Surrounded by Cherry Blossoms All Over Again
It might be equally frustrating to find that rather then smug or patronizing, the Elysian is red in the cheeks looking quite embarrassed at invading Shiho's space. As Shiho organizes and elucidates her thoughts Mehitabel chomps down hungrily on a plain, unsplit, unbuttered biscuit. She nodded in confirmation; they were all due pay and time off after the Eucharis' last cruise. That it had come at a traditional holiday festal time seemed to be one of those serendipitous moments of war.
Almost raising her voice in protest that there was nothing to do or so, a manners kept her mouth closed. Listening was better anyway, she reflected while observing her dining partner at close range. Shiho was much more serious then most of the ship's combat detachment; she hadn't had a chance to see them interact much but it made since that Tsuguka had taken a shine to her friend!
Framed in that fashion... The impending repair leave looked much bleaker. Her own leave was... Basically as bleak as predicted. There wasn't a whole lot of work to do that had to be done while Eucharis was in the hands of Uesureya's veteran shop force. Mostly setting things up for the Shosho; appointments, briefings, signing off on status updates. She had considered taking a vacation somewhere, even gone as far as looking up affordable trips to resorts on Yamatai (especially those with discounts for serving personnel). In the end, the idea of going alone on a holiday trip had been too depressing to pursue.
Life without companionship had been a basic part of her life since leaving Keren III. A stranger in a strange land, she had embraced the challenges thrown her way no matter how dull as a way to escape the harsh reality that there was no one she could call a friend. That had changed so, so recently, only to have been nearly wrenched away in a heartbeat.
Without asking, Belle lifted her wings out and wiggled them around behind her terracotta colored feline friend protectively. Her shoulders were as bony as the rest of her unfortunately.
"You say waste...." she says somewhat stiffly, taking refuge in her lack of comfort with Yamataigo to buy time, "But we're in much the same boat. I'll admit, you correctly forecast my midwinter plans. But... That's mostly because I don't have any friends. I mean-"
She threw up her free hand above the table, "I count you, Freyja-san, and Junko-san as my friends. You've already figured out the trouble with making plans with the other two. And you?"
"Who wants to do anything with boring Mehitabel?" she asks rhetorically, "The woman that doesn't even know what fun is. So."
Pulling Shiho in close for the best side-hug available stuffed into a lounge booth, "Instead of... Wallowing in our mutual pity why don't we... Plan something to do, or, somethings! I've got most of my back-pay saved and the cost of living isn't horrific if we don't want gold plated fixtures or a lot of floor space. We could, rent a place for the duration! Wouldn't need a whole lot, someplace to sleep, watch some movies and sit. Or if you don't want to put up with me for that long, we could always... Visit a ski resort. Or the ocean."
"Have to do shopping," Mehitabel agrees with an increased level of embarrassment in her voice, "All I own are my uniform and Iyko. Something less formal would be nice, more modern."
Realizing she had gotten substantially off track, waxing dreamily about future plans, Belle made a small sound of apology, her sentences much choppier as they enter unfamiliar territory, "That was too much wasn't it? I just, I don't, want you to feel alone. Like that. That there's no one there for you. Because I will be. If you want me to."
