#holdslife

[bonescribes-a]

@holdslife // sc.

" i'm only human . "

[bonescribes-a]

@holdslife: while honorifics come steadily; fluency long necessary in this country; the part-timer of the flower shop he'd met pokes her head in to watch his back as he peers at some flowers. with a small; quiet smile; no touch of a divine thumb; just simple honest humanity, the teenager slides her card and some white lilies above the elegant script. 'dear yukito-san. thank you for stopping by our shop. i heard it was your birthday. ' how? 'lilies are always a symbol of many things, but to me they represent fresh life and hope, things i wish your birthday will give you upon a new year of your own life. please stop by again. and please look near the door. that plate is for you.' the fruit tarts, that is.

admittedly , there's no need to stop by the flower shop quite as often as he does -- but , then , yukito is a sucker for good company and pretty flowers . now , this time , he does have an excuse . maybe it's odd to get other people a gift on your birthday , but there's a certain cozy family to whom he owes many thanks for celebrating with him .

he's caught up in his perusal , as usual , and thus fails to notice the sneaky gift pushed towards him until the giver has already slipped away . a smile , gentle but terribly bright , splits his face as he reads over the script . his head turns towards the door , and there on a nearby counter indeed sits the promised fruit tarts .

yukito feels impossibly warm . what on earth did he do to deserve this gesture ? he can't think of a single thing ; is therefore driven to somehow become worthy of ana's kindness .

" thank you , " he whispers to the room . " i'll find a way to repay you , i promise . "

[bonescribes-a]

@holdslife:  [ crown ] for yukito!

his eyes are stuck on his hands , currently in his lap as he struggles to tie the stems of several daisies together . his brows are furrowed behind his glasses , tongue stuck cutely between his lips -- a perfect picture of concentration . he doesn’t even notice , at first , when anastasia’s completed flower crown is set upon his head . then , as he leans in closer towards his work , it begins to slip , and he shoots up , eyes wide and mouth open .

hands abandon his failed daisy chain and find the crown adorning his hair . he takes it off for a moment -- just to look -- before setting it back on his head and grinning .

“ thank you ! ”

the smile he gives her isn’t like the sun -- it isn’t a source of light all on its own . instead , it is the moon , softly reflecting the small kindness ana has offered him . then , he swiftly returns to his own project , more determined than ever .

“ hold on -- i have to make sure we match ! ”

[bonescribes-a]

@holdslife:  [ brush ] fai

fai knows he shouldn’t indulge in this . he’s not meant to get close to these people -- to let them like him , and to like them in - turn . he’s a touchy person by nature , though , and certainly not immune to anastasia’s puppy - dog eyes . when she gently requests to brush his hair , he doesn’t have it in him to say no -- and anyway , it is a mess . and it’s just one time . it’s fine , right ?

thus does the magician find himself slowly becoming a puddle as he sits cross - legged in front of ana , who runs a comb ( and her fingers , he’s fairly certain ) through his hair with the utmost care . he puts his chin in his hand ; closes his eyes . is it even possible to be this relaxed ? ( is it right ? is this really okay ? )

he’ll realize later that settling into such a slack position was his downfall . he’ll realize later that he’s in too deep -- that despite his best efforts , he’s managed to let at least one person near . 

for now , though , he rests.

[bonescribes-a]

@holdslife​:  she beams; not the shy reserved smile of a woman pondering her fate nor future; but the smile of a girl with birdsong for a voice; roses for eyes and cheeks flushed with quiet;  joyous mirth. she gathers her dress;  wondering when that tailor to adapt her clothing to this 'journey' they were on would take; but she could be patient. a hundred years upon years after all. 'fai! the flowers we were blooming are blossoming! and on top of that, i smell the most delicious breakfast! why don't we gather some so everyone can enjoy it with their meal?' her hand hesitantly reaches for his before pulling it back; coloring a bit. 'apologies, i just wanted you to see it. we worked so hard and we have our rewards! i wanted absolutely to tell you first. it's your work too. you gave life to these little ones and they want to see you!' crinkling ruby eyes meet his before whirling and gathering her skirts again; a tempest of black curls and pale gown into the sunshine.

in truth , he hadn’t been sure about helping with the garden . it was temporary , after all , like all things in their adventures -- and despite his general affinity for food in all forms , truthfully , fai was afraid he’d ruin the poor plants . not for any particular reason , other than the little voices in his mind ( the ones that sound like family , friends , countrymen ) that cry : you bring misfortune .

in the end , his apparent inability to say no to ana won out .

ignoring superstitions becomes worth it the moment he catches a glimpse of that luminous smile . they created something , together , and it’s thriving -- he can’t help the bit of pride that swells in his heart . he shouldn’t be indulging in this -- it’s dangerous to indulge in this -- but just for a moment , he captures the image of her grinning at him , hand outstretched . 

“ already ? i suppose we should go have a look ! ”

she turns , and fai can almost hear it ; whispers on the wind . they were wrong , they were wrong , they were wrong .