(open.) goldenseal

[medicative]

Who ⬤ Emily and open!
What ⬤ Monthly catchall - substories, life, etc.
When ⬤ Over March
Where ⬤ Across the city.
Content Warnings ⬤ TBA if needed


sprout. - post mingle

[it's not her scene at all. already on edge, Emily had kept it together long enough to get her pay advance, thanked people kindly, and then bolted. overwhelming, bad for her senses, and so she had gone to the roof, stretched her wings, and flown away. immediately, she had started feeling better, the relief that comes from exercise and movement and being out of an environment that puts her ill at ease.

where she lands, it's away from the nightclub, but she carefully wanders, trying to get her bearings. it's much harder than it appears, in the dimmer light, even with things illuminated by electricity and the life that still thrums through the place. and unfortunately for a person that looks lost, it's all too easy to get spotted by those who might be drunk, might not be, but see virtue in calling out on the street to try to get one more person to join them for fun.]

No thank you, I'm not-

[they don't seem to be willing to accept the first no for an answer. alternatively, you've arrived later, and someone has Emily slung over their shoulder. despite the awkward state of affairs, she is very clearly trying to squirm out of their grasp, more annoyed than anything else about being swept away, and the youkai holding her seems ignorant to how she's trying to get out. or maybe just used to it. ugh. she's not giving up yet though.]

growth. - night parade

[decorating is an important part of being ready for the parade, Emily knows, and for this, she can put her full energy behind it. after failing so miserably at socializing earlier, she's doing her best to remain dutiful here. that means fetching what she's been told to, assisting those who might have shakier footing, or giving gentle but honest advice about what looks best. and of course, for those harder to reach spots, it does help when you can fly up and hover some to affix it in the best spot. this might be why she keeps getting assigned to the trickier bits.

of course, no one can keep being full of steam all the time, and so it is that on break, she's found a good spot to sit down - right on a wooden box, slumped over and clutching onto a water bottle as if it will save her. but hearing any footsteps, she sits up, the flush of exertion in her face still evident.]

Has it been twenty minutes already? Goodness.

[self defense training or not, it's like running a marathon...]

bloom. - work

[she bows her head and accepts the sneers thrown her ways from the other girls - they don't understand why an uptight member of the Sutoku would seek a steadier job with the club that falls under more of the Tamamo purview, but the manager accepts it with a grunt and lets Emily have her work. employment is employment, and she needs funds if she's going to get anywhere, so she'll sell what's most useful right now - her voice. Hotaru is the stage name she chooses for herself, and she does her best to ingratiate herself with the others, learning what the band would prefer to play and what songs they can collaborate on. really, she closes her ears to anything else, keeps to herself - even the most sharp eyed can't find fault with her attitude off stage, and so she'll gain her money carefully.

so, perhaps you've come in to enjoy a leisurely night at a slower pace, and she's in the midst of her set, singing and making the right kind of eye contact with customers. maybe it's earlier, and you work there, early enough to hear the sounds of a minor scuffle in the back that ends with a door slammed and Emily stumbling out of that direction, a bundle in her arms. or maybe it's later, and you're at the bar, and a soft voice comes from your side.]

I wouldn't, if I were you.

[it's the careful grind, after all. there's the idea of quitting and finding a different place, and she has the number of a different club in another district, but...she wants her first paycheck at least.]

wildcard.

[for custom prompts and new ideas and the like. ooc intro if you'd like to plot something specific, or hit me up via PM!]

Comments

[everblooms]

Yep! [ The dolly comes to a stop as Aerith stares up at a business front; it's fancy. They shelled out for the good neon lettering, and the people inside are well-to do. Fashionable, but timelessly so. She turns to Emily, and beams. ]

Everyone has to adapt eventually. [ There's a solemn sort of note to her tone. Untold secrets, lost time, weights she'll never let go of. Behind her, life bustles on, even as she talks about being on hold. ]

Even when you're singing, you're thinking about healing. That's your natural state. But what about you, Emily? How are you?

[medicative]

[is this their stop? or does Aerith just want to take a break for a second? either way Emily pauses, hands on the dolly, considering the other woman's words, the tone of her voice. there's a way the light shines on her, in her eyes, that makes Emily want to ask if she's really all right, to touch her hand and offer a listening ear. she's always been like that, when she sees the edges of something that could be a scar of the soul.

but then Aerith asks Emily about herself, and she blinks, a little startled and thrown off.]

What do you mean?

[hadn't they gone over that? that she's better to be out of the club? that things are okay enough for now?]

[everblooms]

[ It is, indeed, their stop. Tamamo has a way of making Aerith feel out of place, but she makes her way through the world, anyway. It's been years upon years of making her own way. She can do it yet. ]

You take care of everyone else. [ You should know what she means. Are you okay, in general? Is the world ever too much, do you hide your wants and regrets in the act of caring for others so much that it's what you retreat in? Do you want or need any help? Aerith's in your corner. Her smile conveys that much. ] You have to ask?

[ Laughing a little, she moves to the door, but doesn't open it just yet. ] Maybe we need to work on that letting yourself be taken care of thing a little bit.

[ With a nod, she opens the door and gestures inside. ] After you, Emily.

[medicative]

[it's almost too bright to keep looking at, and she's glad for the excuse to turn away, to get at least the basket and make her way inside, helping escort the dolly. one of the workers is bound to come take it off their hands, bringing it to the proper place. it means she doesn't have to answer that question at all, and instead can focus on finishing the delivery.

as someone's carting it off...]

No doubt they know exactly what they're getting into, with these brews.

[it's certainly no hidden secret.]

[everblooms]

[ A job well done is always an accomplishment, in her book. She leaves the basket's contents on a bar, and it's whisked away by a bartender. ]

Why's that? Tamamo's special spice? [ There's a sort of conspiratorial tone to her voice, and Aerith would personally admit it's not for her. That said, an adult is free to do what they want on their own terms. ] Probably, that's what they want. C'mon, I'll take you home.

[ Gotta make sure she gets home safe and sound. ]

So, Emily. What's your favorite flower?

[medicative]

[go here, then go there...really, she should protest more instead of dutifully following along.]

Mine? It's the sunflower.

[she hasn't seen any in a long time, but that doesn't stop her heart from loving them. bright, strong, growing tall.]

What's yours?

[everblooms]

Sure you want to ask a florist that?

[ In some odd way, she feels like all of them are her's. Her favorites. ]

Ooh, sunflower, huh? They represent loyalty and adoration. People used to give them to each other when they started new businesses. I think the most interesting thing about them is they naturally absorb toxins. They plant them near areas with a lot of radiation to help suck it out of the soil. [ There's a knowing lilt to her voice. ] Sounds a little like someone I know!

[medicative]

Ah, that's-

[distracted as she is by a right way to respond to the words, she forgets that the road isn't the most even here, and her shoe catches on the edge of broken pavement. which leads to her stumbling, trying to catch herself, and miserably failing in this - the most she can do is land on her side instead of her front, to try and retain some dignity.

what a hopeless mess she's been today. she wishes she could tuck herself in a linen closet and hide.]

[everblooms]

—Emily?! [ Immediately, Aerith leaps into action... and misses. Oops. Emily goes straight in the ground. Getting down on the ground next to her, Aerith puts her hands on the other woman's shoulder, pulling her onto her back and immediately inspecting any damage. ]

Are you alright? Knock, knock...?

[ Anyone home? ]

[medicative]

[you mean, apart from the part of herself that wants to simply expire on the spot? she's there, just wincing at the fact that there's definitely going to be a bruise later, she knows the feeling well. no true damage - dirt on her dress can be washed, and the little scrapes on her hands from half catching herself will heal with a bit of time, and her ankle isn't sprained, thankfully. just shattered dignity, all across the pavement, as she tries to figure out how to sit up.]

Miss Aerith, I'm so sorry about that...

[sorry you had to witness it. be involved in it. watch this trainwreck.]

[everblooms]

[ Without another word, Aerith pulls Emily to her feet and balances her with a firm hand. It's no more work then ensuring a flower stands tall, and when she steps back to make sure Emily's feet are both firmly on the ground, she gets that same sense of pride. ]

For what? [ With a soft half-laugh, Aerith shakes her head and starts pushing Emily in another direction. ] You're working yourself too hard. Sorry. I know I contributed. [ What with the dolly and all... ] But I know a really nice place to relax, and I'll get you something to drink. Okay? Now, deep breaths!

[medicative]

[here, there, and everywhere. really, there's something that says she should protest, but after just taking a fall, she's in no mind to.]

All of that's more easily said than done...but please don't blame yourself for my carelessness...

[she feels rather like a sheep being herded around, but at least she's not in the club, and of the two, she'd rather be pushed along into new places. somewhere to relax, was it? well, she'll certainly move along.]

[everblooms]

Oh, I'd ask you to help me again. [ Make no mistake about it. ] But we all have limits, Emily.

[ There's a tone of sympathy woven into her voice, and as she leads Emily to a bench made from bamboo, she makes sure to take it at an easy pace. By the time they make it there, Emily will find herself being seated onto that bench, underneath the long, twisting branches of a replanted pine tree. ]

One second.

[ Aerith disappears for no more than a minute, returning from a vending machine across the way with a bottle of fancy water. Tamamo really spares no expense. ]

This is nice, huh?

[medicative]

[it's...well, it's no forest, but call her easily placated when the tree's scent is fresh and the bench is welcome. by the time Aerith returns, she's looking up at it, smiling in a way that's less done for politeness and more simply because she feels it. her approach means Emily looks down, half turns that smile on her.]

It's lovely. A small moment of calm in the middle of how hectic everything can be.

[everblooms]

[ The urban forest, so to speak, casts a cooling shade over the pair. Aerith sits next to Emily at a familiar but distant enough length, and leans back to peer up into the pockets of sunlight peeking through the leaves. ]

Yeah... Hey, Emily? It's been really nice meeting you today.

[ Birds chip in the distance. Life rolls on. ]