Love of mine, someday you will die, but I'll be close behind

[feistytrader]

Please join us in the greenhouse should you feel able or need company. There will be food and comfort. None of us should be alone right now.

-Hanyuu, Jasper, and Silver

[That's the note that gets slid under everyone's doors after such a somber and saddening trial; it's not like it's going to be a big ordeal anymore given how few of them there are, but that doesn't mean that they should spend it alone.

The location of their setup is the greenhouse! ...The greenhouse has had a new addition; there is a massive blanket fort set up using an absurd amount of rope, blankets, and duct tape. The blankets span across three trees to make a considerable amount of space roughly shaped like a triangle for them to hang out under. Under the fort is a small pile of scissors taken from the sewing and art rooms. Next to them are a couple of flower crowns. They're relatively simple and don't involve many different flowers, but they're good examples of what the pile of scissors are there for.

There's also food, of course; a blanket is laid out on the floor with a large set of plates, a massive amount of eggs and rice, some of Elda's spicy fries, and... Sandwiches. Jasper's made everyone sandwiches, and the sandwiches are absolutely absurd in size due to how many cold cuts she's stacked into them. But don't worry! They aren't all meat. There's a lot of mustard, too. Luckily, they're still of a reasonably edible size.]

Comments

Afterparty

[matchbreaker]

Hanyuu, should we make each other one of these flower crowns?

[ Elda asks, scooting up next to the other woman. Despite what she had said on Wednesday, she did remember their earlier argument in the week and gave her crying space. Elda did her own post trial ritual of sorts and looks... well, none the worse for wear, but Hanyuu knows her well enough to see Elda touched up her hair and nails, more to center herself than anything else.

... She has something else to do, something important, but maybe that should be private? Maybe? ]

[oyashiromama]

[Hanyuu appreciates the space, genuinely, but right now... Right now, she's ready for contact.]

I'll have to warn you, mine aren't very good. [But that's most definitely not a no.]

[matchbreaker]

Worry not! Mine aren't that talented either.

[ Though Elda has always been pretty good with her hands, all things considered. ...

...

She needs to find some red roses ]

[oyashiromama]

[Red roses, yes, that would be nice. Hanyuu starts weaving hers, bright-colored pinks and violets.]

I hope...this is something that can help, for everyone...you know?

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda Marker is ever bold, even in the flower languages.

Here we go, red! A bright, deep red. She begins her work, but she smirks over at Hanyuu. ]

Oh, it will. I think I've seen everyone done here this time.

[ With the exception of Bruce Wayne, but that man rarely comes to these things. ]

[oyashiromama]

[She knows enough flower language to blush, at that!]

E-everyone...? Oh... Is Kimihiro, as well? Estellise? [She's been worried about them.]

[matchbreaker]

Kimihiro, yes.

[ A beat.... ]

Not.. Estellise though. But I'll be talking with her -- Ah, actually. I'll be late to our bed tonight, if that's alright.

[oyashiromama]

[She nods.]

Take your time, of course. I- I'd like to speak with her as well, but...I want to keep an eye on everyone here. I'm just glad someone will be looking after her.

[matchbreaker]

You can count on me.

[ ... She hopes? Probably? With something like this...? When did she become reliable, if she ever did ]

I've an idea to get through to her.

[oyashiromama]

Good. ...I don't want to see her slip into utter despair. It- I think that would be unbearable.

[Some of what she said, before... Hanyuu worries for Estelle.

She sighs, gently, and continues weaving her crown.]

[matchbreaker]

She won't.

[ Or at least... ] I will, at the least, ensure that she can laugh by the end of the night.

[ Even if it's forced, even if it's influenced. It's... a soft goal that she sets for herself, even as she's weaving these red roses together. ]

[oyashiromama]

That's all you can hope for, sometimes. ...Thank you. I never thought I'd see the day...that you sought out a human to comfort.

[matchbreaker]

Uuuuuugh, don't remind me.

[ She pouted. Actively pouted. ]

[oyashiromama]

...I'm proud of you, you know? It's never easy to reach this place, or even to start the journey. It was my own hatred of humanity that kept me from being able to interact with them for so long.

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . Wait what- ]

You?! Since when?!

[oyashiromama]

[It's strange, but Hanyuu just laughs.]

You really need to pay more attention to my profile, you know? I told you, what got me killed was...I lashed out in rage against those who hurt my daughter. The repeated betrayals, ones that continued after I died, they are why I needed to wait so long to connect with humans. Because even if I longed for it, a hatred still existed deep inside me.

[She smiles.]

I like and dislike humanity. ...At least, I could say I'm still wary of it, and I always will be. But...I consider myself one of them, so...it's appropriate, I suppose.

1/2

[matchbreaker]

... You aren't, you know.

[ She knows Hanyuu hates to hear that, but. ]

At the very least, you needn't be.

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda Marker wouldn't be herself if she didn't say that, but she lets out a long exhale, looking down at the flower crown she was making. What got her killed... huh. It's a disconnect, really. Hanyuu did die, unlike her, who was spared by the kindness of those around her. She can had to wait in isolation, some sort of ghost, just to pay for that hatred?

... ]

... Honestly, I've paid those profiles little mind. Whatever I could learn about you, both for good and for ill, I would prefer to learn myself. [ . . . ] It terrifies me, on some level, but I would know everything about you. From your own lips.

[oyashiromama]

...I much prefer that too. [...] I just assumed everyone had, since it was an early question I received.

[Why do you like and hate humanity at the same time?]

Maybe it's a foolish, paranoid thought. [She finishes weaving her crown.]

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . Maybe. ]

No, for better or for worse, I've never been one to study up before I leap into things. If you say I've achieved much, it's only because I put in more thought than I'm used to.

[ Her own is basically done ]

[oyashiromama]

[Well, she'll reach over and place her flower crown on Elda's head.]

It doesn't erase what's happened, or how you've thought, or any of the tragedies. But whatever the circumstances, any positive change is something to take credit for, to be proud of.

[matchbreaker]

You shouldn't speak so highly of me, it's not like I've forgotten or even forgiven. [ Okay, this crown is basically done. With one more finishing touch, she turns to Hanyuu, careful not to knock off the one on her head as she places one on Hanyuu's. ... It looks a little busy, what with the horns and the Alani flower there. ]

I've just begun to wonder how much of a difference there is, that's all. I'm never going to be among them, like you desire. But perhaps, I could stomach being beside them.

[ In essence, for her... maybe it's hard to be proud of it. Because it's hard to think of it as a fully positive change. Even if Hanyuu would say it was. Even if James would say it was. ... Hell, all of her family would probably agree. It's just, for her, if she stops to examine it, it's almost like a rearrangement of identity. It's probably why she's deflected off it ]

[oyashiromama]

You don't have to do either of those...especially not forget. To forget the past, that's to stumble into it again.

[But she listens and she...will respect that, with a little nod.]

Beside, that's enough, I think. I... Yes, that's more than enough.

[She will never want to be apart from humans, especially not after she's finally found a place that accepts her. Now...she wishes to hold on to that.]

[matchbreaker]

[ And then, proud or not, once the crown is on...

She has something she needs to discuss with Hanyuu. But that can wait for when they're in private. For now, she can swoon a little, kiss her forehead, and, ]

But I want to be with you.

[ Swoon a little. In a very mushy way ]

[oyashiromama]

[Ah...! Well, that's fine enough. Hanyuu blushes and leans in a little, and then offers a kiss of her own, a small one on Elda's lips. She'll pull away before it can go any farther, she really is a shy one for PDA.]

Well, then with me you can be, yes? I want...to be with you too.