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Nodding, she watched a moment longer as she absorbed that information. "This...is how she reacts. But when she's happy..." Aki smiled, a much better change from her pensive expression. "She...reaches for whoever made her smile. She loves to touch, and loves to hear sweet things..."

It was hard, holding such happy memories when Melisande lay like a virgin upon an altar. "I think I'd like that cup of tea. Can I fix one for the two of you, as well?" She'd rather have them with Meli, in case the Frei's rest was shattered while she was gone.

Aki took the sketched map with a tight smile, nodding to them both. She looked at Zavier for a moment longer, as he shook himself awake from his brief rest.

"If you'd like...you can get closer. I know it's just supposed to be observation, but...she won't mind a kind touch. Especially now." Nodding once at the sleepy Raevan, giving permission in a way only a mother could grant, Aki finally turned and slipped out of the office door.

She made her way silently to the kitchen, following Tsu's notes and pushing open the door gently. The lights were off, and no one present...and it was a simple matter to set the kettle to warm. Once it was on the heat, it took less than a space of a breath or tears to well in Aki's eyes. She felt so helpless, so inadequate...there was just nothing she could do for the fading girl! Back against the wall, the woman sank slowly to the floor and buried her face in her hands as she fought not to cry.

She'd been there, when the Aria d'Pasha was murdered. It was too much to ask to watch the girl die yet again.

Just as Aki'd predicted, Pasha squeezed the Frei's hand gently...drawing it in against her cheek. For a moment, things felt almost normal once again. "Hmm." Her touch was gentle, uncertain even in sleep, but sweet nonetheless.

Minutes passed before the kettle began to steam. Aki didn't stir, head low, as she sat with her back against the kitchen wall. As the shriek rose, she finally stretched to her feet....scrubbing the back of one hand against her tired eyes.

If there was anything that could help Meli, it was the care of a professional. Aki had to believe that, for Aki had to believe that she'd tried everything else.

Setting the enamled kettle on the tray, Aki took just a few minutes scrounging up cups and a variety of tea bags. Steam was still rising from the spout of the kettle as she nudged the door to the office quietly open.

"How is she?"

It warmed her somewhat to see Zave beside Melisande, and Aki listened to Tsu silently as he spoke. Fixing her own cup of tea, she set the tray near Zavier so he could take his time making his selection, and found a seat near the doctor.

At the talk of herbs, she slowed the steeping of her tea, and met his eyes. "She isn't herself now." Aki paused, falling silent, but her thoughts were racing. Hemlock? Potentially lethal. This was a permanent change they were discussing. Who was she to take Meli's life in her hands?

Pahsa stirred slightly, brushing a few petals from the edges of the bed. Thought she didn't raise her head, her blue eyes opened slowly...and she looked first at Zavier's hand in hers, and then at the azure Frei himself. She didn't smile, but she didn't pull away. Instead her eyes closed again slowly, crystal bright tears trembling between pale lashes.

Aki sighed. All she'd ever done was change Pasha's life, from the very moment they'd met. It wasn't her right, but it was her responsibility. "I think...anything is better than this." Dropping her volume until only Tsu could barely hear her, Aki tried to keep the shaking from her voice. "She's fading. And she knows it. Melisande will let it happen...but I won't. I'm willing to do whatever needs to be done."

Her hands were whiteknuckled, twisted together, but her voice was steady as she repeated herself quietly. "Anything is better than this."

Aki watched as the mixture was prepared, but didn't approach. She knew it wasn't easy, judging such dosages....and it wouldn't be any easier to give it to Meli. But she'd seen this look before, as Aria d'Pasha let herself bleed out slowly on the stage without so much as a whimper. Hands tightening into fists, Aki forced herself to trust Tsu to his work, and dropped her eyes to Meli.

Zavier was whispering something, but she was too far to make out what. Pasha, however, seemed to hear. Her eyes opened, tears clinging to pale lashes, and a sad smile twisted at the corner of her mouth. For several long moments, she gazed at him, from his silvery hair to curve and angle of his fair shoulders. The muse took it all in, silently, before she spoke.

"You silly thing." Her voice was almost inaudible as she repeated Elle's favorite comment, which was usually directed at Pasha herself. "Of course...you will. Always do." There was no sulking in her voice, only the tired observation of one burdened with unwanted wisdom.

Eyes wide, Aki pushed to her feet. Pasha was talking, that was a good sign! Before she could ask the azure Frei what Meli had said, Tsu returned, offering her the jar. Aki accepted it as though it were heavier than it truly was.

"Adverse...effects." It wasn't a question, she merely repeated his earlier words as she gazed at it. Looking again to Meli, she was sad to see the girl's fingers relax and uncurl...allowing Zave's hand to escape if he so wished.

Meeting the doctors eyes once again, Aki tilted her head to the hall. "Could I have a word?" Waiting until they were just a step outside the door, keeping her voice low, Aki turned the jar over and over in her hands as she tried to express what she wanted to say.

"First, I appreciate everything you've done. I know this isn't easy on anyone, and I appreciate your time and care." She hadn't been very warm to Tsu, she knew, but there were other things on her mind. Things such as... "Even if this....doesn't work....I know you tried your best. Thank you, Tsu."

What was really on her mind was harder to articulate. "If this doesn't work, though..." It was hard to voice doubt, and the tips of her ears raised as she dropped her chin. "If this doesn't work, is there any chance to save her? Is there such a thing as a...third chance?" If her soul had been captured once, would such a thing be possible twice? She hated the thought of putting the muse through such pain yet again, even if it was possible, but more than that she hated the thought of such a bright soul, fading so young.

It was starting to seem like a cruel and unshakable destiny.

Though she couldn't hear Aki, in the other room Pasha whispered the same...words barely escaping her lips. "Destiny..."

Pasha stirred, ribbon fluttering with gentle attempts to lift her from the bed as Zavier took her hand in both of his. He had a sweetness to him that warmed her, but still left her feeling so hollow. The sweet things, especially, were bound to fade. It was unpleasantness that seemed unshakable.

Finally, she lifted herself somewhat...ribbon sliding against the sheets as she 'sat up'. Meli's pale hair was in disarray, eyes circled in a smudged pink in a way that made her face look a bit too thin. Tiny white petals spiraled weightlessly as they fell, one settling on the back of Zave's hand.

"Disappear." She repeated that word quietly, and wavered as though being upright was too much. Closing her eyes for a moment, the spiral of her ribbon rippling oddly as it missed a beat, Pasha tried to find her bearings. To disappear...sounded divine, and a tired bliss smoothed the lines on her brow. "And forget." The two seemed to go hand in hand.

"If my words did glow, with the gold of sunshine..." Melisande's voice was quiet, as though she didn't truly wish for the song to escape her lips. The words were not hers, but that mattered little....lately, they never were. The light coming through the small window brightened, and a gentle backlight peered through Meli's curls.

"And my tunes were played, on the harp unstrung,
Would you hear my voice, come through the music~
Would you hold it near, as it were your own?"

All she wanted, all she needed, and she couldn't even find her own words to say it. The Frei was lost, silent and bewildered, and patches of gently smudged color remained where she had been resting upon the bed. Meeting Zavier's eyes, her own still holding a question, Pasha's lips parted, then closed again. It was his choice, his kind fantasy, and she would do no more to dissuade it.

The sun dimmed again, clouds drifting into place, and the chill settled back into the Frei's slender body. Her shoulders curved, hair falling to obscure her face, but her hand remained in Zave's.

In the hall, Aki listened silently to Tsu...respecting his honesty as he spoke. He was also upset, she hadn't really noticed until now. Suddenly, she felt like a selfish child, and forced herself to relax with a sigh. She was shoving a lot of pressure onto the poor doctor, and goodness knows how this was going to affect Zave.

"I will do my best, just as you have. I'm...sorry." It was a heartfelt apology, quiet and awkward, but it was all she could think to say. It was Pasha, in truth, that she wanted to apologize too, but there just wasn't a way to do it without admitting to the Frei that there was a problem. She'd put them both through so much, but Aki was determined to make it right.

Tucking the jar safely away, she ignored Tsu's bow and leaned forward to give him a hug, instead. It was such a delicate situation, and such an uncertain time...at least a hug was warm and lasting and real. She stepped back just as gracefully, not wishing to make him uncomfortable, but the appreciation was obvious in her face.

"Thank you. I'll keep in touch, and I really do appreciate you going so far for Melisande."

Stepping back inside the office, glad to see Pasha sitting up, Aki motioned the Frei closer. Pasha sighed almost inaudibly, knowing the brief moment of comfort, however unexpected, was over.