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Elise sighed heavily as she slapped at a datapad to shut off her early morning alarm, Syzygy's sing-song voice telling her to wake up. She rolled over in her trundle bed, snuggling into pillows that still lightly smelled of Crow's obnoxious cheap shampoo. He hadn't been around since Zavala sent him on a recon mission. A way to keep the new Light out of the Tower but still able to help. She didn't know where he had gone and wasn't likely to learn. All she could do was wait.
She took a few minutes to laze about, letting her mind and body wake up. Elise's bright orange eyes stared up at the metal interior of her ship, following the lines where panels met, and then closed.
"Elise, you have to get up," Syzygy scolded from the kitchenette.
"Bed's comfy," she groaned immaturely, turning over onto her side and snuggling back into her quilt.
"You have a check-in message from Crow and Glint," they told her, glancing at their Guardian as they worked on making her some coffee.
Elise's eyes opened again and she huffed, her Ghost's words resparking her longing. Though it hadn't been that long, perhaps a couple weeks. It was a strange feeling, and one that she was still getting used to.
She narrowed her eyes at her Ghost as she sat up. "Don't look so smug."
Syzygy stifled a laugh. "I would never," they said as they finished setting up a cup of black coffee on the counter for her to adjust to her liking.
Elise shifted off of the mattress and tucked the trundle back under the dresser unit it was attached to. She pushed her hair out of her face and quickly got dressed, forgoing the usual grey under armor and wrapping around herself deep blue robes that glittered like starlight. The rest of her accessories were required and she brushed the tangles from her dark hair, fixing her part and deciding against any ornamentation.
The small fridge didn't contain much, but milk for her coffee was a necessity. She pulled out the little glass bottle and hummed gently as she took her mug and datapad to the pilot's chair. Her dinged up ship sat in a hangar near Holliday's workshop, facing the City. Elise loved how the morning sun painted the Traveler in lovely shades of pink. It was still early enough to be dark.
Syzygy settled into the little bed on the dashboard that was made for them, settling into the cushion as they stared out the windshield.
"So, when you rest, it's fine. But when I do it, it's, 'Let's go, Elise, you're going to piss off the Vanguard.' Which has never happened, by the way," she said playfully, blowing on her coffee before sipping it loudly.
"But it might," they countered. "Ikora is scary."
Elise smirked and nodded. "Yeah, she really is. But it's kinda cool, right?"
Syzygy's shell quivered. Ikora was likely the strongest Guardian in the Vanguard. Fear and respect went hand in hand. "Cool, yes. But still scary."
Elise chuckled at them, shaking her head slightly as she turned on her datapad.
The message left for her by Crow was audio, a brief, "Headed back to the City with Holliday now. I hope to get to see you before you leave for Europa. Stay safe." It then cut out but not before Glint offered his own, "Stay safe!" from the background. She smiled at the affection held within their words and the fondness she felt for them.
Nothing yet had claimed her attention. Elise had finally given herself a week to stay in the City and recoup while Crow was away. A couple evenings were spent in a Hunter's den. Though a Warlock, they knew who she was and allowed her to join in with them in their cheer, as they celebrated their victory in the Guardian Games. It filled her with hope. That the Hunters were back, and in such numbers, was a good sign for the Vanguard. Perhaps the fear of Cayde's mantle was waning, or they assumed no one would push the position after all this time. Whatever the case, there was joy and camaraderie, strong drinks and dancing in an air of unabashed optimism. The celebration had gone the entire weekend and was only now winding back down. The sweeper bots would be cleaning up confetti for weeks.
Elise drank some more of her coffee as she stared at the blank draft she'd created. She considered for several minutes before returning with her own, "I hope to see you soon. I'd like to have another dance before I leave." She smiled to herself as she added, "Safe travels, and say hi to Amanda for me."
She hit send and set down the datapad, curling up into her pilot's chair and staring out the front with her mug warming her hands.
Several minutes went by before she frowned and glanced at her Ghost. Syzygy lazed in their little bed, iris shut.
"Syzy," she asked carefully, staring out at the Traveler. "What time is it?"
"Almost 0700 City Standard Time," they said, eye still closed.
Elise frowned and reached over, plucking the little drone from their spot with one hand and turning them to face the window. "I think there's a problem."
Syzygy took to hovering, shaking out their shell, and they stared. "I… So it seems."
Elise pressed herself into the back of her seat as she made herself small, as though she could hide from the sudden return of duty and responsibility. She drank from her mug and stared at the dark sky above her, the moon still high behind the Traveler, and the sun nowhere to be seen.
She sighed and closed her eyes, turning her face up towards the ceiling. "The peace was nice while it lasted."