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[scads]

Don't bother unless you have something important to say.

→ sms ← mms → voice ← video → action ← plans to end humanity → unreasonable tantrums regarding one's twin brother ←

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no this works because now i won't forget what i planned out -

[notsonewbie]

For you. [Her irritation practically melts away, the moment he speaks. It's replaced by that warm, gentle affection that's been left to grow between the two of them. It's easier now that it's out in the open. She doesn't feel like she has to tip-toe quite so heavily.]

It's... a romantic holiday. Well, not today, it was two days ago. So sorry about that. But I needed a little more time anyway.

[She nods to the tray in her arms. Of course, just as soon as said affection manifests and wipes away that irritability, embarrassment crashes in right after. The weight of the gift she has to offer feels almost too heavy now. Her fingers seem to stumble as she shifts enough of the weight to the side to use one hand to pull the towel away.

The lid over the tray is clear, protecting what appears to be 24 individual seedling starters. They're divided into six columns, four squares to each piece of flora she's offering up. Each has a small stake planted in it, carefully and meticulously labeling each and every one. Bergamot, Peppermint, Lavender and Lemon Balm all make sense to be together — they're all things you might find in tea. Even Saffron — individual bulbs that are just now poking through — makes sense in this regard. The cornflowers are the odd ones out.

"Be gentle with me," the shopkeeper had explained. It wasn't quite right, coming from her. A promise that she'll be gentle with him, however? That seems much more poetic. That and the fact that they're blue.]

You - said you wanted to start gardening. So I tried to find some things I thought might also help you with your teamaking too. Most of them are for that.

[Just don't ask about the actual flowers. It's fine.]

excellent

[scads]

( he can't help but to sound just a little bit bewildered, because when it comes to the giving of gifts and things he'll never claim to be any good at him himself, and even if he's getting used to the idea of giving and receiving things from people he cares about, it. it just seems like meryl always has the most thoughtful ideas when it comes to giving things that mean something to the one she's giving it to.

it doesn't matter that she hadn't come to him on the day of the holiday she's referring to; he hadn't known about it when it was going on, what difference is it going to make that he finds out about it after the fact? ) I didn't even know of it when it was happening … you don't have to apologize. ( honestly, it's the thought that counts, always, and with her, of course there's never going to be any shortage of effort to get her point across that she cares.

it makes his chest tighten in the most delightful way, and he doesn't really think he'd be able to convey that in words even if he tried.

he peers down at the tray she holds, taking in all the little seedlings and his chest only tightens further when she mentions what he'd said previously about wanting to try his hand at gardening. it's one thing for her to have remembered at all, but another entirely to have gone to such lengths to present him with something like this. )

Meryl … ( he says, just a little bit breathless, just a little bit in awe. ) They're all so … they're perfect. ( he reads the labels one by one, mind already swirling with thoughts on what he could put together once everything has matured enough, and if he's perfectly honest with himself, he's just a little bit giddy at the thought of experimenting further.

he takes the tray from her just in case it might be a bit heavy, peering down at the blue flowers and indicating them with a tilt of his chin. ) What are those? ( about not questioning the flowers.

whoopsiedoodle. )

[notsonewbie]

[For once, Meryl doesn't argue when Nai insists she doesn't have to worry. It assuages any doubts she might have had about timing things out perfectly. Night Sky had the right idea, dedicating a day to each person. It seems far more equitable this way. And not warning him had also served to provide an added benefit — Nai couldn't insist on getting her a gift in kind.

Yet another score for Reporter Stryfe.

Unfortunately, that scoreboard promptly evens out the second he says her name. At first, she thinks she might need to apologize for her efforts, but — no. It quickly becomes apparent that the tightness in his voice is from something warm and kind, rather than anything embroiled in disdain.]

I - wouldn't go that far. I probably could have gotten more. Or planted them better, or -

[She promptly cuts off when she notices just where that gaze goes. Of course he would question it. They stood out like sore thumbs comparatively. Everything else had a use. This was just... sappy drivel that she fears might cause an issue. Briefly, she contemplates making something up, just to make it easier on them both.

Instead, she exhales slowly, closing her eyes.]

They're... blue flowers. They kind of remind of the first flora I ever saw. But more than that, they have their own little meaning. I guess quite a few flowers do. These ones are - [Her eyes crack open, only to fix themselves up upon the ceiling.] Cornflowers. Which mean be gentle with me. Only it's not that I'm asking that of you, just...

[With her arms now free, she folds them delicately around her frame, as if an embrace might keep her from absolutely embarrassing herself.]

I told you I would keep you safe, right. That when you showed that vulnerability to me, I wouldn't take it for granted. Soooo... this felt symbolic of that.

[scads]

( look, now that he knows this is a thing, he might insist on getting her something as well — or keep the thought of it to himself and find something he thinks she might appreciate, since she'd gone to so much trouble to find something meaningful to him.

jury's out on what he's going to decide on, because that's going to take a lot of thought process on his part, and he's always going to want to do right by her when it comes to conveying what's on his mind. or in his heart, in this case.

he doesn't often say her name out loud, perhaps gearing more toward little one than not, and not only because he's always going to be amused by how feisty she gets when he uses it; they're both well aware that names have power to them, and he'd given her free use of his own despite having insisted that part of him had been dead for so long — well.

maybe he's had a bit of help in resurrecting it, and doesn't feel so jaded or bitter about bringing it back around now.

he shakes his head when she begins to ramble about getting more, or planting them better. ) Everything you've done for me so far has been enough, whether you know it or agree to it. Because I was never expecting anything from you in the first place. ( and. like this. he's doubly taken aback by the sensation of warmth prickling through him bit by bit, as though he were slowly lowering himself into one of the hot springs and allowing its soothing heat envelope him. full-body.

the back of his neck is prickly, and good grief he doesn't know what to do with all of this.

he continues to look down at the flowers as she gives the explanation of what they are — at least he had know they were flora, mostly because of the geraniums rem had kept when he and vash were young — and only when he sees her wrap her arms around herself does he move off to the side for a moment to set the tray down, make sure it isn't going to go anywhere, and when he returns to her she only gets the smallest warning before he ends up doing something incredibly out of character for him. ) You humans and your symbolism … ( three, two, one.

he bends down just as much as he needs to sweep her up into a hold akin to a bridal carry, close to his chest with both legs draped over one arm, and he nuzzles gently into the space between her neck and shoulder as a large cat might, nose briefly pressing to the beat of her pulse before finally picking his head up again. )

I could say 'thank you' until I ran out of breath and I still don't think it would be enough. ( it's almost like he's musing out loud to himself, voice all soft around the edges, or like he's sharing a secret with her that he intends to keep between the two of them. ) For your kindness, your acceptance, your warmth— you, in a very literal sense of the word. ( he bumps their noses together, not unlike an eskimo kiss, but without those exact words. )

Thank you for you.

[notsonewbie]

[Admittedly, Meryl doesn't know what to expect of him bending down. At first, she leaps to the conclusion that he's mocking her by lowering to her level. Or perhaps he's just trying to get a more comfortable angle to thank her properly? She probably wouldn't have minded that outcome.

Not that she'll mind what happens, Eventually. Nai will have to deal with her squealing at first, and the way her fingers immediately grip at the fabric of whatever clothing he's wearing over his chest. She fixes him with a wild-eyed look, expression going from bewildered to furious to....

To touched. Despite the surprise, he's still so delicate with her. And it's hard to be angry when her skin is prickling and her heart is racing, too. She feels the wash of his breath over her skin in the brief moment it lingers, and she swears it makes her see stars.]

You don't - [She huffs, but doesn't dare shift or shy away or even scowl. Despite any appearances that she tries to put on, she doesn't want to ruin the moment. Her forehead angles so that she can brush against his. All for the sake of being that little bit closer.] You don't have to thank me. Not for something like that, at least.

[Since she's here, her hand lifts, cradling the span of his jaw.]

I care about you. I want to... not just be content, but to have good things in your life. Other things you can care for.

[scads]

( as small as she is, he wouldn't have blamed her for thinking he was going either the mocking route or the stooping-down-to-her-level route, but she's going to find out soon enough that she's bzzzzt, wrong, on both of those thoughts.

he's ready for her to throw something of a fit with how he just. lends himself to the notion that he's allowed to manhandle her like that in the first place, but she's right in how incredibly gentle he is with her, and he's going to continue to be gentle until there comes a day in which she informs him that she doesn't want him to be.

( and where you want that thought process to go, you're more than welcome to take it however you like. )

he turns to nuzzle the inside of her wrist when she touches his jaw, making a low, soft, pleased noise in the back of his throat that might … actually sound like something of a purr, if she were to pay close enough attention to it. sometimes plant mannerisms translate into being effectively human, don't think too hard about it.

just wait until he gets his glowy plant markings power back, and he'll pretty much be in glowstick mode around her all the time.

he drops a kiss to the inside of her wrist, then lifts his head again and presses another to the corner of her mouth. chaste and sweet, and perhaps nearly the most genuine he's ever been with her. ) You're definitely a good thing that I have in my life. ( he says quietly, but seriously, bumping the side of her nose with his. ) And unlike someone else we know, I have manners, so I am going to thank you. ( he pauses, kisses the very tip of her nose. ) Any way I see fit.

[notsonewbie]

You aren't going to let this go without all of this trouble, are you? [Her tone is light, even if she does her best to come off as annoyed. She'll never stop being comforted by his words, growing ever more assured that he's been satisfied with the offering.

And really, his reaction is far from troubling. In fact, her smile — which broadens with each kiss — betrays her true thoughts almost immediately. Yes, her nose scrunches in mock annoyance, but there's no effort to shy away. His lips feel good against her skin. She feels good.]

Besides, I meant - [She huffs as their noses bump together, eyes closing as she feels the wash of his breath over her face. It isn't fair that she can't seem to put together a coherent thought right now. He's really got her on the back foot.] I meant beyond me. Something you can put your energy into if -

[She doesn't finish that train of thought. They both know that someone's presence in this world isn't guaranteed. She doesn't need to speak that potential into existence when they're otherwise having a good time.]

If I'm away. Or busy. Or anything like that!