Moonlit_Demon

Isabelle glanced around the room. There was still a bit of cleaning to do. At least, more thorough cleaning. She took a handkerchief from her pocket and started to wipe the vase clean of any dust it may have accumulated before stuffing it in her pocket. The elezen glanced at Tani once. There was an awkward silence. Quietly, she'd excuse herself and gently close the door behind her... of course, after sneaking the cane inside. She'll use it. She needs it. She's just proud, like me.

Isabelle shrugged. From a hidden compartment in her boots, the elezen would pull out a knife. She'd trim those dead leaves as if she were cutting the hair of her own daughter, ending with a sweet little, "Ahh..~" She smiled brightly, taking the dead leaflet clippings. Isabelle even took a moment to admire the neatly-trimmed potted plant

Isabelle would turn to Tani, "Dost thou have some sissors..?" She spoke plainly, calmly, as if their heated conversation earlier had never happened.

Isabelle looked for a table anyway. She would set the tray there instead and take the watering can outside to fill it with water with intent on watering the plants, herself, instead. Isabelle inspected the plant and would tenderly touch the leaves, cooing softly to it. "Hush now.. you'll be fine. A little rest and a little love." Isabelle paid no attention to Tani. It was like the spicy little accountant wasn't even there... in her own office. Secretly, she'd left the cane outside by the door.

Isabelle would smirk. She would wait for Tani to turn and walk away before taking the cane with her anyway. She'd follow wordlessly trying not to grin and throw further fuel to the fires that still seemed to burn from earlier.

Isabelle answered a simple question with a simple answer, "Thou needs it." She held it out for a moment longer, but if it was not taken, the elezen would shrug and start to put it down.

Isabelle nodded. Offering the item to Tani. She was wordless otherwise and held the tray firm.

"Ah.. yes.." Isabelle would leave the door partially open. She would fetch both the water can and the tray.. as well as something else. Once the elezen returned to the door, she had something extra to give. "I forgot to give this to thee earlier." Isabelle had a cane for Tani. It was decorated with moogles singing carved all along the length of it. The watering can was on the tray. Marked obviously, for Tani to know exactly how much water to pour. The tea cups were cleaned and stacked neatly as well. She would resist letting Tani actually take the tray though, "Shall I carry this..?"

Approaching Isabelle's room, if one was careful enough, the faint sound of a harp playing could be heard. With the hard knock, there was a sound as if something had been knocked over. A mumbled curse and things moving.. finally, the door slowly opened as Isabelle peeked out again, "Yeees..?" Tani likely saw the surprise in Isabelle's blank face. The elezen was not expecting her to have returned so quickly. "Oh.. for the tray? Tis still drying but I suppose now is better than ne'er.."

Isabelle smiled and turned towards her potted plant. She wasn't sure if Tani could hear her, "So.. this is what it feels like to be.. a real person..?" The elezen would pick up the plant to tenderly put it back upon it's spot on the table. "Perhaps I do have a heart someplace..Surely I felt something that I have not felt in such a long while beat." Thinking Tani had fully left, Isabelle began to hum a soft tune to herself as she gathered the tea cups onto the tray for cleaning.

Isabelle tilted her head, "Can thou truly leave and believe such things?" She smiled, softening again. "Tis alright, mine friend. I forgive thee of thine transgressions. All knowledge comes with a price. Tis best nay to ask a question that thou does not wish to hear an answer to." Isabelle would adjust her mask a bit. "Ne'er ask what thou does not truly wish the answer to." Her gaze would meet Tani's. Her next cryptic words almost seemed to be aimed at Tani but clearly, they were not. "To the bearer of such knowledge, Death is oft the price once one's secrets and masks are shattered."

"Speak for thineself." She smirked, spitting just as much fire. Isabelle couldn't deny that she was rather enjoying herself. "Art thou too shy to commit to thine question now that thou knowest the price of such knowledge? Be thou too... frightened..? Afraid to know truth?"

"Scared..?" Isabelle was trying to pick and prod at that wall. "Afraid of knowing the truth or be this misdirection to hide thine soft, girly strikes?" The elezen would almost mock Tani as she made such a girly little strike. "Come now.. I thought thou wishes to know why I wear mine mask?"

Isabelle smirked, "Thou shalt have to work a bit harder to find out." She would move into position and tap her chest, "Art thou trying to change subject? Convince me that thou wishes to know why I always wear a mask." The half-mask almost seemed like a good and easy target to snatch.... almost.

"Thou can take thine anger out on me instead of thineself." Failed again.. Stop being weird. You're not helping. Isabelle had a determined look upon her face though. She'd gesture to Tani. "I will nay strike back. None shall even know. I always wear mine armor anyway." She waited. Isabelle's gaze only reflected Tani's own anger back at her as if daring the girl to be brave. Be brave just one more time. Fight your fate and strike me. Do it.. Prove yourself wrong.

Isabelle leaned over and touched Tani's hand before she could get too far. "Tani.." Shit.. she froze for a moment. The same thoughts exploded through Isabelle's mind as had been when she was tense earlier. Don't panic. Be smooth. Don't be threatening. Don't break shit.. Don't be weird. "Please.. Stay." ... Failed.

Isabelle seemed immune to Tani's anger. Her turquoise eyes simply met the accountant's gaze. The elezen saw deeper things. Deeper troubles. Deeper insecurities. She wanted to help but.. such things were not her strong point. Not in this guise. Not in this place. Not with this... name nor the mask associated with it. She would do the first thing she could think of. "Thou needs a hug. Maybe.. a moment to let thine tears flow from thine frustrations. I know tis nay a thing best from me but.. I will nay tell a soul."

Isabelle watched Tani curiously. Her features softened as she let her guard down again. The elezen couldn't help but smile a little at Tani's anger. She understood. It takes many to walk the paths of life. Isabelle tried to be as comforting as she could.. as best as she could. She had been in the same position once a very, very long time ago. "Thou hads't e'ery right to be there." But of course, she had to ask. Isabelle's voice was soft and daresay, compassionate, "Why art thou still trying to prove thine worth to thineself when it is quite clear to us that thou art irreplaceable?"

Isabelle smiled a little as she tenderly touched the petals of the flower in the ahriman pot. Her eyes wandered to the details of the pot in her hands and replied to the complex question in simple words, "Tis an easy choice. Thine life holds more value than scum." She would glance at Tani curiously from the corner of her eyes, "Should Nymeia deem it otherwise, then there is nothing I could have done with mine hand but.. I would have gladly paid thine price too for thy life."

Isabelle was thoughtfully quiet. She spoke simply. "Yes." The elezen would turn to Tani as she continued, "Because I knew none would ask why." She would sip the last bit of her tea before setting the cup down and holding the Ahriman pot in her hands. "There is no life without death." Isabelle almost seemed as if she were talking to herself, though her words were directed at Tani. "Just like during the mission. Death is the cost of Life. His death was the cost of thy life. Thine death was the price of his life." She would look at Tani, "I chose thine life over his. The blood price. It is worth it... for.." Isabelle hesitated a moment before finishing, "For.. a.. a.." It was almost easy for Tani to see the mental mask that Isabelle covered herself with now that she had seen the elezen vulnerable with her guard down. Her words were almost a little sad as she spoke, ".. for a.. comrade." It wasn't difficult to see that she saw Tani as a friend but was far too walled up within herself to openly admit it.

Isabelle glanced at Tani confused, "What did I say..?"

Isabelle glanced at Tani, "Is death not.. normal in the lives of others..?" She furrowed her brow, "It took a long time to realize how different mine views and experiences were." The elezen chuckled a bit, "What can one do, save make light of tragedy and death when such things are a part of one's destiny? One's only talent."

Isabelle nodded, "Mine best friend is one." She would glance at Tani and note the confused expression. Grinning playfully, the elezen would set her tea down and fetch an ahriman pot. Inside, it had a single little red daisy. "Mine friend over the years. I enjoy gardening because, as I spoke before.. they listen to anyone. Plants do not judge nor plot behind one's back." Isabelle would tenderly touch a petal. "They are always there when none others are." She would set down the pot as if the ahriman was facing the fire too before sipping her tea again. "And.. when they die, they come back."

Isabelle took another small sip of tea. She spoke simply as if it were the most common thing in the world, "Mine best friend is one."

Isabelle smiled and seemed to relax as the subject changed to something a little more relatable. "I would like that." She began to ponder as wheels within her mind began to turn. "I wonder... I wonder if I could replicate such elevations..?" The elezen would tap her chin in thought, "T'would be something to try once I learned what such plants require." Isabelle was a little giddy with the thought, "I shall surely share the best of mine bounty with thou." She would scoot and shift so that she could lean back against the couch to watch the fire.