It's a neat-looking museum, so I'm pleased by it.
Chapter 55: The Woman's Got SoulIt's been a while since I've done one of these, right? And, as the oldest mortal in the house... Well, things have been weird. Everyone has been on eggshells, waiting on that moment. Not expectation-type waiting, but nervous dread.
I can only hope that I can stick around as this long-lasting ghost, still around to help his great-grandson with his homework.
"So, were you in the battle of the Valley of the Sunsets, Great-Grandpa Billy?""How old do you think I am?!""So...You can't help me with me with my report?"
"...I never said that. I knew a guy."
Orchid's gone and picked up a new swimtop. It's got a foreign, exotic look -- it's very much her thing, though I think I'm exotic enough on my own, even still.
We were admiring it when something pulled our attention to...My room.
And to our sweet little Echo.
Things you really don't want to notice hearing: that little sigh of relief, because as sad as it is to lose a precious kitty-friend, everyone is thinking that it's not you.
"Aaah! Let me get a better landing... Easy, easy...""You're not exactly inspiring confidence, here, replacement-reaper,""...I know that! Everyone says I'm being too soft!"
"But I'm really good with animal souls. C'mon, kitty..."
"Up and out you go...""G-goodbye, Echo." Ariel sniffs loudly.
"You were a good, good cat."
"Always so cute and kittenish..."I feel like we didn't do enough or say enough; certainly, the last days of Echo's life, without her playmate Gabriel, were tough. But she had a lot of happiness in her life, too.
With how Ariel's feeling, I think it'll be a long time before the family gets another cat.
"Aww, sweetiepie... DOn't cry... Please don't...""I'll just miss her... I'll just miss them all..."All of us, including me, it seems.
"Well, why don't I restore spirits! Here's a new little cuddly thing! I call him -- Mr. Marco!"Orchid's efforts aside, I don't know how much that'll do... But hey, maybe my replacement can be a falcon. That'd be kind of neat.
...Oh, I'm kidding. I know I can't be replaced.
At least I get to see this; my Grandson going out to prom. He wasn't prom king, and his night was...Rather mixed. He slipped on the dance floor, but at least a girl gave him punch. They sound like they hit it off..
"I don't trust that Mildred girl; She's a babysitter, and her energies are 5 ways to funkytown.""Was that sentence supposed to make sense, Uriel?""Hey, you get what I mean, so that's alirght! Ariel, as family matriarch, you should do something about this girl!""...We'll see."
I just feel so sad for that cat. So sad for all of it; for growing older and dying, for leaving the ones we love to grieve...
For all the things that came with being real, when I stepped out of that cotton-plush world.
"I hope you were happy, Echo..."
For there being...So little time...
"Huh. This isn't at all what I was expecting."
What was I expecting? Well... I am, after all, a doll. Being human was always... secondary, maybe? I guess I expected to fade away.
Souls are for those who are born, right?
"Evanthe Seraphim, It Is Time."
"...So, it looks like I have a soul, huh? I guess I... I guess I owe Aster money."
But...That's a debt I'll probably never be able to repay. You can't take it with you, after all...
So many debts I won't be able to repay... To Aster and Ariel and Ross... All the little things like promotions and skills seems so insignificant right now.
"...Of course you have a soul. Whether you were born or not, your life...Was very special. A singular life, unlike all the rest."
"You loved, and were loved...So even if it gets me fired to say this, your soul...Is an honor."
Already, all the sounds, the sights, the smells of this world...All seem to fade away into insignificance.
Already, life seems like a distant dream.
"Can I have one more moment, to say...?"
"I'm afraid not."Then I'll take it here!
My child...
Maybe giving your life for this business will seem hard, later. But...The other side is alright. It's OK.
I'll wait for you hear, my son. You'll always be my baby, and I'll always, always love you.
Aster...There's so much to say... But...My words can't reach you. Even if I'm saying them, in my heart, you can't...
No. That's nonsense. You're Aster Seraphim...And I am your Vanthe. You'll hear me with your eyes, and in the hair on the back of your neck. You'll hear me with the soles of your feet.
I'll believe. For you, I'll believe...And say..
Thank you for you kindness and your wildness. Thank you for your dreams, dreams that made all the difference to me...Dreams that gave me life. I have a soul, because you believed. I had a wonderful, brillaint son, because you believed.
Oh, Aster...
Thank you for having been born.
"...I bet Ross gave you those. Maybe he did... But... If needs had been different, if circumstances had been different... If our crazy dynasty had been different..." Her voice is wracked by sobs, and she cannot continue for a moment. Sing it, Aster-honey.
"They'd have been from me... S-so... In an infinite multiverse, I'm taking all the flowers I gave you in all those universes... And I'm giving them to you now. A multiverse, infinite, red roses... For Goodbye."My Aster. My other half... I'll take them. Somewhere, sometime...
But for now, I'll just say this:
Goodnight, Aster. Goodnight, to my angelic almost-mother, to my bold daughter-in-law, to my precious son and my beautiful grandchild. Goodnight, Seraphims.
Thank you, for letting me be born into your lives.
Goodbye for now.
Goodnight, Evanthe Seraphim, age ~96 days.
You were an absolute and unexpected joy. There were times where I seriously shipped Aster x Evanthe, in spite of the dynasty's needs. I'd have never broken up Reed and Aster, though, and by the time I figured out a way to make a three-person arrangement work, it was too late. Maybe in another world, as they say... But really, Evanthe was so lively and fun to play and write for. There's a lot (most of it romantic) I wish I could have done better for her by. In the end, though, she seemed happy. I'll miss her. 
