03 ❀

[princessia]

Who: Elize Lutus and... YOU, maybe?!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: SS Huntress
When: 7/19

[ When Elize awakens from cryosleep is when the network decides to record her panic as she sits up with a jolt, like she'd just woke up from a nightmare. It felt like a dream, but she's certain it wasn't. Before she even acknowledges the fact that she's back on the fleet, away from Rieze Maxia, she's searching around her bed frantically, patting at the sheets for something that should be there. ]

Teepo... Teepo?

[ She clasps her hands near her chest where she would normally hold her doll. It's the almost exact behavior during her first days on the fleet. Although she knows the full truth about the toy now, old habits die hard.

As she sits in her bed, she looks around at the metal walls of her room on the Huntress, taking deep breaths to calm down. She reaches up, gently running her finger around the augment behind her ear and confirming where she is. The memories are beginning to sink back in. ]

It's this place again.

[ A pause. ]

...Cullen?

Comments

[killedwithlove]

He did what he felt was best to keep you safe. And to live with his guilt.

[He holds onto her, pulling her to sit on his knee while he keeps holding her, rubbing her back slow and steady.]

Maybe he didn't. But he has. It isn't fair. But he would be glad that you are alive and safe. That? Made it all worth while.

[princessia]

[ He didn't have to die, even though it was because of him she'll never see her parents again. She's far too kind. It may take her time to fully accept that he really is gone, that he's at peace now after being able to save her.

She huddles up closer, resting her small form against him. ]

I don't know what to do now...

[killedwithlove]

[He sits down on the floor and gathers her into his lap. It's not something he's done in this lifetime, but Cole would do this with Bunny, and the size difference isn't the same, but he's bigger too, so it works close enough.

He's a bit bony, but something about his hug is entirely warm and comfortable, welcoming and comforting.]

You keep going. That's what people always have to do. You keep living and you keep them alive in your heart. While you remember someone and love them, part of them lives on.

[princessia]

I'll always remember.

[ Elize eases up, relaxing in his lap. There aren't many people that hold and provide her the same comforting warmth like Cole and Cullen do.

She has to keep going. Jiao would want her to keep living. With his recent passing still fresh in her mind, it's difficult. She finally peers up at him from under his chin, with reddened eyelids. ]

He'd... want me to keep going. And to be happy. But how?

[ After all that's happened... ]

[killedwithlove]

[Luckily, looking around Cole's chin isn't much of a stretch.]

Sometimes... it feels like you can never be happy again. And it keeps feeling that way. And then one day, you find you're smiling and you feel bad for having felt happiness, but you felt it. And some time after that, you find you laugh, and you don't immediately feel guilty.

There's no how about it. It will happen again. You will be happy again. And you will be sad again. But time will ease the pain and you'll be happy again. You don't have to do anything to make it happen.

[princessia]

...okay.

[ It's all she can really say to that. She knows he's right. Nothing can change what happened. Her heart will heal over time, she hopes. Lowering her gaze, she nestles herself comfortably against him again.

Silent for a moment, she looks thoughtful and worn out. Waking up brought her a mix of feelings. Mostly sadness. She's trying to think of something that makes her happy as she sifts through her emotions. ]

When I woke up, I felt happy seeing Cullen again. I missed him so much. [ Even though she'd forgotten while she was in Rieze Maxia. Now that she's back, all the memories sinking in hit her hard. ]

I missed you too, Cole. I missed a lot of people...

[killedwithlove]

You shouldn't miss me. I'm always there. Every time you show kindness, mercy or compassion, I'm there. It's what I am, so I'm always with you while you're kind.

[He rocks her slightly, humming a tune that he thinks he knows from Cole and Mama.]

[princessia]

[ Elize shuts her eyes briefly, soothed by the tune. Then she opens them again as she speaks. ]

But what about when I want to play a game with you? Or draw together. I liked doing that...

[killedwithlove]

I like that too. Drawing. I've practiced, only drawing what my eyes see, not the rest of me.

[princessia]

Can we do that again sometime?

[killedwithlove]

Of course we can. Any time you want. I can fly the Pathstone over here. Personnel Augment went away and now I have Pilot Augment.

[princessia]

...okay. I'd like that.

[ Sometime, when she's in better spirits. She closes her eyes and starts to nod off. ]

[killedwithlove]

[His hand comes up to pet her softly, stroking her hair and he resumes humming softly.]