estell

9:30 P.M. Training Grounds

Thanks for being Bubble's practice partner today.

It's hard to find someone who can keep the upper hand against her and still have strength to spare.

And sorry about keeping you so late.

(Instructor Dobermann is strict in training, but very nice otherwise.)

(She's always up until so late at night.)

It's fine, I didn't have anything else anyway.

(It's unbelievable how good Bubble is, given her age.)

I wish more people would learn from you.

Are you hungry? It's getting late, so why don't you get something from the cafeteria, and put it on my tab.

Thank you.

9:34 P.M. Cafeteria

Heat... How do I heat up food?

Is this the machine?

It makes a noise, but no heat.

Is it this one?

There's a little picture of a fire on it. Does it want you to heat the machine with fire?

Put the food in the machine, then light a fire outside... like this, right?

Watch out!

Are you okay?

Why did it explode?

That's not how you use it.

Good thing you didn't get hurt...

(Wait, someone I don't know?!)

(W-What was I thinking? I just reflexively...)

Wh-What?

(And she's an Archosauria too. A new Archosauria colleague?)

Excuse me, how do I heat up my food...?

Use this one.

I mean... wait 5 minutes, then press this button.

Don't touch the broken one.

Just put in a maintenance ticket, and someone else will fix it.

(Gah, I acted weird again, didn't I?)

(The Doctor and Lena wanted me to interact more with others...)

(I've always used the excuse that it's hard to talk to people who've been here longer than me.)

(But this time, she seems new here.)

(What do I do now...?)

Done already, Estelle?

Oh...

(I guess I forgot about dinner.)

Yes... I've eaten.

(She might still be in the cafeteria. I'll go later...)

9:22 A.M. Convalescent Garden

Feeling relaxed?

Mm.

(Lena, code name 'Perfumer.')

(I come here at the same time every day for aromatherapy.)

(It's how I start my day.)

(She smells good, and she's so nice. I wish I had a big sister like her.)

This scent works best on you.

It... reminds me of home.

Really?

Yes.

But it's not the scent of a flower... it's a vitamin solution.

If you want to talk about your past, I'm here to listen, as is the Doctor.

No pressure, though.

Thank you.

(I know why this scent makes me relaxed... it smells just like the lab I was in when I was little.)

(That was before I grew horns.)

(I lived in a small house. There were many small houses like it in the oval room, each with an Archosauria child living in it.)

(They called me a 'failure' and threw me out of the lab.)

(The guy who did it was named Danny Chip. He even used to say 'Good morning, my princess' to me through the glass every morning...)

(Was I abandoned because I'm so unlikeable?)

(After that, I lived in the barrens until I joined Rhodes Island.)

I don't know what you're thinking about, but this is a time to relax.

Mm.

Have you had a proper conversation with anyone lately?

I... don't think so...

I don't want to force you, but you could try talking to people you feel comfortable with.

All I can do is to help you temporarily relax. You're the only one who can take that step.

I understand. Thank you Lena.

2:15 P.M. Medical Department Corridor

I heard we have some new colleagues.

Seems like there are new faces every day. Rhodes Island is getting livelier.

And the queue at the cafeteria is getting longer too.

Taking care of the new employees was easier when there were fewer people around. I can hardly even remember their names these days.

But isn't it your job as a senior member to look after them? Remember how Eyjafjalla used to follow you around like a baby fowlbeast chasing its mother? I think you have a knack for taking care of people.

(Joyful cry)

Whoa! I didn't mean it literally!

Calm down, it's just Estelle's Sir Cromwell.

I'm sorry!

(Earthspirit has horns on her head too, but I guess that's normal for a Caprinae.)

(Hers are smaller than mine, but much longer.)

(Would they hit the ceiling if something surprised her in the Doctor's office?)

(If I was closer to her, maybe I could talk to her about how to deal with all the problems with having horns.)

Is this your pet, Estelle?

(Breeze always looks so elegant... I wish I could ask her how to be like that too...)

Yes.

(But Sir Cromwell's not my pet. He's my friend.)

(He's the one who found my house and opened the door after I was thrown out of the lab.)

(He knows so much more than I do, but he doesn't talk much, and he likes to swear.)

There are a number of support missions scheduled for next week. We'll be counting on you, Estelle.

(Breeze is a skilled battlefield medic, so we're often paired together on assignments. Maybe she can sense my discomfort, because she's always so nice and careful around me.)

(I really appreciate it, but she also feels a little distant... and we hardly ever see each other outside of work.)

(The Doctor wants me to take the initiative to talk to her...)

I... I'll work hard to bring the patients back...

(I couldn't say it. Again.)

Sir Cromwell! Don't go! Come back!

You'll cause trouble for others... and make my coworkers dislike me.

Come to think of it, they were just talking about taking care of new recruits...