A Sudden Shut-In

[straykitty]

After returning from the impromptu raid she had organized, Renne Bright has locked herself in her room. It's only been a few days, and she's been sending for food so she is eating, but she hasn't really been present. If you try to contact her on the Ether-net, you'll be greeted by her "Kitty-bot" who will provide automatic responses for her. It's a neat bit of technology, and reasonably good at giving appropriate information, but it's definitely not passing things along to Renne, so far as anyone can tell.

If folks are concerned, however, they might be able to check on her. She's been briefly answering her door for food, after all.

Comments

[testygirl]

Aira ends up hesitating once she reaches Renne's door. What to do, what to say? For several seconds, she sets her forearm and her head against the door, then she lets out a quiet sigh. She doesn't want to be mad at Renne, but she is. In fact, she's been going about her usual business the last few days straining to hold it all in. Maybe it's natural for her temper to boil over in this moment, then.

"Hey!" She draws back and kicks the door—once, twice, then she smacks it hard with the heel of her palm. "You can't blow me off with auto responses from some cutesy bot, so open up! I'm gonna keep beating on your door at least until I hear you say that you're okay!"

[straykitty]

"I'm fine, is that enough for you?"

Renne's voice behind the door is terse, with a harsh edge.

[testygirl]

"No!"

Though, as promised, she does stop hitting the door. Instead she sets her forehead right up against it.

"Look, I'm sad and super pissed about what happened, but keeping it all bottled up is driving me crazy. I'm sure it's worse for you, so..."

She trails off, in some effort not to say anything too stupid in spite of how she feels.

[straykitty]

"You deserve to feel that way. It was my error for not investigating further and exposing you all to that."

[testygirl]

"That's not what I'm mad about!"

She lightly knocks her forehead to the door.

"I would have gone no matter what. God, I mean, as if you should ever have to face something like that alone."

[straykitty]

There's a brief pause.

"It is my responsibility. There are some things people like you shouldn't have to see."

[testygirl]

That doesn't go over so well, and Aira nearly lands another kick on the door, drawing her leg back before she can barely stop herself. She might have put a hole through it.

"You're wrong. I've seen a lot! What makes you so different from me?!"

[nyammy]

There is something pawing at your door, Renne.

Paw, paw, paw. Scritch, scratch.

It's incessant. Not going away.

[straykitty]

The door opens, and Renne looks down at the culprit, her eyes narrow.

"...really?"

[nyammy]

Yuki simply strolls in like she owns the place. Which she does, since she's a cat. That's how they roll.

"What? Am I not allowed to pay a visit?"

[straykitty]

"I suppose I'm in no position to stop you."

Renne's room is slightly disheveled, her bed notably undone but is otherwise fairly neat and tidy. Her scythe rests against a wall, and it HAS been fully cleaned and polished so it was maintained, although Renne herself is in a bit of a state with messy hair and a slightly crooked nightgown.

[nyammy]

"You aren't." With that, Yuki jumps up onto the bed and makes herself comfortable. She's a cat, after all, and has no concept of asking for permission.

"I wanted to ask how you were holding up, but I think I can see for myself what the answer to that is."

[straykitty]

"I'll be fine I just need a few days."

Renne waves her hand dismissively, she's not especially wanting to have this conversation with a cat who is currently usurping her bed.

[singlemilletgrain]

Knock knock knock.

It is the approximate time for Renne's food deliveries, although the knocking is a little more gentle than the delivery person she usually hears.

[straykitty]

When the door opens, Renne is honestly a bit of a mess. Her hair is disheveled and she's in her pajamas, a cute and frilly outfit to be sure but thrown on without particular care. When she sees Shu at the door, her eyes widen a bit.

"O-oh. What are you doing here?"

[singlemilletgrain]

"I have a preternatural sense to detect when someone I know isn't eating enough."

Shu appears to be perfectly serious. ...It seems quite plausible this is an actual ability she has. She'll never say. Either way, she gracefully sidesteps Renne with her armful of grocery bags.

"Thank you for having me."

Renne did not have her.

"May I use your stove?"

[straykitty]

"Uh... sure."

Renne is pretty taken aback by all of this and just bemusedly shuts the door behind her.

[singlemilletgrain]

"Thank you. You have a lovely place."

This statement is uttered even if it is piled knee-deep with trash, because, of course, Shu will not be leaving until all the trash is cleared and it is indeed a lovely place. As it is, she clears some space on the counter, looks briefly in all the drawers, and identifies the utensils she needs.

Soon enough, the sound of steady chopping fills the air.

"...I have heard rumors that you had a private mission."

[straykitty]

Fortunately, even in the state that she's in Renne's room is still mostly tidy, although there is a bit of clutter spreading on her desk, mostly work materials she's been burying herself in. Not knowing quite what else to do with herself, she takes a seat at the desk as Shu begins cooking, sighing as the words she knew were coming are said.

"Yes, it was a routine supply raid but it unfortunately took an unexpected turn."

She's keeping her tone as neutral as she can.

[purplexing]

Donnie's tactic has been to keep so busy that he doesn't have to think too hard about things. That's proven to be something he didn't have to worry about too much given how busy he'd found himself after the raid, but even then, memories of what had happened that day were never too far from his mind.

He's taken longer than he'd wanted to, to finally check in on Renne, and that's only after a few obligatory messages through the network to say as much.

But now he's here at the door, and after a knock stands there awkwardly, hands stuffed into the pockets of his leather jacket.

[straykitty]

"Who is it?"

She seems at least marginally even in tone, so that's something.

[purplexing]

Considering that Donnie had half expected no response, he takes that as a good sign. He lifts head at her voice, clearing his throat before he answers.

"It's Donnie."

[straykitty]

There's a brief pause.

"You may enter."

The door is, indeed, unlocked.

[purplexing]

He'd expected an invitation to come in even less, but after a blink, he tries the handle before opening the door to admit himself.

"Hey..."

[straykitty]

Renne is at her desk, tinkering with her ENC. At least at this time, she seems more or less put together.

"Hello. I... hope you are doing all right, all things considered."