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.
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?
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.
[ 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. ]
[ . . . 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. ]
[ 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?
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?
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 does remember this conversation. and so his heart does skip a bit, treacherously and traitorously. still, he just smiles at her and tilts his head ]
... someone told me it's possible to love more than one person at once. I think... that's true, because I do. I think it's also possible to be in love with more than one person at once.
[ . . . ]
I think the people I'm in love with right now might make that complicated.
[ because... he wants adolphe to be with elysia, because he thinks they could make each other happy—but that depends on adolphe, just as much as it depends on elysia. yves can't force things, even if he can be gentle in her encouragement and sincere with his observations.
and... well. there is claude.
they make it to the flowers, and yves turns to face elysia. he takes both of her hands in his and looks thoughtful. he didn't think he'd have to think this hard about falling in love. or maybe it's not the falling that was the hard part, but what comes after. the landing. ]
... but I do love you, Ellie. Every piece. I don't want to shy away from that, just because other things are complicated. If it's about the feeling, then I think you deserve to hear that from me. I want you to hear it from me.
To know that someone's seen all the parts of you that you care to share—and I love you.
How many times have you been told you're getting ahead of yourself?
[ it's said with fondness because there's more than adolphe getting in his own way that's the problem.
however, with elysia, the key to understanding her is understanding how she loves and how much she wants to be just like what she loves. to call her human and acknowledge her humanity despite how she's never been a human, to call her an ordinary girl just like everyone else despite how abnormal she can be.
yves took such a fatal line away from adolphe.
but it is what comes after that is the hard part. there's no denying the warmth she feels in his presence or from his words. how couldn't she know love when she feels it? ]
I love you, too, Yves. I am in love with you. [ because he deserves to hear that, too, if it's just about the feeling, she can say it easily enough. that's not the difficult part.
she looks at their joined hands, smiling as she always does. ] I don't know if there was any other outcome to your earnestness. I don't think I could have stopped myself from loving you even if I wanted to. I don't mind that you're in love with others. I can guess who they are.
[ she accepts that as much as she accepts loving him, as readily as she accepts yves loving her. his heart seeks and seeks.
she intertwines her fingers with his in spite of the words she chooses next. ]
I know I can love more than one person, but Yves, if you had to choose, I want you to choose the other people you love.
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[ 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.
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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.
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[ 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.
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[ 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?
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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.
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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. ]
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Even though today he said the most breathtakingly romantic thing about you without even blinking! The nerve of that guy!!
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About me? What about you?
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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 ]
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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. ]
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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... 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.
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[ 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?
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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 ]
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it's the simplicity that makes her say: ]
And if I said, I think you understand me?
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he does remember this conversation. and so his heart does skip a bit, treacherously and traitorously. still, he just smiles at her and tilts his head ]
Do you want to be in love with me, Ellie?
[ for as much as love is a choice. ]
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[ she mirrors the head tilt. ]
I don't know how much of it was a choice, so much as it was natural. You listened to what I said, and my feelings responded.
When I told you what I wanted, I was honest.
[ it's as simple and as difficult as that. ]
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... what about Adolphe?
[ the way that this is mutual love confessions but yves is like. still gotta think about my bro ]
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Hmm... I know what you'd prefer. If it's you, I won't deflect. Sometimes, he says things that make me think he could understand me.
And then the next thing out his mouth is how he thinks he can't. Because he thinks he hasn't earned it yet.
That's how you two can be alike.
[1/2]
He really just needs to get out of his own way. He's so annoying and needs to admit I'm right about everything.
[ factually untrue, ]
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... someone told me it's possible to love more than one person at once. I think... that's true, because I do. I think it's also possible to be in love with more than one person at once.
[ . . . ]
I think the people I'm in love with right now might make that complicated.
[ because... he wants adolphe to be with elysia, because he thinks they could make each other happy—but that depends on adolphe, just as much as it depends on elysia. yves can't force things, even if he can be gentle in her encouragement and sincere with his observations.
and... well. there is claude.
they make it to the flowers, and yves turns to face elysia. he takes both of her hands in his and looks thoughtful. he didn't think he'd have to think this hard about falling in love. or maybe it's not the falling that was the hard part, but what comes after. the landing. ]
... but I do love you, Ellie. Every piece. I don't want to shy away from that, just because other things are complicated. If it's about the feeling, then I think you deserve to hear that from me. I want you to hear it from me.
To know that someone's seen all the parts of you that you care to share—and I love you.
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[ it's said with fondness because there's more than adolphe getting in his own way that's the problem.
however, with elysia, the key to understanding her is understanding how she loves and how much she wants to be just like what she loves. to call her human and acknowledge her humanity despite how she's never been a human, to call her an ordinary girl just like everyone else despite how abnormal she can be.
yves took such a fatal line away from adolphe.
but it is what comes after that is the hard part. there's no denying the warmth she feels in his presence or from his words. how couldn't she know love when she feels it? ]
I love you, too, Yves. I am in love with you. [ because he deserves to hear that, too, if it's just about the feeling, she can say it easily enough. that's not the difficult part.
she looks at their joined hands, smiling as she always does. ] I don't know if there was any other outcome to your earnestness. I don't think I could have stopped myself from loving you even if I wanted to. I don't mind that you're in love with others. I can guess who they are.
[ she accepts that as much as she accepts loving him, as readily as she accepts yves loving her. his heart seeks and seeks.
she intertwines her fingers with his in spite of the words she chooses next. ]
I know I can love more than one person, but Yves, if you had to choose, I want you to choose the other people you love.
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