get well soon sweet girl

[beyeotic]

[Ana wanted Yuna to have time with Tiara before the inevitable. They only had so much time and she wanted them to have it all. But now the execution is said and done Ana doesn't want Yuna to carry this all on her own.

She finds her heading in the direction of the homestead and it's probably best to be getting out of town. It's not a pleasant place to be right now.]

Yuna.

[She doesn't call out loudly, it's above a speaking voice but it's level-- just barely enough to carry.]

...I'm sorry.

[There's a lot of weight to her words, as there's a lot to be sorry for.]

Comments

[cherrypuncher]

Miss Ana?

[Yuna's eyes aren't dry yet, her hands still shake and she hasn't entirely swallowed down the readiness to sob, but when she turns around at Ana's voice, she doesn't look any more or less surprised to see her than she would be any other day. She doesn't hesitate to turn around and close the distance between them, though, so she's close enough to have a proper conversation without anyone having to call out back and forth.

What she says, though—there's a lot to be sorry about, but a lot that isn't Ana's to apologize for, and Yuna doesn't really know where to begin, doesn't know what to expect after everything. Yuna falters, expression falling until she can force it into a thin, uncertain smile.]

I'm sorry, too.

[beyeotic]

Yuna, what do you think you have to be sorry for?

[Ana's tone is concerned, but level. She genuinely wants to know so that she can dispel whatever's gotten into the girl's head but still wants to convey that she's not looking for a legitimate explanation. I suppose you could call it empathetic.

It's the fact that Yuna would think that she has something to apologize for that's a lot more upsetting than it was ever intended. Ana takes another step forward, not wanting to overstep her bounds but still indicate that she's there as a literal shoulder to cry on if need be. Being far away in a situation like this feels wrong.]

[cherrypuncher]

[Yuna starts, and when she looks up at Ana, she seems more confused than anything else. It feels so obvious to her that she should apologize; she doesn't understand why Ana would even need to ask.]

I couldn't do anything to help Miss Tiara. [She couldn't condescend if she tried, but it's clear by her tone that she thinks Ana should know this.] By the time I realized what was going on during the trial, everyone was already voting, and I...couldn't do anything...

[It's the uselessness that gets to her, that she gave her all in some places and it wasn't enough, that she faltered in others and things fell apart. She's sorry because nothing she did or could have done made a difference, because she could not do enough for Tiara or anyone, because all she's done instead is worry and upset people who care about her.]

[beyeotic]

[Ana softens a little. It's what she expected to hear but it's still so disheartening to know that Yuna is putting this whole mess on her shoulders. It's this sense of self-imposed responsibility that made her nervous about the girl to begin with and it's all coming to a head earlier than she thought.]

I'm not going to lie to you, none of us could have stopped Tiara... or Ao, for that matter. That was out of our control. But the opportunities that we had to help her, you took advantage of. You lead the search for Tiara, you allowed her into the comfort of your room.. You did what you could to make her feel comfortable in her final hours. And you did all of that out of compassion, Yuna.

[She pauses.]

The facts of the case can't be helped. But what you could have done, you did. And that's nothing to be sorry about. [There's a rather somber smile on her face.] That's what a hero is.

[cherrypuncher]

[Yuna isn't sure that it's a reassurance, to be told that she did everything she could correctly, or if it's only added hopelessness to know there's no change she's going to be able to make if (when) people keep dying. She can't decide how to feel about the idea that there is only comfort left for her to offer, if that—and Yuna isn't ready to take credit for that or think so highly of it when it comes so easily to her. More importantly, she isn't sure if she believes it. If she's done the impossible before, why not now?

Instead of having to ask or explain, though, Yuna decides on:] If that's true, I don't want you to think you have anything to be sorry for, either.

[Ana, brave and sturdy and wise, takes Yuna seriously, keeps so much faith in her; Yuna can't help but admire her. As long as Ana is someone she cares about, too, Yuna won't let her feel sorry or shameful for this place none of them asked for.]

[beyeotic]

[In all honesty it's more of a statement of fact with as much sincere reassurance she could squeeze in. Ana doesn't like to sugar-coat things, especially when the objective facts seem to smack down the other party's insecurities. Take from it what you will and move forward seems to be the lesson.

Ana takes pause for a minute at Yuna's statement, however. She does feel like she has things to be sorry for, as she certainly could have done more to avoid this. But, she supposes, that there was little to do even if she had been aware of the situation. And she wasn't. So, she supposes, she should learn from this situation in much the same way she hopes Yuna does. Likely the first step is not apologizing and looking to the past.

Move on.]

You're right. I won't think that way... Thank you, Yuna.