Week 8; Thursday night; Faize

[princessantly]

[ It's... still something to adjust to, the first time she'd stood in front of the door and raised her hand to knock, and it had gone right through it. Being a ghost isn't a simple matter, and while she's grateful that it means she isn't completely gone from everything, it's also made certain things difficult.

She needs to talk to Faize, as best as she can, she knows that. But first, she needs to know what she can do like this. So the first few days are spent practicing in places where people won't be weirded out by floating pebbles and the like. And still, it doesn't feel as though she's entirely gotten the hang of it, and she's still so exhausted after every effort... but seeing Faize in front of her makeshift grave marker decides her.

So this time, instead of standing anxiously in front of his door and talking herself out of it, out of fear of catching him in a private moment, she walks right through it.

There has to be a way to reach him. ]

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[princessantly]

... Faize...

[ He can't hear her, she knows, so speaking is a futile effort... but she wants to say it. Because she's been guilt-stricken and worried this whole time. She'd do anything to be able to touch him again, even just grasping the warmth of his hand. But that much is past her limits right now... so instead?

Boop, goes the tiny star against his nose. ]

I've missed you too. And I'm sorry.

this is it. this is how i will die. nose boops.

[symbologic]

[He goes slightly cross-eyed for a second, trying to keep his eyes on the star and not realizing until it's too late what she was planning to do with it. But once his eyes straighten back out, he smiles warmly.]

[He chooses to believe that nose poke means she's missed him too and he's not going to ask for clarification either way. Actually, he's not going to say anything at all for a minute or two. Apparently that whole "your presence alone is all I need" thing still holds true. Which is good because that's about all either of them can manage now.]

[But oh, if he could hold her hand right now, he would.]

Mmm...I suppose I should be putting this time to better use than silence. Enjoyable though that is, I assume you suffer from the same energy problems mentioned at the sleepover. And I could further assume that merely holding onto that star is expending some of it.

So...have you been able to figure anything else out now that you are with the others? I know that Gilbert was able to relay some information to Break, but...

[But what even is Pandora Hearts, basically.]

you're welcome

[princessantly]

[ Look, she could find a pen and scrawl "I MISSED YOU TOO" on one of his papers, but he's right, all of this takes energy and if she wants this to last a little longer, she can't expend it all on expressing what other gestures will (hopefully) accomplish.

At the question, though, the star moves back a little and bobs, just once. It hasn't been as much information as she would have liked, but it's true that there's more beyond death than she would have originally guessed. ]

[symbologic]

[But wait, there's more! Good to know this principle applies even in death. Half death. Why does death have to be so complicated here.]

Is there anything I should know then? Or rather...is it even possible to share it at the moment? More than anything, I still wish to help bring about the best possible outcome for all involved parties, but there is only so much I can do while still mostly blind to the bigger picture.

[HE'S TRYING but he doesn't even know where to start with this bullshit. Whenever he tries asking for information he just gets snubbed, it's awful. LET HIM HELP.]

[princessantly]

[ There isn't a lot Alisha knows about the situation, and very little of it is something that would be able to help Faize solve this mess. She can at least tell him what she's learned--

... Or try, considering... well, right now, she can just be a floating paper star, and just this much is already starting to wear her out.

So once again, a single bob, although this one's a little slower. ]

[symbologic]

[Faize watches the star and then sighs with an apologetic smile. Don't think he didn't notice that bob was slower!]

Is there a way you can convey the information with a single word or gesture? Otherwise, it can wait for another time. I hadn't realized just how draining this is, since last time we dealt with an entire group, and I do not wish to tire you out completely. [If she were Hinata, different story. He'd make Hinata tell him everything, no matter how tired he got. #friendship]

[princessantly]

[ That... sure is friendship. She can't explain it all in a single word, though (if only), so this time the star bobs twice. She'll have to figure out how to explain it enough so that they can then continue with yes-or-no questions. It might be easier that way, and she's seen how wiped out Gilbert gets with all of his fussing over Break. ]

[symbologic]

[Somebody stop Gilbert before he kills himself for real fussing over Break.]

Another time, then. If you are willing to meet with me a second time, that is. [Which maybe, just maybe, he looks a little happy about. Because that means he gets to "see" Alisha again. So this suits him...fine enough. Alisha not being dead would, of course, be better. But we can't always get what we want.] In the meantime...if it is not too much trouble, could I ask you to bring the star here, just for a moment?

["Here" presumably being his palm, as he just raised his hand to about shoulder-level, holding it open flat with his palm facing where he assumes Alisha is.]

[princessantly]

[ And they say true rest comes after death, which can't be true, because not only is she on babysitting duty, but she's more exhausted than she's ever been before. Truly, it's unfair.

But this is all she can do right now, and seeing Faize again, letting him know she's here.. it's worth every last bit of effort.

The star dips a little now, before slowly floating closer and settling itself in his palm. There you go, Faize. ]

[symbologic]

[Sorry they're all terrible and need babysitting, Alisha. Maybe we'll kill off more of the problem children in the coming weeks, so that the poor ghosts can have some rest. Half rest.]

[Once the star is against his palm, Faize's fingers curl downwards until they're sort of lightly closed around it. Though, it's obvious it's not really the star he's trying to hold. If she lets go of it and it slips between his fingers, he won't really care. The star was merely a guiding point to the thing Faize really wants to hold. The thing that he can't hold, no matter how hard he tries, so he has to settle for perhaps the palest imitation possible. It's hardly a substitute, and he knows it, but even pretending is better than nothing. At least for him.]

Thank you.

[For lots of things, really. He has at least as many things to be thankful for as he does apologetic, as far as Alisha is concerned.]

[princessantly]

[ Maybe one day he'll be able to hold more than a star, or empty space. And maybe it's a foolish thing to pour the rest of her energy into, but seeing Faize's gesture and remembering all too vividly how it had actually felt to wrap her arms around him or press their fingers together or kiss him...

Alisha can't really help it.

There's soft pressure on the undersides of his fingers, as though there really is a hand there for a minute. And then-- gone.

She'll be back. ]