=== Citrinne & Zelkov ===
--- C ---


[Zelkov]
Done... It's done. Curses, what do I do now?
How do I go on *living*?


[Citrinne]
Is something wrong, Zelkov? I can lend an ear,
if you wish to discuss whatever it is.
[Zelkov]
That is very kind of you. But I doubt you would
truly *understand.*
[Citrinne]
Try me.
[Zelkov]
...
[Zelkov]
One of my *pursuits*...has come to an end.
[Citrinne]
Oh. You're broken up over a...hobby? I assumed
it was something more serious.
[Zelkov]
The word "hobby" is insufficient to describe
what is absolutely *paramount* to me.
[Citrinne]
I... I see. Apologies. Please, go on.
[Zelkov]
I had been *nurturing* a young bird.
[Zelkov]
Her parents had *abandoned* her. She had not
yet learned to fly.
[Zelkov]
I took it upon myself to *care* for her. In doing
so, I became something of a foster parent.
[Citrinne]
Aww, how adorable.
[Zelkov]
It is done, now. She has gone.
[Citrinne]
She escaped?
[Zelkov]
She has left the nest. Taken her *rightful* place
among the clouds.
[Citrinne]
Pardon me, but...isn't that a good thing?
[Zelkov]
Yes. It was my *intention* from the start.
[Zelkov]
Indeed, as an instructor, I am *proud* to see her
fly away all on her own.
[Zelkov]
But as a father, I am *consumed* by loss.
[Zelkov]
Do you understand my problem now, Citrinne?
Do you have a *solution* for me?
[Citrinne]
Hmm... I could purchase a similar-looking bird
for you to care for. Or hire a search party.
[Zelkov]
No, *that* won't do...
[Citrinne]
In that case, there likely isn't much I can do.
[Zelkov]
I understand. In that case, I will take up no more
of your time. This will be my *burden* to bear.
[Citrinne]
I'm sorry, Zelkov. I wish there was something
I could do to help.
--- B ---



[Citrinne]
Zelkov, how have you been?
[Zelkov]
Despite attempts to drown it in other pursuits...
my loss continues to *consume* me.
[Citrinne]
Ah... That's too bad.
[Citrinne]
I'm sorry to impose while you're feeling blue,
but could you help me with something?
[Zelkov]
What do you *require*?
[Citrinne]
This. Give it a read.
[Zelkov]
"My son is a layabout. How do I convince him to
put in some work?"
[Zelkov]
"They say I need to cheer up, but they don't
get it. My love's left me. How can I move on?"
[Zelkov]
What *exactly* am I reading?
[Citrinne]
A register of young Brodians who need help.
Letters from them or from their parents.
[Zelkov]
Why show this to *me*?
[Citrinne]
Sometimes to assist the royal family, I give
counsel to those who are struggling.
[Citrinne]
There seem to be...rather a lot this time.
I could use your assistance.
[Zelkov]
Citrinne... Your *compassion* is extraordinary.
[Citrinne]
Huh?
[Zelkov]
Providing *counsel* to these people could be
the pursuit that helps me move past my loss.
[Zelkov]
That *was* your intention, was it not?
[Citrinne]
Haha, you're giving me too much credit.
I wasn't thinking that far ahead.
[Citrinne]
Anyway, how about you pick a person you
think you can help and write them a letter?
[Citrinne]
They could benefit from an adult's guidance.
[Zelkov]
...
[Zelkov]
Yes. Yes, of course. I will *begin* immediately.
--- A ---



[Citrinne]
Zelkov! I can hardly believe it!
[Citrinne]
Did you really send advice to every single
person on that list?
[Zelkov]
Yes, I *did.* It was no trouble.
[Citrinne]
Good work. They were all quite grateful.
[Zelkov]
That is wonderful to hear...even if the errand
failed to rid me of my *grief.*
[Citrinne]
Oh, dear. I'm sorry to hear that.
[Zelkov]
However, I have been feeling somewhat more
*optimistic* of late.
[Citrinne]
Truly?
[Zelkov]
Something *occurred* to me while I was giving
counsel to these troubled individuals.
[Zelkov]
I realized they were, in their own way, each like
a *bird* still learning to fly.
[Zelkov]
My advice was focused on helping them manage
on their own. To learn to *leave* the nest.
[Zelkov]
Just like my *little* one.
[Zelkov]
...
[Zelkov]
It was helpful to *consider* that while writing.
[Citrinne]
I see.
[Zelkov]
I am *grateful* to you, Citrinne.
[Citrinne]
Whatever do you mean? It was you who did
me a favor!
[Zelkov]
You asked for my help, *knowing* that it would
assist me in turn.
[Citrinne]
Haha, I'm sure I don't know what you're
talking about.
[Zelkov]
Heh, you are a wonderful person. Truly.
[Zelkov]
Now then. I shall take my leave of you. It is time
I began *searching* for my next pursuit.
[Citrinne]
I know it will be lovely, whatever it is.
[Zelkov]
Thank you.
[Zelkov]
One last thing, *before* I go.
[Citrinne]
Oh? What's that?
[Zelkov]
Let us continue to pursue this friendship. It has
become *important* to me.
[Citrinne]
Haha, worry not, Zelkov. I have no plans to fly
away on you.
--- S ---