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[planetdialup]

 

 

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[agardener]

"Oh no. They haven't died yet but - " He shakes his head. "I have learned so much from them. Their names are Sol and Dys. Dys and I have been friends for many years, since he was still a juvenile. He used to sneak out of their enclosure and wander the land and I decided to try and keep him safe. He wanted to know more about the world, wanted to live amongst it instead of trying to make it bend to his will."

[planetdialup]

"But you're not with them." Her voice was soft, and she ended up pressing her lips against his cheek. And she murmured, "I like Dys. He liked the land too."

[agardener]

"Me, too. I like him very much," he agrees. "But there was an anger in him. An anger towards the other humans he lived with. Sol was his only friend, but - he kept them at a distance, too."

[planetdialup]

"Mmm." She made th rest her head on Sym's shoulder. "That's too bad. Just- all the anger. Did you ever find out why?"

[agardener]

"The same reason we were angry with them only...he had the added misery of feeling like he was going against his own people." He gently strokes her hair, toying with the ends. "He and I had that in common."

[planetdialup]

"Mm. That...I tried to ignore what my mothers peoples duties to the planet. I guess the three of us had it in common."

A beat and- "if you want to take out my braid, I don't mind. Just not the ribbon on the top please."

[agardener]

He smiles and happily obliges, taking his time as he does. "Ah, of course. Is there a significance to it?" he wonders. Not because he's avoiding the other topic but because he wants her to feel comfortable.

[planetdialup]

"I have my warden item in the ribbon, and it's something from my mom." She explained. "I don't want to lose it."

[agardener]

"I see. Well, I won't touch it."

He still combs his fingers through her hair, marveling at it, at the length. "Most humans keep theirs short. Does it serve a purpose? Do you braid it to attract a mate?"

He is mostly teasing.

[planetdialup]

"Thank you." She closed her eyes, smiling as she felt the gentle tug on her hair. It was nice. Soothing.

"A mate? No, no." She giggled quietly. "I just...kept it long. I've always grown it out."

[agardener]

He starts plaiting smaller braids from the ribbon and down her back.

"It suits you. You dress in such bright colors."

[planetdialup]

"I like bright colors." She smiled at Sym, though it faded a little. "I used to wear white and blue a lot. But, I made a promise, and that promise...well, it became a habit. I've tried dressing in different colors since coming to the Barge, sometimes."

[agardener]

"What promise?" he wonders, finishing the braids and wrapping his arms around her again.

[planetdialup]

"That I'd wear pink for Zack for our next date. But it never came. He was kidnapped and...that was that."

She made herself comfortable in his arms. "That would be...over five years ago."

[agardener]

"Ah, I see. And did you wear it here? When you saw him?" he wonders softly.

[planetdialup]

Aerith nodded slowly. "It was what I was wearing when I saw him again."

[agardener]

"Sounds special," he says and squeezes her gently.

[planetdialup]

"Mmhmm. It was special. We..." She exhaled, noisily. "Are you familiar with the concept of marriage?"

[agardener]

"I suppose. I know the word, but everyone seems to use it differently," he admits.

[planetdialup]

Aerith nodded. "What I wanted to make it Zack is to make it offical, that I love him, and want to be with him and only him. But...we didn't talk about that. Maybe it was only me."

She wilted a little.

[agardener]

"And maybe it wasn't. But you do not know the answer to that question and it isn't fair to punish yourself to believe the answer that hurts the most," he points out softly.

[planetdialup]

She nodded, and pressed her face against Sym.

"I've been doing that a lot since he was forced off the Barge. Sorry. I didn't mean to do that."

[agardener]

"Grief can do that, I've seen. It makes people become something that they are not. Something they never thought they would ever be," he says, stroking the newly braided hair. He presses a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"What keeps you here?"

[planetdialup]

She closed her eyes, and offered a shuddery little sigh.

"Some days, I'm not sure. But I want to help people. I want to help my inmate, Ciel. I want to help Cloud graduate. I love my people here. And my planet...my planet needs help. But am I doing what's right...? Sometimes...I don't know Sym."

[agardener]

"You're doing what's right," Sym says firmly. At least using the definition Trevor gave him, which may or may not be accurage.

"But if you are, then you are not helping anyone by making decisions based in guilt."