The Hydrangea (hydrangea macrophylla) is a flower native to and endemic to japan, typically blooming from June to September. it's meaning in flower language varies based on colour.
the Blue hydrangea's attributed meanings include "patient love", "mystery" and "remorse".
*night has fallen, and the halls of the pinky's corridor have fallen silent with it.
*somewhere within this maze of doors and passageways was Ren. his footsteps were quiet, almost eerily so–for he did not want to disturb his dear and delicate master's slumber.
*he'd already escorted the dihui star to her room moments earlier, ending his sparse responsibilities for the day. and so he was left alone with his own thoughts.
*as he often was.
*pondering had become Ren's most frequent activity; he had no desires nor inclinations towards most other 'hobbies'.
*perhaps he could go and hone his swordsmanship further. or perhaps he could settle in his room and rest, so he may awake with the energy and clear mind to take care of his master the following morning.or perhaps..
*the pinky apprentice searched through his coat's pockets until he fished out a phone. a slightly outdated model by the city's standards, but he was grateful for having one at all.
*Kira had recently 'borrowed' his phone, and besides changing his preferred minimalist layout and messing up all his settings, downloaded a social app she used often. 'tumblr', she called it. she'd insisted on him giving it a try.
*although he would usually never indulge in such meaningless endeavours, tonight, something compelled him otherwise.
*Ren opened the app.
[askblog/RPblog of Ren from Limbus Company, details below]
★ about muse
Ren (蓮), no last name. sometimes borrows his master's and goes by 'Shiomi Ren' (塩見 蓮)if a last name is absolutely mandatory.
20, became the dihui star's apprentice at 15~14.
he/him..? its complicated. probably queer and not cis in some way but he has a star to inherit so he doesn't really care about that right now. we'll tackle that whole thing later.
minor differences from canon in appearance, which are as follows: ★
*main point of canon divergence is in backstory. it'll take some time to be delved into, however. he swore to the man in black he'd never tell a soul.
the only other person besides Rien in his canon who knows of the current dihui star's true identity. he often acts as Araya's caregiver.
currently the most competent at household chores in the HoS. he handles meal-making for himself and Araya.
complicated relationship with his canon's master.
terminally ill, in a sense.
☆ Tag List
navigation
#Ruminant azure blade // general posts/rp
#Humble regards // asks
#Moonlit tapestries // art/doodles
#Musings under the moon // in-character journals
#ooc // out of character posts
#ooc rb // out of character rbs
characters
#To inherit a star — (araya/dihui star)
#belated predecessor — (yoru/dihui star)
#entangled thread — (dihui star/!) // asks featuring/directed towards this ren's Master, Araya
#Spiders of the web — (nursefathers) //includes all other nursefathers
#The one true apprentice — (ryoshu)
#Palermitan swordsman — (lucio)
#Love wins in the HoS — (romantic) // applies for shipping with any HoS apprentice, the specific one will be added in the parenthesis
#Iron maiden — (albina)
#Blind devotion — (sora)
#Violet tinted screen — (kira)
bonus:
prisoner of fate — (joker)
#the sunset's glow — (mod) // for IC asks regarding the mod/ask answers ren doesn't make an input in
Events, tagged with — (event) [from newest to oldest]
burgundy pages torn apart // GODDAMNIT WHAT DO YOU MEAN LUCIO DISTORTED AGAIN
#pixel decay // local Kira (not the same one) gets told abt her canon fate and is very normal about it (she distorts)
the redeemer — (whitenight)
#solace in chains of gold // fym the bigass polar bear is kira
#April fools! :) // somewhat baby ren
#the thumb's finest textbook // fym the comically huge flower is lucio
#sneeby araya // the dihui star got hit with the sneeb spell
#Final destination 9: House of Spiders // that time callisto fused with an AI from murder drones idk mod hasn't watched it
#Intoxicated azure blade // who gave the humble boy alcohol
#ma there's a weirdass monolith outside // albibi got sweet-talked by Carmen
magic anons, tagged with — (m!a) [from newest to oldest]
#bowlcut-ification // haircut-swap with kira
#pride resonance // gayass apprentice
#by your will // prescripts time
#bound loyalty // pinky version of the index apprentice's outfit
a sanguine gaze; her reflection upon yours // hey wouldn't it be funny if we made ren look more like his master's absentee mom - you anons probably
▼ ask prompts / misc
ask prompt 1.
ask prompt 2.
inventory list
▲ account rules and whatnot
mod is an adult, so is my muse. suggestive rp/asks are fine, just don't thwack me with full NSFW. i plead.
shipping w other apprentices and characters around his age range is also fair game. again, just keep things relatively sfw.
muses from other media are welcome to interact.
mod's timezone is +9. apologies if the time discrepancy causes any issues.
M!As are allowed, but mod may change how long they go on for as they see fit.
M!As have been halted indefinitely until mod gets through the ones in their backlog. [note, this does not include anon gifts].
mod also apologizes in advance for slow responses towards rp and asks. their brain has like two braincells, probably, and it takes them a bit to write out responses, alongside their mental health not being that good.
RBs are in-character unless stated otherwise. realistically, i feel like ren would mostly use his socials for philosophical things or photography. photography rbs are queued.
Addendums due to recent events:
no, ren will not be distorting. sorry. sny prompts or m!a's for him to distort will be ignored.
will i consider it in the future? possibly! but given mod's understanding of distortion, it doesn't feel likely nor reasonable for him to at his character's current point in time. this isn't a good thing either. his will is unshakable, but it's a will that's rooted in inherently negative beliefs.
EGO could be on the table if you reaaaaallly want it to, but that still doesn't quite feel reasonable and also mod doesn't really want to go and design a whole EGO for him atm. I'm in the goddamn torment nexus, chat.
also, please dont suddenly force my muse into things via kidnapping or teleporting them to different locations in posts without at least asking mod first, wether via asks or dms: asks are fine since mod can choose to decline more easily, but if you want to talk about it more in depth, you can dm mod directly if you'd like.
[Sora approaches the Pinky's Corridor carefully. The blue walls can make the rooms rather... confusing. It was nothing like the Index where it was clear when it was a different room. But either way, she treaded forth. Even without her shackles, she still kept her hands closely towards herself, making her look rather... small...]
[Sora took a sharp breath. She's... scared, nervous. She truly did feel bad and wanted to apologize. She knew Ren wasn't the type to be angry, but she... couldn't help but imagine the worst.]
R-Ren..? A-Are you here?
@apprentice-oftheindex //Hi :3 Hope you don't mind <3
*ren has spent the past few moments slowly nursing a cup of cocoa—their nausea from before hadn't fully gone away when they returned, but he didn't want the drink to go cold and taste worse, either.
*they stop mid-sip, head turning towards the door and to whoever called out from behind it—who, judging by her voice, seemed to be the index apprentice.
*..how strange. ren thought he would've heard the clinks of sora's shackles before her voice—rattling much louder than even the chains wrapped all over kira's arms. oh well, he shan't dwell on it.
' 'you may come in, apprentice of the index.' '
*the now half-finished cup in their hands is set aside, blanket pulled off their body and folded nice and neat beside them.
[Sora slowly and nervously opened the door, walking inside. Ren didn't seem all that... bothered? But... that's how Ren always is. He's good at keeping his composure, unlike her.]
[Sora slowly walks up to Ren, trying her best to stay close, but also keeping her distance.]
H-Hello. I-I... uhm... H-Hope I'm not i-intruding. I-I just want to see h-how you're doing.
[Sora kept her hands in her cloak, her figure seemingly smaller than she usually is.]
*upon entering, the pitter patter of rain resonates throughout the room from.. somewhere. sounds of nature seldom ever slip into the House of Spiders aside from open backdoors, making the background noise a bit jarring. thankfully, upon a closer look, the rain seems to be a mere auditory mimicry produced by a sound machine near ren.
*huh. so that's why there wasn't any rattling upon her arrival. curious.
' '..?
ehem. greetings.' ' *ren eyes sora, a little puzzled.
*he wasn't aware sora could take off the shackles of her EGO—given they've seen her wearing them at all times, even when they became an inconvenience and got in the way. alas, not their business to pry into.
*the pinky apprentice bows lightly. all things considered, he seems entirely fine, watching sora with that same calm face she's seen them have for the longest time.
*and yet, something's off. it's hard to pinpoint what exactly—whether it's the slight stiffness of their movement or the eyebags that seem a bit more prominent than usual, one can't say for sure if it's simple weariness something else. perhaps she ought to not look into it too hard.. at least, that's what ren would prefer.
' 'you needn't worry yourself so, sora. i am as always.
pray, take a seat. this humble self of mine is in no rush today. ' '
*the pinky apprentice beckons her over, gesturing towards a second cushion parallel to the one they're sat on.
[Sora stood silent. Just for a moment. Unmoving. She hesitates. Is it truly okay for her to do this? After what she had done?]
[Sora was startled at the offer. She... wasn't sure if she should do it. She stared back at Ren's face. He seemed... confused? But... also... it was clear something was wrong.]
[Slowly, Sora walks towards Ren and sat down across from him.]
Th-Thankyou.
[Sora shifts lightly, not sure on what to do next. She came here to offer Ren comfort, and yet she could barely utter a word to him.]
[That was until Sora remembered. She reached into her pockets before placing a small bag on the table and offered it to Ren.]
I-I uhm... b-brought you c-cookies.
[Sora immediately shut up afterward, looking down bashfully. She tried so hard not to seem nervous, but it was obvious from her stutters that she was.]
[Even with the anon's words of not to worry... she really couldn't help but feel stupidly nervous.]
*ren's gaze doesn't leave sora as she walks over, though their thoughts start to wander.
*sora was a nervous one, stumbling over her actions and words more often than not. they'd pay no mind to her current behaviour were the circumstances different.
*but the Anons rush to tell him about every time something of interest happens in the spiderweb, and they reckon the same happens to her, too. it's clear that they both have the same thing in mind—the thing that brought her to their chambers on such sudden notice. it's only a matter of who starts talking first.
*and so, the elephant in the room stands in a corner, waiting—probably pleading at this point—to be addressed. one of them will have to break the silence eventually.
*it's just.. where does he even begin? part of him doesn't even want to begin, they'd hurried back to their chambers to sulk on their lonesome after living through their worst fear-
' 'ahm.' '
*ren's focus flickers rapidly between the bag of cookies and sora, blinking a few times in surprise.
[Sora panicked. She... didn't expect to be questioned for... cookies of all things. Well... it was sudden, so... yea, maybe it was justified.]
[Still, this heavy air between the two isn't exactly going to disappear on its own. Sora doesn't want to but... well, she started this, she has to take the next step.]
[Sora took a deep breath, trying to calm herself as best as she could.]
I-I uhm... I-I was t-told about an m-m!a that was placed o-on Kira... I-I was told to talk to her b-but I uh... I-I stalled... a-and... before I-I knew it... th-they said... y-you went instead...
[Sora looked down, she was afraid to meet Ren's gaze. She played with her hands, trying to distract herself from all this.]
I-I uhm... I-I felt v-very bad that... y-you had to go i-instead of me... I-I should've gone a-and... I w-was a coward... I-I'm... r-really sorry! S-so! I-I uh... I just... w-wanna check i-if you're okay. A-and give you c-cookies as... a-as a uh.... a-apology...?
[The last sentence was more of a question, but she was genuine with her words. She looked up, trying to read Ren's expression. But she has... never been good at reading people... still, she wants to see if... it at least made Ren happy in any way.]
*ren goes still, staring at the gift on the table as sora spoke without meeting her gaze. for as incredibly impolite as he knew that was, they were caught too off-guard by this whole thing to do anything about it.
' '...
i ask you again, apprentice of the index.
for what purpose do you apologize?' '
*ren looks up towards her again. they didn't expect any acknowledgement for their actions, much less gratitude—leaving then unsure of how to respond. it'd become the usual after years of this from his Master, after all.
*but that was one thing. her guilt, on the other hand..
*he doesn't get it. they hadn't been made aware of the m!a's intricacies until the end of his talk with kira—and had they known prior that speaking to them first would void it for sora as well, ren would've actually gone through with it with much less hesitation.in the apprentice's eyes, how they felt didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. there wasn't much ren wouldn't be willing to endure if it would spare those he cherished from suffering.
[Ren's question threw her off guard. Why is she apologizing? Isn't it obvious?]
W-Well... I... I felt b-bad... I-I know you d-don't want to be forgotten e-either... right? O-Or uhm... m-maybe I'm... a-assuming.... W-well... uhm...
[Sora thought for a moment, trying to find the right words to say.]
I-I... uhm... I-I know I didn't want t-to be forgotten... a-and I... realize how c-close you are with Kira, s-so... I-I assumed... i-it must've... been hard f-for you too... S-So... I-I apologize for... l-leaving you to h-handle that alone. Th-that's... that's... a-all...
[Sora felt selfish for not going. She could only hope she could right the wrongs she felt she did.]
*after a pause that seemingly stretched on for ages, filled only by continued artificial rainy ambience, ren shakes their head in disapproval.
' 'pray tell, were you aware that one could bear the brunt of this task on the other's behalf?' '
*The question was more introspective than anything—whether she did or not didn't matter to them. ren picks up the cup of cocoa and takes a sip, staring off towards the other side of the room.
*..who was he to act like this? when despite their efforts to repress everything into nothingness detach themselves from fickle, worldly matters that would only sway his resolve, they too had been subject to similar feelings whenever he crossed their mind? even after being told that there's nothing he could've done in the moment, that the process of distortion could be interrupted by no one but the affected themselves, ren's guilt over the thumb apprentice has yet to dissipate.
' '..i understand, somewhat.
the heart is a volatile thing, lacking reason and logic in it's responses.' '
*with a heavy exhale, the apprentice turns back to sora, setting the cup aside once more.
' 'if it brings you any solace, this humble self of mine holds no resentment towards you, sora.' '
[Sora let out a sigh of relief. Yea, it did calm her to know that Ren wasn't angry at her for it. But... something else bothered her.]
I-It does. Th-thankyou! U-uhm... b-but... I-I'm just... worried uhm... a-are you sure y-you're... alright? Y-You don't... seem all that f-fine...
[Sora has been having the feeling that he isn't fine, but... she's not exactly sure herself. Afted all, she's not very good at prying into other people...]
*ren nods, giving sora a slight smile. it doesn't really feel genuine.
' 'mhm.
for as much as i appreciate your concern, i assure you, you needn't worry about this humble servant.
i am well.' '
*no. no, ren is not well.
*but sora's already troubled enough, she doesn't need to put up with his moping and feel even more guilty right now. all he needs is to simply go train for a while, distract himself until all these feelings are but a distant echo in the back of their mind.
*they will get over themselves eventually. he always does.
*a thought pops into their mind.
' 'ah, right.
I've been informed the effects of this m!a have at last given way—perhaps you ought to pay kira a visit, no?' '
*the topic shifts before any further questions could even be asked.
[She nervously said. She's... tired... tired of running away when her friends needed her. Clearly... something is bothering Ren. And she really wants to help. Or... maybe this is her instinct? She's not sure. But all she knows is that she wants to help him... somehow.]
Y-You can talk to m-me if you want... I-I want to help you! I-I... I want you to... b-be comfortable with me... I-I know that's a-a lot to ask from me, b-but I promise you I-I don't mean anything bad! I-it’s sometimes... a-alright to not feel o-okay, you kn-know? A-Ah... a-am I rambling? S-Sorry... I-I... I'm not... g-good with... c-comfortimg peolle... b-but I want to try! S-So you can feel better!
*a frown forms on the apprentice's face briefly, eyes widening, though it's gone as quickly as it appeared—back to that same old neutral expression he seems to always have regardless of the situation.
' '...' ' *after listening to sora without any interjection, all she gets in response at first is a sigh.
' 'the desire to lend a helping hand to others is a noble one. i commend your kindness, sora, i truly do—and i am ever so grateful for the care you extend towards my humble self.
..but i assure you, this worry is wholly unnecessary.' '
[Sora deflates, sad that she got turned down. She wanted to press on further... but she's afraid...]
O-Okay... I-I'm sorry... m-maybe... I-I should go now... I-I'm sorry to b-bother you, Ren...
[Sora stood up, embarrassed beyond words. Maybe she was wrong..? Maybe he was fine? She's not sure, but... her accusation seem to made Ren uncomfortable... she didn't mean to make him uncomfortable... so she rushed out of the door. Or tries to. Because her "dash" seems more like stumbling as she trips every few steps.]
*turning sora down wasn't easy on them, either. ren knew her well enough to gauge her reaction beforehand, trying to be as kind as possible—they would've been far more blunt and to the point about wishing to be left alone were it anyone else. yes, even with the two apprentices behind their topic of discussion.
*she's their friend, too. it'd be selfish of them to make her feel bad over them when she was also troubled herself.
*unfortunately,
' '?
ah, sora, you aren't a-
sora?-' '
*ren springs up from the floor—vision dimming for a second, just something that occasionally happens to them whenever they get up too fast—to follow after her, alarmed by her haphazard dash out of the room. the tatami floor isn't easy to slip on, but the chance of slamming face-first into something or tripping over oneself is still there.
*they didn't want to upset her. but it seems ren messed that up, too.
' 'i suppose my humble self's hair indeed has a blue sheen to it under strong light, though I'd hesitate to call it 'blue'—often is it indistinguishable from pure ebony.
I'm also certain most have pronouns; they're an integral piece of language and communication. unless you refer to this strange trinket embedded upon me. ' '
*an attempt at taking the badge off was made. alas, the pin clung to the fabric of their clothes won't budge.
M!A - gives ren they/them pronouns for 10 asks. Trial run
' '?' '
*pop.
*a circular blue can badge with 'they/them' on it is now clipped onto the pinky apprentice's clothes. the badge itself's got a cool holographic coating that makes it nice and shimmery depending on where you look at it from, but otherwise has no particularly notable properties.
[Sora approaches the Pinky's Corridor carefully. The blue walls can make the rooms rather... confusing. It was nothing like the Index where it was clear when it was a different room. But either way, she treaded forth. Even without her shackles, she still kept her hands closely towards herself, making her look rather... small...]
[Sora took a sharp breath. She's... scared, nervous. She truly did feel bad and wanted to apologize. She knew Ren wasn't the type to be angry, but she... couldn't help but imagine the worst.]
R-Ren..? A-Are you here?
@apprentice-oftheindex //Hi :3 Hope you don't mind <3
*ren has spent the past few moments slowly nursing a cup of cocoa—their nausea from before hadn't fully gone away when they returned, but he didn't want the drink to go cold and taste worse, either.
*they stop mid-sip, head turning towards the door and to whoever called out from behind it—who, judging by her voice, seemed to be the index apprentice.
*..how strange. ren thought he would've heard the clinks of sora's shackles before her voice—rattling much louder than even the chains wrapped all over kira's arms. oh well, he shan't dwell on it.
' 'you may come in, apprentice of the index.' '
*the now half-finished cup in their hands is set aside, blanket pulled off their body and folded nice and neat beside them.
[Sora slowly and nervously opened the door, walking inside. Ren didn't seem all that... bothered? But... that's how Ren always is. He's good at keeping his composure, unlike her.]
[Sora slowly walks up to Ren, trying her best to stay close, but also keeping her distance.]
H-Hello. I-I... uhm... H-Hope I'm not i-intruding. I-I just want to see h-how you're doing.
[Sora kept her hands in her cloak, her figure seemingly smaller than she usually is.]
*upon entering, the pitter patter of rain resonates throughout the room from.. somewhere. sounds of nature seldom ever slip into the House of Spiders aside from open backdoors, making the background noise a bit jarring. thankfully, upon a closer look, the rain seems to be a mere auditory mimicry produced by a sound machine near ren.
*huh. so that's why there wasn't any rattling upon her arrival. curious.
' '..?
ehem. greetings.' ' *ren eyes sora, a little puzzled.
*he wasn't aware sora could take off the shackles of her EGO—given they've seen her wearing them at all times, even when they became an inconvenience and got in the way. alas, not their business to pry into.
*the pinky apprentice bows lightly. all things considered, he seems entirely fine, watching sora with that same calm face she's seen them have for the longest time.
*and yet, something's off. it's hard to pinpoint what exactly—whether it's the slight stiffness of their movement or the eyebags that seem a bit more prominent than usual, one can't say for sure if it's simple weariness something else. perhaps she ought to not look into it too hard.. at least, that's what ren would prefer.
' 'you needn't worry yourself so, sora. i am as always.
pray, take a seat. this humble self of mine is in no rush today. ' '
*the pinky apprentice beckons her over, gesturing towards a second cushion parallel to the one they're sat on.
[Sora stood silent. Just for a moment. Unmoving. She hesitates. Is it truly okay for her to do this? After what she had done?]
[Sora was startled at the offer. She... wasn't sure if she should do it. She stared back at Ren's face. He seemed... confused? But... also... it was clear something was wrong.]
[Slowly, Sora walks towards Ren and sat down across from him.]
Th-Thankyou.
[Sora shifts lightly, not sure on what to do next. She came here to offer Ren comfort, and yet she could barely utter a word to him.]
[That was until Sora remembered. She reached into her pockets before placing a small bag on the table and offered it to Ren.]
I-I uhm... b-brought you c-cookies.
[Sora immediately shut up afterward, looking down bashfully. She tried so hard not to seem nervous, but it was obvious from her stutters that she was.]
[Even with the anon's words of not to worry... she really couldn't help but feel stupidly nervous.]
*ren's gaze doesn't leave sora as she walks over, though their thoughts start to wander.
*sora was a nervous one, stumbling over her actions and words more often than not. they'd pay no mind to her current behaviour were the circumstances different.
*but the Anons rush to tell him about every time something of interest happens in the spiderweb, and they reckon the same happens to her, too. it's clear that they both have the same thing in mind—the thing that brought her to their chambers on such sudden notice. it's only a matter of who starts talking first.
*and so, the elephant in the room stands in a corner, waiting—probably pleading at this point—to be addressed. one of them will have to break the silence eventually.
*it's just.. where does he even begin? part of him doesn't even want to begin, they'd hurried back to their chambers to sulk on their lonesome after living through their worst fear-
' 'ahm.' '
*ren's focus flickers rapidly between the bag of cookies and sora, blinking a few times in surprise.
[Sora panicked. She... didn't expect to be questioned for... cookies of all things. Well... it was sudden, so... yea, maybe it was justified.]
[Still, this heavy air between the two isn't exactly going to disappear on its own. Sora doesn't want to but... well, she started this, she has to take the next step.]
[Sora took a deep breath, trying to calm herself as best as she could.]
I-I uhm... I-I was t-told about an m-m!a that was placed o-on Kira... I-I was told to talk to her b-but I uh... I-I stalled... a-and... before I-I knew it... th-they said... y-you went instead...
[Sora looked down, she was afraid to meet Ren's gaze. She played with her hands, trying to distract herself from all this.]
I-I uhm... I-I felt v-very bad that... y-you had to go i-instead of me... I-I should've gone a-and... I w-was a coward... I-I'm... r-really sorry! S-so! I-I uh... I just... w-wanna check i-if you're okay. A-and give you c-cookies as... a-as a uh.... a-apology...?
[The last sentence was more of a question, but she was genuine with her words. She looked up, trying to read Ren's expression. But she has... never been good at reading people... still, she wants to see if... it at least made Ren happy in any way.]
*ren goes still, staring at the gift on the table as sora spoke without meeting her gaze. for as incredibly impolite as he knew that was, they were caught too off-guard by this whole thing to do anything about it.
' '...
i ask you again, apprentice of the index.
for what purpose do you apologize?' '
*ren looks up towards her again. they didn't expect any acknowledgement for their actions, much less gratitude—leaving then unsure of how to respond. it'd become the usual after years of this from his Master, after all.
*but that was one thing. her guilt, on the other hand..
*he doesn't get it. they hadn't been made aware of the m!a's intricacies until the end of his talk with kira—and had they known prior that speaking to them first would void it for sora as well, ren would've actually gone through with it with much less hesitation.in the apprentice's eyes, how they felt didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. there wasn't much ren wouldn't be willing to endure if it would spare those he cherished from suffering.
[Ren's question threw her off guard. Why is she apologizing? Isn't it obvious?]
W-Well... I... I felt b-bad... I-I know you d-don't want to be forgotten e-either... right? O-Or uhm... m-maybe I'm... a-assuming.... W-well... uhm...
[Sora thought for a moment, trying to find the right words to say.]
I-I... uhm... I-I know I didn't want t-to be forgotten... a-and I... realize how c-close you are with Kira, s-so... I-I assumed... i-it must've... been hard f-for you too... S-So... I-I apologize for... l-leaving you to h-handle that alone. Th-that's... that's... a-all...
[Sora felt selfish for not going. She could only hope she could right the wrongs she felt she did.]
*after a pause that seemingly stretched on for ages, filled only by continued artificial rainy ambience, ren shakes their head in disapproval.
' 'pray tell, were you aware that one could bear the brunt of this task on the other's behalf?' '
*The question was more introspective than anything—whether she did or not didn't matter to them. ren picks up the cup of cocoa and takes a sip, staring off towards the other side of the room.
*..who was he to act like this? when despite their efforts to repress everything into nothingness detach themselves from fickle, worldly matters that would only sway his resolve, they too had been subject to similar feelings whenever he crossed their mind? even after being told that there's nothing he could've done in the moment, that the process of distortion could be interrupted by no one but the affected themselves, ren's guilt over the thumb apprentice has yet to dissipate.
' '..i understand, somewhat.
the heart is a volatile thing, lacking reason and logic in it's responses.' '
*with a heavy exhale, the apprentice turns back to sora, setting the cup aside once more.
' 'if it brings you any solace, this humble self of mine holds no resentment towards you, sora.' '
[Sora let out a sigh of relief. Yea, it did calm her to know that Ren wasn't angry at her for it. But... something else bothered her.]
I-It does. Th-thankyou! U-uhm... b-but... I-I'm just... worried uhm... a-are you sure y-you're... alright? Y-You don't... seem all that f-fine...
[Sora has been having the feeling that he isn't fine, but... she's not exactly sure herself. Afted all, she's not very good at prying into other people...]
*ren nods, giving sora a slight smile. it doesn't really feel genuine.
' 'mhm.
for as much as i appreciate your concern, i assure you, you needn't worry about this humble servant.
i am well.' '
*no. no, ren is not well.
*but sora's already troubled enough, she doesn't need to put up with his moping and feel even more guilty right now. all he needs is to simply go train for a while, distract himself until all these feelings are but a distant echo in the back of their mind.
*they will get over themselves eventually. he always does.
*a thought pops into their mind.
' 'ah, right.
I've been informed the effects of this m!a have at last given way—perhaps you ought to pay kira a visit, no?' '
*the topic shifts before any further questions could even be asked.
[She nervously said. She's... tired... tired of running away when her friends needed her. Clearly... something is bothering Ren. And she really wants to help. Or... maybe this is her instinct? She's not sure. But all she knows is that she wants to help him... somehow.]
Y-You can talk to m-me if you want... I-I want to help you! I-I... I want you to... b-be comfortable with me... I-I know that's a-a lot to ask from me, b-but I promise you I-I don't mean anything bad! I-it’s sometimes... a-alright to not feel o-okay, you kn-know? A-Ah... a-am I rambling? S-Sorry... I-I... I'm not... g-good with... c-comfortimg peolle... b-but I want to try! S-So you can feel better!
*a frown forms on the apprentice's face briefly, eyes widening, though it's gone as quickly as it appeared—back to that same old neutral expression he seems to always have regardless of the situation.
' '...' ' *after listening to sora without any interjection, all she gets in response at first is a sigh.
' 'the desire to lend a helping hand to others is a noble one. i commend your kindness, sora, i truly do—and i am ever so grateful for the care you extend towards my humble self.
..but i assure you, this worry is wholly unnecessary.' '
Being humble also means recognising your accomplishments without feeling the need to brag
' 'indeed so, Anon.
it is simply that this lowly self of mine has few accomplishments i could draw praise from, for the most part.
i shan't deny my expertise where it is present—for one, i do consider my humble self more adept in maintaining cleanliness and order within one's corridor than.. certain other residents of this spiderweb.' '
let people care about you or else I'm getting the spray bottle
' '..ehm.' '
*your intentions are noble, but it's unlikely dousing the humble ren with water like a cat will motivate them to do as you say. at most you'll just get a really drenched sogged up apprentice.
[some asshole jumps from the ceiling in front of Ren stabbing into the floor creating a dark fountain in the pinky corridor]
' '?!-' '
*ren dashes out of the way, dodging what he presumes to be a sneak attack—retreating to the other side of the room. they bear witness as Anon stabs through the tatami mat flooring..and just stands there.
*this is not hometown nor does it follow its logic. all this has done is damage the poor apprentice's floor.
' surely you didn't believe you could take my humble self by surprise that easily. ' '
*ren already has his blade in hand—yanked off it's display in their dash—ready to unsheath it at a moment's notice.
*after getting over the slight confusion brought on by this ask and typing out a response, a flash of white light obscures their vision.
*for a second, there's an echo of waves slowly rising around him. as if he's sinking.
*somewhere in front of him chimes a strange, booming ding over and over and over gradually intensifying ,almost desperately. if he squints enough, amidst the bright white light.. there appears to be a red heart from wherein the sound comes from. pulsating.
*and then ren blinks.
*the apprentice is still in his chambers, the vision having lasted only mere seconds.
*a brief glimpse of his now-turned off phone screen reveals the absence of those hydrangea markings that'd been staining his face for what felt like ages.
*.. what a strange way to mark the end of that m!a.
