... Pink's hardly a vampire's colors, but then, you aren't a vampire.

[ She nods all the same though. But then laughs, ] Actually, it's likely unsuited for a bar too!

Oh, if you're so sure of that - then what's the bar's theme?

[ She puts the bear under her arm to point the Syringe at Sayaka. Like it's a pointer??? ]

I see...

[ A flowery bar... she nods. ]

I wonder if that can work in a bar...

Hah, well, [ She pulls the syringe back, ] If that's your intent, I'll support it certainly.

[ She considers the girl again, and then setting the bear and syringe down, she reaches out to run her hand around the lower end of the bob cut. ]

[ If there is a Shihaba to return to...

She can't think like that, even if she's probably being a little delusional not to. She continues to brush the girl's hair, smiling. ]

To be kind to my granddaughter, too. You're a little bit her senior. And it seems she's still walking around in daylight.

[ Elda nods, still sort of stroking Sayaka. ]

She can. I've likely told you so many disjointed things about her, but where she's ended up, as of my last memory I just got this week, is that she's still around in the daylight, still with that human boy of hers, and now hasn't gushed out blood for all those months I was gone punishing the Brownlicks. I've still those two years unaccounted for but she's...

[ God this still makes her feel sick, even if it should be less hard now, especially, ] basically human, now. Happy.

She was always abnormal to begin with. Honestly... I think the one who took it the hardest was little Anju. [ She laughs, a little quietly. To have Sayaka be sympathetic to her in this - she's a little glad for it, selfishly. Most would simply leave it at her being happy. ] She awoke as a full vampire not all that long ago, you know. The sun, rejecting her when she was only eleven. That put a wall between her and Karin.

Honestly, most humans don't know we're real. Sure, they would turn immediately to their old ways... but perhaps I'm the one who is too set in my ways.

[ you know, just to make sure that Sayaka has the right context. Elda knows her own hatreds might have rubbed off on the girl. Still, the older woman nods a little. Yes, that must be awful for Anju. It's awful for Elda too. As for Sayaka though.... ]

Like I said, you're her senior. Even after these two years I don't know, she'll only be eighteen. Just look after her. And that Kenta Usui boy, I suppose.

That's all in good, but she does still live with us you know.

[ For now, in two years...? Well, of course she will. Even if se's a human in all but name now, apparently. She laughs a little boldly here. ]

I'm renting her out during the day.

Foolish girl, as if I'd let her go and do things like that.

[ She pulls a hand back to her side and puts a hand on her hip. Huff. ]

I might have two more missing years, but I'm not gonna let that happen.

She needs all the help she can get! I love the girl, but it's not like she's done much more than go to human school and work that Julian's place. I don't get either of those! Plus that halfbreed's run out of town by now... so she really only has human friends.

[ She nods. ]

Yes. I look forward to you meeting them, too, honestly. [ Elda plays with her hair a moment, seeming to think about what the best way to word this next thing might be. She in the end reaches down to take the bear, holding it closer to herself. ]

Ren and Calera especially might be difficult, but I know you'll be accepted. That's our home, you're going to.

Who, Calera and Ren...? Well, Ren's just testy. He's always been that way, and he'll grow out of it. You might have a leg up for being a woman, but don't let that boy sweep you in at all.

[ A sage nod ]

As for Calera...

[ She trails off. Man, trying to be fair about Calera... ]