02. On Butterfly Wings

[cantilevers]

[There was a deep emotionless void in the Murmur as Vander appeared. He looked stricken for a moment before smoothing his expression to something close to neutrality.]

So... uh... [He scratched a whiskery cheek with a finger.] I just wanted to inform anyone listening or watching that Maria has left. I know she was a popular lady, so it felt like she would hate to leave anyone hanging worrying about her or trying to reach her.

[He sent an image of Maria to anyone wanting to distinguish which one he was speaking of. He knew from experience and through their tether that she had touched a lot of people here.]

Anyway, just figured this was the right thing to do. Take care of each other. It's a big scary world out there.

[He signed off managing to hold his own emotions in check. It wasn't as he and Maria had ever shown signs of the depth of their connection or relationship.]

Comments

[ingestion]

( it's like someone shook heather and rattled her mind with this revelation. she hadn't known the woman for very long or even got around to discovering their connection, but at this point she had gotten close to her. close enough for this to hit her right where it hurt—

but did this mean... )

Tell me, do you know for certain she really left? Back to her home? Or was she...

( put on a shelf by sleep as a bored, tired plaything? that seemed to be the implication around these parts. )

[hallowedly]

( So quickly on the footsteps of her exorcism. Is that so, is that so. )

You're kind to let us know.

[fatedfinality]

[ Hm. Hm! There's a few things Ardyn feels about this, admittedly, and none of them are good. He's sadder than he anticipated about the news. Why, had he gotten a little soft? Perish the thought.

He had shared things with Maria though he hadn't anyone else here. That's both a blessing and a shame. She won't be able to tell anyone, but he also won't be inclined to tell anyone again anytime soon. ]

That's the hard part about being here, hm? Never know when it might end. Makes it important to enjoy things while they last, and- Like you said, take care of each other while we can.

[ Does he mean a word of that? Probably not. But it's the right thing to say and he, of all people, knows about keeping up appearances. ]