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Loop sat on their bed staring at their swinging feet. How rude of them not to remove their boots before getting into bed. Oh well, the house’s doctors probably didn’t particularly care if their heels scuffed the sheets.
Their nails dug into their palm, grounding them. Right. The House. Where they were currently trapped with their Starling and their “family”. How could they forget?
Oh well. They were Siffrin, forgetting was in their nature.
What were Starling and the Kid talking about next to them? Whatever it was was exceptionally loud for a medical wing. Didn’t they know people were trying to rest?
Just on queue, they both turned to look at Loop. Nosy asteroids, weren’t they?
“Hi?” Loop raised an eyebrow at their little audience.
“Hi Loop!” Starling and the Kid responded in unison.
“Loop, Bonnie had some questions.” Starling chirped.
“Yup!” The Kid helpfully added.
Loop dramatically rolled their eyes, flopping back onto their bed. “Ask away, it’s not like I have anything else to do.”
“Kay. Why aren’t you shiny anymore?” The Kid asked.
“Didn’t you see that big explosion a couple days ago?” Loop replied, a half answer.
“Yeah. Can you be shiny again?”
Loop could hear the Look Starling was giving them. “Not until the doctors say they can.”
Loop pulled their tail out from where it was being squished. They lifted it up and concentrated. After a moment, it glowed. “There. Happy?” They wiggled their tail a bit for emphasis.
“Yeppppp. What does it feel like to glow?” The Kid continued.
“Like your face is falling off! Any other pressing questions, Kid?”
“That’s not normal. You should get meid-a-col as-is-ances.”
“Hmm, maybe that’s why we’ve been in the medical wing for a week. To fix Loop’s face.” Starling giggled.
“Awwh, but mine’s just a prettier version of yoursss.” Loop fanned their face.
“Ew. Anyway, have you ever eaten a squirrel? You seem like a weird forest creature who would eat squirrels.”
“Maybee, but I much prefer to eat little kids who ask too many questions.”
“Well I’m a preteen, so you can't eat me! Checkmate. Mlem.” The Kid stuck their tongue out at them.
“Any other annoying questions, or are you ready to go back to arguing about cabbages with Starling?”
“Why don’t you have a hat?” The Kid asked.
“Well I did but lovely Siffrin over there stole it.”
“It’s a very nice hat.” Siffrin stated. “I like the little pin on it.”
“You can keep the little pin, it’s only there to remind me of my failed relationships~!”
“..Oh.”
“Hehe, Loop doesn’t have a partner anymore? That's kina, uh, pathe-kic.”
“Alas, my lover died in the war. I miss him occasionally." Loop twirled a strand of hair around their finger. “It was a long time ago, a grieving housewife such as myself should be over it by now.” They sniffed dramatically.
“...Loop…” Starling made some kind of pathetic dog whimpering noise. Gross.
“The... war??” The Kid laughed.
“I can’t believe you’re ignoring my struggles, Kid.” Loop rolled over onto their side, now making eye contact with them.
“Your struggles are dumb, Lou.”
Loop shared a polite hand gesture with the Kid, resulting in them laughing and Starling making a face.
Maybe Loop could stand to be around them a little bit longer.