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

> 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.

Keywords

[onesurvived]

Sounds like you deserved it, talking like that

[Definitely intentional!]

Mostly, yes.

But I don't really want to dwell on all the shit that happened before I got kicked back here. This place certainly has a terrible sense of timing.

[sixtyeighth]

Maybe. Maybe not.

[ He one-hundred percent did. ]

It can, can't it? I guess if you're unlucky enough at least.

[onesurvived]

I don't know if I'd call myself lucky or unlucky at this point.

Anyway, you've got the address, right? I'll see you here.

[sixtyeighth]

I'm sure a wise [ read: old ] woman such as yourself will figure it out.

I know where it is. I'll see you there.

> Action!

[onesurvived]

[Rude, Gio! She got that implication!

Still, she'll leave the conversation there, going back to nursing her drink and keeping her eyes out for him. She was still in the white dress she had newly arrived in, so despite how much older she was now, hopefully he would recognise her.

If not, she could at least take some amusement in watching him look around for her before getting his attention.]

here we are

[sixtyeighth]

[ Of course he'd recognize her anywhere. He's good at recognizing people, he thinks. Not that he'll admit. He'll sit down next to her. ]

Seems I found you no problem, despite it all.

[ You know, the clear age that has passed. He's not calling her old this time. Give him a few in person. ]

[onesurvived]

And here I was hoping to see you wander around confused for a bit.

[She downed the rest of her glass, before pushing a drinks menu his way.]

So, what're you having? I meant it when I said I owed you.

[sixtyeighth]

I don't eat or drink.

[ It's sad flatly. Which, in itself, means that wasn't a motivator for his appearance. It meant he was here to see her. ]

I don't need to. I'd prefer not to. I just wanted to see if you were really this old now.

[ Yep. ]

[onesurvived]

[So he really did just come here to see her? She was a little touched, but also- ]

So that's what you came here to find out. Well if you're also interested in seeing if an old lady can still hold her own-

[Casually sliding off her chair and whipping her leg around into a high kick- aiming to stop it inches from his nose. And she followed that up with a tired, but still wicked, smirk.]

...-I think I've made my point, riiight?

[sixtyeighth]

[ Not that he'd ever say it directly, but he does like her company well enough. ]

Point made and heard. Still terrifying despite your age.

[ And there's that amusement. ]

Interesting to see how you've changed.