avalononline | Video; un: pinkmemory

Hello!

[Aerith is bright and cheerful, which seems to be the norm for her. She offers a wave, wearing a smile, her drake coiled around her ponytail and the pretty hair piece tucked into it.]

Not long after I arrived, I had this thought to open a flower shop. I haven't yet, but I have some flowers that are kind of taking over my apartment. I got these a bit ago, so some of them are younger than others, but they're all pretty hardy.

[Her camera pans over to a counter that's housing no shortage of pots with lily of the valley, larkspur, and primrose plants in a variety of colours.

Afterwards, she leans onto her counter and dips her head as she eyes her device, coming back into view.]

So I guess what I'm saying is that if you like flowers or you want something to spruce your home up, I'm happy to give you some of mine. If you don't know how to take care of them, I can help walk you through that, too. Or if you just want to come take a look at them, that'd be okay, too.

[After a pause, she continues.] Also, if you didn't know, larkspurs— [She points to the ones that stand tall with the colourful petals.] —are a favourite with King Arthur. Just in case you feel like getting on his good side.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, I wasn't implying that was the only reason you did it. People are more than a few traits. Rarely do we ever do something with one or two intentions in mind. That would be oversimplifying it. I think you're more complicated than that, and complication can be a good thing.

[As much as it can be a bad one.]

Nothing you've said has changed my opinion of you. If anything, the more you share about yourself, the more I just think you're a good person with good intentions. I can say plenty of people here seem good, but I just feel like you're good. You're trustworthy.

[And that's something she can't say about everyone she's met.]

[ Zuko's a bit stunned by all that. It's true he was trying to deflect from a compliment, uncomfortable being complimented often, but Aerith's insistence on her perception of him as a good trustworthy person... catches him off guard, even with his guard up. ]

Trustworthy...? You just— feel like I'm good...?

[ He parrots, then pauses. ]

...Why?

[ He doesn't say it in a dismissive way, nor is he fishing for compliments, but asks in a genuinely curious way. He doesn't understand her reasoning. But he wants to know what about him would give off such an impression. He isn't certain he's a trustworthy person, but if he's giving the impression of one, it's worth thinking about how so. That she sees him as innately good is what's most shocking to hear, and he wants to pick that apart and analyze it because he's not been "good" always. He still sees himself as a transformed bad guy in a certain sense, deep down — a vague perception that floats and haunts, not really on the forefront of his mind or articulated. But hearing he comes off as a genuine good guy, that people he's barely met see him as a mensch in particular — it all strikes a chord. ]

[That's a harder question to address and as such, Aerith doesn't have an immediate answer for him. How does she arrive at just a place? By chance? No. Rarely is anything truly up to chance where she's concerned. Maybe it's the Cetra in her? But that's unlikely too. Maybe. It's possible that can play a part.

As she leans onto her arms, she considers the best way to handle this because there's a labyrinth of complexity when it comes down to describing an individual and separating them from the shades of grey that have occurred in their life. A person can do less-than-good things and still be a good person at heart. There are way too many variables to blanket everything.]

You're coming out with the hard stuff now, aren't you? [She laughs as she tilts her head at him.] I'd like to say I know people or that I at least have a sense for these things. That's probably not always true, though. Given what you've told me, your reactions to all of this, to even something as a simple kindness, I get this feeling that you've probably been through a lot of hardship. You've probably been evaluated and judged for a variety of things you've done or things you've gone through.

[A pause and then she continues.] I don't really know how else to put it. Even in this, it's just a feeling I get. Maybe you weren't always like that, but that's how you seem to be now. The past is a great learning tool for us, but it's what we do now and tomorrow that really matters.

...Am I really so transparent...?

[ She hit the nail on the head, and he's unnerved that he shows more than he realizes. But in a good way? He just got seen by someone he barely knows. But she's stating objective facts and none of them are insulting, necessarily. Just shaking to realize more of his life and more of his self shows than he thinks he lets on. ]

[Aerith shakes her head at him.] Not transparent, no. All I did was make guesses based on how you act around me. I'm not perfect at it, but I can read people sometimes.

[She's not sure she'd even call it that. Aerith knows all kinds of things back home that she shouldn't theoretically know. That's not the same as this, though. With Zuko, it's only deduction.

She expects him to correct him where she might be wrong.]

Just because I can pick it out about you doesn't mean anyone else can.

Well.

[ He pauses a beat, pouting thoughtfully, but concedes with the ghost of a smirk. ]

You've got a good intuition.

Sometimes I do, that's true!

[She's back to all bright smiles, in part due to the hint of a curve in his own expression, subtle it may be.]

Why don't you try with me? If I can do it, you can do it, too. What does your intuition say about me, Zuko?

Um... Okay... Uh—

[ Way to put him on the spot, Aerith. An anxious hand searches to rub an uncomfortable neck in thought as he pauses, considering, giving her the obvious once-over as if the answers might lie somewhere head-to-toe, rather than in his own gut. After a moment of deliberation, he averts his eyes, but after a moment speaking, returns his gaze to her meaningfully. ]

...People aren't kind without reason— or example. Someone taught you to be gentle. So— there must have been some kind of hardship in your home to warrant learning that, too. But someone who helped you through it. You've, um, probably met all kinds of different people... because you're patient, even with someone unlike yourself... And you're giving. Generosity comes from having gone without, yourself. I don't think you grew up rich, right... And, uh— Something tells me you've spent a lot of time alone? Because you like flowers and seem to give a lot of thought to most things... But don't seem to seek others' approval, either. So you're comfortable on your own, which only comes from experience being alone. ...Is any of that right?

[ He's young, but he doesn't give himself enough credit for his inherited wisdom from his old uncle and myriad life experiences of his own. He sees more than he realizes. ]

[She's very patient as she waits for his assessment. Folding her hands together, Aerith wears a patient smile, which remains unwavering as he begins. She nods along slowly, understanding his train of thought and where he goes with it.]

That's very astute of you. All of it. You're not wrong. I've known a lot of different kinds of people and I've had my share of experiences. And I'm definitely not well off. I live with my mom back home, but I don't have any other living family. I'd say your observations are all pretty accurate.

[Then she grins.] But there you have it. I was able to do it. So can you.

Video; un: pinkmemory

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