He's gone by himself this time. Public shuttle, unfortunately; he hates flying with someone he doesn't know or trust to handle a situation that goes bad
( Read more... )
It's really a good thing Zechs picked today to show up! Briana is a very tiny lady on a mission - and it just so happens that her mission happens to cross the path that they met on last time.
What is her mission? Well, that's top secret. All you really need to know is she is hopping down the path of the road, carrying a basket that's stuffed full of roses. So full, in fact, that every time she hops a few take their leave and fall onto the ground.
She doesn't seem to notice. She's too busy singing a song.
It's the singing that first attracts his attention. Then it's the hopping. She doesn't seem to have seen him yet, however, so Zechs takes the initiative to get her attention.
Zechs can't help but laugh at her determined posture and suspicion. He takes her hand and bows over it in a suitably elegant fashion.
'What, indeed. As a matter of fact, I came all this way with the express intention of seeing you, Miss Briana. I do hope I've not caught you at a bad time?'
'Thank you most kindly. It's beautiful; I imagine they have to be imported at this time of year. You'll want to get them inside quickly, though. They do have a tendency to not weather the cold as well as some other flowers once their stems have been cut.'
He sniffs the crimson blossom delicately, the familiar scent oddly comforting.
'In truth, I have brought something for you, as well.'
Without waiting for an answer, Briana takes off, but whirls around so she can look at Zechs while she walks. Because of course she does not have to watch where she is walking.
'Hmm... Well, I'm not certain when your birthday is, so you may consider it whatever sort of gift you wish. A birthday present, something for Christmas, or simply a gift from me because I think you may be the last person on the face of the Earth who would appreciate it.'
He follows her easily; normally he'd be a bit concerned about someone walking backward with no regard to where they were going, but Briana strikes him as someone who can manage the task without injury.
"My birthday was on De-ce-mber Twent-i-forth!" Briana says brightly, swinging the basket a little. A few more roses fall out, but she doesn't even blink - she may even be doing it on purpose.
"What would I appreciate?" She's forgetting that she'll have to open it to find out.
Well, now he has a pleasant reason to remember Christmas Eve.
'The twenty-fourth? Well, a happy belated.' Zechs smiles; she seems to be letting the flowers fall on purpose, and he carefully steps around them so that they're not inadvertantly crushed.
'And you'll have to open the package, to find out. Where would the fun be if I just told you what it was?'
"Do I get to guess, or just open it?" Briana wonders, and then grins at the belated birthday wish. "It was a lot better this year! Well, it was good last year too, but the one before that wasn't good... but it's been good since!"
'You're free to guess, Miss Briana, but I'm known for my poker face. I won't tell you if you're right or wrong. And I'm glad that your more recent birthdays have been pleasant. Birthdays should be happy times that you share with people you care about.'
"They have been. But two years ago it didn't really matter." Briana shrugs, her face dark for a moment, but only for a moment. "Doesn't matter now! It's all better!"
'To me, being almost eleven and still getting to roam around the countryside counts as young. When I was eleven, I was in a military training academy learning how to k- er, learning tactical diplomacy.'
With guns and knives and MS and things that went boom.
'But of course, Miss Briana, you are also wise beyond your years, it seems. And that makes you much more grown up than some adults I've met.'
What is her mission? Well, that's top secret. All you really need to know is she is hopping down the path of the road, carrying a basket that's stuffed full of roses. So full, in fact, that every time she hops a few take their leave and fall onto the ground.
She doesn't seem to notice. She's too busy singing a song.
Reply
'Miss Briana!'
He's really very glad to see her.
Reply
"What are you doing here?" She asks, giving him a slightly suspicious look. She drops the basket, and puts her hands on her hips, studying him.
Reply
'What, indeed. As a matter of fact, I came all this way with the express intention of seeing you, Miss Briana. I do hope I've not caught you at a bad time?'
Reply
She leans over and picks a rose out of the basket, offering it to him. "A gift for the traveller!"
Reply
'Thank you most kindly. It's beautiful; I imagine they have to be imported at this time of year. You'll want to get them inside quickly, though. They do have a tendency to not weather the cold as well as some other flowers once their stems have been cut.'
He sniffs the crimson blossom delicately, the familiar scent oddly comforting.
'In truth, I have brought something for you, as well.'
Reply
Without waiting for an answer, Briana takes off, but whirls around so she can look at Zechs while she walks. Because of course she does not have to watch where she is walking.
"You -have-? Was it for my birthday?"
Reply
'Hmm... Well, I'm not certain when your birthday is, so you may consider it whatever sort of gift you wish. A birthday present, something for Christmas, or simply a gift from me because I think you may be the last person on the face of the Earth who would appreciate it.'
He follows her easily; normally he'd be a bit concerned about someone walking backward with no regard to where they were going, but Briana strikes him as someone who can manage the task without injury.
Reply
"What would I appreciate?" She's forgetting that she'll have to open it to find out.
Reply
'The twenty-fourth? Well, a happy belated.' Zechs smiles; she seems to be letting the flowers fall on purpose, and he carefully steps around them so that they're not inadvertantly crushed.
'And you'll have to open the package, to find out. Where would the fun be if I just told you what it was?'
Reply
She's babbling, a little. She's prone to it.
Reply
'You're free to guess, Miss Briana, but I'm known for my poker face. I won't tell you if you're right or wrong. And I'm glad that your more recent birthdays have been pleasant. Birthdays should be happy times that you share with people you care about.'
Reply
Reply
'Well, I'm glad that it's better. I always looked forward to my birthday when I was young.'
Reply
That's her story, and she's sticking to it.
Reply
With guns and knives and MS and things that went boom.
'But of course, Miss Briana, you are also wise beyond your years, it seems. And that makes you much more grown up than some adults I've met.'
Reply
Leave a comment