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

[neverheardofhim]

[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).]

Comments

[matchbreaker]

[ She's stalling, deflecting. She's... ]

You seemed to have read those profiles diligently, right girl? What were my likes?

[ APPARENTLY STILL DEFLECTING WITH QUIZ TIME... ]

[stepout]

[ She almost lets the first part catch her, but stops and... thinks about it, running her finger on the rim of her glass.

...Her likes... ]

Proper gentlemen, your husband, your grandchildren, and your son. What about them?

[matchbreaker]

[ she can't make eye contact for this. ]

My James and I have been together for nearly two hundred years. When we first met, he was being a bit of a womanizer, but he quickly came around - kissing me on the neck, brushing my hair, and promising that he would be there with me forever. We were never going to be alone.

[stepout]

[ Is it embarrassing, or is she upset.

...It could be both, she won't knock either. ]

What changed that?

[matchbreaker]

Nothing! [ Shit her voice cracked ] Last I remember, we were playing with my boy's new son! Little Ren was so cute, just four or so years old... he had James's eyes, and he was laughing and laughing. Sure that bitch Calera was there, but it can't be helped, she did birth the kid.

[stepout]

[ And Calera must be the daughter-in-law listed in her dislikes.

Okay.

...so she'll let Elda get herself back together and continue; she won't interrupt this time, she'll just listen. ]

[matchbreaker]

[ She...

It's probably wrong, she knows on some level, to sympathize more with the killers than the killed. Christo and Adelina - as far as she knows - did nothing wrong, but Kyrie had done what she failed to do in order to protect her family. Alani had done what she failed to do in order to save her people. And all of that was just-

It was too much, she didn't know how to live apart from James. She inhales, but the moment she lets go of her resolve, tears start to come. She chokes back a sob, but falters ]

James died. [ Inhale, sob ] In that damn - dream. He was dead.

[stepout]

[ Oh.

...Oh. It's automatic to reach for Elda, to try and hug her, but she stops just short of it—she's not sure how the other'll handle it, and she'd rather not see if her arms are detachable right now on the off-chance things are delicate enough to do that.

So she lays her hands in her lap instead, fidgeting with the bandages around her forearm. ]

...I'm sorry, Elda. [ It's soft and sincere, but not pitying at all. Elda doesn't seem like the type who'd want that, anyway. ] I know it's hard, finding out like that.

[matchbreaker]

[ Nakedly crying now, she pulls a hand up over her face, clawing in up on herself. She hears Chiyuki's words and she even internalizes them to some extent. She can feel that soft sympathy - in the current state she's in even appreciates it - but she also...

Also can't stop now she's finally let this out ]

That stupid, old fool died in his sleep! [ Sob, inhale. ] He... He never drank enough blood... [ Sniffle ] So I always got up and got more for him. Always too concerned- [ Inhale ] Too considerate of the damned humans. And this time - this time... I knew- I knew this would happen some day.

[ She did but all the same, that dream - that memory - she ends up mouthing, not aware she said it out loud in a soft voice ]

"No one can ignore a kiss from their lover."

[stepout]

[ How caring, how considerate, how in love... ]

...What's that mean? [ Or maybe she wasn't supposed to hear it—but it's not like she can take it back either, so she goes for it. ] That no one can ignore a kiss from their lover.

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda's eyes shoot up at that. Wide, edged with tears and for the first time since coming here, most likely, vulnerable.

Utterly.

Completely.

And not on her own terms. ]

... I kissed the blood into his lips. [ She's whispering this, them memory replaying in her mind for the thousandth time. ] His lips were cold, and chalky. Flakes of skin came off when I rose.

[stepout]

[ She's quiet for a while, having started at Elda's surprise; she maintains eye contact for a bit before glancing away, lips pressed together. What's she supposed to say? ...She should say something, she can't just...

...It's a repeat, but she'll offer an arm this time. A one-armed hug is better than none. ]

I'm sorry. I... [ ...no. ] It must be hard. I can't even begin to imagine just how hard it must be.

[matchbreaker]

I knew... I-- how could that damned, handsome devil die before me...

[ And leave me alone...

... But she's not alone, she does have Henry. And Ren. And... It feels like others. Others, in that memory, amidst all the shock and pain, like she remembered something then.

Crying again, she puts a hand up over her face, wiping her sleeve along her eyes, but she - sort of leans in towards Chiyuki. ]

[stepout]

[ And she'll bring her into her arms, reaching up to smooth her hand down the back of her head. Maybe her mom did this at one point, she doesn't know, but it feels— like something she's supposed to do.

So she does.

And she'll keep hugging her, petting her hair softly, until she's through; no words, no pity, nothing. Just her. ]

[matchbreaker]

[ James.

James.

James.

Her entire soul cries out to that man, to that handsome devil who she bore the son of, to the man who promised her forever, so the man she loved - loves - with all of her heart. She has nothing, nothing left in her but to hold on to that... right? But...

If that fish can kill for a memory. And she- she would have too.

And...

Elda rocks against Chiyuki, comforted in spite of herself, trying to control her crying, eventually, eventually calming herself somewhat to pull back, quietly ]

[stepout]

[ She'll let her go easily enough, her hands palm-side up on the off chance Elda'd like to hold hands or something. ]

...How're you feeling?

[matchbreaker]

[ She just admitted to basically a stranger - a human stranger at that - that the love of her life died and she didn't even know when.

She... ]

Not good.

[ Of course she doesn't.

But she's also admitting it - and ... brings hand out there.

To poke at her wrist ]

[stepout]

[ A mannequin girl stranger, if you want to be technical, but she's happy being considered human, thank you.

...and she'll let her, provided she doesn't unwrap her bandages to pick her skin off. She's been doing that in her idle time anyway, it... looks worse than when Elda last got to see. ]

Of course you don't. [ ... ] I can't say if you'll feel better later on, but I think getting it out is the best thing you can do right now. And I promise I won't tell anyone else.

[matchbreaker]

Good.

[ that's all she can seem to manage. Elda... Elda is suddenly very tired and feels very dry. She chides herself for crying so much and shakes her head. She considers just getting up and leaving, but she doesn't trust her legs yet to not embarrassingly tremble. Instead, the vampire woman continues to poke but not quite peel at the bandages, as if considering taking her skin off ]

You better not.

[stepout]

There's no one I would. [ ...She has people she'd consider friends or at least friendly with, and they still wouldn't hear about this.

It's more than being blackmailed. Elda's a lot to handle, but she's also obviously not as tough as she tries to be. ...That's all. ] You can stay in here as long as you need to.

[matchbreaker]

[ She will.

... She'll also curl up on Chiyuki's bed, sort of cross-legged as she does. And she'll sit there in silence for a while, nodding her thanks to the woman. But after a whole of observing her... ]

So why are you drinking alone?

[stepout]

Alani left me a letter. [ ...she'll reach for it on the desk, playing with the edge of it. ] She asked that I pour one out for her.

...I'll probably do it properly if we find one. [ Or if they're rewarded one, however this works. ] But for now, this'll do.

[matchbreaker]

Could try asking Wordsmith for it, he does "provide for our needs," right?

[stepout]

[ Something in her expression twitches, and she stops playing with the letter. ]

...I don't think a "bar" falls under that, Elda.

[ Also, the Wordsmith's kind of terrible at conversation and communication; she hasn't had a very good time with him the few times she's tried. ]

[matchbreaker]

Tell that to all the middle aged men running out on their wives.

[ HEH HEH HEH.

Fond memories. ]

Well, he's been sweet on me [ No he hadn't ] want me to try?