Day 33: Greenhouse (Men)

[blood_and_pocky]

[About to make a new fan friend.]By the time Aidou arrived at the greenhouse, he was once again immersed in his own thoughts. Idle talk with Anise was over. Where the hell was Kyon? Nurses usually gave the excuse of “they’re sick” or “they’re sleeping,” which were no doubt lies, but given out during the instances where prisoners actually came back

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[blood_and_pocky]

People could say a lot about Aidou and his childish behavior sometimes, but he did have a way of getting what he wanted, whether by throwing a fit or other methods. Usually it was being direct about it.

This time, however, Aidou clung to the air of superiority he'd won, subtly waving off the stuttering like a more mature version of himself was wont to do. Considering how often he received the same treatment, his first instinct was to reverse the roles and take the reins. It felt good to dish this sort of stuff out. "Oh, of course not, I wasn't saying you were trying to flirt with me so early in our acquaintance." He looked in the other direction, trying not to smile meanly, before looking back with an expression of aplomb.

"A pleasure, though I've never heard of you. Sorry." Normally when being fed those kinds of titles, once was supposed to recognize them--assuming they held their own weight--and show the proper amount of respect. Aidou certainly didn't feel obligated to do so, but the least he could do was acknowledge the hint of another species' peerage. "My name is Aidou Hanabusa. You probably wouldn't recognize my heritage."

[arrogantflame]

What was it he was just thinking about this day being better than yesterday? Perhaps he had spoken too soon. Or thought. Or whatever. He supposed he could get up and move, but that would mean that this boy truly had "won", and Wolfram wasn't about to give up now. Although he did learn one thing from his words... this boy wasn't a Mazoku, if he'd never hard of him or his family heritage.

Really... Flirt? Him? Hmph. As if. "Just because I've never seen a human with hair and eyes like yours doesn't mean I was flirting..." There really was a pinkness in his cheeks now, and Wolfram hoped that it would be mistaken for the sun.

"...Should I call you Aidou? Or do you have one of those backwards names like..." Like Yuuri. It was strange all the things that he knew now that he would have been lost about here if it wasn't for that. But he quickly moved the attention away from said mental topic once again.

[blood_and_pocky]

Human. That put a damper on things for more than one reason.

For one, being thought of an exceptionally beautiful human wasn't always a compliment when it came from a vampire's point of view, and two, it just confirmed that Wolfram was both weird in both body and mind. Hmm. Not surprising, but still. Not as much fun now that reality was setting in.

Rather than take a shot at the obvious increase in blood flow to Wolfram's face, Aidou turned his attention away and looked out over the greenhouse. Inattentive. At least the kid seemed to recognize a Japanese introduction. "Yes, I gave my family name first. But Aidou is fine."

[arrogantflame]

Wolfram seemed to notice the difference in Aidou's demeanor almost instantly, although it only served to make him confused. Had he said something wrong? Perhaps insulted him - it would hardly be the first nor the last time that happened. So he simply sighed and let his eyes drift closed for a moment; he certainly wasn't about to apologize when he wasn't sure what had happened in the first place.

When he opened them again, he allowed his gaze to go out in the same direction as the other boy's, curious to see what he was looking at. If he had to guess, it would be at the flowers. "I don't think they've been watered properly," he started. "And that tree over there is too tall and blocks the sunlight. They should be better on the other side, don't you think?"

Maybe it would be a chance for Aidou to forget about whatever it was that he'd done.

[blood_and_pocky]

"What are you talking about?" he said at first, mostly because Aidou didn't see a point in talking about the plants.

He was a bit ahead of the game, however. There was no way for Wolfram to know that vampires like Aidou had their own affinity with greenery, sometimes manipulating nature the way they saw fit, which left the greenhouse's mistakes blatantly clear to him. The fact that Wolfram was mostly right was a cause for some curiosity. While unlikely that the kid was trying to be like D on purpose, at least he was less annoying at times.

And being a new face, who knew, he'd probably disappear in the next few days.

I like that tree where it is, the vampire couldn't help but think. "Only if people learn how to care for them properly after that, which isn't going to happen," Aidou commented. Even watching the other prisoners work was depressing. No finesse whatsoever. "The roses will wilt soon."

[arrogantflame]

Honestly, Wolfram hadn't been expecting much of an answer. In reality, he kind of expected to be teased more about such a girlish topic. His eyes widened in surprise at the sudden response, before he gazing at the roses as well.

"Perhaps. Mother always used to prefer tend to those herself, although now she's gone too much to give them much care. The servants are pretty good, though."

He realized that Aidou probably couldn't care less, so after making brief eye contact, he stopped talking, dangling leg shifting nervously.

[blood_and_pocky]

Somebody else who had servants. Well, that was something worth appreciating, anyway. Too often people in this place were either amazed or disgusted such things were normal for some people.

“They will,” he stated with finality, giving the fidgety boy beside him a long look when the conversation died. Then he turned his head, and continued staring, with hardly as much concern over manners compared to Wolfram.

[arrogantflame]

Wolfram watched the other boy for a time; not so much staring, just... kind of observing. He wondered if this was what he looked like sometimes on the outside to other people.

"Are you always so quiet?" he finally asked, one hand brushing back a few rebellious strands of hair out of his face. "Or is this a special occasion?"

He stretched both arms up in the air, fingers interlocking, before he shifted to a more comfortable position. "If I didn't know any better, I'd guess that maybe your day has been about as good as mine was."

Not that Wolfram thought it was possible to have a "good day" in this place. But some of the patients who weren't new seemed happy enough, or better off than they were.

[blood_and_pocky]

Mostly, he’d been wondering if Wolfram really was from a noble family, which lead into all sorts of other thoughts, like why the blood he smelled from the boy’s wounds didn’t carry the tang of humanity like many people here seemed to lack. Not things he felt he should become interested over.

“Who’s being quiet?” he replied loudly, straightening his back. “I don’t have anything to talk about. I’ve been here for a while already, after all--I don’t need to ask how things work.” The vampire knew better than to write potential allies off completely, though lately he rarely felt the urge to seek out conversations with others unless there was an immediate goal in mind. Wolfram, if Aidou ever felt charitable enough to keep him in mind when thinking about allies later, was very new. Aidou could tell, since he also would have noticed Wolfram in the crowd eventually.

He had to snort at the observation, however. “I recommend getting used to dreary days. And if you’ve found anyone you know from home, you’d best keep an eye on them.” The last part was the most telling piece of advice Aidou could give; he’d failed to do so himself.

[arrogantflame]

Oh. Maybe he had assumed wrong, then. Wolfram nodded slowly with a small frown. "Even if I haven't been here long, I still understand how things work just fine, thank you. I'm not stupid."

But it was the next part that stung the most. He bit at his lip, pulling both knees up towards his chest so that he could rest his chin on them. He was starting to feel cold again. "But... there isn't anyone here that I know. I doubt they'd care too much if I didn't escape."

It wasn't like he had any important inheritance, and he had spent the last sixty-some years being rude to everyone in his family. And he didn't even have... no. He still had that. No one would take that away from him. But it made him wonder why he was chosen and no one else.

"Fine, just forget I asked, I guess."

[blood_and_pocky]

“No, you really don’t,” Aidou returned lowly, closing his eyes and focusing on the scent of daisies, “or you would know better than to say something like that.” When he opened them again, his gaze was somewhat bleak.

However, the noble didn’t look at Wolfram until the boy was finished, and even then, he did so suddenly and with a glare.

And then he took a long moment taking in Wolfram’s expression.

Finally: “If you want to die, just die,” Aidou said sharply. There was little comfort to be had in his tone. “I must have been mistaken, because there can’t be as much noble blood in you as I thought. Self-pity is for pitiful people.” He didn’t care who Wolfram was or what his life was like--he had given his name as part of his family, and if that was the case, then his family’s pride was also tied to his own. “It shouldn’t matter if you think you’ll be missed; you’ve got a place to be. You’ve practically said as much.”

Aidou really didn’t like the words Wolfram had used. They irritated him.

[arrogantflame]

At first, all Wolfram could feel from the words was a mind-numbing shock. Here was some boy that he barely knew telling him that he didn't know anything?

For a brief moment he was angry, the words echoing in his ears repeatedly. Especially about dying. He didn't want to die, did he? Sure he was a bit lonely now, but it would pass and he would move on... right? But he forced the anger to die out, focusing only on what was said between them. He tried to picture what he would have said to Aidou if the other boy had told him the exact same thing. And honestly... his answer might not have been too far off the mark.

So he did one of the hardest things that he'd ever had to do, especially in this place; paused, took a deep breath, and gave Aidou a very awkward smile.

"......I guess that did sound rather pathetic, didn't it? No... I do have an obligation to my family, and I will get out of here and return to them. It'd be shameful not to."

He sighed softly before continuing, "I just sometimes forget that. It's not always easy, but I think you might know that, right?"

[blood_and_pocky]

Coupled with the heat and the threat of sunburn, Aidou had been half expecting and half wanting some kind of furious explosion of temper, just so he could have an excuse to do the same. He didn’t know this person, and certainly couldn’t say he had a vested interest in whether or not Wolfram was an honourable noble or a fraud--he’d only wanted to make things clear at the time.

That if a noble had obligations above one’s own happiness, they should keep to them. At least that was how Aidou felt; the night society had an ancient kind of protocol.

So he was a tiny bit surprised when his feelings sparked a similar response in the other. Maybe Wolfram wasn’t entirely full of whiny notions like he’d been starting to suspect. Aidou tried not to make the reluctance of his shrug too obvious. He couldn’t deny he knew his fair share of shame, and wasn’t… someone Kaname-sama always wanted to confide in. “I try not to forget…” He sighed too, though it was more brusque than Wolfram’s. Talking about his family wasn’t going to make a difference. “Even if you’re the third son, you should still be missed.”

For whatever reasons. He didn’t know. Aidou wasn’t sure if he was trying to be comforting or getting Wolfram to shut up.

[arrogantflame]

He wasn't entirely sure why, but Aidou's words almost seemed... touching in a way. Like perhaps maybe he really did understand, at least a little. Maybe they were similar in more than just appearance.

"In my family," he stated softly, "time doesn't always have the same meaning. But... I'm sure that might be the case. Although I haven't been gone as long as you have."

He relaxed his pose, so that his feet slid closer to Aidou's legs, just barely far enough away so they didn't touch. He was still a little cold, but the warm sun through the greenhouse roof was helping.

"So what would be your suggestion, then, to keep me from dying?"

[blood_and_pocky]

Aidou’s attention was piqued at the comment about time, but he wasn’t about to ask. He was suspicious when someone implied what he thought they were implying. And it was also curious that Wolfram appeared to take his word at face value--he could have been lying about being stuck in Landel’s for quite a while. The issue was rather moot, anyway.

Time was… an interesting topic. The vampire ignored it for now.

He watched Wolfram shift in his seat absently, thinking this conversation had lasted a lot longer than he would have thought. “Hmm?” was his initial reaction to the second question, however. He supposed that even though he knew Wolfram was not the same kind of noble he was (which was synonymous with a high level of power for vampires), he expected Wolfram might be able to do… something. Perhaps have better survival skills than a regular human, at least.

His eyebrows knit slightly, lifting in a look of thought. “Find someone experienced to stick with if you’re not willing to stay out of harm’s way during the night. Get a map and information about some of the creatures you’ll find on the bulletin board, too. There are plenty of groups that would probably take you in.”

[arrogantflame]

Wolfram covered up a second yawn, although his mind was still surprisingly alert for now. He had the feeling that he was just uncomfortable with dropping his defenses in this place, since who knew when it would suddenly become dangerous again.

Aidou's answer, however, made him raise an eyebrow at the other boy. It wasn't like he brought up the question because he was completely clueless. But... what the heck. Maybe he could play along. Anything not to think about any more darker things.

"I'm in the process of collecting material for a weapon, and I've been invited to join a group, but it doesn't sound all that appealing." Besides, what if he had to work with people he disliked? It was one thing for a night or two to repay his debt, but beyond that he really wasn't sure.

"And what about you? What is your group?" He relaxed his form a little more. "Or would you prefer not having someone like me?"

His tone had no insulting tone... he was mostly curious more than anything.