(8:29:56 AM) ***Reise is out to lunch! Literally, not figuratively, though she has little doubt that, by the time next week rolls around, she'll be at that point mentally too.
(8:30:29 AM) Ikiryo: It's not long before she gets randomly hugged out of nowhere.
(8:32:27 AM) Reise: "What--" is about all she can manage to get out, barely avoiding spilling her coffee all over her lap and the arms of whomever is attached to her--a question she tries to answer by turning to look back over her shoulder.
(8:33:41 AM) Ikiryo: Spotting long purple hair and a black and purple parka dress. Well, that makes sense for random hugging.
(8:36:43 AM) Reise: "...South?" she finally asks. "Not that I'm opposed to the hug, but...what's up?"
(8:37:00 AM) ***Reise makes sure to reach back and return the hug as best she can.
(8:37:31 AM) Ikiryo: "You seemed stressed." She breaks the hug, smiling to Reise...though it doesn't quite reach her eyes as much as usual.
(8:38:29 AM) Reise: "...Well, a little," she admits, "but you know why. It's nothing I can't deal with, thouth."
(8:38:31 AM) Reise: though*
(8:38:59 AM) Ikiryo: "Yeah but you needed a hug. Can't get too stressed to work, right?"
(8:40:11 AM) Reise: "That's right," she says, smiling slightly. "Have a seat with me?"
(8:40:53 AM) Ikiryo: "Sure thing!" She takes a seat, ordering an ice chocolate.
(8:42:18 AM) Reise: The blonde waits for it to arrive and for South to take her first sip before deciding to ask. "And what's going on with you? I know you've got something on your mind, too, so let's have this work both ways."
(8:45:39 AM) Ikiryo: "Umm...it's nothing, I'm fine!" She's not a good liar.
(8:46:29 AM) ***Reise raises an eyebrow, not saying a word. It's quite clear she doesn't believe South.
(8:47:12 AM) Ikiryo: South frowns after a few moments of doing her best to maintain her composure. "...I don't know what to do."
(8:47:34 AM) Reise: "About what?" Reise relaxes as South starts to open up.
(8:49:16 AM) Ikiryo: "My Sister and just...everything. It's like there is always a new threat or a new thing to freak North out and need me to hug her."
(8:49:53 AM) Reise: "And...you don't like doing that? Which way would you think this needs to be fixed?"
(8:51:32 AM) Ikiryo: "No, I like helping North. She's my sister and I love her and I want to always be there for her." She shakes her head. "But...I also sort of want to do my own thing too. I've got friends that invited me to visit them and I said no because I was sure that something would happen and...yep, we're all losing free will soon." She sighs.
(8:56:31 AM) Reise: She reaches over and pats South on the shoulder. "Not that I know exactly what you're going through--I don't have any siblings. Or," she frowns, "I didn't, but now there's Eir and maybe my parents got successful this time, I should try to talk to them soon..." She shakes herself out of the tangent. "Anyway. I know you're kind of Blue's safety valve...but she's also got Adelinda for that. You don't *need* to take the burden of being,
(8:56:31 AM) Reise: like, her primary caregiver onto your shoulders...especially now that Blue's finally admitted that she likes dating Adelinda."
(8:57:30 AM) Ikiryo: "Yeah but...if something happened and I wasn't there." She frowns. "Sis freaks out and gets sad really easily. She needs me to be the happy-go-lucky one."
(8:59:34 AM) ***Reise purses her lips. "Let's try it this way. Blue's a big girl, even if she likes saying she's only, what, like five? Yes. She freaks out and gets sad easily. She also has a loving girlfriend and a therapist and all of the rest of us, too. I am beyond certain that Khaira would gladly offer hugs even if they're not sisterly hugs."
(9:00:36 AM) Reise: "Which means *you,*" she adds, giving South a nose-boop with one finger, "need to absolve yourself of whatever assumed guilt, too, 'if something happened.' I understand you feel responsible for her, and that's a lovely thing. She needs that. But she also has more people to rely on."
(9:01:13 AM) Ikiryo: "...and what if something happens and I'm not there? I mean...being the one to keep people happy and cheerful is sorta my thing. I don't want anyone getting too sad..."
(9:05:48 AM) Reise: "Then you have to make a choice, South. I'm not the best at pretty words, so this is going to sound probably harsh, but...you have to choose to either suck it up, and put yourself always at Blue's disposal...or have your own life, your own circles and responsibilities, and acknowledge that sometimes people get hurt and it's out of your control."
(9:06:36 AM) Ikiryo: She nods, slumping slightly and staring at her drink.
(9:11:45 AM) Reise: "It's not a fun decision to make," she goes on. It's her turn to stare at her plate, lost in thought. "When I first joined Galaxy Police...I thought it was going to be easy. Like kid shows about being superheroes. Just zoom around, swoop in at the nick of time, and save the day."
(9:16:55 AM) Ikiryo: "I just...I want to make people happy..."
(9:20:34 AM) CD: "I get that, South, I really do. I would *love* for people to just wise up and follow the laws that governments set and then we wouldn't have to deal with stupid bullshit like we have these days. But it'll never happen. And consider this: if you're always there to give Blue an...emotional band-aid, do you think she'll ever grow up enough to deal with these things on her own?"
(9:23:06 AM) Ikiryo: "What do you mean?"
(9:24:46 AM) ***Reise waves a hand, making a disgusted face. "Blah, never mind, I'm not saying it right. I mean it like...if you're always there with a hug and a bowl of ice cream, Blue's going to rely on that, right? She won't develop a way to cope on her own."
(9:25:05 AM) Ikiryo: "I...guess?" She frowns but nods.
(9:32:16 AM) Reise: "Listen, I'm not trying to tell you that you have to take yourself out of her life completely, that'd be mean and stupid and I'm not either of those things. But if you're making yourself...well, not miserable, but less happy, while trying to keep Blue safe, you're not really doing either of yourselves any favors. You need to find that right balance."
(9:33:51 AM) Ikiryo: She nods again. "I just...I feel responcible for her. She's technically my little sister." She pauses. "...people think of her as the older sister, don't they?"
(9:34:32 AM) Reise: "You do kind of give off the younger impression," she says, fighting back a little smile.
(9:35:35 AM) Ikiryo: "Oh well...I'm technically older." She pouts and drinks her iced chocolate. "Ah, brain freeze!"
(9:36:40 AM) ***Reise forgoes commenting. Instead, she waits for South's suffering to end, and says, "It's wonderful you feel responsible for her. But at the same time you can't take responsibility for herself *away* from her. Do you get what I mean?"
(9:41:13 AM) Ikiryo: "Yeah." She nods. "It's just not easy."
(9:42:18 AM) Reise: "I wouldn't expect it to be, or you wouldn't be half as caring as you obviously are. You're a good big sister, South. Let Blue grow up some too and I bet the two of you will get along even better. In the meantime...you *do* have your friends of your own that you obviously miss."
(9:44:52 AM) Ikiryo: "Yeah...do you think people would mind if, after this, I took a bit of a holiday? I mean, I wouldn't go until after we've stopped free will ending...that's bad."
(9:45:37 AM) Reise: "South, *I* want to take a holiday. I certainly wouldn't begrudge you taking one. Plus you've had to deal more directly with your *other* sisters and that's bound to wear *anyone* out."
(9:46:29 AM) Ikiryo: She smiles "Yeah but if you took a holiday, who'd do the important job of wearing silly outfits in front of a camera?" Says the pot to the kettle.
(9:51:42 AM) Reise: "I could think of someone~" she sing-songs.
(9:52:16 AM) Ikiryo: "Eir?"
(9:53:34 AM) Reise: "Nah. I'm not even sure she'd want to do it. If anyone was gonna prance on camera it'd be Khaira."
(9:54:06 AM) Ikiryo: She giggles. "That sounds like a Khaira thing."
(9:55:19 AM) Reise: "I mean, she *is* a dryad. They have the figures, they lack the shame, she already likes trying on new outfits."
(9:56:22 AM) Ikiryo: "New outfits ARE lots of fun." She nods.
(9:57:54 AM) Reise: "Ah, then we have *two* potential replacements while I'm out and about~" she teases with a grin.
(9:58:35 AM) Ikiryo: "Nah, I like doing fashion my way. Not wearing what others tell me to wear." She shakes her head, smiling.
(9:59:37 AM) Reise: "Clearly. Cute dress, by the by. It's not a style I see often."
(10:01:02 AM) Ikiryo: "No?" She preens a bit. "Thank you! I liked the design, so I bought it."
(10:02:53 AM) ***Reise gives her a thumbs-up. "You have a good eye. It's not something that would work for me...but on you it's pretty much perfect."
(10:04:37 AM) Ikiryo: She giggles. "Thank you Reise." She leans over to give her a hug. "Sorry for not being happy go lucky for a bit there...it's just a bit tricky sometimes."
(10:05:15 AM) Reise: "It's fine, South, it's fine." She returns the hug. "Honestly, if somebody managed it a hundred percent of the time, I'd wonder about their psychiatric state."
(10:06:26 AM) Ikiryo: "Well...I try. Having someone about happy makes other people happier. So if I'm cheerful, it keeps everyone's spirits up."
(10:07:28 AM) Reise: "And we love you for that. But we also know that sometimes even you get down. So you don't have to apologize. Got that?"
(10:08:44 AM) Ikiryo: "Right." She nods "I'll help save free will, then I'll go visit my friends for a holiday on Gamindustri and come back all ready to be the happy person again. Just...look after North for me, while I'm away?"
(10:09:27 AM) Reise: "You can count on all of us to do that, alright?"
(10:09:48 AM) Ikiryo: "Thank you!"
(10:10:05 AM) ***Reise gives South one last quick hug.