liza + julian

he hums the tune of the squeaky song hears in his heart, not particularly looking where he’s going.

he really should, though, considering he skips right into a bug filled man.

“whoops! i’m sorry mister!” he squeaks. “are you okay?”

@the-leaches

The bug-filled man just so happens to also be humming a song when he's run into. He staggers, losing balance, though he is able to catch himself on the crutches he walks with.

"I found the lot of them – or they found me, rather. Hard to know which." Clive picks a beetle up, which had been resting on one of the mushrooms that sprouts from his face. He offers it to the child.

"They sing a song of their own, listen close and you may hear it." He smiles.

"Ah, Ellery..." Things are a little blurry, considering the... everything that has driven a wedge between him and most other avatars. And, wow, this family tree is quite extensive, it would seem, assuming he remembers it all correctly.

he hums the tune of the squeaky song hears in his heart, not particularly looking where he’s going.

he really should, though, considering he skips right into a bug filled man.

“whoops! i’m sorry mister!” he squeaks. “are you okay?”

@the-leaches

The bug-filled man just so happens to also be humming a song when he's run into. He staggers, losing balance, though he is able to catch himself on the crutches he walks with.

"I found the lot of them – or they found me, rather. Hard to know which." Clive picks a beetle up, which had been resting on one of the mushrooms that sprouts from his face. He offers it to the child.

"They sing a song of their own, listen close and you may hear it." He smiles.

"Ah, Ellery..." Things are a little blurry, considering the... everything that has driven a wedge between him and most other avatars. And, wow, this family tree is quite extensive, it would seem, assuming he remembers it all correctly.

he hums the tune of the squeaky song hears in his heart, not particularly looking where he’s going.

he really should, though, considering he skips right into a bug filled man.

“whoops! i’m sorry mister!” he squeaks. “are you okay?”

@the-leaches

The bug-filled man just so happens to also be humming a song when he's run into. He staggers, losing balance, though he is able to catch himself on the crutches he walks with.

"I found the lot of them – or they found me, rather. Hard to know which." Clive picks a beetle up, which had been resting on one of the mushrooms that sprouts from his face. He offers it to the child.

"They sing a song of their own, listen close and you may hear it." He smiles.

"Ah, Ellery..." Things are a little blurry, considering the... everything that has driven a wedge between him and most other avatars. And, wow, this family tree is quite extensive, it would seem, assuming he remembers it all correctly.

and who exactly is that girl? she’s definitely not a part of rose’s crew. when and how did she get there?

@the-leaches

The ship was supposed to be empty. Rose hissed under his breath, something sharp prickling up his spine beneath his shirt as he spreads his legs apart on the carpeted flooring slightly, bending at the knee, shoulders hunching and head lowering as a ripple went through his body, stiffening his muscles all throughout, just enough to be taut, ready to spring into action if needed.

Andromeda was still being repaired. At the very least during day time, she was. No one was supposed to be here, including himself. But even on his supposed 'break' he couldn't help it. He worried for the large vessel, even as she reassured him, thrumming gently through the floorboards, vibrating the blood in his very veins, that she was more than alright and that he need not worry.

But here he was, having wandered some of the halls aimlessly, when he felt another presence board the ship. His ship.

He stepped into the shadows after a moment, when he'd located the trespasser, and reappeared not a moment after on a floor higher, that had an open railing showing him the view of the strange little girl stood upon the lower, wider deck at the back of the ship.

The sea around the dock sloshed gently, but not enough to disturb the pool that seperated the unknown figure from the Crew member eyeing them from the dark.

He only watches a moment longer before he steps once into nothingness, only to reappear two arms lengths infront of her, pool now not many steps behind him, watching the tendrils of fog twist gently around the railings on the far sides of the ship while focusing mainly on the girl before him.

Rose's posture is spun tight, standing tall with eyes cast down upon her.

"What are you doing here?" he demands, voice deep and level, a vague threat in his tone, though it's more so one that tells of the caution ringing in his mind.

Anywhere else and he would've just been mildly tense about a surprise meeting such as this. But...upon Andromeda? Alone?

He relaxed his shoulders forcefully, just enough so he didn't look like he'd pounce any moment anymore, and sighed, ignoring the urge to rub the bridge of his nose, between his tired eyes.

"...Right. Fine. That's fine." he muttered, voice rolling into a softer tone. "How about we just...get you something to drink, yes? If you've been walking as long as you say you have, you must be thirsty, hungry, or at the very least tired." he extends a hand to the girl, shifting a little awkwardly on his feet now that the tension between his shoulder blades had left him.

"It's fine. I wasn't asleep, hun. I'm not... Friendly towards your patron, but that isn't your fault. Let's just get you something to sip on, yeah?"

He turns on his heel and takes three steps before checking that the girl was following, only continuing on and into the ship afterwards. They unlocked some doors and lead them into one of the big restaurants on the vessel, slipping behind a counter with them into the same kitchen he'd taken the last one to.

"Alright, any preferences? When it comes to juices I've got Apple juice, Orange Juice, Multi-Vitamin.. Uh.. White Peach, Banana and Cherry."

she tries not to let the sorrow reach her voice. sinclair is back. she should be fine again. everyone else is happy again, why can’t she be?

"It's fine. I know many don't get a choice in the matter, so I do not blame you. Besides...there is no one for it to draw fear out of. To feed on."

That was only true in part. He was sure the Forgotten One was feeding on him right now, even if just bit by bit, little by little, as a small ribbon of fog curled around one of his ankles.

she pulls over a chair and sits, sighing in relief as she does. she doesn’t look down at the fog. she can’t.

He watches the way she clings to the blanket, giving her a moment of quiet peace before speaking up again. There is something prodding in the back of his mind. Whispering that he has heard that name before, somewhere.

Why. Why do his ghosts always come back to haunt him. Why why why. Ellery. Of course it's Ellery.

You left him. You left him when it needed you most. You left him. He must think you abandoned him. You did. You abandoned it when you last held it in your arms. You promised you'd be there for it. You lied. You lied. You liar. He must hate you. It must be so hurt. It's better you stay away now. You've done enough damage. Dissapear. You should just dissapear.

He forces himself to breathe, looking down at the ground.

He doesn't need you anymore.

Good.

"I'll be fine, just... Surprised. I'm glad he has a full fledged family now. He...he deserves that. I just didn't think I'd hear about him again I suppose. But it's okay. I'm glad he's okay. And you'll learn to get better, too." he's leaned against the counter next to the sink with his back.

be useful. always be useful. you need to be useful.

she doesn’t sit down. she doesn’t follow orders the way she used to. maybe sinclair was good for something. other than pushing her to this.

that’s not true. she knows that’s not true. but she can’t bring herself to argue with the voice in their head anymore.

"I know he is forgiving. Too forgiving."

He knows he failed as an older sibling.

"I dissapeared. I up and left for over half a year. Maybe he'd like to see me again, sure. But I have no right to see him again.

He sighs, crossing his arms and rubbing at them slightly while turning his head to look to the side, hair falling just right enough to cover and hide most of his expression. It had grown longer than it was when Ellery last saw him, tips stained a ghostly white, a few white hairs scattered about in the mass of his hair as it fell in lazy waves down his shoulders and back.

"I didn't say anything. I just..left. Without a word. Even when I knew he might need me."

Rose doesn't even know if Ellery tried to reach for him, to find him. He was unable to receive communications as much as he was unable to send anything out. Trapped and cornered and muzzled and...

It didn't matter. It didn't matter if Ellery looked or reached or begged and pleaded or not. The fact is that he could have. And Rose wouldn't have been there to scoop it back up into the safety of his arms.

He wasn't even sure if his arms were a safe place to be anymore at all...

she doesn’t say anything helpful, she wants to be helpful, but she can’t think right. fog and shadows are clouding her brain, not to mention what always does. the fear. the memories.

He takes a deep breath to steady himself and the heart inside of his chest. It beats weakly, fluttering inside his chest to an out of tune song, faltering like an old music box that had grown rusted and unsteady. One falled into a lake and fished out only years later, lungs...box still filled with water, sloshing against the walls and ruining the internal mechanism beyond repair.

Still, his beat dances to the tune, as sorrowful as it sounded now.

"That's not your fault...you did good. Thank you for trying to convince me. I do truly appreciate it. I'm sorry for touching you." He steps back further. Just in case. Lowering his gaze to the polished ground. He stands as a servant would. Shoulder straight, head bowed just enough, eyes lowered to the floor in a show of respect to an authority that was not present.

A habit.

"I do truly miss the kid. But I know that I tend to bring more trouble than it is worth, now, for anyone that stays beyond just a day or two in my orbit."

He knows that's the Lonely speaking. And yet still...

she’s still cold. she probably will be forever.

"Of course I don't want to be Lonely. And I know that there is people that care."

Most have forgotten that they did, if they ever had at all.

A whole lifetime left behind, and now even this one, his second chance, was falling apart in his so very careful hands, trickling away between his fingers like fine sand...

So long as he doesn't get what he wants, it'll be okay.

The smell of petricore fills the air around them. Gentle and calming. At the very least to one of them.

".. I suppose that is a fair trade. Do you..do you know where I can find him? I don't think I can bring myself to try and message him after...yeah."

she shifts around on the couch, keeping her eyes open. she’s tired, but it doesn’t matter. she’s not sleeping around some random man.

'You're barely an adult yourself', the back of his mind mutters to him. He votes to ignore it.

"But...thank you. I'll...I'll try and stop by his place sometime. But you should as well. I doubt it's just worry. I'm sure it would also just like to see you in general"

she ponders it for a minute. for a few. she can’t walk back home, not now, and she can’t handle being in the Lonely now anyways.

...it reminds him, distantly, of kneeling in the streets with Ellery tucked into his arms as he cried his little fearful heart out.

"Maybe. Though, with how little you had, nothing should happen, really. Never really did anything for me at least." he gives a little shrug. "And it's too good of a taste to pass up on"

she doesn’t explain. she can’t, doesn’t want to. not now, not yet.

I needed it. But I am made to give. To give and give and give until there is nothing left of me. Until the water stops boiling and I am nothing but seafoam. But at least I'll have made a difference, however small. And it will have been worth it. It will have mattered. I will have mattered.

"Either way, I'm not entitled to your secrets nor your life story Elizabeth. I'm only here to help for as long and as far as you'll let me." Going down the halls, he takes her up the elevator. One that runs smooth and without a hiccup, two floors up, before finally leading her to a room and unlocking it with his master key before ushering the girl inside, gesturing with an arm through the space.

It's a medium sized room. Or, as medium sized as luxury cruise room could get. One whole wall is windowed, with a door to a balcony. There are two seats out there, a small table and the railing too is made out of thick glass to allow perfect view of the dark sea as the putter latter or rain comes down upon it.

The bed is large enough to fit two adults comfortably. Eliza could lay within it any way she'd like and not a single limb would dip off the edge. The sheets are puffed up and clean, looking cozy as a cloud. There is a big closet, then a cabinet with a TV on top, a small fridge next to the cabinet under a little table with a little stool infront of it. The hallway splits to the side into a room, bathroom. There are paintings of ships and beaches with seagulls here and there scattered about, color pallette kept mild with whites, and like beige and yellows and deep blues, broke up by the light wood of the furniture. It smells pleasantly of salt, vanilla, cotton and a hint of something floral.

"Well, here we are love, welcome to your room for the night. Please, get comfortable and try to get some rest. I'll stay on the ship if you need me, okay? Just call my name and I'll come, I promise." I'll chase all the nightmares away for you. I'll keep you safe.

the room amazes her as she wanders around it. “it’s so… big.” they murmur to herself. she takes it all in with wide eyes, looking all around. it’s bigger than their bedroom was back at… back then.

she nods along with his words again, the pit in her stomach lessening. her chest feels warmer.

they giggle at his antics, gratefully taking the card. “thank you so much.” she whispers, holding the card like she’s holding a knife. carefully, she doesn’t want to hurt anyone. and she especially doesn’t want to drop it. “do- would you- can- would you like to- to stay? for a bit?”

They pulse, just a little brighter, as his heart thunders with love, something almost but not quite paternal lapping at the desolate shores of his mind.

His smile softens, melts like the wax of a freshly lit candle, dripping in offering upon an altar like blood.

"Of course, Elizabeth. I can stay for as long as you'd like. Why don't you cozy up in bed for now, though?" she moves to sit on the little stool across from the big bed, leaning one arm on the little table behind it and crossing one leg over the other infront of himself.

"I could read to you, if you'd like..? Perhaps that's a bit of a silly offering, though.." he looks out the window

they relax when he does, taking their bra off from under her sweater and putting it under the bed where it can’t be seen. “thanks. and, um- you can call me liza.” she offers shyly as she slips under the covers.

Melting. He's melting. Wax over Honeybee wings, fragile, encased in a warm tomb.

"Well then I think it's about time, Liza." The name rolls off his tongue just right. It feels good to say, a token of trust rolled around in the cavern of his mouth like a precious pearl, then swallowed in the deeper safety within him. A name to protect, a silent promise to keep safe.

"I've been told I have just the voice for reading." A sweet little thing spreads across his features. Soft as a petal, lopsided. It's a smile.

Long, long ago. When he was still alive, in another world that had since crumbled to dust, ceased to exist. Died just like he had, slipping just barely out of a dying worlds grasp.

He remembers admiring, gentle voices and words that he'd cared into his very being, so they may be spread out and read again when he comes undone. A red string a band, a script, of all that he was, all he was perceived to be. So the universe may know it had all been true.

Your voice reminds me of the sound of rain. It's my favorite sound. Rain on the window. But your voice, I think I like just a little bit better. You're my favorite sound.

I like your voice, it's soothing. You'd make a good audiobook reader you know?

Your voice is my favorite. You're my favorite person.

Can you read to me again? I really enjoyed it when you did.

Just keep talking, please. I like listening to you.

"Of course. Let's see..." he reached his hand up, slow and gracefully, and it slipped into a black, bubbling void that formed just low enough for his whole hand to dip into. He pulled it back out within a minute or so, and the little tear in the fabric of reality fell shut again in the empty space, vanishing from sight after leaving behind a sort of static in the air for a moment. A little like the white blinking specks of light you see when getting dizzy or feeling faint.

In the end, there is no trace of it left, safe for the old, blue bound book nestled in the man's lap. If Elizabeth is at all familiar with the feel of Leitners, she might be able to tell that this was one. Though...it felt just the same as Rose did, in its presence?

He flips through a few more pages, and watches as the writing dissapear, then returns to the pages, reforming into new sentences as if drawn by proper ink and feather.

"Alright, let's see..."

When the letters have settled, he begins, voice level and smooth. "Once upon a time, in a land far, far away from our own, there was a little girl called Nidia. She lived in the skies with her colony, all of which were equipped with the wings of bees and antennae, venom running through their veins as a form of protection, should they need it. They lived a simple life, up in the floating isles. Drones, as they were called, guarded people like her, the farmers of their lands...."

He explains the land surrounding Nidia in great detail, then, how she got betrayed by her lover, sent tumbling from the skies into a new world. One flat and not broken up in so many little platforms, nor floating at all. He tells of how the landing cost her the ability to fly, wings broken up and torn.

She explores, then, once she's recovered a little, and learns all sorts of things and meeting even more people. She settles upon a nice little valley in the hills, surrounded by flowers. Sh builds a little house, a garden that holds all kinds of fruit and vegetables, and along the way, finds new people to love and care for.

She learns to live a happy life again, even if she could no longer soar in the skies. A life with people in it that made her heart fly instead.

He gets up afterwards, and circles to the other side of the bed, taking off his shoes. "Of course Liza. I'll stay here and keep you safe, okay? You're not alone." he slides into bed proper on the other side of Liza after that, grabbing the second blanket to pull pcer his lap, sitting with his back leaned against the headboard.

but that cannot last forever. a while later during the night, she begins to toss and turn. she mutters things, breathing short and fast. they wriggle about, waking rose from any type of rest he might have been having.

she chants these words to themself like a mantra, trying and failing to get a grip on her head.

and who exactly is that girl? she’s definitely not a part of rose’s crew. when and how did she get there?

@the-leaches

The ship was supposed to be empty. Rose hissed under his breath, something sharp prickling up his spine beneath his shirt as he spreads his legs apart on the carpeted flooring slightly, bending at the knee, shoulders hunching and head lowering as a ripple went through his body, stiffening his muscles all throughout, just enough to be taut, ready to spring into action if needed.

Andromeda was still being repaired. At the very least during day time, she was. No one was supposed to be here, including himself. But even on his supposed 'break' he couldn't help it. He worried for the large vessel, even as she reassured him, thrumming gently through the floorboards, vibrating the blood in his very veins, that she was more than alright and that he need not worry.

But here he was, having wandered some of the halls aimlessly, when he felt another presence board the ship. His ship.

He stepped into the shadows after a moment, when he'd located the trespasser, and reappeared not a moment after on a floor higher, that had an open railing showing him the view of the strange little girl stood upon the lower, wider deck at the back of the ship.

The sea around the dock sloshed gently, but not enough to disturb the pool that seperated the unknown figure from the Crew member eyeing them from the dark.

He only watches a moment longer before he steps once into nothingness, only to reappear two arms lengths infront of her, pool now not many steps behind him, watching the tendrils of fog twist gently around the railings on the far sides of the ship while focusing mainly on the girl before him.

Rose's posture is spun tight, standing tall with eyes cast down upon her.

"What are you doing here?" he demands, voice deep and level, a vague threat in his tone, though it's more so one that tells of the caution ringing in his mind.

Anywhere else and he would've just been mildly tense about a surprise meeting such as this. But...upon Andromeda? Alone?

He relaxed his shoulders forcefully, just enough so he didn't look like he'd pounce any moment anymore, and sighed, ignoring the urge to rub the bridge of his nose, between his tired eyes.

"...Right. Fine. That's fine." he muttered, voice rolling into a softer tone. "How about we just...get you something to drink, yes? If you've been walking as long as you say you have, you must be thirsty, hungry, or at the very least tired." he extends a hand to the girl, shifting a little awkwardly on his feet now that the tension between his shoulder blades had left him.

"It's fine. I wasn't asleep, hun. I'm not... Friendly towards your patron, but that isn't your fault. Let's just get you something to sip on, yeah?"

He turns on his heel and takes three steps before checking that the girl was following, only continuing on and into the ship afterwards. They unlocked some doors and lead them into one of the big restaurants on the vessel, slipping behind a counter with them into the same kitchen he'd taken the last one to.

"Alright, any preferences? When it comes to juices I've got Apple juice, Orange Juice, Multi-Vitamin.. Uh.. White Peach, Banana and Cherry."

she tries not to let the sorrow reach her voice. sinclair is back. she should be fine again. everyone else is happy again, why can’t she be?

"It's fine. I know many don't get a choice in the matter, so I do not blame you. Besides...there is no one for it to draw fear out of. To feed on."

That was only true in part. He was sure the Forgotten One was feeding on him right now, even if just bit by bit, little by little, as a small ribbon of fog curled around one of his ankles.

she pulls over a chair and sits, sighing in relief as she does. she doesn’t look down at the fog. she can’t.

He watches the way she clings to the blanket, giving her a moment of quiet peace before speaking up again. There is something prodding in the back of his mind. Whispering that he has heard that name before, somewhere.

Why. Why do his ghosts always come back to haunt him. Why why why. Ellery. Of course it's Ellery.

You left him. You left him when it needed you most. You left him. He must think you abandoned him. You did. You abandoned it when you last held it in your arms. You promised you'd be there for it. You lied. You lied. You liar. He must hate you. It must be so hurt. It's better you stay away now. You've done enough damage. Dissapear. You should just dissapear.

He forces himself to breathe, looking down at the ground.

He doesn't need you anymore.

Good.

"I'll be fine, just... Surprised. I'm glad he has a full fledged family now. He...he deserves that. I just didn't think I'd hear about him again I suppose. But it's okay. I'm glad he's okay. And you'll learn to get better, too." he's leaned against the counter next to the sink with his back.

be useful. always be useful. you need to be useful.

she doesn’t sit down. she doesn’t follow orders the way she used to. maybe sinclair was good for something. other than pushing her to this.

that’s not true. she knows that’s not true. but she can’t bring herself to argue with the voice in their head anymore.

"I know he is forgiving. Too forgiving."

He knows he failed as an older sibling.

"I dissapeared. I up and left for over half a year. Maybe he'd like to see me again, sure. But I have no right to see him again.

He sighs, crossing his arms and rubbing at them slightly while turning his head to look to the side, hair falling just right enough to cover and hide most of his expression. It had grown longer than it was when Ellery last saw him, tips stained a ghostly white, a few white hairs scattered about in the mass of his hair as it fell in lazy waves down his shoulders and back.

"I didn't say anything. I just..left. Without a word. Even when I knew he might need me."

Rose doesn't even know if Ellery tried to reach for him, to find him. He was unable to receive communications as much as he was unable to send anything out. Trapped and cornered and muzzled and...

It didn't matter. It didn't matter if Ellery looked or reached or begged and pleaded or not. The fact is that he could have. And Rose wouldn't have been there to scoop it back up into the safety of his arms.

He wasn't even sure if his arms were a safe place to be anymore at all...

she doesn’t say anything helpful, she wants to be helpful, but she can’t think right. fog and shadows are clouding her brain, not to mention what always does. the fear. the memories.

He takes a deep breath to steady himself and the heart inside of his chest. It beats weakly, fluttering inside his chest to an out of tune song, faltering like an old music box that had grown rusted and unsteady. One falled into a lake and fished out only years later, lungs...box still filled with water, sloshing against the walls and ruining the internal mechanism beyond repair.

Still, his beat dances to the tune, as sorrowful as it sounded now.

"That's not your fault...you did good. Thank you for trying to convince me. I do truly appreciate it. I'm sorry for touching you." He steps back further. Just in case. Lowering his gaze to the polished ground. He stands as a servant would. Shoulder straight, head bowed just enough, eyes lowered to the floor in a show of respect to an authority that was not present.

A habit.

"I do truly miss the kid. But I know that I tend to bring more trouble than it is worth, now, for anyone that stays beyond just a day or two in my orbit."

He knows that's the Lonely speaking. And yet still...

she’s still cold. she probably will be forever.

"Of course I don't want to be Lonely. And I know that there is people that care."

Most have forgotten that they did, if they ever had at all.

A whole lifetime left behind, and now even this one, his second chance, was falling apart in his so very careful hands, trickling away between his fingers like fine sand...

So long as he doesn't get what he wants, it'll be okay.

The smell of petricore fills the air around them. Gentle and calming. At the very least to one of them.

".. I suppose that is a fair trade. Do you..do you know where I can find him? I don't think I can bring myself to try and message him after...yeah."

she shifts around on the couch, keeping her eyes open. she’s tired, but it doesn’t matter. she’s not sleeping around some random man.

'You're barely an adult yourself', the back of his mind mutters to him. He votes to ignore it.

"But...thank you. I'll...I'll try and stop by his place sometime. But you should as well. I doubt it's just worry. I'm sure it would also just like to see you in general"

she ponders it for a minute. for a few. she can’t walk back home, not now, and she can’t handle being in the Lonely now anyways.

...it reminds him, distantly, of kneeling in the streets with Ellery tucked into his arms as he cried his little fearful heart out.

"Maybe. Though, with how little you had, nothing should happen, really. Never really did anything for me at least." he gives a little shrug. "And it's too good of a taste to pass up on"

she doesn’t explain. she can’t, doesn’t want to. not now, not yet.

I needed it. But I am made to give. To give and give and give until there is nothing left of me. Until the water stops boiling and I am nothing but seafoam. But at least I'll have made a difference, however small. And it will have been worth it. It will have mattered. I will have mattered.

"Either way, I'm not entitled to your secrets nor your life story Elizabeth. I'm only here to help for as long and as far as you'll let me." Going down the halls, he takes her up the elevator. One that runs smooth and without a hiccup, two floors up, before finally leading her to a room and unlocking it with his master key before ushering the girl inside, gesturing with an arm through the space.

It's a medium sized room. Or, as medium sized as luxury cruise room could get. One whole wall is windowed, with a door to a balcony. There are two seats out there, a small table and the railing too is made out of thick glass to allow perfect view of the dark sea as the putter latter or rain comes down upon it.

The bed is large enough to fit two adults comfortably. Eliza could lay within it any way she'd like and not a single limb would dip off the edge. The sheets are puffed up and clean, looking cozy as a cloud. There is a big closet, then a cabinet with a TV on top, a small fridge next to the cabinet under a little table with a little stool infront of it. The hallway splits to the side into a room, bathroom. There are paintings of ships and beaches with seagulls here and there scattered about, color pallette kept mild with whites, and like beige and yellows and deep blues, broke up by the light wood of the furniture. It smells pleasantly of salt, vanilla, cotton and a hint of something floral.

"Well, here we are love, welcome to your room for the night. Please, get comfortable and try to get some rest. I'll stay on the ship if you need me, okay? Just call my name and I'll come, I promise." I'll chase all the nightmares away for you. I'll keep you safe.

the room amazes her as she wanders around it. “it’s so… big.” they murmur to herself. she takes it all in with wide eyes, looking all around. it’s bigger than their bedroom was back at… back then.

she nods along with his words again, the pit in her stomach lessening. her chest feels warmer.

they giggle at his antics, gratefully taking the card. “thank you so much.” she whispers, holding the card like she’s holding a knife. carefully, she doesn’t want to hurt anyone. and she especially doesn’t want to drop it. “do- would you- can- would you like to- to stay? for a bit?”

They pulse, just a little brighter, as his heart thunders with love, something almost but not quite paternal lapping at the desolate shores of his mind.

His smile softens, melts like the wax of a freshly lit candle, dripping in offering upon an altar like blood.

"Of course, Elizabeth. I can stay for as long as you'd like. Why don't you cozy up in bed for now, though?" she moves to sit on the little stool across from the big bed, leaning one arm on the little table behind it and crossing one leg over the other infront of himself.

"I could read to you, if you'd like..? Perhaps that's a bit of a silly offering, though.." he looks out the window

they relax when he does, taking their bra off from under her sweater and putting it under the bed where it can’t be seen. “thanks. and, um- you can call me liza.” she offers shyly as she slips under the covers.

Melting. He's melting. Wax over Honeybee wings, fragile, encased in a warm tomb.

"Well then I think it's about time, Liza." The name rolls off his tongue just right. It feels good to say, a token of trust rolled around in the cavern of his mouth like a precious pearl, then swallowed in the deeper safety within him. A name to protect, a silent promise to keep safe.

"I've been told I have just the voice for reading." A sweet little thing spreads across his features. Soft as a petal, lopsided. It's a smile.

Long, long ago. When he was still alive, in another world that had since crumbled to dust, ceased to exist. Died just like he had, slipping just barely out of a dying worlds grasp.

He remembers admiring, gentle voices and words that he'd cared into his very being, so they may be spread out and read again when he comes undone. A red string a band, a script, of all that he was, all he was perceived to be. So the universe may know it had all been true.

Your voice reminds me of the sound of rain. It's my favorite sound. Rain on the window. But your voice, I think I like just a little bit better. You're my favorite sound.

I like your voice, it's soothing. You'd make a good audiobook reader you know?

Your voice is my favorite. You're my favorite person.

Can you read to me again? I really enjoyed it when you did.

Just keep talking, please. I like listening to you.

"Of course. Let's see..." he reached his hand up, slow and gracefully, and it slipped into a black, bubbling void that formed just low enough for his whole hand to dip into. He pulled it back out within a minute or so, and the little tear in the fabric of reality fell shut again in the empty space, vanishing from sight after leaving behind a sort of static in the air for a moment. A little like the white blinking specks of light you see when getting dizzy or feeling faint.

In the end, there is no trace of it left, safe for the old, blue bound book nestled in the man's lap. If Elizabeth is at all familiar with the feel of Leitners, she might be able to tell that this was one. Though...it felt just the same as Rose did, in its presence?

He flips through a few more pages, and watches as the writing dissapear, then returns to the pages, reforming into new sentences as if drawn by proper ink and feather.

"Alright, let's see..."

When the letters have settled, he begins, voice level and smooth. "Once upon a time, in a land far, far away from our own, there was a little girl called Nidia. She lived in the skies with her colony, all of which were equipped with the wings of bees and antennae, venom running through their veins as a form of protection, should they need it. They lived a simple life, up in the floating isles. Drones, as they were called, guarded people like her, the farmers of their lands...."

He explains the land surrounding Nidia in great detail, then, how she got betrayed by her lover, sent tumbling from the skies into a new world. One flat and not broken up in so many little platforms, nor floating at all. He tells of how the landing cost her the ability to fly, wings broken up and torn.

She explores, then, once she's recovered a little, and learns all sorts of things and meeting even more people. She settles upon a nice little valley in the hills, surrounded by flowers. Sh builds a little house, a garden that holds all kinds of fruit and vegetables, and along the way, finds new people to love and care for.

She learns to live a happy life again, even if she could no longer soar in the skies. A life with people in it that made her heart fly instead.

He gets up afterwards, and circles to the other side of the bed, taking off his shoes. "Of course Liza. I'll stay here and keep you safe, okay? You're not alone." he slides into bed proper on the other side of Liza after that, grabbing the second blanket to pull pcer his lap, sitting with his back leaned against the headboard.

but that cannot last forever. a while later during the night, she begins to toss and turn. she mutters things, breathing short and fast. they wriggle about, waking rose from any type of rest he might have been having.

she chants these words to themself like a mantra, trying and failing to get a grip on her head.

and who exactly is that girl? she’s definitely not a part of rose’s crew. when and how did she get there?

@the-leaches

The ship was supposed to be empty. Rose hissed under his breath, something sharp prickling up his spine beneath his shirt as he spreads his legs apart on the carpeted flooring slightly, bending at the knee, shoulders hunching and head lowering as a ripple went through his body, stiffening his muscles all throughout, just enough to be taut, ready to spring into action if needed.

Andromeda was still being repaired. At the very least during day time, she was. No one was supposed to be here, including himself. But even on his supposed 'break' he couldn't help it. He worried for the large vessel, even as she reassured him, thrumming gently through the floorboards, vibrating the blood in his very veins, that she was more than alright and that he need not worry.

But here he was, having wandered some of the halls aimlessly, when he felt another presence board the ship. His ship.

He stepped into the shadows after a moment, when he'd located the trespasser, and reappeared not a moment after on a floor higher, that had an open railing showing him the view of the strange little girl stood upon the lower, wider deck at the back of the ship.

The sea around the dock sloshed gently, but not enough to disturb the pool that seperated the unknown figure from the Crew member eyeing them from the dark.

He only watches a moment longer before he steps once into nothingness, only to reappear two arms lengths infront of her, pool now not many steps behind him, watching the tendrils of fog twist gently around the railings on the far sides of the ship while focusing mainly on the girl before him.

Rose's posture is spun tight, standing tall with eyes cast down upon her.

"What are you doing here?" he demands, voice deep and level, a vague threat in his tone, though it's more so one that tells of the caution ringing in his mind.

Anywhere else and he would've just been mildly tense about a surprise meeting such as this. But...upon Andromeda? Alone?

He relaxed his shoulders forcefully, just enough so he didn't look like he'd pounce any moment anymore, and sighed, ignoring the urge to rub the bridge of his nose, between his tired eyes.

"...Right. Fine. That's fine." he muttered, voice rolling into a softer tone. "How about we just...get you something to drink, yes? If you've been walking as long as you say you have, you must be thirsty, hungry, or at the very least tired." he extends a hand to the girl, shifting a little awkwardly on his feet now that the tension between his shoulder blades had left him.

"It's fine. I wasn't asleep, hun. I'm not... Friendly towards your patron, but that isn't your fault. Let's just get you something to sip on, yeah?"

He turns on his heel and takes three steps before checking that the girl was following, only continuing on and into the ship afterwards. They unlocked some doors and lead them into one of the big restaurants on the vessel, slipping behind a counter with them into the same kitchen he'd taken the last one to.

"Alright, any preferences? When it comes to juices I've got Apple juice, Orange Juice, Multi-Vitamin.. Uh.. White Peach, Banana and Cherry."

she tries not to let the sorrow reach her voice. sinclair is back. she should be fine again. everyone else is happy again, why can’t she be?

"It's fine. I know many don't get a choice in the matter, so I do not blame you. Besides...there is no one for it to draw fear out of. To feed on."

That was only true in part. He was sure the Forgotten One was feeding on him right now, even if just bit by bit, little by little, as a small ribbon of fog curled around one of his ankles.

she pulls over a chair and sits, sighing in relief as she does. she doesn’t look down at the fog. she can’t.

He watches the way she clings to the blanket, giving her a moment of quiet peace before speaking up again. There is something prodding in the back of his mind. Whispering that he has heard that name before, somewhere.

Why. Why do his ghosts always come back to haunt him. Why why why. Ellery. Of course it's Ellery.

You left him. You left him when it needed you most. You left him. He must think you abandoned him. You did. You abandoned it when you last held it in your arms. You promised you'd be there for it. You lied. You lied. You liar. He must hate you. It must be so hurt. It's better you stay away now. You've done enough damage. Dissapear. You should just dissapear.

He forces himself to breathe, looking down at the ground.

He doesn't need you anymore.

Good.

"I'll be fine, just... Surprised. I'm glad he has a full fledged family now. He...he deserves that. I just didn't think I'd hear about him again I suppose. But it's okay. I'm glad he's okay. And you'll learn to get better, too." he's leaned against the counter next to the sink with his back.

be useful. always be useful. you need to be useful.

she doesn’t sit down. she doesn’t follow orders the way she used to. maybe sinclair was good for something. other than pushing her to this.

that’s not true. she knows that’s not true. but she can’t bring herself to argue with the voice in their head anymore.

"I know he is forgiving. Too forgiving."

He knows he failed as an older sibling.

"I dissapeared. I up and left for over half a year. Maybe he'd like to see me again, sure. But I have no right to see him again.

He sighs, crossing his arms and rubbing at them slightly while turning his head to look to the side, hair falling just right enough to cover and hide most of his expression. It had grown longer than it was when Ellery last saw him, tips stained a ghostly white, a few white hairs scattered about in the mass of his hair as it fell in lazy waves down his shoulders and back.

"I didn't say anything. I just..left. Without a word. Even when I knew he might need me."

Rose doesn't even know if Ellery tried to reach for him, to find him. He was unable to receive communications as much as he was unable to send anything out. Trapped and cornered and muzzled and...

It didn't matter. It didn't matter if Ellery looked or reached or begged and pleaded or not. The fact is that he could have. And Rose wouldn't have been there to scoop it back up into the safety of his arms.

He wasn't even sure if his arms were a safe place to be anymore at all...

she doesn’t say anything helpful, she wants to be helpful, but she can’t think right. fog and shadows are clouding her brain, not to mention what always does. the fear. the memories.

He takes a deep breath to steady himself and the heart inside of his chest. It beats weakly, fluttering inside his chest to an out of tune song, faltering like an old music box that had grown rusted and unsteady. One falled into a lake and fished out only years later, lungs...box still filled with water, sloshing against the walls and ruining the internal mechanism beyond repair.

Still, his beat dances to the tune, as sorrowful as it sounded now.

"That's not your fault...you did good. Thank you for trying to convince me. I do truly appreciate it. I'm sorry for touching you." He steps back further. Just in case. Lowering his gaze to the polished ground. He stands as a servant would. Shoulder straight, head bowed just enough, eyes lowered to the floor in a show of respect to an authority that was not present.

A habit.

"I do truly miss the kid. But I know that I tend to bring more trouble than it is worth, now, for anyone that stays beyond just a day or two in my orbit."

He knows that's the Lonely speaking. And yet still...

she’s still cold. she probably will be forever.

"Of course I don't want to be Lonely. And I know that there is people that care."

Most have forgotten that they did, if they ever had at all.

A whole lifetime left behind, and now even this one, his second chance, was falling apart in his so very careful hands, trickling away between his fingers like fine sand...

So long as he doesn't get what he wants, it'll be okay.

The smell of petricore fills the air around them. Gentle and calming. At the very least to one of them.

".. I suppose that is a fair trade. Do you..do you know where I can find him? I don't think I can bring myself to try and message him after...yeah."

she shifts around on the couch, keeping her eyes open. she’s tired, but it doesn’t matter. she’s not sleeping around some random man.

'You're barely an adult yourself', the back of his mind mutters to him. He votes to ignore it.

"But...thank you. I'll...I'll try and stop by his place sometime. But you should as well. I doubt it's just worry. I'm sure it would also just like to see you in general"

she ponders it for a minute. for a few. she can’t walk back home, not now, and she can’t handle being in the Lonely now anyways.

...it reminds him, distantly, of kneeling in the streets with Ellery tucked into his arms as he cried his little fearful heart out.

"Maybe. Though, with how little you had, nothing should happen, really. Never really did anything for me at least." he gives a little shrug. "And it's too good of a taste to pass up on"

she doesn’t explain. she can’t, doesn’t want to. not now, not yet.

I needed it. But I am made to give. To give and give and give until there is nothing left of me. Until the water stops boiling and I am nothing but seafoam. But at least I'll have made a difference, however small. And it will have been worth it. It will have mattered. I will have mattered.

"Either way, I'm not entitled to your secrets nor your life story Elizabeth. I'm only here to help for as long and as far as you'll let me." Going down the halls, he takes her up the elevator. One that runs smooth and without a hiccup, two floors up, before finally leading her to a room and unlocking it with his master key before ushering the girl inside, gesturing with an arm through the space.

It's a medium sized room. Or, as medium sized as luxury cruise room could get. One whole wall is windowed, with a door to a balcony. There are two seats out there, a small table and the railing too is made out of thick glass to allow perfect view of the dark sea as the putter latter or rain comes down upon it.

The bed is large enough to fit two adults comfortably. Eliza could lay within it any way she'd like and not a single limb would dip off the edge. The sheets are puffed up and clean, looking cozy as a cloud. There is a big closet, then a cabinet with a TV on top, a small fridge next to the cabinet under a little table with a little stool infront of it. The hallway splits to the side into a room, bathroom. There are paintings of ships and beaches with seagulls here and there scattered about, color pallette kept mild with whites, and like beige and yellows and deep blues, broke up by the light wood of the furniture. It smells pleasantly of salt, vanilla, cotton and a hint of something floral.

"Well, here we are love, welcome to your room for the night. Please, get comfortable and try to get some rest. I'll stay on the ship if you need me, okay? Just call my name and I'll come, I promise." I'll chase all the nightmares away for you. I'll keep you safe.

the room amazes her as she wanders around it. “it’s so… big.” they murmur to herself. she takes it all in with wide eyes, looking all around. it’s bigger than their bedroom was back at… back then.

she nods along with his words again, the pit in her stomach lessening. her chest feels warmer.

they giggle at his antics, gratefully taking the card. “thank you so much.” she whispers, holding the card like she’s holding a knife. carefully, she doesn’t want to hurt anyone. and she especially doesn’t want to drop it. “do- would you- can- would you like to- to stay? for a bit?”

They pulse, just a little brighter, as his heart thunders with love, something almost but not quite paternal lapping at the desolate shores of his mind.

His smile softens, melts like the wax of a freshly lit candle, dripping in offering upon an altar like blood.

"Of course, Elizabeth. I can stay for as long as you'd like. Why don't you cozy up in bed for now, though?" she moves to sit on the little stool across from the big bed, leaning one arm on the little table behind it and crossing one leg over the other infront of himself.

"I could read to you, if you'd like..? Perhaps that's a bit of a silly offering, though.." he looks out the window

they relax when he does, taking their bra off from under her sweater and putting it under the bed where it can’t be seen. “thanks. and, um- you can call me liza.” she offers shyly as she slips under the covers.

Melting. He's melting. Wax over Honeybee wings, fragile, encased in a warm tomb.

"Well then I think it's about time, Liza." The name rolls off his tongue just right. It feels good to say, a token of trust rolled around in the cavern of his mouth like a precious pearl, then swallowed in the deeper safety within him. A name to protect, a silent promise to keep safe.

"I've been told I have just the voice for reading." A sweet little thing spreads across his features. Soft as a petal, lopsided. It's a smile.

Long, long ago. When he was still alive, in another world that had since crumbled to dust, ceased to exist. Died just like he had, slipping just barely out of a dying worlds grasp.

He remembers admiring, gentle voices and words that he'd cared into his very being, so they may be spread out and read again when he comes undone. A red string a band, a script, of all that he was, all he was perceived to be. So the universe may know it had all been true.

Your voice reminds me of the sound of rain. It's my favorite sound. Rain on the window. But your voice, I think I like just a little bit better. You're my favorite sound.

I like your voice, it's soothing. You'd make a good audiobook reader you know?

Your voice is my favorite. You're my favorite person.

Can you read to me again? I really enjoyed it when you did.

Just keep talking, please. I like listening to you.

"Of course. Let's see..." he reached his hand up, slow and gracefully, and it slipped into a black, bubbling void that formed just low enough for his whole hand to dip into. He pulled it back out within a minute or so, and the little tear in the fabric of reality fell shut again in the empty space, vanishing from sight after leaving behind a sort of static in the air for a moment. A little like the white blinking specks of light you see when getting dizzy or feeling faint.

In the end, there is no trace of it left, safe for the old, blue bound book nestled in the man's lap. If Elizabeth is at all familiar with the feel of Leitners, she might be able to tell that this was one. Though...it felt just the same as Rose did, in its presence?

He flips through a few more pages, and watches as the writing dissapear, then returns to the pages, reforming into new sentences as if drawn by proper ink and feather.

"Alright, let's see..."

When the letters have settled, he begins, voice level and smooth. "Once upon a time, in a land far, far away from our own, there was a little girl called Nidia. She lived in the skies with her colony, all of which were equipped with the wings of bees and antennae, venom running through their veins as a form of protection, should they need it. They lived a simple life, up in the floating isles. Drones, as they were called, guarded people like her, the farmers of their lands...."

He explains the land surrounding Nidia in great detail, then, how she got betrayed by her lover, sent tumbling from the skies into a new world. One flat and not broken up in so many little platforms, nor floating at all. He tells of how the landing cost her the ability to fly, wings broken up and torn.

She explores, then, once she's recovered a little, and learns all sorts of things and meeting even more people. She settles upon a nice little valley in the hills, surrounded by flowers. Sh builds a little house, a garden that holds all kinds of fruit and vegetables, and along the way, finds new people to love and care for.

She learns to live a happy life again, even if she could no longer soar in the skies. A life with people in it that made her heart fly instead.

He gets up afterwards, and circles to the other side of the bed, taking off his shoes. "Of course Liza. I'll stay here and keep you safe, okay? You're not alone." he slides into bed proper on the other side of Liza after that, grabbing the second blanket to pull pcer his lap, sitting with his back leaned against the headboard.

but that cannot last forever. a while later during the night, she begins to toss and turn. she mutters things, breathing short and fast. they wriggle about, waking rose from any type of rest he might have been having.

she chants these words to themself like a mantra, trying and failing to get a grip on her head.

and who exactly is that girl? she’s definitely not a part of rose’s crew. when and how did she get there?

@the-leaches

The ship was supposed to be empty. Rose hissed under his breath, something sharp prickling up his spine beneath his shirt as he spreads his legs apart on the carpeted flooring slightly, bending at the knee, shoulders hunching and head lowering as a ripple went through his body, stiffening his muscles all throughout, just enough to be taut, ready to spring into action if needed.

Andromeda was still being repaired. At the very least during day time, she was. No one was supposed to be here, including himself. But even on his supposed 'break' he couldn't help it. He worried for the large vessel, even as she reassured him, thrumming gently through the floorboards, vibrating the blood in his very veins, that she was more than alright and that he need not worry.

But here he was, having wandered some of the halls aimlessly, when he felt another presence board the ship. His ship.

He stepped into the shadows after a moment, when he'd located the trespasser, and reappeared not a moment after on a floor higher, that had an open railing showing him the view of the strange little girl stood upon the lower, wider deck at the back of the ship.

The sea around the dock sloshed gently, but not enough to disturb the pool that seperated the unknown figure from the Crew member eyeing them from the dark.

He only watches a moment longer before he steps once into nothingness, only to reappear two arms lengths infront of her, pool now not many steps behind him, watching the tendrils of fog twist gently around the railings on the far sides of the ship while focusing mainly on the girl before him.

Rose's posture is spun tight, standing tall with eyes cast down upon her.

"What are you doing here?" he demands, voice deep and level, a vague threat in his tone, though it's more so one that tells of the caution ringing in his mind.

Anywhere else and he would've just been mildly tense about a surprise meeting such as this. But...upon Andromeda? Alone?

He relaxed his shoulders forcefully, just enough so he didn't look like he'd pounce any moment anymore, and sighed, ignoring the urge to rub the bridge of his nose, between his tired eyes.

"...Right. Fine. That's fine." he muttered, voice rolling into a softer tone. "How about we just...get you something to drink, yes? If you've been walking as long as you say you have, you must be thirsty, hungry, or at the very least tired." he extends a hand to the girl, shifting a little awkwardly on his feet now that the tension between his shoulder blades had left him.

"It's fine. I wasn't asleep, hun. I'm not... Friendly towards your patron, but that isn't your fault. Let's just get you something to sip on, yeah?"

He turns on his heel and takes three steps before checking that the girl was following, only continuing on and into the ship afterwards. They unlocked some doors and lead them into one of the big restaurants on the vessel, slipping behind a counter with them into the same kitchen he'd taken the last one to.

"Alright, any preferences? When it comes to juices I've got Apple juice, Orange Juice, Multi-Vitamin.. Uh.. White Peach, Banana and Cherry."

she tries not to let the sorrow reach her voice. sinclair is back. she should be fine again. everyone else is happy again, why can’t she be?

"It's fine. I know many don't get a choice in the matter, so I do not blame you. Besides...there is no one for it to draw fear out of. To feed on."

That was only true in part. He was sure the Forgotten One was feeding on him right now, even if just bit by bit, little by little, as a small ribbon of fog curled around one of his ankles.

she pulls over a chair and sits, sighing in relief as she does. she doesn’t look down at the fog. she can’t.

He watches the way she clings to the blanket, giving her a moment of quiet peace before speaking up again. There is something prodding in the back of his mind. Whispering that he has heard that name before, somewhere.

Why. Why do his ghosts always come back to haunt him. Why why why. Ellery. Of course it's Ellery.

You left him. You left him when it needed you most. You left him. He must think you abandoned him. You did. You abandoned it when you last held it in your arms. You promised you'd be there for it. You lied. You lied. You liar. He must hate you. It must be so hurt. It's better you stay away now. You've done enough damage. Dissapear. You should just dissapear.

He forces himself to breathe, looking down at the ground.

He doesn't need you anymore.

Good.

"I'll be fine, just... Surprised. I'm glad he has a full fledged family now. He...he deserves that. I just didn't think I'd hear about him again I suppose. But it's okay. I'm glad he's okay. And you'll learn to get better, too." he's leaned against the counter next to the sink with his back.

be useful. always be useful. you need to be useful.

she doesn’t sit down. she doesn’t follow orders the way she used to. maybe sinclair was good for something. other than pushing her to this.

that’s not true. she knows that’s not true. but she can’t bring herself to argue with the voice in their head anymore.

"I know he is forgiving. Too forgiving."

He knows he failed as an older sibling.

"I dissapeared. I up and left for over half a year. Maybe he'd like to see me again, sure. But I have no right to see him again.

He sighs, crossing his arms and rubbing at them slightly while turning his head to look to the side, hair falling just right enough to cover and hide most of his expression. It had grown longer than it was when Ellery last saw him, tips stained a ghostly white, a few white hairs scattered about in the mass of his hair as it fell in lazy waves down his shoulders and back.

"I didn't say anything. I just..left. Without a word. Even when I knew he might need me."

Rose doesn't even know if Ellery tried to reach for him, to find him. He was unable to receive communications as much as he was unable to send anything out. Trapped and cornered and muzzled and...

It didn't matter. It didn't matter if Ellery looked or reached or begged and pleaded or not. The fact is that he could have. And Rose wouldn't have been there to scoop it back up into the safety of his arms.

He wasn't even sure if his arms were a safe place to be anymore at all...

she doesn’t say anything helpful, she wants to be helpful, but she can’t think right. fog and shadows are clouding her brain, not to mention what always does. the fear. the memories.

He takes a deep breath to steady himself and the heart inside of his chest. It beats weakly, fluttering inside his chest to an out of tune song, faltering like an old music box that had grown rusted and unsteady. One falled into a lake and fished out only years later, lungs...box still filled with water, sloshing against the walls and ruining the internal mechanism beyond repair.

Still, his beat dances to the tune, as sorrowful as it sounded now.

"That's not your fault...you did good. Thank you for trying to convince me. I do truly appreciate it. I'm sorry for touching you." He steps back further. Just in case. Lowering his gaze to the polished ground. He stands as a servant would. Shoulder straight, head bowed just enough, eyes lowered to the floor in a show of respect to an authority that was not present.

A habit.

"I do truly miss the kid. But I know that I tend to bring more trouble than it is worth, now, for anyone that stays beyond just a day or two in my orbit."

He knows that's the Lonely speaking. And yet still...

she’s still cold. she probably will be forever.

"Of course I don't want to be Lonely. And I know that there is people that care."

Most have forgotten that they did, if they ever had at all.

A whole lifetime left behind, and now even this one, his second chance, was falling apart in his so very careful hands, trickling away between his fingers like fine sand...

So long as he doesn't get what he wants, it'll be okay.

The smell of petricore fills the air around them. Gentle and calming. At the very least to one of them.

".. I suppose that is a fair trade. Do you..do you know where I can find him? I don't think I can bring myself to try and message him after...yeah."

she shifts around on the couch, keeping her eyes open. she’s tired, but it doesn’t matter. she’s not sleeping around some random man.

'You're barely an adult yourself', the back of his mind mutters to him. He votes to ignore it.

"But...thank you. I'll...I'll try and stop by his place sometime. But you should as well. I doubt it's just worry. I'm sure it would also just like to see you in general"

she ponders it for a minute. for a few. she can’t walk back home, not now, and she can’t handle being in the Lonely now anyways.

...it reminds him, distantly, of kneeling in the streets with Ellery tucked into his arms as he cried his little fearful heart out.

"Maybe. Though, with how little you had, nothing should happen, really. Never really did anything for me at least." he gives a little shrug. "And it's too good of a taste to pass up on"

she doesn’t explain. she can’t, doesn’t want to. not now, not yet.

I needed it. But I am made to give. To give and give and give until there is nothing left of me. Until the water stops boiling and I am nothing but seafoam. But at least I'll have made a difference, however small. And it will have been worth it. It will have mattered. I will have mattered.

"Either way, I'm not entitled to your secrets nor your life story Elizabeth. I'm only here to help for as long and as far as you'll let me." Going down the halls, he takes her up the elevator. One that runs smooth and without a hiccup, two floors up, before finally leading her to a room and unlocking it with his master key before ushering the girl inside, gesturing with an arm through the space.

It's a medium sized room. Or, as medium sized as luxury cruise room could get. One whole wall is windowed, with a door to a balcony. There are two seats out there, a small table and the railing too is made out of thick glass to allow perfect view of the dark sea as the putter latter or rain comes down upon it.

The bed is large enough to fit two adults comfortably. Eliza could lay within it any way she'd like and not a single limb would dip off the edge. The sheets are puffed up and clean, looking cozy as a cloud. There is a big closet, then a cabinet with a TV on top, a small fridge next to the cabinet under a little table with a little stool infront of it. The hallway splits to the side into a room, bathroom. There are paintings of ships and beaches with seagulls here and there scattered about, color pallette kept mild with whites, and like beige and yellows and deep blues, broke up by the light wood of the furniture. It smells pleasantly of salt, vanilla, cotton and a hint of something floral.

"Well, here we are love, welcome to your room for the night. Please, get comfortable and try to get some rest. I'll stay on the ship if you need me, okay? Just call my name and I'll come, I promise." I'll chase all the nightmares away for you. I'll keep you safe.

the room amazes her as she wanders around it. “it’s so… big.” they murmur to herself. she takes it all in with wide eyes, looking all around. it’s bigger than their bedroom was back at… back then.

she nods along with his words again, the pit in her stomach lessening. her chest feels warmer.

they giggle at his antics, gratefully taking the card. “thank you so much.” she whispers, holding the card like she’s holding a knife. carefully, she doesn’t want to hurt anyone. and she especially doesn’t want to drop it. “do- would you- can- would you like to- to stay? for a bit?”

They pulse, just a little brighter, as his heart thunders with love, something almost but not quite paternal lapping at the desolate shores of his mind.

His smile softens, melts like the wax of a freshly lit candle, dripping in offering upon an altar like blood.

"Of course, Elizabeth. I can stay for as long as you'd like. Why don't you cozy up in bed for now, though?" she moves to sit on the little stool across from the big bed, leaning one arm on the little table behind it and crossing one leg over the other infront of himself.

"I could read to you, if you'd like..? Perhaps that's a bit of a silly offering, though.." he looks out the window

they relax when he does, taking their bra off from under her sweater and putting it under the bed where it can’t be seen. “thanks. and, um- you can call me liza.” she offers shyly as she slips under the covers.

Melting. He's melting. Wax over Honeybee wings, fragile, encased in a warm tomb.

"Well then I think it's about time, Liza." The name rolls off his tongue just right. It feels good to say, a token of trust rolled around in the cavern of his mouth like a precious pearl, then swallowed in the deeper safety within him. A name to protect, a silent promise to keep safe.

"I've been told I have just the voice for reading." A sweet little thing spreads across his features. Soft as a petal, lopsided. It's a smile.

Long, long ago. When he was still alive, in another world that had since crumbled to dust, ceased to exist. Died just like he had, slipping just barely out of a dying worlds grasp.

He remembers admiring, gentle voices and words that he'd cared into his very being, so they may be spread out and read again when he comes undone. A red string a band, a script, of all that he was, all he was perceived to be. So the universe may know it had all been true.

Your voice reminds me of the sound of rain. It's my favorite sound. Rain on the window. But your voice, I think I like just a little bit better. You're my favorite sound.

I like your voice, it's soothing. You'd make a good audiobook reader you know?

Your voice is my favorite. You're my favorite person.

Can you read to me again? I really enjoyed it when you did.

Just keep talking, please. I like listening to you.

"Of course. Let's see..." he reached his hand up, slow and gracefully, and it slipped into a black, bubbling void that formed just low enough for his whole hand to dip into. He pulled it back out within a minute or so, and the little tear in the fabric of reality fell shut again in the empty space, vanishing from sight after leaving behind a sort of static in the air for a moment. A little like the white blinking specks of light you see when getting dizzy or feeling faint.

In the end, there is no trace of it left, safe for the old, blue bound book nestled in the man's lap. If Elizabeth is at all familiar with the feel of Leitners, she might be able to tell that this was one. Though...it felt just the same as Rose did, in its presence?

He flips through a few more pages, and watches as the writing dissapear, then returns to the pages, reforming into new sentences as if drawn by proper ink and feather.

"Alright, let's see..."

When the letters have settled, he begins, voice level and smooth. "Once upon a time, in a land far, far away from our own, there was a little girl called Nidia. She lived in the skies with her colony, all of which were equipped with the wings of bees and antennae, venom running through their veins as a form of protection, should they need it. They lived a simple life, up in the floating isles. Drones, as they were called, guarded people like her, the farmers of their lands...."

He explains the land surrounding Nidia in great detail, then, how she got betrayed by her lover, sent tumbling from the skies into a new world. One flat and not broken up in so many little platforms, nor floating at all. He tells of how the landing cost her the ability to fly, wings broken up and torn.

She explores, then, once she's recovered a little, and learns all sorts of things and meeting even more people. She settles upon a nice little valley in the hills, surrounded by flowers. Sh builds a little house, a garden that holds all kinds of fruit and vegetables, and along the way, finds new people to love and care for.

She learns to live a happy life again, even if she could no longer soar in the skies. A life with people in it that made her heart fly instead.

He gets up afterwards, and circles to the other side of the bed, taking off his shoes. "Of course Liza. I'll stay here and keep you safe, okay? You're not alone." he slides into bed proper on the other side of Liza after that, grabbing the second blanket to pull pcer his lap, sitting with his back leaned against the headboard.

but that cannot last forever. a while later during the night, she begins to toss and turn. she mutters things, breathing short and fast. they wriggle about, waking rose from any type of rest he might have been having.

she chants these words to themself like a mantra, trying and failing to get a grip on her head.

and who exactly is that girl? she’s definitely not a part of rose’s crew. when and how did she get there?

@the-leaches

The ship was supposed to be empty. Rose hissed under his breath, something sharp prickling up his spine beneath his shirt as he spreads his legs apart on the carpeted flooring slightly, bending at the knee, shoulders hunching and head lowering as a ripple went through his body, stiffening his muscles all throughout, just enough to be taut, ready to spring into action if needed.

Andromeda was still being repaired. At the very least during day time, she was. No one was supposed to be here, including himself. But even on his supposed 'break' he couldn't help it. He worried for the large vessel, even as she reassured him, thrumming gently through the floorboards, vibrating the blood in his very veins, that she was more than alright and that he need not worry.

But here he was, having wandered some of the halls aimlessly, when he felt another presence board the ship. His ship.

He stepped into the shadows after a moment, when he'd located the trespasser, and reappeared not a moment after on a floor higher, that had an open railing showing him the view of the strange little girl stood upon the lower, wider deck at the back of the ship.

The sea around the dock sloshed gently, but not enough to disturb the pool that seperated the unknown figure from the Crew member eyeing them from the dark.

He only watches a moment longer before he steps once into nothingness, only to reappear two arms lengths infront of her, pool now not many steps behind him, watching the tendrils of fog twist gently around the railings on the far sides of the ship while focusing mainly on the girl before him.

Rose's posture is spun tight, standing tall with eyes cast down upon her.

"What are you doing here?" he demands, voice deep and level, a vague threat in his tone, though it's more so one that tells of the caution ringing in his mind.

Anywhere else and he would've just been mildly tense about a surprise meeting such as this. But...upon Andromeda? Alone?

He relaxed his shoulders forcefully, just enough so he didn't look like he'd pounce any moment anymore, and sighed, ignoring the urge to rub the bridge of his nose, between his tired eyes.

"...Right. Fine. That's fine." he muttered, voice rolling into a softer tone. "How about we just...get you something to drink, yes? If you've been walking as long as you say you have, you must be thirsty, hungry, or at the very least tired." he extends a hand to the girl, shifting a little awkwardly on his feet now that the tension between his shoulder blades had left him.

"It's fine. I wasn't asleep, hun. I'm not... Friendly towards your patron, but that isn't your fault. Let's just get you something to sip on, yeah?"

He turns on his heel and takes three steps before checking that the girl was following, only continuing on and into the ship afterwards. They unlocked some doors and lead them into one of the big restaurants on the vessel, slipping behind a counter with them into the same kitchen he'd taken the last one to.

"Alright, any preferences? When it comes to juices I've got Apple juice, Orange Juice, Multi-Vitamin.. Uh.. White Peach, Banana and Cherry."

she tries not to let the sorrow reach her voice. sinclair is back. she should be fine again. everyone else is happy again, why can’t she be?

"It's fine. I know many don't get a choice in the matter, so I do not blame you. Besides...there is no one for it to draw fear out of. To feed on."

That was only true in part. He was sure the Forgotten One was feeding on him right now, even if just bit by bit, little by little, as a small ribbon of fog curled around one of his ankles.

she pulls over a chair and sits, sighing in relief as she does. she doesn’t look down at the fog. she can’t.

He watches the way she clings to the blanket, giving her a moment of quiet peace before speaking up again. There is something prodding in the back of his mind. Whispering that he has heard that name before, somewhere.

Why. Why do his ghosts always come back to haunt him. Why why why. Ellery. Of course it's Ellery.

You left him. You left him when it needed you most. You left him. He must think you abandoned him. You did. You abandoned it when you last held it in your arms. You promised you'd be there for it. You lied. You lied. You liar. He must hate you. It must be so hurt. It's better you stay away now. You've done enough damage. Dissapear. You should just dissapear.

He forces himself to breathe, looking down at the ground.

He doesn't need you anymore.

Good.

"I'll be fine, just... Surprised. I'm glad he has a full fledged family now. He...he deserves that. I just didn't think I'd hear about him again I suppose. But it's okay. I'm glad he's okay. And you'll learn to get better, too." he's leaned against the counter next to the sink with his back.

be useful. always be useful. you need to be useful.

she doesn’t sit down. she doesn’t follow orders the way she used to. maybe sinclair was good for something. other than pushing her to this.

that’s not true. she knows that’s not true. but she can’t bring herself to argue with the voice in their head anymore.

"I know he is forgiving. Too forgiving."

He knows he failed as an older sibling.

"I dissapeared. I up and left for over half a year. Maybe he'd like to see me again, sure. But I have no right to see him again.

He sighs, crossing his arms and rubbing at them slightly while turning his head to look to the side, hair falling just right enough to cover and hide most of his expression. It had grown longer than it was when Ellery last saw him, tips stained a ghostly white, a few white hairs scattered about in the mass of his hair as it fell in lazy waves down his shoulders and back.

"I didn't say anything. I just..left. Without a word. Even when I knew he might need me."

Rose doesn't even know if Ellery tried to reach for him, to find him. He was unable to receive communications as much as he was unable to send anything out. Trapped and cornered and muzzled and...

It didn't matter. It didn't matter if Ellery looked or reached or begged and pleaded or not. The fact is that he could have. And Rose wouldn't have been there to scoop it back up into the safety of his arms.

He wasn't even sure if his arms were a safe place to be anymore at all...

she doesn’t say anything helpful, she wants to be helpful, but she can’t think right. fog and shadows are clouding her brain, not to mention what always does. the fear. the memories.

He takes a deep breath to steady himself and the heart inside of his chest. It beats weakly, fluttering inside his chest to an out of tune song, faltering like an old music box that had grown rusted and unsteady. One falled into a lake and fished out only years later, lungs...box still filled with water, sloshing against the walls and ruining the internal mechanism beyond repair.

Still, his beat dances to the tune, as sorrowful as it sounded now.

"That's not your fault...you did good. Thank you for trying to convince me. I do truly appreciate it. I'm sorry for touching you." He steps back further. Just in case. Lowering his gaze to the polished ground. He stands as a servant would. Shoulder straight, head bowed just enough, eyes lowered to the floor in a show of respect to an authority that was not present.

A habit.

"I do truly miss the kid. But I know that I tend to bring more trouble than it is worth, now, for anyone that stays beyond just a day or two in my orbit."

He knows that's the Lonely speaking. And yet still...

she’s still cold. she probably will be forever.

"Of course I don't want to be Lonely. And I know that there is people that care."

Most have forgotten that they did, if they ever had at all.

A whole lifetime left behind, and now even this one, his second chance, was falling apart in his so very careful hands, trickling away between his fingers like fine sand...

So long as he doesn't get what he wants, it'll be okay.

The smell of petricore fills the air around them. Gentle and calming. At the very least to one of them.

".. I suppose that is a fair trade. Do you..do you know where I can find him? I don't think I can bring myself to try and message him after...yeah."

she shifts around on the couch, keeping her eyes open. she’s tired, but it doesn’t matter. she’s not sleeping around some random man.

'You're barely an adult yourself', the back of his mind mutters to him. He votes to ignore it.

"But...thank you. I'll...I'll try and stop by his place sometime. But you should as well. I doubt it's just worry. I'm sure it would also just like to see you in general"

she ponders it for a minute. for a few. she can’t walk back home, not now, and she can’t handle being in the Lonely now anyways.

...it reminds him, distantly, of kneeling in the streets with Ellery tucked into his arms as he cried his little fearful heart out.

"Maybe. Though, with how little you had, nothing should happen, really. Never really did anything for me at least." he gives a little shrug. "And it's too good of a taste to pass up on"

she doesn’t explain. she can’t, doesn’t want to. not now, not yet.

I needed it. But I am made to give. To give and give and give until there is nothing left of me. Until the water stops boiling and I am nothing but seafoam. But at least I'll have made a difference, however small. And it will have been worth it. It will have mattered. I will have mattered.

"Either way, I'm not entitled to your secrets nor your life story Elizabeth. I'm only here to help for as long and as far as you'll let me." Going down the halls, he takes her up the elevator. One that runs smooth and without a hiccup, two floors up, before finally leading her to a room and unlocking it with his master key before ushering the girl inside, gesturing with an arm through the space.

It's a medium sized room. Or, as medium sized as luxury cruise room could get. One whole wall is windowed, with a door to a balcony. There are two seats out there, a small table and the railing too is made out of thick glass to allow perfect view of the dark sea as the putter latter or rain comes down upon it.

The bed is large enough to fit two adults comfortably. Eliza could lay within it any way she'd like and not a single limb would dip off the edge. The sheets are puffed up and clean, looking cozy as a cloud. There is a big closet, then a cabinet with a TV on top, a small fridge next to the cabinet under a little table with a little stool infront of it. The hallway splits to the side into a room, bathroom. There are paintings of ships and beaches with seagulls here and there scattered about, color pallette kept mild with whites, and like beige and yellows and deep blues, broke up by the light wood of the furniture. It smells pleasantly of salt, vanilla, cotton and a hint of something floral.

"Well, here we are love, welcome to your room for the night. Please, get comfortable and try to get some rest. I'll stay on the ship if you need me, okay? Just call my name and I'll come, I promise." I'll chase all the nightmares away for you. I'll keep you safe.

the room amazes her as she wanders around it. “it’s so… big.” they murmur to herself. she takes it all in with wide eyes, looking all around. it’s bigger than their bedroom was back at… back then.

she nods along with his words again, the pit in her stomach lessening. her chest feels warmer.

they giggle at his antics, gratefully taking the card. “thank you so much.” she whispers, holding the card like she’s holding a knife. carefully, she doesn’t want to hurt anyone. and she especially doesn’t want to drop it. “do- would you- can- would you like to- to stay? for a bit?”

They pulse, just a little brighter, as his heart thunders with love, something almost but not quite paternal lapping at the desolate shores of his mind.

His smile softens, melts like the wax of a freshly lit candle, dripping in offering upon an altar like blood.

"Of course, Elizabeth. I can stay for as long as you'd like. Why don't you cozy up in bed for now, though?" she moves to sit on the little stool across from the big bed, leaning one arm on the little table behind it and crossing one leg over the other infront of himself.

"I could read to you, if you'd like..? Perhaps that's a bit of a silly offering, though.." he looks out the window

they relax when he does, taking their bra off from under her sweater and putting it under the bed where it can’t be seen. “thanks. and, um- you can call me liza.” she offers shyly as she slips under the covers.

Melting. He's melting. Wax over Honeybee wings, fragile, encased in a warm tomb.

"Well then I think it's about time, Liza." The name rolls off his tongue just right. It feels good to say, a token of trust rolled around in the cavern of his mouth like a precious pearl, then swallowed in the deeper safety within him. A name to protect, a silent promise to keep safe.

"I've been told I have just the voice for reading." A sweet little thing spreads across his features. Soft as a petal, lopsided. It's a smile.

Long, long ago. When he was still alive, in another world that had since crumbled to dust, ceased to exist. Died just like he had, slipping just barely out of a dying worlds grasp.

He remembers admiring, gentle voices and words that he'd cared into his very being, so they may be spread out and read again when he comes undone. A red string a band, a script, of all that he was, all he was perceived to be. So the universe may know it had all been true.

Your voice reminds me of the sound of rain. It's my favorite sound. Rain on the window. But your voice, I think I like just a little bit better. You're my favorite sound.

I like your voice, it's soothing. You'd make a good audiobook reader you know?

Your voice is my favorite. You're my favorite person.

Can you read to me again? I really enjoyed it when you did.

Just keep talking, please. I like listening to you.

"Of course. Let's see..." he reached his hand up, slow and gracefully, and it slipped into a black, bubbling void that formed just low enough for his whole hand to dip into. He pulled it back out within a minute or so, and the little tear in the fabric of reality fell shut again in the empty space, vanishing from sight after leaving behind a sort of static in the air for a moment. A little like the white blinking specks of light you see when getting dizzy or feeling faint.

In the end, there is no trace of it left, safe for the old, blue bound book nestled in the man's lap. If Elizabeth is at all familiar with the feel of Leitners, she might be able to tell that this was one. Though...it felt just the same as Rose did, in its presence?

He flips through a few more pages, and watches as the writing dissapear, then returns to the pages, reforming into new sentences as if drawn by proper ink and feather.

"Alright, let's see..."

When the letters have settled, he begins, voice level and smooth. "Once upon a time, in a land far, far away from our own, there was a little girl called Nidia. She lived in the skies with her colony, all of which were equipped with the wings of bees and antennae, venom running through their veins as a form of protection, should they need it. They lived a simple life, up in the floating isles. Drones, as they were called, guarded people like her, the farmers of their lands...."

He explains the land surrounding Nidia in great detail, then, how she got betrayed by her lover, sent tumbling from the skies into a new world. One flat and not broken up in so many little platforms, nor floating at all. He tells of how the landing cost her the ability to fly, wings broken up and torn.

She explores, then, once she's recovered a little, and learns all sorts of things and meeting even more people. She settles upon a nice little valley in the hills, surrounded by flowers. Sh builds a little house, a garden that holds all kinds of fruit and vegetables, and along the way, finds new people to love and care for.

She learns to live a happy life again, even if she could no longer soar in the skies. A life with people in it that made her heart fly instead.

He gets up afterwards, and circles to the other side of the bed, taking off his shoes. "Of course Liza. I'll stay here and keep you safe, okay? You're not alone." he slides into bed proper on the other side of Liza after that, grabbing the second blanket to pull pcer his lap, sitting with his back leaned against the headboard.

but that cannot last forever. a while later during the night, she begins to toss and turn. she mutters things, breathing short and fast. they wriggle about, waking rose from any type of rest he might have been having.

she chants these words to themself like a mantra, trying and failing to get a grip on her head.

and who exactly is that girl? she’s definitely not a part of rose’s crew. when and how did she get there?

@the-leaches

The ship was supposed to be empty. Rose hissed under his breath, something sharp prickling up his spine beneath his shirt as he spreads his legs apart on the carpeted flooring slightly, bending at the knee, shoulders hunching and head lowering as a ripple went through his body, stiffening his muscles all throughout, just enough to be taut, ready to spring into action if needed.

Andromeda was still being repaired. At the very least during day time, she was. No one was supposed to be here, including himself. But even on his supposed 'break' he couldn't help it. He worried for the large vessel, even as she reassured him, thrumming gently through the floorboards, vibrating the blood in his very veins, that she was more than alright and that he need not worry.

But here he was, having wandered some of the halls aimlessly, when he felt another presence board the ship. His ship.

He stepped into the shadows after a moment, when he'd located the trespasser, and reappeared not a moment after on a floor higher, that had an open railing showing him the view of the strange little girl stood upon the lower, wider deck at the back of the ship.

The sea around the dock sloshed gently, but not enough to disturb the pool that seperated the unknown figure from the Crew member eyeing them from the dark.

He only watches a moment longer before he steps once into nothingness, only to reappear two arms lengths infront of her, pool now not many steps behind him, watching the tendrils of fog twist gently around the railings on the far sides of the ship while focusing mainly on the girl before him.

Rose's posture is spun tight, standing tall with eyes cast down upon her.

"What are you doing here?" he demands, voice deep and level, a vague threat in his tone, though it's more so one that tells of the caution ringing in his mind.

Anywhere else and he would've just been mildly tense about a surprise meeting such as this. But...upon Andromeda? Alone?

He relaxed his shoulders forcefully, just enough so he didn't look like he'd pounce any moment anymore, and sighed, ignoring the urge to rub the bridge of his nose, between his tired eyes.

"...Right. Fine. That's fine." he muttered, voice rolling into a softer tone. "How about we just...get you something to drink, yes? If you've been walking as long as you say you have, you must be thirsty, hungry, or at the very least tired." he extends a hand to the girl, shifting a little awkwardly on his feet now that the tension between his shoulder blades had left him.

"It's fine. I wasn't asleep, hun. I'm not... Friendly towards your patron, but that isn't your fault. Let's just get you something to sip on, yeah?"

He turns on his heel and takes three steps before checking that the girl was following, only continuing on and into the ship afterwards. They unlocked some doors and lead them into one of the big restaurants on the vessel, slipping behind a counter with them into the same kitchen he'd taken the last one to.

"Alright, any preferences? When it comes to juices I've got Apple juice, Orange Juice, Multi-Vitamin.. Uh.. White Peach, Banana and Cherry."

she tries not to let the sorrow reach her voice. sinclair is back. she should be fine again. everyone else is happy again, why can’t she be?

"It's fine. I know many don't get a choice in the matter, so I do not blame you. Besides...there is no one for it to draw fear out of. To feed on."

That was only true in part. He was sure the Forgotten One was feeding on him right now, even if just bit by bit, little by little, as a small ribbon of fog curled around one of his ankles.

she pulls over a chair and sits, sighing in relief as she does. she doesn’t look down at the fog. she can’t.

He watches the way she clings to the blanket, giving her a moment of quiet peace before speaking up again. There is something prodding in the back of his mind. Whispering that he has heard that name before, somewhere.

Why. Why do his ghosts always come back to haunt him. Why why why. Ellery. Of course it's Ellery.

You left him. You left him when it needed you most. You left him. He must think you abandoned him. You did. You abandoned it when you last held it in your arms. You promised you'd be there for it. You lied. You lied. You liar. He must hate you. It must be so hurt. It's better you stay away now. You've done enough damage. Dissapear. You should just dissapear.

He forces himself to breathe, looking down at the ground.

He doesn't need you anymore.

Good.

"I'll be fine, just... Surprised. I'm glad he has a full fledged family now. He...he deserves that. I just didn't think I'd hear about him again I suppose. But it's okay. I'm glad he's okay. And you'll learn to get better, too." he's leaned against the counter next to the sink with his back.

be useful. always be useful. you need to be useful.

she doesn’t sit down. she doesn’t follow orders the way she used to. maybe sinclair was good for something. other than pushing her to this.