003: A Long Sleep (Text; un: ushiromiya_eva/Action)

[onesurvived]

[Eva had been told that to everyone else, only five days had passed since her death... for her, it had been much, much longer. She was still wrapping her head around that. Some hours had been spent looking through old messages on her phone to remind herself of the broad strokes of what had happened here- and winced at her younger self's theories about her future- but she was sure she had missed something.

For now, she just wanted to get the message out quickly.]

Good evening, Ellipsa.

So, I died in that other dimension, and my flower finally brought me back here earlier today. But I'm sure you figured that out already given I'm making this message, right?

I can't remember if I ever did make that offer about bringing people back to my world who didn't want to go home, but whatever I said back then, I wouldn't advise taking me up on it. You'd be cursed by association.

[It was an offer she had considered making- and never gotten around to it- but the idea had been firm enough in her mind that she was uncertain if she had or not. Either way, given the state of affairs in her own world, she figured she'd get that one out the way now.

But rather than elaborating, she just attaches the address of a fancy bar in central Nightwake.]

If you want to ask me questions about that or what happened to me, fine, but before I deal with any of it I'm going to need a strong drink.

I'll be at the Shining Karaoke bar until closing. Feel free to come by.


Ushiromiya Eva

[A pause, before she added a short remark at the end. There was someone who had tried to save her, before it all ended...and she, too, had perished with her. One person- maybe two? Her last memories were foggy enough as it was that even if time had warped and she'd died twice, she couldn't say for sure. But she wanted to thank her, regardless.]

The people I spoke to before I died in there. I'd like to talk about what happened if you can spare the time. You know who you are.

[And well, then she's going to sit at the bar and wait to see if anyone will come by. What a mess...]

Comments

action -> Shining Karaoke

[saxsongs]

[Ren is manning the bar today. He's a man of many positions and he felt like mixing drinks this time.]

What can I get you?

[onesurvived]

Surprise me. Just make it strong.

[For the time being, she'd been sticking with Ren. He'd been the one to find her at her flower, after all, and right now it was probably not a good idea for her to be left on her own. She trusted him not to poison her.

Hopefully he wouldn't mind if she drank too much and proceeded to pass out on his sofa that evening.]

...Wonder who's going to come kicking down the door yelling about underage drinking first.

[A small laugh. She'd realised only afterwards that she hadn't specified that she'd gotten a lot older since she was in Ellipsa last, and couldn't be bothered to correct it.]

[saxsongs]

[Since it's his choice, Ren makes a Bloody Screwdriver, since he happens to have the ingredients at hand, and he knows it's strong.]

That would bring me more customers. I'd have to thank you.

[onesurvived]

[A small, tired laugh at the comment.]

Even if it got you a reputation for giving teenagers alcohol?

...I know I'm not the best company at the moment, but I appreciate you letting me stay around.

[saxsongs]

I'm pretty sure they would soon notice I'm not.

[Especially if they ran into the bar while Eva was there.]

That's what friends are for. You're always welcome to come to me. I even have an extra room you can crash in if you'd rather not be alone.

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata takes several mental and emotional hits reading this post. The first is the revelation that he entirely missed Eva's death, regeneration, and rebirth. She died in the fairy kingdom?! I didn't even visit her flower..! I should've checked up on her!

The second is her apparently less than positive experience of her time back on her homeworld. "You'd be cursed by association"... what does she mean by that? What happened in her world while she was back there?

The third and last is her announcement that she'll be drinking. How long was she away?! Did she grow years older? He needs to check on her, belated as it is! As such, he heads out to the bar she named.

Upon arrival, he looks around for the girl, expecting a teenager or maybe even a young adult. It's only when he meets the eyes of the mature woman who has that same ginger hair and those same blue eyes - but so much more weary - that he realises just how much time must have passed for her.]

Eva-chan..? Is it you?

[onesurvived]

[It was difficult not to spot Hijikata as he came barrelling into the bar, eyes darting around as he tried to spot where she was. And whilst she could have called out to him, Eva instead waited until his eyes finally set on her- still wearing the white dress she'd been brought back in.

A tired smile came into her face, all the same. Awkward as this situation was- he was younger than her now, wasn't he? She wasn't sure how she felt about that- it was reassuring to see him.]

...Hijikata-san, it's- well, I would say that it's been a while, but it hasn't been that way for you, right?

It's me.

[In case he didn't believe her, she pulled up her sleeve, revealing a tattoo across her shoulder- a tattoo of the family crest she'd shown him on her signet ring before.]

[mayoninofukucho]

[He's momentarily drumbstruck. The cocky, ambitious young girl he knew has been replaced by a woman almost twice his age (not that he could tell, in fairness; she looks quite youthful), with all the life experience that comes with it.

He wants to tell her that he's sorry for not checking on her, for not being there when she was reborn from her flower - but when she shows him the familiar crest, he instead asks:]

Why'd you get such a huge tattoo?

[Because that's a priority right now, clearly...]

Spoilers ahoy

[onesurvived]

I like how that's the first thing you ask.

[Well, that little smirk certainly showed a faint shadow of her younger self.

She let her sleeve drop back down, but not before running her fingers over the crest a moment-]

...To remind me of my ambition to take over the family name.

[Her expression faltered at that. Yes, she- she was head of the Ushiromiya family now, wasn't she? That title, unquestioningly, belonged to her. But...

She drained the rest of the cocktail she'd got with her in one go, beckoning him to come join her.]

[mayoninofukucho]

[He does take a seat on the bar stool next to hers.]

I'm going to assume that that didn't work out?

[He says it without any sarcasm. He knows how important it was to her to prove herself worthy to her father, and he really was rooting for her! Did all her efforts amount to nothing in the end?]

text; un: jean

[rustyhonesty]

Last I checked, you were 15. Who lets you drink at that age?

[You were teaching a 15-year-old how to shoot a shotgun, why is this the problematic part?

He did feel bad about Eva dying, but rather than say anything through text, he would rather tell her face to face. It felt better that way. So he's actually on his way to the bar she talked about.

But he needed to ask - and maybe signal that way that he was on his way.]

Spoilers ahoy

[onesurvived]

I wondered who was going to be the first to yell at me about underage drinking. You win.

[Jean, yes, she remembered him. He'd helped teach her how to use a shotgun, right?

Her hand on her glass shivered. Back home, she couldn't remember anything from Ellipsa, but part of her couldn't help but wonder if the muscle memory had stuck, all the same. Perhaps that was how she'd been able to keep herself alive-]

[rustyhonesty]

I'm not really yelling, just questioning.

Mind if I join you anyway?

[onesurvived]

You'd be welcome to. I'll buy you a drink.

[...He was old enough for alcohol, right? He was older than her the last time she was in this world, so it never occurred to her that he might not be.

Oh well. Wine aunt would be worst influence, whether he was or not.]

-> action

[rustyhonesty]

As long as it's non-alcoholic. I'm the right age, but don't really drink.

[But he should be arriving in a few minutes. Still, he doesn't immediately spot the young girl anywhere. Just an old lady with a similar hair colour....]

text; un: g

[sixtyeighth]

[ Not concerned at all!! ]

How old are you, even? Has that changed since the last time we spoke?

> Private

[onesurvived]

['G'? ...She searched through her contacts, and then- ah, yes, Giovanni, right? He'd also helped her learn how to shoot. They'd quested together against those monsters-

...Back home, her memories had reverted as if she had never been in Ellipsa to start with- but perhaps the muscle memory from his lessons, and the chance she had to steel herself against shooting something alive- perhaps those fragments had been the edge that kept her alive.]

It's rude to ask a lady her age, you know?

[She locked the feed then, a ripple of paranoia seeping into her.]

But yes, it has. What's been five days for the rest of you has been over thirty years, for me. It's disorientating.

You're welcome to join me if you like. I owe you a drink.

> Private

[sixtyeighth]

So you've gotten old. You've passed me in age.

[ He doesn't say, but it would be nice to see her. ]

I'll take you up on that offer, then.

[onesurvived]

If you're going to start calling me old, that's practically giving me permission to call you a brat.

But don't worry too much. I think you’ll find that I'm plenty sharp for an old lady.

[Either way, it seemed she was more than happy to sass him right back, now she was older.]

[sixtyeighth]

A woman at home called me that. She's also old.

[ He's doing it on purpose now. ]

I'm not worried. You have your head on straight, it seems.

text | un: cherrybiscotti (i'm slow as hell but before i forget to reply--)

[cerasister]

[ ... ah. If she knew how to make this private, she would. But alas. ]

Forgive me. In the heat of the moment, I don't believe I properly introduced myself... my name is Cherry Biscotti, lady of Westwell. I was there when you [ died. When she failed to protect her. She can't bring herself to type that word.

There's a small delay before the next message: ] Would you rather us talk in person?

You're all good! I'm a little slow too :')

[onesurvived]

[Oh, so this was...]

It doesn't seem right to say 'nice to meet you' under these circomstances, does it? But I'm glad to put a name to the face.

But, yes. I'd like to talk, if that's agreeable with you.

[A pause of her own, before adding: ]

I've changed, since I came back. But you'll see that for yourself.

→ action

[cerasister]

I would like to talk with you as well, and see how you've been faring. [ Which may come off as a tad overbearing, but that's just how she is. And also how can she not be concerned about this change she alluded to? ] I shall meet you at Shining Karaoke.

[ And when she arrives some time later - later than she expected, because she's still getting a grasp of the Ellipsa version of Google Maps - she just... looks confused? She sees several people at the bar, and one that kinda reminds her of the girl she died alongside, with her similar hair color, but no. That couldn't be her, right? She has no good reason to assume that.

(Maybe throw her a bone?) ]

Just imagining Cherry looking like a lost puppy now

[onesurvived]

[Truth be hold, Eva was a little worried that she wouldn't recognise Cherry. After all they had only met once, right before they'd both died, and she was naturally not in the best state of mind. Besides, that was years ago, for her...

Thankfully, though, she spotted someone standing by the entrance looking rather lost- yes. That looked like the right person.

For most people she'd been getting a bit of enjoyment watching them cluelessly try and find her, but given how this person had tried so wholeheartedly to save her life...Eva didn't have it in her to be mean. So, with a deep breath, she gave Cherry a tired smile and a wave.]

...Cherry-san, right?

she probably does 🥺 future wine aunt pls help 🥺

[cerasister]

[ Oh. That's what she meant. ]

Eva?! [ Twice now Eva's seen Cherry less than composed. But in her defense, neither situation could be considered ordinary. One ended in their deaths in an alternate world, and now this? ] This is quite the dramatic change!