#this post has been queued in solidarity with the blackout. it is the first one (but not the last im sure) that ive queued for the 3rd.

[basilpaste]

Bathroom Event: Mirabelle + Siffrin

"Siffrin!!"

You hear someone jump.

"Oh! Uh. Hi, Mira."

"…Oops. I didn't mean to scare you…"

"No no! You… you didn't scare me, Mira. I wasn't paying attention."

Mira huffs, "I came from the wrong side! Maybe I'm getting as quiet when I move as you are, hehe."

"… Am I really that quiet?" Sif asks.

"Um!" Mira pauses, "Maybe a little? It's like… a cat!"

"A cat?!"

"Heheh."

Both of them are quiet for a long moment. Neither of them seem to know what to say. You hold your breath.

Eventually, Sif speaks back up, "Mira?"

"Yeah?"

"Um… could I have a hug?"

Oh.

"Huh?!"

"Wh-what?? Did I say something wrong?"

"No! No, Siffrin, it's nothing like that. I'm just… surprised?"

"Why?"

Mira lets out a soft hum, "You don't really like touch, do you?"

Siffrin goes… quiet. Painfully quiet. You think you could hear one of the pins from their cloak fall from all the way in the stall.

"Oh. Um…" He cuts himself off, "I mean! Hahah!! Yeah, uh! That was a stupid question! What an embraceing thing to say!"

"Siffrin!" She hisses at the pun. Then pauses. "Are you… sure? Because if you want a hug um… I think maybe I need one, too?"

"Oh."

"Oh??"

"Okay, then." They whisper, so quiet you can barely hear.

You hear the gentle rustle of fabric. The telltale sound of Sif flinching away from touch. More fabric rustling to show that they pulled back in. You hear Mira take a shaky breath and Sif try to do the same. Your breath feels caught.

"Siffrin…" She trails off, "Have you ever hugged someone before?"

He flusters, "Um!!"

"I'm! Kidding. But you're very stiff. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes." Sif breathes out, almost desperately.

"Okay."

"… Thank you, Mira."

"Of course, Siffrin."

…….

You wait a long time before leaving the bathroom.