matchbreaker | Recollé IC Inbox

[ Oh, Elizabeth. Elda ends up leaning against the counter across from her, looking at her nails. Ah, she should touch up the polish soon.... ]

For me, it's much easier than August. But... well, I think that's obvious. [ She was the one left behind then. Silver, Toushiro, Jaeger, Albert? Elizabeth, even if she didn't know her that well at the time. It felt like everyone she knew then up and vanished and she needed to do her best to get them back. The whole month was characterized by desperation. This, by comparison, is a lot more ordered. She can talk to people, she's the one out there, at least one of her boys is out there. Her best friend's with her. ]

I don't even know what the criteria could be, really. There's plenty of people on all those lists who should be changed out for you or for a few others, honestly. That's their mistake.

[ It's hard, knowing you can do just as much if not more than people that were sent out. She's hardly who she was in August anymore, for better or for worse. She can reliably summon creatures, she's hardier than before, she...

isn't human, and Elizabeth glances away. It isn't that bad; she can still pass as one. It isn't like Angela, who's slowly losing limbs, and it isn't like Elda, who can't go outside without being blinded, sans sunglasses. As unsettling as things like this might be, it's nothing, and she forces a small smile. She's a great actor, but Elda has keen eyes, so she puts a little more effort into making it look natural. ]

Perhaps they were looking for something different, or some way to balance teams... and there was enough of those that can handle fighting, should there be any, so the rest of us weren't picked up as a result. [ Maybe. Or maybe Retrospec knows she's still hesitant to hurt or kill anything that bleeds and doesn't disappear immediately, anything she can't pretend is just some video game monster. ] Well... Nevertheless, I wonder if Sir Zee'll give us an explanation for why he picked who he picked. Or perhaps he'll simply keep us in the dark, like usual.

[ Funny thing about these eyes? They're actually incredibly sharp, well able to focus on small details as long as they aren't blocked out by sunglasses or the like. So while the red lighting isn't as ideal as darkness would be, she does note a change in the girl's expression. She seems a little curious for a moment, but then moves past it, instead turning to consider if she has something else here... crackers? Little cookies...?

Hmmm...

What would go good with the tea... ]

Sir Zee? Yeesh girl, you and those nicknames. But yeah, I don't imagine Carlisle's going to say one way or the other. I'll try asking, but I'm not expecting an answer on my end too.

[ Balance the teams... huh... ] I can tell you I've not gotten in any fighting yet, but that isn't true for the rest of my group. and I heard from another friend of mine that the group on the beach hasn't had any fighting yet.

[ . . . Mmm. ]

Not that you should think it reflects on you, Elizabeth. [ There, little tea cookies, that'll do. ]

[ "Mr" is too stuffy sounding so yes, "Sir"— ]

Of course not. [ She'd never....... she might, a little. Her life is built on little accomplishments and proving she can do things, in some ways; this is a small but solid blow to her ego. ] But... Thank you for saying so, Ms. Marker. I appreciate the sentiment.

[ A quiet moment, before she tilts her head. ]

What have you been doing, then?

And don't think it's a platitude. You'd be more reliable than some of the folks we have out there... even if I still shudder at you young people being dragged into this.

[ Okay, cookies out and tea's done. Let's pour it. As she does though... ]

... Mmm, working out a mystery, I think, is what I'd say now. Some people got in fights, to be sure, but I've sure not yet. There's a bunch of wolves - or maybe even just one wolf that's been splitting themselves up - who's gotten taken in by something terrible which's gotten worse since October and harassed a village up there. So we're there to solve both their issues.

[ Adventures are done with young people, Elda!! ]

I see. I'm certain Goro would be quite jealous to hear that... He's fond of mysteries. [ ... ] As am I. Have you figured out anything yet, or are you still collecting all the clues, readying yourselves for the final investigation and confrontation?

We're getting there, but I think it's more like we've found where the location is, and we know the players... but we don't know what actually happened. That sort of mystery. It's not even clear what the crime is.

[ Huh. ]

A queer mystery, to be sure. I'd interrogate the people involved, in that case, and find out what I could... though I'm sure it's easier said than done for all of you.

Both the victim and the perp are the same person, I think. And they're a wolf who can split into a bunch of other wolves.

[ ...well then. ]

The trial will either be incredibly easy, or very, very difficult. Will they prosecute themselves, or do you think they'll withhold charges?

They've been leading us along since we passed a test or two, but I can't help but think we're going to end up having to do the work.

It's quite likely. You are the brave heroes that came from elsewhere to help solve the riddle of this-and-that and solve such-and-such, after all.

Oh I'm sure!

[ She laughs but... sigh, it's a hassle. Anyway, tea's done, so let's pour some out to match with the little cookies. ]

... Seriously though, are you doing okay, Elizabeth?

[ Mm, smells... Elizabeth blinks, then folds her hands behind her. She was reaching for a cookie, but... ]

Of course. My inability to truly help any of you aside, I've been... perfectly fine. [ ... ] Why do you ask?

Your face is troubled.

[ Maybe it's just her...? She tilts her head and makes to stir her tea ]

Is it.

[ ... ]

You've always been frighteningly well at reading me, Ms. Marker. I wonder if it's because our families aren't so different. [ Growing up around richness, that is. Socials and the like. Elizabeth hesitates, then takes some tea for herself and stirs it gently. ]

To tell you the truth, last month, on my birthday... Retrospec saw it fit to give me a gift of its own. [ Very carefully said. ] While I look the same as ever, I'm hardly... I am whatever it is my other self is now, and that certainly isn't human. She referred to herself as a being of power, once...

[ ...She still isn't sure what that means. ]

It isn't quite godhood, but it isn't being mortal, either. [ ah. ] Please keep this secret as well, Ms. Marker. Goro is aware of the possibility at least, as he pressed me on the issue himself when I was asking questions about gods once, but Silver has no knowledge of this. Neither of them are aware that I've changed at all either, honestly... and I'd like to keep it that way, for the moment.

[ Has she been good at reading her...? Honestly, Elda doesn't think of herself as being particularly perceptive. But maybe it really is just something as simple as the fact that her and Elizabeth are cut from the same cloth. It manifests differently and they're at different points in their lives but... well. They're both scions of rich families, both defined by loneliness.

Or that's how she sees it anyway.

So while her eyes do narrow with a little confusion for a moment as she considers that, she does also shift her hands to fold them together and listen to the woman. As she does, her eyes shift - she's far too used to sunglasses, these eyes keep betraying her emotions because, well... They're in cat-like mode.

Not human, huh. ]

I'm not sure that's something I approve of being secret from my boy, but no, I'll respect that... But that's beside the point here, Elizabeth. The secrecy, I mean.

[ And with quick steps that see her all but gliding around the island towards her. ]

So you feel different?

[ Elda knew she was upset about what they discovered during August, despite Elizabeth doing her best not to appear so.

...That's one of the reasons she thinks Elda can read her fairly well. ]

Yes and no. [ ...How does she describe it. ] I feel... stronger. There's a reason I had very little trouble with that train car we fought. I don't get hurt as easily anymore, or rather, I suppose it's more apt to say I can take more hits—harder hits. I don't need to eat or sleep, and going by my memories, the other Elizabeth was able to stand on the moon without the issue of "needing air to live"... so I assume I'm similar in that way as well.

[ To be fair, Elda would assume everyone was upset about that thing in August. But no, hearing the girl come clean to her, Elda pauses only a brief moment before sort of interrupting Elizabeth's tea time for a moment by reaching out to take her hands in hears.

Taking stronger hits is a weird qualifier, but with how violent their lives are these days, that makes sense. The rest of that, though, that's... mm. ]

You haven't been laying awake at night, have you?

[ Because that sounds miserable, and Elda's voice immediate leeks out some sympathy at the idea. - especially if it's a secret ]

Not... exactly. I keep myself occupied.

[ She glances away, the barest hint of a smile on her lips. ]

I visit a space very few can enter called "The Velvet Room," and I spend a lot of time there practicing with my Persona, reading cards, or simply listening to the ambiance. It takes different forms, you see, based on which person enters first... For myself and another, it's an elevator. For another, it's a limo. And for yet another, it's a prison.

I've also been putting the extra hours to good use by studying for my classes, as well as playing the piano... I still have a key to my uncle's home, and as he sleeps both like the dead and in the far reaches of his house, I sometimes go there to play. [ The apartment is still too small to accommodate a piano proper after all— ] But other nights, yes, I lay awake. It isn't impossible for me to sleep, or at least doze off in something like it... hence waking up with Belle and Gold around my face quiet often nowadays... but it is never a very long sleep.

[ Oh.

That whole Velvet Room thing is interesting, but at the same time, to have that sort of thing playing out like that... Elda's always been too emotional, too sympathetic where it isn't necessarily needed, and this is no exception. She squeezes the other's hands, holding them as her red eyes narrow a little, as if she's not sure what to respond with.

She can sleep, but has no need to. The bleeding doesn't last long. It means that she's fighting the body's natural inclination? She rubs her thumbs onto the back of Elizabeth's hands, something that her mother used to do as a comforting motion. And she frowns a little before she formulates the response, ]

Guess that explains where you got that extra time to offer to help me work out that Last Fantasy thing. [ ... ] You can still taste? I didn't mean to push some tea on you just because that's normal. ... What am I even saying - rather, I'm so sorry this is is something you've been dealing with yourself.

I can, worry not. Thankfully, eating is still as enjoyable as it ever has been.

[ Even if it's not necessary, she loves it too much to give it up, so eat she does. ]

And... please, it's fine, Ms. Marker. It's an inevitability, and... it's not as bad as some people I know. After all, at least I can still pass as an ordinary girl, can't I? Strange eye and hair color aside.

[ Before she censors herself: ]

Don't give me that.

[ . . . Well, shit, if she said that she might as well lean into it, keeping her hands holding hers. ]

Something being an inevitability or less visible doesn't make it fine, especially if that's something you've been privately dealing with. [ . . . ] The sun's going to be rejecting me one of these days, that's not fine even if I've been prepping for it.

[ Ah—

Elizabeth blinks at her, and... well, Elda's right. It doesn't make it fine, but... still. Her tone's even as she replies, a small crease to her forehead ]

A friend of mine has robot arms now, and her inevitability is that she will become a fully-functioning android. She won't be able to feel or experience things she used to, and she's terrified of it, Ms. Marker, and of what people will think. What someone who is very special to her will think. [ Disgust and fear and... Elizabeth sighs softly. ] You and her are alike, I think, in that what you become will prohibit your actions... It will limit your experiences. But for someone like me...

[ mmm. ]

It won't. That's all I mean.

[ There is a part of her, the most selfish part of her who initially makes to respond "so what?" and the moment that forms on her lips, she herself still being agitated now she comes to the realization that... Ah, that's the response that the Elda Marker in her memories, for all of her admirable flaws, would he definitely answered.

Instead, she bites her lip and... ]

... It might. For you, I mean. If it didn't, then it wouldn't be something you asked me to keep secret.

[ ... ]

I'm sorry about your friend, that's horrifying.

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