as high as honor

[assembles]

Who: Members of House Arryn & any visitors!
Where: Ninth Floor
When: 04/09 - 04/13
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The ninth floor of the mansion now belongs to those loyal to House Arryn. This is a mingle log for House interactions and also for anyone who cares to pay them a visit. No Boltons or Lannisters allowed.
The Story:
The ninth floor may not have much to offer in terms of valuable territory, containing nothing so sought after as the kitchens or the library or the diner, but it is still outfitted proudly, covered in blue banners bearing the falcon that signifies House Arryn.

The floor contains only eight occupied rooms, and for the most part the House has been known for its neutrality -- which isn't to say that some of its members don't have other Houses they support or violently oppose.

Those of House Stark or House Barartheon are free to visit, whereas those of House Bolton and House Lannister may not receive such a warm welcome.

Comments

[breakthecurse]

Hm...I was thinking maybe nikuman! It would be easy to make big batches of them to bring upstairs.

[That and whenever she has Souji around to help it only feels right to offer to cook Japanese food, since they're both very familiar.]

Would that be alright?

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji nods.]

Good idea. Those are filling, too, so we shouldn't have a problem with running out too fast. The ingredients aren't complicated, either.

[breakthecurse]

Exactly! They're perfect for feeding a big group of people!

[Not that House Arryn is particularly big, but it's still a lot of people at once.]

[eatsyourscience]

Let's go get started then.

[breakthecurse]

Yes, let's!

[Hana lets them inside, as she always does when Tohru is present. The diner is a lot quieter these days, now that it's only being used by two of the Houses and not the entire mansion. There's something a little melancholy about it, but Tohru tries not to seem too sad.]

Hm...I know we come here often, but something always feels nostalgic about it...

[Just that general sense that things aren't the same as they were, that's all.]

[eatsyourscience]

Empty places that are usually full are like that.

[That's how he felt at home in the house when his uncle and cousin were in the hospital for weeks.]

It's not so bad, though. That feeling.

[It just means that the time when the diner was busy is something they remember fondly.]

[breakthecurse]

No, it's really not. It just means this place is full of nice memories, that's all. That feeling just means good things happened here.

[And Tohru wouldn't trade that feeling for the world. It's better to cherish those feelings than to have never experienced the good things behind them at all.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji busies himself gathering the things they'll need for today's food.]

Do you have placed like that at home too?

[Souji does. Or at least, he anticipates having some of them in the near future.]

[breakthecurse]

Mm. Sometimes I feel that way when I'm in the neighborhood where Mom and I used to live.

[She doesn't have much reason to be there now though, unless she's working.]

What about you, Souji?

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji pauses to think.]

...I didn't before. When I go home, there will be a lot, I think.

[Pretty much everywhere in Inaba.]

[breakthecurse]

Do you mean because of Wonderland? Or something else?

[Probably something else, since they supposedly won't remember Wonderland when they go.]

[eatsyourscience]

When I get home, I'll be in the process of moving back to Tokyo. So the places I liked in Inaba will probably feel that way when I go back there someday.

[breakthecurse]

Oh, I see...

[It sounds bittersweet, at least to her.]

...It might feel that way, but I think it will feel good when you visit too. It might be a little sad, but...if you have people you care about there, then it's home. And it always feels good to come home, even if you had to be away for a long time.

[eatsyourscience]

Yeah. You're right.

[Souji offers her a small, rare smile.]

Do you want badly to go home?

[breakthecurse]

[She nods.]

I have to go home. I made a really important promise to my friends that I need to keep. Even if it takes a long time...I need to go home someday.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji nods back, not looking up from whatever he's doing to prepare this food.]

It's the same for me.

[breakthecurse]

[Oh, so Souji understands then. She smiles a little, emphatically.]

Well then, I hope you're able to go home soon, Souji! I hope you're able to fulfill that promise.

[eatsyourscience]

[There are times when he doubts it, but he still nods. He won't show that doubt to Tohru, especially not when she's cheering him on.]

You, too. Both of us will do just fine.