elevelvetor | [ ic inbox ]

My mother is the kindest woman in the whole world. She's a hard worker, but she's always made time for me no matter how tired she is at the end of the day. She's the one who taught me to cook, to manage the household, and told me to look down on those that would look down on me. That is, to rise above them and put them in their place using my strengths.

[A good woman.]

She's the most important person in my life. I can't imagine what I would do if something happened to her, which is why I'm going to do all I can to ensure she can live comfortably, without worry, and protect her with the power I was given. Also, my mother wants to meet you, along with the other friends I've made. Would you like to visit for tea at some point?

I see, and yes, I'd love to sometime.

[ She'll let Goro finish up the rest of the arrangements, she's going to dig through a drawer nearby and grab a pen and pad. She's writing down notable things under "Mother," underlined once, and then on the next page there's "Aunt" and "Uncle", also underlined. ]

What of your aunt and uncle?

My aunt and uncle are both teachers at one of the other high schools in the city, though my aunt could certainly teach in university if she liked. They instilled in me a love and the importance of knowledge... an appreciation of education and the widening of one's mind. Particularly, my aunt is the one who allowed me to amass such a collection of books.

[Hmm. How to describe them...]

My uncle... is a very jolly man. I... never had a father in my life, so he's the closest thing to one for me. I admire him a lot; he's always told me stories about his childhood, how different things are now versus how they were then, what Japan was like when he was a boy and how he met my aunt. It's rather romantic! He used to be a translator too, he'd take books in different languages and rewrite them into Japanese, I find his multilingualism fascinating. He's a very charming person to speak to, or so I've heard from others.

Meanwhile, my aunt has only ever bothered to learn French for fun. English was somewhat of a necessity when coming to America... she has a great love and appreciation for western literature. She's a strict teacher who takes her passions seriously and lived in Paris for a time, so there's actually quite a few things that remain habit for her, like air kisses. Despite her age, she's actually quite like an older sister, always fussing and ensuring that I'm on the right track for life.

[He obviously adores them.]

We stayed with them while I was going to junior high and their doors remain open should we ever need to return. They're very much family people, which is a striking difference to the relatives I knew in Japan.

I see. [ Fun, bright bouquets for these three, she thinks. She carefully notes things down in small, neat cursive, humming softly as she does so.

Third page, and she pauses at the top of it, not sure what to title it, before she settles for "Discouragement." ] And for your sad bouquet, Akechi?

[The mood shifts, his arranging slowing to a stop as he bites the inside of his cheek.

... A bouquet he wouldn't send, just something to qualify the things he feels now, towards that person...]

A kind, caring person who I'm terrified of hurting. There's things I need to tell them... but I'm afraid it may change their perception of me, even if they don't care about our memories. [So a Retrospec user.] No matter how I try to assure myself, I can't help but think the worst. Of myself... and also of that person, who I care deeply for. It isn't fair to either of us.

[There's an ache in his chest and he idly plays with the tie of the bouquet, setting it aside to start anew.]

I'm sorry it isn't very much to go off of.

[ ...Someone Goro cares about immensely, someone he shares memories with... someone he's not willing to disclose a lot of information on.

So, essentially, someone she already knows, and he doesn't want her to know that she does. There aren't a lot that fit all those requirements, and Elizabeth watches him for a moment before she turns back to her pad, tapping her pen against it. ]

It's quite alright. I've gone off less. [ A gentle wave of her fingers at the arrangements she's left him to make, as an example. ] I like personalizing them as best I can though, when they're only a few in number and when they involve people I'm rather fond of... That's why I asked.

[ Fear, rejection, misery, apology... Fear of rejection, likely. Misery at their memories, apology for... Thinking the worst, she supposes. ]

Thank you for being so thoughtful towards my requests. If there's anything else I can offer to you, let me know and I'll do my best.

[He'll finish the arrangements in the meanwhile.]

I only have one request.

[ She tears the third page out too and taps them between her fingers, setting them down in front of her once they're perfectly straight. ]

Don't give that person such an upsetting bouquet. Whether or not people know what flowers mean, the feelings someone holds in their heart while making them—while thinking of what they symbolize—often comes through regardless. I'm certain they'd want something sweeter.

[... Mmm. It feels like she knows, then, who he's thinking of, and he hunches his shoulders in slightly.]

Of course, Miss Velveteen. I simply want to vent my feelings visually.

It won't make you feel any better, you know. [ Gently, softly, before she's smiling and setting her pen on the pad again. ] Would you like me to write down some flowers I believe would suit your true feelings for them then, so that you can arrange them and give those to them once you're feeling more genuine?

... I suppose so, if you think that would help.

[He trusts her, after all. She knows this better than he does too.]

Without a doubt. I'm certain Aki would enjoy them as well, provided he isn't allergic to pollen or anything of the sort.

[ Caaaaaaaasually dropping that out there now that it isn't weirdly tense— ]

[MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM thank god his hands weren't on anything.]

I-- I don't think he is. Why bring him up?

We were just speaking about him, weren't we?

N...o, of course not.

[he's not fooling anyone, his face is Hot.]

If we were texting, you'd be using lowercase right now.

[ ...this is how she's decided to call him out, yes ]

[fuck she knows his habits.]

... Yes, it's him. I've been having difficulties in regards to my memories lately.

I see. [ She'll write "Akira" and underline that on the fourth sheet, noting down flowers with quick ease before she shifts back to the third sheet, adding another one. ] What sort of difficulties?

[... How's he even start it. Focus on the flowers. This one, then that. Five of these, three of those.]

Have you ever felt intense feelings in your memories, Miss Liz? The sort of emotions that swallow you whole and leave you gasping.

...In a way, I suppose.

[ Victory is like that. He probably doesn't mean that, from the look on his face, from the content of their conversation so far... ]

Are these feelings the reason for your upsetness?

They are.

[Four of

no, five of these, three of those. When he speaks, it's a try at impassiveness, though there's an undeniable tremor, a hesitance in his movements, a tightness of his eyes.]

They weren't kind ones, as I'm sure you can discern. I've never felt such strong feelings of hatred and anger before... except once, maybe, that came close. And the worst part, Miss Velveteen, is that I know there's more to this memory.

[More anger, more hatred confusion fear-- more of that invincibility, the one that felt less like the elation he feels with Robin Hood and more heavy.]

[ She makes a soft noise of understanding, not sure how to... there's nothing to fix, not exactly, but she still feels like she wants to do something— so she gets another sheet, marks it with stars, and writes as she talks. ]

My sincerest apologies, Akechi. I can't begin to imagine what that's like. [ Adonis flos 5, artemisia absinthium 7, ipomea batatas 3... Two of these are hard to come by, but she's certain if she asked her caretaker, he could direct her to some... ] These things are becoming quite troublesome for some of us, aren't they? While I can't say I've ever felt such things from my other self, she... has had little patience with something that seemed to embody those negative feelings.

[ What she fought... ]

I shouldn't be surprised to hear that there's something that's all of that personified, and yet... I am, because it sounds so unbelievable.

[A small snort. Unbelievable, after all they've dealt with. Are dealing with.]

But yes, they... really are. [... Mmm.] It makes quite a few things difficult, really. I wish he was normal. I wish I was normal.

[But his other self isn't, so he isn't.]

As do I. What I wouldn't give for the halcyon days of ignorance once more... [ She trails off, sweeping her gaze over what they've done, and smiles slightly as she gathers a few bouquets and pushes them back to him. ]

Straighten those up. I'll be back in a few minutes—there are a few things I need to ask my caretaker about. They're flower-related... Additionally, we have a small greenhouse for the more popularly requested ones out the door there [ she motions with her fingers to a side-door ] if you'd like to surround yourself once you're finished. I find it's a very calming place to be.

Oh. Yes, thank you. I'll certainly take up your offer.

[He'll straighten them as she deals with her flower things, and... he really will take her offer to heart, parking himself near some daisies to play with the petals idly. Flowers really are calming. Maybe he'll see if he can work here for a few days, just to see what it's like... that'd be a nice change of pace.]

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