trusthell | And it's the stars, the stars that lie to you.

And it's the stars, the stars that lie to you.

[This week, Varric opted to take a page from Vanille’s book. Gathering everyone together after the roller-coaster that the first trial had been proved to be somewhat cathartic for himself. He hoped that it would prove to do the same for the others.]

[He wasn’t alone, of course, having found himself blessed with the most ragtag team of chefs and party-planners. He might have had words for and thoughts on Elda and Kimbley, Mikazuki was welcome company, and he wasn’t about to turn away potential allies, even in a fight as simple as cooking dinner.]

[Once everyone’s set to a task, baking a cake, brewing tea, or stirring stew (the only task Varric could think to assign Elda to), Varric excused himself to his room. His first task was writing up cards, each personally titled and signed by Varric.]

Food in the Library. 5 p.m. Don’t spend the night alone.

[Each note was slid under a door and accompanied by a single rap on the wood.]

[With his tasks completed, Varric returned to the kitchen to put out any potential fires and, with luck, set the food out. A table in the library would be adorned with plenty of tea, cake, pancakes courtesy of Viktor, and stew thanks mostly to Varric (sorry, Elda).]

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[ When Varric comes, Orihime stops whatever she's working on with that pen and paper and flips it over on her desk, before looking back to the door. She can't see his face, but she can recognize his voice. ]

Please do, Tethras-san.

[ She'll at least greet him with a smile. A smile that's as big as she can manage. It's not very big at all. ]

[Using his hip to nudge open the door a little further, Varric entered the room. He brought the bowl and mug to her desk and set both down, careful to avoid her paper. The smile he offered her was just a small, and didn't quite seem to reach his eyes.]

Figured you might need something.

[ She's pleasantly surprised when he sets the stew and the tea on her desk. She hadn't been expecting that--then again, this is Varric, and he's just a kind soul, isn't he? She feels...guilty, though, because she didn't even show up and help set up or anything... ]

That's...very kind of you, but...you didn't need to bring me anything, really.

Nonsense. You need to eat, therefore I needed to bring it. [He tried to force his smile to go a little wider, but instead it crumpled in on itself. He stepped away from the girl, instead moving to lean against her bed.]

Besides... No one should be alone after something like that. And -- [He glanced at her, and while his expression remained troubled, there was some amount of gratitude there as well.] -- You were there for me, last week.

[ He can sit on her bed if he wants; she's fine with it. She's fine sitting on her chair. ]

...Thank you...

[ She doesn't know what else to say. What can you say, after all of that?

Orihime bows her head, fingers idly fiddling with the hem of her blazer. She wishes she could say something to break the silence, but she can't. ]

[Varric had an idea. It had helped last week, so maybe it would help her again. If anything, it was filling the silence, something that was all too deafening at the moment.]

I wrote her a story. One where she finds her people. Where they all live happy.

[ Varric's story about Adelina brought tears to her eyes. It was short but powerful and beautiful all at once, and probably one of the most respectful things anyone could have done in her honor. Orihime takes some solace in knowing that he's written one once more. ]

It's...It's what Alani-san deserves.

[ A happy ending. ] And Christo-san, too.

Yeah. [He nodded. Wherever Christo is, he'll have curry, I'm sure. I... I wrote that too.

[His eyes slipped away from hers. While his gaze focused on a wall, his thoughts seemed much farther away.]

[ Wherever he is... ]

...I'm worried... I can't...I can't see them....

[Varric's brows knitted together.]

What do you mean?

I can see spirits, Tethras-san.

[ So can Watanuki, but that's not her business to talk about. ]

I was hoping I would be able to see Adelina-san last week, or at least sense her presence--nothing. The same goes for Ushiromiya-san, Christo-san, and Alani-san...nothing.

[Luckily for her, this isn't the first time he's heard this conversation. He'd had something similar to it with Watanuki the previous week. And like last time, he still maintained the same, if perhaps naive, hope.]

It just means they went home, Sunshine. They're free.

They went home...

[ Even Orihime can admit that that's wishful thinking on his part, and maybe a week ago, she'd have the same sort of optimism he has about it, but today....today, she can't bring herself to believe it.

But she doesn't want to crush him or bring him down, even if she can't seem to bring herself back up. ]

You're right. They're...they're finally free.

[Though he had his own doubts in regards to his theory, he had no reason to suspect them in Orihime. Comforted by the fact that he had comforted her, he offered her a slightly more relaxed smile. He reached a hand out to her, not wanting to crowd her with a more extended embrace.]

They'll be okay. We'll be okay. Everything will be alright, I promise you that.

[ She simply nods, putting a hand on top of his in reassurance (though whether that's for him or for her, she isn't sure). ]

Thank you, Tethras-san. I'll try my best to take comfort in that.

That's all I ask. [He looked to the bowl on her desk, then nodded to it.] That, and that you take a bite or two. Not good to try and handle grief on an empty stomach, if you ask me.

[Which was why he usually tried to fill his with booze but... Orihime didn't need to know that.]

Aha, right...

[ Orihime claps her hands together--thank you for the food--before she goes ahead and takes a bite from the stew. It's delicious, but the taste is clouded by her thoughts and her fears. ]

It's good... Did you make this?

[He nodded to her, a gentle smile on his lips. He'd relaxed in the slightest, now that she had put something in her. It was just a bite but if she liked it, hopefully it meant more was to come.]

[If not, at least she'd made an effort.]

Hell of a lot better than the stuff I would make on the road, too.

[ Oh, she actually really likes it; enough so that she takes another bite from the stew. ]

It's good. Thank you.

[Two bites was enough for him to relax further. He gave her acknowledgment a nod, but nothing more.]

Feeling any better?

I am. Talking to you...it's helped a lot.

[ She's never really had someone look after her like this since her older brother passed away. It's nice, to know someone's always looking out for you. Varric's been doing that a lot. ]

Thank you, Tethras-san...

[He clicked his tongue at her, shaking his head. A pair of brows drew together over narrowed eyes, Varric's expression taking on something akin to a scolding parent.]

It's Varric. None of that politeness necessary.

...Eh?

[ Just 'Varric'? That's not something Orihime's used to, and she only calls her closest friend by her first name nowadays, but... ]

Are you...are you sure? I mean, you're older and I should respect my elders, right?

[ WHOOPS ]

[A hand slid over his heart, clutching at it as if he was in pain. His expression twisted, and he leaned away from her, as if somehow her words had injured him.]

Elders. Sunshine, you wound me.

[ Oh...OH.... She realizes that sounded really rude, and she promptly starts flailing her arms around apologetically. ]

I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that, I--I just meant for someone older than me--

And it's the stars, the stars that lie to you.

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