[imeeji - inbox]

[artisticliberty]

"Hello, this is Fox. Please leave a message."

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[artisticliberty]

[it's not very long before he replies with:]

Fox: I am ready anytime.

[dragonheartedgirl]

Hiryuu: Okay.

[ within the space of a few minutes, there's a knock at the door.

If/when he opens it, Hiryuu is on the other side--along with a very large bouquet of flowers: bluebells, purple bittersweets, white poppies, blue and purple hyacinths, and several large, full irises, all bound by a length of green ivy with white sprigs extending up into the bouquet.

if you're curious ]

[artisticliberty]

[fox is immediately surprised and preoccupied by the flowers]

Did you bring these for me?

/2

[dragonheartedgirl]

Yes!

[ although suddenly it's occurring to her that he might have the wrong impression

from her suddenly showing up at his door

with a bunch of flowers. ]

Don't--it's not--I'm aware that you're dating both Joker and Prim and I'm not trying to make any sort of advance--!

/3 i lied

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ he probably didn't think that in the first place. but if he did--well, either way, she is actually... more... embarrassed now. maybe she should... not... give one of these to North as well.....

AUGH just. focus; one thing at a time. ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

... It's traditional, to give flowers... as a gift when someone has gone through something tragic, as acknowledgement of their suffering. I wanted to apologize properly... for what you went through because of me.

[artisticliberty]

[there's a lot to unpack here]

I did not think you were propositioning me... surely you would have picked more appropriate flowers if that were the case. These are all far too melancholic to suit such a thing.

[he carefully takes the bouquet]

However, they are lovely. I shall place them in my atelier so I can admire them while I work.

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ She relaxes a little. ]

I wasn't sure--I'd hoped, but I couldn't be certain you'd know what they meant.

[artisticliberty]

I have studied flower language, although I am more familiar with the Japanese take on it. Please, come in.

[he ushers her inside and goes to find a vase to deposit the flowers in, which he'll place on the low table that has been turned into a kotatsu for the changing seasons. toasty feets.]

[dragonheartedgirl]

I didn't realize there were different--interpretations?--To the language of flowers.

[ following him inside. ]

... I see you're all prepared for winter already.

[artisticliberty]

Most of my knowledge on the subject comes from art; artists have historically used flowers as symbols for a number of things.

Would you like some tea? We have fruit, as well. I find these are best enjoyed at a kotatsu during cold weather.

[dragonheartedgirl]

You've all pulled the kotatsu out again?

[ She remembers that from last winter.... A faint, nostalgic smile turns her lips up. ]

Are you sure it's not too much trouble for you?

[artisticliberty]

Not at all. You have come here to express your feelings to me, and it would be rude of me to simply dismiss you before you have had a chance to properly tell me what is on your mind.

[heads into the kitchen and comes back shortly with a plate of orange slices and two steaming mugs of sencha]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ She'll go ahead and take her seat then.

Please don't mind if she looks a little lost in thought. She has... many things on her mind. Or perhaps more accurately in her heart. ]

[artisticliberty]

[waits]











[eats an orange slice]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ FOX YOU DON'T HAVE TO LET HER STARE INTO SPACE FOR FOREVER

she starts a little when she realizes he's returned without her noticing--and her cheeks turn pink. ]

S-Sorry!

[artisticliberty]

It's alright. Take your time.

[sips his tea, patiently]

[dragonheartedgirl]

... I just.... had a moment. ... I think the last time I was sitting here drinking tea at the kotatsu it was with Ardashir and Shuten. Not too long after the first time we were put through that horrible house....

[ things have.... really really changed since then.... ]

[artisticliberty]

[oh]

... you've been here for quite a long time, haven't you...

[dragonheartedgirl]

Since the beginning.

[artisticliberty]

... I miss them, too. But I imagine you must miss them just as much, if not more.

[dragonheartedgirl]

... I don't know that it would be right to compare my pain to yours. I know you also loved Ardashir a great deal... and maybe you knew them in ways I never did, being their unit mate.

But I... do miss them, deeply, every day.

[ a deep, slow breath in--and then a very heavy exhale. ]

... It must have been difficult for you... to come back to this place everyday, where you shared so much time with them. I hope it's become easier.

[artisticliberty]

It is difficult, sometimes. I have a number of letters addressed to Ardashir that I will never send, sitting at the bottom of my drawers. I write them when I linger too long on such things.

[takes a sip of his tea]

But the longer I've been here, the more I've come to realize... this is one of the only places I've come to know as "home". Despite everything, there is a space I can call my own, that cannot be threatened or taken away from me... that is something I do not take for granted.

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ except when annoying avantes come to visit,,, ]

[ She turns her own cup thoughtfully between her own. She... had never thought about writing any of them letters. Not that she could feasibly send them, but... maybe... it would help. ]

Security is a hard thing to come by here--and certainly nothing to take for granted, it's true. I'm glad you've managed to find that.

[artisticliberty]

I could tell you about the home I grew up in, but... perhaps now is not the time. I will just say it pales in comparison to this.

Except for Leblanc. I miss the smell of curry and coffee mingling together in that homely little cafe...