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

[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.

[oyashiromama]

[Now, it's not like before, when she practically recoiled, but Hanyuu does pull back a bit from that. It's from embarrassment, her face very red.]

I- I... I don't...understand.

[How could anyone like them?]

[matchbreaker]

Those horns are very you, girl. You're the first demon I ever met, and I'm sure glad for that.

[ This might not be the right set of words. But the feeling is utterly sincere, a smile on her face as e lets Hanyuu pull back, despite a hand still resting around her neck ]

[oyashiromama]

I- I-

[She feels her eyes hot.]

Th- they only c-caused me heartache. They only- I-I just wanted...to live peacefully...! I- I couldn't fit in, n-not with the Ryuun, or w-with the humans, but I just- I just wanted...to live peacefully...in the village...! But they... But these... I c-couldn't hide them...!

1/2

[matchbreaker]

[ Not with the Ryuun.

She doesn't even fully know what the Ryuun are but from context, that's her people, right? It's that more than anything which sets her off, and for a brief moment her eyes tense, becoming furious on Hanyuu's behalf. Sure she wanted to be with the humans and she just wanted-

But that's no reason for a species to forsake one of it's own...?

Right...? ]

[matchbreaker]

[ But...

It's not ehe time to say that. She relaxed, stroking the back of Hanyuu's neck and keeping a smile on her face. She rakes her nails ever so lightly on the back of the other woman's neck and that's not weird at all after that letter a few days ago right??? ]

I... [ God, what does she say to this? ] I can't speak for any of those people, or that village. [ Because that's true. And she hates humans ] But that's wrong.

[oyashiromama]

[SO NOT WEIRD AT ALL you know, it's fine, Hanyuu can't...really complain. She's a little busy right now to think of any connotations, just kind of...too focused right now on the words.]

R-Riku-- he was the first to ever- the first to make me feel- to tell me they weren't- [She swallows. Not continuing that line of thought.] Th- they see me- e-even now, I-I don't want to be...a wrathful god...! I don't- I don't want...anyone to be sacrificed in my name...! I just wanted...to protect everyone!

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . Sacrificed in her name?

A wrathful god?

What the Fuck is she talking about?! That's- that clashes so much with her image of Hanyuu she can't even process it. Not immediately anyway She narrows her eyes and, ]

The God of Europe or at least the people who followed him turned his back on my people, and they wanted to kill us in the name of what was holy, calling us devils and demons. I don't think humans can help but think that their- [ She hesitates, for just a moment, to say betters. she knows hanyuu would get caught on it even if #true ] others can be anything but big voices telling them to kill things or the things to be killed. At least- most humans.

[oyashiromama]

[This is...something she hasn't told anyone something she- Elda's words help, strangely. She nods a bitter nod, a sad one, and then lets her shoulders sag.

Hanyuu swallows, takes a deep breath, and wipes away the few tears that have made their way out of her eyes. She understands she's said a few things that...are probably confusing, but she has no desire to dwell on them.]

I- I- ...thank you. I- I didn't mean to...for all of this to...get so out of control.

[matchbreaker]

[ Chiyuki is dead.

... But no, right now, she's just... smiling. she's smiling, still holding Hanyuu and stroking her neck. She intends to brush Hanyuu's hair more, but...

Well. ]

I think I've been guilty of that too.