unknownseas | (too late) you're at the party

[Well, it's safe to say that trial fucking sucked. Therefore, some sort of afterparty is in order. Constantine is admittedly not good at throwing parties without some sort of liquor or other drug involved, but that's where Data and Sylvando guide him.

First order of business--invites. Upon returning to your rooms, crumpled pieces of paper have been taped to the doors. Written in poor handwriting is the following:]

meet at the lounge
bring whatever you want
[Simple, but effective. The lounge itself has been livened up a bit with Sylvando's help. Some nicely patterned fabric has been draped around on the tables to liven up the place a little, and snacks from the café and vending machines have been placed out for people to peruse.

A few supplies from the first aid room have been gathered, as well, for those who may need it. But perhaps the help is unnecessary, as tomorrow will likely bring another New Years Eve. And with it, another week of despair and frustration.

But for now, they can forget about that and pretend that all that matters is the present.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Plumeria doesn't need a lot of time to consider. She's not quite sure what it says about her, that she can trust a human like this so easily. But Sylvando's done nothing to break the trust that she's placed in him, and he really has been nothing but kind to her.]

...Thank you. I truly appreciate it.

[Plumeria puts down her own sewing for a moment, not looking at Sylvando, but just...taking a bit of a deep breath.]

...My relationship with my Mother has never been particularly good. Ever since my Father left us when I was young, she was forced to raise me on her own. I was always such a useless child to her; all I seemed to be able to do was get in her way and mess things up. She yelled at me often. "If it weren't for you, I'd be happy," and...

"I wish you'd just die."

[Plumeria's gaze, at this point, is just...out into nowhere in particular, and it's kind of blank.]

...The memory I lost was of my Mother tossing me into a well, and leaving me behind to be with another man.

[This...certainly wasn't the way he'd have expected to discover that he and Plumeria have a few things in common in regard to coming from a single parent family. Of course, the problems that he had with her father really were brought on by him, and he spent years avoiding those problems to chase his dream that he thought his father rejected. Hearing Plumeria's story...it makes him wince. He took so much for granted.

By the end of her story, his hand has instinctively reached toward Plumeria's.]

I'm so sorry. [His voice is gentle, respectful.] No matter what your mother might have thought or said, you didn't deserve that, not one bit. To say nothing of the Captain forcing back into your mind, fresh as if it had just happened.

[That awful man really is going to pay.]

...Is that when you met Lady Freyja?

[She's not going to stop him. Plumeria listens to those words, just...keeping herself together. She nods her head in agreement, too; this was a memory she was very glad to bury and never want anything to do with ever again, and the Captain just dug it up--

Gods. The blank look gives way to something angry, something in agreement with those words.]

No disagreement from me. I spent so long wanting to make her proud, just once...I didn't realize how useless of an endeavor that was.

[Trivia: Plumeria has long wished to become a hero, so that she could make her mother proud.

Plumeria does look over when Sylvando mentions Lady Freyja, though, pausing for a moment before nodding her head.]

...We did meet before, but...after Mother did that much, Lady Freyja took me in permanently after what happened.

[She's sidestepping a bit here, if mostly due to just...not wanting to get into that much, but--]

It's because of Lady Freyja that I finally found a purpose. And I could not be more thankful, that she treated me so kindly and allowed me to become who I am. I'm...no longer that useless little girl, not anymore.

[Since Plumeria isn't turning the gesture away, he takes her hand in his and gives it a gentle squeeze.]

That's truly admirable, honey. From what I've seen, you really are a strong woman, and you carry the poise of a true knight. I wish your mother could have seen that.

[Plumeria is rough around the edges and her disdain for mortals is...problematic...but the dedication that she has for her queen speaks volumes. It's obvious to Sylvando that she really does try very hard.]

I'm so glad that you're in a better place where you have nothing to hold you back from shining bright.

(too late) you're at the party

cw: child abuse, abandonment, being wished death upon

cw cont.

cw cont.

cw cont. just in case!