showmeyourwreath | IC CONTACT

Yes, of course. I'll take care of it.

[Flora gently pulls away, and raises a finger. There's a flash of shimmering golden light across Kido, and she's suddenly wearing her hoodie. They're both also dry, with the rain narrowly, but completely missing them.]

That takes care of the rain, but I can better deal with the cold if we get out of here.

[Kido blinks, looking down at herself in confusion for a moment. But it's perfect. It's her hoodie after all. She tugs the hood up to hide in it better. Blindfold complete.]

Yeah, sorry. We can go to your place now. You don't mind me staying over right? [She rubs the back of her neck.] Maybe for a couple of days...

Edited 2013-09-06 21:30 (UTC)

Of course not, Kido. You can stay as long as you need. [Flora rests her hand on her shoulder for a moment as she says it.

She's avoiding home, though, that tells her something.]

But, alright, let's get going. Winx Believix!

[Flora glows golden for a moment, and once the light bursts away, she has her wings, and gone is her hoodie for a different outfit.]

Winx Zoomix!

[Her wings glow a bright green as they change. Where they were shaped like large exotic leaves they now before becoming slimmer. She holds her hand out for Kido to take.]

Ready?

Whoa! You're pretty, Flora.

[At least her magic is a nice distraction. It's so bright and wonderful. She takes Flora's hand, a little unsure what happens next but she doesn't mind whatever it is. They're going somewhere nice.]

I'm ready.

[Her wings perk up at the compliment, much like a dog's ears do when it's happy.]

Thanks, Kido, so are you.

[She says it too easily for it to be anything but the truth. She takes Kido's hand. There's a purple glow around them that lasts all of a moment, and they're suddenly not at the Hold, but somewhere else.]

We're here.

[With another glow, Flora's wings disappear and she's back to wearing what she was, before. "Here" is what seems to be the cross between a kitchen, café, and living room. There are a few sets of tables for two in the space, as well as a large one, but there are also couches and love seats against the wall, as well as a display case filled with teapots, cups, and plates. On the ceiling hang lamps shaped like flowers that are barely open. The walls are painted in a pale pink, and everything is very, very clean and neat. The result is a space that is catered to serve more than a handful of people, while still being very cozy, warm, and welcoming.

Oh, right, and there are a few plants. Here and there.

Anyone that truly knows her might realise that she's actually exercised a modicum of self-control, however. There are vases on all the tables, what seems to be rows and rows of flower and plant boxes against a wall, a large planter growing something that is just shy of brushing the ceiling....

See? Not so bad.

Overall, such a calm, but lively place seems to bee at odds with the largely impoverished desolation of Exsilium. Almost like it's not even a part of it.]

The bedroom and bathroom's upstairs. We can head there now, but I thought you might like something to drink and get settled in, first.

[It feels like stepping into somewhere far, far away. Right now that's exactly what she wants and it comforts her. It's a nice place to be and she can imagine it existing outside of everything. Kido relaxes a little and nods.]

Uhm, something warm would be nice.

[She still hasn't explained it. That isn't very fair. But what even just happened...?

Kido sits on one of the couches and looks up at some of the plants.]

...It must be really nice to live in here. It's like a dream compared to outside.

Is some kind of tea alright? Or did you prefer cocoa?

[Flora will ask in good time, she first wants to make sure Kido is nice and settled, as comfortable as she can be before she broaches what is most definitely and uncomfortable topic.]

Yeah. It's really more of a space that I started for my work, but sometimes, I open it up to anyone that needs a little something extra to eat or a space to relax in. It might not be much, but I think it can help a lot to look at colourful and pretty things, especially when there isn't much of either, here.

Cocoa sounds nice.

[She can't help smiling a little.] I can tell you put a lot into it. Next time we're on a mission, we can look for more things to bring back for you.

Sit tight, then. I'll make you some.

[Flora heads to her kitchen space and puts the kettle on before getting two mugs, and a few things from a cupboard and the fridge.]

That's a wonderful idea. It'll be nice to have, and it'll help make this more everyone's space, too.

['Everyone'.

Kido hesitates, her smile dropping. Kido takes a breath and makes herself nod. This is only temporary. Somehow... it'll be okay, right?]

Ah, yeah. I bet everyone will like a place to relax like this.

Yeah. But, for now, it'll just be for you and me, okay?

[Flora stops the water before it starts to boil, pours it in the mugs with cocoa, cream, cinnamon and splashes of vanilla added to them. But she's not quite finished, yet. She thinks Kido needs and might like a little something extra. By the time she's done, both their cups look like this. She sets the cups on a tray, as well as a teapot of more cocoa, and a plate of cookies shaped like adorable animals, as well as music notes and records. Tray in hand, she heads back for the living space, and sets it down on the coffee table before taking a seat on the couch next to Kido.]

Thank you for waiting.

Th-This... is so cute... [For a moment she forgets her sadness and her eyes light up.] Flora, you really are just like those pretty fairies I used to read about! Something this cute belongs in a fairytale picnic...

[It's kind of embarrassing to say but she doesn't bother covering it. She almost doesn't want to drink the kitty, so she spends a moment admiring him. Oh, no, the kitty even has a paw up. He's waving at her with his little paw ahhh-

Kido's blushing by the time she manages to take a drink. She makes sure to drink a good gulp so the kitty won't look too funny, just disappearing instead. Thank you, cocoa kitty.]

Ah it tastes really good too. Way better than most hot cocoa. Geez, you're going to be a good girlfriend someday.

Thank you, Kido! [Flora can't help but beam a bit, hearing that, between the compliment and seeing her just a bit happier. Flora takes her fingerless gloves off, and sets them aside. There is a black (no really it's totally black rn) tattoo on the back of her left hand.]

We'll have one, one day. Either here, or some place nicer. [Kido is just so adorable, sometimes. She normally wouldn't be so transparent about it, so Flora resists pointing it out. This time. It's already more than enough having her excitedly loving her drink.

It won't last, once they get to talking properly, so she'll let her have this.

Flora helps herself to the other cup of cocoa and takes a dainty sip. She's glad to have unwittingly timed it during that last comment, because she might have just come out and said the truth. Not that it's any big secret, but she doesn't want to be talking about herself when Kido needs her attention, right now. She sets the cup down on the saucer.]

I'll have to tell you something about that, later, but I'm really glad you like it, Kido.

[Kido is a little surprised to see a tattoo but that just makes Flora cooler. Only cool people get tattoos. Or dangerous people. Well, it overlapped a lot.

She listens, still drinking her cocoa. Maybe Flora figured out something... Ah, that'd be great for everyone, wouldn't it? But-

Between her thought and Flora's gentle way of turning the conversation, Kido remembers why she was stuck in the rain crying in the first place.]

Ah... Yeah, I want to hear about it later, okay? [She manages a smile for her before looking back down at her cup. She hasn't really gotten good at being open with people yet. The only people she ever cried to were family. But, if anyone can be called family, Flora can now. She's been looking out for them for a long time.

Taking a breath so she won't cry, she tries to explain but ends up blurting out something first.]

...Whatever I say, don't hate Kano, please. Don't dislike him. Ah it's not... like you would I guess. You know it, right? He's a really good person. He can't stand it when he hurts someone... that's how he really is.

It takes a lot for me to dislike someone, and he's my friend too, so he's got a pretty big cushion there.

[Flora gently, very gently, places a hand over Kido's, so as to not disturb her cup, and smiles kindly, her tone much the same.]

Yeah, I know.

[Kido takes another drink and starts picking at the cookies now. It gives her something to focus on, keeps her from fidgeting and if she stays looking down, well, it's just looking at the food. She can't possibly cry while she eats either.]

So, uh... well, it was... me and Kano were going to go out on a date, right? I was really excited... He was teasing me like normal. Nothing was wrong. But when I went to meet him, ah...

[She turns a cookie over and over in her hand.] He started to say mean things. At first I thought he was carrying a joke too far. He does that, sometimes, you know. 'I'm not going on a date with Kido. I'm not going to hang out with Kido.' He said... you give what you get. That's why he was treating me badly, because I treat him badly. That I'm selfish for thinking I'm... that I matter enough to hurt someone's feelings. But that it's true. It's my fault.

I didn't get it, you know? I thought... it's fine if he's mad at me. It's his right to be. I'm not always great to him. If he was finally telling me how he felt, I wanted to fix it, that even if... I've never been able to do anything for him, if he felt like that, I could now, right? But... I'm a burden to him. I-I'm a burden, something replaceable, and- and- he wants me to disap-

[She chokes on the word. She can't say it. Maybe if she could breathe but his smile, the way he smiled when he told her to disappear-]

S-Sorry...

[Flora listens patiently, and with quiet but heartfelt concern. It's easy to do as Kido asks; she can't dislike or be angry at Kano, letting herself feel such things would just distract from giving her all of her attention.]

It's alright, sweetheart, you don't have anything to apologise for. It wasn't your fault at all. I don't know why he'd say those things to you--he really shouldn't have--but you're not a burden, to him or to anyone.

This? [She gestures to the hood of her hoodie.] This wouldn't mean what it does for me without you and what you've done for me, and do for other people. I wouldn't have a place here, if not for you. Kano, too. You try and work so hard, all the time, for the sake of others. The only burdensome thing about you is all the things you try to take on for the people you care about. But you're irreplaceable, Tsubomi.

And I believe he knows that, too.

[Hearing that makes her crying quiet down somewhat. Flora is right; she knows she is. Kido has done her best and she's made a real difference in people's lives here. They're happier because she was able to help them. It isn't thinking too much of herself to believe that.

But... Kano asked what she had done for him. She knows she can't help everyone. But if her best friend, the person she fell in love with, thought she'd done nothing for him...]

...When I was little, I cried a lot. My 'eyes' never listened to me. I vanished all the time. And, uhm... I was scared. Seto couldn't find me because my thoughts were too overwhelming. No one else wanted to find me.

But Kano always did. One day... I was so scared, because it took him longer than normal to find me and my eyes had been bad lately. So it felt like I was disappearing for good. So... [Her face turns a deeper shade of red at the memory.] I asked him to save me. He promised me he would never let me disappear, because a world without me would be too sad. No matter what's happened, he always stuck by it.

So, that's why... he must be very angry with me if he's... if he's breaking that promise. I thought he never would. I thought... it was the one thing he couldn't do... He's a good person, Flora, so I don't-

[Kido stops and buries her face into her knees. Flora can't answer her. No one can except him. But he wouldn't answer her now.]

Edited 2013-09-23 01:54 (UTC)

[Flora sets her cup down, so that she can wrap her arms around Kido's form and rest her head against on top hers.]

It's not your fault. [It bears repeating, and she'll tell her as often as she needs to hear it.] People have been acting really strangely, lately. They've been saying and doing things that they really wouldn't normally. I don't know why, and maybe Kano's been affected, too. It's worrying. But even if he wasn't, somehow...what makes any relationship hard sometimes is that we must take so much on faith. We never get to really see all of what's really inside someone. [She smiles sadly.] There's no magic spell to making it work.

But when we were on that last mission together, I needed help with the slides. I needed people to think of fun and happy times so I could draw on that energy. Kano helped me. I couldn't see the memories, but I knew they were about you and the other Dan, and they were so warm and precious and light.

Look at me. [She'll for her to, and then gently take her face in her hands.] Words can hurt a lot, and I know that he hurt you and that it hurt so much to hear. But I don't think anyone who could feel like that about people could mean what he said. One way or another, we'll get this fixed, okay? Maybe not just this moment, but this will get better.

[Kido blinks rapidly, trying to get rid of the tears, but they keep falling anyway; now, though, from a mixture of hurt and something much warmer.]

I know... I know he'd never mean it. [Flora says it isn't her fault but this is the part that hurts the most. If something is affecting him, it isn't his fault. If she hurt him or pushed him into it, it isn't his fault either. This feeling that won't let go of those words is at fault.

And that feeling comes from her. She has to bury it or push it away or do anything she can to be ready to fix things when she sees him again.]

I just... I, uhm... [She glances down, fidgeting with her jeans.] ...I love him and I don't want him to hate me ever. So... we have to fix this. Whatever's wrong, we have to fix it.

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HOPE THIS IS OK

p.s. YES OF COURSE IT IS

X3

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I HOPE THIS TAG IS OKAY WITH TEH LOOKING PART

IT'S PERFECTLY FINE AHHH FLORAAAAAAAA