Colette? Um...hello. I don't know if you know me, but if you don't my name is Emil Castagnier. We're from the same world, or something like it. Kaneis told me you were here, so I thought I'd say hi.
Oh, hello! [Colette actually sounds really excited as she replies]
He did mention your name, but I didn't hear very much about you! I... I'm sorry that I don't know you right now, but I really look forward to getting to know you?
[since Zelos told her that little bit about Emil, Colette was pondering what she would say to someone who might... know her when she didn't know them. She might have over planned, those words come out in a big genuine tumble]
[Video; also pretend I remembered to mark this as private whoops]
[boi she knows her way around the 'smile as if there's nothing wrong' block. SHE OWNS THIS STREET!! but yeah, aka, she's still not very convinced. However, sounds like there's something serious to talk about sooooo]
[... ... ... you can practically see a "message failed to load, please try again" message on her face, but she nods slowly... trying to seem like she understands]
I blamed humans and half-elves for the death of my tree, and when I reawakened I tried to destroy them all. Taking on this form was my way of hiding myself from threats...and I don't want to do any of that now, of course! But I can't pretend I didn't do some horrible things.
Well, a lot's happened. There was a lot of trouble between Sylvarant and Tethe'alla, but I think we avoided the worst that could happen. And with Marta and you and the others...I'm sure things will be all right.
[Rise looks obviously distressed! Possibly even more so than when they first met.]
Um... you said to call if I...
[She suddenly pauses to sniffle, and barely seems to be holding back tears.]
Sorry if it's a bad time, I just...
[She trails off, and the video abruptly ends. She was just too embarrassed to actually ask! But part of her still kind of hopes Colette will call back.]
[Technically, she's in her private room at the Marasia Lounge, but the entrance is in one of the cafeteria walls. And she can be standing out there in no time.]
[she pauses and looks at the device, before she nods and temporarily hangs up. Then, about fifteen minutes later she's near the entrance of the cafeteria, looking around anxiously]
[action] - I love this dress too much I keep linking it in my threads...
[And Rise is standing by the Marasia Lounge sign on one of the walls, in what's probably a very eye catching dress and her matching hair bows. At least Colette won't have any difficulty finding her!
Rise just... keeps glancing up to see if Colette's nearby yet and then back down at the floor. And then one of those times she looks up, towards the entrance...]
... Colette-san?
[She almost wants to run over to her... maybe she would, if she took a minute to think about it first...]
Rise! [well no worries, Colette jogs over towards her and saves her the trouble of making a decision. She looks her up and down... checking for wounds or anything like that. Then she settles in on Rise's face. She opens her mouth as if she's about to say something... then closes it, and then decides on something]
[Rise's super relieved to see Colette. She'd smile if she were feeling up to it. But that look of concern also reminds Rise of what she just lost.]
I-... I was on a mission, and...
[Her sad, but controlled demeanor starts to break apart almost instantly. She's not even trying to hold back tears anymore.]
Junko-neechan... my sister... she's...
[Calling Junko her sister sounds so empty to her now. Now that they're separated by worlds again. But she has to hold on to it... it's become such a part of her identity.
But Junko isn't here right now. Colette is. Practically leaping forward to hug the other girl, Rise buries her face in her shoulder and just... cries. It's a little selfish of her, but she feels like she desperately needs a comforting presence right now.]
[her lips part to ask what a neechan is, but they close again as Rise answers the question. Her... sister? Oh no, what happened to her? When it's phrased that way, she wonders if she... did she die? Colette hugs her back in an instant, her heart aching for Rise]
I'm so... I'm so sorry. [for now her mind assumes the worst]
[It feels almost the same to Rise. Junko's gone, and she'll probably never see her again. She's glad when people get to go home, honest. But she's lost so many people and stayed behind so many times, it always hurts a little bit more every time it happens. And now it's the one person she never wanted to leave her.
She holds on tightly to Colette, speaking through sobs.]
She's gone... like Cheria-san... everyone always gets sent back...
[That might clear up the possible misunderstanding. Not that Rise knows there was one, or cares about the difference between the two. Either way, she lost them.]
They always took care of me... I can't do it by myself, I just...!
[Breaking down into uncontrollable sobs and hugging herself tightly to Colette. If she says anything else, it's muffled and unintelligible for now.]
[ah... sent back. That does make sense. A different kind of sadness that's no less potent. Colette isn't really familiar with that feeling yet, but she knows the basic underlying feelings. So she hugs Rise as tight as she can (without it being painful) and rubs her back]
You'll be okay, you're really strong! [she can tell that from the few interactions that she's had, so her tone is genuine]
[Rise won't be letting go anytime soon. At least while she's clinging to Colette, she can be absolutely certain that someone she knows isn't going to be taken away from her.]
Y-yeah... I know...
[Unfortunately, right now, she doesn't believe for a second that she's strong. She thinks it's really nice that Colette would honestly think so highly of her, but she doesn't believe it.
[On Christmas at the door of wherever she's staying, there'll be a tin with a picture of a little dog on the top of it, wrapped with a ribbon. Inside the tin, are cookies with different sorts of fruits on the top. There's more than enough for Colette to share with whoever she wants]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[Video; backdated to the beginning of the month]
[Video; backdated to the beginning of the month]
He did mention your name, but I didn't hear very much about you! I... I'm sorry that I don't know you right now, but I really look forward to getting to know you?
[since Zelos told her that little bit about Emil, Colette was pondering what she would say to someone who might... know her when she didn't know them. She might have over planned, those words come out in a big genuine tumble]
[Video; also pretend I remembered to mark this as private whoops]
Thank you. I think you'll meet me for real a few years after the world regeneration, if you remember that.
[video; private]
Does it seem strange that I'm younger?
[video; private]
[video; private]
Is that... lonely?
[video; private]
I'm all right. Um, but...since you don't know what happens in my time, there's something I need to tell you.
[video; private]
Okay! What is it?
[video; private]
I'm not just Emil. I know this will sound strange, but...I'm also Ratatosk, the Summon Spirit of the Giant Kharlan Tree.
[video; private]
You're... also? Mm... like a secret identity?
[video; private]
Not exactly.
[Not anymore? Something like that.]
I took on a human form two years ago, although it wasn't for good reasons.
[video; private]
Is it okay if I ask what your reasons were?
[video; private]
[video; private]
Being able to admit it is something that only a strong person can do.
[video; private]
Not really. I just...I didn't want to deceive you again.
[video; private]
Is there anything else important that I should know? Um, about the future?
[video; private]
[Video] - backdated to late on November 3rd
[Rise looks obviously distressed! Possibly even more so than when they first met.]
Um... you said to call if I...
[She suddenly pauses to sniffle, and barely seems to be holding back tears.]
Sorry if it's a bad time, I just...
[She trails off, and the video abruptly ends. She was just too embarrassed to actually ask! But part of her still kind of hopes Colette will call back.]
[video]
H-Hello? Rise?
[video]
[She has it under control. Really. ... But she's so glad she called back...]
I...
[Another sniffle or two, and then she takes a deep breath.]
You... told me to tell you if I... ever feel like crying again...
[And it's pretty obvious she does. She's kind of relieved Colette called back so soon... or she might have caught Rise looking even less composed.]
[video]
Where are you? I can come find you.
[video]
[Technically, she's in her private room at the Marasia Lounge, but the entrance is in one of the cafeteria walls. And she can be standing out there in no time.]
[video]
[she pauses and looks at the device, before she nods and temporarily hangs up. Then, about fifteen minutes later she's near the entrance of the cafeteria, looking around anxiously]
[action] - I love this dress too much I keep linking it in my threads...
Rise just... keeps glancing up to see if Colette's nearby yet and then back down at the floor. And then one of those times she looks up, towards the entrance...]
... Colette-san?
[She almost wants to run over to her... maybe she would, if she took a minute to think about it first...]
[action] (ooooh it's a cute dress :D)
How are you?
[action]
I-... I was on a mission, and...
[Her sad, but controlled demeanor starts to break apart almost instantly. She's not even trying to hold back tears anymore.]
Junko-neechan... my sister... she's...
[Calling Junko her sister sounds so empty to her now. Now that they're separated by worlds again. But she has to hold on to it... it's become such a part of her identity.
But Junko isn't here right now. Colette is. Practically leaping forward to hug the other girl, Rise buries her face in her shoulder and just... cries. It's a little selfish of her, but she feels like she desperately needs a comforting presence right now.]
[action]
I'm so... I'm so sorry. [for now her mind assumes the worst]
[action]
She holds on tightly to Colette, speaking through sobs.]
She's gone... like Cheria-san... everyone always gets sent back...
[That might clear up the possible misunderstanding. Not that Rise knows there was one, or cares about the difference between the two. Either way, she lost them.]
They always took care of me... I can't do it by myself, I just...!
[Breaking down into uncontrollable sobs and hugging herself tightly to Colette. If she says anything else, it's muffled and unintelligible for now.]
[action]
You'll be okay, you're really strong! [she can tell that from the few interactions that she's had, so her tone is genuine]
You're not alone.
[action]
Y-yeah... I know...
[Unfortunately, right now, she doesn't believe for a second that she's strong. She thinks it's really nice that Colette would honestly think so highly of her, but she doesn't believe it.
At least she can accept that she isn't alone...]
Not here - Christmas Day
[There's no card or name attached, just the tin.]