florescences | yves catchall

[ about to loss week it lose sanity ask about gossip ]

It'll be fine, but I appreciate you. I always do.

[ she shakes her head with a little smile. ]

I like it better that he's not objective about it. I'd rather he feel something about it. He worries about being a good person, but I just want him to feel like it's okay to be any kind of person at the end of the day and he'll still be loved.

That's something he deserves.

[ . . . well. he just huffs out an amused breath at that ]

Don't worry, that's my goal too. Even if he's a little annoying about it.

[ fondly ]

I'm sure that with enough perseverance and maybe a few more well-timed weeks and effects, he'll eventually get it.

You both can battle it out to see who's more annoying.

[ she says that with affection. ]

But I have faith you'll win.

Of course I will.

[ CONFIDENCE. HE IS SUCH A LITTLE SHIT WHEN NEEDED,, ok i see the opening ]

Is it a little bit like how you're trying to get through to Adolphe? He's also pretty stubborn about it, and I've known him for years.

Hm? Maybe? Although shouldn't you say it's more like you tried to get through to Adolphe, too?

[ or maybe the vibe for yves was different then vs now ]

Adolphe has shifted to resignation with me. I don't think Claude is resigned with you. You're both pretty affectionate with each other.

Adolphe ignored me for multiple months without a single word to spare, so I think you're doing a lot better than I did. Though I do think that once you get through to him, it's pretty easy to sort of fit yourself into his life and he won't be able to do much against it.

[ the real method for adolphe: forcing yourself into every nook and cranny of his existence until he is forced to admit you're besties

as for claude, the answer to that is simple: ]

Claude's a flirt and a tease.

I think I benefited from this place forcing things out of him. I did get him to admit a list of people he at least tolerated. [ which means he likes and cares about them. ] Jacopo was on the list.

[ this could have been part of gossip, but we dispersed. ]

I can see how you two interact behind closed doors now.

They really didn't give that impression before that first week [ when adolphe died ] but I can see where things shifted... [ WOW.... HIS EYES ARE OPEN ] I'll have to ask him about it.

[ also,, he sort of makes a tired expression ]

Let's not jump to conclusions, Ellie... Claude's way too shy to be able to survive that kind of teasing.

[ HIS EYES ARE OPEN, AND SO ARE HERS. she shippushes less, though. she is just happy to observe. ]

It makes things more exciting, doesn't it? That kind of transition.

[ it's spicy.

she laughs at his tired expression. ]

You tried, huh? I think it's your sincerity that makes him shy.

It does! Ah, Jacopo's so cute... I'm glad that people are able to see how easy it is to love Adolphe.

[ HE'S JUST... SO GOOD... AND SO SWEET... AAAAA ADOLPHE'S THE BEST

but! he just laughs ]

He's just a little awkward to begin with, I think. He'll flirt but then as soon as you say something genuine, he freezes up in confusion.

Now, if only Adolphe could see that, too, we'd all be in a better place.

[ all her effort to get to a starting line.... is just for that. ]

I noticed that, too. [ before she became persona non grata. ] He really is so cute... Why do so many people here think they don't deserve any kind of relationship?

[ well these two points are connected so

yves looks thoughtful ]

... I did try today. With Adolphe. We were talking about you, and then in general.

[ yves is so blatant about his otp ]

It's... a lot for him to take in, I think, but he is trying.

[ she knows what yves supports. ]

I know it is. We've talked a little about it, too. Last week was a little rough for him, and I was trying to get him to come back to himself.

I just want him to learn that he's worthy and deserving of love. To love and be loved. You know, he keeps saying he doesn't understand me.

[ it's funny to me, personally, and it's funny to elysia, too, but for different reasons. ]

Yeah. I know!

Even though today he said the most breathtakingly romantic thing about you without even blinking! The nerve of that guy!!

[ OKAY? ]

About me? What about you?

Well, I'm the one who said you were perfect. [ which he does think is true, but in his own way ]

But then he said, "She's not perfect! To call her perfect is an insult! She's just like anyone else!"

[ hE HAS

STARS IN HIS EYES AS HE'S RECITING THIS

MY GOD

HE SWOONED ON ELYSIA'S BEHALF

HE'S STILL SWOONING ]

[ SWOON LESS

elysia does have to close her eyes, hearing this. she lets the words sink in a little.

she laughs softly, but there's a little more warmth to her laughter than usual. ]

You two are so cute. You should have let him say that to me, for your agenda. [ it's teasing. ] Can't I be a little more perfect than everyone and also just like anyone else?

[ this question doesn't make sense, but she means it. ]

[ HOW CAN HE NOT SWOON ABOUT THIS... IT'S SO ROMANTIC.....

but he's just laughing ]

I can't believe he hasn't said it to you himself but.. of course you can! [ SO EASILY.... ] I think you're perfect, even if it's not the type of perfect that everyone else aspires to. It's not a perfection that comes without fault or mistake, but one where you are yourself. And there is no greater beauty than you as you are.

[ they're just walking along, but he'll use her hand in his to gently guide her into a twirl even as they go ]

But Adolphe's right, too. That you're just like anyone else, and you struggle like we do to find what's right, even though you have a bit more confidence and certainty with every step you take. But to know there's humanity in that too, and the trying is what makes every action all the more significant.

Of course you're both.

[ he's swooning more than elysia is although both their words leave an impact in different ways, in different degrees.

she spins effortlessly when he twirls her, her skirt fanning out as she rotates. her laugh catches a little in her throat in a way that's both incredulous and horribly amused. ]

What am I going to do with the both of you?

[ she sighs and swings their hands as they continue to walk towards the flowers. ]

I love you, Yves, as easy as breathing.

[ . . . well, he's heard it before. they've already been here, haven't they? words of love and affection, even if they were before some of the understanding they've reached.

yves cherishes elysia's letters. he's kept each one and pressed them with flowers like little witnesses to their words of affection. ]

I love you too, Ellie, with my whole heart.

[ they're words she only wanted to reiterate, now that she's seen him again, to say aloud instead of penning to paper, again and again.

she knows more the shape of his love now and the ways he loves her. every letter she's received is kept in pristine condition, every word a treasure kept close to her heart, every instance of understanding somehow fragile yet unbreakable in her memory. ]

I know. [ she's not abashed to say or acknowledge it. ] Are you still afraid? Have the others lessened that for you?

[ he looks thoughtful at that, wondering. ]

... yes and no.

I don't think I'm afraid of rejection anymore. I don't think anyone will get my hopes up about loving me and then cast me aside... not here, at least.

[ it's not like the island where they are all so superstitious and terrified every single day of their lives. ]

... but I do wonder if I'm not meant to be loved the way I want to be loved, since it keeps happening.

And I wonder... if I need to start becoming okay with that.

That's a good change. [ the first part, at least ] The people here are kinder in their own unique ways. If anyone here cast you aside, I'd be surprised.

[ they're not influenced by the isolated culture the island seemed to cultivate.

she's contemplative as she listens, looking at the flowers visible in the distance. ]

The kind of love you want... the way you want to be loved... it's the kind of love you'd face the whole world for. Is that right?

[ a nod.... but in its simplest terms: ]

I want to be in love with someone who is in love with me.

[ he's learned well enough now that he's loved. people are kind to him, but they always follow it up with 'you are such a wonderful friend' and so he knows, still, it's not what he's looking for.

he cherishes it. he loves it.

but dear god he wants to be in love so badly ]

[ she continues to swing their hands idly, and she smiles because that's one of the purest and most yves things she's heard from him.

it's the simplicity that makes her say: ]

And if I said, I think you understand me?

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