not_meatbuns | Rebel 1 [Action / Voice]

[Around sundown, somewhere out in the forest, one Litchi Faye-Ling is waking up in a bath tub.

The first thing she notices is that the Boundary is much more quiet than it was the last she knew. The strain is still there, and everything hurts, but the buzz of memories is quieter. At least, it is until she cracks one eye open and sees that she's in a tub. In the middle of a forest. Then the wave of memories from clashing timelines and realities is a roar, and it's all she can do to curl into a ball and wait for it to stop.]

N-no... please, not now...

[This isn't Kagutsuchi. This place, she's been here before, and nearly every time it's had something to do with a tub, and--

--Luceti. This is Luceti. She thinks. Or something along those lines. People were always appearing in tubs... or at least in her tub... although she woke up in one once too, didn't she? No, that can't be...

It isn't until Lao Jiu crawls back up onto her head that the roar starts to die down. And then the memories start to unfold a little less chaotically, and she peers over the edge of the tub to see the inevitable journal, lying open on the ground. She gives a weak laugh.]

My goodness, this is all so familiar... Hello? Is anyone-- [Luceti Valley. Mu. Raining trees. She stammers to a stop for a moment before trying again.] --Is anyone there? I think...

[This is the headache of the century. Litchi stops again, leaning her forehead against the cool side of the tub until the Boundary quiets down again. That doesn't seem right. It wasn't this loud before, was it? ...Wait, it was, wasn't it...]

I think I may need some help. This is... Luceti, yes...? I'm afraid I woke up in the forest and I... seem to be missing a few things. [Her usual clothes. Memories. Mantenbou. A ring. Although the last one she has an itching suspicion was both very important and has a very low chance of being here.

And there's one other thing...]

Also, could anyone tell me if Tsubaki Yayoi or Kazuma Kval are still here? It would be a tremendous help.

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Splendid... thank you.

...

Though right now, I am... m-more concerned with simply being able to speak with you again...

Yes, I have to admit, that's what matters most to me as well.

We're almost back at the village, though. I'll see you very soon.

... Of course, Doctor Faye-Ling...

[Robert bundles his things up, preparing to go outside. He isn't going to waste any time - not now.]

[It really doesn't take her too much longer before she's retrieved her clothes from the clothes shop, stopped by the house to say hello to Tao and Kazuma, and managed to settle her nerves to ease the Boundary feedback lower. All told, it's around an hour before she takes up her journal to ping Robert before she heads to Seventh Heaven.]

Professor Hastings? I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, but I should be at Seventh Heaven in just a few minutes.

[And Robert is already nearly there. What a change from a year ago, when he first met Litchi - breathless only walking short distances and taking twice as long.]

Please feel free to take your time... I am certainly not going anywhere.

[Not when he can see her again, and truly appreciate that she is here.]

[She laughs lightly.]

We'll... I'm almost there, so hopefully I won't keep you waiting too much longer, even so.

[And, true to her word, it's only a few minutes more before she's at Seventh Heaven, looking around for him. She'll definitely be looking a little worse for the wear from the last time he saw her, paler, definitely looking like she hasn't been sleeping enough, but still bright-eyed with joy at being back in Luceti.]

[It's the joy he sees first - that bright smiling face, the one he loved so much before and aches to see again now. He's thrilled, that she's really here and in front of him - the doctor-and-scientist who has been nothing less than warm and loving to him since day one, even when he didn't do anything to earn it.

He immediately closes the difference between them, his smile as bright as hers.]

... I kn-know that speaking to you should have been evidence enough, but... I am s-so glad to see that I have a more empirical observation, now...

[That bright smile is all the encouragement she needs to scoop him up into a tight hug, laughing cheerily. Robert, she knows hugs are probably not your forte, but you are getting this one anyway.]

I'm so glad to see you again, too. I'm sorry I had to leave before.

[She really, really hopes that's not going to happen again for a long time.]

[Oh, Litchi. For you, Robert will happily give hugs - in fact, he returns it, shyly but genuinely.

... Though with their height difference he might end up with his face pillowed by Litchi's bosom, but he's not really paying attention to that right now.]

... It was... hardly your fault...

But... but th-things feel better with you here, now...

[~~Robert: The first to pay no attention to boobsquish.~~ She gives him one last squeeze before letting go, beaming at him. Goodness, it's so nice to see him again, even if the Boundary is feeding her all kinds of mixed-up memories.]

I hope everyone has been well since I left?

[~~He's awesome that way.~~ Robert beams at her in return, his expression happier than it's been in a very long time.]

... Yes... well, as m-much as possible, anyway...

... Though... the c-clinic seemed... emptier without you.

[That. Is breaking her heart. Her smile becomes a little shakier.]

I'll just need to get back to work as soon as I'm settled in, then. It'll be nice to see all the other volunteers again.

[... Poor Litchi. Robert, for his part, doesn't quite notice.]

... I will... be glad to see you there, as well...

... For now, should we... get something to eat...?

[Oh, blessed distraction.]

Yes, that would-- [Odd echo. Slightly different wording is bouncing around her. There's a slight pause as she tries to pull herself together and then she goes on.] -- that would be wonderful.

[Cover up the stutter, cover up the stutter.]

My assistant was trying to get me something to eat last night and I still haven't had a chance to eat anything. It's nice to finally have a break.

[No need to cover up the stutter - Robert won't even pick at it anyway.]

You deserve the chance to... r-relax, Doctor Faye-Ling. It is... important...

[He leads her to a quiet table, one rather isolated from the rest - not too much so, but enough that they can talk.]

Might I... get something for you...?

Rebel 1 [Action / Voice]

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[Voice] | Want to timeskip this a bit to when she calls him up? o/`

[Voice -> Action] But of course~

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[Action] /finally tags back

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