.o22 ☈ behind me, behind you;

[sting_to_death]

For the record, not one of the words that appeared over my head these last few days was true. I would have thought everyone knew better than to trust the Tree's jokes, but apparently I was overestimating all of you

Comments

action; okay, have a ferret! <3

[3inchesofmakeup]

[Rain quickly thought back. Had he ever made up an amount of time that Sen had been here? Their first meeting had been in... June, if he recalled correctly. He'd have to start keeping notes about what he told her - he couldn't have her getting suspicious if his story became inconsistent. He tapped his chin, pretending to think for a little longer than he'd actually needed to.]

Let me see now... it was late spring when we first met, right? Or was it early summer? Well, in either case... it must be close to ten months now, I think. Is that -

"Yes, what have you been doing all this time, boy?"

[...That voice. No... Rain froze, cutting himself off mid-sentence, his gaze snapping to the floor. There, crouching next to his feet, was the ferret, shooting him the nastiest grin that a ferret was capable of.

How...? No, that doesn't matter right now. Stay calm. Think. I can't let it spoil this... If it became apparent that this was the talking animal that was following him around, Lin would know he'd been lying. But no one else could hear anything it said, so with any luck, Rain could feign complete ignorance. It was really his only chance.

He drew back a bit, looking startled - which honestly wasn't a stretch.] Oh my! What a strange little animal! Is it another pet?

action; :D

[sting_to_death]

[ Lin had been about to tell Sen that yes, yes it was weird that in ten months she hadn't got a memory yet-- but then the weird animal had appeared out of nowhere.

Lin raised both eyebrows, vaguely thinking all the tricks of the tree were somewhat weird, but this beat them all. So Sen got a cat, and then a ferret with her? Because Lin was completely sure it did not belong to her, and it seemed more interested in Sen. ]

That thing does not belong to me. Have you never seen it before? [ She narrowed her eyes, staring without blinking at what she could see of the woman's face. ]

action;

[3inchesofmakeup]

[Rain shook his head and answered without hesitation. He couldn't afford to appear unsure about this.]

No, I haven't. Where could it have come from?

"Ha." [If a ferret was capable of sneering, it was doing so now.] "You think that because she can't hear me, you're in the clear? You'll have to do much better than that."

[With that, the creature scampered over to Lin. Looking up at her from the floor, it motioned towards Rain with a tilt of its chin, then shook its head.

...Oh hell.]

action;

[sting_to_death]

[ Lin crouched to look at the ferret more closely.

Something is wrong here. Something...

Immediately remembering she didn't want Sen to look at her, she raised a hand and gestured at her to keep looking the other way.

It's trying to tell me something. ]

Are you completely sure?

action;

[3inchesofmakeup]

[Rain kept his gaze on the ferret - this situation was far more pressing than trying to sneak peaks at Lin's thought bubble. He wasn't about to take his eyes off of that pest for a second. It was taking every last shred of his willpower not to glare daggers at the creature, but he needed to convince Lin that he was utterly clueless. No matter what, he needed to keep up the act.

He tilted his head slightly to one side, looking curious.] I'm very sure... but what is it doing? Is it... oh! Maybe it's lost! If it followed us in, should we put it back outside?

[With a snarl, the ferret suddenly lunged at Rain's toe in an attempt to bite it, but his reflexes kicked in and he jerked his foot out of the way just in time.

...He really needed to get rid of this thing, and soon.]

action;

[sting_to_death]

Your reflexes are quite quick for a-- [ she couldn't bring herself to say it, but it was quite clear what she meant. She couldn't help but grow increasingly suspicious.

Lin moved to open the door, thought about it for a moment, and changed her mind. ]

No, it definitely wants you. For some reason. Weird, isn't it?

action;

[3inchesofmakeup]

[Rain tucked his feet under himself.] I-it startled me...

[...Damn. When Lin had started moving towards the door, Rain had thought - or hoped - that he was in the clear, but no such luck. She was definitely beginning to get suspicious now, and he knew he couldn't let this go on much longer. The sooner both he and the ferret could be out of here, the better.

Think.]

Do you suppose it's trying to get me to go with it? I can't imagine why... [He stood.] Maybe it will follow me out.

[Rain began to walk towards the door, turning back to look at the ferret, and taking advantage of that moment wherein Lin couldn't see his face at all to direct a glare of pure hatred at the creature. He walked a few more steps... but it didn't follow.]

"If you think I'll make it easy for you, think again." [The ferret looked quite smug.] "Why don't you introduce me to your friend?"

action;

[sting_to_death]

[ Lin kept looking from the woman to the ferret, wondering what was going on. It was getting clearer and clearer that it wanted Sen's attention, it was linked to her. Why had she told her she had a cat if the spirit was actually anything but? ]

No, it wants both of you to stay here.

[ For the first time that day, Lin stared right into Sen's eyes, letting her thoughts show.

Are you lying to me? ]

action;

[3inchesofmakeup]

[Rain looked at Lin in mock surprise.] How do you - oh! Could it be one of those spirit animals? Is it talking to you? [He needed to get her convinced that he had no idea what was really going on. He smiled excitedly.] Maybe you got one of your own after all!

[Seeing the words appear in the bubble above Lin's head, Rain quickly snapped his gaze down to the floor. It was clear to him that she'd meant for them to be read, but he needed to keep up the naive act. He gasped lightly, putting a hand to his mouth.] I'm - I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to look. [He paused, then continued in a soft, subdued voice.]

I'm not lying. [He shook his head no... as the ferret behind him nodded yes. Its word against his... he needed to be the more convincing of the two.] I wouldn't, I - I couldn't. You've been nothing but kind to me... you saved my life back then, and you've taken the time to check up on me and see me... how could I lie to you? You - I mean - we're friends, right?

[Rain looked back up at her, pleadingly. He didn't think he could make himself cry at will, but hopefully this would be enough. (And with any luck, there would be more thoughts for him to read.)] Please... please, believe me. I'd never want to do that to you.

action;

[sting_to_death]

[ But there are still many things you don't tell me.

She'd been staring at her, despite the fact that Sen could have used that chance to read her thoughts, for a reason: she'd been trained to tell when someone was lying. There were many little hints an expert eye could catch, and Lin found herself quite confused when Sen was done talking. She wanted to believe her. But. ]

I don't have friends. So no, we're not.

[ And I don't trust anyone this easily. The next thought followed without Lin wanting it to. Get out of my house.

She needed time to think this over, that was for sure. Time when she wouldn't have Sen staring up at her like a kicked puppy while she tried to figure out what was going on. Maybe time to investigate a bit. ]

It is clearly not mine, anyway. Maybe you should go now.

action;

[3inchesofmakeup]

"Looks like your fun's over, boy. Better luck next time," [...the ferret commented snidely.] "You'll need it, if that's the best you can do."

[Rain ignored it - he had to, while still in Lin's presence. Once he got back home, he'd have some very choice words for the creature. Finally, though, he had a way out of here. It was a great relief when Lin asked him to leave, although he didn't let it show. He lowered his head again, looking upset.]

I - I'll go, then. I'm very sorry... I've just been more trouble for you.

[He bowed, hurriedly, and walked past Lin towards the door, the ferret scampering after him this time and looking quite pleased with itself. As he slid his shoes on, he cast her one last pitiful gaze over his shoulder, then stepped outside and quietly shut the door behind him. Then promptly directed an enraged look at the ferret, his hands clenching into fists.

It glared right back.] "You really thought your room could hold me? I'm insulted." [With that, it ran off ahead of him, quickly vanishing. It would probably keep its distance for a little while now (if it knew what was good for it), but Rain had no doubt that it would be watching him.

This had been a complete disaster.]

action;

[sting_to_death]

[ Lin didn't look at Sen as she walked out, and closed the door behind her, leaning back against it. She waited a few minutes like that, then punched the wood behind her. Lightly, trying not to break her own door, and it wasn't nearly enough to make her feel better at all.

This is what happens giving trust to someone. They're going to lie and betray. How hadn't she learned that lesson yet? She didn't quite drop her defenses with Sen, but she let her take a peek of who she really was behind the cold façade, and it turned out to be a-- a complete disaster.

Furthermore, she hadn't even made sure whether Sen was lying or not, as soon as she had a reason to get suspicious about her she had practically kicked her out.

But that was for the better... wasn't it?

Lin threw away the tea she had made, accidentally breaking a cup when she put it down with far more strength than she should have. She left it there. She wasn't going to have any more guests anytime soon, she had all the time to clean up. ]