[Action]

[therewerefifty]

[This morning she coughs, and there is blood on her palm.


She has no idea how long she sits, curled up in the blanket and leaning against her bed, staring at those damning traces. It's not a lot. It's all she needs. Makie knows the symptoms well enough, watching as her mother wasted away over the passage of time. Suspected from nearly the very beginning. Feared and denied. There's no denying it now.

She showers and dresses without a word, paying barely any attention beyond making sure to wash her hands thoroughly. Her mind is turned inwards. Seems that she's inherited more than her mother's profession, then. How fitting. Fuki took less than a year to succumb, but her living conditions were squalid. She has no idea if that's a good length of time or not. In a place with cleanliness and running hot water, maybe it will be much longer.

What does that mean, in a place like Luceti? They say the dead come back to life. Does she merely have to serve penance the once and come back healthy, or... does she look forward to dying time and again as the disease runs its course over and over? She should find out. She should... somehow... it's hard. How? She can't see herself asking on the journals about it. That would be telegraphing it to the town, and far too much attention. Unlike her home, she has a half hopeful, half afraid thought that the people she has met won't take the news well. She doesn't want to draw all that-- no, she should tell people. Saori. Rin. They deserve that much.

...she's in a house with too many people. She should leave. It's safer. Plenty of empty apartments. She can isolate herself and make sure she's no burden to anyone.

She doesn't want to. That's a surprise.

Life is good, here.

Then there are tears, and she packs her things. There aren't many.

Order of business. She's a coward, and leaves a letter on her bed, addressed to Saori:

I'm very sorry, but I feel I need to move away for a while. You've all been very good to me, and I thank you. It isn't because of anything any of you have done. I don't know how to filter on the journal. If you write to me later, I will explain.

- Makie

After that, she visits three places:

- the forge, to pick up her hopefully now repaired weapon.
- Seventh Heaven, although by 'visit' she'll stay outside and ask one of the staff to fetch Rin, if they could
- finally, community building #1 on a search for Tenten. She met the girl in a kitchen when she first arrived, and she needs to return a sword.

After that, well. She still has a list of empty apartments. She'll find a quiet one somewhere.]


((ooc: despite Makie's intentions, housemates are more than welcome to action in on her before she leaves the house if they prefer. She'll still be visiting these places regardless of the fallout-- where she ends up at the end of the day may change, that's all. Chrissakes Makie, it's not the 18th century, go see a doctor :|))

Comments

[Action]

[goldenglasses]

[The flush on Vash's face should be one Makie's used to. It was the anniversary of the day he destroyed the city of July back home. A day he hated to remember, but would never let himself forget. Only here he was, stuck still in Luceti. Wolfwood was dead again, Noah was god knows where, Milly may never know she had a child, and he was stuck here with Knives. Not even his real brother. Some other brother he couldn't fully understand. It's enough to drive a man to drink.

Which is what he has spent all of last night and most of the day doing so far. Only he has run out and he wasn't feeling numb just yet. Long hair a mess from the thin long sleeved shirt he pulled over himself and some jeans he wasn't sure when were last wash was good enough for a quick run to the bar to pick up a couple more bottles.

Running into Makie was not what he had been expecting. He forces a smile on his face and tries to straighten out his swayed walk.] Hey! Makie! Wasn't expecting you here. Do you live here? I didn't realize we lived in the same building! [He stares bluntly at the item in her hand. Huh, is that a sword? Swords woman then?]

[Action]

[therewerefifty]

[Even though Makie isn't paying much attention to others, the reek of liquor coming from Vash is enough that she takes a step back out of surprise and no small amount of wariness. Drunk men are often difficult to deal with. Vash is difficult when he's sober.

After a moment, she replies, cautiously polite. He...didn't seem like the drinking type. Not during the day, in any case.]

I don't. [And she makes a note not to. Ever. 8|] I'm here to return something to a... a young woman.

[Action]

[goldenglasses]

Oh, that's too bad. It would have made moving in together when we get married so much easier, but that's okay! I will happily move across the stars to live with you! [There's a smile on his face, but his tone is more monotone today when he flirts. He's trying, he really is, but today his heart just isn't into it.]

Oh? Are you learning sword- [Play? Fighting? Or is it play? Eh, he'll go with play.] -fighting from her? I don't think most people in Luceti tend to forget their weapons at people's houses. Unless you two had a really wild night together! Hahahahaha! [He still laughs at his own joke, but there's a forced undertone to it today.]

[Action]

[windandrain]

[Maybe it's just chance, or maybe some transcendental will at work, but Saori is just coming in from a walk as Makie is carrying her little bundle out the door. It isn't much, but enough to make her intention clear That draws out a look of surprise, and her lip screws up in confusion for a moment. It doesn't really make sense for the woman to leave, not after the party and how well everything seemed to be going. Had something happened that Saori was unaware of? A disagreement or a feeling of discomfort she'd not picked up on?]

Are you...going somewhere for a while, Makie? Has something happened?

[Action]

[therewerefifty]

[Her timing is terrible, it seems. Her heart sinks further still, as this isn't a conversation she was brave enough to have face to face.

Makie clutches her bundle closely to herself, and her eyes slide away to stare at the ground.]

I...

[Her words waver softly.]

I left you a letter.

[A pointless letter, which says nothing. Good job, Makie.]

[Action]

[windandrain]

[Saori cants her head worriedly. Something was wrong.]

Makie...

[Her own voice remains soft, but worry slides it's way into her tone.]

What's wrong? You...can tell me, if something's bothering you. If it's something I can help with, please let me.

[Because if it's something she's done, or something Makie needs to be happy, then this housemate is more than happy to see it done. Or just drag her to the doctor's.]

[rashness]

[Rin is fetched! In a hurry, even, because it's Makie and she did have to take some sick leave (at his request, no less) so he's wondering if she's gotten better or worse or what. He's actually not checked up on her as much as he wants.

So...]

Oi, Makie, what's up?

[therewerefifty]

[Of all people today, she smiles for Rin. It's a faint one.]

Thank you for coming out so fast. I... thought I shouldn't come in. And I wanted to ...

[Saying things bluntly in the middle of a path feels a little disconcerting. But there are a lot of people inside. So.]

I... I won't be able to come back for a while. I'm sorry.

[rashness]

[...Okay that was surprising. His tail droops some and he glances around. Yeah, there's people here, but while he does consider that he should be in back more, he also considers that - well, if she can't be back a while, she might be in trouble or something. Maybe she's more sick than he thought, in which case]

Y'wanna talk about it a little more? Uh, somewhere privater, probably.

[daisy023]

[When night comes, the Spartan girl resides in House 44 to rest, letting herself eat, and then rest over the couch, hugging the plush toy of a cartoony white tiger half her size in her arms, a prize she got along with Shiki from the days of Lucetiland. Some semblance to remember older days where she knew everyone.

The door opens, and Daisy looks up, noticing Makie. She was usually the one to arrive later in the house because of her training and duties. This girl was usually earlier.]

Mi-- Makie? [She corrects herself from using formality among her new housemates.] I noticed you're late...

[therewerefifty]

[By nightfall, Makie's emotional turmoil has smoothed out into a calmer, numb state of business-as-usual. She hadn't expected to return here tonight, but Saori had been quite insistent...and Makie hadn't had the heart to stick to her guns. Not this time.

At Daisy's words, she glances up and registers her appearance, and offers a tired smile of sorts.]

Errands to run. It's... it's been a long day. [And how. But she won't be leaving again for a while.] Hello, Daisy.

[daisy023]

[She tries to smile. Or at least, show that things are alright.]

Hello, Makie.

[The taller girl moves to gather a few cups. But this time, it's something more of her tastes for something this late at night: Hot chocolate.]

If it's no problem... you could have asked us to get them. To get them in less time.

[action]

[pendantry]

[By now there's got to be a bell or something on the door, to alert the busy smiths when someone comes in. Hearing it, Raven heads to the front of the building and looks surprised at the visitor.]

Hey. [Not that Makie would be able to tell she's surprised.]

[action]

[therewerefifty]

[Makie's eyes widen in more obvious surprise as Raven makes an appearance. A girl, working in a smithy?

...well, why not? This isn't the person she spoke to before, however.]

...good morning. I left a weapon here for repairs some weeks ago. [She hadn't been in a hurry to retrieve it, really. Now it's just another loose end to tidy. She hasn't the energy to be evasive now.] It's a three section bladed staff. Are you familiar with it?

[action]

[pendantry]

Oh. With Sokka? [Or maybe...if it was long enough ago, it might have been Hiccup.] Tall, dark hair, scruffy beard?

[The smith. Not the staff. She's trying to recall if she's seen a weapon like that.]

[weaponry]

[ Tenten can be found walking out of her apartment with a large scroll on her back. Seeing Makie in the hallway confuses her, mostly because she doesn't live her. ]

Hm...? Makie!? What brings you to here?

[therewerefifty]

[Ah. Finally the person she was looking for, after getting thoroughly turned around by Vash. She thanks the gods that Tenten is outside and thus she isn't forced to knock on every door.]

Hello, Tenten. I've...come to see you, actually. Do you have a moment?

[weaponry]

When do I not have a moment? This is Luceti after all. [ Things are very slow around here. Too bad that will change forever soon. ]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

[During one of the woman's trips to the square, Raine notices her walking away from Seventh Heaven. It's been a while since she's seen her at the tea shop, so she'll wave a hello toward her.]

Good afternoon, Makie.

[Action]

[therewerefifty]

[She's getting tired now, and Makie was slowing down even more as she passed the fountain, wondering if she could get away with sitting for a while. Probably not. At the greeting, she turns and blinks in confusion at Raine before she finally recognises her.]

...Miss Raine. How are you?

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

... I'm well, thank you. [Makie's slow movements are not lost on Raine, familiar with tiredness.] What about yourself?

[action]

[dangerouswind]

[Because community building one is a happening place, really. Temari sees her in the hallway and a neutral expression quickly becomes a little puzzled and questioning.] You live around here?

[action]

[therewerefifty]

[It's the Hidden Village of the Elevator, of course it is. :|a Makie glances at Temari for a moment with recognition, and shakes her head.] No. But I met a young woman here who... loaned me something.

[If the something is what she's got bundled in a scarf there, it looks rather like a sword.]

[action] and oh god has it really been a week, I'm sorry

[endgames]

[Shikamaru's just leaving the building for a day of work when he spots someone else coming down the path.]

Yo. If it isn't elevator girl again.

[action] it's allll good

[therewerefifty]

[The nickname makes her wince a little, reminding her of that week. But he probably doesn't mean it in any sneering way.]

Shikamaru. [She's holding a scarf-wrapped bundle that looks well like it could be a sword. 8|a] How have you been?