Event Eleven.

[awashmods]

"Four ducks on a pond, A grass-bank beyond, A blue sky of spring, White clouds on the wing; What a little thing To remember for years -- To remember with tears!"

he day is normal. It's a bit chillier than it's been, the nip of fall in the air, but as the new people in the Town settle in... things have gotten peaceful. And yet. When everyone goes out to greet their neighbors, to hug their friends, to shake hands or make eye contact or who knows what -- they'll realize very, very quickly that nothing about today is normal at all, actually. Hopefully nobody minds a little extra sharing today. Welcome to Awash's eleventh event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to start your own posts or logs for this event as well. If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

Comments

[troubadamsel]

I'm not okay with so many things about this place, why should this be any different?

[Boy, that memory sure made her bitter...]

[inheritance]

[Normally, he'd reach out and try to comfort her, but given the circumstances, Izuku keeps his hands right at his sides, even as he flashes her a sympathetic look.]

Because of the way you're acting right now. [It's a bit blunt, for him, but there's no judgment in his tone.] Letting someone else see the memory already hurt you enough--I don't want to make it worse, Maribelle-san.

[troubadamsel]

[A long stretch of silence follows, her back to him. Fingers clench, unclench. Sighs.]

... Lissa had an older sister. The true ruler of Ylisse. Everyone loved her. She tried so hard to bring peace to our land, to give compassion to our enemies, even at their worst.

She was taken hostage by the leaders of Plegia, a neighboring kingdom. They wanted a trade. Her life for our most powerful treasure, the Fire Emblem. It's a powerful item, handed down through generations of Ylisse rulers. Handing it over would be as good as surrendering our will. But gladly would we have done it to save her.

[Voice breaks, and she needs a moment, shutting her eyes tightly.]

[inheritance]

The Fire Emblem. I remember what you said about it before. [And suddenly what she said about it falling into the wrong hands makes a lot of sense.

Izuku hesitates for another second before his resolve breaks. His friend's hurting; he can't just stand here and do nothing. Even so, he takes precautions, settling his hand on her shoulder, careful not to touch skin directly.]

I'm so sorry. ["Lissa had an older sister." Had. Even if Maribelle didn't say what happened, Izuku thinks he can put the pieces together.]

[troubadamsel]

[This time, the touch is appreciated. She reaches to squeeze his hand, whimpering quietly. It had been some time since this happened... but it still hurt, a raw wound.]

... The battle was atop a rocky cliff, deep within the desert. They were going to execute her in front of their army. We interrupted it, but we couldn't get any closer. It was her life, or the Emblem. Our prince, his sister, struggled with the choice, but, Emmeryn... Oh, Emmeryn, she loved all people so much, even the wicked of Plegia...

... She... she walked off the...

[She breaks off for another whimper.]

[inheritance]

[His heart jumps into his throat. Though he'd had a feeling how this would end, the details of it are much worse than he would've imagined.

And Maribelle and her friends had seen it happen.

Wordlessly, Izuku steps closer, drawing her into a hug this time. Sometimes, a touch to the shoulder just isn't enough to convey all the comfort he wants to. Like now.]

[troubadamsel]

[And with that, the last of the dam bursts. She cries against him, hands curled up to his chest, eyes shut as tears roll down her face. It's horribly undignified.

If only she had been stronger... if only they had gotten there sooner... if only...!

Agonizingly slow minutes pass before she calms down, trying to clean her face.]

I-I'm sorry, that was...

[inheritance]

[The only thing he can do for her is hold her while she cries, letting her get the grief, the tears all out.]

Don't apologize, Maribelle-san. The way I see it, you've been holding the grief in for a long time. [Until whatever's happening with the town brought everything bubbling to the surface again.

Seeing her like this, it's made Izuku's eyes well up with tears, too.]

Have you...and your friends had a chance to talk about this?

[troubadamsel]

We... we've tried. It hasn't been easy...

[She tries to wipe her face clean, trying to get any of her composure back.]

We can only wish we are still making her proud. Plegia was defeated, and they've become peaceful for the most part.

[As far as they know, at that point.]

... Chrom was forced to become king... He's become a great, noble ruler.

[inheritance]

[He's quiet for a moment, turning over what he should say in his mind.]

From what you've said, Queen Emmeryn was extremely kind. If you've all done your best, I think she would be proud.

I'm glad, though, that you've all been able to support each other after this.