15strangers | WEEK 1

How about the café? We can grab some tea from the grocery to make before we go, since you don't like coffee.

[ ...She's getting used to it. And she's definitely softened since the fight before. ]

[ She actually very much appreciates that, and it makes her smile a bit. ]

You remembered that?

[ ... A-ah, she's surprised. ]

That sounds wonderful. Don't worry, I'll pay for my own things.

[ The hair dye and peroxide wasn't cheap, but it's... it's fine. ]

Black tea, no sugar or cream.

[ A smile. ]

And don't worry. Because I don't have any powers, I was given money in compensation. I can afford some tea.

[ ...They have to talk eventually. They can't dodge around it forever. ]

[ They'll talk over breakfast. She's... trying to figure out how. She doesn't wanna upset her again. ]

... Isn't that a little strange?

Eh, I can deal with it.

[ Come on, to the grocery! Let's get you some tea. ]

I think I would rather be dealing with what you have and get my magic back. I feel so lost--I keep trying to cast spells to help the others here, and then realizing I don't have my wand...

[ She might be moping, just a bit. ]

I don't have any magic right now. It's strange. I feel cut off.

[ It's one thing to not be able to access a ley line, but not feel magic at all is... ]

... Yes. Whatever this replacement they've given me is--it's no substitute for the actual thing. I feel disconnected. It's so... disconcerting. It makes this place feel so... lifeless.

[ She hates it. ]

Granted, it's a mall. I suppose "life" doesn't exactly grow much in malls, but...

Yeah. Maybe it would feel better if there were any trees around, but...

[ She shakes her head. Oh here's the tea section. ]

Pick which one you want.

[ Choices, choices... she ends up staring down a box with a dragon on it, versus a box with a cute panda, but in the end, the cute panda wins out. It reminds her a bit of her own bear friend, so she gets that brand. ]

I do honestly wish there were at least a little greenery. Perhaps Luna Nova spoiled me for it.

...Arcas, right? You ever miss him?

[ She'll go pay for it, at least. ]

... Sometimes. I did get to see him again when Akko opened the Gate of Polaris, though. It was nice.

[ She smiles, fondly. ]

I miss Alcor, too... it's so odd to not wake up to his crows...

...It's strange, being without all of that. Even my own familiar is back at the academy...

[ All right, paid for, let's go get food. ]

... Croix... why do you think they brought us here? That Life Coach... I told her I would openly oppose anyone who tried to harm anyone else. That I would do my best to stop it. But she does seem to be expecting blood to be spilled... I simply... can't allow it. There are children here.

[ To say nothing of how important each life is, adult or child... ]

...I don't know. But maybe we can find out if we're careful. ...I won't let anything happen to you, though, Chariot.

[ Not after everything else she did to you. ]

C... Chariot, huh.

[ Her hands thread together, the teabox in her pocket and she just... the name hangs in her throat. ]

Croix... I don't need protecting.

[ Does she deserve to be looked after? Hah. ]

I can look after myself. But all the same... if it means anything to you... I want to keep you safe, too. You mean a lot to me. You always have.

...I'll be fine, Chariot. But you... You'd destroy yourself if it was for another person. I won't let you do that.

[ I owe you. ]

... I...

[ Whoops she can't argue with it. ]

W-well, it's true I don't want anyone to come to harm, but... that might be unnecessary if we all go home. ... Croix... I just... want you to be safe. That's all. Everyone else here? They have some kind of advantage over you. So being with me... means I could help keep you safe.

...It wouldn't be worth it to me if you got hurt protecting me. I've already hurt you so much.

[ She's stopped walking. This... This isn't... ]

... I...

[ Ursula's fingers twist into knots, practically. You can see the anxiety on her face, and she almost bumps right into Croix, but stops just short. ]

I'm the one who stole what you wanted... and... I'm the one who took Akko's magic from her. If anything, I have a debt to repay to you... and to her. And to so many other people.

We don't always get what we want, Chariot.

[ It's as much being said to herself as it is to her. ]

...This probably would have been better for me, anyway, than... It's... It's complicated.

... Then I guess it's too bad I learned something important a long time ago, isn't it? "Phaidoari Afairynghor". We don't always get the things we dream of... we get the things we work for.

So let me work by your side, Croix. ... Please. Help me keep the people here safe. And... I don't want to give you the wrong idea.

[ She'll remove her glasses and pocket them. They're just getting in the way anyway. ]

... I love my job at Luna Nova, Croix. I love my students, and I love teaching there. It may not be glamorous, but I love the work I do. It may not be big and groundbreaking and important, but I'm helping the kind of people who will eventually go do those things in the future, if they want to. I'm helping Akko. ... I still have a role to play. I'd almost... forgotten, for a moment, but...

[ ... Woodward reminded her, didn't she? Remember together the Seven Lost Words. You, too, have a role to play. Something to that affect. Her smile is genuine, and she'll hold out her right hand. ]

... But there's no reason we have to give up hope. I think what you wanted is very, very possible. And I'm going to try very hard to make sure it happens.

[ Of course she uses the words against her. Of course she does. Croix turns, slowly, looking down at Ursula's hand. Right. Her left arm is injured. ]

...Chariot...

[ ...How can she forgive her just like that? How? Slowly, she reaches out. ...But it's not taking her hand that she does. ]

[ It sure is. There's no scar, because of course there isn't. Magic doesn't leave scars, at least, the Shiny Rod didn't. Everything it did was internal. Too much magical energy out of one place for one person to handle; her arm's a lot weaker now. It works, but it's weaker. You'd probably noticed... she's switched handedness, mysteriously. ]

... Even though a part of me really... regrets the past, I don't think we'll ever be able to move forward if we just... live there. We're... here now. It's been ten years. We've both done a lot of changing in that time, you know?

I'm... not the bold person you used to know. I get... afraid of large groups of people, and I'm easy to shout down, and I'm often anxious, bu-but... please, give me a chance now.

...I did this to you. I ruined you. I thought, back then, that you were someone no one could tear down or destroy. But I was wrong. I was so busy being caught up in me and my fears and anxieties... I never noticed...

[ What was really important to me. ]

...The night of your last show, I wasn't... Even thinking about me when I erased everyone's memories. All I knew was how much trouble you'd be in. So I wanted to keep you safe. That's... All I could think.

[ How could she have been so stupid? ]

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