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[heritrix]

Rin Tohsaka

Hi, you've reached Rin Tohsaka. Sorry I missed your call; my phone and I are currently playing hide and seek, and I'm sad to say it's winning!

Please leave your name, number, and a brief message, and I promise to call you back. Thank you.

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Comments

[imaginex]

Oh... the University apartments?

[It's not even a question in Sakura's mind, just the one that makes the most sense. She's got friends in that area who attend school, after all.]

[heritrix]

No, I... I ended up leaving there.

[With a big shrug of her shoulders, Rin stops in the parking lot as if realizing they hadn't decided if they wanted to walk to this place, or carpool.]

Too many loud, annoying party guys. I got a new apartment a little further away, where it would be quieter.

[imaginex]

[Hahaha a car. Please. Sakura doesn't have the coin for that kind of luxury. But since they're here, Sakura glances around as if expecting a valet to roll up.]

That makes sense.

[Accepting that comment at face value]

Do you have a car? I just walk or take the bus everywhere.

[heritrix]

Oh yeah. Dad gave me some money for one as a going away present.

[Rin blinks as if she expected Sakura would know that, or maybe presumed it'd been the same for her. Then again, it seems she wasn't originally supposed to stay here, so. Turning, she makes to lead them to her car.]

[imaginex]

[Nope, no car money for her, for the exact reasons Rin suspects. And by the time Sakura had decided to stay in the city, she'd been adamant about refusing the help. No point in claiming her independence if she keeps running to mom and dad for help all the time.]

What kind did you get?

[heritrix]

A convertible! It's used, but super cute.

[And probably the most valuable thing she owns that she can't bring herself to trade in for the cash. It helps her too much with work... And there were stretches there where she more or less had to live in it. A delighted smile breaks out over Rin's face as she talks about it, though.]

[imaginex]

[But is it red, Nee-san? Is it red?

Seriously though, it's nice to see her sister openly happy about something. Sakura breaks into a smile of her own while mentally promising not to get crumbs or anything over the seats]

In that case, the shop is practically down the block. [Won't take more than a couple of minutes]

[heritrix]

[Yes, but she's had a weird urge to get it painted pink for some reason...]

Great. Do you need a ride home afterwards?

[imaginex]

Actually, to work, if you don't mind.

[She isn't scheduled.

But Rin doesn't need to see the kind of rundown apartment her sister is living in, either.]

[heritrix]

Wow, your shop keeps late hours.

[imaginex]

Well, it is an occult shop. [Giving a little wiggle of her fingers. OOOoooo spooky? Spoopy?]

And it's more inventory today. We get some new stock, and I have to check for what will likely sell the most.

[that part is true, actually! Just... this wouldn't actually be the time she'd do it.]

1/2

[heritrix]

Yeah. Have fun with that. [Said with a smile and a bit of a shrug.] It sounds like a dream job for you.

[Sakura was always into weird, creepy things like that. Rin's tone isn't quite mocking, so much as amused acceptance. She got used to it ages ago.]

But sure, I can...

[heritrix]

[The humor falls both from Rin's voice and expression as they approach a parked red convertible... Which is sitting a little lopsided.]

Oh, you've got to be kidding me.

[Arms dropped back to her side, Rin hurries over to the vehicle, crouching down. Seeing it up close confirms what it looks, but doesn't really help her mood.]

Dammit—!

[Looks like we got a flat tire.]

[imaginex]

[Even if Sakura were to take offense, there'd be no point to it with Rin. Her poor sister has had to endure the strangeness of her hobbies since they were children, bribed into sacrificing some of her Friday nights to movies of questionable content (and swear not to tell their parents).

So there's a wide, amused smile at both of their expenses before the other suddenly darts off, presumably to her car, and-- oh....

Ooooooh.]

It's flat...?

[Obviously. Her voice lowers into a sympathetic whisper.]

[heritrix]

Yes.

[This comes muffled, as Rin drags her hands over her face, dollar signs flashing in her mind's eyes. Ugh. She tands back up, chin cupped in her hands.]

Now I need to buy a new tire, and get it towed...

[imaginex]

...You can borrow some money from me.

[That's also an option...?]

[heritrix]

I've got it, don't worry about it.

[That comes out a bit sharply—almost defensive—as Rin jams her key in the lock, opening the door. Might as well grab anything important she might need from here.]

—It's just bad timing, you know? Christmas and whatnot. [She sounds less abrasive, at least.] Sorry. I know I just said I'd take you to work and all...

[imaginex]

[... Right. How could she forget?

Her older sister's always got everything under control.

Sakura's smile turns apologetic, understanding... unsurprised. She nods and tucks some of her hair behind her ear, then changes her mind when the wind bites at her uncovered face.]

How about we do lunch some other time? ... You have more important things to worry about.

[heritrix]

...Yeah. That's probably a good idea.

[It'll give her some time to get this settled, and to cover her bases. She's not stupid; she knows she can't hide what she's been up to for the last two years forever. In some ways it irritates her she has to at all, but she knows she's getting off easy here, that she hasn't bombarded with more questions already.

And seeing Sakura let it go so simply like that, almost serene in her understanding, if not resigned?

She feels like a tool.]

We'll take a rain check. [She smiles, not entirely forced.] I'll treat you next time.

[imaginex]

Okay.

[Her smile stays in place, just like Rin's, not entirely forced on her end, either. It's the nature of the beast. The fact Rin has a car at all means she's got more finances to calculate, more responsibilities to juggle. The kindest thing she can do is get out of the way and leave her sister to it.

So it's fine. Sakura found her, didn't she? Another day (or more) won't change that she finally kept her promise.]

Please let me know if there's anything I can do.

[heritrix]

Sure thing.

[Polite courtesy, but at least when Rin pokes her head back out from the car and straightens up, the smile is still on her face. A little less strained.

Lingering there a minute, she thinks to reach out to grab Sakura's shoulder lightly, for an awkward side hug.]

You too, okay?