[Aerith thinks. She has to be careful about how she says it. Somnus is probably a prideful person and she doesn't want to damage that outright. She also doesn't want to offend if she can help it.]
I was thinking that it can be a reminder to you that even in moments when you feel like you're alone, you aren't. Because you have me here in one way or another. [The plant, a reminder of her presence in Camelot, it seems.] I don't really think you're the type to rely on someone, but if there comes a time when you need help, I promise that you can come to me and I will try to help if you want it. Or I will simply listen. Whatever you might need from me, I'll try to give.
[She doesn't say it, but there's caveats to that. Aerith can't fix everything. And she can't give everything. At least, not without some regret attached, but she doubts very much he'd ever ask anything of her like that.]
So a promise that even if you feel you have nothing, you have me. And maybe... one day I'll be able to come to you if I feel like I have nothing, too.
[ He regards her, expression mild, and then he takes both pot and seeds from her hands, so that she needn't carry them any longer. Perhaps this should be a moment of self-reflection for him, that someone he hardly knows is thinking that he seems lonely or alone, that he gives off an impression that he may feel as if he has nothing...
Regardless of his thoughts, he can acknowledge that her offer is, once again, testament to her benevolent kindness. At the very least, he manages to look a touch more acknowledging and grateful as he nods, giving a noncommittal, ] Hm.
[ ...But it's unnecessary. Saying that it is unnecessary would only invite further pushback. Furthermore, she gives too much to someone like him.
...Ah.
Setting the plant down upon the only countertop in the suite, he then turns to her again. His question is delayed by a solid beat. ] Do you feel as if you have nothing?
[When he takes from her the plant and seeds, it leaves her with nothing to hold and normally she doesn't mind. His question, however, inspires her to a slight fidgeting. That's a weighted question if ever there was one.
Her hands lift and she finds herself adjusting the bolero jacket she's donning and then the way her simple dress sits beneath it.]
No. That's not what I was implying.
[She has Tifa in Camelot, after all. Aerith isn't alone. She has come here with very little aside from memories. In a way, the foreshadowing she has been able to express (even if not overtly) remind her of what she has to look forward to. She knows that she must make the most of every moment. She owes that to herself.]
I just thought it might be nice if we could be present for each other. If one of us needed it, anyway.
[ Their lives here are temporary at best-- and he has no intention to stay, so long as his world and its future remains at stake. For that he would sacrifice anything, both of his life and the life of all the kings. Preserving the future remains paramount, the Light cried for most of all, yet she speaks of being present.
He appears to consider her words, his lips pressing together before they part to speak. ]
You wish for an arrangement of... [ He seems to search for a word. ] protection.
Is that what you think of me? I know I might look a little soft, but you'd be surprised at what I can handle. There's no reason for you to worry about me.
[Aerith relaxes a bit and then she continues.]
'Arrangement' makes it sound so professional. I was thinking more that if you felt like you couldn't go to anyone else, you could always come to me. [But it sounds more like that might just complicate things for him.]
[ ....Under what circumstance would he feel as if he couldn't go to anyone else?
Many circumstances, truthfully. He's never been forthwith of his concerns. A king marches onward, after all, accepting the consequences and never looking back. To do no less would be to spit on everything that has come before. While there is truth in that seeking a stranger might be easier to share concerns with, they are outsiders to his affairs. Any weight he has upon him is his to bear.
However, there is no harm in simply accepting the offer. She has been gracious. Therefore, he will be in turn, even if he has no intention of using it for his own concerns.
[She hears him plainly, but Aerith suspects that... he is placating her. That might be better than nothing when it comes to him, after all. She has no way of knowing what's going on in his head at all. She can only guess. In his case, perhaps... Well. She had best not push him overmuch. Or at all.
This is not like Midgar. She can't think of it as if it is.]
Sounds good to me!
[And maybe one day, he might not be so cold. He has time. They both do. Aerith has nothing but patience for him.]
[A counter wouldn't be terrible, but... There's a difference between no sunlight and direct sunlight. It's possible to have a balance between the two.]
Well, a little natural light is good for it, so you could pick a window. You just shouldn't pick one that faces the sun as it rises or sets. I'd worry that leaving it on the counter wouldn't give it enough natural light.
[Thumbing her chin before she continues, she perks up a bit.] Magic might work, too, though that defeats the purpose of cultivating it. It's not exactly the same. I bet it'd be possible to take some of the magic here or maybe a magical item and provide it the perfect balance of light without it being direct.
[ He does not have light magic, and he also does not have a green thumb to help with raising plants.
Nevertheless, it seems he takes her feedback: Somnus, with one hand grasping the planter, then moves over to the window to use his other hand to raise the blinds, allowing light into the apartment. He sets the pot upon the sill.
[She nods, pleased with his conclusion. He couldn't be more right.]
You've got it.
[Then after a moment's thought, she gestures between the two of them.] People are like that, too. Just about everything needs some kind of balance. It's said that too much of something is usually a bad thing, so maybe moderation in all things.
[Although whether she thinks that of optimism remains to be seen.]
[ He stares down at her, long and hard. Stiffly: ]
Pictures.
[ From his expression, perhaps one might think that he doesn't know what they are-- but no, he does. He's been a spirit trapped until the modern age, and the Chosen had traveled with the Gunner who frequently captures their moments on camera.
However. He doesn't know how to properly use his communication device. ]
[She taps at her chin thoughtfully. Which one is it—does he not know what one is, or does he not know how they work? It could easily be both, admittedly. Somnus is obviously from a world that's a little more... archaic in nature. (Not so unlike Camelot.)]
Hm. Want me to show you?
[Her eyebrows raise and she flashes him a grand smile.]
Aerith shakes her head, amused by his response and she sidles right on up to him as she's taking out her phone to show him. She's had plenty of time to play with it in her quieter moments. In fact, thanks to Tifa, she's spent a lot of that time looking at baby animals...
She brings up her camera and sets it to selfie mode, because of course she does and she adjusts so they both fit in the frame.]
See? Just like this.
[Aerith sneaks a peek up to him.] What do I have to bribe you with to get you to smile?
[ He observes her motions attentively, blinking as she moves to his side and the camera reverses to themselves.
It's her bright expression and his dour one, coupled on the camera. They couldn't be a more ill-fitting match for a portrait. Smiling would correct this, but he won't be doing anything of the sort.
[She offers him a subtle frown. But after a moment's consideration, she decides she shouldn't be greedy. Maybe one day he'll actually look happy about something instead of something close to miserable.]
Guess I can't be picky! Any picture is a good one!
[So she's back to smiles and she quickly snaps a picture of the two of them together, Somnus' frown and everything. And then she rapidly flips through filters. Oh, what's this? Flower crowns?
[She can't decide whether she likes the flower crowns more with sparkles, or hearts and puppy dog ears.
So... she saves one of each, naturally. And one with no filters, because... Well. Not long after, she sets it as her phone's background. It's a nice little reminder of the memory they've made today.]
There we go!
[Aerith points out the actual messaging device and she shows him how to attach pictures.]
Then you send and ta-daaaa, instant picture. Pretty neat, right?
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no subject
I was thinking that it can be a reminder to you that even in moments when you feel like you're alone, you aren't. Because you have me here in one way or another. [The plant, a reminder of her presence in Camelot, it seems.] I don't really think you're the type to rely on someone, but if there comes a time when you need help, I promise that you can come to me and I will try to help if you want it. Or I will simply listen. Whatever you might need from me, I'll try to give.
[She doesn't say it, but there's caveats to that. Aerith can't fix everything. And she can't give everything. At least, not without some regret attached, but she doubts very much he'd ever ask anything of her like that.]
So a promise that even if you feel you have nothing, you have me. And maybe... one day I'll be able to come to you if I feel like I have nothing, too.
no subject
Regardless of his thoughts, he can acknowledge that her offer is, once again, testament to her benevolent kindness. At the very least, he manages to look a touch more acknowledging and grateful as he nods, giving a noncommittal, ] Hm.
[ ...But it's unnecessary. Saying that it is unnecessary would only invite further pushback. Furthermore, she gives too much to someone like him.
...Ah.
Setting the plant down upon the only countertop in the suite, he then turns to her again. His question is delayed by a solid beat. ] Do you feel as if you have nothing?
no subject
Her hands lift and she finds herself adjusting the bolero jacket she's donning and then the way her simple dress sits beneath it.]
No. That's not what I was implying.
[She has Tifa in Camelot, after all. Aerith isn't alone. She has come here with very little aside from memories. In a way, the foreshadowing she has been able to express (even if not overtly) remind her of what she has to look forward to. She knows that she must make the most of every moment. She owes that to herself.]
I just thought it might be nice if we could be present for each other. If one of us needed it, anyway.
no subject
He appears to consider her words, his lips pressing together before they part to speak. ]
You wish for an arrangement of... [ He seems to search for a word. ] protection.
no subject
Is that what you think of me? I know I might look a little soft, but you'd be surprised at what I can handle. There's no reason for you to worry about me.
[Aerith relaxes a bit and then she continues.]
'Arrangement' makes it sound so professional. I was thinking more that if you felt like you couldn't go to anyone else, you could always come to me. [But it sounds more like that might just complicate things for him.]
no subject
Many circumstances, truthfully. He's never been forthwith of his concerns. A king marches onward, after all, accepting the consequences and never looking back. To do no less would be to spit on everything that has come before. While there is truth in that seeking a stranger might be easier to share concerns with, they are outsiders to his affairs. Any weight he has upon him is his to bear.
However, there is no harm in simply accepting the offer. She has been gracious. Therefore, he will be in turn, even if he has no intention of using it for his own concerns.
So he nods at her, as if satisfied, adding: ]
Yourself, then, as well.
[ He'll offer his ear to her. ]
no subject
This is not like Midgar. She can't think of it as if it is.]
Sounds good to me!
[And maybe one day, he might not be so cold. He has time. They both do. Aerith has nothing but patience for him.]
Where were you thinking of putting your flowers?
no subject
Here.
[ Where they are on the counter.
(He might be more helpless than she thought after all.) ]
no subject
Aerith looks between the counter in question where he's left them and then back to him with the glimpse of a smile in her mouth.]
Are you afraid to put it in the window or something? Or do you think you'll forget about it if you don't have it somewhere that you can see it?
no subject
[ She had mentioned not putting it in direct sunlight, and so he had moved it away from the window. ]
no subject
Well, a little natural light is good for it, so you could pick a window. You just shouldn't pick one that faces the sun as it rises or sets. I'd worry that leaving it on the counter wouldn't give it enough natural light.
[Thumbing her chin before she continues, she perks up a bit.] Magic might work, too, though that defeats the purpose of cultivating it. It's not exactly the same. I bet it'd be possible to take some of the magic here or maybe a magical item and provide it the perfect balance of light without it being direct.
no subject
Nevertheless, it seems he takes her feedback: Somnus, with one hand grasping the planter, then moves over to the window to use his other hand to raise the blinds, allowing light into the apartment. He sets the pot upon the sill.
From her small lesson, he concludes: ]
Balance is required to thrive.
no subject
You've got it.
[Then after a moment's thought, she gestures between the two of them.] People are like that, too. Just about everything needs some kind of balance. It's said that too much of something is usually a bad thing, so maybe moderation in all things.
[Although whether she thinks that of optimism remains to be seen.]
no subject
For that, all else he can say is this: ]
I shall cultivate this plant.
no subject
[Something she looks extremely pleased about.]
no subject
Pictures.
[ From his expression, perhaps one might think that he doesn't know what they are-- but no, he does. He's been a spirit trapped until the modern age, and the Chosen had traveled with the Gunner who frequently captures their moments on camera.
However. He doesn't know how to properly use his communication device. ]
no subject
Hm. Want me to show you?
[Her eyebrows raise and she flashes him a grand smile.]
no subject
[ Is his answer, but he won't be opposed if she brought out her phone. ]
no subject
Aerith shakes her head, amused by his response and she sidles right on up to him as she's taking out her phone to show him. She's had plenty of time to play with it in her quieter moments. In fact, thanks to Tifa, she's spent a lot of that time looking at baby animals...
She brings up her camera and sets it to selfie mode, because of course she does and she adjusts so they both fit in the frame.]
See? Just like this.
[Aerith sneaks a peek up to him.] What do I have to bribe you with to get you to smile?
no subject
It's her bright expression and his dour one, coupled on the camera. They couldn't be a more ill-fitting match for a portrait. Smiling would correct this, but he won't be doing anything of the sort.
Instead, curtly, he speaks: ]
I thank you for your lesson.
no subject
[She offers him a subtle frown. But after a moment's consideration, she decides she shouldn't be greedy. Maybe one day he'll actually look happy about something instead of something close to miserable.]
Guess I can't be picky! Any picture is a good one!
[So she's back to smiles and she quickly snaps a picture of the two of them together, Somnus' frown and everything. And then she rapidly flips through filters. Oh, what's this? Flower crowns?
Awwright, flower crowns!]
no subject
(but no, he's really just observing how she's doing it)
In any case, he doesn't have much else to say. ]
no subject
So... she saves one of each, naturally. And one with no filters, because... Well. Not long after, she sets it as her phone's background. It's a nice little reminder of the memory they've made today.]
There we go!
[Aerith points out the actual messaging device and she shows him how to attach pictures.]
Then you send and ta-daaaa, instant picture. Pretty neat, right?