hotel: lup

[shaft]

Comments

[evocationary]

[she refuses to meet his gaze. ):]

I wanted to know him better.

[shaft]

[ that's okay ]

... I know. I'm sorry that chance was taken from you.

[evocationary]

[silence, but.

she coughs - and then chokes, spitting up a mix of orange and blue flowers.]

[shaft]

[ he'll put his arm around her again. ]

What did you like about him?

[evocationary]

He's good at - he was... banter. We did banter. He's funny, and kind of shy. Awkward.

[no, actually, this hurts more. she sounds like she's desperately trying to not burst into tears again.]

[shaft]

[ oh, that didn't work. he briefly panics before switching gears. ]

I wish it wasn't him. I wish it wasn't any of us— I don't know why we're here again.

[evocationary]

[he's doing his best, poor claude.

she slowly just rests her head on his shoulder.]

I don't either. [she sounds absolutely miserable.] I'm - I'm really tired, Claude.

[shaft]

Me too. If the heart is a muscle, I wonder why it doesn't grow resistant to heartbreak?

[ His own head falls back, but he's still got an arm around her shoulder, idly rubbing his thumb against it. ]

[evocationary]

[another cough. she spits out another bit of flowers.]

It'd be too easy. [...] I guess it's good that I, um. That I can still feel like this.

[shaft]

[ rubs her back ]

It is. And the people you care about deserve to be mourned. One of the downsides to have a big heart.

[evocationary]

[a pause, and then she brings a hand up to clutch at her chest a little - or rather, over the locket she's wearing around her neck.]

... Can I ask you a favor?

[shaft]

[ he glances at the locket too, before looking at her face again. ]

Sure.

[evocationary]

Help me figure out who did it tomorrow. I can't, um. Walk. I need help.

[shaft]

[ His expression grows more serious. ]

We'll all be focused. I don't want you to exert yourself, so if you need help, I'll gladly help.

And hopefully we'll get some better healing capabilities soon.

[evocationary]

[she shifts a little to curl up against him again, shivering.]

Thank you. [... she seems like she might say more, and then she just mutters:] Thanks.

[shaft]

[ gives her a little squeeze ]

There are plenty here for you to rely on, Lup. Emet seemed pretty worried about you last night.

[evocationary]

[she stays where she is, for now.]

Was he? [...] I don't remember a lot of yesterday. I lost all of my blood.

[shaft]

All of it?

[ she was in bad shape, but why does phrasing it like that sound funny ]

[evocationary]

[she laughs a little, tiredly.]

Most of it! My dress was, uh, it was white to start with.

[shaft]

Lup. You're kidding.

[ He blanches slightly. ]

That's... I'm glad you're doing better now.

[evocationary]

I'm alive.

[she says, and that's... about all she can manage. a pause, and a sigh.]

I'm alive.

[shaft]

[ ... ]

Yeah. That's precious.

[evocationary]

[she just keeps her head on his shoulder for now, silent.

it's what they've got. she's going to try to hold onto that.]

[shaft]

[ they're going to cuddle.

he's not good at knowing what to say, so he'll just continue to stroke her shoulder until it's time to get up. ]