[ as it so happens, he is not asleep, because he keeps terrible hours despite the fact that he should know better. Zara is sitting at his desk, scrolling through pages on his phone - he's starting to catch up with the technology, see - when she knocks. It would have given him a bit of a fright if he didn't recognize her footsteps by now; instead, he's only concerned about why she might need him at this hour. ]
[ The door quietly swings open, and in shuffles Mary, disheveled with bedhead and eyes red and teary. At least she has the decency to look apologetic. ]
S-sorry... I used to go to Elza, but--
[ He's not here anymore, and she bites her lip, shoulders hunched. ]
[ that is... not what he was expecting to see. Despite how strict he can be, Zara does have one terrible weakness: the tears of children. Immediately, his eyes widen, ears standing up stiffly. ]
-- Mary? What's the matter?
[ Elza's - and, more to the point for him, Nesso's - disappearance has certainly been rough, but Zara had been preferring to think that both of them were back at home with Fiona now. Maybe it hadn't been as easy for Mary to accept. He gets to his feet, turning towards her with concern. ]
[ She's fourteen, geez! Fourteen and upset, and she's already trying to wipe her tears away as she speaks, haltingly. ]
I-I have... dreams, sometimes, where everyone I know is dead and I have to watch them die, and my eyes start burning and now Elza and Nesso are there too, and I don't-- know who t-to talk to anymore because Elza's gone--
[ well she acts like a child!! grow up mary gosh ]
Oh, dear... [ what a morbid nightmare. Still, that means she's not hurt and there's no immediate threat, so his posture eases considerably. It seems like Elza was more of a fatherly type than he'd realized.
A small, soft smile appears on his face, and he takes the few steps he needs to stand in front of her, shuffling in his pocket to pull out a handkerchief. As he speaks, he lifts it up and dabs at her tears with the gentle touch of someone who's done this quite a few times. ]
There's no need to cry. You're a bit old to cry over a bad dream, aren't you?
[ It's hard enough to explain what that dream means to her, how much of a recurring vision it was, how parts of it felt... far too real. So she settles for sounding vaguely, tearfully grumpy.
[ of course, he himself has shed no tears - making him cry is no easy task - but he's felt their disappearances just as hard, if not moreso. Nesso was his closest friend and companion. More than that, he was a reminder of home, a rock to lean back against. Only a strong will and sense of duty kept him focused when that rock suddenly fell out from behind him.
Elza's disappearance along with his - it seemed like too much of a coincidence. It's one of the things he's staying up looking into tonight. Once Zara thinks he's dried enough of her tears for the moment, he pushes some of her hair from her face. ]
... We're not all gone yet, though. [ a sympathetic look. ] You're welcome to come to me any time. I may be no Elza Clifford, but I've been told my shoulder is quite good for crying on.
[ ... That's... quite a weird skill to have, but Mary nods nonetheless, taking it at face-value. But "any time" seems like it would be an inconvenience and she peers at him now, eyebrows knitting together. ]
[ there was a period in his life when his job description was more "babysitter" than "butler," okay... he's 6 years older than fiona!!
Her question takes him off-guard - but perhaps a distraction is a good thing, if it will take her mind off her nightmares. Zara doesn't mind being an object of ridicule for that sake. Standing back up fully, he gives her a wry smile. ]
Of course. I won't be up for much longer - I was just looking into a few things.
Of course. [ even though that means he's not going to be getting much sleep tonight after all. ] It would be rude to leave you drinking tea on your lonesome.
[ he nods to her, moving towards the door and touching a hand to her shoulder to ease her along with him. ]
[ he is slightly surprised, but only slightly, and he doesn't show it; she puts on a good show of being calmed down. He turns his hand so that he can properly hold hers, leading her gently towards the kitchen. ]
I'll brew some chamomile tea. That should help you sleep a little more soundly.
I brew a lot of tea, [ he replies primly as he opens the oft-used cabinet where he stores tea. It's all loose-leaf - he doesn't trust those little baggies muc. ]
I've also studied quite a lot of plants and herbs.
Oh? Very good, Mary. [ he does sound somewhat impressed that she knew about that; it's not exactly a common skill, especially for people from the future. He continues as he fills the teapot with water. ]
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Yes? Come in.
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S-sorry... I used to go to Elza, but--
[ He's not here anymore, and she bites her lip, shoulders hunched. ]
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-- Mary? What's the matter?
[ Elza's - and, more to the point for him, Nesso's - disappearance has certainly been rough, but Zara had been preferring to think that both of them were back at home with Fiona now. Maybe it hadn't been as easy for Mary to accept. He gets to his feet, turning towards her with concern. ]
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I-I have... dreams, sometimes, where everyone I know is dead and I have to watch them die, and my eyes start burning and now Elza and Nesso are there too, and I don't-- know who t-to talk to anymore because Elza's gone--
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Oh, dear... [ what a morbid nightmare. Still, that means she's not hurt and there's no immediate threat, so his posture eases considerably. It seems like Elza was more of a fatherly type than he'd realized.
A small, soft smile appears on his face, and he takes the few steps he needs to stand in front of her, shuffling in his pocket to pull out a handkerchief. As he speaks, he lifts it up and dabs at her tears with the gentle touch of someone who's done this quite a few times. ]
There's no need to cry. You're a bit old to cry over a bad dream, aren't you?
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[ It's hard enough to explain what that dream means to her, how much of a recurring vision it was, how parts of it felt... far too real. So she settles for sounding vaguely, tearfully grumpy.
... Even as she lets him mop up her face. ]
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[ of course, he himself has shed no tears - making him cry is no easy task - but he's felt their disappearances just as hard, if not moreso. Nesso was his closest friend and companion. More than that, he was a reminder of home, a rock to lean back against. Only a strong will and sense of duty kept him focused when that rock suddenly fell out from behind him.
Elza's disappearance along with his - it seemed like too much of a coincidence. It's one of the things he's staying up looking into tonight. Once Zara thinks he's dried enough of her tears for the moment, he pushes some of her hair from her face. ]
... We're not all gone yet, though. [ a sympathetic look. ] You're welcome to come to me any time. I may be no Elza Clifford, but I've been told my shoulder is quite good for crying on.
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Zara... do you ever sleep?
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Her question takes him off-guard - but perhaps a distraction is a good thing, if it will take her mind off her nightmares. Zara doesn't mind being an object of ridicule for that sake. Standing back up fully, he gives her a wry smile. ]
Of course. I won't be up for much longer - I was just looking into a few things.
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Staying up too late isn't good for you.
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[ he absolutely refuses to be fussed over by Mary when she just walked in crying. At least she seems to have shaped up pretty quickly. ]
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It was just a lot... and I don't like seeing everyone like that.
[ You know, dead. ]
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I don't think that anyone would. [ a pause; he gives her a soft look. ] Would you like something warm to drink? I can make you tea or cocoa.
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Tea. [ She says instantly, throwing an imploring look into the mix. ] Will you have some, too?
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[ he nods to her, moving towards the door and touching a hand to her shoulder to ease her along with him. ]
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I'll brew some chamomile tea. That should help you sleep a little more soundly.
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[ She's still faintly surprised by it, impressed-- Mary knew a fair few herself, but she'd had plenty of time to learn. ]
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I've also studied quite a lot of plants and herbs.
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[ Natural remedies?? ]
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[ a lot of poisons, too, but he only knows not to eat those ones. ]
A lot of wild plants are edible, as well.
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[ Well, she knows a bit about that. ]
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But have you ever eaten them?
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Dandelions... when I had to.
[ Well, it was that or starve. ]
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