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[Collins smiled benignly from his seat across from her.]
Would you like me to put on a song?
Would you like me to put on a song?
No, that's okay.
I love the music but...I wouldn't want to get distracted.
[She's sure there's a reason why she's here.]
Maybe after? Unless you just wanted a chill time without me working? Or distracted by flowers?
I love the music but...I wouldn't want to get distracted.
[She's sure there's a reason why she's here.]
Maybe after? Unless you just wanted a chill time without me working? Or distracted by flowers?
"I'll do it the old fashioned way: melting a chunk of chocolate into milk."
She pulled away, but not without one last touch, motioning for him to join her in the kitchen area. Thankfully, it was all open space, giving both plenty of room.
"Well, if you're always hungry, we can talk about breakfast, but not have it." She shook her head. "I don't know about you, but I'll wake up if I have breakfast this early. Force of habit. And Zack'll be disappointed he didn't get to eat with us."
She pulled away, but not without one last touch, motioning for him to join her in the kitchen area. Thankfully, it was all open space, giving both plenty of room.
"Well, if you're always hungry, we can talk about breakfast, but not have it." She shook her head. "I don't know about you, but I'll wake up if I have breakfast this early. Force of habit. And Zack'll be disappointed he didn't get to eat with us."
[He chuckled silently with his eyes.]
Aye, something like that.
[Collins regarded her for a little bit in silence. His eyes searched deep.
Then he moved his chair closer and leaned forward over the table towards her.]
Are you doin' all right, petal?
Aye, something like that.
[Collins regarded her for a little bit in silence. His eyes searched deep.
Then he moved his chair closer and leaned forward over the table towards her.]
Are you doin' all right, petal?
[Ah. He would have realized something was wrong, wouldn't he? She stared back at him, looking surprised for a few moments, her lips parted.
He observed his people, his prey closely. And she was...not doing well. She was hiding it well, she thought, feeling as tired as she was from everything.
But even as he leaned forward, she offered a little smile, the expression not reaching her eyes.]
I'm okay. What makes you say something is wrong? I don't think I've been anything but normal.
He observed his people, his prey closely. And she was...not doing well. She was hiding it well, she thought, feeling as tired as she was from everything.
But even as he leaned forward, she offered a little smile, the expression not reaching her eyes.]
I'm okay. What makes you say something is wrong? I don't think I've been anything but normal.
[Like a wolf watching a doe fall ill and stumble upon the path-
That was Collins's cold calculating gaze. He saw the prey desperately hide the illness from sight, as all prey must do lest a predator see it, but still he saw it. She could only hide so much from him.
But, he could only glean so much from afar. Now he kept her close so that he could see more.
And she was too close to full him with that smile, those sad eyes.]
I didn't say that anything was wrong. [But you did.] But then there is, isn't there. That's what has you so distracted of late.
Yer so good at bein' cheerful, petal. Especially when someone is watchin'. But lately, when ya think no one sees, you go quiet, still. Tha music stops. [He tapped his fingers on the table, a steady beat- and then it slowed, stopped. Silence.] It ain't that yer never quiet or thoughtful, lass. It's that even in those moments tha light still shines bright in you and tha joy is never far gone. There's always just...somethin' there even in tha worst of times.
[Even when facing down a murderer or supporting a fallen friend. There was just something indescribable, something that was always there that made Aerith seem so...unconquerable. Bright. Full of life.
It pained him to see that light dwindled and in pain.]
You seem sad, melancholy. It's like tha light has faded...and tha joy is just a pale imitation of what it used ta be. Something's weighing you down.
Maybe I'm wrong. I would like ta be wrong. But I also don't want ta ignore it, ignore you when it matters.
[He held out his hand in a gesture to encourage her to talk to him.]
That was Collins's cold calculating gaze. He saw the prey desperately hide the illness from sight, as all prey must do lest a predator see it, but still he saw it. She could only hide so much from him.
But, he could only glean so much from afar. Now he kept her close so that he could see more.
And she was too close to full him with that smile, those sad eyes.]
I didn't say that anything was wrong. [But you did.] But then there is, isn't there. That's what has you so distracted of late.
Yer so good at bein' cheerful, petal. Especially when someone is watchin'. But lately, when ya think no one sees, you go quiet, still. Tha music stops. [He tapped his fingers on the table, a steady beat- and then it slowed, stopped. Silence.] It ain't that yer never quiet or thoughtful, lass. It's that even in those moments tha light still shines bright in you and tha joy is never far gone. There's always just...somethin' there even in tha worst of times.
[Even when facing down a murderer or supporting a fallen friend. There was just something indescribable, something that was always there that made Aerith seem so...unconquerable. Bright. Full of life.
It pained him to see that light dwindled and in pain.]
You seem sad, melancholy. It's like tha light has faded...and tha joy is just a pale imitation of what it used ta be. Something's weighing you down.
Maybe I'm wrong. I would like ta be wrong. But I also don't want ta ignore it, ignore you when it matters.
[He held out his hand in a gesture to encourage her to talk to him.]
[Ah. That was a slip up. There was something that could be used to dismiss him as simply a killer. But no. Collins was an intelligent man. Observant. Likely watching her eyes up close to see how tired they were; saw the dirt under her nails from working in the Greenhouse, not yet cleaned out from coming to see him in earnest.
She had forgotten, or missed how much he watched her on the Narrenschiff. There was no reason why he wouldn't keep an eye on her on the Barge for peace of mind.
Or to translate what he observed into her song. The one she did not know the beat to in her mind. But he did.
Her eyes closed the once, and she took a few moments to fuss over her necklace. Just making sure it laid just so against her throat.]
I still have joy. That's always there, especially with the flowers. There's so many now, and the winterizing has gone great.
[Her hand moved to rest once more against her staff, and she sighed.]
I'm a little tired lately. Maybe I need to get more sleep, or exercise more? Or maybe just ill.
Think there can be something like Barge flu?
[Usually there is a lilt in her voice an invitation to call it silly and nonsense. A normal tactic.
But it's a distraction this time. One she usually pulls off with more grace. Maybe she is coming down with something. But while he's invited her to share...well.
Aerith is a stubborn thing.]
She had forgotten, or missed how much he watched her on the Narrenschiff. There was no reason why he wouldn't keep an eye on her on the Barge for peace of mind.
Or to translate what he observed into her song. The one she did not know the beat to in her mind. But he did.
Her eyes closed the once, and she took a few moments to fuss over her necklace. Just making sure it laid just so against her throat.]
I still have joy. That's always there, especially with the flowers. There's so many now, and the winterizing has gone great.
[Her hand moved to rest once more against her staff, and she sighed.]
I'm a little tired lately. Maybe I need to get more sleep, or exercise more? Or maybe just ill.
Think there can be something like Barge flu?
[Usually there is a lilt in her voice an invitation to call it silly and nonsense. A normal tactic.
But it's a distraction this time. One she usually pulls off with more grace. Maybe she is coming down with something. But while he's invited her to share...well.
Aerith is a stubborn thing.]
About Cloud?
What happened? Are you both okay?
What happened? Are you both okay?
Oh no.
[Her breath catches in her throat. Not again. Not again.]
Thanks for letting me know. I'll- I'll let our friends know he needs help.
Thanks Justine.
[Her breath catches in her throat. Not again. Not again.]
Thanks for letting me know. I'll- I'll let our friends know he needs help.
Thanks Justine.
Ulla lugs her harp up to the greenhouse one day. She doesn't interrupt Aerith's work, but there will be a soundtrack to it until Aerith either comes over on her own and reaches what seems like a stopping point, so Ulla can softly call her over. She and Hjerte quietly sing a duet, a story about the first sildroher song of building, as she plucks the strings.
Aerirh doesn't often get to enjoy a performance, especially a live one. Thankfully, her workload was light that day, a section of the garden that needed checked for weeds and signs of mold and illness.
So Ulla would find Aerith joining her not too long after, offering a nod and a quiet, rapt fascination at the sight of the harp.
It was beautiful. Much like Hjerte's and Ulla's singing, it wasn't something that came by the slums at all.
Aerith found herself settling to sit in front of her friends, head tilted and her eyes half closed. It was nice to have quiet music like this, soothing to the head and the heart.
So Ulla would find Aerith joining her not too long after, offering a nod and a quiet, rapt fascination at the sight of the harp.
It was beautiful. Much like Hjerte's and Ulla's singing, it wasn't something that came by the slums at all.
Aerith found herself settling to sit in front of her friends, head tilted and her eyes half closed. It was nice to have quiet music like this, soothing to the head and the heart.
[Aerith will find a decorated box outside her door when she opens it in the morning. Once she unwraps it she will find a "dancing flower" toy inside. Also tucked into the box is a typed note with a few lines from a poem on it, unsigned.
"Hope" is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all
He hopes it brings at least a little joy to her despite the troubled times.]
"Hope" is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all
He hopes it brings at least a little joy to her despite the troubled times.]
Of course. You were...you didn't want to break his heart. I'm sorry- I'm so sorry you both had to go through that.
I'll talk to him. Thank you for letting me know.
I'll talk to him. Thank you for letting me know.
For you, always.
[She's just relieved he isn't confused.]
Where would you like to meet?
[She's just relieved he isn't confused.]
Where would you like to meet?
No, but I will be in a minute or too.
I'll meet you at the door?
I'll meet you at the door?
"That sounds perfect."
He followed her enthusiastically, excited by the prospect of the warm chocolatey drink. He found a spot that was hopefully out of the way although he wished he could help somehow.
"Hmm. A full stomach will sometimes put me to sleep. On the other hand, it may just give me too much energy to fall back to sleep. But I think breakfast should wait till a reasonable hour."
He followed her enthusiastically, excited by the prospect of the warm chocolatey drink. He found a spot that was hopefully out of the way although he wished he could help somehow.
"Hmm. A full stomach will sometimes put me to sleep. On the other hand, it may just give me too much energy to fall back to sleep. But I think breakfast should wait till a reasonable hour."
He did look relaxed, and even happy. That made her happy, and she smiled, looking up at him.
"Cloud, it's good to see you." Her voice was warm, and she made to touch him on the warm. "Come on Sunshine. Want some coffee or tea?"
"Cloud, it's good to see you." Her voice was warm, and she made to touch him on the warm. "Come on Sunshine. Want some coffee or tea?"
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