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[retroductions]

( art credit )

[ INMATE REGISTRY ]

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[retroductions]

[the dice continue their campaign against sprezzatura

Oh, yes. He can tell. He is too observant not to.]

Who did you argue with? Was there a misunderstanding?

[velluminous]

There is always misunderstanding. I move on.

[retroductions]

Do you? It seems to have affected your mood, however, and not in a very good way. What was the issue?

[velluminous]

[ snaps her wrist, Wristpocketing the tarot cards away, and rather than answer, she just holds her arms out to him. ]

Hold me, Herlock.

[retroductions]

[The cards disappear, and Sholmes would like an answer, but her call to be held overrides all of that.]

Of course, of course.

[He steps forward, stepping into her open arms, and wrapping his own around her.

His concern is not diminished, but comfort is just as important.]

[velluminous]

[ care was found, if not necessarily sought directly after, so the hug does not hurt. she takes a couple deep breaths and presses her forehead to his chest. no ugly crying this time! deep breaths. grounding, steady.

at last, ] I do not care for myself as others would like.

[retroductions]

[Grounding, steady. He keeps her close; she's warm, as always.]

And someone on your team took notice of this.

[Thing is, Sholmes would... agree. She does need to take better care of herself-- No, that is not quite it. She needs to feel like it is not a hassle, or a burden, to ask for aid if needed.]

[velluminous]

I take care of myself as I like. I do not enjoy pain. I do not seek to prolong it.

[ softer, ] Arthur healed me. You have nothing to worry about.

[retroductions]

[Good. He’ll have to thank the man for it later.]

I do not think you seek pain. Of course not. And I am glad you are properly healed now.

[His hand rubs circles softly against her back.]

But you were still touting your wounds even amid the game? Surely you can see why your teammates would think… your priorities are not as they should be.

[velluminous]

It was tombstones, Herlock. Hurled at me. I rested. I kept to my room. I do not have clerics at my beck and call at home!

[retroductions]

No, but you have others who care for you. You have me.

I would have brought you another card, and gladly.

[velluminous]

I know, Herlock.

[retroductions]

…next time, will you? Call on me.

[velluminous]

There will be no next time.

[retroductions]

I do love your confidence, my dear, but how can you know? Danger is no rarity in this prison.

[velluminous]

[ sometimes. you have to pick your battles. ]

I will call on you.

[retroductions]

Good.

[He will trust her on that.]

Well, in the meanwhile… if you are not keen on returning to Basilisk, would you like to spend some time at Phoenix? We could pick out matching sweaters for fun — and not for points!

[velluminous]

[ certainly there is no way this trust will be betrayed. certainly.

still a touch morose, she glances towards the phoenix door and sighs. the spirit of the game... she never fully understood that, nor the decorations, nor the core concept, really, and now she's just being sulky. but. it would feel cruel to shoot down what she recognizes as a wholehearted attempt to cheer her. ]

Mn. Alright.

I have another gift for you, as well.

[retroductions]

[How about don’t do that!

And come now, even if the holidays aren’t understood, at least it is distraction. And Phoenix certainly can be distracting.]

Another one? You spoil me. Shall I wait for you to fetch it first?

[velluminous]

[ this is not a game-sanctioned present. and doesn't it feel a tad irreverent to be considering gifting it now? maybe so. ]

I will be quick.

[ gently extricating herself from his arms, though reluctantly. ]

[retroductions]

[He’s reluctant to let her go, too, but it’s easier knowing that she’ll return.]

I’ll wait at the entrance of Phoenix. Take your time, my dear.

[And so he will, once she departs.]

[velluminous]

[ she will not take her time, because she's like a shark: if she stops moving, she'll die. or something.

gone only long enough to slip the cat tarot deck into a drawer alongside... the first cat tarot deck... and to fetch the perfectly-wrapped other gift, which she Wristpockets away for the sake of discretion.

in just a few minutes, Basilisk's door opens again, and she emerges into the lobby looking, at least, less miserable. ]

Shall we?

[retroductions]

[He’s waiting, about to light his pipe, but she arrives just before he can and he pockets the items instead.]

Let’s.

[Into Phoenix they go! Sholmes toddles over to the common room sofa, where there are spare ugly Christmas sweaters folded along the back. Why? It’s Phoenix, why not.

He tosses one at her.]

Catch!

[It has a big Christmas tree on it, with red chevrons in the background.]

[velluminous]

[ her reflexes are surprisingly good. she catches it with only a small fumble, and holds it up without any recognition or understanding. ]

What is purpose behind this tree?

[retroductions]

To decorate and put the gifts under! It is emblematic of the holiday itself.

[He’s finding another exact same sweater and slipping it on. His hair’s a mess once his head pops out of the sweater’s top.]

Go on, put it on.