Fifty Seventh Summons: She doesn't deal with grief well

[shallbeavenged]

[She's gone. She's gone. She's gone. She's gone. This repeats in her head over and over. She's gone. Ema, Ema wasn't supposed to leave. Ema stayed. Ema was one of the consistent ones. She didn't just appear and then vanish she stayed. Not like everyone else. She wasn't allowed to be just like everyone else. Like, Saki, like Jane.

Ai stares at the wall before slowly standing up. Housemates may notice that the small child isn't emotionless looking for once, she looks angry.

The charred remains of the telephone might also give you that impression.

A. Ema wasn't supposed to get droned. The town droned her. It must have been for some reason. And what was always behind the bad things that happened to her? ....or who. Well one Edward Nygma. Which is why she's appeared in his house, in front of him. 

B. There is a small girl huddled up in the park. She looks miserable. More miserable then usual. The burnt tree next to her doesn't look very happy either. But hey, at least it's not on fire anymore. Just...burnt.]

Comments

B

[ceasetoexist]

[Man. Why is it always trees that people go for when they're pissed off in this town? It's not like Pokey can judge since he's destroyed his fair share of property and shrubbery during his stay in Mayfield too. It's just kind of amusing by this point how often trees get singled out.

It takes him a moment to realize he should probably be paying more attention to the person sitting beside the tree instead of the tree itself. Cut him some slack; this empathy thing is still hard.

He just stares there for a moment before rolling his shoulders.]

Least you've made it so one of the trees has some character here.

.....What's wrong?

[shallbeavenged]

Ema's gone.

[Her tone is stiffer then usual, which is saying something. She's not looking at him, just staring at the ground.]

[ceasetoexist]

[Pokey doesn't really know who that is, but it's pretty obvious she's important to Ai. And God. He really wishes he was better at being comforting right now than he is.]

I'm sorry. It sucks whenever anyone leaves in this stupid hole. And it never gets better when more go.

[It's kind of odd. "I'm sorry" used to be something he just said to get people off his back or as a quick out when he was expected to apologize. The idea that the term could have sincerity wouldn't have occurred to him before and it amazes him now that there really is a difference when it is meant.]

She'll be fine. I'm sure of it. ...And she could still come back.

[But he says that already knowing, and it's clear in his tone, that that's something no one really wants in the end. Even if you care a lot about that person.]

[shallbeavenged]

[She nods.]

She left....before. When she was my mother here. And then she came back and didn't remember me...in a different house.

....but she was still nice. ....and spent time with us....

[Ema was strange. Not only befriending and earning her trust once, but twice.]

[freakinblur]

[Scout smells fire. This isn't good. He hasn't gotten the news yet himself, so when he finds Ai has charred the phone and a good chunk of the wall, he's confused.]

Okay. Yer mad about somethin'. I can see that. How 'bout ya tell me what it is before somethin' else goes up in flames?

[shallbeavenged]

[She stops because ...well it's Scout. He's here and ....her hate drops slightly and the grief shows through.]

....Ema's gone.

[freakinblur]

[blinkblink] "Gone"? Whattaya mean, "gone"? [He knows what that means in Mayfield. He just doesn't want to believe it.]

[shallbeavenged]

Droned.

Her things are gone.

[She knows. She looked.]

A

[questionauthority]

[Oh hey. It's just a day of lots of visits, isn't it?]

You...?

[shallbeavenged]

[All the visits. And unlike most of your visitors, this one is just angry. Fists balled, glaring, just standing there looking at him as though he'd slapped her.]

What did you do.

[questionauthority]

[Frowning. He's not exactly sober or coherent at the moment.]

What are you talking about...?

[shallbeavenged]

She's a drone. What did you do?

[And she's not really thinking straight. A great combination.]

B

[bread_goes_bip]

[Well that's... not good. Seems to be a bit of that going around.]

Ai?

[shallbeavenged]

[Glances over and then back to the ground.]

...Yes?

[bread_goes_bip]

It's... Ema, isn't it?

[shallbeavenged]

She's gone.

[Of course it is. Ema was like a mother to her. Ema came back and was nice to her twice. Even when she didn't have to talk to her at all the second time.]

B

[hintcoinplz]

[That sure is a burnt tree. Luke stops to look as he walks past, looking down at Ai with some confusion. Oh, it's Slugger's girlfriend.]

Ah, hello. What are you doing out here?

[shallbeavenged]

Sitting.

[She glances up to look at him. Oh it's Sluggers brother. Just ignore the fact that it looks like she's been crying. Nothing to see here.]

What are you doing here?

[hintcoinplz]

[He notices that too.]

Just walking.

...Are you crying?

B

[hell_wheel]

[As the tree smolders, a lone doll sits at the base in plain view for her.

Waiting silently as she mourns.]

[shallbeavenged]

[And she mourns ....and the notices the doll. Which she then picks up.]

Wanyudo?

[hell_wheel]

[It remains in her hands, red string in place.]

Yes Mistress?

[ryougi]

[Well that's definitely a different sight... Meaning the phone at first to be honest, but it's hard not to notice an intense expression when Ai is usually as blank-faced as they come.]

You can get mad?

[shallbeavenged]

Yes.

[So very angry. It's one of the few things she could do. And it almost always got her in trouble. You'd think she'd have learned by now.]

[ryougi]

Huh. Didn't really think you could. [Shiki your rude bluntness is probably not appreciated.]