10th bushel | the weather inside is JUST AS BAD OKAY

[worst_apple]

[On the phones, there can be heard a scratching noise as Elly scrabbles at the receiver. She's just snapped back from being droned, and she is Not Okay.]K-Ko...nnn... Chouno? Par--Komachi? Anybody... Why did they do that to me? And why is it cold? It's not supposed to be cold. I just planted my flowers and now they're frostbitten again

Comments

[bridgetroll]

[ouch.

I mean no Elly deserves Komachi!

brb lurking under one of your windows....]

[bridgetroll]

[She didn't move, too startled by Elly's sudden appearance and reappearance, and she doesn't move now.]

Wh...what?

[worst_apple]

I... I want you to have this! [She holds her hand out, finally turning it palm-up and open: a bracelet, childishly made of twined flower stems and a few wilted blossoms.] If... if it's okay. The drone people said we're supposed to give everyone presents a-and... and I don't want to get in trouble.

[bridgetroll]

......[She takes it gently, fingers brushing Elly's palm, more than a little stunned; she expected a slap in the face more than this, after everything.] ....You wouldn't really have gotten in trouble. The drones are stupid.

[worst_apple]

[Elly shrinks back, hands behind her back, reluctant to take the package Parsee offered before.]

I... just want someone to look out for. It's fine if it's Parsee, isn't it? Eve--the drones are... mean. I don't like them.

[bridgetroll]

....it shouldn't be fine. [still, she puts the bracelet on, and offers the package again despite how Elly shrinks away.] I can't even promise that this is worth anything.

[worst_apple]

I... [She just wilts a little and takes the package.] I'm sorry. Please don't be mad.

[bridgetroll]

....you're not the one who should apologize. [a deep, shaky breath] And I'm not mad.

[worst_apple]

M... Maybe if I did my job right, she wouldn't be gone. And you wouldn't have gotten mad and been mean. A-and... And the nice man and the boy wouldn't have left... [She clings to the package, crinkling the paper.] 'm just... lonely. Ahhhhh. [Another sigh, and she starts carefully opening the package.]

[bridgetroll]

....that's not your fault, Elly. You didn't- didn't do anything wrong. It's just this stupid town making- doing that. [she's wincing deeply, stung by guilt and a thousand other things, rubbing her arm nervously; the sweater is green and patterned with flowers.]

[worst_apple]

I don't like this place.

[There's a pause as she opens the package and just... stares.] For me?

[bridgetroll]

It's no heaven for me either.

[a stiff, embarrassed nod] Just...throw it away if you don't like it.

[worst_apple]

[Elly's bottom lip quivers...]

[bridgetroll]

[touches her flower bracelet awkwardly, just standing there, waiting for- for whatever Elly decides to say.]

[worst_apple]

[Less what she's going to say and more lunging at Parsee for a hug.

Feel free to dodge?]

[bridgetroll]

[NEVER

She's still pretty much too surprised that she hasn't been screamed out to move, so. H-Hugged!]