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[flaredo]

"Heeey, you've reached Yang! Well, actually, you didn't reach far enough, 'cause I'm not here right now! But don't yang up! Just leave a message on this baby, and I'll get back to you soon enough, okay?"

[ Please specify VOICEMAIL, TEXT or CALL. ]

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[flaredo]

Like I'm... [ there's a shaky noise. ] Like I'm feeling too much, suddenly.

[ She'd done well at blocking herself from it, mostly... ]

[heiroglyphs]

[Poor Yang. It's almost like she's waking up to this for the first time again. Weiss wants to encourage her, but she feels like being too active will just force her back into those walls she's built up the last few months. She speaks softly:]

Hey, let's take things one step at a time. You're stronger than any of us, I know you can get back on your feet.

[flaredo]

That's what my dad kept saying.

[ Like a mantra, even. And yet, here she still was... not even remotely close to okay yet. ]

[heiroglyphs]

He says it because it's true. No one said you had to be back today, just take it easy.

How about... a walk in the park? You could use some fresh air.

[flaredo]

... Thanks, but I'd rather not.

[ One thing at a time. Going outside is one of those things. ]

[heiroglyphs]

Okay, sure.

[She's not ready. That's okay.]

I could come over? We could find a movie to watch, or play cards. What was that game you guys liked to play?

[Anything that gets her out of that bed.]

[flaredo]

It's... it's fine. I think maybe a movie...

[ MAYBE. ]

[heiroglyphs]

Sure thing. Give me a minute and I'll be right over.

[And it really is like... sixty seconds. The benefits of living right across the hall and all that. Weiss knocks twice, before letting herself in. Like Ruby was going to send her away or something. After that, it's just a few steps to Yang's room, which gets a more polite knock before the heiress pokes her head in.]

Yang?

[flaredo]

Hey, Weiss.

[ SHE LIVES! A little better than before, at least, although she still can't bring herself to smile. ]

[heiroglyphs]

[Well, it lacks her old enthusiasm, but right now she'll just take acknowledgement. Stepping inside now.]

Hey, you're looking better.

[Maybe a little pale, but being a shut-in does that to you.]

How are you feeling?

[flaredo]

Like I... still don't really want to feel at all, honestly.

[ At least there is honesty there. ]

[heiroglyphs]

That's... reasonable.

[Really what do you even say to that?]

But... you're up? And talking? And hopefully on the path back to your old self?

[She grabs a nearby chair to take a seat next to her bed.]

[flaredo]

... Weiss... you know I'm probably not ever going to be the way I was, right?

[ It's the one thing she's sure of. She can't ever be her old self again, because her old self hadn't ever gone through so much. And her old self had been overconfident. ]

[heiroglyphs]

[She hangs her head, looking to the side.]

Yeah, I know. It's silly to pretend things will ever go back to what they were. I'm just hoping we can all make the best of what's happened, some day.

[flaredo]

I don't even know how we're supposed to even begin to try to fix any of it. Your dad's... still keeping you close?

[ She expects, anyway. ]

[heiroglyphs]

Yeah. It's... gonna be a while before I can catch up to you guys.

[flaredo]

That's... fine. It's not like we were going anywhere.

[heiroglyphs]

I hope you're not gonna wait for me to drag you out of bed.

[She flashes her a little smile.]

[flaredo]

No. [ quietly. ]

... Waiting doesn't really change anything, anyway.

[heiroglyphs]

[Yang, that's where you're supposed to give a quip, or laugh, or smile, or something.]

Well, you're right. Action is what matters, so tell me what I need to do to cheer you up.

[flaredo]

Weiss... it's not like I've got a good answer for you. I don't even know.

[heiroglyphs]

[Well, at least she can admit it now.]

...I'd try to crack a joke, but I think I'd just make things worse.

[Which is sort of a joke in itself. Self-deprecation. What is she, Jaune? The balance is seriously out of whack right now, and it is not okay.]

It's been forever since we all hung out like we used to. Maybe we can grab Ruby, Naoki, and Hiro and do... I don't know, something.

[flaredo]

Maybe. [ But from the tired way she says it, it's clear that Yang's probably not ready for any sort of group hang-out just yet. It's exhausting enough just doing one-on-one interactions. ]

[heiroglyphs]

[Weiss goes quiet, taking a moment to just watch her friend.]

Yo do want to get out of bed at some point, right?

[flaredo]

... What kind of question is that?

[ And Yang's voice has also gone very quiet. ]