And all my walls began to shake

[singlefaith]

Who: Ran (both closed and open prompts)
Where: Various
When: In the few days after departing the Winter Faire after this log and after new arrivals
What: Ran deals with the aftermath of learning about Shinichi
Warnings: N/A?



A. Closed to Ai - The night after the fair, after carrying him back to the train, Ran had holed up in one of the quiet rooms with him, talking. Exhaustion -- mental, emotional, and physical -- had seeped in, and she'd slowly drifted off as they spoke. At some point he'd woken her up, encouraged her to go to bed, and she'd stumbled half-asleep down the darkened hallways to her cabin, crawling into her bed for full rest.

In the morning she awakens still wearing the same clothes she had the day before, her hair mussed, dark marks beneath her eyes. Climbing down the ladder to her bunk, she catches sight of Ai still sleeping. She pauses a moment, a small furrow between her brows -- then grabs her gi and goes to change. She'll return in a few minutes to put last night's clothes on the bed.

B. Open - Ran will slowly seek out a few people who Shinichi has indicated know about him over the next few days, so feel free to reply as though she's found them if your character is one of these. Alternatively, they (or anyone else) can find her in the gym, spa, or kitchen:

Gym - Ran is most often here, attacking the practice dummies and bags with unusual focus and fervor -- sometimes to the point where she looks as though she could have well killed one if it had been alive. Indeed, she has snapped one of the bags from its chain again, and one of the dummies is looking more than a little worse for wear.

Spa - Find Ran in the sauna, wrapped up in a towel and trying to listen to birdsongs. She may get awkward and leave, though, if someone male enters.

Kitchen - Ran stress cooks. Though it's not her team's turn to prepare food, she can likely be found in the kitchen either puzzling over one of the new recipes or trying to make something good out of what basic ingredients are available. Again, much focus, and possibly more mess than she normally makes.

Comments

B

[tactlesstantei]

[Masumi had turned up to practice in the gym, but that's set aside when she sees that Ran is there too. After all, she should probably admit that she knew the truth the whole time and didn't say anything, before her friend finds out somewhere else.

So, with that she decides to go ahead and speak up, knowing that there's no easy way to say 'hey, I knew your boyfriend was right there from the start but never said a thing because I have my own secrets to keep'.]

Hey, so I heard that you found out about Conan being Shinichi.

[singlefaith]

[Ran had intended to seek out Sera after her workout, but it seems Sera has already found her. She's been battering that practice dummy pretty hard in the last few minutes, dealing it several very vicious kicks that finally result in it flying backwards, hitting the wall in a punctuation that echoes through the gym.]

[For all of that, though, she seems focused, pretty even as she shifts out of position, glancing up to see Sera there. It's a little awkward; she hadn't quite mentally prepared herself for it yet, worked out exactly what she wants to say.]

[Then Sera opens with Sera directness. Ran flushes a little at the question -- the last night had been difficult, and though it really wasn't personal, in some ways it feels that way.]

Yes. [Her voice is quiet. She rubs at one of her wrists, nipping at the inside of her lip.]

. . . How long have you known?

[tactlesstantei]

[Masumi, for once, is quiet, picking her words carefully as she goes about explaining just how long she's known about this.]

...A while. He never told me anything until the night before the faire, when I found him about to turn back, but I've had suspicions for pretty much the entire time I've been back in Japan.

[That's going to need some explanation on how she came to those suspicions, since that's not something most people jump to without very good reason, but unfortunately she's still hesitant to talk about why she has this knowledge.]

[singlefaith]

Why didn't you tell me?

[The words are very soft. Almost too soft. Ran doesn't look back up.]

[tactlesstantei]

[And there's the question. Masumi doesn't want to lie to her friend about why she didn't say anything, Ran doesn't deserve that. But at the same time, she's still incredibly hesitant to tell the full truth, especially since she was told to keep that a secret.

And worst of all, she hesitates before responding, something she knows could prove a problem if noticed.]

...It wasn't my secret to tell. I honestly wish you could have known sooner than this.

[It's a partial truth, it really wasn't her secret to tell, and she does wish that Ran could have been in the loop sooner.]

[singlefaith]

[Ran blinks once, twice -- tears are forming, seeping into her lower lashes.]

I guess most people knew. Except me.

Maybe I really am naïve.

A

[deage]

"Good morning, Mouri-san." Haibara is up by the time Ran comes back to put her clothes on the bed. She's found the time to brush out her hair while Ran was changing, but that's about it. She's gathering up the rest of her morning supplies.

Yesterday was a fraught day for Haibara as well, finding out about Kudo's change. And she had also noticed that Ran hadn't made it back to her room.

Still, that doesn't necessitate anything. She chooses to believe that. Until something is said otherwise.

[singlefaith]

Ran hesitates, stills for a moment as the door slides open again and Ai greets her, then steps forward, lifting her clothes up to the bed. "Good morning."

She watches Ai's profile again for a moment, quiet. Presses her lips together.

Then, "Could we talk, please? . . . Not here."

Not where they run the risk of roommates overhearing.

[deage]

Haibara's not a teen detective, but she's smart. The tone, asking to speak with her privately.... the day after Kudo-kun ended up back in his normal body.

The question was, of course, how much Ran knew.

"I take it this shouldn't wait until after my shower." She glances to where their roommates may or may not be sleeping. "The private booths should be free at this time."

[singlefaith]

"It could," Ran replies quietly. Technically, of course it could. None of them are going anywhere. "But . . . I'd rather it didn't. The quiet rooms should be fine."

She waits for Ai to make the move before heading out.

[deage]

Troubling.

Quietly, Haibara takes the lead here, heading out and towards the quiet booths.

She's wary, still - Vermouth is on this train somewhere. But it's, perhaps, a smaller risk than exposing her secret to her roommates, one of whom still hasn't earned much trust at all.

[singlefaith]

Ran follows, watching the small figure ahead of her until they reach the quiet room, where she enters after, sliding the door shut behind them. She slides into the seat across from Ai, pressing her lips together again as she tries to sort out her words.

"I don't think there's really a good way to ease into this. Last night I learned about Shinichi."

Her eyes close briefly, leaning her chin into her hands as though she needs the support. "The night before that, Conan had trouble sleeping again, and I had done something I shouldn't have. One of the pills in the box that you brought looked like a sleeping pill that Dad used to take. I came back to the cabin, took one, thinking I would get you more with points, and brought it back to him." Blue eyes slip open again, the dark shadows plain beneath them in the stark light of the quiet room. "I think you know what happened to him from there."

gym gym gym

[luckydragonsfoot]

[Oddly, Katsuya didn't seek out Conan- Shinichi- well it's Conan in his head- first.

Instead, he takes a wild lucky guess, seeks her out, and...ah yes. The gym.

The dummy is on the side. The bag, off the chain. Katsuya looks over this, closes his eyes, and points at himself.]

...Well, was gonna offer y' a shot anyway, but now looks abou' th' best time. Go on, I d'serve it- promises 'r not, secrets an asshole move, I could use an' asskickin'.

[....sir please do not ask someone to punch you.]

Where, did you say? ;)

[singlefaith]

[Of anything Ran might have been expecting, this hadn't been one of them.]

[Jou's appearance is surprising as it is, interrupting the focus she'd been exerting -- a focus that had just snapped the bag from the chain. . . . Having him offer to be hit on top of that is something else. She stares at him openly, pulling out of her stance.]

. . . What?

fdhjkgvd lISTEN IM EXCITED

[luckydragonsfoot]

[Katsuya does not open his eyes.] Like I jus' said! I was in on Conan's secret, an' much as I told 'm tha' stuff would come out, I still helped keep it, so I d'serve what's comin'.

I won' ev'n move.

[sir,]

XDD

[singlefaith]

Mou, I'm not hitting you!

[A bright spot of color has risen to each cheek.]

Who do you think I am??

[Maybe she punches desks and lampposts senseless at home and has threatened to chop Shinichi in half, but.]

[But.]

[luckydragonsfoot]

Nyh?

[Well, now he's opening his eyes.] Y' ain't, seriously?

...dang, kinda used t' tha' bein' how th' steam gets let off. Me an' Honda clocked each other loads 'f times back in th' day....

[This is a poor defense.]

...Er. ...Well, alrigh'. If y' ain't, uh...

[He scratches his head.] ...hones'ly, 'sorry' an' a free punch was all I got, this ain't really the kinda thing tha' happens enough t' really have a great way t' talk abou' it.

B - Kitchen since everyone else has the gym

[wizard_redfive]

Dairine had been planning on getting herself just a quick snack before dinner. Maybe some fruit or, given the month, maybe avocado toast? She wasn't likely to try it at home after all.

Finding others cooking wasn't entirely unexpected, but seeing someone she knew in the kitchen was usually a pleasant surprise. (Even if she knew Ran more from Conan's stories.) She does raise an eyebrow or two at the mess, but Dairine is usually worse if she's being honest with herself so she doesn't point it out.

"Hi, Ran. Getting dinner ready?" Sure Ran's team isn't on cooking duty, but that hadn't stopped others from switching chores.

[singlefaith]

Ran has been having more frustration with this recipe than she should. Normally cooking relaxes her -- there's an order and process to the ingredients, and there's something about creating something that tastes good that gives her a sense of accomplishment.

Maybe she shouldn't have tried one of the new recipes, should have gone for something more familiar. All she's making is a mess.

Her eyes flick up from the recipe page in distraction, not immediately recognizing the voice -- and it takes a moment to place Dairine. They haven't spoken often. She does her best to pull up a smile -- habit and the usual social mask. "Ah . . . I just thought I'd try one of the new recipes. I guess I wanted something to do with my hands right now."

Glancing at the mess in front of her: ". . . I'm normally a little better at this. Maybe I should have tried one of the simpler ones?"

She doesn't even know how to pronounce "hollandiase."

[wizard_redfive]

Dairine glances back over the mess and shrugs.

"So long as you tried, does it matter how it turns out? It's not like we're lacking for ingredients."

Ran is probably doing a lot better than Dairine would. Most of her cooking adventures have been simple things, like pasta.

She looks at the page with some curiosity. "Savory tarts? That does sound fiddly."

[singlefaith]

"I think I needed something fiddly right now." The corner of her mouth lifts in a lopsided smile. "Or . . . at least I thought I did. Usually it helps me to relax, but . . . I think I'm just not focusing well today."

That all sounds innocuous, doesn't it? It's probably a testament to Ran's state of mind that she's getting as close to the truth as she is.

[wizard_redfive]

Dairine was moving over to the fruit pantry to rummage for a snack, but she pauses at that wording. It sounds... off. Like something was bugging Ran. She considers leaving it alone, but somehow Dairine suspects it'll keep eating at her if she does.

Plus, Ran is Shinichi's girlfriend. She's gotta check in with her too by friend proxy.

"Something on your mind?"

2 - spa

[mtsilver_conquor]

Rather than wait for Ran to come to her, Eva's sort the other woman out, Though she was not expecting to find her in the sauna. As such, Eva pauses before offering a smile that seems honest, if a touch concerned, her own towel only loosely wrapped around her body.

This is probably not the best place for the talk that's to potentially come, but well. It is what is it.

"Oh, hey. Mind if I join?" Yeah, she's going to make no assumptions.

[singlefaith]

Ran has been enjoying the quiet, honestly, closing her eyes as she leans back, letting the world slip away in the steam and trying to empty her mind as much as possible. Her eyes flick open at the sound of the door open, and Eva might catch the flicker of uncertainty that slips through her features.

A nod, and she scoots over a little -- even though there's not necessarily a need.

She's not quite sure what she'll say to Eva. No words immediately come.

[mtsilver_conquor]

Rather than sit right away, Eva does as deep a bow as possible, holding it as long as acceptable. "I'm sorry."

Only then does she take an awkward seat. There's so much she could say right now, but in the end, it's all just justifications to the lies and misdirections. "How are you coping with knowing?"

There's an understanding smile, as if Eva's all too aware of the type of secret Ran's now privy too.