LD   Welcome.

LD   Take a seat, I'll be with you shortly.

You make a show of rolling your eyes before sitting down. Who is she to order you around? You're the one doing her a favor by finally dropping by.

YN   I assumed any visitor would take priority over your reading.

YN   But I don't blame you. It must be quite dull.

YN   Waiting for someone to validate your witless psychoanalysis, that is.

In turn, Lydia makes a show of dragging her eyes through the page, then finally shutting the tome and placing it delicately aside. She bats her eyelashes at you and assumes an irritating customer service tone.

LD   Your kindness is ever so appreciated.

LD   Now, what can I do for you, esteemed patient?

YN   Ugh.

YN   You know I despise it when you put on a show.

LD   Ah, but you also despise it when our interactions lack effusive praise.

LD   Quite a conundrum.

YN   You are absolutely insufferable, and I demand you proceed in a decent manner.

LD   Hmm. Very well.

She leans back against the chair, her hands clasped in her lap.

LD   Hello, Yuna. A person I know.

LD   What brings you to my dull, witless little booth?

YN   ...

YN   I doubt you can assist with anything truly meaningful.

YN   But your role is to lend an ear, so I expect you to do so.

YN   Understand?

LD   Mmm. Orders.

LD   The love language of the ego. How could I refuse?

You narrow your eyes. Nevertheless, you proceed.

YN   I feel somewhat aimless.

YN   Ever since... you know. All that.

YN   Everything is too unstructured, now.

YN   There is no hierarchy. No organization between social circles.

YN   I don't even know how to speak with those I considered close companions.

LD   You wound me.

YN   Normal companions, Lydia.

YN   The bond we have truly ascends what I would call conventional.

LD   Ooh. You flatter me as well.

You could do without the faux-fliratious remarks. Or maybe the way she speaks is inherently suggestive, since she has that smooth tone and piercing gaze. Like she's already convinced you're madly in love with her, and she's just drawing the confession out. Just wielding that control over people seems to sate her. You can understand on some level, which is why you keep finding yourself drawn to... wait, when did your thoughts stray so far? Damn it.

YN   Don't you have anything useful to say, yet?

LD   I was doing my part. Lending an ear, as some would say.

LD   But, if you must know, I always thought you'd come out of this whole mess unscathed.

YN   How so?

LD   Well, you weren't the Alpha. Your kingdom didn't come crumbling down.

LD   And you were neither the Beta. You didn't lose your sole purpose.

LD   You were a third-in-command, at best.

LD   Hmm. The Gamma? Is that a thing?

LD   Nevertheless, you've only ever seen people as those below and those above yourself.

LD   Just because you're without a group doesn't mean you can't continue to do so.

She's right. As much belonging as you may have felt, you hit a ceiling. You could have never truly ascended there. Not with those two, and their inane interpersonal drama.

YN   You know, I half-expected you to say something saccharine.

YN   Like, 'Maybe this is an opportunity to start over and make new friends!'

LD   Hmm. Ha ha.

LD   I never claim to know what's best.

LD   But I always know what's possible.

If she says something ominous and cryptic one more time, you're propelling her out the window.

LD   So, is that all you'd like to consult me about?

YN   ...

YN   I suppose... for now.

Her face lights up with what you consider an embarrassing amount of glee. Then, before you blink, it's gone. As if you aren't already familiar with her genuine smile, which reaches her eyes in a completely different way.

LD   Another time, then.

LD   I look forward to it.

LD   After all - We haven't even touched on all your other issues.

LD   Like how you're starting to wear more gothic clothing - a show of rebellion against your m-

YN   Just give me my bill, already.

YN   Ugh. How Felix can stand to do these weekly is beyond me.

LD   Oh, we've been making great progress.

LD   I've seen him cry at least eight times.

YN   You're a sick person.