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[notjust_risette]

[The feed turns on to an upset looking Rise. Her eyes are puffy as a few streaks of tears trail down her face. Any other time, she would've minded the image that she put up at least to the public, but something like that just seemed too trivial right now

Comments

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[gimme_ur_pants]

Rise... do you want me to come over? I can bring Alex with me if you want.

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[notjust_risette]

Can you, Shiki? I'd really like that...

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[gimme_ur_pants]

Of course! I'd bring Fluffy along but he's not exactly... "soothing" to be with. [And Ito needs to guard the flat. :V] I'll be there soon.

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[notjust_risette]

All right. I'll just be here.

[And she cuts off the feed, fiddling with the keychain that hung on her Dreamberry. It had been the very same one that Akihiko had given her on her birthday a year prior. She played with it in the meantime, replacing the sports tape stuck on the same place he usually had his until Shiki arrived.]

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[gimme_ur_pants]

[Shiki and Alex arrive at Dusk a few moments later after Shiki found someone in her staff to cover her while she was gone. Unlike Ito and Fluffy, Alexander doesn't pull on the leash to make Shiki go faster. He was satisfied walking in a more relaxed pace and Shiki was grateful for that. She also found that Alexander seems to be good at cheering people up when they're down.]

[The girl pauses for a moment, telling Alexander to stay. After patting him on the head, she takes out the Dreamberry from her pocket, sending a text to Rise to let her know they were there waiting outside.]

Hey Rise. We're right outside. ( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/

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[notjust_risette]

[Rise lets go of the charm as soon as the Dreammberry rings. She reads the message and makes her way over from the couch to the door to allow Shiki and her pet into the building. As soon as she opens the door, she leans against it slightly.]

Hey Shiki. [A faint smile. She then bends forward, reaching down to run a hand through Alex's fur.] Hi Alex.

C'mon in.

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[gimme_ur_pants]

Hi. [She returns the smile in kind, giving a little wave as a greeting. Alex whines, bumping his head gently on Rise's hand to encourage her to keep petting him.]

Sure. Hold on a sec. [Shiki kneels down to Alex's level in order to remove his leash. She chuckles when she sees her dog already trying to comfort her friend.] Looks like Alex is already way ahead of me, huh?

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[notjust_risette]

Looks like it. Noireau was the same way earlier.

[She continues to ruffle Alex's hair, allowing a small giggle to escape her lips as the dog licked her fingers.]

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[gimme_ur_pants]

Aww. [Shiki rubs Alex's back before standing up again.] Come on, boy. We can do that inside, hm?

[He stops licking the other girl's fingers in order to bark in response.]

Come on. We're going in.

[Another bark and he goes on to nudge Rise on the leg to follow them.]

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[notjust_risette]

[She walks in with them, settling back into her earlier position on the couch.]

Sit wherever you want.

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[gimme_ur_pants]

[She nods, sitting beside Rise on the couch when Alex comes in barking, prompting Shiki to move a little so that he can jump on and sit on Rise's lap.]

[Shiki chuckles while running her hand on the dog's back.] He does that to me a lot whenever I feel depressed. I hope that cheers you up a little.

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[notjust_risette]

[Rise does the same, reaching out to stroke right beneath the animal's muzzle. Alex seemed to like that. It was just like Sam when she was still around.]

It's either Alex is a really smart dog or you get upset a lot, Shiki. [She says the last part in jest even if her voice is a little toned down from its usual chipper sound.]

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[gimme_ur_pants]

A little bit of both. [chuckle] Alex just learned how to do that by himself, I guess.

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[notjust_risette]

Alex is definitely smart then.

[Stroking the dog a little, hopefully he likes that.] Kinda like Sam... and Keibi.

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[gimme_ur_pants]

Yeah...

[Alex definitely likes that, panting in contentment. Shiki shifts, wrapping an arm around Rise's shoulder in a some sort of half embrace.]

Rise, I'm really sorry.

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[notjust_risette]

It's not just Akihiko-kun, Shiki... He's like the most important person to me right now but it's like everyone and everything keeps disappearing now too.

[A small sob racks her frame for a moment, he gaze remains planted at the dog on her lap.]

Sam's been missing since the flood. And Keibi's going back to the police tomorrow. It's not only depressing, it's frustrating too.