wizardmanor | Floor 4, Room 2

Oh. Do I know how... I can probably show you some of the basics, but I'm no expert. It'll probably last at least an extra day or two, though.

[ He's no gardener, but he at least knows how to water plants. ]

Did these just show up in your room out of nowhere?

Really? That works! If they last just a little longer, that’s enough for me.

[ He murmurs that last line to the flowers specifically. ]

These were in my room from the first day. It kinda feels like they’re mine to take care of.

Sounds good to me, then.

[ The enthusiasm is nice...it'll even get Yamato to step out of his room. ]

We'll need to find a water source. There's a gardening area, isn't there? We can borrow the watering can.

[ Um, gardening area? Oh! Right. Ginger nods eagerly. ]

By the courtyard I think. [ And as they start walking in that direction: ] Do you like flowers, Yamato?

Me? Ah, well, I get them a lot...

[ From someone he never wanted them from. ]

It's complicated. I don't really like who's gifting them to me. Why do you ask?

Wait - no, you need to get out of there, Yamato! That’s creepy. Is it a stalker?

Ah- no, no! Nothing like that.

[ ... ]

It's...my father.

Ah.

[ In a knowing tone because dad issues? Same. ]

...Ah.

[ A mirrored reaction, but one of understanding all the same. ]

You, too?

Yeah, we don’t have a bad relationship - my dad and I, but…

[ Ginger is kind of - traumatized by his childhood??? ]

Well, it’s stupid and complicated. Mostly embarrassing. And you? If, um, you want to talk about it?

[ Stupid and complicated...yeah, he feels that. (At least, he thinks he does. He doesn't know the extent of Ginger's situation.) ]

...My father's a liar.

[ Just like him. He lets out a short, bitter laugh. ]

That's the gist of it.

He lies… To you? Or for you?

[ Sympathy for bitterness in that laugh. He wants to give Yamato a flower right now to - help somehow. ]

To me. He always has.

[ That's how he sees it, anyway.

He closes his eyes. ]

I had to find out certain things on my own. I was a kid, when I did. It changed who I was...and who I am now. I'm not proud of it.

Oh.

[ He wonders why a liar would send his son flowers…? Apologies offered too late, maybe. ]

But… Yamato, you were a kid, right? You probably coped with it the only way you knew how.

...

[ That's...

He's never been told that before. Honestly, it renders him speechless. He smiles, and it's more sad than bitter, but he looks up at Ginger with a soft expression. ]

You're too kind, Ginger. Thank you, though. That's more grace than I deserve.

[ He laughs a little. Yamato’s the one tossing all these kind words his way. ]

I just don't think a child should have to blame themselves for the results of an adult’s mistake. You don’t really have the power of choice then.

It's true, but how I choose to handle things in the present is all my responsibility.

[ ... ]

Anyway, all of this to say...I could probably grow to like flowers more than I do now.

[ Then in that case - ]

You can have one of mine. You know, when I was growing up, I thought babies came from flowers. That I was born out of the hope my parents held together - for their love to blossom or something silly like that.

[ And then his dad ruined everything pure about that idea. ]

So with this flower, I hope you can change in a way that makes you happy.

[ Here, have a lily. ]

[ Oh, that...

That's quite a sweet sentiment. Ginger is kind, isn't he?

Yamato takes the lily. He holds it delicately and looks at it with a fond, longing smile. The kindness he's been extended is not deserved, in his opinion, but he'll receive it nevertheless. It feels nice. ]

Thanks. It certainly motivates me to try.

I think… often, we can’t help who we are, but… even if it’s a bad thing to us, other people might not think so.

[ That’s a nice smile. A little sad, but Ginger gets it. ]

I don’t know if we’re wrong, but they’re probably right.

You have a lot of faith in other people.

[ It's not a bad thing. It's a quality he envies, actually. ]

Do you still hold onto that, even when you've been wronged?

Mm… I don’t know if it’s that? I have faith in the people important to me. But… I guess even then, I could stand to… be more honest with them.

[ What a contradiction. ]

I don’t really care about what other people think though.

...I understand.

[ Same hat once again, Ginger, except that last part. ]

I kind of have to care about my image, though. It's my job to appeal to the public. It's what idols do...so I need to be pretty careful, back at home.

Then… how do you present yourself back home? And when do you get to be just Yamato?

I...do my best to keep smiling, I guess. I don't want the fans to see me upset or sad. That's not what idols are here for.

[ As for that second part- ]

Just "Yamato"... I don't know about that. It's not really a side I'm proud of, or a side people really get to see. I've felt more like myself here than I have in a long time.

(no subject)

lustro - 2024-04-26 01:32 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

dadsandals - 2024-04-26 01:47 (UTC) - Expand