voice.

[fennu]

[ Quick and to the point; anyone who knows Jiang Cheng could probably figure out that 1) he's not used to this format yet and 2) he has no time to mince words at the moment. ]

What name would you call a rabbit?

I want suggestions.

Please.

Comments

[fennu]

[ Jiang Cheng leans a little closer almost too quickly. ]

I know you wouldn't.

[ He looks down at the rabbit and hesitates, words on the tip of his tongue, before he forces himself to actually put to words the things that are going on in his head. ]

I was thinking of calling her Lili.

[happyends]

[ His saving grace is the fact that Madoka definitely doesn't notice that it's a little too quick. Instead she just goes quiet for a moment at the reassuring - like a slowly starting fire of at least slight insecurity is immediately put out by his actions.

And then that thought only turns into surprise when he suddenly switches the topic.

Though not in a bad way. The girl just doesn't see it coming. ]

Lili? [ ... ] That's a pretty name. Like a princess from a fairytale..

[ She pauses for a moment, as if realising something else, and then looks at Jiang Cheng while she speaks. ]

Did you think that one up yourself..?

[fennu]

[ He breathes out slowly, gently, before he turns down to look at her.

It's a bit too close to his heart, a bit close to his chest, and he swallows before he nods again. ]

It suits her. She will be treated like a princess.

[ Then, haltingly, hesitating - as if the words are too hard to speak - he lifts his head. ]

My sister was named Jiang Yanli.

[happyends]

[ His sister.

Who died.

Everything becomes clear very rapidly, and Madoka silently stares down at the rabbit on her lap again before she looks back at him. ]

I think.. she would probably be happy, knowing that she is being fondly remembered by you. [ Is that going a little too far? Madoka isn't sure, but.. she can't help it. It does bring an edge of caution to her tone, but she still means every word of what she's saying.

There's nothing more she wants to do than at least try to say something nice here, even if she knows that behind his words most likely lies a huge hole in Jiang Cheng's heart that can't be patched up so easily. ]

Especially when it involves such a cute, big bunny..

[fennu]

[ He's not going to put it into words, but Jiang Cheng is well aware that Madoka knows.

She knows more than a lot of people on this train, more than people from his own world, at least about his pain and grief and hurt, so he has to swallow it all back before he nods his head.

He would like to hope that Yanli would be happy to be remembered, but surely she would be happier being alive? Being recognised for all that she was in reality, not from what memories are left behind?

Swallowing, he reaches out and pets between the rabbit's ears. ]

I think so. She liked rabbits.

[ She had said that families should never be parted. It was almost painfully prophetic. ]