HtH111 – The Dramaturg Is Part Of The House Too
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Eclair falls ill. Ablam and Hikari take care of her.
"Alright, Eclair, are you sure that you don't want any dinner?"
"I feel just fine, Ablam, just a little tired, that's all."
Tired is a little bit of an understatement. Eclair is propped up against the back of her bed, already in dainty blue pajamas in the early evening. Half her body is covered under the sheets and has her eyes closed, glasses placed on a bedside cabinet.
Ablam sits at bedside, taking in the entirety of her dramaturg's room. This is the very first time that she has invited herself into the room; while well-furnished, Eclair doesn't seem to have that many personal belongings. There is a small, unused luggage case near the writing desk, covered in dust. A half-line of books occupy the middle shelf of a glass cabinet, some having toppled over already. The writing desk is the only messy part of this entire room, Eclair having brought her 'homework' back into the room.
Different from her own room, there is an Eclair-sized mirror near the dresser. The ever-meticulous Eclair must spend quite a lot of time fussing over how her bowtie was done before this mirror, quite the difference from the Eclair who is lying in bed, breathing lightly with a heavy sigh.
(Sha-ka-la-ka-sha-ka-la-ka)
(Sha-ka-la-ka-sha-ka-la-ka)
The sound of something being 'shaken' rhythmically causes Eclair to open an eyelid for Ablam, who is shaking a long red tube next to the dramaturg's ear.
"... Why are you shaking a tube of chips in my face, Ablam?"
"One of our seniors taught us how to create our own relaxation 'triggers'..."
"Urgh, I have a good idea who that was, that ASMR-sellout." [HtH84] Eclair rolls over in bed, trying to catch the tube of chips being shaken in her face, but Ablam pulls them just out of reach of her pawing hands! Each time Eclair swipes at the air, Ablam raises the tube a little higher, the chips rattling with merry enjoyment!
Just then, there comes a knock on the door!
Their little session of cat and mouse interrupted, Ablam wonders aloud, "Yes, you can come in, Eclair is here too!" The door is pushed open to reveal...
A girl with short purple hair, carrying a tray with a small covered bowl atop.
"Greetings, dear Ablam, you are here tonight as well."
The girl who has just entered the room is of course, our dear Hikari!
With light steps, she closes the door behind her, setting the tray down on the bedside cabinet with a sparkling pirouette. Then, she pulls up the other chair and sits down with Ablam at bedside! Of course, there was no question what either of them were here for, seeing Ablam care for Eclair stirs a deeply resonating melody within the neon diva's heart as well;
"Dearest Eclair, would you not partake in the nourishment of your body with some culinary respite? I see that Ablam has resonated in this desire for a shared choreography of affection and support."
Ablam puts away the tube of chips on the ground while nodding energetically,
"Yeah, what Hikari said!"
Of course, Eclair doesn't immediately expose Ablam, but she does stifle the rising laugh in her throat while putting her lips together to form an 'o' shape! The almost-laugh is a secret shared by all in the room,
"It so happens that Chef Jullienne has prepared a treat for us, tonight's dessert is a most delicate side of Panna Cotta..."
Tonight's desert is indeed exquisite, for our chef has outdone herself again. Lifting the top of the bowl, Hikari reveals the milky white dish, topped with a layer of blended strawberry red. The top layer is decorated with extra care, a trio of blueberries adorning a half-slice of strawberry in the middle.
It is an excellent dish, and Eclair's eyes did sparkle for a moment when she laid eyes on it. Before Eclair can have second thoughts, Hikari dips a serving spoon into the dish, offering a spoonful of that creamy, rich dessert for Eclair.
"It seems... expensive. I'd like for you girls to have it. You girls are what's holding up the house, you know."
"But Eclair, the dramaturg is part of the house too."
Those words come from Ablam, who too has scooped into tonight's dessert, a second spoon hovering in the air. The two girls had come to the same shared care from different directions, though Ablam was probably thinking of something less fancy, that Eclair simply couldn't go to bed hungry and tired!
Perhaps not everything could be solved with a serving of Panna Cotta.
Still, the two scoops of chilled delight are chomped down on, one at a time.
Outside the window, evening quietly settled over the theatre house.
For tonight, that was enough.
Recall
[HTH84] Eclair is of course, referring to Anno, an actress who stayed at the house before the Echoes moved in!
We are trying something different! This is a simul-posting at the same time as the Scribblehub release! Go check out the entire series at this link!
