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[recollecters]

Welcome back, users. Looks like we were able to bring you back online and tracked again...here's hoping the layers are settled now, but the readings are off the chart. We're doing our best to stabilize the city for December while we track some of the magical sources we're picking up. It may take us some time though, so please bear with us! We may be working through the holidays, too, if this keeps up. But it's okay. You opened the doors and new routes for us to check. Stay positive, users. December is a special time of the year. What's your favorite holiday tradition? You'd be surprised how thoughts shape things here. Please take care. Joanne Wiseman Technician 2nd class Retrspec Incorporated Characters' display names are the same as whatever they chose last month and are permanently locked in! Newbies may pick a new name for their first use on Retrospec, but whatever they pick will also become permanent. Please feel free to use this post as a network mingle. Every toplevel can be considered a new post, and threadjacking is permitted. No NPC response will be given. As a friendly reminder, you may also claim one of this month's freebie by submitting a thread from this mod post. This thread must be 10 comments from you and submitted before AC closes.

Comments

[cardcaptured]

Well, that much is a given. He only stopped by with his family during the holidays, so he wouldn't have known my father as well as the others do. But you're right. Something is better than nothing, so there's nothing to lose by asking him.

[It's funny, though, how petulant Sakura seemed to get whenever her brother was involved, and he couldn't blame her in the slightest. With all the ways he's tortured her over the years, and with how surly he was towards Xiaolang... it's enough to make the most good-natured person grouchy. Still...]

He's your brother. I can't help but be worried about it. I know I'm not doing the best job at it, but... I want to try to get along with him, too. Your family's important to me, and I don't want to be the cause of any tension within it. It's true that who you decide to see shouldn't be his concern [Although a part of him is wincing over the idea of Sakura dating someone other than himself=--] but I want him to know you're in good hands.

[keystaff]

It is better. Even if he might not remember much, it might be more than you recall. Or at least, I hope. If you choose to ask.

[Because it is up to him. It isn't Sakura's decision or right to force this. Just opening up that option and possibility if Xiaolang wants to learn more, to ask.]

You'd be doing a better job if he gave you more of a chance. I'm pretty sure for some reason even before we started dating he didn't seem to like you. But of course you're doing fine. You already do a lot to help me, Xiaolang-kun.

[cardcaptured]

No, a lot of that is on me, too. I sort of get a knee-jerk reaction to him, and

I'm equally responsible here. Your brother's a jerk, but I shouldn't be waiting for him to make the first move. I should start trying to be nicer to him, too. I know part of it might have to do with Leon, since they never seemed to get along either, but...

[The last bit of that reply of hers gives him pause, feeling that insecurity nibble at his self-confidence. Sakura says he's done a lot to help her, but has he really?]

... do you really think so? That I've... been able to help you, I mean.

[keystaff]

Leon-san? I know they probably see each other around, with university or such but what would that have to do with onii-chan hating you? Because something happened between them? That would be silly, when you weren't even involved.

And I do. Especially before, when onii-chan didn't have the app to be able to help keep an eye on me.

[cardcaptured]

I mean, he might not like me because I'm related to him, or that I'm around you a lot, or... something. I don't know, it doesn't make much sense to me, either. Leon can have a very... strong personality, so I wouldn't be surprised if he might have rubbed your brother the wrong way. But I still don't really know what that has to do with me. I'm not lot like Leon, so I don't think it's that...

[Actually, the two of them are more alike than he knows, but--]

... I don't know if I was able to help you out as much as I could, though. There's been plenty of times where I couldn't do anything, or... wound up making things worse.

[Xiaolang wtf JUST TAKE THE COMPLIMENT YOU IDIOT]

[keystaff]

Even if Leon-san did do or say something, that doesn't give onii-chan an excuse to take it out on you just because you're his cousin.

And that's okay. The times you were able to help, you did. Or at least tried. That's important too.

[The important thing being she knows he tries, that he would help if he could, if he had the option. Which he doesn't always have, given the strangeness of the app at times, but still.]