The lantern lit the whole room on its own but Akeno still hadn't noticed as she was focused on something in particular… Or someone in particular.
Gracie: She dramatically falls back on the couch's back cushion and leans forward to the point her forehead was close to her knees. Her forehead touched the fabric of her blue skirt.
She closes her eyes and covers her face with her hand. She huffs out air and breathes heavily.
"Haa– Haa– I… I said it. Why was it so hard?"
She muttered under her breath as she rubs her face by her hand then glides it to her hair, ruffling it. Getting a hold of her hair she tightened her grip.
Her eyes weren't at rest, looking down at the floor it constantly moved, taking in every detail of what she could see without looking up. She brought her hand back down to cover up her face.
…
[... Now what…?]
She glanced up towards Akeno but her hand blocked the view.
[... I… Can't see her.]
Yet she didn't move her hand out of the way, nor peek through her fingers.
Akeno: She silently watched Gracie and her actions. Her lip was slightly opened. Her body didn't move except the eyes. Her gaze hovered over Gracie, taking in every detail of body language she was displaying.
[I… I've seen that reaction before…]
"Um…"
[What did she mean by otherworldly?]
She finally made some movement. She shifts on the couch, sliding a bit closer to Gracie.
She rubs her face and over the eye lids.
[No more tears, it seems.]
She glanced towards Gracie, she was still down, covering up her face. Gracie's hair fell over cheeks which was an addition to hide her face.
Sniff
[Damn this cold]
Sniff
…
[... Let me ask her.]
She huffs out air and shifts even closer to Gracie.
"Um, Gracie"
Gracie: She flinched when she heard her name from Akeno. She peeks through her fingers towards Akeno. Her hand still covered her face but the gap between her fingers were big enough for Akeno to see her eyes.
[Hm, did she call?]
Akeno: Gulp
She again shifts on the couch uncomfortably as Gracie's amber eyes gaze over her.
"Ahh, Gracie… Could you explain what you meant by… Other—worldly—?"
She suddenly felt a tingling sensation over her nose.
"Aaah—choo!"
She rubs her nose and pinches with her right hand.
"Aughh" she muttered under her breath.
She noticed Gracie had closed back her fingers, hiding back her Amber eyes. Just then Akeno noticed the lantern. The lone Lantern that lit alone and alone lit the whole room.
Seeing this her eyes widened a bit.
Gracie: Still hiding her face and her forehead touching the fabric of the skirt didn't seem to be in a mood to move or even answer Akeno.
Just then, suddenly there was another sound of sneezing. Though, it wasn't from Akeno.
Another…
Again…
She lifts up her head and leans back on the couch. It was a bit wet… Gel like substance. Just at the right nose entrance… Bit on the palm… and just a bit on the skirt.
"Tch" she clinched her teeth.
She brought up her arm to her face and used it to shift her bangs above… While doing so she turned to look at Akeno. Their eyes met.
Blink.
"... Augh. You were saying something?"
Before Akeno answers she sniffs and gets up from the couch.
"I need to change."
Akeno: She shot up and tried to reach Gracie but Akeno stopped herself from doing so. Her hand was still near the hem of Gracie's sweater. Yet she didn't grab it.
[Wait, I haven't gotten my answer yet. Why did you help me…? Gracie… You're taking too long to answer.]
She bit her lip. Her hand just inches away from the rear of Gracie's back. Just inches away from grabbing the hem of her sweater and stopping her from leaving.
[Should I stop her…?]
As she was wondering what to do Gracie turned her head to look at Akeno.
Gracie: She looked down at Akeno and noticed her head and noticed how close Akeno's hand was to her rear back. She clinched her teeth tighter and cheeks brightened up with colour red.
"Hey… What are you doing?"
Akeno: She pulls her hand back as heat rises her cheeks.
[Damit. What should I say…?"
"... Sorry?" She said in a low voice.
Gracie: sighs.
…
"You must be eager to know right? The reason for. Um. Why did I help you?"
She averts her eyes from Akeno.
"... Come follow me. It's cold down here, let's… Go to my room."
She started walking. Akeno quickly got up and followed Gracie. Gracie walks out of the room and starts climbing up the stairs and Akeno follows. She glanced back towards the lantern.
Akeno: [That thing can't possibly light the whole room. Did I miss any other source of light…? Probably.]
She glanced up towards the stairs where Gracie was walking up to and it was dark up there. Very dark… Not much as the lantern from downstairs still lit a bit.
Gracie had already reached the last step of the stairs, her skirt was long enough to hide any unwanted spots. And the back of her hand rested over the skirt. And neither did the darkness allow much to be seen.
[I hadn't realised it got this dark. Wasn't it sunset just moments ago…?]
She started climbing the stairs, and steps had rhythm at first but got hurried as Gracie was about to disappear from her vision. She finally reached Gracie and was just behind her. Gracie's pace slowed and she no longer had her hand over her skirt.
Gracie: With her eyes ahead.
"Akeno. I… I'm… Not good at talking you see."
She gulps and tilts her head just a bit.
"I'm really not."
They reached the door to Gracie's room and she stopped right in front of it yet she didn't open the door instead she turned back to face Akeno who was right behind her.
They couldn't see each other's faces in the dark but they knew that they were facing each other. She crossed her arms and shifted her weight on the left side.
There was a door next to Gracie's which had some light illuminating from the inside.
"You already guessed that, right? B–but don't worry, I 'll tell you why. Everything. I just need time and space okay."
And took a step back, now her back touching the door to her room.
"You see. It's really complicated… I hope I already told you that. But, umm… Yeah, it's also very much connected to me as well. I'm really sorry that you had to wait so long. Haa—"
She cups her neck, the gel from earlier sticks a bit.
"Tch, should've known." She muttered under her breath, it was low, almost silent but loud enough for Akeno to hear. She sighs and removes her hand from her neck.
"... Just a moment longer please. I… need to change first. Please understand."
Saying that she opens the door and slips inside into the darkness which was also present in her room. Leaving Akeno to herself in the darkness and to her silent thoughts.
Akeno: [it's taking too long.]
She looked down at the spot where her feet were supposed to be. Just then another source of light illuminated Gracie's room and some peek through the door. By the little bit of light Akeno could see the bandages on her feet. Barely.
[... Ha. I'm really eager to know why she healed me. Right…? Hm, wait. She said the same thing as that woman. A–Alina. Right? Whom she calls Mistress.]
She pressed her lip together.
[She bandaged my foot without asking, treated it. Brought me here, gave me this sweater.] She placed her head on her chest.
[And… Something more? I can't recall—]
The door opened. The light from the inside rushed out and lit the place. Akeno looked up and there Gracie stood, half way out. She had taken off the sweater and the skirt and only wore a T–shirt and the black leggings.
Gracie: "Hey… Come in."
She stepped aside, giving space for Akeno to enter.