[Voice | D516, after the fiasco with the sea serpent]

[damselled]

It has come to my attention that in light of recent events, we have had little enough time to ourselves. Naturally, this is only to be expected in a time of war. However, we must not lose sight of ourselves in the midst of all this havoc, and I therefore have a proposal for the women of Asgard.

Would anyone, perhaps, be interested in joining me for an evening of light entertainment? We have precious little time before everything comes crashing down around our ears, and I wish to attempt to use some of that time to get to know my fellow ladies-in-arms a bit more.

Comments

[damselled]

I will use the same character.

[She glances at Ellie as the younger girl chooses another character.]

Boston? Is that where you're from? [Not that she knows what a Boston is, exactly, but whatever.]

I wonder, too. It's quite strange, coming from one world, only to be pulled into another.

[tonsofpun]

Gotcha.

[Ellie isn't as familiar with this character, and she tests a few buttons out on the loading screen, getting a feel for it.]

Yeah, ish. It's the name of the Quarantine Zone. My world's kinda... well. It's not so fun.

[Pulling a face, she glances to the side, tries to laugh it off. People always look horrified when she gets into it.]

This place is a huge step up.

[damselled]

Oh, my.

[Try her, Ellie. She's dealt with Risen.]

Perhaps... there is some way to ensure you do not have to go back?

[tonsofpun]

Hell no. I have to go back.

[Uncharacteristically serious about it, too. She viciously punches the buttons. Looks like this is a sore subject, but she isn't warning her off.]

[damselled]

Are you certain?

[Perhaps there's another way. Maribelle's mind is more on the conversation than the fight, but she's still trying.

Maybe she does marginally better than last time.]

[tonsofpun]

I've got some important stuff to do.

[Ellie, for her part, is clearly distracted, which evens their level out a bit more.]

... stuff I can't walk away from.

[damselled]

I - I see.

[Distractions for everybody!]

I cannot blame you. There is much I will need to do, should I make it back home.

[The difference is that she wants to be there.]

[tonsofpun]

Lemme guess, you've gotta save the world?

[Ellie grins at her, trying to lighten the mood. Then again, it's a sincere guess. Seems like it's true for a surprising amount of people.]

[damselled]

[She laughs at that, shaking her head.]

No! Goodness, no. I merely wish to see my family and friends again.

[Little did she know...]

[tonsofpun]

[Ellie's face softens a little, and she goes back to pressing buttons.]

What are they like? Your family?

[damselled]

[A soft, sad smile comes to Maribelle's face, and she chuckles, a little softly.]

Oh, gracious. My mother works ever so hard keeping the household in order. She looks after everyone - and really, I think she thinks herself the mother to all to enter our house. The way she acts, she may very well be right.

And my father! My father is simply wonderful, Ellie. He's good, and kind, and really, one of the few decent noblemen we have in Ylisse.

[She sighs, her mind not as much on the game as it might have been.]

I do miss them so.

[tonsofpun]

[Ellie's bright, sharp expression softens still more, leaving her looking years older than she must be. While she never stops playing the game, her concentration has definitely wavered.]

They sound great.

[Parents who loved her. It's like some kind of faraway dream, but it's a wonderful thing to imagine. Ellie's only had a taste of what a parent might have been like, but it's enough to have glimpsed the value of it.]

Then we've gotta make sure we get you home, huh?

[damselled]

They are. They've been the most wonderful parents anyone could ask for.

[She's not particularly paying attention to the game, either, tapping buttons in a rather automatic fashion.]

I do miss them terribly. But I must remember that I am fighting for their safety, as well. I shall not return home until my duty is done here.

[tonsofpun]

I don't have anybody left at home.

[She taps at the buttons, and a few seconds later, realizes what that sounds like, hastens correct herself.]

Well... Joel's there. But he's here, too.

[damselled]

Oh... goodness me, I'm so sorry.

[She never knows what to say. She knows that she's incredibly lucky to have survived this far, and to still have her family.]

And who is Joel?

[tonsofpun]

[Shrugging, Ellie shoots her a small, sidelong smile, hopefully reassuring.]

Hey, it is what it is. And I'm alive, so... I figure, I'm going to make it count.

[At the mention of Joel, Ellie's face warms considerably, akin to Maribelle's expression when she talked about her family.]

Joel's the old beardy guy with all the guns. He tries to act like he doesn't have any patience for anybody's shit, but there's a little bit of a sense of humor in him. Rusty as hell, though.

Me and him, we keep each other alive. He's the closest thing to a family I've got.

[damselled]

My word, Ellie, I do believe you must be one of the strongest people I have ever met.

[She smiles as Ellie describes Joel, nodding at the explanation.]

It sounds as though you both take care of one another.

[tonsofpun]

[Ellie's immediate reaction is to deny it, but she tries to keep that sort of stuff to herself. Besides, she doesn't want Maribelle feeling sorry for her, or realizing just how deep the loss goes.]

Yeah, we do. I can't imagine what life would be like without him now. We didn't exactly start out friends.

[damselled]

Oh?

[She can tell Ellie's hiding something, but chooses not to pry.]

[tonsofpun]

[Nodding, Ellie turns back. She figures she won't mention the seriously depressing stuff. At least not yet.]

Yeah, he was actually hired to smuggle me out of Boston. But when we got to the meeting point, the people who were supposed to pick me up were all dead. By then, neither of us had anything to go back for. So we just kept going.

... he tried, once. To pass me off to somebody else. But then he changed his mind.

[damselled]

As well he should have! You're well worth remaining in the company of, Ellie.

[Says the snob who's never had any other friends except Lissa until she joined the Shepherds.]

[tonsofpun]

[The compliment startles a laugh out of her, and she grins at the game screen, breaking focus to glance at her.]

Hey, thanks. You too, Maribelle.

[damselled]

[Maribelle smiles back... and then the timer runs out.]

Oh, dear. It's a draw?

[tonsofpun]

... woah. I didn't even know it was possible to suck this much.

[Momentarily disgusted, Ellie can't help the giggle that bubbles up.]

Serves us right, I guess. You wanna try pinball?

[damselled]

What is... "pinball"?

[Sorry, Ellie. She currently has an odd mental image of a ball being balanced on a pin.]