heartablaze | REDACTABLE

Of course. But a moment, and I shall have a cup for you.

[ Getting on that! ]

Do you prefer honey?

[She's just plopping down onto the chair and swinging her legs idly.] I don't think I've ever had honey in a tea before... that's sweet, right?

—You haven't?

[ He sounds genuinely surprised. ]

'Tis quite a common way to sweeten one's tea; I use it almost every time, myself. I can start you off with a small spoonful, if you would like to try.

Not that I can remember? I know what honey tastes like, though!

[so she doesn't seem to mind the offer]

Mmn, if you think it's tasty. I usually just drink mine all by itself.

[ Not that she can remember... Alphinaud tilts his head, curiously, but continues on. ]

Aye, it is. Here.

[ He doesn't put too much, just in case, but here you go: one cup of rose tea with honey! ]

Give it a try.

Mm --! Thanks a bunch.

[She carefully accepts the glass, bringing it to her lips

Huh. No reaction. It's like she has to think about it for a moment.]

Is this what a flower actually tastes like?

Hm... Well, something along those lines. It is prepared so that the taste is more pleasant than, say, simply trying the petals right off the flower.

[ This. Reaction to tea... ]

I guess that makes sense. It's be weird to just stick a whole flower in your mouth, right?

[maybe she is just uncultured. she tries another sip, and her expression is slightly more pleasant.]

Do you wanna go sit in the dining room?

[ He's glad she seems to like it, at least! ]

If you mind not the company. I would be happy to begin the day with some fine conversation.

[She'll easily lead him to a seat in the dining room, setting down her glass at a table before going back to get her bowl, her spoon in her mouth. She's about halfway back to the table when the spoon just

drops to the floor.

Did she even open her mouth at all? Not that Alphi could see. And yet, the spoon clangs to the floor as she keeps walking, starting a bit at the sound of metal against the floor and turning back to look at it.

...

Huh.]

Oh. Oops.

[She sounds chill about it at least.]

[ Alphinaud would swear this is a girl who isn't fully awake yet. Do you need more sleep, Hikaru? Go back to bed.

Either way, he doesn't comment, simply only watching her closely as he sips at his own tea. ]

[She'll place her bowl on the table, going back with a sigh to retrieve the spoon.]

Sorry, I should, um... I should probably get a new one--

[Except as she reaches for the silverware and attempts to pick it up, something... happens. Whether it's her hand or to the spoon itself is hard to tell, but there's a scrambling, glitch of a mess where her fingers touch the object, and it drops right back to the floor with a clang.

...

Okay, well. She's just gonna leave that there, then, and go fish out another spoon from wherever the extra dishes are kept?

This seems fine.]

[ Alphinaud pauses, cup at his mouth, and just stares.

Wait, what just...

When she comes back, Hikaru will see him about to pick the spoon up for himself, because what the f. ]

[Congrats, he can touch the spoon! It's just a spoon. Nothing weird here. She has another one? This one is not, in fact, falling to the floor. But she turns around, sees him picking a spoon off the floor like he's not sure why it's there, and her brow furrows.]

...Is something wrong, Alphinaud?

[ Yeah, he sure is holding this spoon like it might bite his fingers off as he examines it over. As Hikaru makes her way back in, it's only then that Alphinaud realizes how odd this may look. ]

—Oh. Oh, I— [ After one last glance, he simply sets it at the edge of the table. ] 'Tis nothing at all. I thought I may as well not leave it there, is all.

[ He'll sit back down, but he's got his eye on you, spoon. ]

Did you drop it?

[Asked curiously.]

I'm glad you're kind enough to not have other people pick up your stuff, Alphinaud. That's really nice of you.

[ ... ..... ........... ? ]

Of—of course.

[ a pause ]

Hikaru, are you feeling well?

[There's a flinch, a clouding of her eyes at whatever he just called her.]

Uh... yeah. Yeah, I feel okay. I think so. Just a little tired, I think. I always feel kind of weird when I don't eat right away.

[ He doesn't know how much he believes that, but: ]

Very well. Though, you should make certain to rest if you find yourself tired. There is naught wrong in taking a day to do so.

Maybe sometimes, but...

[She settles down and takes up her own teacup, her motions subdued.]

Somebody might die again tonight, Alphinaud. I'll make sure to take care of myself when I can, but... I want to focus on the people around me. I know everyone is really hurting.

[ "Might". He really wishes it were a maybe, but the pattern has yet to break. ]

Aye, 'tis true. You'll have to forgive me my concerns, then—you seem... Hm, I could be imagining things, in the end.

[ He's pretty sure he saw that... glitch, though. Right? ]

I seem... what?

[Her expression falls sheepishly.]

Do I look sick or something? I can go find my leader...

[ He pauses, briefly, to consider this. ]

It would not hurt to pay them a visit, I think. Get something in your stomach first though, alright? 'Twould not do to go the day without a small breakfast, at the very least.

Mm...

[She'll stare down at her bowl, before obediently taking up the spoon and starting to eat, letting her legs idly kick off the chair.

Who put memory bubbles under the table, we don't know.

She'll pause, just briefly, before she continues eating like nothing happened.]

[ —Oh, who did put those there.

But, ah... how intriguing. This always feels a bit like invading one's privacy, even if the person it's focused on seems completely unfazed by it. ]

... Well then. Something out there is determined to put all aspects of our lives on display for others, hm?

[ Though that one was kind of... insightful! ]

REDACTABLE - Alphinaud

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject