003 Puzzles ; [ Voice ]

[verdantventure]

[ There's a dismayed cry. The sounds of hurried footsteps, rustling fabric and panic--Flora had woken to what she thought would be a normal day, but was instead met with the sight of her parents swinging from the ceiling. She could feel her stomach drop in abject horror. How could this be happening?  ]

N-no. Nonono...oh no. This can't be--Not them,

Comments

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[dubiousdoings]

((turning the corner... but not after stepping over a corpse of Mickey Mouse. Who the fuck's this guy anyway?))

Flora, is everything alright?

((Let's ask more stupid questions. It's obvious she's upset, and he kneels down to see Flora up close.))

...You saw somebody you knew, huh?

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[verdantventure]

[ It takes her a moment to find her voice. ]

I...y-yea. [ She looks down, her face pale. She's trying to stop trembling, to get the image out of her head...but it just makes her feel worse. Like an old wound being ripped open.

She half expected the tower to show up next. ]

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[dubiousdoings]

((there's a long sort of pause as he stares at Flora. He wouldn't say, but he hardly enjoyed seeing her upset. He expressed a plain sympathy.. ))

Come here. ((He'll just, lean over and hug her now. Like nice gentlemen do.))

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[verdantventure]

[ She leans into the hug. It was a comfort, but only just.

She felt as though she should cry. It seemed the appropriate time, as all ladies did when held in those sappy romances...but the tears wouldn't come. She just clutched at his shirt and stared at nothing, all while trying her best to calm down and stop trembling. ]

I can't...I can't get them out of my head.

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[dubiousdoings]

I'm sorry. ((rubbing her lightly.))

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[verdantventure]

It's not...your fault.

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[dubiousdoings]

((He doesn't grace a response, patting her lightly and thinking to himself.

Maybe he needed this hug, too.))

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[dubiousdoings]

((Braving to let go, he leans back and faces Flora with a smile. He actually felt fake for a second, and no doubt it showed in his eyes.))

Why don't I take you to visit Luke? Get this off your mind.

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[verdantventure]

[ She shakes her head. It wasn't a 'no', but was instead a way of clearing her head. One last ditch effort to get the horrible images out of her mind. ]

I've dealt with...with it before and i'll deal with it again. I just...it wasn't expected. So I-I'll be okay. I will. I just wasn't expecting it--[ This is said more to herself than to him. A way of reassuring herself, getting her mind to move on and away from the people she'd do anything to see alive just one more time.

A moment and she finally looks up at him. She's still shaken and shaking, but there's actually life to her eyes. Acknowledgement. ]

Ah--but I would like to see Luke. It would be...nice, and I'm sure it'll help.Even if it's just a bit.

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[dubiousdoings]

Alright. ((Brushing her hair lightly, he mimicked the movements of Constance Dove years ago. He, personally, had drowned in his own tears as she did so, but Flora looked so much kinder than he had felt that wretched day.

The smile puddles, and his gaze darts over Flora. No, it wasn't Flora who was upsetting him. It was the memory of Constance.))

Alright, ((he repeats, standing.)) We should go soon so we don't come back at dark.

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[verdantventure]

[ She nods, barely registering the touch. A moment. Two. Three...and she steels herself, blanking her face as she stands. ]

Mm. It's probably better we stay out of the dark. Who knows what's out there.

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[dubiousdoings]

Get your coat. I'll be ready in a second.

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[verdantventure]

[ She nods, and moves to grab her things. A short while later she returns coat on and ready to go. ]

I don't need...anything else, do I?

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[dubiousdoings]

((He's already ready to go, and waiting, thought over things to say to Flora to amuse himself.

Hmm.

When she approaches, he has it!))

Did you bring a smile?

((It's sarcastic, and yet.... there is good intention. Some part of him didn't much like letting Flora be upset.))

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[verdantventure]

[ She blinks...and then laughs. She can't help it. It was just...so charmingly unexpected. ]

Well, I'll do my best to bring one along, but they...seem a bit hard to come by these days.

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[dubiousdoings]

Don't you know? Smiles are what we need at our darkest hours.

((Odd how he doesn't smile when he says that. He's lying.))