12. [Video]

[amomentofsympathy]

[It's a good thing Nasuti got that laptop for Christmas. Because she's stuck in bed. After all the excitement of the Winter Holiday, she apparently pushed herself too far, and her body has finally caught up with her.

She tried to tidy herself up a bit to be presentable for a video, but she was too tired to do any makeup, and her puffy, watery eyes were revolting at the sight of mascara. Instead she kept the lighting dim to obscure the heavy shadows under her eyes and the fly-aways that weren't smoothed out in her hair. The blinds all around the room were shut, and a single lamp on the bedside was on its lowest setting.

Nasuti sat up in her bed and spoke, but not with her usual clear and eloquent voice, but a raspy croak between labored breaths and occasional clearing of the throat.]

Hey guys, miss me? [Weak chuckle.] I've been fighting a bout of illness--nothing severe--but the medicine the doctor has me on keeps me down for the count.

[An affectionate smile appears, however tired it appears.] Touma. [Pause. How does she word this...] Is Shin back, yet? [She covers her mouth and coughs.] Not that it matters too much where we're concerned, I guess. But I worry that the community might fear the unknown.

[Ugh...she wish she could get a hold of him, come to think of it. She couldn't bear the thought of going downstairs. Not that she was all that hungry. But she should eat something.]

I saw that Kayura is here, too...[Nasuti reaches for her forehead and sighs.] I'm sorry, my thoughts aren't very coherent, are they?

I just wanted everyone [Shuten, really...Touma knew better.] that I'm still around. Just...not "all here." [Have some finger-quotes.]

Comments

[sky_protector]

Wait...what?

[amomentofsympathy]

[Nasuti flatly stares at Touma.]

You mean you can't even boil water and make me some instant miso?

[sky_protector]

...That would work?

[amomentofsympathy]

Certainly! If you follow the instructions on the packet, you can make almost anything!

[sky_protector]

Sometimes the instructions are wrong.

[He is thinking about this too much obviously.]

[amomentofsympathy]

Then the item won't be in production for very long then, would it?

[sky_protector]

Yes it will. The general public don't realize that just a few more seconds can actually change the texture or changing the steps can change the flavor.

[amomentofsympathy]

Well, this brand of miso has been around for a few years, so I imagine they've perfected their directions.

[Stop trying to change the subject.]

[sky_protector]

Have you gone to a doctor?

[amomentofsympathy]

It's just a cold. [She sniffles a bit just to prove her point.]

Nothing that a little warm miso soup made with love wouldn't fix! [You could boil water with love, couldn't you?]

[sky_protector]

I don't understand that saying. My mother has a habit of saying it too though.

[amomentofsympathy]

[Nasuti's smile darkens to a threatening glare.]

You're not implying that I sound like an older woman, are you, Touma?

[sky_protector]

... [This is dangerous territory. He can sense it.]

I was saying my mother says that too.

[amomentofsympathy]

I'll excuse it only because you don't have an older sister.

[And because your mother is young.]

[sky_protector]

I don't have any siblings.

[amomentofsympathy]

I know. [And if she hadn't already known, it would've been painfully obvious.]