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[longwillows]

reach out?

the smell of fresh water in dry desert air. the feeling of cautious curiosity. a place as dangerous as it is resplendent.

c

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[vixenish]

[ oh dw abt it she already knows

don't ask questions

ANYWAY ]

I feel silly for asking, [ she admits with a little laugh. ] Sharon and I are having a sleepover. I've never ... truly done something like this before, like normal girls do.

[ she tries to present it plainly, but the murmur surfaces a sort of wistful longing. ]

What are you supposed to do at a sleepover? I truly have no idea.

[longwillows]

[she can't ask questions it's against game rules with minors!!!

An excited gasp follows the word sleepover.] That's wonderful! Sharon and I have sleepovers all the time!

[Through the excitement, there's a slight tug of longing. There's nothing sour or jealous within it, and she lets it pass without comment, urging on to the far more important matter.] It's not silly at all. I— honestly, I never did that sort of thing growing up either, so I don't exactly know what a normal girl would do!

[A chuckle, a little wry and almost bashful.] But I enjoy just getting to spend time with people. I might have a few suggestions, at least.

[vixenish]

[ Lortel catches the longing, but neither acknowledges nor responds to it.

she does wonder, quietly, if it might be nice to have a sleepover for all three of them sometime. ]

... hm, hm. [ it's a humming laugh, humorless and tinged with—something. regret. old, childish sorrow. ] I'm beginning to wonder who here did grow up with a normal childhood...

But I'd love to hear your suggestions! [ her enthusiasm is so genuine, an attitude that for once matches her age. ] Sharon suggested makeup, and I can do hair... I've really no idea what else.

[longwillows]

[Now there's a twinge of something sour, and though Kalmiya is not willing to risk derailing Lortel's excitement with a bitter tangent, the unvoiced sentiment drifts over the Murmur: harder to manipulate happy people.

Her opinion of Sleep has clearly not improved much in Lortel's absence.

Anyway.] I've heard of hair and makeup, so I think that's fairly normal! [100%. They are so nailing this.] You could play games; I've seen game sets in the stores here, but there are plenty of things you can play without special pieces!

And I think making things together is quite fun. Like arts and crafts. Or desserts you can decorate!

[vixenish]

[ the sourness is met with a brush of cool acknowledgment. not dismissive, more cooled off. it's true, and they both well know it. the faint impression of a bitter laugh follows, an acknowledgment both of Kalmiya's feeling and of her own opinion of Sleep.

as much as she'd meant it in jest, it's never truly struck her as a coincidence that the city holds so many that are, in some way, so fundamentally damaged.]

... I've never done arts and crafts before. [ thoughtfully. she's hardly even sure what to make of the idea. ] Do you mean paints, and that sort of thing?

Paints and a simple pack of cards might work, [ she ventures. like as not she could probably track both down before she's due to meet Sharon... ]

[longwillows]

[Oh, Lortel. Someone her age shouldn't have a laugh like that, though Kalmiya is not so naive as to find it unimaginable. She's sure she would have sounded similar if she laughed at that age.

All the more reason to make sure this sleepover is a successful one.] Paints, crayons, clay... You can use anything for crafting, really! Toki and I glue together random little bits of things all the time. Twigs, paper clips, fabric scraps, beads... You can try to build a creature. Or just a shape that entertains you!

And I know Sharon really enjoys drawing. Perhaps you could each take turns adding something to your surface of choice!

[vixenish]

Does she? [ the murmur itself seems to somehow brighten a little. because it makes her happy, to think of doing something Sharon enjoys. what an odd feeling...

there's the impression of a smile, then. ]

That sounds fun. [ strange. so strange, doing something like this for its own sake, without a purpose or expected profit. everything about this idea makes her feel slightly off balance because it's all so alien to her—but not in a bad way.

it would be nice, perhaps. to learn. what it's like to do something so simple as have fun with a friend. ]

Then I'll see what I can do. These are all wonderful ideas, Kalmiya. Thank you.

[longwillows]

[The warmth that exudes from Lortel lands bittersweet upon Kalmiya's mask. So familiar, too familiar. It wasn't that long ago that Kalmiya was feeling a similar joy for the first time.

She doesn't really know what to do with the fact that she's the more worldly one in many of her relationships here.]

Of course! I'm glad I could be of some assistance.

[Then, with a bubble of fond impulse:] Let me know if you ever need anything else. And you're welcome to come visit me if you'd like to have another sleepover!

1/2

[vixenish]

[ .... ! ]

[vixenish]

[ she wants to ask—xx—but doesn't want to cheapen the offer by questioning it. instead a wholly different smile wobbles onto her face, and the murmur hums soft and content with her gratitude. ]

I'd really like that, Kalmiya. Anytime.