[ there's only been a few times she's hugged him like this, yeah. it's usually when she's too overwhelmed to express that she's grateful, or relieved, or scared. it happens less and less often the older they get, but right now she doesn't seem too concerned about that. ] I thought I was alone. [ which is... way more honest and vulnerable than she might normally be with her little brother, but she's shocked that it doesn't seem to matter. a moment later she's stepping back again, feet shuffling under the fallen blankets. ]

This place is crazy. [ she also definitely thinks he just showed up here, too, so she goes on, voice hushed ] Apparently the whole town is haunted or something. Can you believe that? Ghosts? [ they've dealt with melted people monsters, but never ghosts, okay ] But- they gave me a place to stay. I'm guessing you did, too? I can't believe they didn't tell me you were here. I woke up, and they were like- Here's your keys, good luck. [ babble babble babble ]