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As usual, Eret wakes up slowly.
They’re alone in the bed they share. At some point in their sleep, they’d kicked their blankets off onto the floor.
They sit up and rub at their eyes, which are glowing like they’ve had a nightmare. They can’t remember whatever they saw in their sleep, though, so it doesn’t really bother them.
A pile of five bracelets sit on the bedside table. Eret gives them a long look, letting herself settle properly into her body. Right now she feels… green. She picks up that color of bracelet and slips it around her left wrist, letting out a soft sigh as it settles. A moment of thought later, she picks up the blue one and slips it into her pocket.
She stands up and stretches, letting a wide yawn slip out of her. No, she doesn’t feel like getting changed yet. She’ll eat first.
Just down the hallway, she finds The Totem System moving around the kitchen.
They turn to face her, giving her a soft smile. “Good morning.” The voice that comes out of them is soft. “It’s Amaranth.”
Eret gives a soft wave with her left hand. Amaranth smiles a little wider at that. It’s not often that Eret is aware of which of their selves they are. It’s something they’re getting better at, bit by bit.
“You hungry?” Amaranth holds up the loaf of bread in her hands. “I’m making toast. I have coffee, too, but I can make you tea.”
After a moment of thought, Eret shakes her head. She’s not quite awake enough to eat.
Amaranth nods, and then turns back to what she was doing.
Eret takes a seat at the kitchen table and rests her arms on it, head dropping. She’s still tired. The bracelet presses into her wrist. If they’re going to get better at knowing who they are, it’s a sensation they’ll have to get used to.
They got used to the rings. They can get used to this.
Soft moments pass. Amaranth moves gently around the kitchen. She’s fairly quiet compared to the majority of her headmates. There’s no running commentary on what she’s doing, just a gentle “Ah” when she finds something she’d been looking for.
After a time, she sets a mug down in front of Eret. Tea.
Taking the mug into her hands is its own kind of thank you.
Amaranth sets down a plate of toast and a mug of coffee before sitting right next to Eret. She lets out a long rush of air before her eyes unfocus and her shoulders relax. Eret doesn’t watch the switch, just takes a gentle sip of her tea. Green tea, mildly sweet with honey, made just the way she likes it.
“Good morning,” and oh, that voice is strong and speaks in a tone she recognizes immediately.
“Morning.” Eret finds it in her to speak. “Foolish?”
“Yep.” Foolish pops the ‘p’ and smiles, reaching out and taking a big bite of toast.
“I figured. Coffee’s the color you like it.”
“Ever the observer.” Foolish always speaks with a smile. It’s comforting. “Did she get your tea right?”
“Of course.”
“Classic Amaranth. Being caring and remembering things like that.”
Silence again. Eret rests her head against Foolish’s shoulder.
“Feeling green today?” Foolish asks, It’s not pressing, not poking.
“Mhm.” Green Eret is not talkative. She knows this about herself. They may not know a ton about themselves individually, but they’re working on it. The Totem System helps. Not all of their coping mechanisms help Eret, but it’s enough to get started.
She reaches out and steals a bite of toast.
“Hey!” Foolish protests, but he’s not angry.
Eret smiles.