"Sister sister, have you noticed how strangely Emilia-sama has been acting lately?"
Yes. She has certainly, anyone could, the half elf was not known for her subtly, the girl could not act for the life of her, the sudden change in her demeanor was on everyone's mind in the mansion.
For an entire week, the half-elf seemed restless, gazing out of windows, walking back and forth in hallways, pacing on her own in that empty corridor, almost expectant, awaiting for something or someone, and Ram knew exactly why that was.
She put the mop against the wall and turned to face her dear sister, internally thankful for this moment of respite. Even such a mundane chore was proving to be too much for her.
"Emilia-sama seems to be impatiently waiting for her new friend to arrive." They both knew who that must be.
After all, the princess never missed a chance to sing praises for this mysterious man, even for a sheepish and shy girl like her. She seemed to have gained some quizzical vigor when talking about her beloved savior, whoever he might be.
Ram already inquired about it all at the carriage ride after the incident, after a well-deserved lesson, on not letting your valuables be stolen by gutter rats, especially if such a thing was what gave you the claim to the throne, and who knew that even elf ears could drop down like a misbehaving puppy.
Ram almost found herself pitying the candidate, and with a sigh, she let the pitiful girl explain exactly what happened earlier that day.
After hearing all of it, Ram knew one thing, this man was too suspicious, she needed to keep an eye on him.
"But nee-sama, wasn't the guest supposed to be here today? It's getting late." Her little sister asked while gazing at the setting sun.
"I do wonder about that..." their worries on how the matter must've caused immense stress to the half-elf went unsaid.
Though she was not close to the princess in any way, her sister has taken a liking to the half-elf, her innocent and pure nature has charmed her Rem in a way no other has, though that was not always the case.
There was a time where Rem wanted nothing more than to tear the silver haired to shreds, and Ram remembers vividly how she managed to convince her that she was no witch, but merely a child involved in things beyond her understanding.
From that day on, her sister has started to see the half-elf in a different manner, though not the same as her, where she saw her innocent as child-like and immature, Rem just saw it as more proof of her endlessly benevolent nature, she was putting her on a pedestal.
And how Ironic.
Rem's love and care flowed as strongly as the Great Tigracy River, falling in love was as easily as breathing for her, for she saw everyone deserving of it more than her, and Ram knew why this was.
She knew why her sister had a habit of putting others on pedestals, high enough to watch and worship, but too far to ever touch, too far to understand, to get close to, to have genuine relationships.
She knew why, her dear sister lapped at every compliment directed at her, only to then deny it with every bit of her soul, feeling undeserving of it, like a moth to a flame, the closer she got to what she desired the most, the more it burned.
And burn it did, painfully apparent to everyone who knew her enough, and she knew her the most, her beloved nee-sama, she wished to never hear that again, what she once was proud of, now tormented her soul to no end.
For she knew the root to every ailment her dear sister suffered from, but she had not the courage to help her.
She wonders, what would Rem think once she saw her cowardly side.
Her mood now soured, she excused herself to her sister, the latter probably thinking that it was her sickly nature that has taken over her, she didn't have the heart to correct her and say that she couldn't bare to look at her face now.
She was certain that Rem would take it the wrong way, all the more reason to not mention it, how funny excuses were so easy for her to come up with, talking it out with her will only hurt the both of them, it was pointless.
She headed to the kitchen, intending to make herself some tea to ease her mind, she put the kettle on the fire and then sat down on a chair waiting for it to boil.
"He says he knows roswell, that the two of them were friends, reaaaally old friends."
She wonders about that, she had mentioned that to her master, he did not deny the claim, but that didn't mean it was true, the way he muttered the foreign name and clutched that wretched book to his chest, she knew something was off.
She asked more about this strange man, Emilia too innocent to know her intentions, happily obliged, through her flowery and exaggerated recall of those events, she has concluded that the man knew a little more than he was letting on, great planning, quick-wit and what-not, there was a prophet-like quality to his actions, this was proving to be too much of a headache she dropped the thought.
She has noticed how the retelling of events always ended with the bowl hunter being incapacitated, no more of what transpired after was told to her, when she asked her further on it, the elf replied with bringing her hand to her mouth, and with both her thumb and index fingers she traced her lips from left to right.
Ram blinked, a couple of times, unsure if she just imagined that or if it really happened. After a few minutes of awkward silence, she asked what that meant.
"Ah, he said it meant to keep something a secret in his hometown."
Her right eye twitched in annoyance, she knew she couldn't push the matter any further, the half-elf was of higher rank than her, she dare not overstep her boundaries, but nonetheless she had one final question.
With a serious look on her face, she locked eyes with the dragon candidate, "what do you think of him?"
"Eh?" Came as a yelp from the half-elf, a deep blush, formed on her cheeks all the way to her elven ears, giving them a pink hue.
"Uhmm, he's reaaaaally pretty. He has mean eyes but I reaaaally really like them, I like his soft hands, his peculiar hair looks really funny but it's nice, he's a reaaaally naughty boy to tease me infront of people and call me pretty, that dunderhead."
Silence.
Deafening, suffocating, silence.
"That was not what Ram mea- never mind, I'll be taking a nap. Wake me up when we arrive at the mansion." If Ram could face palm, she would, but she was too busy pretending to sleep.
She should've known that the question would go over the half-elf's head. What she couldn't possibly expect was how much mental anguish it would cause her, the second-hand embarrassment was too much for her, Ram pretended to sleep for the entire ride home.
A whisle interrupted her from her memories, though it was a thankful distraction for that mental torture, she got up from her chair and went to grab the kettle, using her precious leafs, and a cube of sugar, she made herself a cup of much needed tea.
Sitting back down on her chair and sipping her sweetened tea, she began thinking on how much her mistress has changed during such a short period of time.
Once again, she never had an issue with her mistress, never before, no matter how childish and immature, Ram never held any expectations for the half-elf, easy to please, never asking for too much, and most of all she was fairly predictable, no matter how cold she might have appeared on the outside, Ram did care for the elf, even if it was in the form of pity.
She walked through the dimly lit corridor maze, moonlight peaking through rosary colored windows, angelic in their design. She never went to a church before, though she wonders if they'd accept demons on such holy grounds.
Strolling along that endless passageway, graceful, feathery steps, not letting any sounds defile this heavenly still moment of life, oh how she wished to bask in that silvery moonlight.
To be nothing more than a line or a detail, a corner piece of glass blessed with eternal luminance, to be a circle, to take different shapes, all melted down from the same not so precious compound, fragile in it's nature, but beloved all the same, dull and uninteresting in its lonesome, yet forming such a breathtaking mosiac in its union, one that would enchant even a demon.
Carefully balancing a plate in her sweat stained hands, discomfort dripped down from her forehead in the from of a thin lined arroyo carving a frown on her face from the overwhelming exhaustion taking over her.
She arrived, her destination two feet away, the door closed, a little candle light coming through underneath it, the sound of feather scribbling and a hushed voice invaded her ears, curiously, she put the meal down and got closer to the door.
With her left ear pressed against that barrier, she listened, words poured out, her mistress was writing in her diary, recounting the happenings of the day before, though the focus on it all was on that man.
She heard words of fancy, of shame, of longing, an overbearing feeling latched into that soft voice, the secret that those walls were meant to keep was defiled by this little demon sitting outside.
Ram slid down, her back against the door, a sigh escaped her mouth, whatever arcane magic was cast on her mistress, whatever wretched alchemy that reduced that innocent child, to a maiden in love, it mattered not, her mistress was undoubtedly smitten, that was the truth of the matter.
Leaving the plate of food on the ground next to the room and just head back where she came.
Sipping on her cup of tea, now half empty, she'd already thought of the dangers, of the possibility that the man was involved in such vile ordeals, but surely such things would not fly by the sword saint's advertence.
No, it was no divine blessing, no magic, she relented, her mistress was just seduced by that womanizer of a man, and how could she not, for a pitiful girl like her, to hear of someone's favorable regard of her appearance, it had to be a shock for the witch look-alike.
She put her now empty cup down, this mystery half resolved, her mistress was easy to please simple as that, she got up from her chair, feeling drowsy, she decided on heading to her quarters to rest.
It was unfortunate that her master was away for the day, though she could make do with one day without mana transfer, she need only sleep now.
Arriving to her room, she made quick work of her uniform, taking it off and changing to her nightgown, a sigh escaped her mouth, she forgot to tell her sister she'd be sleeping early, too late now she decided not to think about it, she layed down the bed, a soft lullaby beckoned her eyes to close, but not before a disturbing idea crossed her mind.
That womanizer of a man preyed on maidens with low regard to themselves. Her sister was in danger.
Eyes popped open, as she now made a promise to keep her Rem as far away as possible from him, she would sooner die than hand over her sister without a fight.
She does realize how presumptuous she was being, so she tapers off, slowly allowing herself to be taken away by the sandman.
Her head hits the pillow, her eyes shut, and she dreams.
She sees white, an empty barren wasteland of pure blinding white.
She walks slowly, her head held up high, looking forward never turning to either side, then she notices
She sees red, beams of red, coming from the heavens to the earth, no, they were lines, threads, fine cords of unknown filaments, tainted red, and she notices.
A faceless, seamless crowd, dolls of white surround her, mannequins, stuck in time, some standing, some sitting, some laying down, some jumping, some struggling, some resigned to their fate.
She walked closer, gazing at that still image quizzically, she sees red, she holds her head up high, tippy toeing closer and closer.
Bodies of white, with threads lined on their components, knots of red holding them up to the sky, or ribbons keeping them grounded, flush with the white beneath them, knots and ribbons, like nooses on necks, or bracelets on hands, shackle on legs, each and every puppet had a silky line of their own, holding them in space, in time, forming this still painting.
A bile threatened to spill out of her mouth, but she fights it.
She looked down, gazing at her hands, at her legs, no knots, no ribbons, no shackles or bracelets, no rings tying her pinkies to one another, she was free, prideful and vain, she felt feather light.
Dilly-dallying on, she left that miserable theatric play behind, pulling down the curtain on it, and beyond that sizzling white, she saw blue.
Another still image, her sister and her, a younger version of them, their first day on the mansion, a memory.
She sees herself, her face tight-lipped and strained, she looks at her sister, smiling and relieved, she looks down.
She looks at their hands, her younger self handing a broom to her sister, her dearest grasping at it desperately.
She feels her own neck, a fine cord makes a cut on her finger, her eyes widen, she brings her hands to herself to feel more.
Her hands littered with cuts and burns, the wounds cauterized and burned, blood drips not, and she lingers on, tracing the noose wrapped around her neck like a ribbon.
Now, finally, she can feel the hot scathing wires cutting the insides of her throat, her lips move, but no sound comes out.
She looks back at herself, her younger doll-like self, she looks above her head, and she remembers how light she felt.
Her hand go up on their own, tracing her face, her own, not the doll sitting besides her sister, her lips, her cheeks, her nose, her eyes, then finally her forehead.
And her horn, it's there? Anchoring a line up to heaven, daringly she plucked it, playing her own one stringed harp, strangely enough, it burned not.
No, she felt nothing, it went through, she pulled her hand back, ah her hand fell off, burned and charred, she feels no pain.
Only then did she realize "this is a dream?."
She gazed around, looking, searching for a way out, pacing restlessly, avoiding with all her might any visions of herself or her sister, she saw something.
A line, a black inscription on that seamless grainless desert, walking up to it, she felt something different, that something lay underneath this ground her feet stepped on.
So she knelt down, or she tried, the tethered line on her horn pulled back violently, not allowing her to even drop her head down.
Not discouraged, she tugged on, turning her neck at odd angles, pushing herself, lowering herself down, hanging on a thread, it burned, scathing hot, then it snapped.
And she fell, down, down she went, the earth opened up, panic invaded her thoughts, but she reminded herself, "tis but a dream, a dream, nothing more, nothing less."
She fell and fell, an eternity has passed, all feelings of dread or fear have already dissipated, now she only awaits how this ends.
She gazes around her, her ears tickled by the sound, angels of pink playing on golden harps, they look at her, terrifying in their design, a mosiac of heaven, eyes and ears plenty, stitched and stuck at odd angles and spots, wings outstretched and reaching out, as if asking for a hug, colossal in their size, they were titans, with feathers of white covering their limbs.
They sing to her, they sing for her, they watch her fall, melodies of pity, of sympathy, hands dare not to reach for her, but above her they string on a chord, a familiar beam of red, eyes wide open gazing at her, prodding at her soul, judging her.
Then she's still, she's caught in a swarm of limbs, hanging on her for dear life, holding her up high, breaking her fall to that endless abyss.
Ball-jointed hands held her, touched her, felt her skin, picked her up high, faceless dolls looking up to her, and she felt chills run down her spine.
She struggles, she fights, wishing to be left alone, the dolls moan in displeasure, in pain, their fingers pop with her every movement, splashes of red paints the ground beneath them, their limbs break as she struggles, some fall, they let go of her not willing to bring her down with them.
Their hold is gentle, cradling touch as if holding a precious gem, they'd sooner break than harm her, she notices, through guilt, and discomfort at hearing their pained yelps, she relents.
She let's herself be taken, paraded around she closes her eyes and feels strange.
The crowd beneath her stop in their tracks, their limb giving her a ramp for her to descend on, she accepts it gratefully.
Gently stepping over their ivory flesh to the ground beneath her, her breath hitched, she looks infront of her, she sees her twin.
Sitting down graceful with a blue kimono, long blue hair left untied, reaching down to her lap, a beauty beyond this world.
"It seems you've made it down here, nee-sama." Her voice a tad bit deeper, yet oh so gentle, intoxicating her soul.
"Rem?" She could not be too sure, the blue haired demon looked older, more refined, like a flower, she bloomed.
"Yes, sister, this is your Rem." With eyes closed, the voilete responded.
"What are you doing here, Rem?"
A chuckle escaped the lips of the blue demon, heartedly and joyous, Ram couldn't help but feel restless at such a sound.
"Sister, sister, I believe you must ask yourself that."
Ram felt a lump form in her throat, she knew not what to say, this was her own dream, but she was too cowardly to face the monsters that hid under her bed, she wished not to know what this all meant, but just for it end.
"I see that you've cut one of the ties, Rem is proud of her sister." With a clap of her hands, she commented on the thread that once was on Ram's horn.
Ram remained silent, unwilling to respond to that mirage, unable to accept this as anything worthwhile. She turned on her feet, with a whisper. "You're not real."
"But nee-sama, what of that, that necklace?" The imitation stopped her in her tracks, a finger pointing at her.
The figure of blue stood up, high towering over her, walking to her, facing her, a gentle smile gracing it's otherworldly visage, pretty little fingers touched her cheeks, she couldn't help but lean to the touch.
"Let me sister, let me take that noose off. Let me take that shame away." With two fingers under her chin, propping her head up to gaze at her sister's eyes.
Ram felt fear, "it'll burn." She uttered.
Rem responded, "then let us burn together."
Vehemently turning her head side to side, Ram could not agree to bring harm to her sister.
Soft hands grabbed on her cheeks more tightly than before, another forehead pressed to hers, "You cruel, cruel sister, can't you see that your Rem has already grown up? Must you selfishly keep your burdens for yourself to bare?"
Ram grumbled in annoyance, she just wished to drown in the warmth of her sister, why must she be made to think of those awful things, "Ram does share her burden, she let's Rem handle every chore around the mansion, is that not enough?"
"Silly sister of mine, can't you be more honest? Tell Rem the truth." With a pout, Rem poked at her sides.
Squirmed at the attack on her weak spot, "Dearest of mine, Ram is as honest as one can be."
"Then why has this helpless sister of mine tied a knot around her neck." Responded Rem with a scolding tone, pushing Ram away to more clearly watch her sister's face.
Ram felt so small against this Rem, cowering like a child would when their mother hears of their misdeeds, her heart lodged in her throat.
A finger pushed on her chest, where heart would be, "Can you stop hiding that from me, you're not protecting me, you're hurting me, Ram, stop being so stubborn, sister."
Firey hot indignation, a red flame licked her skin burning, swallowing her whole, burning that cursed thread. It sizzled, bubbled, and fell lazily, her voice now free.
"You...how dare you? After all the pain I went through, you think you have the right to judge me? You have not lost your horn Rem, I did, look at me now, i am useless, helpless and hopeless, don't you dare blame me for how I am, you smiled that day, you think I never saw that Rem? You smiled, you relished in my helplessness, and what am I to do? How could I ever blame you for it?" Her voice raised not, even through her wrath, she had to be as calm as she'd always been, lest she loses herself.
Wrath gave away, an empty feeling filled her chest, her previously balled hands now hung aimlessly at her sides.
"How could I? When you've been in my situation for years, what gives me the right to complain of something you've felt your whole life, and how am I to condemn you, when guilt drowns you each and every day, what more could I add? How much lower can I fall as a sister? How have I never seen your pain before?"
Tears fell like streams from her eyes, too ashamed to show it, she hid her face, with hands she covered herself from her dearest.
"What more could I give you other than pain?" Her voice croaked.
"Then give it to me, your pain, your shame, your anger, your guilt, let Rem have a piece of it all." Her sister answered.
Pulling her to a hug, she added, "Rem will assure you that it would not be easy, but she knows it's worth it, lay your heart for Rem to see."
Tear stricken and too emotionally exhausted, Ram couldn't help but let a chuckle escape against her sister's chest, embracing her more tightly than before. "Greedy sister of mine, haven't I just done that now?"
Her dearest Rem responded with a laugh of her own, "Silly sister of mine, this Rem has already attained her peace, what of the one outside?"
Ram once again grumbled against her sister's hold, "Will you truly grow up to be this cruel to your dear sister?"
With a sly smile, the blue haired devil responded, "Only if nee-sama is still hellbent on being stubborn."
"Why-you little..."
"I fear it must be time to wake up sister."
Ram pushed her head deeper to her sister's bosom, unwilling to let go.
"There, there, sister, you'll be fine." Her hands ruffling through her pink hair, she places a kiss on Ram's forehead, where her horn used to be.
"Open your eyes, sister."
"And be sure to welcome Rem's hero."
She wakes up, startled by a loud bang reverberating through the hallways. She jumps out of her bed.
Grabbing a candlelight and her staff from a drawer, she first checks on her sister, making sure she's still asleep and tucked in.
Then she heads towards the sound, cursing whatever creature that has dared to wake her up in the middle of the night.
Ready to face whatever intruder that has invaded their home and kept her from her beauty sleep, she would not be so forgiving, tonight especially.
Strumming through the soulless corridor of the mansion, she sees the half-elf in her own nightgown, straddling an unconscious man on the ground.
"Ah, Ram-san, just in time, this is Subaru." The half-elf calls out to he as she gets up from the man and tries to sling him on her shoulder.
Ram just massaged her temples at the sight, feeling a headache coming if she were to ask any questions. She decided to handle this now.
"Emilia-sama should head to bed, Ram will handle our guest for tonight." She took hold of the man's arm, the smell of alcohol on him making her nose wrinkle.
"But Ram-san, Subaru jus-"
"Emilia-sama." Ram cut her off coldly, gripping the corpse more tightly.
"...okay." the half-elf responded, pouting as she let's Ram take care of transporting the man.
She ushered her mistress to go back to her quarters and rest, and she waited till the half-elf was far enough to let out a long-winded sigh escape her lips.
Picking up the drunkard on her right shoulder, the smell of cheap liquor invaded her nostrils. She wished nothing more than to leave the man to rot on the mansion ground.
But that would just leave more work for her sister.
She walked through the familiar corridor, now silent, and a physical weight pushed her down.
She cursed this pitiful excuse of a man for making her do this, she felt him struggle against her hold, she ignored him.
"Let me down." He requested with a raspy voice.
She did not grace him with an answer of her own, so she kept stumbling on to the way to his chambers only to be interrupted by one of his grunts.
"If you don't, I might thro-"
With a loud bang, he fell on the ground beneath her. She had not let him finish his sentence, not willing to let him dirty her nightgown with his disgusting bile.
"Ughhh...you didn't have to do that, Ram." With his face pressed to the floor, he uttered through a muffled voice.
"Guest-sama, do you wish for Ram to try and put you down again." She replied indignantly, letting her distaste for him known.
"No thanks, also please call me Subaru." He said as he slowly got up from his pitiful position on the ground and dusted off his strange garments. He extended a hand to her own.
She stood with her arms crossed, unwilling to acknowledge him. She turned around from him and started walking, with a sigh on his part, he followed soon after.
Finally reaching his room, she guided him inside. He childishly flopped on the bed without a warning.
In his room, she stood, watching him wearily, his eyes locked with hers, a smile creaped to his face, a frown on hers, she half-heartedly wished to send a scythe of wind to his neck.
"Disgusting pervert." She teased while hiding her chest from his view.
He looked back at her with a deadpan face, crossing his arms, forming an x. "There's not much to look at. Also, I'm a married man."
She sat down on the side of his bed, ignoring his obvious jab at her bosom, definitely not hurt from it. Why did her hold on her staff tighten, you might ask? Why not? she just wished to get rid of this man sized pest in the room, a most diligent maid she was.
"Lecherous and adulterous, aiming for Lady Emilia while married, give Ram one reason to not exterminate you." She pressed on aiming to scare him more than anything else.
A look of confusion graced his face, only for him to let out a small gasp and slam his hand on his mouth, with a grunt he laid back down on his bed and covered his face.
"She's gone." He said with a breathless whisper.
Her heart fell, she knew not of his perilous situation, pangs of guilt forced out apologies outside her mouth, "Ram is sorry."
He sat down once again, waving his arms around, "No, it's nothing, you couldn't possibly have known. It just happened recently, it's hard to process." He finished with a miserable smile on his face.
Melancholy has never looked so pretty on a person, Ram thought, the way he smiled, the way he frowned, the way his eyes betrayed his act, it was all so angelic to her.
It reminded her of that mosiac, so colorful, so beautiful, yet so fragile and vulnerable, walking with the weight of the world on his shoulder, she thinks that if she so much as blows in his direction, he would crumble.
He would break apart, fall down, turn to dust, that she'd forget she ever saw him, ever knew him, and she thinks he would be content with that because of course he would be.
Her heart throbbed, she was being cowardly again, the moment she laid her eyes on him, she felt something strange, a sense of familiarity, she wished not to mull over it, so she buried the feeling deep in her heart.
But she could not, no, she would not be a coward any longer, she got closer to him, putting her hands on either sides of his face, bringing him closer to her.
She put his head on her lap, in his alcohol induced daze he did not realize what was happening till he felt the soft flesh rubbing against the back of his head, he shuddered and let out a gasp, "Sister."
She stopped, her entire being went still, it felt right, it felt fitting, she felt like home, that she was his sister, and that scared her, that terrified her, her heart accepted him already, it ached at his hurt, it leapt from joy at his longing for her touch.
Her hand traveled to his hair, she combed through it, playfully running her digits on him, "Be at ease." She whispered to him, letting him relax, and for his nervousness to fade out of him.
She couldn't help but ask even if she enjoyed this momentary respite, she felt something missing, she was scared, absolutely petrified of the thought, she did not wish to let the words out of her mouth, but she had to, a coward she would no longer be.
"Has Ram been a good sister to you?" The words pouring out of her shocked both her and him, that was not what she meant to ask, not one bit.
He seemed to take her words seriously, he moved his head tiny bits as he pondered her question, his soft hair tickling her thighs.
"You have your flaws, but you've done your best, and that's more than enough." Her replied in a nonchalant manner, more relaxed at her touch.
She hummed in response, her hands going back to stroke at his hair after her shock placated "Sister." She whispered, "Why did it feel oddly fitting, I wonder." Though the previous answer satisfied a deeper part in her soul, she's still yet to find an answer to this mystery.
"Who knows." Was the only acknowledgment she got, delivered careless and cold, biting and hurt.
Harshly, she pressed on, "You know me, no you knew me, and Emilia-sama too if Ram were to guess, and Roswell-sama, yet we don't know you."
"Am I suspicious? Do you think I'm a spy, Ram?" He pulled her hands away from him, sitting himself up to face her, a smile that never would dare to reach his eyes threatened to split his face in half.
So she did the only thing she could think of before he drowned in his own misery. She poked at his cheek, "No, Barusu has never been good at acting."
His eyes widened. She must've called him that before, she thought, "To think that I have such a mean brother." Her hand went up to his eyes, wiping the droplets of tears off his face, he accepted her touch.
He let out a hearty breath, both tempered and anxious, he got up leaving her side, she felt cold at her lonesome but he did not move too far, standing up from his bedside he went to his window, staring at the abyss outside.
She frolicked her way behind him, staring at the moon next to him, her hand went down to his, he gazed down at the sign of their bond with a bemused expression on his face.
He used his other hand to point to the void in the sky, where a bundle of light down on them, "Do you see that Ram? Those stars over there, so different from the ones in my home town." He said to her.
She hummed in response urging him to finish what he was saying, "What do you say I pluck one out for us huh? Alpha Aurigae, I'm aiming for you." He held up his fist, making a grandiose show.
She knew now that he was too drunk to stay up, she ignored his theatrics, throwing him back to his bed and tucking him in, she ignored the puffed up cheeks and his complaint of being bullied, she will have none of it.
Standing in the door way, she clutched on the wooden door, looking at him for one last time before his slumber, she stopped.
"Welcome back Barusu." And with that she turned on her heels closing the door between them, and she left.