[Getting up in the middle of the night is a regular thing for Serif, as much as it seems like he does nothing but sleep. Even on his better nights, he usually wakes up a bunch of times. So hell, he's awake, might as well get a terribly unhealthy snack that Tempus would absolutely yell at him for eating.
Though all he's got right now is some ketchup - what a shock. Well, at least it's just one bottle. It'll do.]
'Sup.
Up pretty late, aren't you?
[He's mostly joking, since, well, obviously so is he.]
[At least neither of them are in a position to lecture each other about their bad sleeping habits.
Yonaka takes a seat at the table - she's not going anywhere anytime soon, it looks like. And maybe having someone to talk to is okay.
...But try as she might to come up with conversation topics, her mind is still reflecting on that nightmare, over and over. It's hard for her to think of small talk, and eventually she gives up.]
[Serif's about to take a sip from the ketchup bottle, but that statement is enough to make him stop. So he lowers his bottle and looks at her with a confused expression.]
What, me? You sure?
[Because uh... there's not all that much about him to envy, he's pretty sure.]
You and Tempus seem like you have a really good relationship.
[It's something anyone can notice. Even though Yonaka doesn't know Tempus that well, and Serif only a little, everyone knows that Serif and Tempus are good brothers. Loving and supportive.]
It's... really nice. Seeing a healthy sibling relationship like that.
[...Yeah. Yeah, that's one thing that's probably worth envying. It's easy to have a good sibling relationship when you have the coolest brother in the universe, of course.]
Yeah, I guess in that area I'm pretty lucky.
...Not the kinda sibling relationship you're used to seeing?
Used to have a brother. ...I'm not sure it was ever healthy, but there was a time when murder wasn't involved, so let's say it used to be better than the way it ended.
[God knows her sibling complex was awful and still is pretty bad, but a fixation doesn't really compare to attempted and actual murder on the scale of 'unhealthy'.]
[Kind of, yes. This is probably too early in their acquaintanceship to be dumping this on him, but she's never made the best decisions at ridiculous in the morning after a nightmare.]
Thanks.
[A short, awkward silence.]
This is normally where I'd tell you to appreciate your sibling before something really bad happens, but I'm pretty sure that you appreciate yours. And, also that what happened to mine is not actually a concern for most people.
[Do normal people go off the deep end and eviscerate their parents? Is that just something that happens?]
So I guess my life doesn't even get to be a cautionary tale right now.
[Technically speaking something really bad did happen, but that's not something he needs or wants to talk about. And at least his situation turned out alright in the end.
Seems she wasn't as lucky.]
I'd say you've definitely earned some.
[Even if she's not the ketchup fan he is, but hey. He'll offer her a bottle if she really wants some.]
[The smile that appears when she starts recounting is small, but clearly fond.]
Quiet. Shinya was always lost in his head, and sometimes he'd get to thinking so hard he'd lose track of everything else and walk right into people. I didn't usually get what exactly he was thinking about - he was a few years older than me, and definitely the smarter one of us - but he'd always try to explain it to me if I asked.
He was sweet, too. He used to spoil me all the time. He got a little overprotective sometimes... But I figured that was just because we were close.
[Close, that is. Even if she hadn't said it herself, it would've been pretty obvious from the way she talks about him.]
Sounds like he was pretty great. [Maybe the reality was different, but how she remembers him still matters.] ...Still got some good memories in there too, huh. That's good.
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Though all he's got right now is some ketchup - what a shock. Well, at least it's just one bottle. It'll do.]
'Sup.
Up pretty late, aren't you?
[He's mostly joking, since, well, obviously so is he.]
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[At least neither of them are in a position to lecture each other about their bad sleeping habits.
Yonaka takes a seat at the table - she's not going anywhere anytime soon, it looks like. And maybe having someone to talk to is okay.
...But try as she might to come up with conversation topics, her mind is still reflecting on that nightmare, over and over. It's hard for her to think of small talk, and eventually she gives up.]
...Have I ever told you that I envy you a little?
[Too tired to censor herself.]
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What, me? You sure?
[Because uh... there's not all that much about him to envy, he's pretty sure.]
Why's that?
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[It's something anyone can notice. Even though Yonaka doesn't know Tempus that well, and Serif only a little, everyone knows that Serif and Tempus are good brothers. Loving and supportive.]
It's... really nice. Seeing a healthy sibling relationship like that.
[It'd be even nicer if she had one of her own.]
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[...Yeah. Yeah, that's one thing that's probably worth envying. It's easy to have a good sibling relationship when you have the coolest brother in the universe, of course.]
Yeah, I guess in that area I'm pretty lucky.
...Not the kinda sibling relationship you're used to seeing?
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[God knows her sibling complex was awful and still is pretty bad, but a fixation doesn't really compare to attempted and actual murder on the scale of 'unhealthy'.]
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[...Oh.
Oh.
Okay, that's not what he was expecting. It makes him go quiet and the pause is probably a little too long, but then again, that is... wow.]
That's uh... Damn.
Sorry.
[Maybe that's a lame response, but it's all he can think of to say. This is kind of heavy.]
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Thanks.
[A short, awkward silence.]
This is normally where I'd tell you to appreciate your sibling before something really bad happens, but I'm pretty sure that you appreciate yours. And, also that what happened to mine is not actually a concern for most people.
[Do normal people go off the deep end and eviscerate their parents? Is that just something that happens?]
So I guess my life doesn't even get to be a cautionary tale right now.
...I could go for some ketchup.
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Seems she wasn't as lucky.]
I'd say you've definitely earned some.
[Even if she's not the ketchup fan he is, but hey. He'll offer her a bottle if she really wants some.]
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[She takes a swig of ketchup, and doesn't pull a face this time. It's still kind of gross, but not as bad.]
Yeah. Definitely an acquired taste. ...There's worse things to turn to for heavy drinking.
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[Tempus sure wishes it did, but alas, Serif will probably never stop drinking ketchup.]
...
You don't have to talk 'bout this if you don't want to or anything, but... What was your brother like?
[He's not pressing too much here - if she decides she'd rather change the subject, he'll go right along with it.]
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Quiet. Shinya was always lost in his head, and sometimes he'd get to thinking so hard he'd lose track of everything else and walk right into people. I didn't usually get what exactly he was thinking about - he was a few years older than me, and definitely the smarter one of us - but he'd always try to explain it to me if I asked.
He was sweet, too. He used to spoil me all the time. He got a little overprotective sometimes... But I figured that was just because we were close.
[Really close.]
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[Close, that is. Even if she hadn't said it herself, it would've been pretty obvious from the way she talks about him.]
Sounds like he was pretty great. [Maybe the reality was different, but how she remembers him still matters.] ...Still got some good memories in there too, huh. That's good.
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[In Yonaka's completely unbiased, non-sibling complex opinion.]
For a while I couldn't think of those good memories at all without thinking of how everything ended. I'm getting better at it, just... not right now.
[Her nightmares always feel so current. As if she's right back there again, with her parents in pieces around her.]
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[Yeah, he knows the feeling very well. It always sucks when someone else does too.]
Thank god for distractions, right?
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[That's something she could thank every god she knows for. Even Lord Prosciutto.]
...Mm, sorry, am I keeping you up?
[He might have just been meaning to get one snack and go back to bed...]
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[She kind of is, but he doesn't mind staying up.]
Trust me, if I was really bone tired, you'd know.
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Thanks. You're a good friend.
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Oh, so I'm not messing it up? Good to know.
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[Not even one that says 'you tried' on it.]
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[He just can't stop himself, sorry.]
But seriously, no worries. I've had enough bad nights to know how you feel.
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Yeah? I'll try to be around if you need me for a bad night. Worst comes to worst, you can wake me up.
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Hell, my bro would probably thank you for wakin' me. He thinks I sleep too much.
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[Since, that's really what affects things the most, not Tempus' opinion.]
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