Room 504, Wednesday Late Evening

[intraspective]

Ino ushered Tether in, taking him off his leash, and shut the door to her room with a sigh. Leaning against it, she watched as the puppy made himself comfortable on her bed with a whump of displaced air.

That got a bit of a grin, a small one, but there. “Maybe I’ll see if I can keep you, yeah?” she said, knowing she wouldn’t ask but the thought was the same—she did like having him around. He wasn’t going to care that she was in a bad mood, or that she wasn’t looking forward to tracking down, well, her.

And he hadn’t paid any bit of attention to her haircut. She appreciated that because she totally didn’t want to talk about it. Totally didn’t. She’d cried while they’d done it.

“Move over,” she told him, slumping exhaustedly on the bed. “It’s not your bed.”

He licked her hand, and she laughed quietly.

[Establishy mainly, and the door is shut but open if you have reason to talk to her. And as of this post, Ino’s hair is short (despite some of her icons, la). Mwah.]

Comments

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Which would make sense if you hadn't asked for it, you contrary nit," he pointed out with a snort. "And if I was coddling you, you'd have to be an egg. As for agreeing with you, I don't always and I don't recall doing it today. Mostly I was attempting to listen."

[intraspective]

"You don't listen!" she protested vehemently. Nit? No, seriously? Nit? "You don't care, and you don't get it! You were so coddling me and I don't appreciated!"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"When you're shouting like a spoiled child? No. No, I won't," he answered with a dismissive snort.

"Treat me like I'm a human being and I'll respond accordingly."

He stepped farther into the room.

"And if I don't get it, perhaps the problem is that you haven't explained. I can only judge by what you say and what you've done. Congratulations: of the two of us, I can honestly say you're the one who makes no sense."

[intraspective]

"Don't like it? Then get out."

Her voice turned cruel. "I don't want you for a brother then."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

The temperature of room dropped.

His eyes sharpened and every line in his face turned to angles, harsh and hard.

And then he laughed.

"Did you think that would break me, Ino, my dear?" Amused. Darkly amused. "Did you think I would startle back and run crying?"

He stepped farther into the room. Just one step. One precise step.

"Silly, spoiled little girl. Stupid, arrogant little girl. Don't play this game with me. You don't have the first idea how to tear in deep. You're an amateur."

[intraspective]

She stayed where she was. Holding her ground.

"I'm not your 'dear', I'm not your sister," she hissed, never one to back down. "I am an amateur," she could admit that after this weekend, "and I want you gone."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"That's the thing about family, Ino," he said, not one of her words hitting home. His armor was on, his emotions were gone, and there wasn't anything she could do right now to hurt him. He was back in Kiamo Ko. He was staring across at the Witch. Staring at the contrary, tyrannical curling scorpion of a woman who'd quite literally damaged him beyond complete repair.

"It doesn't go away. It can't be dismissed. It's under the skin, ingrained in your memories, a part of you even if you hate them. Even if everything within you revolts against them. Even if it will ultimately destroy you."

He looked at her, eyes as empty and dark as a fishwell as he took another step.

"You could kill me, right here, right now, and that wouldn't change. In fact, it would be worse. We've already poisoned each other, Ino."

And he smiled. Genuinely smiled.

"You can't have what you want. You will never have what you want. Get used to it."

[intraspective]

"I don't have what I want. I won't get what I want. I'm nothing in the big scheme of things."

She was so far past furious that she couldn't even yell.

"But, you know what? Wanting to be alone in my room isn't very much to ask. You're not my family, I'm not your sister, and I want you out of here."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He just looked at her.

"How very disappointing. One of your damaged little disciples doesn't want to listen to you, your words of wisdom fall on deaf ears, and all you do is repeat the same thing over and over because you have nothing else. It's just the rantings of a spoiled child."

He snorted and shook his head.

"How very disappointing. And not worth my evening."

He took a step forward and gave her a low bow.

"Do take care, my dear. And I'm sure I'll see you around."

A twitch of a smile.

"Good evening, sister."

And he turned to the door.

[intraspective]

Her chin went up, icily haughty just as much as he was.

"I'm an only child," she said simply.

It wasn't even a retort.

Just a fact.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He just chuckled as he opened the door.

"Good night, Ino. I love you."

All he needed to say after that, as far as he was concerned.

"Sleep well."

[intraspective]

"You're still here?" Drawlingly, as if she couldn't believe anyone was that stupid.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He turned back at her and shook his head.

"I have to open the door before I walk through it, my dear. I'm thin, not a ghost."

Another chuckle before he walked out the door.

He left it open behind him.

[intraspective]

She didn't bother to dignify that with a response.