Entry tags:
39th Teddy Bear [voice/action]
[Elicia had been sleeping next to Gracia off and on now, after papa had left. She thinks maybe it makes her mama better, that she's close and there. And like so many other days, Elicia gets up and rubs her face, bleary-eyed and ready to start the day. Only, what greeted her was the silence of a empty, blue room; the essence of it—everything that made it her mother's—was sucked out. All she had was a pillow behind her and a blanket clutched in her hands, and for a moment, she doesn't understand.
It takes some time before she finally does.
The house is really quiet. Winry and Ed must be doing the things they do every day. She numbly leaves the bed and goes into the bathroom, stripping down like always, turning on the water and being careful that she doesn't make it hot. She gets soap in her eyes, but it's okay, because it washes out. When that's over with, the clothes come next—it's a dress, and she puts her ties in her hair, trying to make them match evenly on each side; it sort of looks right, she thinks, so she goes to the kitchen and uses a chair to get to the cabinet so that she could get the cereal box. And then the milk. Spoon and bowl. She doesn't make orange slices because the knives are bad and off limits. And then she sets the table and eats fast.
It's all wrong. But she's had nightmares about a day like this, only soothed when she woke up and looked at her mother, or wandered into her room in the dead of night, just for a look. But now nothing's left in her mama's room, and the fog of loneliness pushes on her from all sides as she sits on the couch and waits for something to change.
Over time, she lets herself cry. It builds up like a wave traveling toward sand, gradually peaking as the force carries it. It's okay, she thinks. She'll come back, or papa. They wouldn't just leave her behind for long. Not even the malnosso could change that about them. Right? They'd come back and there wouldn't be any reason to cry.]
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Mama—
[She breathes in, voice watery and unsure. Everyone had to do things like this. This was the right thing to do. This is what people here had to do sometimes, for the ones they loved. She inhales a shaky sob.]
Gracia... Hughes... Went home.
[It's weird to say her full name like that. She doesn't like it. But she has to be grown up right now.
Later in the day, she'll be out working on the garden Raine had helped her replant, and has no intention of going inside until the sun starts dipping low. She doesn't really feel like playing today. A lot of her presents from the birthday are left scattered in her room, where she's left them from the night before Gracia had left.]
It takes some time before she finally does.
The house is really quiet. Winry and Ed must be doing the things they do every day. She numbly leaves the bed and goes into the bathroom, stripping down like always, turning on the water and being careful that she doesn't make it hot. She gets soap in her eyes, but it's okay, because it washes out. When that's over with, the clothes come next—it's a dress, and she puts her ties in her hair, trying to make them match evenly on each side; it sort of looks right, she thinks, so she goes to the kitchen and uses a chair to get to the cabinet so that she could get the cereal box. And then the milk. Spoon and bowl. She doesn't make orange slices because the knives are bad and off limits. And then she sets the table and eats fast.
It's all wrong. But she's had nightmares about a day like this, only soothed when she woke up and looked at her mother, or wandered into her room in the dead of night, just for a look. But now nothing's left in her mama's room, and the fog of loneliness pushes on her from all sides as she sits on the couch and waits for something to change.
Over time, she lets herself cry. It builds up like a wave traveling toward sand, gradually peaking as the force carries it. It's okay, she thinks. She'll come back, or papa. They wouldn't just leave her behind for long. Not even the malnosso could change that about them. Right? They'd come back and there wouldn't be any reason to cry.]
[Voice]
Mama—
[She breathes in, voice watery and unsure. Everyone had to do things like this. This was the right thing to do. This is what people here had to do sometimes, for the ones they loved. She inhales a shaky sob.]
Gracia... Hughes... Went home.
[It's weird to say her full name like that. She doesn't like it. But she has to be grown up right now.
Later in the day, she'll be out working on the garden Raine had helped her replant, and has no intention of going inside until the sun starts dipping low. She doesn't really feel like playing today. A lot of her presents from the birthday are left scattered in her room, where she's left them from the night before Gracia had left.]
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Do you have someone taking care of you?
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She should be here.
Wiping her eyes, she nods to herself.]
Winry and Ed... They live here.
[They'd protect her. She knows they will.]
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Do you have no one else?
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[She shifts, still stunned and quiet.]
They're not home, they don't know...
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Elicia...
Does your brother know?
[because that's what she'd called him, right? She hadn't met Ed, but she was pretty sure Elicia had more family than just her parents here.]
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Mm-mm, he's not here yet... I wanted to let—everyone know...
[Because it was the big thing to do. Right? Isn't that true?
Her hands tremble with the journal in her grasp.]
I-I—I thought... I should do it for them, because it's so hard to do...
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The dawning shock and punch to the chest are slow-evolving - he stares at the journal like he's waiting for this to be an ill-timed joke - but then the truth hits, constricts his chest. A bitter sort of desperation urges him to just march over and take her back to his house - make this better somehow, because that's not fair, Luceti - but not his place. And it wouldn't work, anyway.]
Neh, Elicia-chan... [Oh fuck subtlety. He gives up and gives in] Where are you right now?
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[She curls up a little more, as if reassuring.]
I'm okay. I took a bath and I... I dressed up and I made breakfast. I did really good.
[She did, she did everything right; her mom would be proud of how big she was today.]
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Hey, Eliciaaa! Let's go fight bad guys, okay? We can go to Seventh Heaven and help Sanji!
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[This is the voice of a tired man just back from a long journey, and not so much a pirate. Jack sighs.]
Compass?
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She probably called Winry to say she was making it.If it's a second dinner somehow or another they can just refrigerate it. So she uses her key to come in, but knocks behind the door when she does]
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She doesn't notice the door yet. She draws a row of flowers and plants and things that seem too calming a subject for what's going on in her head.]
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Elicia, it's me Vash. I'm so sorry.
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[Her voice is meek, small. How could that be?]
But Mr. Vash is younger... aren't you? You're supposed to be a lot younger...
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But he did, and he hears the message. And he'd never packed up his things so quickly before.
He arrives home before too long, though it's probably been a while since she first posted the message. He dumps his bag at the front entrance, wandering inside with wide, worried eyes. He knows what this feels like, and this is no time to be without family. He isn't the best one for the job, but he has to make sure she isn't alone.]
Elicia? Are you home?
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When she hears Edward's voice, she walks into the hallway, holding his plate in hand with the food ready. She knew it was wrong of her, not to try to talk to her big brother. But at the same time... She was scared to tell him what made her heart ache so much today.]
Mm-hm... I made us lunches. I tried to make them right...
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But that's all the more reason for Pepper to gather herself by wiping the tears from her own eyes and taking a deep breath.]
Elicia, it's Miss Pepper. I'm very sorry about your mom.
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[voice/action] Tony can join in after?
[voice/action] o7 sure, I'm down for any and all things
[action] oh noooooo here we goooo
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Hey. D'you want some company? I can bring over lunch. [Elicia doesn't live alone now but she does live with two people who have mastered their odd money-free Luceti jobs, and might be busy.]
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[Any and all company. Anything to distract, even if it'll inevitably fail for her.]
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She has faith that both Elicia's parents will be back someday. They love her so much, so of course they'll be back. But that doesn't mean everything is all right now.
When she speaks, her voice is soft and subdued.]
Hello, Elicia. Would you like me to bring something nice over?
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U-um.. Elicia-chan.. [ she stumbles over her own words, unsure of what to say that could even help. ]
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M-mm...
[An affirmation that she's listening, but she's not sure what to say.
There's not a lot of words to be spoken when you're too sad, she's come to find out.]
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[Action] Hah, I hope this is okay.
After this would you like some ice cream?
[Action] Just peachy!
Uh-huh.
[She hesitates, hands on her folded legs.
And... maybe we could do story time...?
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And there she is, the little girl in her garden, trying her best to throw herself into something, anything.
As it is, Raine's brought some seeds with her, and a little pot. But a warm drink might do better for the girl. Or something smooth, and comforting.
But that might come later. She has faced too much heartbreak to be easily comforted.
She walks over to where the girl is walking, and kneels next to her.]
... Hello, Elicia.
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She lowers her water pail and smiles sheepishly.]
Hi, Miss Raine... I was just making sure the garden was okay. It's been hot, so I wanted to give them enough water...
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[She said that, but she still couldn't manage anything above a serious tone. It just didn't feel right.]
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Thank you... Everyone else has to say them sometimes, so I just thought....
[That it was her own turn to say it.]
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I... I'm sorry this had to happen, Sailor Lion.
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Her hero name. She doesn't feel like Sailor Lion today, though... Sailor Lion would have been able to get through this a lot better, she thinks.]
It's okay—I'm sure mama and papa... they'll try their best to come back again.
They'll come back and move in again, as long as I wait and I'm good-!
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She's never, ever really going to be gone. Moms and dads are always with you.
In your heart.
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[Thoughtful, she pulls her knees closer where she sits with her journal.]
My heart can't really do any hugging like they can. They're... the best at it.
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I'm so sorry to hear that.
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Eventually, Jeb finishes the sketch--it's of a cat and a dog sleeping next to each other, peacefully cuddled up on a large pillow. It really isn't much, and Jeb is fully aware that it won't make Elicia's sadness go away. But if it can cheer her up, just a little, then he'll feel accomplished.]
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Elicia?
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Mr. Riku...? What're you doing here?
[Was he here to say hi? Was he friends with Ed or Winry, too?
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Looking at the other replies, it looks like she at least has a brother and sister to help take care of her. That's good, at least, but still...]
That was brave of you.
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[They're all real strong. She could barely say hers. Lots of time staring at the screen wondering if she should broadcast something or not...]
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He can't just ignore this.]
Is there anyone here to look after you?
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Ed and Winry—they'll protect me... They live here, too.
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For a moment, there's no visible look on his face as he quietly listens to the recording, except somberness. The little voice, the way she mentioned her mother and how sad she sounded--it hits him hard and without any hesitation. To have family sent back home... It might not be the same as death, but there's no way it isn't a painful feeling regardless.
He knows nothing he's about to say is going to change things, but it doesn't stop him from trying to help anyway.]
That was very brave of you. [pause] You have someone looking after you, right?
[It's one thing to not have your family around, but to be on your own on top of that... It does (fortunately) seem like that's not the case for her, from what he's seen of the replies. But it doesn't change how hard and painful of an experience this must be for this girl.]
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[There's at least that bit of good news, right?]
I just... I really want my mama and papa.