quietmounds | (no subject)

(no subject)

WHAT in person for maximum wish power
WHERE by the lake or anywhere
WHEN night of day 140
NOTES it's a tanabata post!

[ Bamboo trees line the shore of the lake tonight, trailing papers from their branches. Each one is inscribed with a wish mysteriously left by...someone. Some of them are generic, like "world peace," and others are kind of weird and random, like, "fishes with candy scales."

But if you touch one, the text on it might turn into one of your wishes. Maybe it's something innocuous, but maybe it's one of your deepest secrets.

Well, maybe you don't go to the lake tonight. In any case, the stars are luminously bright overhead, and looking at them instills you with a strange sense of nostalgia... ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, it is. You don't have to worry about me on top of everything else, I promise.

What kind of big brother would I be if I didn't worry about my baby sister?

[scoffs! but leans against him, resting her head on his shoulder]

I just don't want to add to your troubles. I have you, and I have so much that I can do here, so much to prepare. I won't let anything stop me. I want to be here for you.

...

That's a yes, then?

If I say yes, will you stop making that face?

This is just how my face looks.

[nudges her shoulder into him]

Come on, T'Challa.

I want to support you in a way that makes sense to you.

... it occurs to me that perhaps I'm not very skilled at deducting what I can do for others that is welcome.

What... are you even talking about? You've supported me for my whole life!

It is what you wanted?

What is this about, T'Challa? Yes, of course I wanted your support, and I had it. Can you really be doubting that? Is this really about me...?

—I'm sorry, Shuri. You're right.

...

You're sure there's absolutely nothing I can do better for you?

Oh, so now we are actually talking about me.

[sighs and leans her head against him again]

I haven't really been thinking that way.

[hair pets...]

Have I been unreliable?

That's a difficult question to answer when I've been trying not to rely on you.

... I'm trying to understand why.

You have enough to deal with. I won't let you down. I know you've left it up to me to figure this place out, and I'm doing everything I can. You're not wrong to trust me with it.

[he just... kisses the top of her head, quiet for a bit]

Yes, but if I am in any way neglecting you...

[a bit snappish]

Do you want me to come up with a list of tasks for you, to soothe your sudden attack of brotherly guilt?

...

I'm not sure how I'm meant to answer that question.

I don't know what you want me to say, either! Of course things are difficult, but I've been doing my best. And so have you. You are allowed to be otherwise occupied, it's not neglect.

Of course. But—what I'm asking is, I suppose, how honest are you being with what you would like from me?

[pausing, because he's still, articulating it about him, frown,] How are you, really?

I'm not keeping things from you, we've just both been focused on other things. I'm managing. I'm homesick, of course, and... you know, obviously we both have—a lot to process, but I'm not going to fall apart or anything.

[he smiles, holding her against him]

I know. ... but I am here, if you need anything more.

I know, but what if I don't want to put it on you? Just knowing I'm working with Erik obviously upset you. I don't want to give you one more thing to worry about—