balancetheblood | Lucky's Heart

It's okay. [ The little girl pats your arm ] I bet you could warm her up, though. You seem like a very nice person.

[ She still looks very confused but brightens up some! ]

Rin has lots of energy to share with everyone~ Let's both make here feel better!

[ The little girl looks a tiny bit sad ]

I can't really help her. That's not why I'm here, I can only watch. I can help you, though, if you want me to.

[ Puffs up her cheeks. ]

That's not fair!

No, it's not.

Then what Rin will do is find a way to let you help, too!

[ she giggles a little, softly ]

That's not necessary, but thank you. You can help much more than I could, I am here to help you help better. That's all.

That's not true at all! Everyone's really important! Rin probably can't help at all... but i you're here that means she thinks about you a lot and you're super important! The one who should be assisting you is me!

[ The little girl tilts her head, as if she's considering you, or possibly listening to something you can't year ]

I will help as much as I can. I cannot change my role, but I can do what my role will allow me to do.

My name's Karen.

[ Puffs like she still doesn't like that answer at all. ]

Rin will change it then! You'll see!

I hope you can. If you're going to try that, though, you can't do it here. You have to actually go inside.

Then you're coming with me!

[ Spins to the other girl! ] So are you!

[ rin stop ]

[ The teenager looks startled, then makes a disgusted noise ]

Uh, no? Someone's gotta watch the stairs.

Anyway, screw tinkerbell over there, you shouldn't go in. It's not safe.

They'll be safe! Rin's here~

[ She makes a face at that. ]

Then it's not safe for anyone! But Rin's got hidden powers, too! If someone's in trouble, we have to help!

Yeah, well, have fun with that. Doesn't sound like my idea of a good time.

[ She's moving from angry suspicious teenager to just exasperated teenager, though, which... could be a good sign? ]

Anyway, I can't let you up. That's kind of my job, keep people from going upstairs.

Then what's fun for you?

[ Unfortunately, she's too much of a dork to notice or care rn... Oops. ]

That's why you should come with us! Then no one could say you weren't doing it because you were with us!

...That's not how it works. If I go up with you, then I let you go upstairs and I left my post.

Anyway, I have to guard the stairs. Keep anyone bad from getting up and hurting her, so no, I'm not leaving.

[ She crosses her arms stubbornly and tries to stare you down ]

[ REACHES UP TO TRY AND SMOOSH HER FACE. ]

Do we look like bad guys to you, nya?! Do we~?

[ She tries to pull back to escape it, but doesn't quite manage. Horrified teenager: go! ]

No? But you're really fuckin' weird, let go of my face!

[ AT LEAST SHE LETS GO. With a wide grin and puts her hands behind her back. ]

Hee~ That's right, we're not! And so we'll do everything we can to give her lots of energy~ You too, okay?!

Uh.

[ beat ]

Yeah, just. Go. Please. I'll do whatever that is from... here...

...Really?!

Mm!!

Whatever that is for you-- you should figure it out~ Something really special that only you can do! When you do that it'll warm everyone up~

[ Karen is hiding a smile behind her hand while the teenager just kind of stares, baffled ]

Uh. Yeah. I will... figure that out... and do that. From here. Alone.

[ Karen touches your arm lightly ]

We should probably go up, if she's letting us.

[ I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I GUESS I SHOULD GO UP BUT I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HER. WHAT DO I DO #rinhoshizoraroblems ]

Starts... walking. But pauses to stop and point at her.

I'll be back to teach you a dance! [ Huffs! ] 'Cause you're not alone!

[ A giggle bubbles up from Karen despite her best efforts, at the truly baffled expression the teenage girl has on her face.

She doesn't respond, but flashes a cautious thumbs-up.

The staircase, as you go up, is dark and steep, and when you get to the top, you're faced with a poorly-lit hallway. On the right-hand side of the hallway are three identical, unmarked doors, and on the left is one door - identical to the others but for a battered plaque that says "Office". ]

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