heavyhitter | IC CONTACT (futuro & prisma)

Yeah, I bet there's plenty of shit you don't know about me.

[ Because that sounds way better than "I didn't until I started on this thing", much more confidence-inspiring. Before the cake, though, she reaches for that wrapped parcel, holding it out. It's a lovely red and gold affair, with a pretty bow and everything. (She stole the bow from one of North's gifts to them, don't be too impressed.) ]

Hang on, open this one first.

[ And inside is a pair of golden bracklets wrapped up in a handwoven cool teal, sheer scarf, both from Perdition's Rest. ]

[ she's distracted from saying something too cheesy like i'd like to when ramir hands her the gift. she looks just as surprised by it as she had the cake, tbh, and as her fingers pass through the delicate material, her eyes start to water again. ]

Oh... Ramir — th-they're lovely... [ the urge to deny the need for them is strong, feeling too overwhelmed by ALL THE NICE THINGS SUDDENLY BEING THROWN AT HER HOW IS SHE SUPPOSED TO HANDLE ALL THIS but fortunately she takes heed to ramir's earlier words and quells the urge down, not wishing to be rude.

her own gift for the woman is sadly not quite ready yet, but it will be. soon. ]

Thank you so much...

Yeah, no problem.

[ Is she crying again? That's delightful, there's no wondering if Olivia actually liked the stuff or not. Ramir's still smiling, pleased, when she finally turns back to the cake, and makes quick work with the knife to carve out two pieces for them. Holding out one on a plate for her: ]

Okay, here you go. Breakfast. It's strawberry flavored, and I don't think that's a fruit? But I wasn't gonna make fucking fruitcake, so it's the best I could do.

I'm sure it's delicious, [ she insists, before she even lifts the fork to her mouth. but once she does, her lips split into a wide, appreciative grin, followed closely by that distinctive mmmm! of someone quite pleased. ]

Oh, Ramir, it's amazing!

[ she's never had something so sweet for breakfast before... but exceptions can definitely be made. ]

[ Ramir looks a little delighted by the prognosis — although she's pretty sure Olivia would say that regardless of how it tasted. Still! It's nice to hear. She pulls up her own plate and nudges out one of the chairs from the little table with a foot, for Olivia. ]

Nice. Turns out it's kinda fucking hard to figure out 'cake' without the internet, but... [ Around a mouthful: ] Yeah, that's not bad.

[ She takes a seat herself at the other chair, but digs in with slightly less gusto than she might usually, mostly so she can glance up with her question: ] Also, hey, I meant to ask — how're things going?

[ In the Achilles department, she means, but she'll start general and narrow it down from there. ]

[ olivia's fork hesitates over another bite of cake, and her entire body seems to freeze in that moment. how are things going. it is an innocent enough question, general as general can be, but there is a tone to her voice and a look that olivia will know will be there as soon as she looks up from her lap — both things her heart is too weak to endure.

she knows what ramir must mean. knows it as well as she knows of the woman's friendship with achilles, something she does not begrudge anyone for, but it is nonetheless a fact that glares whenever he is brought up. a quiet reminder to censor herself. the last thing she wants to do is complicate other relationships. ]

Fine, [ she says, in a way that makes it obvious her lie, but with a quiet sort of finality that insists ramir believe her anyway. she scrambles for any other bit of news to speak about. ]

I was — able to speak with Mr. Llyod from Human Resources... He thinks there may be a good chance I'll be able to send a letter to the two Qorral I had helped heal.

[ Well, that's a hell of a shutdown of an answer, Ramir would have to be an idiot not to see that. Unfortunately for Olivia, Ramir doesn't tend to let answers like that go. ]

Okay, hang on, "fine" is always a lie.

[ She speaks around a mouthful, and points the fork at Olivia for emphasis. ]

Plus, why would you be? You guys really had a thing going. [ She leans in a little closer, face and tone dropping a few notches more sympathetic. ] I wanna make sure you're doing alright. As alright as you can be, anyway.

[ olivia shrinks back under the emphasizing fork, hastily setting her own down on her plate, her appetite now long forgotten. fine was definitely a lie, but she thinks, maybe, before the ball, she had gotten pretty damn close to it...

what can she even say? what good will it do to tell the truth now? at best, ramir will get upset for someone's behalf, and cause herself unnecessary stresses; at worst, olivia could very well ruin a friendship...

right now, it's not really too clear to her whose. ]

I should go, [ she says instead of any real answer, moving now back to her feet, setting the plate aside on the table. ]

Thank you for breakfast, Ramir, it was really very nice of you—

[ Oh, shit. This wasn't how she'd wanted thinks going. She hastily hops to her feet to follow suit, abandoning her own plate and fork. ]

Wait, hang on — I don't wanna chase you away. I'm not gonna make you talk about it if you don't wanna, alright? I didn't call you over for an interrogation. [ She nods down at Olivia's plate, face falling a little. ] And you didn't even finish. I know it's a shitty breakfast, but you can pretend the strawberries in it are healthy.

You know it's not about that, [ comes olivia's surprisingly sharp response, her own expression tightening briefly as she meets ramir's eyes. for a moment, she doesn't do much but that, but in the next, she is glancing away once more, the fight leaving her tone and shoulders.

slowly, she lowers herself back down to her seat, quietly reaching for her plate once more. ]

I'm sorry, Ramir, but it's just for the best we don't discuss him.

[ That sharp response gets a quick little flash of a smile, but then they're back to the actual stuff at hand, and Ramir drops it again. She sinks back into her seat too, sitting a little less easily than she was a second ago. ]

Hey, that's fine. We can talk about whatever you wanna, I promise.

[ and yet, olivia cannot help but feel the guilt well up inside her. here ramir was, trying to do something nice for her, just showing concern, and olivia can't even grant her a happy smile... no matter how fake it is.

she wonders if she will ever stop feeling like such a black hole of merriment. ]

I'm sorry for ruining breakfast... [ she sniffles loudly, reaching up to finally wipe at her cheeks and eyes with her sleeve. ]

Oh my god, you didn't.

[ If anything it was her, pressing after what Olivia so vehemently didn't want brought up. But she's used to blame, that's fine. She leans an elbow on the table, attention way more on the other woman than on her cake. ]

Like I said, you don't have to tell me anything... but if you ever want to — you know, talk, rant, cry, whatever — I'm all ears.

[ her laugh is watery and brittle. ]

Honestly, I... I'm so tired of crying.

[ yet here she is, doing it all over again. ]

I just want it to be over, Ramir...

[ God, that laugh gets her. That's not the kind of laugh Olivia should be doing. Strong sympathy tugs at her heart, and it's impossible not to reach and find one of Olivia's hands again. ]

It's gonna be, I promise. It's still gonna suck for a while, but not forever. Nothing sucks forever.

[ Which is something she's started to learn herself, actually. She doesn't feel like an authority on the subject, but she's at least confident in the truth of it. ]

[ olivia's hand curls up into a small fist beneath ramir's, but she is comforted, even if only mildly, by the warm weight there. ]

...Thanks, Ramir. [ she attempts a smile, as if ramir were the one she's trying to reassure here. ] I hope so.

IC CONTACT (futuro & prisma)

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