I think in person would be best. It's... it feels better to talk about personal matters like that. I'm about ready to close up the cafe. If you'd like, I could leave some drinks and things out and we can talk here?
[She knows she doesn't really need to set snacks out, especially since her stomach is tying itself up in knots, but it gives her something to do while she waits for him. So she brews up a pot of tea, and some hot chocolate for herself, and picks out a few leftover pastries from the last batch she baked up.
By the time Marco arrives, Elsa will just be setting out her little thrown-together dessert, fidgeting nervously with a napkin as she waits.]
[Even though the door is unlocked and this is technically a public location, Marco still can't help knocking before he takes a peek inside. It's just nice to give a heads-up, he feels.]
[It's a nice little heads-up, yes. While it doesn't startle Elsa, it does give her that split second to stop shredding the napkin she'd been fidgeting with.]
Of course not! I'm sorry if I pulled you away from anything at the lab. I just.... [She had to avoid the lab in case Lup was there.] I needed somewhere a little more private.
[Marco doesn't quite make the leap to the exact reason Elsa might want to avoid the lab, but that doesn't matter, because the general idea of privacy is understandable enough. Besides, hey, he certainly wasn't doing anything more important than this.
He pulls up a chair. His attention is on her, not on the snacks.]
[He may not make the connection immediately, but Elsa knows she can't beat around the bush forever. If she tries to be vague, she knows she'll just keep being vague, and she'll be wasting Marco's time and just feel even more terrible than she already does. So with a deep breath, and wrapping her hands tight around her warm mug to cling to some sort of comfort... she speaks.]
You... um. At the reception after the wedding. You asked me some things. [Her voice isn't.... shaking, exactly, but it definitely cracks a couple of times.] And I wasn't being entirely truthful. Or... I was? I don't think I fully understood it myself. But, um. Now, after I thought about it for some time...
[JUST SAY IT, SAY IT SO YOU CAN GET IT OUT ONCE AND LOCK IT UP TIGHT]
I think.... I think I might have feelings for Lup?
[HE KNEW IT. He knew it so hard, in fact, that his first impulse is to smack the table with his open palm. You know, to unload his excitement. Don't worry if it looks a little odd because he did it with no warning or because his smile is so subtle. He means well.
... But he does realise, after a second, that that may have been a little weird, so he settles back into his seat with a more visible, sheepish smile, and nods.]
[You know that image of startled rabbits, when their ears shoot straight up in fright? That's exactly what happens at the sudden slam. Elsa's pointed, leaflike ears have been a little twitchy ever since her months as a werewolf, but they've never reacted quite like that before. And Elsa herself...]
You... you knew?
[... She looks horrified. The green hue to her skin thins out as she pales as much as can be possible for a nymph, and there's a light scratching sound - the sound of one of her claws leaving a small crack in the mug.]
... Both. [She doesn't look... ashamed? So that's a good sign here.] I didn't... I never really thought about my. Um. Preferences before. I never needed to.
[She manages to pry one of her hands from around her mug, but all she does is run it down her face before bringing it up again to run through her leafy "hair".]
I hope it's not obvious. The last thing I want is for her to find out.
[Marco nods. If Elsa turns out to have any hangups regarding her preferences, hey, he'll try to help - he's been there - but as long as anything else seems more pressing, he'll start there.]
Well, I really don't think she'd be mad, if that's what you're worried about. [He gives her a hopefully reassuring smile.] She's not that type of person at all, at least from what I've seen.
[Hoo boy, Marco, that's a lot to unpack... Elsa's never really felt there was a problem with the concept- she's known Fiddleford and been around Anna and Lorna long enough to not even blink an eye at it - except when it came to her.
It's bad when it's her.]
She's... I-I know she jokes a lot, but. [She absolutely hates herself for the way her stomach knots up at her next words.] She's married. If she finds out, it'll be so awkward...
[She doesn't know what she'd do if she drove a wedge between herself and one of her closest friends.]
[Oh. That IS a thing. Lup being married to Barry. He can see why Elsa would worry - in her place, chances are he'd feel the same way. But somehow... The way Lup carries herself, her entire attitude... He really, really doesn't think she'd be angry, or even offended.
At the same time, something tells him Elsa won't just take his word at face value. Again, he's not sure he would, either.
Oh, wait -]
So... So when you say she "jokes a lot", do you remember anything in particular?
[Well, if there's one thing that can put a crack in Elsa's misery... it's that flush of embarrassment that crosses her face. She doesn't look uncomfortable, exactly, but... she's never really talked about this to anyone before. And she knows now that this is one of the things that contributed to her crush on Lup.
But Lup said she was just kidding. How pathetic does she have to be to get attached to that...]
She, um... she calls me "babe" sometimes. [Oh god she's blushing, isn't she???] She admitted that she was flirting with me. And called me cute when she did.
[Where once that made her feel all fluttery, before she realized what that feeling was, now it just makes her stomach knot up.]
But... that doesn't mean anything, with her saying she was simply joking.
[Marco furrows his brow a little bit. He knows he's not getting the full picture here, but every detail he gets is helping him paint it.]
Well... Most married people don't flirt as a joke. Or, if they do, then, you know... They wouldn't be outraged if someone responded to the flirting, I'm fairly sure.
[Besides, yeah, Lup calls HIM by many creative and affectionate nicknames, but...] She doesn't flirt with me.
But that's... [Hm. How to say this without making it sound offensive. It's funny, after all the time she was in Ryslig, living with Anna and Lorna... she never really talked to them about this kind of thing.] You're attracted to men, yes? Maybe that's why.
[Maybe it's just... Lup being considerate? Look, she doesn't get it either...!]
What I feel, it's not... it's not something joking, like she does. [Aaaaand there's the hint of shame creeping into her voice.] If I was joking with her, it wouldn't be bad. But this... I think it's serious.
[As much as he wants to point out that Elsa's logic doesn't really fly and Lup isn't psychic and can't tell who someone's into just by looking at them, he realises that probably wouldn't be productive in the slightest right now. He's not sure what WOULD be productive. He's not sure what he can do, or...
Okay. Marco takes a deep breath. He knows that his eagerness to offer help when, in fact, he's not sure he can provide any at all may be kind of a problem sometimes, but that doesn't mean it's a problem here! Heck, he's talked to a fake representation of his husband's ex-wife. He's kind of qualified.
But he's not a mind reader, is the thing. Although... Maybe he ought to remind Elsa that she isn't one, either?]
No, no, I know. I can tell. I mean... Because you're telling me all this. I-I can assure you it's not obvious. [Gotta reassure her, since obviously she's pretty worried about that.]
But... We can't really be sure she's joking, now can we?
[Look, Elsa's logic is usually better than this, and looking back on this conversation she might feel a little embarrassed at how she's reaching, but... in the moment, when that knot in her chest is clenching like a vice and all her insecurities are flaring up in a way that they haven't since her coronation... it's hard to get a grip on her thundercloud of thoughts.
Except... what he says makes her brows furrow, and she looks up from her worrying hands back to him.]
[Is... is it bad to assume that? Elsa knows she's sheltered, that many people here are from times far in the future to her, that her idea of romance and marriage are.... very separate... but that at least is something that should be a given, right???]
If someone's married, why would they flirt with someone else? They... they have their spouse. They have no need to try and attract anyone else.
Well... [He nods, more to acknowledge her point than exactly to agree with it.] By that logic, why would they flirt as a joke? If their spouse doesn't like it, it doesn't really matter what the intention is. So, I mean... I'm guessing Barry doesn't have a problem with it.
[His hands gesticulate with every other word. All the nervous energy from trying to put together an argument that'll hopefully help Elsa has to go somewhere.]
And maybe... Mind you, I'm not sure... But maybe they have that kind of open relationship going on.
[It's funny, how both their nervous energy can be seen most with their hands. But while Marco flails around, Elsa fidgets nonstop, pressing her palms together or twisting up her fingers. But that little tic pauses, and now she looks more confused than worried.]
[Oh man. Marco hasn't ever given any thought to be BEING in an open relationship, but... Elsa doesn't even know what that means, does she?]
An open relationship. [Some more gesticulating. Some pursing of the lips.] Some couples are... They mutually agree that they're free to see other people.
[It's... certainly odd. But when Elsa thinks about it... that was sort of a thing in her time, wasn't it? Marriages among royals were much more often than not made for political reasons, and it wasn't unheard of for one or both spouses to take a lover on the side. But with Lup and Barry... they love each other. With an incredible intensity that even Elsa could see it, whenever she comes to help with the farm. It's unfair to compare them to that. To compare them to that... she feels kind of bad.]
That would explain why Lup acts like that. [Still... she doesn't look too reassured.] I... I still don't think I should ever let her find out about this, though.
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It's... it feels better to talk about personal matters like that.
I'm about ready to close up the cafe. If you'd like, I could leave some drinks and things out and we can talk here?
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[Heck, he doesn't even NEED the drinks, but he figures in a situation like this it's best not to fuss over the details.]
I'll be there in a bit, okay?
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I'll leave the door unlocked.
[She knows she doesn't really need to set snacks out, especially since her stomach is tying itself up in knots, but it gives her something to do while she waits for him. So she brews up a pot of tea, and some hot chocolate for herself, and picks out a few leftover pastries from the last batch she baked up.
By the time Marco arrives, Elsa will just be setting out her little thrown-together dessert, fidgeting nervously with a napkin as she waits.]
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I hope I didn't keep you waiting.
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Of course not! I'm sorry if I pulled you away from anything at the lab. I just.... [She had to avoid the lab in case Lup was there.] I needed somewhere a little more private.
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[Marco doesn't quite make the leap to the exact reason Elsa might want to avoid the lab, but that doesn't matter, because the general idea of privacy is understandable enough. Besides, hey, he certainly wasn't doing anything more important than this.
He pulls up a chair. His attention is on her, not on the snacks.]
So. What's on your mind?
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You... um. At the reception after the wedding. You asked me some things. [Her voice isn't.... shaking, exactly, but it definitely cracks a couple of times.] And I wasn't being entirely truthful. Or... I was? I don't think I fully understood it myself. But, um. Now, after I thought about it for some time...
[JUST SAY IT, SAY IT SO YOU CAN GET IT OUT ONCE AND LOCK IT UP TIGHT]
I think.... I think I might have feelings for Lup?
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... But he does realise, after a second, that that may have been a little weird, so he settles back into his seat with a more visible, sheepish smile, and nods.]
I, ah, I had a feeling.
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You... you knew?
[... She looks horrified. The green hue to her skin thins out as she pales as much as can be possible for a nymph, and there's a light scratching sound - the sound of one of her claws leaving a small crack in the mug.]
Oh....oh, this isn't good...
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Well, I... I just know the feeling, you know? I'm not saying it was obvious, or anything.
[Just... obvious enough for him to catch on to.
He hazards a guess:]
Is this the first time you've had feelings for someone?... Or for another woman?
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[She manages to pry one of her hands from around her mug, but all she does is run it down her face before bringing it up again to run through her leafy "hair".]
I hope it's not obvious. The last thing I want is for her to find out.
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Well, I really don't think she'd be mad, if that's what you're worried about. [He gives her a hopefully reassuring smile.] She's not that type of person at all, at least from what I've seen.
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It's bad when it's her.]
She's... I-I know she jokes a lot, but. [She absolutely hates herself for the way her stomach knots up at her next words.] She's married. If she finds out, it'll be so awkward...
[She doesn't know what she'd do if she drove a wedge between herself and one of her closest friends.]
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At the same time, something tells him Elsa won't just take his word at face value. Again, he's not sure he would, either.
Oh, wait -]
So... So when you say she "jokes a lot", do you remember anything in particular?
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But Lup said she was just kidding. How pathetic does she have to be to get attached to that...]
She, um... she calls me "babe" sometimes. [Oh god she's blushing, isn't she???] She admitted that she was flirting with me. And called me cute when she did.
[Where once that made her feel all fluttery, before she realized what that feeling was, now it just makes her stomach knot up.]
But... that doesn't mean anything, with her saying she was simply joking.
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Well... Most married people don't flirt as a joke. Or, if they do, then, you know... They wouldn't be outraged if someone responded to the flirting, I'm fairly sure.
[Besides, yeah, Lup calls HIM by many creative and affectionate nicknames, but...] She doesn't flirt with me.
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[Maybe it's just... Lup being considerate? Look, she doesn't get it either...!]
What I feel, it's not... it's not something joking, like she does. [Aaaaand there's the hint of shame creeping into her voice.] If I was joking with her, it wouldn't be bad. But this... I think it's serious.
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Okay. Marco takes a deep breath. He knows that his eagerness to offer help when, in fact, he's not sure he can provide any at all may be kind of a problem sometimes, but that doesn't mean it's a problem here! Heck, he's talked to a fake representation of his husband's ex-wife. He's kind of qualified.
But he's not a mind reader, is the thing. Although... Maybe he ought to remind Elsa that she isn't one, either?]
No, no, I know. I can tell. I mean... Because you're telling me all this. I-I can assure you it's not obvious. [Gotta reassure her, since obviously she's pretty worried about that.]
But... We can't really be sure she's joking, now can we?
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Except... what he says makes her brows furrow, and she looks up from her worrying hands back to him.]
... What? You think she's serious?
[HAHA, GOOD ONE....]
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[He may be encroaching on personal territory with this question, but maybe it would help to ask...]
Why exactly are you sure she's only joking? Is it because she's married?
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[Is... is it bad to assume that? Elsa knows she's sheltered, that many people here are from times far in the future to her, that her idea of romance and marriage are.... very separate... but that at least is something that should be a given, right???]
If someone's married, why would they flirt with someone else? They... they have their spouse. They have no need to try and attract anyone else.
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[His hands gesticulate with every other word. All the nervous energy from trying to put together an argument that'll hopefully help Elsa has to go somewhere.]
And maybe... Mind you, I'm not sure... But maybe they have that kind of open relationship going on.
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A what?
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An open relationship. [Some more gesticulating. Some pursing of the lips.] Some couples are... They mutually agree that they're free to see other people.
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[It's... certainly odd. But when Elsa thinks about it... that was sort of a thing in her time, wasn't it? Marriages among royals were much more often than not made for political reasons, and it wasn't unheard of for one or both spouses to take a lover on the side. But with Lup and Barry... they love each other. With an incredible intensity that even Elsa could see it, whenever she comes to help with the farm. It's unfair to compare them to that. To compare them to that... she feels kind of bad.]
That would explain why Lup acts like that. [Still... she doesn't look too reassured.] I... I still don't think I should ever let her find out about this, though.
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