I have a dream that I want to fulfill with you...

[tsugomori]

[ Well, that was an extraordinary trial to have... it was certainly filled with many things that wouldn't be lost to the memory of most, even for weeks to come. Although, the return to "normalcy" could be something that wouldn't seem like it was wanted, it was better than the alternative to returning to anything at all.

With ease, Mikazuki find himself setting up the usual party in the usual place-- that would be the library of course. Notes have been slipped underneath the doors of others, or hung up on the walls to alert them of this post-trial "celebration" -- which was more like a get-together of some sorts now than a real party. ]


Please join us in the library again. Of course, food and drink will be provided.

- Mikazuki, Orihime, Hanyuu, & Estelle

[ The food and drink has been set out, what with there being tea, vichyssoise, cream puffs, and fish for everyone to enjoy. ]

Comments

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . ]

Get over here.

[ She pats the spot on the bed next to her... Or wait, no ]

... Actually, come get my key and get my brush.

[oyashiromama]

[Oh. Elda does take pride in her hair, so of course she'd want to brush it, that makes sense. She'll take the key.]

Of course. I'll be back in just a few minutes.

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . ] Thanks.

[ She'll be waiting here, wiggling her toes ]

[oyashiromama]

[As promised, Hanyuu returns soon enough, with brush in hand.]

Here you are, and your key.

[matchbreaker]

[ She accepts the brush, and technically the key. She barely looks at it, but - ]

Sit. I'll brush your hair.

[oyashiromama]

...Huh?

[matchbreaker]

Let me brush your hair.

[ please goes... unsaid. Of course ]

[oyashiromama]

...

[Hanyuu sits down on the edge of the bed, back to Elda.]

[matchbreaker]

[ Good.

... Good, friend.

Elda's going to grunt and then set about with the mechanical tasks of brushing Hanyuu's hair, working it out, going around her horns, generally just doing what she can to beautify the thing. Elda isn't smiling while she's doing this, how could she under the circumstances, but she is - pleased to be going for it ]

[oyashiromama]

[And Hanyuu will be quiet, sitting there not struggling, until Elda changes that. Sit there with her, let her have something tangible to fix, physical to touch.]

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . ]

I'm proud of you.

[ she says, after many long minutes as she's now working around the horns specifically, brushing her hair in such a way to part well for them. And she can't help it - her fingers brush in too, curious about the feel ]

[oyashiromama]

[She tenses, because...no one's touched her horns, not in centuries, but she figures it's unavoidable. Elda's brushing her hair, after all. The horns, for the record, after a lot of googling feel smooth, almost like incredibly thick fingernails.]

Whatever for?

[...she knows what for]

[matchbreaker]

[ Of course she does. For a woman who has basked herself in her own hatred for most of her life, held to sanity largely only through the positive reinforcement of her family, what else could she mean except, ]

For damning that man.

[oyashiromama]

...I only did what I felt was right. [...and there's some conflicting thoughts about it, even now, but that's not for here.] I didn't have it in my heart to forgive him like the others.

[matchbreaker]

I'd've been annoyed if you did.

[ Huh,.. this horn feels inice. ]

[oyashiromama]

I...can imagine you wouldn't be the only one- [hold on a second-] Could, aah... Could you...refrain from...touching those? [...especially if it's the left one with the chip]

[matchbreaker]

Oh! Do you feel that? Sorry!

[ she didn't think that she would feel a gentle touch on them like that. That said, as she's pulling back quickly, one of her long lady fingernails briefly gets caught on the chip in the one of them.

Because of course it does.

But she does pull back from it quick enough anyway, but it does make her notice that anew ]

[oyashiromama]

[She knows it's not intentional, she does but oh boy when that nail gets caught! She flinches and lets out a little noise, swiftly scooting away and already trying to bite down a flurry of...apologies?]

S- I'm sorry, a- ah- sorry- [And. Trying to cover said horns with her hair, oh Elda just brushed that.]

[matchbreaker]

[ Um???

Elda blinks at this, not expecting that response at all. Hanyuu seemed so - demure wasn't the right word, but definitely out of sorts, and she reaches hand out and pats her forehead ]

Hanyuu, what -- hold on a bit!

[oyashiromama]

[She squeezes her eyes tight and swallows down the remaining stammering. It's immediately a good sign that she doesn't pull away from Elda's hand - in fact, it seems to ground her, at least a little. Both hands are covering each horn, though, as if she's trying to hide them.

Once she does, though...that's good, that's better. She'll take a minute or two to calm, still not...saying anything, but outwardly less timid and afraid. Just breathing steadily, and looking somewhat mortified.]

[matchbreaker]

[ Okay so like???

... Elda is going to do something she's not really done here yet. She's going to do something actually grandmotherly. Namely, she's going to shift that head-pat into pulling Hanyuu's face into her chest and stroke her hair. The fact Hanyuu is older than here is irrelevant in this moment, as is the fact that they're equals. She's instead going to say ]

There, there. Come on, you're with me. It's fine.

[oyashiromama]

[...You know, Hanyuu hasn't...actually ever experienced something like this. Not once, in her memory. Maybe, when she was very small, before she can remember, but--

But she's never had anyone take care of her in this way. So, she cracks her eyes open, just a little, peering through her hair, hands trembling on her horns.]

F-forgive...me, I-I- I know you didn't mean to, it just--

[How can she even begin to explain that?]

[matchbreaker]

I didn't. [ She speaks gently, continuing to stroke Hanyuu's hair while the other woman is pushed into Elda's chest. She hums out some aimless tune, but mostly, she's just cooing. She smiles, and she continues to hold/stroke her. She... ]

I hope that didn't hurt you - or I didn't hurt those horns. They really are beautiful on you.

[ And she... mostly believes that? They're strange, but she at least sounds sincere. ]

[oyashiromama]

[Ah. A-ah, she... There's a very sharp gasp from Hanyuu, and-]

Th- they are? But... But it... Th-they make me look...l-like a- like-

[Monster. Monster, a monster. It's a monster. The priest's wife, she's nothing more than a demon. Than a monster. The demon god will rain down its wrath upon you, like a monster.]

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda continues to brush her, she smiles a little more, And she...

The one hand stroking Hanyuu's hair moves her hand apart from her horn, or at least tries to. She makes to brush the hair aside and kisses one of the horns, brushing her lips lightly between the strands of hair. She hums a little. ]

Very unique.