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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.

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

Comments

[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?