though, most times, she is a pillar of optimism, she’d be a liar to say there aren’t times the positivity strays from her. and a liar is something she’s never been. one thing she’s appreciated about nicky since joining their band of misfits is his good nature, his attitude despite the fact that things seem to have a habit of going tits-up damn near every day, at times. she’s always resonated with that. a good heart can feel another good heart, a good soul, and she believes, more than anything, that his heart is beautiful.
but he asks her of a good memory, something that has made her happy – something that still makes her happy. that’s where things get tricky. because the old intertwines with the new, and whereas a happy memory might be just that, happy, it also brings pain for the proceeding remembrance of what she’s lost. despite it, she puts on a smile, leaning back in her chair ; her body is a little more tense, preparing its self for the blow of the reminiscence. she’s always been an open book, but it occurs to her that she’s never shared with nicky where it all started for her. ❝ well, ❞ she begins, letting a breathy chuckle escape as her eyes fall to the space beyond him, ❝ my brother and i– i mean.. he wasn’t really my brother, but we knew each other since we were kids, and.. he was my best friend – we actually got tickets for this cruise-line.. the titanic.. ❞ she figures that doesn’t need explanation ; everyone knows about the titanic, don’t they? ❝ it was– the most fun i ever had. we were third class, so we were– the shit stain on the bottom of first class’ feet, but.. god, it was so much better than being with those elitist pricks. we had this sense of freedom among each other.. we had the lower deck, and we would throw parties. dancing, drinking, poker.. ❞ her words begin to drift, though there’s a smile on her face, and she brings her gaze up to meet the other’s. ❝ that ship was the most beautiful thing i had ever seen.. it still is. i can still remember the smell. ❞
though, now, she wonders: ❝ what about you? tell me something that makes you happy. ❞
“ ah, “ is the only thing he can really say at first. he has to wonder if the story ends up going where he thinks it’s going. but, he doesn’t ask because it’s not his place. what he’s already received is a wonderful gift. he enjoys hearing what the others hold on to only to be slightly diverted by the tension in her voice regarding certain subjects. still, he finds himself chuckling at her energy. it’s a fond memory, he can tell. yet also one laced with something that makes her body language tighten and he wonders if that’s related to his original thought. again, not asking.
“ i remember all the excitement surrounding that. we didn’t even think of going because of quynh but i remember marveling at what such a successful voyage would mean for the future. extended travel has always been so uncomfortable. “
riding horseback for days on end always did wonders for one’s posture.
" the smell of the sea? or the smell of a newly crafted vessel? “ one he could imagine. the other he couldn’t. as much as they avoided going into the water itself the smell always reminded him of home since he’d grown up so close the the sea’s edge. the bustle of a maritime town was something he could easily fall back into whenever they were close enough or allowed to have a few days to explore. but, he tears his thoughts away from the train of thought in order to answer the subsequent question.
nicky tilts his head to the side, honestly, there were a lot of happy memories he held close even after all this time. that’s what he chose to hold on to. there was bad. there was a lot of bad considering what they did and even more reason to let himself be happy over the good. “ music has always made me happy. OH. back in 1715 i dragged everyone to venice to see vivaldi.because i’d been hearing whispers of this amazing composer. it has easily been one of the most memorable experiences i’ve ever enjoyed. “
