[ it's hard not to think of this. it's a truth that is written in the underside of his bones - or would be, if he still had them. somehow, it's the first thing that comes to mind; like what one would say if they weren't really here, instead watching this world through a panel of silvered glass.
ain watches her now, his single gaze clear yet unreadable like a pool of deep water. he watches, trying to prise out some sort of guide from her words, the air around them. ]
...... sounds like it.
[ he says this a little slower, hesitant - as if there's something else on the tip of his tongue, straining to break free.
<< I want to be in that world, too. >>
but.... how? ]
It must be nice to watch. [ a nod, as he tries to inject more confidence into his voice ]
( She's hesitant at first, taking one step closer to Ain and stopping short, wondering to herself, "Is this really the best idea?" But after a moment's thought, she reaches to take one of Ain's hands with both of hers. She knows what to expect now so she won't be afraid. Her hold is gentle, one that would be easy to pull away from if he wasn't comfortable but encouraging should he want to stay, )
But first... let's get closer to the castle! It's so beautiful from here, it m-must be gorgeous up close!
( She gives him a small tug, pulling him along with her. )
[ he follows in her wake, surprisingly light - as if she isn't pulling on a person at all, but rather something soft and floaty like a cloud. ]
Okay.
[ and... that is all he will say, because there's nothing else he thinks worth mentioning. instead, he'll look around while they walk, the cat peering out from his hair like a squirrel from a tree. ]
... I've never... seen any of these before...
[ but they're beautiful and a little nostalgic, in the same way that clouds are when seen from the reflection of water. ]
( Ain must be light because there's no way Sakura is actually this strong. Leading the way, there's an energy in her step, like she's trying to not run ahead skipping down the street lined with trees. There's definitely a contained energy to her, something full of life and happiness bubbling under a calmer surface. In the back of her mind, she still feels nervous-- she isn't sure if Ain is really enjoying all of this. he's a difficult person to read, even more difficult than Takumi can be. )
Never?
( How curious. Even if shinki are without memories, they at least seem to retain some knowledge of the world. For Ain to mention never seeing anything like this before... what did Ain know of the world before now? )
... I-I can show you more places, if you'd like. I'm still learning about this realm b-but it's not unlike Hoshido, where I'm from. The customs and traditions of this realm remind me of the ones I grew up with and e-even some of the places.... ( Quietly, ) feel a little like home.
[ he's unreadable, perhaps because there isn't much to read at all. he's a simple person, made even simpler by his death shredding away his memories - a blank slate, written in the language of the deep rather than the language of men.
yet, he's here, against all odds. so he's trying, despite how being here unsettles his core ]
........ I hope that makes you happy.
[ it's the first thing he homes in on, apparently; his single visible eyebrow creasing a little in a frown, though it's more of concern than anything else. ]
( Does it make her happy? It's more complicated than happiness and sadness. It isn't black and white. There are moments when she experiences things that make her both smile and hurt. Things that make her want to cry but laugh. Places that make her feel closer to home but remind her how far away she is. She is both happy and sad. She supposes that means this is all... what's the word? Bittersweet?
Yes, that's how it feels. )
... Yes. A little sad, if I'm honest but... happy too.
( As they walk the path, she tries to explain. It's okay to tell Ain, right? He won't tell anyone. At least, he doesn't strike her as the type to tell secrets. )
In my realm... I lived in a castle. ( She won't really explain more than that but he can probably assume she either worked in one or well, lived in it. ) "Castle Shirasagi."
When I heard there was a castle in this real w-with the same name... ( Her voice rises, warm and bright, ) I had to see it for myself!
And I'm glad I did. T-truly. When I'm here... I feel happy.
[ he thinks he understands, though only in a transient way, like a bird skimming over water. but - there's another sentiment that he finds, in the way she speaks of the castle in colours of red and gold, a wish of home.
( She looks back at him, tilting her head curiously to one side. It's a bit of a strange question. Is it a place that she belongs to? She supposes so but it's more than just that so she wonders what he's asking. )
Ah... Castle Shirasagi is... ( She has to think, ) It's where I live.
But I think... I think the place I belong to is bigger than a castle. ( Even if the castle in question is huge. ) I belong to Hoshido b-but it's more than just a place.
It's my home a-and my country and my family and all of my people too! ( Hoshido is everything she loves and values and her heart swells, giving her new strength just thinking about it. ) But now... I think it's a l-little more complicated since I've been here...
[ he listens, his form swaying a little like the leaves around them, in the faint ambient breeze. ]
.... I heard someone say, home, is where your heart is.
[ there are several things he wants to say. there's the awareness of how she had held a great deal of worry and fear when they last met - and while he doesn't remember anything, he knows that somehow, that should not happen. it's like knowing the shape of words despite never having the knowledge of speaking them. some vague notion of happiness, too. something about being human.... ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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ain watches her now, his single gaze clear yet unreadable like a pool of deep water. he watches, trying to prise out some sort of guide from her words, the air around them. ]
...... sounds like it.
[ he says this a little slower, hesitant - as if there's something else on the tip of his tongue, straining to break free.
<< I want to be in that world, too. >>
but.... how? ]
It must be nice to watch. [ a nod, as he tries to inject more confidence into his voice ]
no subject
( She's hesitant at first, taking one step closer to Ain and stopping short, wondering to herself, "Is this really the best idea?" But after a moment's thought, she reaches to take one of Ain's hands with both of hers. She knows what to expect now so she won't be afraid. Her hold is gentle, one that would be easy to pull away from if he wasn't comfortable but encouraging should he want to stay, )
But first... let's get closer to the castle! It's so beautiful from here, it m-must be gorgeous up close!
( She gives him a small tug, pulling him along with her. )
A-and maybe we'll see...
no subject
Okay.
[ and... that is all he will say, because there's nothing else he thinks worth mentioning. instead, he'll look around while they walk, the cat peering out from his hair like a squirrel from a tree. ]
... I've never... seen any of these before...
[ but they're beautiful and a little nostalgic, in the same way that clouds are when seen from the reflection of water. ]
no subject
Never?
( How curious. Even if shinki are without memories, they at least seem to retain some knowledge of the world. For Ain to mention never seeing anything like this before... what did Ain know of the world before now? )
... I-I can show you more places, if you'd like. I'm still learning about this realm b-but it's not unlike Hoshido, where I'm from. The customs and traditions of this realm remind me of the ones I grew up with and e-even some of the places.... ( Quietly, ) feel a little like home.
no subject
yet, he's here, against all odds. so he's trying, despite how being here unsettles his core ]
........ I hope that makes you happy.
[ it's the first thing he homes in on, apparently; his single visible eyebrow creasing a little in a frown, though it's more of concern than anything else. ]
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Yes, that's how it feels. )
... Yes. A little sad, if I'm honest but... happy too.
( As they walk the path, she tries to explain. It's okay to tell Ain, right? He won't tell anyone. At least, he doesn't strike her as the type to tell secrets. )
In my realm... I lived in a castle. ( She won't really explain more than that but he can probably assume she either worked in one or well, lived in it. ) "Castle Shirasagi."
When I heard there was a castle in this real w-with the same name... ( Her voice rises, warm and bright, ) I had to see it for myself!
And I'm glad I did. T-truly. When I'm here... I feel happy.
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where is home, though? what makes a place home? ]
.... is it, a place you belong to?
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( She looks back at him, tilting her head curiously to one side. It's a bit of a strange question. Is it a place that she belongs to? She supposes so but it's more than just that so she wonders what he's asking. )
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[ he nods, just once. some things are not yet comprehensible to him, so he has to ask ]
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But I think... I think the place I belong to is bigger than a castle. ( Even if the castle in question is huge. ) I belong to Hoshido b-but it's more than just a place.
It's my home a-and my country and my family and all of my people too! ( Hoshido is everything she loves and values and her heart swells, giving her new strength just thinking about it. ) But now... I think it's a l-little more complicated since I've been here...
no subject
.... I heard someone say, home, is where your heart is.
[ there are several things he wants to say. there's the awareness of how she had held a great deal of worry and fear when they last met - and while he doesn't remember anything, he knows that somehow, that should not happen. it's like knowing the shape of words despite never having the knowledge of speaking them. some vague notion of happiness, too. something about being human.... ]
It's....
[ something I want, he thinks. ]
... it sounds like a beautiful place.