Amajina's back at the diplomatic suites eventually, and comes to seek out Occlus.

"Hello again. Did you have a nice time out?"

"Yeah."

"That Elaise is pretty, isn't she?"

"Of course she is."

"Does she know how you feel about her? Do you know how you feel about her, for that matter?"

A long pause.

"...She's my best friend. That's what matters."

"Of course, and it does."

"In my experience, self-knowledge is still important."

"Elieyha gets jealous easily, so."

"So perhaps the first conversation to have would be with her."

"Dunno there'd be a point."

"Do you think you would be happier, Amajina, if you could kiss Elaise when you felt like it?"

"...Yeah."

"But other people make stuff - complicated, sometimes."

"Mm. Then you should find a way to make it simple for them."

"...I'd rather never ask than ask and have Elieyha say no."

"Would you like a hug, dear?"

...Nod.

Hug.

Occlus has, over the years, learned to give very good hugs.

Amajina feels much better, so - yeah, she has. 

Pat pat.

"I went for a walk while you were gone," she says, "and happened to pass by your Elieyha. Would you like me to make a prediction of her response should you ask her, based on my impression of her and memories of myself when I was in a similar stage of my life?"

"You're not her, though."

"No. But I have wrestled angry ghosts in my head into submission and fallen in love with a beautiful girl that I would have traded the galaxy to protect."

Slow nod.

"I - wouldn't mind hearing it, then."

"She wants you to be happy, but she is afraid of losing you to a greater happiness. The idea that you could share yourself between happinesses and so gain a greater portion than either would offer alone has not and likely will not naturally occur to her. She will want reassurance that 'sharing' is not a gentle way of saying 'leaving'. You might soothe that somewhat by offering something that ties the two of you together and will remain firmly Elieyha's sole province, though I doubt she will become eager. That will happen only over time, as her love grows in reflection of yours."

"Sounds risky."

"And - painful, in the meantime."