[She doesn't know if she can do that. If she can keep coming back, and not hope for a second, every single time she opens the door, that he'll be back again, waiting in there. To Ellie, it sounds like hell.]
...For me?
[Ellie takes it from Lup's hands carefully, handling it like glass, fragile and delicate. When the wrapping is removed, what's left in her hands is a wood carved angel holding a knife.
She doesn't realize she's crying until a drop stains the wood, spurring her to wipe her eyes against her jacket sleeve and stash both the figure and the gift tag in her backpack.]
[Lup's tried to give Ellie her space for this whole grieving thing, to collect what she wanted and go, but the sight of tears on the young girl's face is just too much for her. The loss of Magnus hurts too deeply, is felt in every inch of empty air in this house.
But more than that, the elf knows he'd be so disappointed in her if she just let Ellie leave in this state. He's not even here and Lup's heart aches at the thought of disappointing him.
Once Ellie's stashed away her gift, Lup's there with open arms to drag her into a hug, drawing the girl's head to her chest, a hand slipping through her hair. She doesn't say anything - what even needs to be said? - just holds her close, giving her someone to hold onto since the one person she'd most turn to is gone.]
[Lup's arms around her are soothing and warm. Almost motherly, in a way she has never known. It hurts.
It hurts, because she can imagine, through the pain of Magnus' loss, the absence of the mother she never knew, the way she misses Joel, Connor, Prompto, Jade, Sans and all the others, so many others- she can imagine what it would feel like, to lose Lup, too.
Her chest unlocks and bursts open and she sobs, rocking into Lup like a wave.]
I'm not going anywhere, hun. [This isn't exactly the kind of scenario that Lup excels at, emotions like this, messy and raw and so frightening, just aren't something the twins have ever been truly equipped to handle. But Ellie is family, just the same way Taako is, the same way Barry is. The same way Magnus is, even in his absence.
It's easier keeping that in mind, pressing the girl close to her, a soothing touch through her hair, a closeness that so few people ever are privileged to receive from Lup. But she's here as long as the girl needs her. Lup won't let go.]
And you don't have to go either, y'know. Stay here with us. As long as you want.
[Magnus isn't dead, but Ellie knows mourning. It feels like this. She isn't sure how often she could stay here, meters from this room, in a place so thoroughly covered in his footprints. Feeling like this.
But Lup is so comforting, and her words are the kindest Ellie has heard.]
I'll stay tonight.
[She doesn't ask about where she'll be staying, or who else is around. She just squeezes Lup too tight and wishes this over like a nightmare.]
C'mon, kid. [Lup gives Magnus' room one last look, her eyes dancing across the unfinished wood carvings and the mess he left behind, before a hand moves to Ellie's head, patting her gently. Time to put some distance from this place and shut the door behind them.
They can't linger here in Magnus' memory forever.]
[She nods and draws back, wrapping her own arms around herself the moment Lup's aren't there. Gotta get sharp again, or she'll just start unraveling, and she fucking refuses to be the little girl who can't sleep alone and cries all night.
She wipes her eyes on her sleeve again, steels herself to not talk about this any further, and clears her throat.]
Yeah. Gotta tell me who Bar is. What the fuck kind of name is that?
[A skinny arm slips around Ellie's shoulders before Lup's already leading her out of Magnus' room and towards the stairs. Funny how so much of the weight of Magnus' disappearance slips from her shoulders the second the door shuts behind her. It's still hard, of course it is, but this is so much easier, just putting that pain behind them.]
Funny story. I ever mention I was married? No? Uh, well I kinda am. Anyway, Barry's my husband. Finally decided to pop into the party, super late as usual, but at least he made it.
[that's probably the weirdest answer to give, but also, it kinda fits for lup.]
Oh for sure. Is he an elf? A human? A tentacle monster? I'm keepin' you on your feet till then. But you'll probs like him. Now pop a squat while I get our drinks ready.
Oh ho, and here I thought you were too young to know the fun of tentacle monsters. [Lup tousles her hair before she's dancing out of Ellie's reach to the kitchen, before the girl can retaliate.] They grow up so fast.
So, [Lup starts, already pulling out a pair of mugs from the cupboard.] I was thinkin' of taking Peanut out for monster hunting tomorrow. You up for some fun?
[Nothing can really be fixed, not when the hole of where Magnus should be is filled again, but being able to drag any lighthearted teasing from Ellie is everything. Lup will keep working to make sure the girl finds a reason to smile every single day.
It's what Magnus would have wanted.]
Cross my heart. Look, I wasn't in Camp Peanut when she first came home, but she's a good girl now. Trained by a pro.
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no subject
[She doesn't know if she can do that. If she can keep coming back, and not hope for a second, every single time she opens the door, that he'll be back again, waiting in there. To Ellie, it sounds like hell.]
...For me?
[Ellie takes it from Lup's hands carefully, handling it like glass, fragile and delicate. When the wrapping is removed, what's left in her hands is a wood carved angel holding a knife.
She doesn't realize she's crying until a drop stains the wood, spurring her to wipe her eyes against her jacket sleeve and stash both the figure and the gift tag in her backpack.]
Cool. Thanks.
no subject
But more than that, the elf knows he'd be so disappointed in her if she just let Ellie leave in this state. He's not even here and Lup's heart aches at the thought of disappointing him.
Once Ellie's stashed away her gift, Lup's there with open arms to drag her into a hug, drawing the girl's head to her chest, a hand slipping through her hair. She doesn't say anything - what even needs to be said? - just holds her close, giving her someone to hold onto since the one person she'd most turn to is gone.]
no subject
It hurts, because she can imagine, through the pain of Magnus' loss, the absence of the mother she never knew, the way she misses Joel, Connor, Prompto, Jade, Sans and all the others, so many others- she can imagine what it would feel like, to lose Lup, too.
Her chest unlocks and bursts open and she sobs, rocking into Lup like a wave.]
Don't leave. Don't leave me.
no subject
It's easier keeping that in mind, pressing the girl close to her, a soothing touch through her hair, a closeness that so few people ever are privileged to receive from Lup. But she's here as long as the girl needs her. Lup won't let go.]
And you don't have to go either, y'know. Stay here with us. As long as you want.
no subject
But Lup is so comforting, and her words are the kindest Ellie has heard.]
I'll stay tonight.
[She doesn't ask about where she'll be staying, or who else is around. She just squeezes Lup too tight and wishes this over like a nightmare.]
no subject
They can't linger here in Magnus' memory forever.]
I'll make some cocoa.
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She wipes her eyes on her sleeve again, steels herself to not talk about this any further, and clears her throat.]
Yeah. Gotta tell me who Bar is. What the fuck kind of name is that?
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Funny story. I ever mention I was married? No? Uh, well I kinda am. Anyway, Barry's my husband. Finally decided to pop into the party, super late as usual, but at least he made it.
I'll introduce you later. After cocoa.
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--That, and the very distracting bomb she just dropped. Ellie gapes at her, but continues to allow herself to be lead along.]
Holy shit? You're married!
[Cocoa is still more important though. Priorities.]
Okay. Sweet. Dude, I have no idea what the fuck to expect.
no subject
[that's probably the weirdest answer to give, but also, it kinda fits for lup.]
Oh for sure. Is he an elf? A human? A tentacle monster? I'm keepin' you on your feet till then. But you'll probs like him. Now pop a squat while I get our drinks ready.
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I'll put money down on tentacle monster. Sounds about right.
[She nods and flops down, somewhat tiredly giving Lup a salute.]
Aye aye, cap'n.
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So, [Lup starts, already pulling out a pair of mugs from the cupboard.] I was thinkin' of taking Peanut out for monster hunting tomorrow. You up for some fun?
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I didn't mean it like that! Gross!
[She still obviously gets what Lup is implying, though, so...]
Oh, fuck yeah. [frown] Promise Peanut won't bite? [She still doesn't like that pupper.]
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It's what Magnus would have wanted.]
Cross my heart. Look, I wasn't in Camp Peanut when she first came home, but she's a good girl now. Trained by a pro.
[Her. Lup is the pro.]