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[ sometime in the evening, after the investigation and the meeting, zelkov will be at the book cafe, where he's currently getting hot water from one of the coffee makers for a mug of tea. he has both a collection of tea bags and a little sunglasses-pouch filled with fresh mint with him.
there are also a few (sadly very basic) books on physics stacked on a side table next to one of the chairs nearby. ]
there are also a few (sadly very basic) books on physics stacked on a side table next to one of the chairs nearby. ]
[ It's been an exhausting day. Even though one of their number has passed on, they've hardly had a quiet moment to mourn. Investigating, debating, and then huddling in private groups and confronting their own fears. One has to feel a little bad for Merlin, almost forgotten in the wake of what his own death brought on.
Lacus is glad when she can find Zelkov, one of the people on her own shortlist to touch base with today. ]
Good evening. Is this a good time or would you prefer to be alone after... all of this?
Lacus is glad when she can find Zelkov, one of the people on her own shortlist to touch base with today. ]
Good evening. Is this a good time or would you prefer to be alone after... all of this?
[ ah— he's glad to hear her voice, actually. he'd intended to try to speak to her after all of that, but he tends to be... a somewhat distressing figure to encounter unexpectedly in the dark, judging from past reactions, and everyone is probably a little on edge after today.
he turns around, shaking his head. ]
No, this is fine. I had hoped to speak with you anyway.
[ with a slight smile, he motions toward his tea supply pile. ]
Would you care for some tea? I find the addition of a bit of mint helps to clear the mind.
[ which they can probably all use right now. ]
he turns around, shaking his head. ]
No, this is fine. I had hoped to speak with you anyway.
[ with a slight smile, he motions toward his tea supply pile. ]
Would you care for some tea? I find the addition of a bit of mint helps to clear the mind.
[ which they can probably all use right now. ]
[ There's not much to smile about today, but Lacus smiles back. It's nice to know he'd been thinking the same thing. It's hard to know who to trust here, and they can't be sure of each other either, but... It's a start. To establish trust, you have to take steps forward first. ]
I'd love nothing more.
[ With permission to stay for a chat, she moves in closer and finds herself a spot to sit down. ]
We've been given a lot to think about. I imagine the time for light-hearted group get-togethers is over now.
I'd love nothing more.
[ With permission to stay for a chat, she moves in closer and finds herself a spot to sit down. ]
We've been given a lot to think about. I imagine the time for light-hearted group get-togethers is over now.
It would seem so.
[ he stays at the counter for another moment, pouring a second mug of hot water and putting in the tea and mint leaves to steep. ]
I intend to do what I can to attempt to find a means of escape, as was discussed... but while I would usually consider escape routes to be a personal specialty, I will admit I am at something of a loss as to where to start in this case.
[ he stays at the counter for another moment, pouring a second mug of hot water and putting in the tea and mint leaves to steep. ]
I intend to do what I can to attempt to find a means of escape, as was discussed... but while I would usually consider escape routes to be a personal specialty, I will admit I am at something of a loss as to where to start in this case.
[ Lacus sighs softly. She likes to project strength when she's not among her trusted closest friends, but... ]
I find myself in the same position... Though I seem to count as superhuman enough for this island, I have no magic at my disposition and I'm horribly out of my depth in trying to even think about how this island's mechanism may work...
I find myself in the same position... Though I seem to count as superhuman enough for this island, I have no magic at my disposition and I'm horribly out of my depth in trying to even think about how this island's mechanism may work...
Aside from having little relevance to the matter at hand, the power that has been attributed to me is not my own at all. I merely borrow it while I am on the battlefield.
[ he comes over to the seating area to join her after another moment, handing over her mug of tea before sitting down with his own. ]
Though I certainly have no plans to give up on the escape effort, I believe we would be remiss not to consider now what our options will be if we should fail to reach our goal in time.
[ ... ]
For my part, I will not rule out the possibility of offering my own life if it comes to that, though I would not be eager to do so.
[ he comes over to the seating area to join her after another moment, handing over her mug of tea before sitting down with his own. ]
Though I certainly have no plans to give up on the escape effort, I believe we would be remiss not to consider now what our options will be if we should fail to reach our goal in time.
[ ... ]
For my part, I will not rule out the possibility of offering my own life if it comes to that, though I would not be eager to do so.
... that is a very noble sentiment.
[ Lacus stares down into her drink for a moment. Willing sacrifices are... a better idea than murder, on paper, but they are also guaranteed to leave the most selfish and most likely to kill among the surviving. ]
I am... trying to not let myself consider the option of failure, lest it divert from the efforts I can put towards the future I wish to see, but.. Maybe a part of that is just evasiveness of something you are facing already.
[ Lacus stares down into her drink for a moment. Willing sacrifices are... a better idea than murder, on paper, but they are also guaranteed to leave the most selfish and most likely to kill among the surviving. ]
I am... trying to not let myself consider the option of failure, lest it divert from the efforts I can put towards the future I wish to see, but.. Maybe a part of that is just evasiveness of something you are facing already.
[ truthfully, that's the main reason he's not suggesting it to the group at large.
closing his eyes briefly, he shakes his head. ]
There is nothing so noble about it.
[ but he doesn't elaborate on that; he just sighs and takes a sip of his tea. ]
That optimism is in many ways an admirable quality, and I cannot fault you for wishing to retain it. There is little worse than despair.
closing his eyes briefly, he shakes his head. ]
There is nothing so noble about it.
[ but he doesn't elaborate on that; he just sighs and takes a sip of his tea. ]
That optimism is in many ways an admirable quality, and I cannot fault you for wishing to retain it. There is little worse than despair.
[ Lacus is not going to ask about that statement now, not when he moves on from it so quickly, but she's going to chew on it in a corner of her mind. ]
Yes, I've found optimism is often linked to the stubborn refusal to give in to despair.
[ It can be exhausting. ]
Yes, I've found optimism is often linked to the stubborn refusal to give in to despair.
[ It can be exhausting. ]
[ there's a faint smile again at that. ]
Not the worst possible side effect.
[ he looks down into his cup. ]
If my taking on the consideration of the more unpleasant matters myself and leaving the more productive ones to you would help you to maintain it, I would not object to that.
Not the worst possible side effect.
[ he looks down into his cup. ]
If my taking on the consideration of the more unpleasant matters myself and leaving the more productive ones to you would help you to maintain it, I would not object to that.
On a practical level, I would not object to that, but... That would put you into a pretty awful position, would it not?
[ It may be a little hypocritical of her to say so when she doesn't share her deepest concerns with anybody except for her absolute closest circle, but... ]
Contemplating miserable endings day in and out, and keeping to yourself with it...
[ It may be a little hypocritical of her to say so when she doesn't share her deepest concerns with anybody except for her absolute closest circle, but... ]
Contemplating miserable endings day in and out, and keeping to yourself with it...
As a retainer to the crown princess of Elusia, it would be far from the first time that I had to dwell on unsavory subjects on someone's behalf.
I am, in fact, rather accustomed to it.
I am, in fact, rather accustomed to it.
Elusia Castle is known to be something of a den of vipers. Between inside assassination attempts and incessant invasions from a neighboring kingdom, avoiding them is not much of an option.
Princess Ivy is under considerable stress much of the time, and I do what I can to alleviate it so that she can continue to carry out her own duties.
Princess Ivy is under considerable stress much of the time, and I do what I can to alleviate it so that she can continue to carry out her own duties.
She has my deepest sympathies.
[ Lacus takes another sip of tea, a bit drawn out as she considers how much of herself she wants to reveal to Zelkov. ]
Though if it were me, I know I'd also want to shield my retainers in turn. Being protected is a wonderful thing, but you find yourself wishing to give back.
[ Lacus takes another sip of tea, a bit drawn out as she considers how much of herself she wants to reveal to Zelkov. ]
Though if it were me, I know I'd also want to shield my retainers in turn. Being protected is a wonderful thing, but you find yourself wishing to give back.
She was quite adamant during one of our more recent conversations that I not die for her sake.
[ yeah, it sure does... ]
To do so is certainly my intention, at least.
[ he can at least guarantee that any life-or-death decisions wouldn't be made lightly... but maybe continuing that line of conversation would just burden her further. and anyway, there are other things to speak about.
he sips his tea for a moment. ]
...This is not quite here nor there, and may not be an objectively efficient use of our problem-solving time... but I was considering creating a simple memorial of sorts in the garden. I recall you had a similar appreciation for such gestures, so... I thought perhaps you would be interested in sharing in this project with me.
To do so is certainly my intention, at least.
[ he can at least guarantee that any life-or-death decisions wouldn't be made lightly... but maybe continuing that line of conversation would just burden her further. and anyway, there are other things to speak about.
he sips his tea for a moment. ]
...This is not quite here nor there, and may not be an objectively efficient use of our problem-solving time... but I was considering creating a simple memorial of sorts in the garden. I recall you had a similar appreciation for such gestures, so... I thought perhaps you would be interested in sharing in this project with me.
[ Ah... ]
I'd actually been thinking of something like that, too. We shouldn't allow the lives that were lost here to fade into obscurity. They want for our lives to be cheap - it'll be good to remember that this isn't the case, that absences are felt regardless of how little we'd known each other before this.
I'd actually been thinking of something like that, too. We shouldn't allow the lives that were lost here to fade into obscurity. They want for our lives to be cheap - it'll be good to remember that this isn't the case, that absences are felt regardless of how little we'd known each other before this.
[ while zelkov had spent his thursday evening last week in the garden largely because he wanted to be alone, he thinks it will be nice to share it with someone else this week, actually.
now that they have some idea of what to expect this week, they can actually prepare; so he's brought along some beach towels and blankets and light snacks so he and lacus can have a proper little camping outing here. he's also brought along one of the craft supply boxes he keeps in his cabana so they can focus on some projects tonight rather than stress out over whatever might await them in the morning.
...and he's brought one his own finished projects, a gift he's been working on throughout the week since that task was announced — made from disassembled gift shop friendship bracelets and necklace strings, put together with a pair of pencils for knitting needles, and attached to a little plastic barrette. ]
now that they have some idea of what to expect this week, they can actually prepare; so he's brought along some beach towels and blankets and light snacks so he and lacus can have a proper little camping outing here. he's also brought along one of the craft supply boxes he keeps in his cabana so they can focus on some projects tonight rather than stress out over whatever might await them in the morning.
...and he's brought one his own finished projects, a gift he's been working on throughout the week since that task was announced — made from disassembled gift shop friendship bracelets and necklace strings, put together with a pair of pencils for knitting needles, and attached to a little plastic barrette. ]
[ After Zelkov had come under fire for an insufficient alibi last week, it's a no brainer to join him in the garden now that the distortion has appeared again and violence is to be expected. It's a good location, too, because it feels like there is no more fitting space to pray than at the memorial for the lives they've already lost. It would be nothing short of a miracle if prayer could actually make a difference here, but that doesn't mean it's not worth attempting. If nothing else, it gives Lacus herself a bit of peace.
But praying will come later, because right now Lacus is turning Zelkov's gift in her hands to admire it from every angle. ]
My! You're like a magician! Making something so delicate and pretty out of so little...!!
[ It's so cute, she has to giggle in delight as she runs a finger along one of the crocheted leaves. ]
But praying will come later, because right now Lacus is turning Zelkov's gift in her hands to admire it from every angle. ]
My! You're like a magician! Making something so delicate and pretty out of so little...!!
[ It's so cute, she has to giggle in delight as she runs a finger along one of the crocheted leaves. ]
I could not hope to compare to the real Mage of Flowers, but perhaps I did manage to pick up a bit of his power.
[ straightening up the paper flowers in front of merlin's marker as he says that. ]
Anyway, I have rather enjoyed the challenge working with such limited materials has presented me. [ with a smile and a slight bow. ]
I am glad that you like it.
[ straightening up the paper flowers in front of merlin's marker as he says that. ]
Anyway, I have rather enjoyed the challenge working with such limited materials has presented me. [ with a smile and a slight bow. ]
I am glad that you like it.
[ Oh cute... Such a gentleman! ]
I'm going to cherish it!
Thank you！I'm feeling fine!
[ While Mr. Pink voices his own chipper appreciation, Lacus angles herself to use one of the less drastically damaged glass statues as a makeshift mirror so she can attach the barret someplace behind her usual hairpiece so the flowers hang down with the strand flowing never her shoulder. Lacus hums softly, satisfied. ]
In terms of creativity, I don't think anyone on this island can beat you. Your crafts are beyond compare.
I'm going to cherish it!
Thank you！I'm feeling fine!
[ While Mr. Pink voices his own chipper appreciation, Lacus angles herself to use one of the less drastically damaged glass statues as a makeshift mirror so she can attach the barret someplace behind her usual hairpiece so the flowers hang down with the strand flowing never her shoulder. Lacus hums softly, satisfied. ]
In terms of creativity, I don't think anyone on this island can beat you. Your crafts are beyond compare.
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