QUINZE + [Voice/Action]

[tearmeanewone]

[Voice - Locked from Gai]

What do you do when you feel nervous about something you really know you shouldn't be nervous about? How do you... convince yourself that there's nothing to be worried over?

...Life changes, all the time. We all have stages in our lives, and some pass quicker than others. Mine... well, my stages of life seem to have all been compressed into two years. But, honestly, like everyone else here I don't know when I might be pulled away. I don't know what's waiting for me on the other side either, so it makes sense to do everything I want to while I still have a chance.

But what 'makes sense' isn't getting through my thick skull. If it was, I wouldn't be talking at everyone.


[Action]

[After her post to the network, Elizabeth rearranges wedding things one more time, then goes to the grocery. She walks back through the village with nothing but a carton of caramel-swirl chocolate ice cream (with graham cracker bits).]

[Later that night, she sits on her kitchen floor and eats it in the dark. Just her, the carton, and a spoon.]

Comments

action:

[ablankpage]

[Robert doesn't reply to the Journal. He waits.

He waits until she's sitting on the floor in the kitchen before he walks in and approaches.

Even in the dark, he's smiling. Just a little.]

You don't. Convince yourself.

Because you're too smart for that. You know there's a lot that could happen. A lot that could go wrong. A lot to worry about.

[And yet, it's not a prophecy of doom. He almost chuckles as he says it.]

Instead, you take a deep breath, take a step...

and hope it doesn't kill you.

action:

[tearmeanewone]

[Elizabeth looks warily at Robert as he approaches her, looking much like a guilty child caught rummaging through the cookie jar at night. She'd just wanted a little time to herself to do something crazy-- and, to be honest, she'd wanted to remember the first few months when they all had first come together. She was so afraid it was all going to disappear.]

I don't want to leave. [She puts her spoon into the ice cream and looks up at Robert.] Everyone here is my family, I don't want to leave. Forget dying, I've already done that once.

action:

[ablankpage]

There's always a choice. [He smiles faintly, leaning against the cabinet.] You can maintain the status quo and stay content.

Or you can take a chance, bet on insanity, and have the chance to be truly happy.

[It was more sentimental than he usually admitted to being, but... it touched a chord.

"It'll be fine!"
"Fine? Are you mad?!"]

Some risks are worth taking.

action:

[tearmeanewone]

[What Robert is saying is, of course, exactly the truth. Elizabeth didn't even feel like she was taking a chance with Gai, he would always be the love of her life. But it did feel as though she had just found a family, something she had always wanted for herself, and leaving now almost felt like turning up her nose at all of it.]

I could be truly happy with all of you... [She shoves the spoon back in her mouth. She sounds petulant, not serious, though the sentiment is true. If Gai had never come into her life, she would be happy with Robert, Rosalind, and Booker.]

[Written]

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

There's a question for the ages. [Thirty-eight years old and Ginia stil doesn't have an answer. But it's a good question and one worth some thinking over.]

Honestly, I like the nerves, keeps me on edge, focused. But when it's too much and gets to the point where thinking too much means I'm more likely to make a mistake or fall right into a self-fulfilling prophecy, I walk away. Put it down, walk away, find something else to do until I can focus.

[Audio - locked]

[tearmeanewone]

I don't like the nerves-- they make me feel like I'm betraying Gai. [She sighs heavily and puts her face in her hands.] Walking away for a bit sounds like a good idea, but I don't really have much time. Less than two days.

[Written- locked]

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

Less than two days, yes, but no one will fault you if you take a bit of time to yourself. Take a nice walk. Pamper yourself at the hot springs. Eat ice cream and watch movies.

[...] I guess that's why bachelor/bachlorette parties exist.

[Audio - locked]

[tearmeanewone]

Bachlorette parties? What are those?

{Voice}

[strikeoflightning]

You are fixating on your future too much. {Overthinking is rarely ever a good thing.} What awaits you that has caused you to feel such chaos?

{Voice}

[tearmeanewone]

...Married life.

[Written]

[smokesmushi]

[Ginko can only chuckle at this post, before he decides to finally write a response. Maybe it's unwarranted for him to comment, but it did seem to be open to anyone's response.]

If change feels too sudden, then it's always okay to stop and slow down for a moment. A moment to reflect on where you've come from and to really take in where you are now often settle the nerves before preparing for tomorrow.

Of course, I also rarely concern myself with what tomorrow has in store for me. I focus only on the goals I plan to meet in the future, and don't take the time to brainstorm the worst that could happen. There's far too many interesting things to stop and look at in the now.

[Written]

[tearmeanewone]

That's the problem. There's so many things happening now, I'm afraid that if I make one choice I'll lose the chance to explore those things more. I've read things like 'when one door closes, another one opens', but what if whatever was behind that closed door was really interesting or important? What if I closed it without realizing I couldn't go back through it?

[Written]

[smokesmushi]

That reminds me an awful lot of the One Night Bridge case I had. If you hesitate and take a step back, you fall through. In the end, it's sometimes best to settle on your decision before acting. You can stay back and not take the risk, or you can cross the bridge and make do with the consequences once you cross.

If you ask me, the unknown isn't something that you should fear. Life will always have difficulties no matter what route you take. But you'll never run out of opportunities, no matter how many you pass up.

[Video]

[misterbrief]

[He looks annoyed. He's seen this girl around, he's sure he has, but right now...he's just being his annoyed grumpypants self.]

Why are you even bothering to ask? Why don't you just do it and get it over with, you're just wasting your time asking here.

[Video]

[tearmeanewone]

[Elizabeth sees your annoyed look Vegeta, and raises you one of her own.]

Why am I bothering to ask? Because I don't know what to do. Do you just stand around with your mouth hanging open when you don't know something?

Also, I can't just 'get it over with'. Unless I want to contact my entire guest list and tell them to go the beach right now, wedding's been moved up two whole days, I have to wait.

[Video]

[misterbrief]

[Ohhh he gets it now. Wedding. Funnily enough, he remembers his own wedding. And will probably give her advice based on that.

It will not be good advice.]

Then stop worrying about it. There's absolutely nothing for you to be in such a fuss about. [He sure as hell didn't give two shits about his own wedding SORRY ELIZABETH]

[Action]

[wildbluevagner]

[Kurt comes across her while she's wandering with her ice cream companion. He smiles teasingly and indicates the carton as if she's holding a bundle of joy.]

Congratulations! Is it a boy or a girl?

[Action]

[tearmeanewone]

What?! [Unfortunately for Kurt, Elizabeth is all too aware of 'strange food cravings' being a sign of pregnancy. She's pulled Gai's leg many times before with that particular bit.]

No, no Kurt! I'm not pregnant! Oh my God, no! [That's the last thing she needs.]

Re: [Action]

[wildbluevagner]

Sorry, sorry! Just a joke! [He immediately backs down and waves his arms defensively.] I just thought the way you're holding that carton, it's like it's - a baby! But... my bad! [It does help him see that she really is tightly wound up though.]

[voice]

[notyourutopian]

Maybe you won't be pulled away?

[Eleanor is hoping that's a positive thought.]

[voice]

[tearmeanewone]

I hope not. The only bad thing about finding someone you care for here is that it's possible you could be separated without warning.

[voice]

[notyourutopian]

Mm. But some people have been here for years and years, so. There's hope, right?

[Voice]

[cajunspice]

This have 'nything to do with the up comin' event ya preparin' so carefully for petite?

Nerves all be part of it, up 'till ya find yaself at the aisle 'nd see who be waitin' for ya, then they melt 'way.

Keepin' yaself busy 'till it time for the day helps, 'nd maybe a shot of something just before ya take that walk.

[Voice]

[tearmeanewone]

Everything to do with it, actually. [She huffs a small laugh.]

I'm starting to realize that feeling nervous is normal, but I'm not nervous about who I'm marrying. It's entirely not knowing how my life is going to change. I never really had a choice before, this is the first time I've taken steps on my own towards a big life change.

...and I'm pretty sure Booker isn't going to let me drink before I go down the aisle, but that's good advice anyway.

[cajunspice]

Ah, I see. Freedom is scary, but that part of what makes it so much fun. No restraints, mais also no ones fault but ya own when it goes to hell.

Wish I could tell ya there be 'n old 'nd well kept secret to gettin' over such feelin's like that, 'n old family remedy, but there ain't.

All I can say is 'njoy the here 'nd now. Ain't much we can do 'bout bein' pulled 'way from here at random, or other merde that might get thrown at us, so may as well have as much fun as we can 'nd not worry 'bout what might happen.