack honestly, and she'd rather throw out the entire suitcase. ]

Comments

[wheft]

Deeply considering it right now. Wings know how much I'm holding myself back from lighting up a match and throwing it at the damn thing...

[cleansewithfire]

You can do it outside. [ Burning should be done responsibly. ]

Do you like cats? [ Where did this come from, Sunrise (she swears this question will go somewhere). ]

[wheft]

[ blinkblink ]

They're fine, I guess. I don't hate them, but I don't peg them as my favorite either. Why?

[cleansewithfire]

My gift looks something like a cat and I want to share it with you. Do you like petting soft things?

[wheft]

I don't remember petting soft things in a long while, actually...

[ well, there's the drifting fox abnormality they'd encounter in the mirror dungeons every now and then. but that's usually sinclair's job... ]

I doubt that petting a cat toy is going to calm me down, but... Well. You are offering, so I don't really see why I shouldn't take up on it.

[cleansewithfire]

It is soft and cute, at least. Who am I looking for?

[wheft]

Call me Ishmael. I'm going to need your name too. Do you have a picture, or would you rather keep it as a surprise?

[cleansewithfire]

I am Still Sunrise. Let us keep it as a surprise.

[ Or at least she hopes it'll be a pleasant surprise. ]

[wheft]

[ blinkblink. what a name... ]

All right. Uh, are you busy right now?

[cleansewithfire]

[ If Ishmael ever finds out some of the longer names back home... ]

I have time right now.

[wheft]

[ look im just saying that it's weird that sinclair is the only one in the cast with a full name so far. ish would be taken aback by anything longer than that. ]

Perfect. I'll meet you at the commons then.

[cleansewithfire]

I will see you there.

[ And sure enough, she's heading there straight away with this thing in tow. ]

[wheft]

[ she's awaiting her at the couches and... squints........ ]

Sunrise, right? [ more squinting. ] Is that really a cat?

[cleansewithfire]

Yes, I am Sunrise. It is not a real cat, but something like one.

[ She's holding it out. ]

[wheft]

[ stares at it like jiiiiiii ]

A cat without its head?

[ looks like some kinda abno, tbh ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ She looks at it for a moment, then looks up at Ishmael. ]

A thing that looks like a headless cat. [ The distinction is important because she doesn't think it's a fleshy, living being. ]

[wheft]

[ more blinking. no, it's more or less like an E.G.O gift they'd get from the mirror dungeons, right? ain't no way. ]

I... I guess it's cute. [ she reaches her hand out to touch it. ] Do you like playing with it?

[cleansewithfire]

[ She seems to be thinking on it... ]

I do. It is soft, and it wags its tail when you pet it.

[wheft]

[ i... okay?

she's going to put that to the test now, giving the toy a little rub on its back. ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ True enough, with a bit of stroking, the tail on the toy starts to wag back and forth. And Sunrise, despite not being very expressive, has this distinct aura of happiness watching it. ]

[wheft]

[ yep, she... sure is a young teenage girl. girls like her would like cute things like these, but ishmael can't help but be reminded of meursault anyway with the lack of expressions. meursault with gap moe....... ]

You, uh. You sure like this toy, huh.

[ sunrise's gap moe... ]

[cleansewithfire]

I do not normally get to pet cats. This toy lets me do it without distressing a real one.

[ Gap moe indeed. ]

[wheft]

Do cats hate you or something...?

[cleansewithfire]

They are afraid of me.

[ She's visibly deflating. ]

[wheft]

[ oh, that's sad. hmm. ]

Maybe if you tried smiling a little...?