genessia | Third Rose: Neither Here nor There (forward dated to Friday, Aug 11th)

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Third Rose: Neither Here nor There (forward dated to Friday, Aug 11th)

Action: Kitten in the House Flower Shop- Attleton

[Not expecting to be gone so long, Aya felt not only out of sorts but very...incomplete. The Dream Docks revealed that he had been missing more than a year's worth of memories, and he wasn't okay with that. But with not knowing how to deal with his newfound memories, he did the only thing he knew, which was go to work.]

[So here he is, at his newly opened flower shop, sweeping the front of the store with a broom, lost in his thoughts about what has been revealed to him. He definitely doesn't pay much mind to the gaggles of young girls who tend to stop by to make small purchases, or just stare.]

Text:

Does anyone think our memories are being suppressed purposely?

Private Video to Sonico:

I got your messages. I'm sorry to have made you worry, Sonico. I'm fine, I promise.

[Besides the still healing gash on his neck from his bounty a couple of weeks ago. But otherwise fine!]

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*But there is someone who definitely does mind about the young girls. Who do they think they are? Selphie had arrived in Genessia not too long ago. The first thing she did was check to see if Aya was here too - maybe this was where everyone went after Vatheon. She had to make a few inquiries, but she was over to Attleton faster than you could say chocobo.

Only, when she arrives at the flower shop, she finds it surrounded by girls who are staring, or giggling, at something. But what? Being so short, Selphie has to push her way through a small group of girls to see what was going on. And then she froze.

Whether it was what the girls were staring at or not, Selphie is most definitely staring at Aya. Now that he's there, really finally there, she doesn't know how to react, what to do or say. So she stands, helplessly, and watches him, wiping at her eyes as her vision blurs*

[Just as he makes his last bout of sweeping, Aya finally decides to acknowledge them, but probably not in the way they'd like. He turns to them, with a hand on his hip and a glare.]

Listen, you'll have to buy something or get out.

[His eyes looks over the girls, who, obviously, react poorly to his words. Some pout, others moreso with anger, but there's one reaction that's different from the others, upon a too familiar face. Catching Selphie's eyes, Aya looks to her in complete shock. She looks too much like Selphie to not be her, in his mind. The group of girls start to notice the two of them staring at each other, just wondering why she has his attention all of a sudden.]

Se...Selphie? [His words are barely above a whisper. Loud enough for her to hear, and low enough that he doesn't want to admit to possibly hallucinating about her already, and possibly having hope that it's really her.]

*That was definitely Aya, and his voice. When their eyes meet, Selphie suddenly finds that she can't breath with the shock. She just stands, and stares, completely oblivious to any of the reactions of the girls around her. Then she shuffles a step forward, and another one, and now her heart is beating so fast she is sure that everyone else can hear it* Aya.

*His name comes out with a wobble, and her legs follow soon after. She reaches a hand out towards the nearest wall, seeking to steady herself in case she does actually collapse. It's been a long day, she hasn't eaten, or had anything to drink, and now she's facing what she worries is now just a mirage*

[Instinctually, Aya has his hands already catching her to steady her balance. As if on a mission for his life, Aya could feel his pulse race as well. Everything is telling him that this is her, but he has to know for sure.]

Come with me. [He doesn't wait for an answer before bringing Selphie inside, locking the door and closing the shutter outside on the shop by simply just pulling it down. They'll reopen later, but they needed privacy.]

[With the distractions gone, Aya turns to her, looking very unsure, a rare sight in his life. Every hair, eyelash, every crease of her lips...]

Is it... [He stops, furrowing his eyebrows as if questioning his soon to come inquiry.] Are you really...here?

*As soon as his hands catch her, Selphie knows that it's him. Finally. Overwhelmed, she closes her eyes and allows herself to be ushered inside. Away from the group outside, Selphie opens her eyes which widen the more she looks up into his face*

Aya...

*It is him. It is. She thought that maybe there was some other Aya, maybe she'd made a mistake, but no*

It's me. I'm here. And so are you. You're here.

*It's stating the obvious, but she still can't quite believe it. She takes a deep breath as she steps closer and lifts a hand to his cheek, just to clarify. The contact causes tears to spring forth again, and she tries to laugh them away, but the sound is shaky*

[The sensation of her hand on his cheek is enough to let his eyes close for a brief moment. He raises his own to rest atop hers, looking straight into her green eyes.]

What's my real name?

[His words are soft, but very clear. He needs to know, without a doubt, that this is his Selphie, and not someone or something pretending to be her just to mess with his head.]

*He doesn't believe her... He doesn't think it's her. That starts a real panic. She gazes searchingly into his eyes, but when she blinks the tear splash on her cheeks*

Ran... Please. It's me. It is...

*Maybe something has happened, and maybe it's been so long that he's moved on. Selphie starts to panic, the worry clear on her face. She doesn't know what to do, completely helpless and scared*

Please...Ran...

[Now it's his turn to feel relief, enough so to smile at Selphie and whip away any tears that may have fallen. He kisses her forehead gently before leaning his head against hers, despite the height difference.]

I believe you. I'm sorry, I had to make sure... [His fingers brush back a few strands of hair upon her face.] My memories were lost until just now. Memories of us...and then you show up. [It all seemed too convenient. He remembers her, and then she shows up. Of course he had to make sure it was real.] Are you alright? Are you hurt?

*The relief almost hurt, it was so keenly felt. But when he kisses her forehead like that, a little more of her usual light returns to her eyes. She smiles and closes her eyes a moment at the feel of his fingers on her face*

Lost... You mean, if I had turned up yesterday... You wouldn't know me? *She bites her lip as she looks at him, remembering after a few moments that she was supposed to be answering his question, not just gazing at him*

I'm okay. I'm tired. And hungry. But I'm okay. How...are you?

*Her fingers lift very gently to nearly touch that injury on his neck*

I wasn't even here yesterday. But if you had come three days earlier, then no, I wouldn't have.

[He doesn't mind the gaze, and gives her a faint smile as he does the same. The barely there touch is still felt, but he has to stop the fingers from getting any closer, clasping their fingers together. He knows she worries about him. Not exactly what he wanted to do upon her arrival.] I'm fine. It's just a graze.

[He looks about the shop once, remembering about the basement.] If you want, you can rest downstairs, and I can get you something to eat. Only the employees have access, and there's just one today.

That makes sense now... *She doesn't seem to mind having her fingers clasped like that at all, those she's still looking at his injury* When I was asking around for you, someone said that a girl had been looking for you too... That you were missing.

*No, Selphie, don't ruin the moment by getting jealous. She doesn't believe that it's just a graze, but she's willing to leave it for now*

Downstairs? Do you live beneath the shop?

*She glances to the door that he'd hastily closed*

Of course - you're still open. I'm sorry. I'm getting in the way of your business now...

That's Sonico. She was worried about me because I was gone longer than I thought I would be.

[He doesn't even notice any hint of jealousy. Bless him.]

[He shakes his head at the question.] It's just a place to rest during breaks. I live nearby. [He glances once to the closed shutters before shrugging.] You're not the one in the way, so don't be sorry.

*Looks like someone is tired, perhaps just emotionally exhausted. She bites her lip and glances around his shop, then at the shuttered windows. Again, Selphie feels the threat of tears, but she frowns as she tries to hide it*

So. So. So I wait for you, for months, without you... And you're sending me downstairs to be on my own while you work?

*She clearly isn't thinking in the best of terms right now. Selphie could really use a restorative nap right now*

Selphie, that's not what I'm doing. [He places a hand upon the base of her head and neck, using a thumb to brush over her ear.] You need rest, and something to eat and drink.

[His voice is gentle, although her reaction frustrated him at first. He could understand why, from her statement a moment ago. Had it really been months since he disappeared?]

I'm going to close early and get a few deliveries sent out as soon as possible, so we can spend the rest of the day together. [There's a frown on his face, but not out of anger. More from determination.] I don't want to be apart from you again.

*When he holds her like that, Selphie closes her eyes and mentally starts thinking more carefully about her breathing. She needs to calm down. She's just upset, evidenced by that one tear that appears at the edge of her eyelashes. Selphie nods gently against his hand as she opens her eyes again*

...I need to sleep and just - figure all of this out.

*It was too much of a shock to be so suddenly with him again, and in another world too*

Alright. I'll go rest downstairs for a bit then. Is your employee around today? Will they think it's weird if I'm having a nap downstairs?

[Aya nods once with a small smile, glad that she'll go get some rest.] I doubt she'll think it's weird. It doesn't seem like she gets fazed by much. [Or anything.] I'll take you down.

[His hand is still clasped with hers, and with a bit of readjusting, he'll hold it in a less awkward way while they walk.]

*She? Selphie pulls a face, in part joking with him, but also wanting to make sure*

She isn't some kind of gorgeous secret assassin or something, is she?

*That would be the last kind of person she would want Aya working with. As he leads her downstairs to where she can rest, Selphie squeezes his hand and all but clings to his side*

I don't think so. [It's an honest answer. He doesn't think many women are worth his time, because they try to hard. He also doesn't know what to make of Kirika.] She's probably at least fifteen, though.

[He squeezes the hand back as they head down. The basement is sparsely furnished but kept clean. The black leather sofa was against the wall, and a small table with a few chairs not that far away, and a small refrigerator next to it. There was also a flat screen TV in front of the couch.]

There's only some oranges, bananas, and apples here. [He didn't keep much more food than that around, due to not wanting it to get spoiled from neglect.] And water. [He feels I'll prepared for having guests down there.]

*Oh. Fifteen. That makes everything different. The smile she gives him is amused, but also quite loving - he's probably started giving jobs to poor orphan kids now, because he's got such a big heart that way.

When they get downstairs, Selphie lets go of his hand, only to go over to the fridge and to remove a bottle of water that she gulps down quickly. Done, she turns back to Aya with a sheepish smile*

Sorry... I haven't had a thing since I arrived here.

*She walks over to the sofa and sinks down onto it with a sigh*

Mmm. This will do. I'll sleep and have some fruit. Promise you'll come back for me?

[Wow she's thirsty.]

[Not in a desperate sense.]

[He brings out one of each fruit, takes out a small knife from a cutlery holder, and starts to cut the fruit for her.] I promise. I'd be foolish to not come back. [The knife is rather sharp, so it makes quick work of the fruit. Mostly the orange and apple, as he left the banana intact. Once done, he takes the plate of fruit to her.] Do you promise to rest, though?

*Well, actually, she might be that too. This is not the time or the place for that though.

With the fruit cut, Selphie is more tempted to eat, so she reaches for some apple and nibbles on it slowly*

Mhm you would be. Those girls waiting out there didn't seem to nice or interesting, so I wouldn't run off with one of them if I were you.

*She finishes off another piece of apple then removes her boots as she sits back on the sofa*

[Aya shook his head in amusement, placing the plate next to her.] No bias, of course.

[Since she took off her shoes, Aya would take that as a sign that she'll get some rest. One of the arms of the couch had a red blanket on it, so he takes it and hands it to her.]

I won't be long. [He hopes that he can get things sorted out so he can close early.]

No bias whatsoever.

*Followed by a smile that suggests there is all the bias in the world. She takes the blanket from him, holding his hand for a moment before letting go*

I hope you realise...that if I wasn't so tired I thought I might die...I'd be following you around everywhere right now.

*She stifles a yawn as she wriggles down into the sofa, pulling the blanket over her*

Remember to come back to me...

I know. [He smiles, moving the plate of fruit so she had more room on the couch. He then helps to adjust the blanket on her, brushing back a bit of hair from her face.] I'll be back before you know it.

*And he was right about that. When he left, Selphie nibbled on some apple and some orange, but was exhausted enough that she managed to drop a piece of fruit on the floor. She fell into a deep sleep quickly, still sleeping away whenever Aya comes back to get her*

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