living skyward

Chara isn't looking at the others when they're talking to Grune, but they still hear the sound of Walter's snort and Stella's sighing. They look down, taking a sudden, intent interest in the pattern on the picnic blanket.

Scarlet gingham. "Like something out of a picture book," they remark aloud. They grip the material in their fingertips and press two red squares together, forming a very, very, very rough heart shape.

"...How do you know?" they ask.