[It's been about ten minutes since they've washed up here, back at the circle, on dry land, breathing air again. Long enough to make sure she's all in once piece. Long enough to process and realize what had just happened.
Sheryl's seen death before. The Vajra attacks were undiscriminating. People had died. Michael had died. She thought she'd seen her boyfriend die, and had almost died herself.
This feels different. This was a world dying. A world filled with playful dolphins she'd rode, with a woman who'd sold her the sea-green sarong she's wearing, with people she'd braved sharp coral to obtain medicinal herbs for, with little kids who she'd sung to to cheer them up.
All gone.
Sheryl says, softly at first, to the nearest person. Or group of people.] Hey... what was the point of all of that?
What did we even go there for? [Her voice is a little louder. It shakes.] Was there a reason for-- for any of that? Did we just go there to make things worse?
Why did she send us there? There was a point to it, right? There had to have been a point to it! [She's just kind of shouting, now, her tone sad, shocked and desperate. For someone usually composed and put-together, she's on the verge of tears, or perhaps panic.]
Why did that have to happen to all those people?!
[She's yelling at you, now. Mainly because you're the closest person. Sorry.]
[II]
[Some time later. A day or two, at least.
She's at least calmed down, enough that she isn't shouting at other people in desperate need to make something out of everything that's happened. She misses Alto and Ranka.
Sheryl's found herself wading into the lake. It's cold. Colder than she remembers. Her lower half is starting to get numb, but she's staying out here. Maybe it's the cleansing properties of the cold. Maybe she just wants to return to the water, to feel like she can do it again, and do it right this time.
She hadn't sung this song earlier, when she'd been in the vaults with the children and Konoha. It had been too sad, and she'd wanted to sing a song for hope.
Sheryl Nome | OTA
[It's been about ten minutes since they've washed up here, back at the circle, on dry land, breathing air again. Long enough to make sure she's all in once piece. Long enough to process and realize what had just happened.
Sheryl's seen death before. The Vajra attacks were undiscriminating. People had died. Michael had died. She thought she'd seen her boyfriend die, and had almost died herself.
This feels different. This was a world dying. A world filled with playful dolphins she'd rode, with a woman who'd sold her the sea-green sarong she's wearing, with people she'd braved sharp coral to obtain medicinal herbs for, with little kids who she'd sung to to cheer them up.
All gone.
Sheryl says, softly at first, to the nearest person. Or group of people.] Hey... what was the point of all of that?
What did we even go there for? [Her voice is a little louder. It shakes.] Was there a reason for-- for any of that? Did we just go there to make things worse?
Why did she send us there? There was a point to it, right? There had to have been a point to it! [She's just kind of shouting, now, her tone sad, shocked and desperate. For someone usually composed and put-together, she's on the verge of tears, or perhaps panic.]
Why did that have to happen to all those people?!
[She's yelling at you, now. Mainly because you're the closest person. Sorry.]
[II]
[Some time later. A day or two, at least.
She's at least calmed down, enough that she isn't shouting at other people in desperate need to make something out of everything that's happened. She misses Alto and Ranka.
Sheryl's found herself wading into the lake. It's cold. Colder than she remembers. Her lower half is starting to get numb, but she's staying out here. Maybe it's the cleansing properties of the cold. Maybe she just wants to return to the water, to feel like she can do it again, and do it right this time.
She hadn't sung this song earlier, when she'd been in the vaults with the children and Konoha. It had been too sad, and she'd wanted to sing a song for hope.
She sings it now.] When I was in love with God...
[There's no music accompanying this. No performance. She's not singing it for anyone else but herself.
The cold makes her voice shake, not with its usual power.
Her heart hurts, and she keeps singing. Sheryl weeps where she stands, teardrops leaving little ripples where they land in the water.]
It's long, long, goodbye.