[not again] catchall for zenitsu

[fishingforcompliments]

Comments

[swordflash]

I'd like that.

If I get those orbs back, I'll definitely use them to visit Fódlan. You can show me all your favorite places at the monastery.

[fishingforcompliments]

[Flayn's eyes light up. When she smiles, it actually reaches her eyes - which has been a rare sight, these past few weeks.]

Oh, you would love the monastery gardens, I think!

[swordflash]

[What a sweet sight. It softens his own smile in turn.]

Is that right? How do they look compared to this place?

[fishingforcompliments]

They are somewhat similar - they do have seating areas to allow us places to have tea. There is not quite as many varied types of flowers there, but the ones that have been planted are lovely, and it is easy to tell that the groundskeepers put a lot of care into the work they do.

[She sighs wistfully. Soon, she'll go back.]

It is one of my favorite places there.

[swordflash]

[He nods along, thoroughly enjoying that she's enjoying this. The gardens must be beautiful.

It would be nice if he could see it. It would be even better, though, if Flayn could go back there. After all this, she deserves to sit in the warmth under the sunlight, watching the flowers and passersby.]

What kind of tea do you like?

[fishingforcompliments]

I enjoy lighter teas... there is a sweet-apple blend that I enjoy, and an almond blend that is quite tasty. There is also a blend of tea called crescent-moon tea that... I am not quite certain of the contents, but it is very relaxing, regardless.

[Congrats to anyone reading this: you know which teas to provide Flayn with for a perfect teatime if you play FE3H now.]

I have not been able to find it in the kitchens here, or recreate the blends perfectly well... it is a shame. I would have liked to be able to share it with people!

What sorts of teas are your favorite?

[swordflash]

Well, I usually drink green tea . . . I did try some chamomile tea with Dimitri before, though.

[It's too bad. He would've liked to have been able to share tea with her, too. There's so much he would've liked that just didn't pan out.]

If I'm able to visit you, I'd want to try them.

[fishingforcompliments]

[Flayn is thoughtful, for a moment - and then she holds out the her pinkie to him.]

...shall we make it a promise? Not if - when you are able to visit me, you shall try whatever teas you want.

[They don't know how tomorrow will turn out, but maybe putting this out into the universe will help turn things toward the outcome they want.]

[swordflash]

[His heart skips a short beat at the sight of the proffered pinkie. Clumsily, he offers his own pinkie in return with a quick nod, a faint blush dusting his cheeks.]

It's a promise. And I'll ask you to show me all your favorite flowers in the gardens.

[fishingforcompliments]

[She beams at him. Pinkie promise, made.]

I will be very much looking forward to it, Zenitsu!

[swordflash]

[He watches their pinkies loop around one another with a look of naked fascination before pulling his hand back.

It's amazing, how something so little can carry so much hope. His smile widens, softening the look of his eyes.]

M-me, too!

[fishingforcompliments]

There. We have promised, so now we have no choice but to succeed tomorrow.

[SUCK IT, PINK SNAKE. THEY'RE GETTING A HAPPY ENDING.]

[swordflash]

[They had better.

While the pinky promise has passed, he watches her in quiet wonder. Maybe he should say it now, in case something happens tomorrow.]

Thanks . . . for being my friend.

[fishingforcompliments]

[...that actually throws her for a loop. She stares at him for a long moment or two.]

I feel as though I ought to be the one thanking you for your friendship, Zenitsu. You are an easy person to be friends with - but it takes a special sort of person to be willing to be friends with someone who has done the things I have, here.

[swordflash]

I'm glad to hear that.

[Truly, sincerely—he lacks so much restraint that he often wonders if he's driven the other party into hating him. But Flayn has always sought him out. He looks down at the ground.]

I killed at the mansion. Wei Wuxian says it's not the same, but I know that you wouldn't have killed anyone if you had a real choice.

[fishingforcompliments]

[She agrees with Wei Wuxian, honestly.]

I know that you would not have, either. In that place... they transformed you, did they not? [Flayn brings up her free hand to tap some of the scales scattered across one cheek (i forgot right until this moment that it's still furry week)] Like this, but more complete.

That was never... you.

[...]

It is true that I would have preferred not to kill anyone at all, and would not have if the circumstances were not what they were. ...but there were still choices that I made, and those choices hurt people.

[swordflash]

[It's furry week, yet they're both scalies.

Maybe it was never him. But his hands were the ones to obscure the evidence, and it was his tongue that couldn't wag to out himself. At the very least, he understands the torturous inability to confess to a terrible, horrible deed and the guilt of knowing blood stains his hands.]

They hurt you, too.

It was an impossible situation. No matter what, people were going to be hurt.

[Shinobu made a choice and, while she didn't kill anyone again, her death was painful to those she left behind and the successor named in her place. As for making choices that would hurt them less in the long run by picking easier, more painless target . . . that was just human nature. He doubts he would've done any better.]

Everyone was doing their best. Maybe that best wasn't good enough for some, but . . . we've all been selfish at least once in our lives.

[fishingforcompliments]

...be that as it may, I wish that this was not the sort of selfish any of us had to be.

[Flayn sighs.]

At least it is... over, or very nearly so. We cannot change what happened or who was hurt by it, but we can make an effort not to hurt anyone in the future.

[swordflash]

[He nods. Truer words have never been spoken on all fronts.]

That's right. See? If you can say that, it's proof that you're not a bad person, Flayn.

[fishingforcompliments]

...

The fact that you have managed to turn a depressing topic into a compliment is truly remarkable, Zenitsu.

[swordflash]

[She flusters him so. Swallowing, he looks down at the nearest flower.]

N-not really . . . There are way more remarkable people here compared to me.

[fishingforcompliments]

We are not talking about other people. We are talking about you. In my opinion, you are remarkable - and I am very, very lucky to have you as a friend.

Would you tell me that I am wrong about how I feel?

[swordflash]

[His head snaps up.]

Of course not!

Honestly, it makes me happy to hear you say that . . .

[fishingforcompliments]

Good! Then if you do not believe that I am wrong, then you can believe that you are a remarkable person.

[No need for comparisons. Flayn smiles at him.]

...I am glad to hear that hearing the truth makes you happy.

[swordflash]

[A part of him feels guilty for admitting it. He wishes believing were that easy. Still he smiles, if with an uneasy crease in his brow.]

Do any of these flowers catch your eye?