catchall kate

[residentmerc]

Comments

[residentmerc]

[ NO SHE'S SO CUTE... I LOVE HER YOUR HONOR... cloud uh. smiles at her a little, ignoring Horse ]

Yeah. Cattle seems to really like it. You wanna try?

[sootprints]

Yes!

[ wait... she dials the enthusiasm down a notch. ]

... Let's.

[residentmerc]

[ her enthusiasm makes him huff out a laugh but he'll leave the horse with another mildly bewildered look and lead the way to the cows and sheep ]

C'mon, they've got brushes too if you want to try it.

[sootprints]

[ they head over to where they're grazing! the cows look up with curiosity when she approaches the gate. ]

Do you like animals, Cloud?

[residentmerc]

Sure. They're mostly easier to handle than people. [ this is a joke. and also only mostly. he's following and looking for the brushies ] You?

[sootprints]

[ is it a joke. ]

Yes, I like them. Pets aren't allowed in the manor, though, so I don't often see them.

[ a cow comes over and bumps her hand with its nose, so she gently strokes its snout. ]

[residentmerc]

[ it's mostly a joke. ]

Don't get to leave home a lot? [ he has found the brushie brush, and he'll hold it over for kate so she can pet the cows BEST ]

[sootprints]

[ there's a pause. ]

No one leaves.

[ and she takes the brush and turns to face the cow. ]

[residentmerc]

[ ... hm. well. ominous, but: ]

Why not?

[sootprints]

There just isn't any way out. I don't know exactly why.

[ she starts brushing this cow... that izutsumi is going to eat later... ]

[residentmerc]

[ DOES IT HAVE TO BE THE SAME COW ]

... So people won't let you out...?

[ HE KNOWS THAT'S NOT IT HE'S JUST UM ]

[sootprints]

[ she nods, though. ]

The exits are trapped, and they only lead to steep cliffs if you get past them. The only way out is a single train car that only adults can use.

[residentmerc]

... None of 'em ever bring you with them? They say why?

[sootprints]

No. To begin with, adults and children aren't supposed to fraternize with one another. We live in separate buildings.

... It makes it hard to do things like ask why.

[residentmerc]

Including why you're separated into different buildings, I guess?

[ that's weird! it is very weird ]

[sootprints]

[ a nod. ]

I suppose it's to ensure that children don't have access to restricted information.

[residentmerc]

... I guess. Except you don't even know why the information is restricted in the first place.

[sootprints]

Yes... it's very frustrating.

[ but she still sounds very calm. the cow, oblivious, is just happily leaning into the brushing. ]

It's a bit similar to this place, in some ways.

[residentmerc]

... Yeah. I guess it would be. Being trapped some place without knowing how to get out.

[ a pause ]

Less murder?

[sootprints]

... About the same amount.

[residentmerc]

[ ........concern ]

What kind of place are you stuck in...?

[sootprints]

A manor called the Shadows House, where the noble Shadows family resides. That's what we're told.

[residentmerc]

And... are you part of that family?

[sootprints]

[ ... a single nod. ]

[residentmerc]

... So everyone's stuck in there, no one can leave, and you're all meant to be family but you're killing each other...?

[ hm ]

Family part is the only thing that sounds different from this place.