Day 43: Sun Room, 4th Shift

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The late-afternoon sun filled the large, open Sun Room. It was almost enough to make you sleepy, Euphemia thought, as she walked in, brushing a little glitter off her shirt. She didn't particularly feel like she was up to much - the worrying about everyone had drained her, as much as she'd tried not to think too much about it

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Teresa's conversation with Soma had certainly been interesting. She wasn't quite sure why humans would create a human to be a weapon, given the practice of creating monsters like the hybrids made more sense to her. Then again, hybrids were tremendously hard to control at times, so perhaps some humans learned not to play with monsters. Regardless, it seemed that Soma was at a junction in her life, much like Teresa had been, and needed to make a decision soon. Whatever her decision was, Teresa hoped the human could live with it.

Leaving the courtyard, she found herself once again in the room she'd ended the previous night in. She'd passed through here earlier, but now she had the time to actually look at it. Silver eyes scanned the rafters in search of those bats. Unsurprising, there were none to be found. Not even a sign of them. How irritating.

What she did find, while looking the place over, was Euphy. She'd known the girl was still around given the exchange on the board she'd interceded on, but seeing her with her own eyes brought an odd amount of relief. The girl wasn't Clare, but she couldn't help but think of the girl when she looked at Euphy. There were no physical similarities, but the feeling of honesty and innocence that survived conditions that they probably shouldn't have was so similar.

Enough looming.

Teresa drew up behind the girl, easily able to see what Euphy was copying given their height differences. "I see you finally found a map."

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There was half a moment's surprise at feeling someone's presence behind her, but the minute she heard that voice, the surprise turned to relief. "Teresa! Oh, I'm so glad you're okay - I knew you were, after the bulletin, but it's a relief to see you in person." She smiled, breathing a quiet sigh.

"And yes, I did," she laughed. "It took me long enough, that and a bit of a scary adventure. About that - they didn't hurt you, right?" The princess looked up towards the ceiling, scanning herself, but there wasn't anything at all there. She hadn't expected it, not after everything she'd learned about how the place changed completely from the day to the night, but it was still good to see it for herself.

"I owe you a thank-you, by the way. For earlier," she said, gesturing to the bulletin board. "I don't know who that was, but I won't speak with someone who insults two of my dearest friends. I'm all for meeting new friends, but insulting someone like that.."

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"It takes more than a few common beasts, even in a place like this, to injure me," Teresa replied. Euphy's concern was making the hybrid a bit uncomfortable. She had to remind herself that the girl was not familiar with her kind and thus her concern was probably warranted in her own mind. "Do not worry," she added on, a little awkwardly.

She then blinked, a little startled that Euphy had guessed it was her that had given the warning. "What makes you think that was me?"

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"All right," the pink-haired girl said, with a nod. "Though that's really impressive," she added, before changing the subject again.

"Well," Euphy admitted, "I figured it out by the handwriting. I know what Suzaku's writing looks like, and what Lelouch's writing looks like. And since I - ah, right, I should explain who they are. They're two really close friends from home."

And...was that Lelouch, over there? She frowned, trying to catch his attention. Something bad had happened; she could tell that much by the expression on his face. She didn't know what, but she could tell it was something big. Before she could call out to him or even wave, though, he disappeared into one of the side rooms, and she sighed.

"As I was saying..." The words came out a bit more awkwardly this time. "I know their writing, and since it wasn't either of them, and Suzaku would have told me if anyone else from home was here, I had figured it was someone I'd met here, and you were the first person, so." She flushed just a little when she said that.

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Teresa knew she was impressive, but simply nodded when Euphy voiced it. If only the girl understood the monster that Teresa really was. Then again, that was impressive too.

She looked over when the girl's attention was diverted and caught sight of a pathetic-looking thin man. Who was he to the girl?

"Ah. Your reasoning lead you to the correct conclusion," she confirmed with a bit of a chuckle. "It must be nice having people you already know here."

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"Ah, I'm sorry. I'd just seen a friend," she said, apologizing instinctively for having looked away for those few moments. It was...difficult, to say the least, leaving out the details and intricacies of that relationship. Even saying that they had known each other from childhood, while it was true, would be too much. "I'm worried about him. He didn't look well."

She nodded then, her attention returning. "Then, I'll repeat that: thank you," she said, and would have curtsied had her clothing not been able to repeat that. "And...on the one hand, it's a relief knowing I'm not the only one, but on the other hand, it makes me worry," Euphy answered, simply and honestly. "I know that Suzaku, at least, can more than handle himself in a difficult situation, but Lelouch..."

The girl sighed, looking in the direction of that door. "Well, I'm just glad everyone else is here."

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There wasn't any need for Euphy to apologize, but Teresa opted to let her do so.

"So I see," she replied. Just what she saw was left up to the girl. "There is another hybrid her, but we have never crossed paths while serving the Organization." Her lips curled up. "She does know who I am, though. I suppose that is something."

She looked at the door as well. "Which one is he?"

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"It is," Euphy agreed. "Though it's a little sad that the only person who knows you is someone you haven't worked with. Were you just in different units?" That kind of thing could certainly happen - it would be like two people going to the same school, but being in different classes. You just wouldn't cross paths.

The pink-haired girl looked towards that door again. How to describe it, then, without breaking her promise not to reveal his heritage or identity? She couldn't say they were blood relatives...

"Ah, Lelouch? We've known each other for a long time. He's really smart, and really..." She trailed off for just a moment, thinking about the earlier conversation.

"He had a lot on his mind the last time I saw him," she said. "There was a lot going on, and he was worried about a lot of people. He might not look like it on the outside, but he's a good person." I'll always believe that. No matter what.

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A brief shake of the head. "No. We are all solitary warriors within the Organization, only ever working as a small unit when special circumstances arise." She gave the girl a small smile again. "As it is, she didn't join the Organization until I left it. I'm apparently quite the topic amid the barracks after the handlers have gone to bed."

Teresa chose not to comment on how Lelouch looked, but nodded. "If you say so, then I have no reason to believe otherwise. What do you intend on doing while you are here?"

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She nodded. So, then, it was like the special units in their own military, the ones that were separate from the rest? Like Suzaku's was. That was the closest comparison she could think of. "I see," she said. "That makes sense, but still. It's got to be a little weird."

That question brought a small frown to the girl's face. Euphy wasn't entirely sure of that herself; there was the desire to talk to Lelouch and see if she couldn't make some sort of peace between him and Suzaku, but there were also more practical things, too. She still didn't feel like she could assist with any outside exploration without getting in the way, but she hadn't led medical teams for nothing.

"I had actually planned to see if I could help out in the clinic that's here. I've had some first-aid training, and I'm sure they're in need of extra hands. What about you?"

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"I was sold to the Organization at a young age," Teresa said, as if such occurrences were common (which they were). "I spent the majority of my life with little more than very brief encounters with others of my kind or anyone else, for that matter. Even Orsay had little contact with me beyond what was necessary." She paused. "I used to prefer things like that." But that was before Clare pointed out how lonely Teresa really had been.

"But enough on that. I would like to explore this building and see what's in this land. You are welcome to accompany me," she offered. The concept of a clinic was as odd to Teresa as the sudden reemergence of her own appetite.

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"I..." The idea of someone growing up alone like that was enough to bring a pained look to Euphemia's eyes. She knew that such things even happened at home - not selling someone to any kind of organization, but banishing a child wasn't unheard of. It was one of the things that frightened her most about her father, though she couldn't - and wouldn't - admit that out loud.

"It doesn't feel like something you'd want me to apologize for, but I do. No one should have to feel alone in this world." The answer was sincere, and she clasped her hands over her heart as she said it, an instinctual kind of emphasis.

"Ah, I appreciate that," she answered. "But I'm afraid I'd only slow someone down. That said, though...if it's not asking too much, may I ask a favor?"

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Something flickered deep inside Teresa's eyes, the silver reflecting for a moment how much Euphy's words affected her. She may have pink hair and be a good few years older, but she couldn't help but see Clare for just a moment. As soon as that moment was over, Teresa closed her eyes and made the ghost of Clare disappear.

"What do you wish of me?"

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Euphy picked up on that brief flicker - a memory? Regardless, it looked sad. As much as she wanted to ask, she sensed bringing it up would only make things worse, not better. With that in mind, she pushed the thought away, thinking back to the present.

"I'd like an escort to the clinic, if you can. I'm worried about something like the bats attacking and not being able to fight them off. If it's not too much trouble."

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In a way, she was glad Euphy asked her as she was concerned about the girl wandering on her own, but she wasn't quite comfortable with offering her protection. As it was, it felt very odd. But she did like the girl...

Teresa's lips quirked up. "None at all. Shall we meet where we met last night?"