accidental video/open action

[hatesthefood]

The Koneko might be closed, but there's lights on in the workroom of the shop. Just off screen, a low voice hums off key, soft scraping noises and the low whine of a dog marring the offset tune. Off to the side of the table lay several colorful flowers; purple hyacinth and amaranth, plus a single red carnation tossed on top of the pile along with some assorted greenery. Every now and again, a hand moved into sight and deftly snatches up a stem here and there, shifting through the stems to find the right one.

Comments

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

I'll have to keep that in mind.

[She looks him in the eye after an instant of hesitancy and notices this. The way her expression softens into relief and gratefulness may well reveal she does.]

You really don't mind me?

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

I said sit, didn't I?

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

Um! ...Okay. I can take a hint.

[Not to mention feel awkward like dying. But there you have her, Ken. Sitting down, hands in her lap, knees stuck together in a very girly fashion.]

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

... I wouldn't have said to come in if I really wanted to be alone.

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

...I know. Maybe I'm just jumpy.

[She closes her hands in her lap, into fists. She looks down at them as if she expected to find the right words like that.]

I... wanted to see you. I'm not going to lie.

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

Why?

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

Because I care about you, duh.

[She shrugs and sits straighter.]

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

[If she has to sit there in silence and do nothing but keep him company like that, that's fine by her. She just watches him work, tilting her head a little.

He's so good at the thing...]

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

... I saw Mara in her dreams. Right before we went to Hell. She flat out told me she didn't trust me and that she was waiting for the day I'd betray her. Then, to make things worse, I was the one that tossed her into Hell just after all that happened.

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

Ken...

[Damn. Just. Damn everything. So it was even worse than she believed it was. It was even worse than it could have possibly been for her.

She squeezes her eyes shut.]

But... it was a curse. She has to know you well enough to understand you'd never betray her willingly!

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

She doesn't trust me. She said she wasn't sure about our relationship anymore. Hell, she told me she didn't want to lose me as a friend or a lover, but she never said anything about 'boyfriend'.

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

...Has she been hurt before? By someone close to her? Is that it? She must be afraid.

[Then she holds her tongue. It's mostly concern making it loose, but that still doesn't justify the prying.]

Sorry, that's-- ...really none of my business.

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

Hasn't everyone?

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

...Well, I... haven't.

But I've never been in a serious relationship before.

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

[She just meets it with sad, determined eyes. Not a hint of her usual temper's there. If they're talking about trust, here she certainly trusts Ken enough to understand he's upset and doesn't mean to hurt her.]

...All I'm saying is she can trust you. I think she just needs help, so she can stop being scared enough to see just how much she can.

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

... I'm not sure I can be the one to give her that help anymore.

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

Maybe you can help each other. [That's the ideal formula for a successful relationship, right? At least Umi thinks it should be.]

...You love her, don't you. I mean-- I never saw you as happy as you looked when you two were doing good together.

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

... I don't love anyone, Umi.

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

Ken... I know you don't mean that.

[She's felt herself loved and cared for by him. She's seen how he'll always stand by Aya. That's something she just can't believe.]

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

[...This is when she wishes, not for the first time, that she had Aya's knack for saying just what those she cares about need to hear.

As things stand she doesn't know what to say. She just hopes her being there proves it doesn't matter if he wants to believe that right now. She'll still believe in him and how he loves her. They're family.]

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

[soulofocean.livejournal.com]

[Umi strokes her absently, smiling sadly down at her. See, Ken... so many care about you so much. Bandit's concerned about you too.]

Just say the word if you want me to fetch any more flowers or anything...