You hum, feeling it rumble in your chest. Solid. Real.

"Good to know!" You tell them.

They still don't look at you.

It's something you've noticed recently. Elle keeps stumbling over names. Not usually as bad as what just happened, but... it's little things. You'd like to think you know them pretty well, now. You hope you do. So you pick up on the hesitation when it happens.

You sit down beside them, a cool breeze buffeting at your clothes, fixing your eyes on them more intently. They slink away from your gaze, pressing into the edge of their seat. The grimace that they're wearing is clear even with no mouth to pull it. This is something that's obviously getting to them. You should probably talk about it before it's too much.

It's not just the two of you here, though. Looking past them: you see m'dame Odile. She glances up from the book she's reading and mimes covering her ears with her freehand. You sure she might eavesdrop anyways, but it's the thought that counts. Bonnie was dragging Sif around town even before you got back, so at least she's the only one who could snoop.

Alright.

"Elle." You say quietly.

"Sunlight." They respond.

You shift in your seat, "Are you… having trouble with names?"

"No." They snap. Then, softer, they add, "No. Not… like you think, anyhow."

You nod, but you're still not entirely sure you understand? They aren't forgetting anyone's name, at least. Everyone says each other's names all the time. It'd be pretty hard to forget them now. (Still... didn't you do that once? Even though you heard their names constantly?)

...This isn't about you.

"Explain?" You ask.

They still won't look at you, but they do nod, "I suppose I can do that. Or I can at least try to, teehee!"

You frown.

"I. Have been trying to call your party their names." They admit, "Their real names, not the titles I gave them."

Oh. "Oh!"

"I am not doing a very good job," they mutter bitterly, hiding their face in their scarf.

You shrug, trying to seem casual, "It's a learning curve, Ellie! And… hard, probably."

"Yes." They say stiffly, "It is."

It isn't something you should ask, but your mouth is moving quicker than your brain so you spill your first thought.

"Was it the same? What you called all of us? Um. Your us, I mean?"

They squeeze their arm, "There is no 'my'. I didn't own them. They weren't my property. They were with me, once. But they're gone now. And I will never, not ever, get them back. The Universe willed it so. And now they're nothing, so they certainly aren't mine."

"Elle." You reach out.

They blink, taking a shaky breath in and out. Seeing your hand in the air, Elle gives you a nod in permission. You put your hand on their shoulder softly and you both pretend that the contact isn't equal parts overwhelming and comforting. You ignore how it buzzes under your skin. This helps, you know it does.

"To answer your question, though," they say, leaning into your touch, "… yes. It was the same. I think."

"When…" they hesitate, "when your Traveler says them. I know them that way. But I can't call them that."

If you'd gone through all the things Elle had, you're not sure you'd be able to stomach calling anyone those things, either. Heck — you did stop calling everyone their nicknames near the end. It's not exactly the same, of course, but you felt so. Separate from them.

Elle is also a totally different person, now. Their identity as Loop was forced on them, but they're doing their best to find their own place. They have a right to call people different things.

You nod, remembering to actually respond to them, "Like how you call me Isabeau."

"Yes." They agree.

"I'm pretty sure Bonbon would kill you if you called them Boniface, though."

"Oh! Hah!" They bark out a laugh, eyelids crinkling, "I wouldn't dream of it! No, no. I… Bonnie will do."

You squeeze their shoulder and they look up at you. Their eyes glitter with emotion, wet and reserved.

"Mirabelle, Bonnie, Odile." They whisper.

You smile and they do their best to smile back. That's their names!!!

"… No Sif?" You ask. You already know the answer. But talking might help!!

They shake their head. "No. That one is… maybe one day."

"Maybe one day," you nod.

The two of you stay like that for a while, though you do break contact. Eventually everyone makes it back to the table you've been waiting at. The sun shines in the sky. Things still aren't good. You think it'll take a long time to feel really good again. But for now... they're okay.