[open] I don't plan on breaking down

[pinwheels]

Who: Rinoa Heartilly + you?
What: catch-all for September!
Where: different places around the Void
When: during September, or the equivalent thereof
Content Warnings: n/a! will update if anything comes up


I ☆ Old Friends and New (Mortis Lake)

[ Whether it's because he's apparently part one of those Pokémon things or for some other reason entirely, Felix seems to be quite trainable. Scraps and barbecued meat from the cavern market and promises of affectionate pats and praise seem to be all he needs to keep him going. In that regard, he reminds her a lot of Angelo, even if he seems to be more cat than dog in a lot of ways. He's learned to fetch already, and today she's among the purple trees and foliage of the forest, teaching him to answer to her whistle. He likes to explore, after all, and Rinoa wants to make sure that he'll come back to her when she calls for him.

He's been gone for three minutes, so it's the perfect time to call him back, she thinks. The pointer finger and thumb of her right hand tuck between her lips, her left hand extended with a chunk of the meat. When she whistles though, there's not one shape but two - Felix's small form comes into view from behind the trees just before a dark brown blur overtakes him, crashing straight into Rinoa's solar plexus and sending her sprawling to the ground.

An alarmed, angry squawk from Felix is followed by... a bark.
The feel of a wet nose pressing against her skin.
A heavy, familiar weight against her.

Dazed as she is from the fall, Rinoa manages to sit up, looking at the dog now in her lap. ]

Angelo?

[ Another bark, and just like that she's laughing and crying at the same time, hugging the newcomer close to her, burying her face in her fur. It's not until Felix makes another sound, a gently confused chirp, that she looks up, smiling even as her tears stream down her face. ]

I'm sorry, Felix. We probably scared you, huh?

[ She reaches out to pull her newer friend in, too. Anyone who comes across her for however long will find her like this, both animals in her lap as they sniff each other out, greeting each other cautiously as she showers each of them with love and affection. ]

II ☆ Furniture Shopping (Takoba Beach)

[ She's not sure when it happened exactly, but for a little while now, any trips she's taken to the beach have resulted in her finding more and more stuff for the humble apartment she's taken to calling home in the extended absence of the real thing. So far, she's managed to find a nightstand and a lamp that doesn't do a whole lot more than sit on top of it and look pretty, along with a small coffee table that would pair incredibly well with the sofa sitting in front of her right now. It's a little dirty from the sand, and still waterlogged, but it's otherwise in great shape.

The main problem? By herself, she has almost no chance at all of lifting it. Angelo and Felix are both eager to help, but there's really nothing that they can do either, and so it's with a resigned sigh that the young woman decides to wait for someone to come along and give her a hand.

Anyone who comes across her here will find her sitting on the couch with two animals curled at her feet, a book in her hand as she tries to make sense of its entirely nonsensical text. She'll look up at the approach, a hopeful smile on her lips. ]

Hi! Do you think you could help me out?

III ☆ Relaxation (Bathhouse)

[ Rinoa's been meaning to visit the bathhouse since she first learned of its existence in the cavernous Wall Market, but... well, it's not that she hasn't had time - it feels like here she has nothing but, despite its strange lack of existence (or maybe because of its lack of existence) - it's more that it's been lower on the priority list than... well, than a lot of things, really.

But now that Angelo is here, it's like something has settled in her mind. Squall isn't here, but that doesn't mean he won't show up, the same way she has, the same way Angelo has, the same way all her new friends have from their own worlds. He's not here, but she's not alone, either.

She wasn't before; it just took this long for her to realize it. To accept that she's stronger than she's given herself credit for, before.

And if that's not the kind of thing that deserves a nice, hot, relaxing bath? Then nothing is!

It's with a contented sigh that the young woman slips into the water, eyes closing as she immediately feels her muscles relaxing under its warmth. ]

Mm, I should've done this sooner...

[ Perhaps you're someone coming along for a bath of your own, or perhaps the distortions in the air carry the sound of her voice directly to your ears as she contentedly hums a song to herself. Either way, she has no intention of leaving the area for quite a while! ]

IV ☆ Wildcard

( something else in mind? hit her with something random, or hit me up if you want to request something specific! ♥ )

Comments

[anciently]

I guess that's the strange flow of time here for you. Hard to explain, but you definitely feel the effects.

[ There's a little smile at the question, and though she tilts her head slightly to consider it, Aerith nods affirmingly. ]

Mm. Nothing that sounds familiar, but...I do kinda know what you mean. [ There's a pause, and then: ] Where'd you learn it?

[pinwheels]

[ Where did she learn it? Really, she's always known it. But that's not the answer Aerith is looking for. Her eyes flutter back open, looking through the steam at the other woman. ]

It's my mom's song. She was a famous singer. She wrote it about the first man she ever loved.

[ Laguna Loire, the president of Esthar.

And then it was the song that was playing when she danced with Squall for the first time. Something like destiny, right? ]

[anciently]

Really? Wow...that's so romantic!

[ So that's where the lovely voice came from! Aerith smiles warmly, sighing into the warm air. ]

It's a really pretty song. Maybe you could sing it for me sometime? Unless you're just more of a hummer.

[pinwheels]

[ Rinoa can't help but laugh at that. It's true - it is romantic. Her mom was like that. She may not remember her that much sometimes, but... ]

I'd love to. I don't have her voice, you know? But... I could sing it, I think.

[ Her eyes drift shut again, and Rinoa smiles. ]

It was the first song Squall and I danced to, too.

[anciently]

I'm sure it'd be beautiful.

[ Of course, she doesn't know, but...she's confident all the same. ]

Squall is your boyfriend. [ Aerith confirms, nodding. ] Wow...that's really sweet, Rinoa. Did he have any idea how important the song was when you danced to it?

[pinwheels]

[ She shakes her head, and then laughs. ]

He didn't know. And... I didn't know how important he was gonna be to me. It was actually the first time we met!

[ She's still laughing as she thinks back on it. The memory feels as fresh in her mind as if it happened yesterday. ]

It was a party, and I didn't wanna be on the dance floor by myself. And he was the best-looking guy there.

[anciently]

All good reasons to dance with him. [ Comes a reply from someone who would do the exact same thing. ] That sounds like a great introduction!

[ Again: very romantic. Since they ended up dating, the dance must have had a pretty big effect on Squall back then.

She shifts in the water, humming contentedly. ]

How long ago was that?

headcanon time!

[pinwheels]

[ She purses her lips thoughtfully. How long has it been? Under the water, her fingers stretch, tapping against each other as they count through the months. Six, seven, eight... ]

A little over a year ago, I think. Maybe closer to a year and a half?

[ Rinoa laughs. ]

Squall would probably remember the date better than I do. It was his graduation, you know?

[ It was later that they got together - that's the kind of stuff she remembers. ]

A lot happened after that. We've been dating for almost six months now. Well... [ She makes a face. ] Six months before here, anyway.

[anciently]

Oh, yeah. I think you'd remember something like that. [ A concept she's only familiar with inasmuch as the little school in her Sector had to offer. ] Well, if he shows up, I'll have to ask him myself!

[ She's hoping he does, anyway. For Rinoa's sake! It really seems like the other woman misses him, capable as she is of making it in this weird world on her own.

She isn't alone, though, Aerith thinks, with a little smile. ]

Hey, happy six months! [ There's a bit of a grin at that. ] What are your plans for after this, when you get back home? Any new adventures you'll have to go on?

[pinwheels]

[ Rinoa can't help but laugh at that. Happy six months, even if it's weird to think of it that way. Time has obviously passed since then... she just doesn't know how much.

She does, however, appreciate Aerith's optimism. She strives for optimism too, but sometimes it gets tough, especially in a place like this. Her fingers idly twist back together, and her eyes close in response to the question. There's more to her answer than the other woman could possibly guess, but... ]

There's still a lot going on, I guess. Everything that happened, the world's kind of... there's a lot of politics. [ She wrinkles her nose. ] He's in charge of a lot of people, so... he'll be busy. And.. I'm kind of busy, too. So I guess it's just a matter of finding time, you know?

[anciently]

Sure. But, I think you'll be able to pull it off. Even if you're busy, you obviously care so much for him, and I bet it's the same from him to you! So...it'll be no problem making time for each other, and keeping the other person close even when you can't be together. You know?

[ There's a thoughtful pause, and then a softer, more meaningful smile. ]

And...in the meantime, you can write each other letters. There's always a way.

[pinwheels]

[ Her brows lift. Letters? From the tone of Aerith's voice, it honestly sounds like something with which the other woman has experience. But she doesn't push for more information (at least not yet), just offers her a small nod of her head, a thoughtful smile. ]

You're totally right, you know. With everything and everyone we have, making time for each other should be no problem.

[ ...Nevermind. Curiosity gets the better of her quickly, and Rinoa can't stop herself from flicking a little water in Aerith's direction, a wondering light to her smile. ]

So, letters, huh?

[anciently]

[ Aerith smiles at the question, tilting her head to the side and nodding. ]

Mm-hmm! My boyfriend was away a lot over the years, out doing SOLDIER stuff, so I wrote him. A lot. [ ... ] It helped me feel closer, even if he wasn't always able to be there, or even to respond.

[ Through no fault of his own... ]

[pinwheels]

[ She looks back up in surprise. She can't help but get the feeling like there's something deeper to Aerith's words, but she doesn't say anything to that effect, instead just offering her another smile. ]

That makes me feel like I should start writing now. He can't reply, but...

[ Rinoa tilts her head in thought. ]

Do you write to him now too?

[anciently]

But...it might make you feel a little better, right? And - who knows! Maybe it'll be something sweet you can share when he does show up.

[ An optimistic thought, maybe...but, that's Aerith. The question brings her pause, and she worries briefly at her lip before replying: ]

I haven't since I got here, no. And, before that...well, I stopped a month or two ago. There's...been a lot going on. [ To say the least. ] I really should pick it up again. I think it helps.