ic contact;

[coexistent]

"I'm not around, so... leave a message, I guess."

Comments

[coexistent]

I'm not really sure what I'd do with a flower...

[he has no use for them? he looks at it, trying to decide what to do. what do people do with flowers...

put them in vases. plant them? sometimes people wear them, right? he saw that in one of the manga mary gave him. he would look silly wearing a flower, so he gives mary a puzzled look for a second before moving closer to her and tucking the stem of the flower behind one of her ears.]

There. [he grins, proud of his work. now the flower won't go to waste. besides, it suits mary... she really likes flowers, and it's a pretty one, too.]

1/4 you punk

[immobileyes]

[ Mary's return gaze is similarly puzzled, for different reasons. She opens her mouth to explain that there's plenty of uses for a flower, like putting it in a vase or pressing it to make a pretty bookmark, but then he's... close?

Instinctively, she scrunches up her nose a little at the sudden contact, still very much confused until he draws his hand back. ]

What--

[immobileyes]

[ ... It still takes a minute, laughably, to stare at his now-empty hand and then drift her own hand up to gingerly touch the flower now nestled against her hair.

Oh. He put it on her instead.

He just--

Wait-- ]

[immobileyes]

[ WAIT WASN'T THIS JUST LIKE VOLUME THREE OF DANCING AMONG THE DAFFODILS WHERE THE PRINCE HAD BESTOWED THE GOLDEN FLOWER UPON THE SERVANT GIRL (although he'd looked really good with his best friend, the captain of the guard, but even so, it was still a powerful scene!!!)

ROXAS JUST

JUST?????

She's incredibly aware that Roxas is a good friend of hers, probably one of the best, and also that he likely didn't know that this simple gesture could mean anything more than sticking a flower behind someone's ear, except that even as she tells herself that, Mary's face is turning a brilliant shade of pink. Red. Magenta. ]

[immobileyes]

[ ... Which she's instinctively going to try and ward off by pressing her palms to her cheeks and spreading her fingers over her eyes and her maidenly heart was not ready for this dork. ]

I-it doesn't match with my eyes...

[ Nice comeback, Mary. Excellent recovery. ]

1/2

[coexistent]

[wh... at just happened here.

why is she making that face?

why is she turning so red?

why is she covering her face like that?]

[coexistent]

[did... he do something wrong? was that the wrong thing to do in this situation? his smile falters and he draws his hand back completely.

and then when she speaks, his expression sinks a little more.]

I... can take it out if you don't like it. [it's not that serious. she seems like it really bothers her though, which leaves roxas unsure of what he's supposed to do now.]

[immobileyes]

[ ... wait no she'd known he wouldn't (thankfully) understand her reaction, but she hadn't wanted to hurt his feelings, but her face is still so flushed?? ]

N-no, I do, I-- [ urrrrgh. ] You... surprised me. It just reminded me of something I read.

[ Don't ask for further clarification please don't. ]

[coexistent]

...Oh.

[he won't question it, fortunately enough for her.]

I thought maybe you didn't, because you said it didn't match... [this poor kid is so hopeless.]

[immobileyes]

I mean, it's more of a Roxas flower than a me flower, so I don't think it'd look as good on me... but I really do think it's pretty.

[ Let her die. ]

[coexistent]

...I think it looks okay.

[roxas tilts his head a little. it's not like it looks bad or something. maybe he just doesn't have an eye for it, but as far as roxas can tell, it's okay.]

[immobileyes]

... [ no, don't look at her, she's already having a hard time just lowering her hands. But she really doesn't want him to think she hates the gesture or anything like that.

... Feelings are stupidly complicated things, sometimes. And Mary takes a breath, before giving him a very sheepish smile. ]

If you think so, then... thanks, Roxas.

[coexistent]

[they are complicated and roxas himself doesn't always understand them.

but he knows he feels relief when she smiles, and he feels a little less bad for making such a sudden choice like that.]

I just said what I thought... that's all. [so why does he feel a bit sheepish about it? he's not sure.]

[immobileyes]

I know... but I think that's why it means a lot to me.

[ Because saying what you think is a sign of immense trust. Or you're a jerk, but she's pretty sure it's the former for sure. That was a nice comment, after all. ]

[coexistent]

[roxas ducks his head a little, ruffling at his hair a bit.]

I don't think it's that big of a deal. ...Is it?

[immobileyes]

... K-kind of. [ To her, anyway. Look, she's already flustered here, cut her some slack. ]

[coexistent]

Oh... I didn't think so, but...

[if she says it is, he'll believe her.]

[immobileyes]

[ Of course he didn't. ]

A-at any rate, putting a flower in a girl's hair is kind of special. So, um... if someone gives another flower to you and you want to do that, be careful.

[ Or he might end up swaying someone's heart!! ]

[coexistent]

Special?

[is it? he really wouldn't know.]

I don't think I'll be putting flowers in anyone else's hair... but I'll be careful.

[immobileyes]

... It's complicated. [ with a sigh. She's not even kidding. ]

But... thank you, also, for coming out here with me. I feel a little better about everything.

[coexistent]

[he believe it. people are complicated and he still doesn't understand a lot of it, even if he tries.]

It's okay... It's better this way, I think. You... look happier now than you did before. [which is nice, because he doesn't like seeing her sad, naturally.]

[immobileyes]

Yeah... I really miss my friend [ Mary you didn't say much of that before ] and I don't want to think about not seeing you or the others again... but being here with you helps. I don't have to go through it alone.

[coexistent]

I think... we all have someone we miss.

[despite how everything went down, he still misses xion. and he misses axel too.]

But... we all have each other here, right? So... [it's okay?]

[immobileyes]

Mm, we do. I can't let myself forget that.

[ It's not the same as it was before. ]

[coexistent]

Exactly. We're here for each other when we need it. Because that's what friends do.