seiriald | Appointments Post

You think so? [What could have possibly made him sad like this? It did always bother her when people seemed upset. But he said that he was fine now that he came here, didn't he?]

Did I make you happier, Mithos?

Yes, you did. [that, at least, is unshakably true.] I was very lonely before. [An understatement. Such an understatement. Even around Martel he didn't feel remotely all right.]

Lonely? But why? [Nevertheless, she's happy that she at least managed to cheer him up a little; it felt wrong to see Mithos so sad.]

.....It doesn't matter right now. [Except it always matters, and because it matters, it hurts.]

[Koair stays quiet, still watching Mithos carefully. If he didn't want to talk she couldn't force him to, but...

Maybe a hug will help? She'll at least try, wrapping her small arms as best she could around his waist.]

[...he wasn't expecting that, but it's oddly comforting in its simplicity. A little awkwardly, he pats her head with one hand.]

[After a few more minutes Kaori looks up at him, a small smile on her face. Did that help enough? Even if it did she didn't intend to stop there in her attempts to cheer Mithos up.]

Do you wanna do something, Mithos? I wanna spend time with you!

[This smile is getting stronger. A hug can't fix everything, but the soothing knowledge that she's there and cares about what he feels is plenty right now. It's more than he's had in a while.]

I'd like to spend time with you, too. We can do anything you like, Kaori.

[Her own smile begins to grow more confident as his gathers strength, so she releases him and goes back to latching onto his hand with one of hers. She knows from experience that it can make things very hard - and possibly painful! - if she stayed latched to his waist while commuting.]

Can we go see the forest? Frey won't take me there yet.

Sure! [He'll begin leading her down the road - the forest isn't too far off. He'd rather go there than spend any time hanging around Frey's house, so this works out very well.]

[And Kaori won't even bother to tell Frey that she's going off somewhere, it's a bad habit she never gets rid of, unfortunately. She'll be humming along and following Mithos happily, trusting him a absolutely as she would when she's in her normal state.]

[He likes this. This normalcy. Not that it's anywhere close to normal for him, but...the sense of what "normal" is supposed to be. It helps balance out the world a little. They arrive at the edge of the woods; a copse of trees and underbrush sits between the road and the river. The rest of the forest stands on the opposite bank.]

Here we are.

Edited 2011-09-11 07:19 (UTC)

[Kaori's green eyes go wide as she looks at all the green; she didn't have as many chances to explore last time she was here. Her hand wraps more tightly around Mithos', a smile blooming on her face.]

Don't you think the trees are pretty, Mithos?

[He just stares down at her. The beauty of nature is...not exactly something he pays much attention to ever. Who cares how nice the world looks when at a closer examination it's so hideous?]

...Yes, I guess they are.

Mommy told me once that the trees are also my brothers and sisters! All the flowers, too! [Slowly she lets go, staring at them with an unmistakable love in her eyes.]

Don't you think that's good? As long as they're around, we can never be lonely, Mithos!

['Never be lonely'...as if it were that simple.]

They're your brothers and sisters?

Uh-huh! Because Mommy says that my grandma from a looooooong time ago was born from a flower! But that's supposed to be a secret. [She puts a finger to her lips, remembering all the times her mother told her to stay quiet about it and not tell a single Human.

But Mithos didn't feel like he was all-Human, in fact he was kinda like her that way!]

Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. [That's...what he's supposed to say here, right? Not that he has anyone to tell anyway.] You can trust me.

I know I can, Mithos! [She gives him another bright smile, absolutely open and showing how much she really does trust him even this young.]

Because we're friends, right? And I trust my friend!

...Right.

[She seems so carefree at this age. He wonders if he was ever like this; he can't remember. But for how much longer will those bright smiles last? She'll eventually see the world in all of its ugliness, get hurt, grow bitterness inside like ivy. It makes happiness seem so hollow, knowing what will come.]

Do you want to get closer to the river?

Edited 2011-09-16 06:25 (UTC)

Closer...? [She looks over toward the moving body of water, appearing to be as deep in thought as a child her age can be.]

Mommy says I can't swim!

Oh... [Then he remembers when they had fought in the jungle, for the draft, when it had flooded, and she had -- ...this is likely connected, isn't it?] I'm sorry, I shouldn't have- [shouldn't have what? failed to realize something about someone he's supposedly only met today?]

We can just stay by the trees.

[Kaori stares at him curiously, head tilting just slightly to the side. What was he going to say?]

I guess the trees are okay...? [But water looked like so much fun.]

You really liked them just a moment ago. [He isn't annoyed, just...why so contradictory?

Bah. He's taking a seat, and motioning for her to follow suit. He has the strong premonition that he shouldn't let her get too close to the water.]

But water looks like a lot of fun! [But she plops down beside him anyway, inspecting the grass nearby.]

And I still really like the trees, too!

[The most actiony action of action - September 1]

[The most actiony action of action - September 1]

[Even more actiony - September 1]

[the most actiony of all - September 1]

[this is the most actiony - September 1]

[the most actiony thing to ever be actioned - September 1]

[lies this is more actiony - September 1]

[but this is waaaay more actiony - September 1]

[nothing is more actiony than this - September 1]

[okay you win for being so darn cute - September 1]

[UGUU /)'w' - September 1]

[so moe I died - September 1]

[/WEEPS IN DESPAIR - September 1]

[oh your tears have revived me - September 1]

[oh I knew you would return! - September 1]

[I WILL NEVER LEAVE - September 1]

[HOLD ME BROTHA - September 1]

[/HOLDS - September 1]

[/SNUGGLES - September 1]

[...dawww - September 1]

[daw? - September 1]

[DAWWW - September 1]

[BWAH - September 1]

[/picks up - September 1]

[/picks up - September 1]