[ surprise flutters across her features like a butterfly landing on a flower petal and taking off again. his answer is both conditional and gives her what she wanted to know. it's almost disarming.
there is no way she could ever look away from him, not when she thinks he's so deserving of love and acceptance, of all the things he's lost, of all the things he's afraid to hope for. with his hands holding onto hers, she cups his face with both of her hands. she looks up at him with a smile. ]
Okay. [ it comes out almost like an incredulous laugh, almost for how it's more like a sigh. ] I'll take that deal.
I may not love you in the way you want, but I don't want to leave it unsaid. [ she wants to leave no doubt, no uncertainty. ]
I love you, Yves. I love your heart that wants to love and wants to be loved. I love the you who does so much to smile even if it's at the expense of so much more. [ how he broke and started feeling less. ]
I love you for saving that poor girl, and I love you even if you're afraid.
Thank you for wanting to understand me the way I want to be.
[ he's a fortunate person, to be in this heaven-adjacent place. so many people have told him that he's loved, even if it's not in the way that he wants. he's agreed that that's truth. adolphe, lucas, and now elysia. people that he can believe without a shadow of a doubt that they love him, through both actions and words.
when she cups his face in her hands, he lets himself sink into it. he closes his eyes, sighing. ]
... you don't need to thank me for that. [ he says softly ] Even though I also want to thank you for loving me.
[ and he has a feeling that she's going to say the same thing to him. all the ways in which they align, even though there are hiccups still. mismatched parts. like trying to solve a puzzle and being so sure of two pieces meant to be together, but they don't click exactly into place.
he doesn't want to force it, but he can still admire the dream. he lets his eyes open and meet hers. ]
I do love you too, Elysia. I love your playfulness and the sound of your teasing laughter. I love your sincerity and dedication to make sure people see the best of themselves, in the way that you see them.
I love you in all your mystery and distance, even though you still drift so close.
[ the contradiction of it all ]
... and if the love you want to receive is understanding, then I want to see every shade of you—in every light and shadow.
[ it makes her glad when he sinks into her touch, to see acceptance instead of fear. she has never liked it when people pulled away from her even if she understands it. in this, she knows a similar ache.
it's always a pleasant surprise when someone points out her distance, her contradiction, even in passing. ]
I won't let us get caught in a circle of thanks, hm?
[ even if she would say thank you again. ]
In every light and shadow.... I wonder what kind of painting I'll be to you.
[ the mirrors being to reflect a different memory, a different childhood.
it reflects almost like a story, a fairy tale.
there was a village called vladivostok 51. a gardener found a little girl with pink hair sleeping under the tallest ash and brought her to an orphanage. there, she grew, learned how to speak, learned how to read, and picked out her own name after reading it from a storybook (8:53 to 10:52).
the people around her loved her, and she loved them back, but one day, visitors from outside the village, visitors elysia would later in the future work with, came and detained every villager, as if investigating and searching for something or someone. they did not find what they were looking for and came back twice more until elysia couldn't bear it anymore.
even as young as she was, a part of her knew they were looking for her. she didn't know why back then, but she knew it was because of her.
fear never came easily to her, but leaving the people she cared about so deeply may have been the first time she grew a little afraid. she could not stay afraid for long because her next desire was to travel the world.
[ traveling the world was always out of reach. their island was surrounded by choppy waters, and they were isolated and shunned by all other people. yves never held it against anyone—he understood the ways in which people did what they could to protect their own.
he can't say that he's surprised to see the way in which the rest of the world still has its aches and growing pains, and yet so much beauty at the same time. even still, he believes that elysia is right. there was no true sanctuary. ]
... sometimes people ask me what I think heaven would've been like. And I get to tell them that to me... it's just being in the same place as the people that I love. Seeing my friends again.
[ there's a moment's hesitation where it can be seen that elysia wants to deflect, in how she glances at her own reflection instead of looking at yves. ]
Not usually. We have an unwanted visitor who has the ability to corrupt anything, so she made it possible.
[ being in front of the mirrors makes her think it's pointless to not admit it, not when they could tell the truth at any moment. she doesn't like lying either. ]
But if we're able to be returned, I'll take care of it. It's within my ability to fight back.
... okay. Then... I hope that you get everything you want. I hope your paradise is yours again, and no one is able to take it from you for even longer.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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there is no way she could ever look away from him, not when she thinks he's so deserving of love and acceptance, of all the things he's lost, of all the things he's afraid to hope for. with his hands holding onto hers, she cups his face with both of her hands. she looks up at him with a smile. ]
Okay. [ it comes out almost like an incredulous laugh, almost for how it's more like a sigh. ] I'll take that deal.
I may not love you in the way you want, but I don't want to leave it unsaid. [ she wants to leave no doubt, no uncertainty. ]
I love you, Yves. I love your heart that wants to love and wants to be loved. I love the you who does so much to smile even if it's at the expense of so much more. [ how he broke and started feeling less. ]
I love you for saving that poor girl, and I love you even if you're afraid.
Thank you for wanting to understand me the way I want to be.
no subject
when she cups his face in her hands, he lets himself sink into it. he closes his eyes, sighing. ]
... you don't need to thank me for that. [ he says softly ] Even though I also want to thank you for loving me.
[ and he has a feeling that she's going to say the same thing to him. all the ways in which they align, even though there are hiccups still. mismatched parts. like trying to solve a puzzle and being so sure of two pieces meant to be together, but they don't click exactly into place.
he doesn't want to force it, but he can still admire the dream. he lets his eyes open and meet hers. ]
I do love you too, Elysia. I love your playfulness and the sound of your teasing laughter. I love your sincerity and dedication to make sure people see the best of themselves, in the way that you see them.
I love you in all your mystery and distance, even though you still drift so close.
[ the contradiction of it all ]
... and if the love you want to receive is understanding, then I want to see every shade of you—in every light and shadow.
no subject
it's always a pleasant surprise when someone points out her distance, her contradiction, even in passing. ]
I won't let us get caught in a circle of thanks, hm?
[ even if she would say thank you again. ]
In every light and shadow.... I wonder what kind of painting I'll be to you.
[ the mirrors being to reflect a different memory, a different childhood.
there was a village called vladivostok 51. a gardener found a little girl with pink hair sleeping under the tallest ash and brought her to an orphanage. there, she grew, learned how to speak, learned how to read, and picked out her own name after reading it from a storybook (8:53 to 10:52).
the people around her loved her, and she loved them back, but one day, visitors from outside the village, visitors elysia would later in the future work with, came and detained every villager, as if investigating and searching for something or someone. they did not find what they were looking for and came back twice more until elysia couldn't bear it anymore.
even as young as she was, a part of her knew they were looking for her. she didn't know why back then, but she knew it was because of her.
fear never came easily to her, but leaving the people she cared about so deeply may have been the first time she grew a little afraid. she could not stay afraid for long because her next desire was to travel the world.
she wanted to look for her paradise, just like the protagonist in a story. (19:36 - 26:55)
her childhood, at least, was filled with lights. ]
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he can't say that he's surprised to see the way in which the rest of the world still has its aches and growing pains, and yet so much beauty at the same time. even still, he believes that elysia is right. there was no true sanctuary. ]
Were you able to create it?
Your paradise?
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she smiles, but there is almost enigmatic quality to it. ]
... When I was still living on Earth, I died before I could.
[ there's a beat, and her smile becomes more genuine. ]
But there is a space in the Elysian Realm, where I reside now, that you could call my paradise. It's where I remember everyone I have ever loved.
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... sometimes people ask me what I think heaven would've been like. And I get to tell them that to me... it's just being in the same place as the people that I love. Seeing my friends again.
[ he understands ]
I'm happy for your paradise, Elysia.
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[ this, at least, she knows they're alike on and what makes it so easy to talk to him. ]
I'd add you to my Elysium Everlasting.
[ if only she could be a little embarrassed naming things after herself or her namesake. ]
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I'd be happy to be there, if only I could just get a bit more time with you.
... that's the sentiment behind creating it, isn't it?
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[ she hates being alone. ]
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... do you get to create new memories in your paradise?
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[ her smile is as sure as ever. ]
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[ and he smiles back, tucking her hair behind her ear ]
... but before coming here, I mean.
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[ she and her friends are gatekept. ]
But my Elysium Everlasting has only seen one new visitor in these last 50,000 years. You have to get the approval of all my friends first.
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Does... it ever get lonely?
[ even if she's able to keep her memories of everyone she's ever loved with her ]
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[ ... ]
But if they were to ever be wiped from the Realm and I'd be without them in any way.... I would be lonely.
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[ to just be WIPED from the REALM? ]
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Not usually. We have an unwanted visitor who has the ability to corrupt anything, so she made it possible.
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... is that why you're here, Ellie?
[ softly, carefully ]
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[ being in front of the mirrors makes her think it's pointless to not admit it, not when they could tell the truth at any moment. she doesn't like lying either. ]
But if we're able to be returned, I'll take care of it. It's within my ability to fight back.
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... okay. Then... I hope that you get everything you want. I hope your paradise is yours again, and no one is able to take it from you for even longer.
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she lets his hands go to wrap her arms around his waist and places her forehead against his shoulder. ]
Thanks, Yves. I'll hold those hopes close to my heart.