Two Hundred and Fifteenth Position ]Audio[

[princess_crow]

Setsuna and Kaoru already left the City, I wonder...

[Who will be next. Rosella? The Earl? Ahiru? Fakir

Comments

[ Voice ]

[sword_and_quill]

[ He sighs.

Really, City? Hasn't Rue been through enough when it comes to losing people here? ]

...Rue. Where are you right now?

[ There's not much he really can do, but... ]

[ Voice ]

[princess_crow]

Fakir, I...

[ She hesitates from telling is not his business where she is. ]

At the backyard. Why?

[ Action? ]

[sword_and_quill]

[ Rue receives no answer, as Fakir is already on his way to the kitchen. It doesn't take him long to boil water for tea--or to find one of the fruit tarts that Rue seemed fond of.

With those in hand, the ex-knight makes his way out to the backyard to look for his sister. He's not particularly good at comforts, but tea always helped to relax him--and he can only hope it'll do the same for her.

Green eyes still traveling around the yard in search of the dark-haired princess, he frowns. Where was she? ]

Rue...?

[ Action? ]

[princess_crow]

[ Rue would like to claim she had no patience for people in this moment. She would like to stay at sit, leaned on the fountain and be miserable alone.

But misery always loved company. She was too proud to admit she did.

She was hugging her knees, silently rocking her body. While she looked as if she had been crying, her eyes were dry when Fakir found her. ]

I thought you might come.

[ Action ]

[sword_and_quill]

[ He approached her slowly, partly so as not to spill the tea and partly because of the obvious pain in her features as her body swayed to and fro.

Swallowing, he lowered down beside her and first offered the tea. ]

...Here. You should drink this.

[ It wouldn't do anything to warm the pain away, but if she had been crying (and it rather looked like she had), it might feel good on the throat. ]

[ Action ]

[princess_crow]

[ Rue turned her head, but she kept her gaze to greet him. As if she had nothing to hide. Pain or not, she hated to look so weak. ]

You shouldn't have bothered with that. I'm fine.

[ She took the teacup and held it between her hands. ]

[ Action ]

[sword_and_quill]

[ He retracted his hand once the cup was safely between hers. And with a slight narrowing of his eyes, he met her gaze. ]

...Hn. I 'bother' with whatever I want to. And saying that you're fine aloud doesn't make it true, you know. I don't think you believe those words any more than I do.

[ The usual bite to his tone was gone, replaced by something slightly softer. And with his other hand, he set the tart down beside her. ]

[ Action ]

[princess_crow]

[ She sips quietly without answering to that remark. He's right and they both know it. So she remains strategically silent. ]

[ Action ]

[sword_and_quill]

[ Fakir resigned himself to silence, as well. He knew his sister well enough that she wouldn't want to talk about this in detail. After all, they were similar in that respect.

Sometimes it was just comforting to know someone else was there.

Getting down off of his knees, he sat down beside her. ]

[ Action ]

[princess_crow]

[She didn't look at him when he sat down, keeping her gaze averted, drifting at the sky. Her focus was on the warmth of the teacup she was holding and the steam fragrance of the tea.

The taste when she sipped it.

Slowly, very slowly, she moved closer to him, just to lean forward. Just a few centimeters near.]

[ Action ]

[sword_and_quill]

[ Words to ease someone who was troubled weren't something that Fakir was good at providing. And he doubted that even what he could awkwardly try to force out would help much.

What she was feeling... that wasn't something he could feel for her or with her.

But he could still be supportive.

As Rue leaned just marginally closer, he slowly raised one hand and simply rested it on her hair, following her gaze to the sky. ]

[ Action ]

[princess_crow]

I...

[ Rue's voice quivered. She closed her eyes to stop them from watering. She just tried to push all the thoughts away, every feeling, except the sensation of reassurance that brought his hand on her hair. ]

I'm not going to see them again. If they come back, they won't remember me. I know it.

[ Action ]

[sword_and_quill]

[ He had languidly begun to stroke her hair with that same hand but paused when she spoke of them not remembering her. ]

...You don't have to think the worst, you know.

[ Even if he was well-aware that it happened. Ahiru had forgotten him any number of times. And he had apparently forgotten things related to her in the past, too.

But even so, there was always hope. ]

And if that does happen, focus on making new memories. It's not the end. And no, it's not easy, but giving up is easy--things that are worth the effort are more difficult.

[ Action ]

[princess_crow]

I won't hold onto a false hope only to get hurt.

[ She shuts her eyes tightly, wishing she could just lay down and curl up. But Rue has too much pride to act that way. ]

I don't want to make new memories. What's the point? We're going to part ways some day again. They won't come to our world, Fakir. I could always count on you and Ahiru to step into the story, but they will always be out of my reach.