< ☆ Partner: Elm ☆ > - Blog Posts

Lucas nods.

"We'll probably also put it up to the whole community, but we'll need to discuss things first."

He walks with Elm to the door, holding it open for them.

"I suppose I know what you'd say at that town meeting."

ELM CONSIDERS LUCAS' OFFER FOR A BEAT BEFORE THEY NOD . they straighten as they move towards the door with a low, " so you guys will vote ?"

Lucas gives them a small smile.

"Neither do I. And I'd bet my stetson Stassi and Cam won't either. But it's still something to consider."

He cleans up the desk then looks back at them.

"Want me to walk you home?"

ELM CONSIDERS LUCAS FOR A LONG MOMENT THEN . their dark eyes bore into him until they're simply uttering an even, " ... i don't think that's a good idea ."

Lucas pauses. While he'd sworn to always tell the residents the truth, he'd also promised the leaders that they get information and plans first.

But telling the truth should come first.

"Yeah, most likely. Don't know when or how, but it's the first lead we've gotten of something different in the woods."

" ... OKAY ." ELM REPLIES WITH A NOD . " that's true , i guess ." there's a beat then as they study him before they add a curious, " are you going to try and find the tree ?"

"It was," Lucas insists. "That was probably more information than we've ever gotten. I really do appreciate it."

Lucas nods in agreement.

"I know, but sometimes even the illusion of safety is enough to help."

" ... I KNOW IT WASN'T USEFUL ." elm replies simply even after the encouragement . they move to get up with a gentle, " if i remember new stuff i'll say ." they shake their head at lucas' offer, quick to say, " it's okay . bruna gives me food at the diner . and marama's with me a lot ." a pause before she shrugs . " she's not an escort, but she kind of is ." a beat of consideration . "besides, if they wanted to take me i don't think much could stop them ."

Lucas nods, then stops the tape recorder.

"That was good," he says gently, patting the arm of her chair instead of her actual arm. "Thank you, really, Elm. I appreciate it."

He stands and cleans up his stuff.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" he asks, now out of sheriff mode and in community mode. "Bring your meals to you? Give you escorts anywhere?"

ELM SHAKES THEIR HEAD THEN . " no ." there's a beat before they shift in their seat and shrug . the lace is wrapped tight around their finger again . " that's all i remember. when i woke up the tree was gone and i was laying in the forest ." their brows twitch together a bit . " it took me a while to get back ."

Lucas considers this. He's been in a lot of the woods around town but hasn't come across a tree like that. Of course, that's not at all surprising. Still, it has him thinking.

"Okay," he says, focusing back on Elm. "That's good. Was there anything else?"

He gives her a small smile.

ELM CONSIDERS THE QUESTION FOR A MOMENT BEFORE SHRUGGING . " it's the only thing i remember ." elm wonders if that's enough to make it notable . there's another beat of thought where their head tilts before they're adding a, " there was a moon over it ." their brows furrow a bit . " it was full and ..." a thoughtful pause before elm is making a round gesture with their hands . " the tree was by itself . in a circle, like this ."

Lucas listens intently, making sure Elm knows he's really listening to her, giving her space to talk about anything.

He quirks an eye up. If she felt the need to mention it, then it must be something to consider important.

"What was notable about the tree?"

ELM TAKES A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT IT . " i was with bruna in the community kitchen ." elm shrugs . " we were doing chores together to keep busy during the storm ." a beat before elm admits, " i don't remember why i left . i don't remember leaving ... but i know they were there ." they wrap their fingers around their laces again and again, eyes on the motion before, " after that i woke up in the forest and walked back . my shoes were gone ." a pause before they tilt their head, meet lucas' eyes and add, " ... i remember a tree ."

Lucas watches them for a quiet moment then nods.

"Okay, makes sense. Do you remember anything right before? Or right after? Where you were, what you were doing, any notable things in your surroundings?"

He tries to be slow and patient, but Elm is the first person he's gotten to interview that got taken and came back alive.

"IF THEY WANTED ME TO REMEMBER THEN I WOULD ." there's no hesitation in elm's answer . they toy with their laces . " just like if they wanted to kill me then they would have ." they glance up at him before shrugging, " ... but they don't want me to remember so i don't . and they didn't want to kill me so they didn't ."

Lucas keeps his expression neutral, trying not to let his initial disappointment show through.

But then he's interested again.

"What do you mean by that?"

" THAT WASN'T WHAT I MEANT ." the words are distracted . elm twirls the laces tight enough around their finger to make the tip go a bit cold with lack of blood . lucas presses the record button and elm takes little notice of it until the question is address to her . there is a blink as they glance between lucas and the recorder for a moment before leaning hesitantly into the recorder to say the same thing they've told everyone since they've been back . " i don't remember ." a pause before they shrug and add, " ... i don't think they want me to ."

"You never know," Lucas says with an encouraging tone. "You night say something that will inspire the next sheriff into coming to a solution."

He smiles and then presses the record button.

"This is Sheriff Lucas Miranda with Elm Mossbach. We're in the 16th year of Oblitus."

Then he turns to Elm.

"So, tell me what happened to you while you were missing."

ELM ISN'T REALLY SURE WHAT THEY'RE DOING HERE . sure, they kind of know . but they don't actually know how useful they'll be . how usefully any of this will be, honestly . still, as they look between lucas and the glass of water he's set in front of them they can only nod . " you can record it ." their brow furrows a bit then, as they begin to play with the laces on their new pair of shoes . well, new hand me down shoes . they glance down at the movement to say, " it won't change anything though ."

where: sheriff offices when: utp whom: @purgatored Elm

Lucas walks into his office and sets the glass of water in front of Elm.

"Alright," he says, sitting in the chair next to her. He pulls the tape recorder closer and gives her a small smile. "You okay if I record this? That way, I don't have to ask you the details over and over again."

He makes sure to keep his posture casual and open, looking and leaning toward her, not crossing any limbs. He also makes sure not to crowd her space.