[ the initial comment gets a quiet laugh, elster's eyes lowering as she smiles. oh, she thinks she already understands some of what she must have seen in her, before. she goes along with ariane's direction without complaint, following her in. the number on the door doesn't escape her, either. the word pareidolia murmurs in the back of her mind, unbidden.

the room is lived in, but... charming as a result, even with the bloodied bandages in the bin. elster nods and murmurs thanks, but doesn't pull out the chair. she sits on another side of the bed, facing away from ariane. somehow, she can't bear to face her and say what comes next. ]

... We... received our updated mission parameters, while we were asleep that night. [ a deep breath, in a vain effort to steady herself. there's really no sense in dancing around it. ] They were leaving us to die out there.