.:Aerith & Dainsleif Private Conversations:.

[hjadningavig]

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week 1, post-execution

[hjadningavig]

[ Well, that is something that...happened. Dainsleif hadn't anticipated for those events to happen as they did, but, did anyone?

He goes right on ahead towards the cafe, perhaps wandering aimlessly. It's at this time he spots Aerith.

What is she doing? ]

[gardenful]

[ She is...

Sitting at one of the booths, contemplating life over a cup of coffee or whatever the cafe has on offer right this moment. There's a frown settled on her lips as she stares into her cup, but movement catches her attention and she looks up. ]

Hey. You come here to think too?

[hjadningavig]

Yes, I did.

[ A lot has occurred; no small meaning in the events that unfolded, either.

To put it simply, really. ]

I wonder if either of us expected for any of those scenes to happen as they did.

...I wonder, what it means, for all of us.

[gardenful]

I sure didn't. I knew it wasn't going to be good, but all of that?

[ The beheading, coming back to life, the biting... the surprise vampirism.

She didn't see any of that coming. ]

I wonder what it means too. Are we doing this again next week? Is it gonna be just as bad?

[ Or will it be worse? ]

[hjadningavig]

[ Dainsleif has never been convinced more than ever that participation in this is just going to damn them completely, but it is hard to know what the next move is to make in order to prevent another reocurrence.

Regardless... ]

...I can't say.

Part of me hopes that what happened up until the end may be enough to stay someone's hands. However, desperation, among other things, can overtake people's senses with ease.

In the end, it will be only actions that convince anyone of anything.

[gardenful]

You're right. It's not like we can go up in front of everyone and just ask them to not do anything.

[ Especially those who are desperate, who want to go back home or who have someone that they need to go home to. ]

I feel like... we should come up with a plan or something. I don't like sitting around like this.

[hjadningavig]

[ Dainsleif knows how people are if anyone said such things; though that doesn't mean some wouldn't respond positively... ]

I can't quite think of a concrete plan on how to stop others from being more desperate as of yet.

However, a part of me does believe it may require being able to become a bit closer with some of the others, first. Something I lack skill in.

In lieu of that would be simply knowing more about our general situation.

[gardenful]

I’m not so good at investigating, buuut I can help you with getting closer to others, maybe.

[ A smile. An even exchange, of sorts, if Dainsleif is good at investigating. ]

We can start with me. Wanna be friends?

[ She’s mostly asking to see his reaction. ]

[hjadningavig]

[ ...he opens his mouth and then closes it. ]

Perhaps. Though, I will warn you that I haven't had friends in a long time.

And, I can't promise I will be someone who can properly support others emotionally in their time of need.

If you don't mind me being this way, then...

[ Dainsleif knows it's not presenting himself in the best manner, but he has never claimed to anyone to be a good person. There had to be a reason so many people found it easy to leave him behind, after all...though, maybe he shouldn't be thinking like that, either.

But other than trust, maybe he's afraid of failing others too. ]

[gardenful]

Supporting others emotionally is something you can learn together with others, y'know. It's not something you automatically know how to do.

[ And one of Aerith's best friends doesn't know how to either, and she doesn't mind at all. It makes him, well, him. ]

So, I don't mind.

[hjadningavig]

...

I suppose it would be more like "relearning".

[ Once upon a time, Dainsleif is certain the motions of doing so was easier. But, when all is said and done, and someone is suffering before his very eyes, he can't bridge the gap. It was the same with the Traveler's sibling...when he couldn't even reach out properly. ]

...But, if you don't mind, then we can be friends.

[gardenful]

Nope, I don't at all.

[ A little smile! She's a pretty patient person, and she knows for certain that patience is often well worth it. ]

Besides, relearning is easier than learning from scratch. I bet it'll be like riding a bike for you.

[hjadningavig]

[ She's too kind, it makes him shift a little, but all the same... ]

You have a lot of faith in me.

...Especially for someone who has never ridden a bike. I wonder if you have dealt with someone like this before.

[ Hah. Okay, maybe he shouldn't have made light of it. ]

Nevermind that. I suppose we'll just have to see.

week 2, post-exe

[hjadningavig]

[ Well, Dainsleif is going to be wandering to and fro, here or there, and all that following the climax of the execution.

But, he is sort of searching for a familiar face this time - and so he does this by his usual method:

Check the places he usually hangs. This includes the library, which he slips into. He peeks into the doorway, headfirst...what is Aerith up to? (One of these things he is going to greet like a normal person, smh) ]

help the meme

[gardenful]

[ Aerith is… looking through the fairytales! Mostly, she’s looking for some kind of momentary distraction, but success in that way is pretty hard to come by right about now.

She lets out a soft sigh, leaning back against one of the shelves as she gets lost in her thoughts again. ]

uwu

[hjadningavig]

[ Dainsleif makes his presence known, soon enough. He can't lie or hide in the shadows forever.

Especially if the person he has been looking for is here, and kind of...sulking, at that. ]

Trying to find something uplifting to read?

[gardenful]

[ She looks up, surprised, but it fades quickly enough when her eyes land on Dainsleif. With a half-shrug, she gestures to the books. ]

Got it in one. Thought I might find something to distract me, but it's a lot harder than I thought.

[hjadningavig]

...We can...hm.

[ Dainsleif trails off, considering tone, though he had intended to give it a bit more before voicing an opinion.

Petting zoo? No, case involved an animal. What about art? No, he's still terrible at it. Ah, well. ]

Let's take a walk and talk. That can work just as well, correct?

[ ...That will suit him just fine, perhaps. Even if he isn't the best talker, she cheered him up before, so that sounds doable. ]

[gardenful]

Take a walk, huh…

[ She tilts her head. It’s a bit surprising that he’s offering something, but she’s happy for it. As broody as he is, Dainsleif really is a nice guy underneath that. ]

Sure. I’ll even be nice and let you pick where we end up. How’s that?

[hjadningavig]

Very well.

[ Dainsleif looks thoughtful at this, and then nods, thinking of the exact place, beginning to lead them towards the Greenhouse, because at least it's been awhile since anything terrible has happened there. ]

...Want to take a guess as to the where?

[gardenful]

Hmmm...

[ She makes a show of thinking about it, halfhearted as it is, bringing a hand up to her chin. ]

The Greenhouse? Feels like the perfect place for some brooding.

[ Kidding! So she adds: ]

The roses there smell nice... and the memories there aren't so bad.

[hjadningavig]

[ Now, Dainsleif is going to give Aerith a little Look, hearing this. He knows she's just teasing him, arching a small brow at this, even for a small time, just to quip: ]

...Very funny.

[ But, seems he's taking it decently enough, as the road to the greenhouse grows ever shorter. ]

I tended to spend a lot of time first in the rose garden, but then decided to at times linger in the greenhouse. There's always something warm about that place, in a pleasant way.

And not many people end up going there all the time.

[gardenful]

[ She laughs softly to herself, walking just a bit faster than usual so she can keep in step with him. ]

Are you a fan of plants? Or the outdoors?

[ That's what it sounds like to her. A retreat into what's as close to nature as this tower allows. ]

[hjadningavig]

The outdoors.

[ Dainsleif supposes that may be why he was assigned the "subject" he was, as some kind of "teacher". ]

...Normally, I would not exactly call myself all too fond of many plants. Though, I have seen a multitude of them on my travels.

What about you? It says on your profile you like flowers. Is there any particular one that draws your attention, or is to your liking?

[gardenful]

[ For a guy drawn to the shadows, she’s surprised he enjoys the outdoors, but perhaps that’s precisely why he does. Though he keeps to himself, maybe the pull of greenery and sun is strong. ]

I like lilies the most. There’s something special about them.

[ Their look, their gentle smell, the lack of thorns. ]

There’s this church in the slums that’s been abandoned for a long time, and outside of my mom’s house, it’s the only place flowers grow. There’s some yellow and white lilies that grow there, taking advantage of the little bit of sunlight they’ve managed to get.