ellipsanet | 003: A Long Sleep (Text; un: ushiromiya

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

[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...]

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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.]

[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?]

[She rotated the glass in her hand at the question, a pained smile coming into her face as she did so.]

I didn't turn up here with the Head's Ring for no reason, you know.

...The Headship's mine. As of, what, a few hours before I got brought back here?

[At 50, she had finally claimed the Headship position she'd craved all her life. And arguably, it was the worst thing that could have happened to her.]

[Hijikata orders himself a drink. He already needs it just from the shock of seeing Eva all grown up.]

I feel like congratulations aren't in order regardless, though. Wasn't it all it was cranked up to be? Or did it come at too high a price?

You could tell that much, huh...

...

[She ordered another strong drink for herself, too, staring at the ice in the bottom of the glass. The brittleness of her composure started to show itself then.

It was easy, having been thrown back to Ellipsa immediately after the tragedy, to stuff the truth in a box and look away. But his question- Hijikata's question- brought all of it back into the light.

The gunfight. The inheritance. The blood- so much blood, so much death. And her hand started to shake.]

It should have been George's...! I-I built it all for his sake!

[The same name she'd given her Void Cat, back then. A name that, at the time, she'd just said was one she was "fond of".]

It should have gone to my George, not to Nii-san or his brat- but what does it matter, they're- they're dead. All of them.

Ha... that's how. When it was all over, I was the only one left...!!

[From the her voice shook and cracked, the way she crumpled onto the bar, it was clear the name meant so much more than that now.]

Georgeee!! Deeaarrrrr!! Why are you both-- I can't accept it!! I can't!

[Well. This isn't good.

Hijikata has no idea how do deal with someone having a mental/emotional breakdown; all he knows is that he doesn't have the sensitivity to do it right. Regardless, he has to try, doesn't he? He carefully keeps a neutral expression, wanting to hide how unsure and on edge he is.]

...

[Ultimately, he can't find the right words, no matter how much he tries. All he can infer from what Eva said is that people she loved died - in an accident, in a fight, in an act of crime, he has no idea. Ultimately, he can only say one thing as he puts a reassuring hand on Eva's back.]

I'm sorry, Eva-chan.

[In truth, there was not much Hijikata could do. He didn't have the ability to bring her loved ones back, or resolve the disaster that was waiting for her back home. Nothing made that awful truth any easier to swallow.

But the comforting hand on her back- the warmth of the touch energy between them- the simple acknowledgement of her pain...that was sorely needed. Eva leaned on him, ugly sobs wracking her body.]

Ngh- ahhh!!

[The bartender who had been preparing Eva's drink had a concerned expression, quietly saying- more to Hijikata than Eva, at this point- that Eva was not to worry about paying for the next round of drinks. This was obviously a delicate situation.]

[Hijikata gives the bartender a grateful nod, continuing to stroke Eva's back. He remembers what she told him before her death here on Ellipsa... about the old witch who died alone and trapped in paranoia. I'm sorry, Eva-chan.]

...

Cry as much as you need. Let it all out.

[Sometimes, that's all they can do as humans, isn't it? Even without understanding what exactly happened, he's grieving with her. He really wanted the ambitious young girl he knew to fulfill her ambitions in a way that made her happy.]

[Hijikata always had been a comfort to her. Someone who, through all his brashness- and for all the times she'd needled him- had been there to support her when she struggled.

Perhaps it was because of that subconscious thought that she felt safe to grieve. That she could allow herself to lean on him, to cry, to accept that comfort and let all that pain flow out.

Eva had trusted loved ones here, didn't she? And as she'd proved with Ren, she wasn't so broken that those delicate bonds had been shattered. Although the wounds were still very, very fresh... perhaps she would be able to see in hindsight that whisking her away from home again right in that moment was the best thing for her to heal.

The bartender carefully slipped the drinks their way- along with a couple of glasses of cold water. One of which Eva reached for as soon as the sobs had started to ease.]

...

...being back here again...after all that?

It doesn't feel real. At all.

[He's grateful to see her drinking the water. Much as he feels out of his depth, he needs to just do what he can. He won't move his hand away from her back any time soon.]

You've got time to get reacclimatised. There's no one rushing you.

[Gentle as his voice is, he realises that his words must bring her hardly any comfort... but it's all he's got to offer. If she really lost everything that mattered to her back home, perhaps her return here can be an opportunity to leave her pain behind, eventually.]

I'll nudge you in the gut if you try.

[A small, humourless attempt at a laugh, before taking a swig of water.

She knew she looked a mess, but right now, she couldn't care less- glassy eyes staring at the head's ring. Even if she hadn't taken the time to change out the white dress, she'd at least made sure to collect that.]

[That puts a faint smile on his face. So you haven't lost all your spunk.]

I better keep myself in check then, hm?

[Since she's calmed down a little, he sees his chance to make a reasonable suggestion:]

Would you like to go home, say?

You'd better.

...But yeah, guess we should finish these drinks and head home...the cats'll get worried about me if I'm back too late, right?

I'm sure they will.

[Honestly, he bets they only care about whether they'll get fed on time - cats are like that, aren't they? -, but if it makes her more inclined to go home, he'll nod his head to it! Once their glasses are empty, he helps her up and immediately offers an arm to steady her. She probably needs it! Before heading out with her, he gives the bartender a grateful nod. He'll be back and give the man enough of a tip to cover tonight's expenses.]

Do you want to take a teleport node? That'll be fastest. Or do you think it'll make you sick?

[Yes, she's definitely stumbling, grabbing onto Hijikata's arm to keep herself from toppling over. She wasn't feeling too queasy, at least, but still...]

A teleport node, huh? That'll be fine. I'll cover getting your suit cleaned if I do get sick.

[...There was a faint scent hanging about his clothes. It was only now she started to notice it, as he helped her outside. Right...he was a smoker, wasn't he?

She'd always hated that smell. Always yelled at her husband to take his cigarettes outside so she didn't have to tolerate it- but now- now that scent felt safe.

She gripped onto his jacket as they walked.]

...It's been a long day, right? I don't mind if you want to light up, you know.

[Please.]

[He smiles at her offer to get his suit cleaned if she gets sick over it - even though he thinks that she meant it entirely sincerely, he felt a bit of that spunk again! And of course, she doesn't have to ask him twice to smoke. He stops to take a cigarette out and light it with his fire magic.]

Thanks for giving me permission.

[Warm and sincere as he is in saying that, if they can still rib each other like before, maybe things will be okay after all, even if it'll be a hard path for Eva to overcome her grief. He exhales smoke.]

It's just a short walk. You'll be in your cosy bed before you know it.

[He'll definitely bring her all the way to her room, who knows what wrong turns she might take in the dormitory otherwise!]

[Yes, that scent was unpleasant as it ever was, but she took comfort from it all the same. Not that Eva wanted to admit that. It was too raw, too difficult, too soon-

But she let him help her. She trusted him. And that was more than she could say for anyone back home who still lived.

If that fragile feeling was enough then...perhaps she'd be able to lean on him a little, until her heart was strong enough she could stand up on her own again.]

...living in a dormitory at my age feels a bit silly, doesn't it?

[A half mumble, as she let him help her back to her room- and no sooner had she got in the door, she wandered over to crash on the bed. Much to the confusion of her cats!]

[He just offered a vague hum and a shrug in response to her question - he'd probably feel the same as her, but on the other hand, going by the local timeline she was a young student enrolled at the Magical Manor up until a mere few days ago, so surely they'd support her in these circumstances.

When Eva immediately crashes, startling her feline friends, he sighs and follows to at least take her shoes, outerwear, and any pointy hair accessories off her if she didn't lose those on the way from the door to the bed.]

Good night, Eva-chan.

[Before he leaves, he'll make sure that the pets have food and water, and tomorrow, he'll check in on her early in the day. Whatever happened in the decades she spent back home, she needs any support she can get, and he won't fall short of doing his part.]

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

Spoilers ahoy

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I really need to sort her icons jeeze

Same here (the bonus ones)!!

tw Grief, Murder ment, death, spoilers

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