In the end, many had returned to their worlds, and some, those who enjoyed their lives here or had none to return to, had stayed. Stella, belonging to the latter, saw her family off while barely holding herself together. She was, at least, able to do so with a smile. No matter how faked it was, she was a master of it.
She may never see them again, but at least they were going to live the life they wanted.
It was tempting to go back herself, to finally rest for good, but... no. Not when there was a life here. Not when there were at least a few people she had to stay alive for. Not when, even with her family gone, she still had a semblance of happiness. And... perhaps, a chance for more.
She gave it a week, for everyone to recover from the loss, to adjust to life with a big portion of the population gone. Once that passed, she found herself in front of the door of Asch's house. Normally, she wouldn't hesitate, but what she had in mind... it might change things. No, it would change things. Whether it was for better or worse was what gave her pause.
Shutting her eyes and taking in a deep breath, Stella took a step forward and knocked on the door.]
Edited 2019-04-11 02:34 (UTC)
i made an unholy noise also i am so out of practice
[The sudden, strange quietness of the village over the last week has made Asch consider more than once that maybe he should have returned to his world, after all. It's not like he's suicidal, and it's not that he hated the quiet; more often than not he thrives in it, something he's always known. That isn't the problem. It's the sharp, unexpected loneliness that bothers him, the recognition that yes, he avoided people, but the choice to do so was important to him. He liked having... options. He's had so few choices that he could make for himself, his whole life. For a while, this place changed that.
Even Star's gone back. The house is too quiet. So many of the houses are quiet, these days.
That's what makes the knock so startling, and it only takes a few moments for him to open it, puzzled that he of all people might find himself with a visitor. The confusion fades, however, as soon as he sees who it is.]
Stella...
[And now he feels like an idiot for just sitting here feeling sorry for himself- she must feel much the same way, these days.]
[Of course she does, especially when the house she was in was so large. Everyone who lived there, other than her, had gone. Stella couldn't take it; she had to move, find some other house that was closer to the center of the village.
Luceti itself... seemed too big now for the population it currently had.
But that wasn't important right now. Though she worried all the way here, seeing Asch melted some of it away, and she can't help the smile that comes up - a genuine one this time.]
Hello, Asch.
[She tilts her head a bit,] Can I come in? Or we could talk in the doorway.
[He does nothing but stare for a couple of seconds, as if her very existence is suddenly a mystery to him, but quickly it fades and he shakes his head- then corrects to a nod, stepping aside to let her in.]
No, uh- that would be ridiculous. You want some tea?
[His cheeks go slightly pink, but he doesn't pull away from the touch, which is something only few people are allowed to do. He leads her towards the kitchen, stopping at a cupboard just outside the doorway.]
I... think I might have strawberry. I don't drink fruit tea that much.
Wait, she doesn't live here. Brushing that thought aside, Stella sits at the table nearby, back straight with her hands on her knees, and takes in a deep breath. She's nervous about this for sure, even though she's not planning on saying the words just yet. She'll have to soon, she knows, but she's looking for the right opportunity.
... Hopefully that opportunity will at least make itself known to her before she leaves.]
[He joins her inside, going about setting up the kettle and making the tea. After years of living here he's gotten used to the casual domesticity of this place, but sometimes he can't help feeling strange and self-conscious about it. Like he's not supposed to be doing this, or he's somehow doing it wrong. He wonders if that will ever truly go away.
...That's not important now, though, and he shakes it off.]
I'm not surprised by the number of people who chose to leave, but to actually see it in practice is different. This planet isn't empty by any means, but...
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asch ketchum (let's make this official and not handwaved)
In the end, many had returned to their worlds, and some, those who enjoyed their lives here or had none to return to, had stayed. Stella, belonging to the latter, saw her family off while barely holding herself together. She was, at least, able to do so with a smile. No matter how faked it was, she was a master of it.
She may never see them again, but at least they were going to live the life they wanted.
It was tempting to go back herself, to finally rest for good, but... no. Not when there was a life here. Not when there were at least a few people she had to stay alive for. Not when, even with her family gone, she still had a semblance of happiness. And... perhaps, a chance for more.
She gave it a week, for everyone to recover from the loss, to adjust to life with a big portion of the population gone. Once that passed, she found herself in front of the door of Asch's house. Normally, she wouldn't hesitate, but what she had in mind... it might change things. No, it would change things. Whether it was for better or worse was what gave her pause.
Shutting her eyes and taking in a deep breath, Stella took a step forward and knocked on the door.]
i made an unholy noise also i am so out of practice
Even Star's gone back. The house is too quiet. So many of the houses are quiet, these days.
That's what makes the knock so startling, and it only takes a few moments for him to open it, puzzled that he of all people might find himself with a visitor. The confusion fades, however, as soon as he sees who it is.]
Stella...
[And now he feels like an idiot for just sitting here feeling sorry for himself- she must feel much the same way, these days.]
it's okay i am too
Luceti itself... seemed too big now for the population it currently had.
But that wasn't important right now. Though she worried all the way here, seeing Asch melted some of it away, and she can't help the smile that comes up - a genuine one this time.]
Hello, Asch.
[She tilts her head a bit,] Can I come in? Or we could talk in the doorway.
no subject
No, uh- that would be ridiculous. You want some tea?
no subject
...
Hm. She knows him well, but there's still plenty about him that's a mystery.]
I'd love that, thank you. Do you have any fruity flavors?
[As she heads inside, she brushes her fingers against his forearm, like it's second nature.]
no subject
I... think I might have strawberry. I don't drink fruit tea that much.
no subject
[She'll have to get some fruit tea to stock -
Wait, she doesn't live here. Brushing that thought aside, Stella sits at the table nearby, back straight with her hands on her knees, and takes in a deep breath. She's nervous about this for sure, even though she's not planning on saying the words just yet. She'll have to soon, she knows, but she's looking for the right opportunity.
... Hopefully that opportunity will at least make itself known to her before she leaves.]
How have things been for you here?
no subject
[He joins her inside, going about setting up the kettle and making the tea. After years of living here he's gotten used to the casual domesticity of this place, but sometimes he can't help feeling strange and self-conscious about it. Like he's not supposed to be doing this, or he's somehow doing it wrong. He wonders if that will ever truly go away.
...That's not important now, though, and he shakes it off.]
I'm not surprised by the number of people who chose to leave, but to actually see it in practice is different. This planet isn't empty by any means, but...
[He shrugs his shoulders.]
You know what I mean.