ic inbox | aerith gainsborough

[gardenful]

@aerith

flowergirl

---

ABOUT ME

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Comments

[bloodandstars]

Hmm. Sounds like your positive thinking talking again.

[ But if Aerith points out that Maika seeks out time with her as it is, well. She doesn't have any rebuttal that'll save her dignity. ]

[gardenful]

[ And she'll go right for that weak spot she sees! ]

I don't know about that... you're the one that comes to find me half the time, you know. I bet I can think positively about you finding me so we can do this again.

[bloodandstars]

[ Wow, ruthless? And fearless?? Which she sort of knew, but is still halfway between vexing and charming. ]

You're pretty cocky. I could stop doing it just to keep from getting too predictable.

[gardenful]

[ She sure is, but she doesn't seem to mind that it's being called out. ]

Won't you get a little lonely?

[bloodandstars]

[ Unfortunately? That's also a charm point. Though Maika jerks her chin up a tiny bit, surprised to be bitten by the question. ]

I know how to live with that. It wouldn't kill me. [ But it's more in the tone of a reflexive grumble, not with any conviction. ] But despite what some people think, I wouldn't actually "cut off my own tail to spite my ass."

[gardenful]

[ She grins. ]

Good to hear! I know that I would be lonely if you stopped coming around, so I feel reassured.

[bloodandstars]

[ Ack, Aerith is too honest about that... it's still embarrassing. ]

Then this place really needs to bring in some more bodies for you.

[gardenful]

I don't know about that. I'm pretty happy with the friends I have here already.

[ She has a few that she would consider to be really good friends. ]

You included.

[ But there's... more to her connection with Maika than just friendship. Her smile twitches a little bit, something unsure settling in her eyes, but it disappears only a few moments later. ]

[bloodandstars]

I wonder if you're still gonna think that after I post this picture of you with ketchup on your face.

[ Did she get any such picture? ...Perhaps. Lupine reflexes.

Maika tilts her head a tiny bit at the flicker of Aerith's expression, observed but undeciphered. For a moment she considers pressing further, but can't quite decide. ]

[gardenful]

[ She sits back, relaxed enough that if Maika decides to press... maybe she'll have some success.

Or, she can leave things unsettled for now, resolute in the knowledge that maybe they'll be settled eventually. ]

So you're gonna do that for real, huh? I'll have to find a way to get revenge.

[ And the prospect of revenge... it sounds like she's excited for it. ]

[bloodandstars]

Can't let my guard down around you for a minute, can I?

[ She sounds way too excited about that. It teases another flicker of a smile from Maika, and she weighs the options before she leans forward a little. ]

What's on your mind?

[ "Direct" is still her preferred approach, but it's open-ended enough to be easily sidestepped. ]

[gardenful]

[ Aerith raises her eyebrows. It's obvious she didn't expect Maika to chase after that little blip, but here she is anyway...

Really, this is one of the things she likes most about Maika. ]

You, actually. I never thought we'd get along so well.

[bloodandstars]

[ Maika blinks, raising her eyebrows a little. Somehow? She expected the subject to be something a little more serious than her. ]

Huh. And here I thought you would have just been imagining the best all along no matter what. But you're not what I expected, either.

[gardenful]

[ She shakes her head. ]

Nope. I'm pretty realistic, at least when it comes down to it.

[ Ah, but now Maika has her curious... ]

What did you expect?

[bloodandstars]

Hmm... Very first impression?

[ Because it did change quite a lot. From week to week, even. Maika frowns, rubbing her jaw with her fingertips as she thinks. ]

Cheerful, a little prissy. That you'd try to get along with everyone because you felt like you should, but you'd lose interest pretty fast when it was too much trouble.

[gardenful]

[ Prissy is a new one, and it almost makes her laugh, though she can see where it comes from. It's not like Maika knew the circumstances Aerith grew up under, after all. ]

And unfortunately for you, I love trouble!

[bloodandstars]

Causing it and watching it.

[ Honestly, the second one is almost more troublesome. Just one more reason she can never really take her eyes off of Aerith; she knows she'll always find a way to be too close to problems. ]

[gardenful]

Well, I can't help it! It's hard to break habits, y'know. I can't even tell you how many times I run into trouble back home.

[ Though Maika can probably hazard a guess anyway. ]

[bloodandstars]

Huh. Next time? Instead of one of these outings, we'll see if I can't teach you how to run faster.

[ Ruthless running training might not serve any practical purpose but maybe it would make negative associations between poking her nose into trouble. She can break habits! ]

[gardenful]

Running, huh? I think I do plenty of that back home. You'd be real impressed at how fast I can be when I'm being chased by the military!

[ She grins, letting out a little giggle. It probably sounds absurd, but maybe not to Maika. ]

[bloodandstars]

[ NOT TO MAIKA, INDEED...

She gives Aerith a stare that's entirely too exasperated to be doubting the sincerity of that experience at all. ]

...I can't believe I've spent the last year hearing how I'm the reckless one. I've got to bring you back to Kippa and Corvin.

[gardenful]

So they can see some real reckless behavior?

[ She grins. The idea is pretty funny, honestly. Maika being the responsible one... would they be surprised? ]

You haven't told me about this Corvin person, though. Who's that?

[bloodandstars]

At least you're self-aware. That almost makes it worse.

[ Kippa at least can use the excuse of not knowing better! But Maika lets out a quiet snort. How the hell does she describe Corvin... ]

...Picture Argenti, but less insane and more of a stick up his ass. And giant wings. That's Corvin. He can give lectures like Argenti babbles, too.

[gardenful]

[ She sits back, picturing Argenti but sterner and with wings. ]

Hmm... Sounds like a decent guy. Kinda explains why your feelings about Argenti are so complicated.