Ninth [Action]

[thunder_ace]

[Fate is a very family-oriented person. It didn't take much for her to think of her friends as family, but there are those - the people she's been with for years or people she's formed extremely close bonds with - who she considers real family, on the same level as Lindy, Chrono, Amy, and their kids. Hayate and the Wolkenritter are such people

Comments

B

[headedforhope]

[Mami wanders into the kitchen for a drink, the smile on her face even brighter than usual- warmer, more real. Madoka forgave her, and it's like a great black cloud has been lifted from her heart; the times she's felt this happy can be counted on one hand.

So please, Fate, don't think too badly of her for not noticing your drop in spirits just yet. Seeing the world in a rose-tinted haze obscures faults and flaws and cracks in armor.]

-Oh, hello miss Harlaown!

[thunder_ace]

[Fate jumps a little, narrowly avoiding slicing her finger with the knife she was using to prepare the fish. She was so caught up in other things that she didn't notice the younger girl walk in.

She quickly shook her head, a smile plastered on her face as she turned to face the newcomer.]

Hello, Mami! [The smile is at least a little genuine; as absorbed as she is in her own thoughts, it's easy to notice the change in the other blonde's demeanor.] You seem quite cheerful today.

[headedforhope]

Haha, do I? [No shit, Mami. Calm yo'self.] Mm, well, I'm glad to have a reason to be. And how are you?

[thunder_ace]

I'm... fine. [It's kind of funny how their situation is kind of reversed, isn't it? Now Fate's the one dodging talking about her feelings!] If you don't mind me asking, what's the reason?

[headedforhope]

Well....[her hands slip behind her back to hide how the fingers interlink and happily squeeze, as if doing so could keep the joy from bursting out of her chest; the gesture's almost....shy, and she glances off to the side.] I don't suppose you remember....Kaname-san.

[The memory of the Labyrinth takes the bloom off her happiness, just a bit.]

[thunder_ace]

[... Oh, now Fate can guess what might have happened. And if she's right... oh god she's so happy now.] Madoka? Yes, I do. I met her not long ago, actually.

[Yeah, she's not going to bring up the Labyrinth. At all.]

[headedforhope]

Yes, I found her when she arrived here. And we...talked. [A faint blush of color to her cheeks.] It seems like I was being really stupid about a lot of things.

[thunder_ace]

I don't think you were being stupid... [She was scared. They all were. But there's no need to bring anything else up. Gotta keep this conversation positive!]

But I'm glad it went well, Mami. I really am.

[headedforhope]

Mm, well, thank you. [She beams one last, happy smile, and glances over at Fate with a much more careful gaze.] ...it seems like I have a lot to thank you for, miss Harlaown.

[thunder_ace]

You don't have to thank me, really! That's what friends are for, right?

[lalala, gotta keep the subject on a positive note.] So has she found a place to stay yet? You know she's more than welcome to move in with us.

[headedforhope]

[nope not having it; Mami takes a deep breath.] Miss Harlaown, please don't try to change the subject. There's something- important I need to say. Will you listen?

[thunder_ace]

... Of course. What is it?

[headedforhope]

[She focuses her gaze on the empty air beside Fate's shoulder, and for what feels like an eternity, says nothing. Gathering strength, mustering the courage to crack open the closet door of her emotions.

Fate deserves much more than this, but what she'll get is at least the truth.]

Miss Harlaown, my mother is dead. It was my fault- at the time, I acted selfishly. [It's said calmly, almost coldly, the only indicator of the effort it takes to say this showing in a slight trembling of her shoulders. She can't bear to give more details, and hopes that she won't be pressed for more.] You're a good person, and your kindness reminded me of her- and of what I did. In spite of everything you've seen of me- my ugliness, my cowardice- you supported me.

[a deep intake of breath; her hands are fists behind her back] You will never be a mother to me, Miss Harlaown. You can't replace the one I [killed] had. So I'm sorry if that hurts you, but....thank you, anyway, for trying to be.

[thunder_ace]

[Fate sets the knife she'd been using to prepare their dinner down as she listens to what the girl has to say. There's no hurt, no sadness (other than the bit already there that she's so carefully hiding) crossing her face. In fact, her smile turns to something warmer, and she places her hands on Mami's shoulders, trying to stop the trembling.]

I'm not trying to replace your mother, Mami. I would never want to do something like that. [After all, she never replaced her own biological mother with her adoptive one. She can't expect others to do it either.] It's true, that what I do is... well. Motherly. But all I want to do is support you; it doesn't matter to me how you view me.

[headedforhope]

I'm- [the briefest of pauses, a wondering look stealing into her usually blank eyes; she's what? she's sorry, is what she is, but that's not what comes out:] -just explaining myself, I suppose. I know I've been cold. It's not something I can change easily, if at all. Even now, I want to shrug off your hands. [And yet she stands still, allows the contact, the tension draining from those shoulders.] Some part of me does, I mean.

[A heavy weariness passes over her face like a shadow as she places one of her hands over Fate's, and smiles. It doesn't need to be said, beyond that touch, that Mami isn't letting the distance win this time.]

[thunder_ace]

[Just that small action says a lot. During the time they've known each other, Mami never responded to any kind of contact. Even in the aftermath of the Labyrinth, when she was broken and crying, she didn't do anything other than let herself be held. So even a simple response like that was more than enough.]

I'm glad you're not.

[... There's a nagging voice in the back of her head now. She's getting very close to this girl; someone not from Mid-Childa, not even from her universe's version of Earth. And that means, either through the whims of the Queen or the success of the residents in finding a way home, they'll eventually have to part.

It hurts, knowing she'll have to leave this girl she's come to think of as another daughter. It hurts worse than any battle wound, but she has to address this or else it will probably just be so much worse when the time comes.]

I have something I'd like to say too, if that's okay.