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[moonlitrequiem]

[Yin is no different from usual. The same barely able to produce expressions face and the same barely more than monotone voice.]

I was unable to attend work today. I will make up for the hours.

To anyone that arrived yesterday and today, welcome to the City. [Yep, that's all she has to say on that. Click.]

Comments

[indecent_butterfly]

Are you ill? One does have some skills in healing. [Not much, but ne would do what ne could for Yin.]

[moonlitrequiem]

No. [She's not sure why Hatter would ask. Is this some sort of offer?]

[indecent_butterfly]

[Of course it is, in a way.]

Then why did you miss out on work?

[Some might skip out, but ne saw well enough that Yin was concerned during the family curse they were hit with.]

[moonlitrequiem]

Something unexpected came up and I was unable to go.

[indecent_butterfly]

As long as you are okay now. One is sure your employer won't mind.

[moonlitrequiem]

[A nod. Yin even feels something over the matter, how easily Penny understands, and the fact Hatter is talking to her about it at all. It's almost a warmth, a different kind from the one she's lacking now.]

[indecent_butterfly]

Have you been doing well otherwise? [Given nir conversation with "Li" the other day she had been on Hatter's mind.]

Action? O:

[mortemscintilla]

[ He almost doesn't wanted to see her. ]

[ The weekend has passed, and left Hei scooped-out and numbed. Everytime he closes his eyes, he sees them all -- the kills from the past forty-eight hours. They show themselves to him in an endless loop -- their empty faces, their gushing wounds and spilled insides, their screams and pleadings. But none of it registers on a personal level. It's like watching an old film reel -- grainy and sepia-toned and removed from his reality. ]

[ Quietly, Hei slinks through the streets in the early evening darkness, passing like a shadow up into Yin's building, nearly soundless, as if he's here to make a final assassination. The City feels surreal after the atmosphere of the weekend, the atmosphere of his own head. For two days, he'd been trapped in his mind, wrestling with himself. But somehow it feels longer; he's unmoored from time. ]

[ At Yin's doorway, Hei stops stiffly. This is idiotic. What's the point? What can he say to her? Hey. Sorry I killed you. I killed a bunch of other people too. I'm awful, not because I feel guilty, but because I'm guilty for not feeling guilty. If she were anything other than a Doll, she'd spit in his face. His whole reason for visiting her is just thoroughly selfish, anyway. Just to assuage his own mind, rather than hers. ]

[ I should go. Except he's already rung the doorbell. ]

Action!

[moonlitrequiem]

[She hadn't thought much about it, but if asked, Yin would have said, yes, she wanted to see Hei. But she went about things as normal once she revived. It was so cold, though.]

[Void of a heartbeat, Yin wrapped herself up in her jacket, trying to preserve electricity by not resorting to the heater. It was in this condition she answered the door, eyes a little more void of life than before. Until they widened their usual fraction of surprise.]

Hei? [Her tone is questioning, hesitant.]

[If she were anything other than a Doll.... But she was more than just a Doll. Hei himself knew that.]

[The second thing Yin did was reach to put her arms around him and hug Hei.]

Action!

[mortemscintilla]

[ Just before the door opens, Hei hesitates. Go. Just go. One quick turn and he'd be out of sight. There's no reason to get into this. But he doesn't move. When the door opens, it's to Yin's form outlined in light, almost preternaturally still. Despite the dead stillness from which Dolls get their nickname, she's never seemed dead or still to him. But now... ]

[ It's still Yin. A little more faded. A little more bleak. But still her. ]

[ When she reaches to hug him, it's a palpable shock. Not the spontaneity of it -- but the fact that she'd want to touch him at all. He nearly jerks back, as if they're caught in a duel. But the moment her arms pass around him, Hei represses a twinge. It's not discomfort but relief. (The relief that seeing her makes him capable of feeling anything at all.) He catches her tight against him in the doorway, swooping her up so her feet skim the floor; it's almost like dancing. ]

[ Face in her hair, Hei squeezes her hard. He wants to say something. I'm sorry. Or It's all right. But his throat burns around stoppered words. It's a long moment before he murmurs, without letting go, ] We can talk inside. [ Even if he's not sure about what. ]

Action!

[moonlitrequiem]

[This time, she doesn't breathe against him, and her pulse can't be felt through any of their connections, no matter how tightly he holds her, or she holds him. And she does.]

[When Hei returns her embrace, she tightens her hold on him, as much as she can with such small, weak arms. Yin doesn't even question it, logically knowing the curse weekend is long over. This is definitely Hei.]

[All his words get is an absent nod as Yin steps back towards the door to reenter the apartment, their physical connection broken. Her eyes, though, gravitate right back to Hei, to make certain he follows her.]

Action!

[mortemscintilla]

[ He glances behind him on instinct, his gaze sweeping the hallway -- empty, near-lightless -- before he steps in after her, shutting the door behind him. (He'd felt, in hugging her, the absence of temperature or warmth. He wonders if she feels similar to how he did over the weekend. He'd been steeped in power, but with an unease rising from the silence at his own core. That absence of pulse inside him was so disquieting, yet he'd felt, somehow, so light. Free.) ]

[ Inside the apartment, Hei doesn't sit, but ends up leaning against the wall, arms crossed. It doesn't show, but he's buzzing with a strange sense of... something. Anxiety? His gaze drops, not to Yin's face but to the floor. ]

I wasn't sure you'd want to see me. I thought you might be ... [ A pause, an exhale. ] Afraid. I was cursed [ She knows that, idiot. Otherwise she wouldn't let you in here. ] But that doesn't mean I'm not sorry for what happened. [ As sorry as he's capable of being, anyway. ]

Action!

[moonlitrequiem]

[There's no unease, not for her, but nor is there any freedom from life. There is simply an absence that changes very little, to her. Except she's cold. On the other hand, without the need to breathe, eat or sleep, as a Doll she is more efficient, and less upkeep, less money. There are benefits.]

[Hei stays by the wall, so Yin stands by him, quiet. There's a shake when he expresses his concerns - she's not afraid, and:] I wanted to see you. To make sure you were yourself.

[What would Hei think - do - to know, cursed or not, she still would have let him in?]

[When he gives the closest thing to an apology he is likely capable of giving, Yin goes quiet again, still, face slowly lifting, eyes wider.]

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[anunluckypenny]

[Penny was very worried when Yin didn't show up. The girl never misses work unless she's physically incapable of coming; in fact, Penny wishes she'd take it a bit easier.]

Everyone's allowed to take some time off, Yin. Don't worry about it.

Are you okay?

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[moonlitrequiem]

Yes. [At least, that's the only way Yin knows how to put it. Some people might argue with her state, but she can perform her duties, so still okay.]

And I still would prefer to warn you ahead of time. This was an unexpected matter. I will be in tomorrow, on my regular hours. If that is all right?

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[anunluckypenny]

Of course that's all right. You're sure you don't need an extra day or two off?

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[moonlitrequiem]

Yes, I'm certain. I can return tomorrow. [Just very cold.]

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[anunluckypenny]

Okay. If you're sure... I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.

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[moonlitrequiem]

[She gives a simple, light, quick nod, but Yin's still not used to this. Back home everyone would expect things to carry on as normal.]

[Video]

[brothertragedy]

It is none of my business, I suppose, but since you made it public... I cannot help but wonder why.

You seem very diligent!

[Video]

[moonlitrequiem]

I only try to do my fair share. [And, maybe, not that she can express it, she likes Penny's company.]

[Video]

[pinokosthewife]

[A stunned Pinoko!] Ehhh?! Yin-shan misshed work? But, you're shuch a hard-worker! Did you get shick? [Now, she's studying her, frowning as she tries to judge the rather expressionless features for signs of fatigue.] That's what happens when you work too much!

[Video]

[moonlitrequiem]

[She shakes her head.] No. Curse after effects.

[Video]

[pinokosthewife]

Oh, Pinoko hopesh it isn't anything sherioush! [She frowns, looking worried.]

[Video]

[moonlitrequiem]

[Yin shakes her head.] I am now able to perform my duties. [As long as she can function as intended and expected, nothing serious.]