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[lionly]

"Hm? Ah-- yes, this is Elza Clifford, vice-captain of the Gefreiter. Leave a message?

I guess?"


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Comments

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[immobileyes]

One of my friends has one, and I thought he might get cold, so... [ why not? But she's setting her work aside to gratefully take her cup. ]

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[lionly]

Hmmm. [Bemused. But that concern isn't something that comes as a surprise, from Mary...]

Will he wear it?

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[immobileyes]

... I hope so. I'm not sure what else I'd do with something so small.

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[lionly]

...Maa, if the squirrel doesn't, you could probably put it on a stuffed toy.

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[immobileyes]

I don't have any stuffed toys. But maybe I should look...

[ well, that's only if Ao doesn't like this, though.

HMMMM. ]

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[lionly]

Do you like them?

[More presents to heap on her?? No... maybe... who knows.]

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[immobileyes]

I think they're cute, but I don't remember the last time I owned one.

[ Elza, no. ]

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[lionly]

[Elza yes.]

A while, then. Or when you were very young-- I had one when I was a very young boy. [But then when he was old enough to talk and toddle around on his feet or his lion paws not so many stuffed toys.]

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[immobileyes]

You did? [ she's pausing before another sip of her tea, trying to picture this. ] Was it a lion?

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[lionly]

[Elza starts to laugh--] That's right. I used to take it with me everywhere.

Children like to be in their animal forms more, so it was tattered by the time I was a bit older. [Because lion cub Elza was always taking it around everywhere in his mouth... sharp little lion teeth...]

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[immobileyes]

You must have been so cute as a cub! I wish I could've seen it.

[ BABY ELZA... ]

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[lionly]

That's what I heard from others, at least. [He smiles somewhat bashfully.]

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[immobileyes]

You're a pretty lion, so I'm sure it's true.

[ Him and his ribboned tail... ]

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[lionly]

Pretty?

[Eeeeh-- But, well, it's a compliment... but eeeeeh--]

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[immobileyes]

Pretty! You're soft, and your eyes are still the same, but your coloring's even nicer--

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[lionly]

[Elza shakes his head, giving in to a laugh as he reaches out to his cup of tea, lifting it up to his mouth.]

Thank you. [He'll give in.] I don't get compliments about my other form that often-- because I don't show it, usually.

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[immobileyes]

You can show it to me whenever you want.

[ So solemn. ]

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[lionly]

Hmm-- I wonder if you're saying that just because you'd like to see it more.

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[immobileyes]

[ Flustered now, she quickly waves her hands in front of her.

After she sets her cup down, thankfully. ]

I wouldn't mind, b-but I said it because I don't want you to feel like you can't!

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[lionly]

[Elza laughs more gently, watching her fondly as he sets his own cup down, his fingers lacing together.]

I know. I was just teasing you.

But, I suppose I do feel that way; it was how I grew up. And, of course, what I'll eventually go back to when we find our ways home...

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[immobileyes]

...

[ Going home... she does miss it, of course, and she misses all of her friends, but when that happens...

She's quiet for a long moment, staring down at her hands as she lowers them. ]

Maybe it could change...

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[lionly]

Maybe. I don't think that it's impossible, though many ways of thinking would have to change.

[But he trails off, watching the way that she looks at her hands.

He reaches over to her, setting his hand lightly on her shoulder.] Mary? [His expression is a apologetic. Is it because he mentioned going back?]

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[immobileyes]

[ She lifts her eyes, and she's not so good at smiling off her worries, so the conflict's clearly scrawled across her face. ]

... Sorry. I know it would be a good thing to go home... I just sort of forgot that when that happens, we won't see each other anymore.

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[lionly]

[He moves to drop his hand, taking one of hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. He's always known they'll go back to Weblin, that there's still things left to do there.]

Aa. [...] It's painful to think about, isn't it?

[He does think her going to her world, going back to her friends, is the best thing, so why is there this conflicted feeling? Is this what Mary's feeling?] But... There's a chance that that wouldn't have to be the case either, isn't there? [And maybe that's why he says that--even though he thinks the possibility is real as well.]

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[immobileyes]

... Is there? [ the uncertainty is strong in this one, even if she squeezes his hand. ]

I don't know how other worlds work... this is the only other one I've been to.