[If she notices the evasion, it's forgotten when he asks that. It's strange; this is the first time she's really realized here that the shadow of her brother, either while living or after death, doesn't color the way other people see her. It's freeing, and at the same time, it sends a pang through her chest.
Maybe that's why she hesitates for a moment before answering.]
You can just call me Zoe. But, yeah... My brother, like a month before we all came here.
[And almost as soon as that's out:]
Like you said, we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, either. I know it's kind of... I don't know, tough to know how to respond to.
.... mm. It's hard, right? To know what to say. I don't think anyone knows what to say to me - and I feel it too, because I'm not sure what to say to you. I'm sorry for that.
Maybe the words don't exist to make it better.
[he wants a script. he wants to know what to do to turn this scene into a light one. he wants to be able to say the right thing and because of that - he hesitates and pauses.
though when he speaks again, it's softly.]
... but it's - I don't want to say nice but... At least I feel a little less alone.
Yeah. Right after it happened, when I went back to school, it was like everyone suddenly wanted to be my friend. I think they didn't know what to do and wanted to make themselves feel better. So... It's better that you're not trying to pretend.
[It's more comforting than people who are obviously only interested in her because of another person, not because of her alone.]
...Yeah. I don't think being here is going to be easy, but that's why we all have to stick together.
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[Or as 'fine' as anything else is going to sound right now, at least. She frowns, looking his way.]
If we're going the commiseration route... How are you feeling?
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Pretty awful.
[ . . . . . ]
I - can't say I ever lost a friend before. Not like... that.
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Yeah. I don't know why someone would... Or, I guess I know, but.
[A sigh.]
I'm pissed.
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senri offers her a smile - it's not happy, per se, but it is understanding and he can't help but admit - ]
.... I appreciate your honesty. That makes the two of us, but I think you've got a better hold on it than I do right now.
I'm giving this sadness about thirty more minutes before I start hoping I move on to the next stage of grief.
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Yeah, well. Don't get too freaked out if you don't get to it in half an hour. Grief is weird, it kind of does what it wants.
[And then a sigh.]
She's gonna come back, but this still... Sucks. A lot.
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.... you don't have to answer - I know it's a hard thing to talk about, and not an easy conversation to have -
[so he runs from those normally but]
... You've lost someone before, Zoe-chan?
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Maybe that's why she hesitates for a moment before answering.]
You can just call me Zoe. But, yeah... My brother, like a month before we all came here.
[And almost as soon as that's out:]
Like you said, we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, either. I know it's kind of... I don't know, tough to know how to respond to.
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.... mm. It's hard, right? To know what to say. I don't think anyone knows what to say to me - and I feel it too, because I'm not sure what to say to you. I'm sorry for that.
Maybe the words don't exist to make it better.
[he wants a script. he wants to know what to do to turn this scene into a light one. he wants to be able to say the right thing and because of that - he hesitates and pauses.
though when he speaks again, it's softly.]
... but it's - I don't want to say nice but... At least I feel a little less alone.
no subject
[It's more comforting than people who are obviously only interested in her because of another person, not because of her alone.]
...Yeah. I don't think being here is going to be easy, but that's why we all have to stick together.