(no subject)

[hot_mess_express]

Who: All the cute little heroes
When: Day 35, evening
Where: Back To Your Regularly Scheduled Great Outdoors, Just outside the train

[ The beach fades away all at once, taking the cheery sunshine with it as evening hits all at once-- it melts away in a shower of sparkles as the familiar setting re-emerges. There are new stars in the sky above in clover pink, senna red, jasmine blue, and licorice violet.

Just before the beach disappears entirely, the bubbly voice speaks once more: ]

Wasn't that so much fun! You all rrrrrreally got to know each other, didn't you? Keep up the good work~!

[ If you had any alcohol in hand you still have it, otherwise everything from the trial is gone. ]

Comments

[unaffective]

Mm...

[ mulling that over as she pours some tea into a cup for him. per the usual elaine prep it's made and fixed the way kuuha likes it. ]

Though difficult to prepare for, I could certainly agree. The sea is lovely, isn't it?

[ more or less everything she's said to him has had some fondness to it but there is a very distinct kind of softness to that last sentence, a gentle nostalgia ]

[fisherofmen]

[ automatically, he's picking it up - it's not prepared in a way that he dislikes, given they're the same person, and he takes a moment to breathe in the aroma ]

. . . It's comforting.

[ before he takes a drink ]

[unaffective]

[ goes




stock still waiting for his reaction, nervous ]

[fisherofmen]

[ hmm






hmmmmmm ]

[unaffective]

[ waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ]

[fisherofmen]

[ drinks



the whole thing


with this face ]

[unaffective]

[ ONIICHANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN ]

[fisherofmen]

[ sets the cup down.


looks at her. ]

[unaffective]

[ staring back at him clearly spooked, face flushed

pretty clearly having just worked herself up into a mess waiting for his tea opinion ]

[fisherofmen]

I'd like another cup, please.

[unaffective]

A-Ah - ... y... yes...

[ she manages to pour him a second cup successfully but her hands tremble a bit as she does - when she stands to go retrieve whatever fixings she put in it's even more apparent that she

all of her



all of her is shaking.

she looks like a baby deer. ]

[fisherofmen]

[ picking up the cup ]

. . . Elaine?

[unaffective]

- Y-Yes!

[ wait

uh ]

- I - I'm fine. Yes, it was simply a bit... somewhat... that you'd like it, I was ... hopeful...?

1/

[fisherofmen]

[fisherofmen]

3/4

[fisherofmen]

. . .

[fisherofmen]

. . . I like it.

[unaffective]

[ SLUMPS BACK IN HER CHAIR, RELIEVED


may or may not be crying now. at the very least there are definite tears beaded up in her eyes. ]

Thank goodness . . .

[fisherofmen]

[ . . . . ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ]

Were you that worried?

[unaffective]

I was a bit - . . .

I suppose it's simply - ... as I've claimed, these circumstances remain somewhat unideal. Not your own self, but rather these cars, that I would be here...

... To offer such comforts - from within this car there is little else to be done. And so, to that end, I simply hoped... I suppose, to do so properly...

[fisherofmen]

I don't particularly need to be comforted but I enjoy your company, and this tea, nonetheless.

Thank you, Elaine.

1/2

[unaffective]

[ CRITICAL HIT ( x5.00 multiplier: crippling loneliness) (x.50 multiplier: lack of sleep) ]

[unaffective]

Thank you . . .

[ wait ]

Ah, that is - yes, should you find it enjoyable then that alone is welcome comfort.

[ finally.


pouring herself a cup. ]

Would you like to eat something...?

[fisherofmen]

Sure.

[ a beat ]

But you should enjoy some tea first, yourself.

[unaffective]

[ sipping at her cup a little idly . . .

after a while she pipes up again ]

Ah, but I should ask... That is, rather -

... It remained clear to me that you retained some amount of memory during our last meeting, but... if I may be so bold, to what degree is that the case? What are you able to recall...?