catchall kate

[residentmerc]

Comments

[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.

[sootprints]

... It does seem a bit like a bad joke. I was just starting to understand the ways things worked over there, and suddenly I'm back to square one.

[ sometimes your canon is just a mg setting. ]

[residentmerc]

...

Well, at least this time, you're figuring it out along with the rest of us.

[sootprints]

[ !

she drops the brush and turns to look at him. and just stands there silently. unfortunately, her expression is unreadable as always, but it looks like there's. some kind of emotion here.

the cow looks offended that its brushing has been interrupted. ]