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

[matchbreaker]

Good, I won't have you dying for sleeping off a drunken stupor in the library.

[ And she pours her more. Elda's yet to get even halfway into her glass. ]

Now... Estellise, you were saying? Friends are more than you can bare, here?

[firstaid]

I don't think friends are more than I can bare. It's the fact that I made friends, trusted them, and they died! I don't like this pain at all!

[She sounds like a petulant drunk, really. And another sip of wine she takes.]

[matchbreaker]

Who would? It ... it really is most unpleasant, isn't it?! I'm still mad at Gold, in truth!

[firstaid]

Adeline, Gold, Killia, Varric, Orihime, Vanille, Phi, Mikazuki... I'm mad at them all! I was friends with and... and they go and either kill someone or are killed! It's not okay!

[Uh... right.]

[matchbreaker]

[ She almost wants to laugh at that, but... really, she can feel that, at least a little. With one more sip of the wine which still isn't that good- ]

Precisely! Gold's foolishness nearly killed us all and traumatized Silver! Alani's personal problems nearly did the same. That's not even to mention Killia! That foolish man might've had some devil inside of him, but he still didn't tell anyone that, not at the trial and not even before, right?!

[firstaid]

He didn't tell me! Killia told me nothing! I would have helped him but he said I reminded him too... too much of Liezerota, whoever she is, and made him feel guilty.

[She hits her fist against the wall.]

I'm so tired of this! I'm tired of caring for people only to be betrayed!

1/2

[matchbreaker]

Typical.

[ Huff. ]

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda lets out a puff of air, leaning back in the chair ]

Befriend me and Lusamine. Sportacus too, actually. We shan't betray you.

[firstaid]

[Speaking of Lusamine, Mismagius is just sitting on the foot of Estelle's bed minding her own business... So clearly, Elda is not the only one looking after her and comforting her tonight.]

Can you truly promise that? Mikazuki promised me and...

[Before she can complete that thought she's going to take a large swig of that wine.]

[matchbreaker]

[ Hy spooky girl. You better not spook her. ]

I can utterly assure you, Lusamin is under a strict oath to not kill.

[ . . . ] And Sportacus would not harm a fly.

[ . . . ] And I, Elda Marker... You heard me at the trial, did you not? I am far, far, too selfish.

[firstaid]

Is she? I haven't heard about that.

[Then again, after the whole thing with Gangrel, she hasn't talked to Lusamine terribly much.]

Though I would believe Sportacus wouldn't hurt anyone and as I said before... I have faith in you, Elda.

[matchbreaker]

She is! And I shan't tell you more.

[ That's between the Super Best Friends, okay. ]

... Your faith, though. That faith is akin to the faith you must've had in Mikazuki or Killia, is it not?

[firstaid]

[When Elda says that... Estelle has to remain silent to examine if it's the same... and...

She nods.]

I suppose it is the same kind of faith.

[matchbreaker]

Then! I do not urge you to entirely lose that trust, if you enjoy having it. But I also offer you an alternative:

[ Namely, ]

I love Hanyuu. I adore Hanyuu. And I have promised my future to her. I will do nothing, nothing which will imperil her life.

[ And see, that's her selfishness. ]

... In truth, a similar sentiment is felt by me towards Lusamine and Silver, if you want to expand it out.

[firstaid]

You're lucky...

[That's all she can say.]

I cared for Killia and Mikazuki so much... and I was happy they cared for each other so much and I never thought on it. Now...I just feel... awful. That's the feeling I don't like.

[She thinks for a bit.]

Though Guzma is still alive and he's been incredibly kind to me. I also greatly appreciate him.

[And this is her escapism. She's going to find a new source of happiness. And pray that it doesn't betray her either.]

[matchbreaker]

[ She is lucky. She knows she is. And she basks in it.

... Again, selfish. ]

Guzma is a good man! The sort of man who given another half-decade will become great.

[ That said... ]

You're not so happy for the dead couple's reunion?

[firstaid]

He is very kind. He denies it, however, I've told him many times otherwise.

[Ever since the very beginning she has.

Though... hmm...]

I'm supposed to be happy they're together now, right? Yet... part of me isn't. I can't really explain it.

[Someone's never experienced this kind of jealousy before...]

[matchbreaker]

Well, go for it.

[ Trying, she means, she waves a hand ]

All we have is time, tonight. I might have a bed to return to, but I can spare you more than long enough to babble.

[firstaid]

As I've said, it's difficult to explain. I want to be happy for them, but... perhaps it's... jealousy.

[She doesn't like admitting it, but it's something she feels like she should.]

[matchbreaker]

Ooooh.

[ Elda would be the last on to blame her for that. But she does wonder if the girl has a particular angle for that. ... Sip.

Ugh still not great. ]

[firstaid]

I... just don't know.

[She'll just sip her wine and look up at the ceiling...

Emotions suck.]

[matchbreaker]

[ A beat, and... ]

Yeesh, who wants to be the girl in the middle in a situation like that anyway?

... Especially now they're both dead.

[firstaid]

They're probably happy so... that's what matters...

[She says that to convince herself.]

[matchbreaker]

Tomorrow, it will be. Or hell, tonight if you want. But if you ask me, the dead can afford for you to wait to catch up with them.

[firstaid]

[It takes her a while to get what Elda means, but when she does...]

I'm... going to stay alive as long as I can. I don't want to die.