vibrafinal | 18th moon [voice]

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18th moon [voice]

Rosa Farrell has left Luceti.

[It comes abruptly, harshly, flatly. Cecil does not sound in terrible pain as he did the last time he had to make such an announcement. In fact, he sounds very much as though he's forgotten how to inflect.]

...She's left roses and notes for everyone she's met here. Please come pick them up when you have the time.

[That's all he has the energy to say.]

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[He can help with that, at least.]

The higher left cupboard. All the tea-related products should be there.

All right. Thank you.

[She spends a little while picking out something nice, then goes to put the kettle on.]

[Cecil just stands there the whole time. He looks more than a little lost.]

[When Grune turns back once the tea has steeped to give him the mug--well, now she's even more worried than before.

She holds it out to him, her expression sad.] Here. This will make you feel better.

Thank you.

[He's not smiling, not just yet. But he certainly looks grateful as he takes it.]

You're welcome.

[That's an improvement, at least. She'll take that as a good sign.

For just a moment, she hesitates. Then, she leans forward to press a kiss to his forehead. Most of the reason behind the action is simply because he's a good friend and she's worried about him. But...there's a small part of her that will never quite stop seeing him as someone to look after--as her child.

She looks slightly surprised at herself afterwards. Then she turns to pour her own mug of tea.]

[The gesture surprises him, a little, since most of his brain still remembers a motherless childhood and a motherless life, and watching Rosa be a mother is not the same thing at all.

But it felt very warm, and it's Grune, so it's not the bad kind of surprise at all. Perhaps he feels slightly better, already.]

[Once she has her tea, she doesn't go to sit down right away. Instead, she moves over to rest her free hand on his shoulder.]

It's going to be all right. She'll come back. I know she will. We'll just need to wait a little while.

...Or perhaps I'll follow her instead.

[That would be for the best, objectively. But at the same time, leaving everyone behind...]

[Grune...pauses. She doesn't tense, because she's never tense. But the thought of Cecil leaving, too--it makes her sad to think about.]

Do you want to go home?

[Because if he does, it isn't fair for her to wish for him to stay, no matter how much she would miss him.]

I do. I have to.

[Or else it might be doomed.]

But I do not wish to do so in a way that hurts others.

[If they could all find a way to still communicate, if they could all disappear at the same time...]

Well.... [She stays where she is, standing with her hand on his shoulder.] As long as everyone knew that you need to go home, I think they would understand. It's important to look after your home.

Too many are counting on us all. Who would I be to abandon them?

[...If he can even save them, but he refuses to think that.]

[Unsurprisingly, she takes his question at face value.]

I think you would be someone else who isn't very nice.

[She gives his shoulder a squeeze.]

When you go home, I'll make sure to tell everyone that you needed to help people there. That way, if they're sad, then they can feel better.

[She goes to sit down with her tea.]

...That's very kind of you. It'd be nice to know that they understand why I could not stay.

[Unless you leave before me, but he refuses to think of that now.]

Then when you go home, that's what I'll do. So you don't need to worry.

[She smiles, hoping he'll return the expression at least a little.]

...Thank you.

[He does. Barely, but he does.]

[Even that little bit is encouraging.]

You're welcome. Is there anything else I can do to help you?

...Could you stay a little? We have a lot of leftovers.

[And all those flowers to give away.]

[...Oh, Cecil.

Gently, she says:] Of course. I can stay as long as you'd like.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

You don't need to thank me. I'm happy to stay and help you feel better.

Why don't you sit down and have some tea now?

...Yes, perhaps that would help.

[He takes a small sip from his mug.]

[Grune waits until he's sitting down to reach out and cover his fingers on his mug.]

Maybe I should bake you some cookies a little later. Does that sound like a good idea?

...I'd like that, yes. We'd all like that.

[He appreciates the gesture, truly.]

18th moon [voice]

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