Caelum A3, Monday Morning

[intraspective]

Ino hadn't actually made it to sleep after talking to Cimorene last night, but rather, had spent most of the night out training. So, when she slipped into her alcove, it was already morning. Ino eyed her bed.

She could sleep. Probably should even.

Then she eyed the stack of books Kabuto had left behind.

Or she could read. It wasn't like she had classes today, right? No harm, no foul.

She changed into her pajamas--might as well be comfortable, right?--and curled up on her bed with one of the books. She was going to need to know this stuff if he came back. Yelling at him wouldn't be nearly so satisfying unless she knew what she was yelling about.

[Expecting one, but totally totally open to any of Caelum's residents!]

Comments

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"Ino, I never said I was nice."

[intraspective]

"You were nice before."

Flatly.

"And I just don't get why you're laughing." When Kabuto laughed at her she could generally pinpoint the reason.

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"I felt like it before. I was just teasing, anyway."

[intraspective]

"And I'm supposed to know that how?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest, "it's not like you've been friendly since... well, since."

Yeah.

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"Since you broke up with me for a psycho murderer?" he suggested lightly.

[intraspective]

She bristled but, uh, couldn't really argue that one.

"Doesn't matter anymore anyway," Ino muttered, curling on her side away from him. "He's gone."

And she'd been left behind again.

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

Blink.

"...what do you mean, he's gone?"

[intraspective]

"Disappeared, left, not here," she said, curling up a little more. "Didn't even take all his stuff. I've got his snake living in my dorm room now."

Because no way had she even considered bringing Kusanagi out to the cabins.

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"He didn't even say goodbye?"

[intraspective]

Ino wrapped her arms around her knees and didn't answer.

Which, really, was answer enough.

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

Michael certainly took it as such.

"Asshole."

[intraspective]

"He said he wouldn't," she said quietly, "and I still think he meant it."

Though, really, with him... it was hard to be sure.

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"But he's still gone", Michael pointed out.

[intraspective]

She knew that. She did.

Wasn't she the one with his laptop now? And his books? Neither of which she really understood except for a word here and there, but she was still going to try.

"Drop it," she said, though her words lacked fire.

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

Michael shrugged.

"You know I never liked the guy. But sure, you make your excuses for him if it makes you feel better."

[intraspective]

"Maybe I'd just rather not talk about it with you." A beat. "And where did I make excuses?"

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"You still think he meant it when he said he'd never leave", Michael reminded her.

[intraspective]

She bristled. "I don't think he would've left his laptop with all his research on it if he'd planned to be gone long."

His reasearch, after all, had proven to be more important to him than her before. It was a good point as far as she was concerned.

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"So maybe he didn't. Maybe he even had to leave in so much hurry he didn't have time to find you... but there'd've been time to run across the hall and leave you a note."

[intraspective]

"Yeah," she said quietly, "I know."

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"I'd never do that", he said quietly, almost more to himself than to her, staring up at the ceiling. "Never pretend I wasn't going to leave, 'cause I am."

[intraspective]

She eyed him curiously. Ask. Don't ask. Ask. Don't ask.

...

"...oh?"

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"Soon as I find out where home is", was the wistful answer, "and how to get there."

[intraspective]

She eyed him.

"... how're you going to do that?"

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"I don't know. I'll think of something."

He was still, secretly, hoping someone would come for them.