steepwithdead | Folkmore

Oh wow! Four of you and your parents and aunt?! That's so many.

[And she thought her house was full growing up, that's nothing compared to Caduceus' family. And so many siblings too, having Kasumi was enough to keep her hands full.]

Did you get along well? Or fight a lot?

A bit of both, for sure. My brother Colton and I have never really seen eye to eye. Calliope was more sensible, but it was hit or miss if we got along most days because she loved winning at every opportunity. My sister Clarabelle and I were thick as thieves, though.

Oh! You all have names that start with C too! And that's so fun... I--

[She hesitates again, because... she wants to mention Kasumi but he's a councilor, this could be one of those tricks. It's why the mention of family made her tense up. But... right now this seems like such a normal conversation.

It's safe right?]

My sister and I were close, though we had our moments at times.

[Ah. There it is. He makes a thoughtful noise.]

I think it's very natural to fight with siblings at times. Live with someone for long enough and you have to fight about something. [Especially when you've lived with them for like a hundred years. You can have so many fights in a century.] What was she like?

[She gives Caduceus an assessing look, unsure if she's being therapied or if he's just honestly curious. But she brought Kasumi up and normally she wouldn't have too much issue talking about her sister, bit it's the fact that he's a councilor that has her on high alert.

He wasn't safe.

She doesn't feel safe.

But she turns away to focus on digging up a flower and takes a breath.]

She was really wonderful - smart, funny, outgoing, talented. We're twins but... we had similar interests, but we were very different people.

[Caduceus either doesn't see or doesn't notice the look she gives him, focusing on a particularly stubborn thick root beneath a larger fern bush.]

It's nice when that happens- when you're close to someone so different from yourself, yet you find common ground regardless. Clarabelle was like that with me. She was headstrong and loud while I was quiet and more... well, malleable. She loved to argue with our parents when she didn't get her way, which was often.

Yeah, it sounds like you both evened each other out... ying yang kind of thing. Kasumi and I were like that too.

[She feels torn, hurt, so she shakes her head and changes the subject.]

Do you mind if I ask what you are? I've never seen a person look like you do. Is it normal to have such big families?

[He accepts the shift - and the question - gracefully.]

I don't mind. [He hears it often enough.] In my world we're known as firbolgs. Some others call us fey-giants. Many live in big familial clans isolated from civilization, others like to strike out on their own. It sort of varies. Ours is an old family, with an important duty to fulfill. Much easier if there's more of us around to do it.

[His folks were just kinda overachievers.]

Firbolg. [She tests how the word feels on her tongue.]

So you're a fey? Giant makes sense, since you're so tall. I guess fey does too with your wings and how magical your home seems.

[She gives him a nice smile.]

It's so interesting how we're all from such different places here. It's amazing.

I think it's more fey-descending, technically, but to some that's close enough I guess! [He chuckles.] The wings are from this world, though. And you're right, it's a fascinating thing, how many worlds exist and how different everyone is. And so many are kind, generous souls.

Oh! Of course, that makes sense. I guess never seeing a Firbolg before made me unsure what was a part of you normally or not.

[She digs up another flower, getting better at it with each try and hands it to him.]

Maybe Thirteen has a type for that kind of person?

Besides the vines and the wings, what you see is what a firbolg is. Though I'll admit most are less pastel.

[Don't catch a lot of firbolgs out there with pink hair. He accepts the flower with a murmured thank you, tucking it gently next to its previous transplanted neighbour.]

Could be. Perhaps her idea of our true potential is enduring adversity by helping one another.

[She giggles at the joke? It seemed funny so she laughs gently.]

I.. I could see that, but... I already did all that back home. I don't see how else I'm supposed to get better.

[She frowns.]

And what about the people who are dead back home? How is that fair?

No one is perfect, in this world or any other. We can always be better. What counts as "better", however, shouldn't be decided by someone else. It's up to us to determine what manner of person we're meant to be.

[That's not even his counselling, just his wholehearted belief.]

Have you asked them?

[She nods, because she agrees... it should be up to them and not Thirteen to decide that. To take them from their homes and force them to... get better by her definition. She... could always get better yeah, but she rather follow her own life journey for that.

Then he asks that and she frowns and looks down at the flowers.]

No, guess I haven't. I just... it seems unfair.

Mm... what is fair or not is a hard thing to define. For some, the return to life after death is taboo, and to run from one's fate is cowardly. For others, this world may be seen as a gift, a second chance at life. Many people, both the dead and their surviving circle, think that death comes for a loved one far too soon.

[He scoops out one of the plants, plucking a large dead branch free from the healthy stem, discarding it in a separate pile.]

For better or worse, we are guests in her domain, and subject to her rules. It's up to us as individuals to decide what's fair for us, and what we do about it.

[She's pretty sure she knows how Akechi feels but... it would be better to ask. For her, it's not fair to get to be close to him and learn to care so deeply for him only to know it's on a time limit. It feels like she's waiting for her best friend to be stolen from her.

She's already lost people.]

I suppose you're right. And it's... not that it's taboo or even a gift, it's that...it's a rental and eventually the repo man is gonna come and take it away without warning.

[Sounds like someone needs a grief counsel- okay, okay, no.

He considers those words. He doesn't have context for the "repo" part, but he can read between the lines. His tone is extra gentle when he responds.]

This world is no different from any other. We are, all of us, temporary fixtures of one another's life. Someone can disappear or die in an instant, and every parting with someone, stranger or dearest family, could be your last. That's why it's critical to cherish the moments you have with people while you can. Make those memories, and never forget. One day it may be all you have of them. Or all they have of you. Is that love not worthwhile?

[Sumire listens and nods shallowly, like she doesn't know to handle what's being said. It hits hard and in a place that's a wound that will never fully close or heal. A wound that Akechi has opened up in many ways.

She takes a deep breath to will her eyes not to get glassy with tears.]

Akechi would probably rather die than let me call how I feel love.

[Poor excuse for a joke but she does it anyway.]

[Poor joke or not, Caduceus makes an amused noise anyway.]

That's one of the best parts of loving someone. You don't need their permission to do it.

[If you want it reciprocated, that's another story. But you can love, and it's free. They can't stop you.]

I suppose so, I never really thought of it that way. Though lets keep the L-word between us.

[She gives Caduceus a smile. He was easy to talk to, she can understand why Akechi wanted her to do it, but she doesn't need therapy. She's fine.]

[He taps a finger to his lips.]

He won't hear it from me.

Thank you.

[She throws him a wink and moving to stand up.]

I think it's time I go find Akechi-san and head back with him. It was a pleasure to meet you, Caduceus-san.

Pleasure to meet you as well. Give him my regards.

[He pauses, and then, gently,]

Don't let him pressure you into doing anything you're not ready for. But you're always welcome to come back, if you like. For gardening, or whatever.

[Even if it's simply a chat, not therapy. He's a person, first and foremost. The counselling is just a thing he does.]

[She looks a touch surprised by him saying that, but it quickly morphs into a smile again and she nods.

It already took him owing her a favor for her to agree in the first place, so really she doubts Akechi will force her to go again. Still, she appreciates it.]

Thank you, I... I'd like that, to come by again and learn more about gardening.

[He was nice and she could use more friends.]

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steepwithdead - 2024-12-10 16:36 (UTC) - Expand

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