Chapter Text
In a damp cobblestone room, the temperature fluctuation seemed to change as rapidly as Friday’s own mood. She was pacing. Angrily for now. Almost as if she was trying to make her anger everyone else’s problem, even though there was no one there to feel it. And maybe that was what angered her the most.
She finally thuds like lead onto her cot. Kneeled over her knees, hands clasped together. It would appear as if she was praying, but it was a position simply to provide any sort of comfort.
She is dying.
She can’t be distracted.
She can’t be doing this.
Within her clasped hands she reveals to herself the bloom of a rose. It was perfect. Magically preserved, no doubt. Vivienne’s magic always worked for longer than it needed to. For once, her spell must be executing her intention. Friday chokes.
She won’t allow herself to cry.
She chokes again.
Oh, bug…
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“What’s this for?” Friday looks up at Vivienne from her knelt position.
“For you. I saw it and thought of you.” She smiled.
Friday’s arms gave out under the weight of the beautifully bound leather books she went to pick up,” What… am I supposed to do with it?”
Vivienne seemed… shy. She pulled her hand back lightly, but gave the question genuine consideration,” Hmm. I suppose keep it in your room,” she hesitated,” so, when you look at it you remember how I see you.”
Vivienne seemed shy. She was shy.
Friday stared.
“Ah… that was a little cheesy,” she pulled her hand back more to put the gift back in her pocket when Friday lunged for it, grasping it in her hand rather crudely.
“No!” She glared at Vivienne,” It’s mine. You gave it to me. Don’t just take a gift back after you offered it.” The elf looked off to the side and grumbled,” kinda fucked up.”
Vi giggled lightly,” Alright. Glad you like it.”
Why did she feel so embarrassed?
“I’m just being polite and accepting a gift.”
Why did her chest feel so tight, like she couldn’t breath?
“Mhmm,” the wizard began to softly tap through some files with a small smile and a glow in her cheeks.
Friday scoffs, sets the flower on top of the books, and picks them up. As she rose, the elf notices her reflection in the window of the library.
She was blushing too.
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Vivienne was wrong. Friday did not see her own beauty in the rose. She could only see Vivienne. Only her. Her passion, humor, joy… it was all staring right back at Friday. Haunting her like everything else in her life.
She wanted it to wilt in front of her eyes, so that she could be done with this. So, that she could focus.
Focus on what?
It’s not like she has any leads anymore anyways. She was going to die. The veins on her ungloved hand were black, a dark purple just barely peeking out of her jacket cuff on her wrist.
She thought of her mother, who she can barely remember the face of anymore.
“Do whatever you can for your family, Fri. You’re the best shot we’ve got.”
A tear finally watered the rose. She choked and growled, but they kept falling. She couldn’t stop trying. She had family that relied on her. Burdening Vivienne was out of the question. She was going to have to pull the weed before the roots grew too deep. She couldn’t imagine putting the person she lov-
No! Don’t even say it.
That wasn’t what this was. She was just protecting someone that had been nice to her. That’s all.
That is all.
It’s all it can be.
She focuses on the flower that she holds delicately in her hands and blinks. It wouldn’t hurt to keep it. Nothing but a small reminder of someone who showed her kindness.
She places it in one of the empty jars she has on her bookshelf next to her bed.
At some point, her eyes close and her anxious mind fades into just another world of erratic dreams.