♢ 10 ♢

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[Here, Plane, have a crying Marta. So much has happened to her lately that she just can't hold it all in anymore. Heck, you'd be upset too, if you thought the love of your life was gone forever, suddenly becoming someone else entirely... And to top it all off, they had been fighting. She never got to say goodbye, she was too stubborn, too angry, too... well, none of it matters now...

She's here to try and find some comfort, a friend, anything to help her cope or anyone that will just listen. Usually, she rather likes the Plane. This blood, though... the smell disgusts her. She doesn't want to go back right now, how could she possibly face everyone else? But staying here... if only it would go away...

... And it does. That's right, no more blood-filled plane. Every single ounce has vanished without a trace.

Well. That was sudden, and entirely unexpected. She's grateful, though, even if she is still crying.]

((OoC: Marta hasn't quite put two and two together yet, but she's a goddess now. Have fun with that. Also, no more blood! Yay!))

Comments

[pactum.livejournal.com]

[Oh goddess, she's crying. Emil lingers at the edge of her awareness. Now that he's finally found her, he's also discovered some information he's not sure he wants to deal with. But he has to. He has to make things right again if they're going to continue on the journey.

She called him a jerk, insensitive-- like he was some kind of soulless murderer. And maybe he wants to believe that sometimes. To be honest, he doesn't care what the hell happens to him after Ratatosk wakes up. He just wants Marta to be safe.

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

His steps make some noise as he shuffles toward her. When he speaks, it's in a soft tone familiar to her.]

Marta... Why are you crying? What happened?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[That voice... She turns to him, rubbing at her eyes.]

I... Sorry, Em-... [She swallows down a sob.] Sorry, Aster.

[pactum.livejournal.com]

[... Oh.]

Don't call me that. [That sounds a little flatter than intended.] ... Silly. I'm Emil, not Aster. I'm from Sylvarant just like you.

That other... guy... isn't even from our world. He's from a different one where Ratatosk woke up already. So don't worry about him. We should focus on what we have to do. [Another pause.] ... But only if you... want to. We can rest here for as long as you need.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[She inhales sharply, eyes wide. Emil? Is it really--... No, but she just saw him, and he said his name was Aster! Was that the Plane playing tricks? Is this the Plane playing tricks?

She really, really wants to believe that it's him, it's her Emil, her knight, the one who means the world and everything to her. Her arm stretches out toward him, almost entirely on its own.]

You mean... it's really you?

[pactum.livejournal.com]

[A small, nervous smile flickers across his features. He hesitates for a moment, then takes her hand in his.]

Of course it's me. I'm... sorry I was stuck in Ratatosk Mode for so long. You hate me when I'm like that.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[It's him. Oh Goddess, it's really him! And of course, she tears up all over again. Holding his hand isn't enough. She quickly closes the distance, throwing her arms around his neck and clinging to him as if letting go would cause him to vanish all over again.

And when he speaks, she winces at the accusation.]

Oh, Emil...! No. I don't hate you. I don't ever hate you! No matter what! That's all I've been trying to tell you, all this time...!

[Yes, "you." Not "him." She knows. Even her tone, through the chokes and the sobs and the sniffles, gives that away.]

[lamb_of_gold]

...Marta?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[She looks up at Mu. Between sniffles, she manages:]

M-Mm?

[Ever been crying for so long that speaking becomes difficult? Yep.]

[lamb_of_gold]

[He sits next to her, and offers her his scarf to clean up a bit]

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[She blinks at the scarf, at Mu... she takes it, using the edge to gently dry her eyes. When she finishes that, she holds it close to her chest, clinging like a child would to a teddy bear. When she speaks, it's quiet - only barely above a whisper.]

Thank you, Mu.

[lamb_of_gold]

What's put you in this mood?

[because he will go kick it in the teeth]

[oliverplus]

[Oliver conveniently comes to the Plane to check if the blood is gone immediately after it disappears. he's relieved to find no trace of it around him--but then he spots Marta, and the blood suddenly isn't important anymore] Marta! [Oliver runs over, crouching beside her] Marta, what's wrong?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[She scrubs at her eyes with her fists, trying to stop crying, but it's no use. She does look up at Oliver though, eyes red and puffy. She's quite a mess right now.]

Oh, Oliver... [She chokes on a small sob.] It's Emil...

[oliverplus]

[his heart drops into his stomach at that. he wraps his arms around her because a hug is all he can think to give] Oh Marta, I'm sorry... What happened?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[She leans into the embrace, but she's still sobbing.]

He's... he's gone. When I saw him last, he said that his name was... A-Aster. So, it... it finally... happened. He's gone.

[oliverplus]

[he rubs her back comfortingly] Shh.

[horrified at that response] It's...what you said, then? About him becoming... [but he stops, shaking his head. how could that just...happen?] No. It could be an experiment. Couldn't it?

[bonnypiperlad]

[Well, having the blood gone is a bit of a relief, but seeing Marta greet so is a bit worrisome. Even though he's only really spoken to her the once, Jamie is concerned enough to go over to her.]

Marta? What's wrong, lass?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[She looks up at him, trying to wipe the tears from her eyes.]

Jamie... It's Emil. Do you know him?

[bonnypiperlad]

[Jamie still hasn't run into him other than at the Deathmatches, and shakes his head regretfully.]

Not well. Has something happened?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[It's... too long of an explanation for her right now. She hangs her head again, one hand covering her mouth as if it would stop the sobs. It doesn't.]

He's gone.

[bonnypiperlad]

Oh, Marta. [He doesn't know what's happened, and can only assume it's something terrible. Instinctively, he goes to wrap an arm around her to offer some small amount of comfort, if she'll let him.]

I'm sorry. Do ye know...was it something on the Plane?

[If it was, maybe there's some small hope...assuming the Twins can be found.]

[notameliajones.livejournal.com]

[Matti walks up behind Marta cautiously, holding her notebook in a deathgrip. She doesn't totally consider herself good at comforting, but she's decided to do her best. Provided Marta actually notices her there to begin with.]

E-excuse me... e-er.... w-what's wrong....?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[Of course Matti gets noticed, Marta's not a country! :D

She scrubs at her eyes, still sobbing a little, and shakes her head.]

I-I... I just lost someone very important to me.

[notameliajones.livejournal.com]

O-oh... [She can understand such things. She thinks.]

E-er... H-how can I... c-can I help you....?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

I don't think you can... but it's very kind of you to offer. Thank you, you're a very nice person.

[She tries to smile for her, but it's very forced, incredibly weak and exceedingly sad. Tears are still rolling down her cheeks.]