It is time to Awoo

Ow, ouch, and jeez. Elyss couldn’t help but look away and frown with pain in her heart. Ulv’s words hit her right where it mattered. They were a perfect outline of what Elyss is doing to herself, and despite how happy she felt doing it, knowing what could occur to her makes everything she’s done feel less satisfying.

“I’d much rather you call my Elyss than Miss Kishimoto.”

The formality Ulv is showing just wounds Elyss more than she already is. It feels like the relationship between them has been strained and distorted to a point that Elyss does not desire.

“You know I already value others over myself Ulv. Don’t scold me like I’ve been doing everything wrong up to this point.”

Daughter? Daughter?! Elyss felt rather empty at that moment. It’s as if all the ideas she’s had about Ulv were just flushed from her mind, the evacuation button pushed on all her prejudice. All of a sudden, Elyss could hear words long forgotten in her mind; visions of another redheaded woman fills her mind. Memories of a time where she was loved wholly and greatly even though what she is seeing is fragmented. Then, she sees herself dying in an alley like she’s nothing to the world.

“I… I’m sorry Ulv.”

Her voice catches slightly as she rubs at her eyes while they are in the stand. Dammit. She turns away from the woman and sniffs once patting at her cheeks. She doesn’t want to tear up. Not now. How uncool. So uncool.

“It’s not about recognition though. I just… want to make life easier for people. Do all I can because I’ve never valued my life like I do others, but… I suppose that even if I don’t value myself like I should, there are others who do, and I’m sorry for disregarding your feelings and the feelings of others.”

She doesn’t turn around though. She doesn’t trust herself just yet to look at Ulv in her maid outfit without bursting into laughter and tears. How incredulous. She’s surrounded by so many people who care when she began with literally nothing. She recalls her talk with Keiko. Huh… Maybe she never did understand what a family was, but maybe now… Maybe she does just a bit more now.

A hug? It’s a hug just like every other time Ulv has hugged her, and every time it’s because Elyss requires attention beyond just simple training or advice. Much like other times, Elyss doesn’t immediately return the hug feeling extremely out of her comfort zone. For a woman who desires to help others, being helped herself in such ways always put her in a weird mental space. It conflicts with everything she strives to do in life and forces her to accept responsibility over herself; a responsibility she wished everyone would let perish.

“I understand… I guess. I’ve lived a while alone without anyone. Now, there’s too many people who care… How annoying…”

She mutters trying to sound annoyed, but she’s far too exhausted for something like that. Her hands move to grab at Ulv’s arms pushing against the woman a bit. Her earlier sadness is starting to evolve into embarrassment. Ulv is dressed as a maid, and this looks plain weird with the table in the way.

“I’ll do better. You can let me go now.”

Leave it to Ulv to do things in such a fashion. Elyss didn’t realize at first that the arms around her weren’t real arms. Well, she wasn’t actually facing Ulv anyhow, so she still didn’t realize such after those arms receded from around her. Huh… Elyss doesn’t hear Ulv refer to her in such ways often. A part of her? That may be true, but Elyss doesn’t want to think of herself as something that is a part of someone else in such fashion. It makes her feel like she has to work harder to create her own identity which isn’t even needed. The Princess comment was just straight up ignored as the redhead turned to look at Ulv eating. She might as well join, so she takes a seat and nods.

“Words without actions are just words. I guess it’ll take a bit of getting used to, but I won’t let myself fall into bad health. That’s the last thing I actually need.”

She begins eating her ramen as well. This is the moment where it’s probably best to change the topic of conversation, so what would be something else worth bringing up? And, the one thing that Elyss feels she must learn is…

“Why are you dressed up as a maid in Soul Society Ulv?”

“A lot of people will probably think you’re just wearing it to look cute or something.”

Elyss states thinking about Ulv’s vast collection of outfits that many would never desire to wear in public. Or secretly desire at least. What did Ulv even do to become a servant to the Gotei? Who made her the servant to the Gotei? Was it the new Captain Commander? That’s an odd thing to ask of someone, but I guess Ulv being Ulv means that strange things are sure to happen. And, the way Ulv is going about her sentence is… expectable.

“I wonder what you did. Do I get to scold the great Ulv now? Maybe threaten her with bondage and such? Guess you know the Captain Commander though if she’s fine with you dressed like this serving everyone.”

She chuckles lightly eating more of her ramen finding it a nice taste and fulfilling for her empty tired body.