returninghope | Appointments

Okay. Then we won't waste any time here. [Zan'nen touches her hand lightly as an offering to hang onto it if she wished. He didn't know about anything that was going on at the moment, but if she wanted out of here, he'd be happy to oblige.]

What do you feel like? Chicken Salad? [She looked as if she should have some protein.]

Edited 2012-02-21 10:00 (UTC)

... You're going to make it? [That's what it sounded like, and in all honesty she wouldn't really mind. If memories of the time they had believed to be siblings were correct, he was a very good cook... And though she won't admit it out loud at this moment, she did occasionally steal food from his kitchen.

And when she feels his hand touching hers she accepts it with no hesitation, having been self-deprived of close contact. It did help to cheer her up a little to know that he was so willing to help even if they weren't that close.]

[Once her hand was in his, Zan'nen began to lead. Heading toward the town square. If they were eating, they'd have to go by his apartment, and the playground was in the same direction.]

That was my intention. Did you want to talk first, or eat? Or eat while we talk?

I think we should eat first. [That way she could think more clearly rather than focus on the pain of lacking nourishment, though it wouldn't make what she wanted to talk about any easier. Nothing could make that any easier.]

Then, unless you have any objections, I'll cook it up at my apartment, and we can head to the park afterward if you still want to check it out. [The meal had already been his planned lunch for the day, and luckily he always bought enough to ensure leftovers, so that wasn't a problem.]

Okay! [Whatever made him more comfortable, especially knowing that what she wanted to talk about was not something that she would want to dump on anyone... But she couldn't handle the loneliness anymore, and Zan'nen was the only person she honestly felt she could turn to.

When the time is right, she would tell him just how much this means to her and express her gratitude, but for the time being, she's simply trying to convince herself that there's a reason to want to continue on in Luceti, rather than signing herself up for one of those missions and hoping she'll be put out of her misery.]

Alright then. [Zan'nen gives her hand a little squeeze, just because he can tell that something about this is hard for her. In fact, it makes him almost want to throw out a joke, but the last time that happened someone had taken it badly...

So saying something like: "Are you going to break up with me?" didn't feel like a viable option if she was as close to tears as he dared think she was. So most of the walk is filled with silence, with Zan'nen occasionally glancing at her and making strange noises ass he tries to think of small talk, and then self editing comments before they come to fully be.]

The plant you gave me is doing well.

Edited 2012-02-21 15:15 (UTC)

It is? [Now she really is legitimately smiling, glad to know that it was in good hands. The bulb out of which that particular iris had sprouted from had been one of the handful she had received directly from home via the Malnosso, the first winter she was here. It was a small piece of home she found she didn't mind sharing with Zan'nen after that particular experiment was done.]

That's good, I... I know it's not customary to give boys flowers in a lot of worlds, but it is in mine.

Nah. It's fine. My family had sort of a thing with flowers. The place I lived when I was little had a private garden. So... it's nice. I like it.

[It wasn't big enough to bloom or anything yet, as far as he could tell, but it had a nice strong stalk, and very healthy leaves. Plus, it gave him something to look after.]

Did they? [Needless to say, this piece of information really catches her attention. While it might have to do with how desperate her mind is to find a distraction from all the loneliness and despair of the last few weeks, she was genuinely intrigued. For all she knew, Zan'nen hadn't really discussed himself much.]

Did they have a lot of irises in it like the one I gave you?

They had irises, at least. [A lot of them. Especially after he was born, but he leaves out whether or not they were alike to her kind of iris. Frankly, he has no idea.

Long trek up the stairs to his apartment, go!]

[Good thing he was holding her hand, it's been quite a while since she's had to climb up a significant distance and it shows in the way her hand instinctively seeks out the wall, trying to navigate by feel. How long has it been since she came into this building?]

It's probably really pretty, then...

... My home? [Zan'nen changes his path, so that Kaori could use the wall for guidance. He wasn't about to allow her to fall, but if it made her more comfortable....

Zan'nen clenches his teeth slightly, and tries very hard not to pause as the memory of a sickly crackling dashes across his memory. They were not going to talk about this right now.] It was, at one point.

[It was hard not to notice the past tense he had used, or the way his mood seemed to change after those first two words. Her expression immediately becomes worried, but it's not her right to ask was it? She hadn't called upon him to ask about his life and force him to answer.

So... she'll stay quiet. That's what she was good at.]

My apartment's probably a little messy, so watch your step inside. ['Messy' in this case mostly meaning clothing. There still wasn't much else to his apartment other than the necessities. Not many came to visit, so there were at most four seats. Anything valuable was locked in his room. The other rooms had remained untouched since Marcell had left.]

Want anything special made?

Anything's fine. [Just the thought of being able to eat while in someone's company was enough for the time being, and more than likely would help her to be able to force down whatever he offered her. Though she did feel a little strange, being back in his apartment after so long. How could he stand being alone like this...?]

[Frankly, he didn't handle it very well.

After grabbing an apron, he dragged her off into the kitchen. As usual, there wasn't anyone present to bother him there either. The residents on this floor seemed to change quite frequently, so the meal is completed rather quickly, and mostly in silence.

Zan'nen serves them each a plate and a glass of milk. You look like you need calcium, Kaori.]

[Kaori for the most part stood back silently, at times tempted to offer help if he wanted it but for the most part staying out of the way. Just enjoying his company, even if it was in silence, for spending time with Zan'nen was definitely preferable to the loneliness she has subjected herself to.

Once the food is placed in front of her she can't help but look curious. She can smell the chicken, and what seemed like milk? Not that she minded, but why that?]

Are you going to eat, or do I have to feed it to you? [Although the sentence would imply otherwise, Zan'nen actually says that very softly. It was a gentle tease, rather than an impatient nitpick.

Zan'nen sat down on her right side, close enough for her to nudge or cling at him if she desired. Normally, he'd sit across the table but with her sight... Well, he was just more comfortable this way.]

Ha? [Please forgive the sudden jump and blush Zan'nen, not only was the teasing unexpected but hardly anyone here did it other than Masaomi. Given a few moments though she begins to calm down, though there's still red in her cheeks. It wasn't the usual means through which someone would try to cheer her up, but it was appreciated nonetheless.

It's why she manages a small smile at him, picking up her fork to try to begin.] Would you actually do it if I asked you to?

If I offered. [Wow, you really blushed at that, Kaori? Huh. You didn't usually come off as such a shy little girl. Too bad you weren't able to see that Zan'nen wasn't a catch at all, even in such a cute white apron.

Zan'nen waits a moment for her to have a few bites, before asking his next question.] ... How is it?

[Yes Zan'nen, she did actually blush. And how would he know if he was a catch or not, unless he just happened to be that narcissistic!

But it's pretty obvious that she's enjoying the food with the way she keeps taking bites of the meal. Frey's cooking was good and all, but there was something about Zan'nen's that achieved taste at a higher level.] Mm-hmm... Are you self-taught?

[~~WELL MAYBE HE IS. HE'S SEXY AND HE KNOWS IT. PROBLEM?~~]

No. I went to school. [... But he's not going to tell you he's actually certified. For some reason that's embarrassing.]

[~~THE PROBLEM IS YOU DON'T COMB YOUR HAIR.~~]

Hmm... Lucky... [Not just that he can cook, but that he went to school. But she wasn't about to resent him for it.]

Thank you...

[~~IT HURTS HIS HEAD, OKAY?~~]

You're thanking me? For what?

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