~forty~ (and to hell with everything)

[glowing_science]

[Klavier's droned. For good.

Needless to say, Ema's taken the discovery pretty hard. The two of them had been together for over a year after arriving within a few months of each other. Yes, lately things had been strained, but they had been working through it. Klavier was her rock, the man who gave her comfort when the town hit her too hard,

Comments

A

[have_your_lives]

[Schuldig's gait is usually a casual saunter, moving as though he isn't worried about when or how he's going to get where he's going, isn't sure where that might be, and isn't concerned about anything that might get in his way. For one reason or another, though, he strides into the kitchen today as though he has some specific purpose.

...which he expresses by idly stealing a few pieces of food off Ema's plate as he moves past her to get coffee. Some things are a comfortable constant.]

So he's gone. [The statement is, for Schuldig, a surprisingly neutral one, albeit blunt as hell. He's apparently not interested in helping her hide from it...although that he's not actively working this thorn deeper into her side is interesting in its own way.]

[glowing_science]

[Ema doesn't even try to swat his hand away--which, if she had been feeling better, she would have done purely out of instinct. It's indicative of how distracted she really is.]

Yeah, he is.

No commentary?

[have_your_lives]

Does it need any? [Schuldig leans against the counter behind Ema, out of her eyeshot, downing her food and washing it down with coffee - and he'd have taken her coffee, too, if he thought it'd still be hot - as he watches her. His gaze is probing, but otherwise inscrutable.]

But I could come up with some, if you'd like.

[glowing_science]

I'd rather you not. I feel miserable enough without you twisting the knife.

[Ema takes a drink from her coffee.]

I suppose you think this is my fault, for getting too attached.

phone;

[heartserved]

... People that control places like this just want to see that kind of reaction from us, sometimes...

I accidentally froze the post for a bit there, idek how that happened. ><

[glowing_science]

What? Being angry? Being hurt?

I know I'm giving them what they want. But I'm not going to pretend that I'm not upset by all of this.

maybe lj was being derpy again

[heartserved]

Yes, but--

... Sometimes, it's better to deny them what they want. Then... they might stop bullying others around so much.

who knows?

[glowing_science]

...

I wish I could be that idealistic. Honestly? I think they'd do this to us regardless of our reactions.

C

[miss_enma_ai]

[There is a little girl walking over. She decided that appearing in front of you wasn't something you needed right now. /is slowly learning.]

[glowing_science]

[Ema gives a miserable, drunken wave.]

Hi, Ai.

[miss_enma_ai]

[Sits down next to her. You're far from the first miserable drunk she's seen in her life. ...very, very far from the first.]

Ema.

[As always she has no idea what to say.]

....I'm sorry.

[glowing_science]

I know.

It's... it's something I should have been prepared for. I always knew it was a possibility. We just... didn't let ourselves approach the idea.

We should have.

C

[beyondthecowl]

[Bruce wasn't normally one to grow concerned about people, but Ema didn't usually miss work, so Bruce had set out to find her.

His gaze fixes for a moment on the discarded bottles of liquor on the grass. Totally unfazed, he simply walks up and sits down next to Ema.

Wordlessly, he reaches into the breast pocket of his suit and offers Ema a neatly folded handkerchief.]

It's okay to cry, Ms. Skye.

[He's not sure what's going on, as he normally isn't one for telephones. He also figures that whatever's bothering her is probably none of his business.]

[glowing_science]

[Ema blinks at Bruce as he sits, surprised that he's sought her out like this. After a few moments, she takes the handkerchief and wrings it in her hands.]

It... doesn't solve anything.

[Even so, she looks like she'll burst into tears any second.]

What is hiatus apparently ;p

[beyondthecowl]

That's all right. It doesn't have to solve anything. Sometimes, just letting it all out is good enough for now.

[Bruce simply puts a hand on Ema's shoulder. He's usually not one for words; but instead is trying to convey nonverbally that he'll be here for her, if she wants.]

I have no idea. ;)

[glowing_science]

...

[It takes Ema all of two seconds to quickly collapse into him, sobbing into his shoulder and trying to explain what happened in choked half-sentences. If nothing else, he should be able to discern that this is in response to a droning.]

[glowing_science]

[Ema's head pops up at the voice.]

Oh, Zidane.

Hi. I guess you heard the phone call...? Either that, or you're really confused by all this.

[glowing_science]

Thanks.

I don't know what I would say that would make any of this better. He's gone. That's that.