[Lightning is gentle when she holds the wreath out for Zack, suddenly embarrassed by her show of frustration against the innocent forget-me-nots, but her gaze remains hardened while she eyes them, as if they have been uttering mocking comments at her throughout the whole thing. And when he's done, she's silent as she slides the last bead on with a slight pout to her lips, and even more so when it fits on with ease.]
You make it look way too easy.
[Uh oh, does that mean she owes him a beer now, too?
She tests the sturdiness with some gentle tugs, making sure to tuck any loose stems in by wrapping them around one another, but besides that single mishap, her wreath is looking pretty good for someone who's no good at this.]
Guess all that's left is hanging 'em up with the rest.
Edited (changed my mind! going back to what I originally wrote, sorry!!) 2020-09-29 14:18 (UTC)
[ Way too easy? Zack laughs and shakes his head, not sure that's true. He's had plenty of his own struggles with his wreath, though he did have something of a leg-up thanks to Aerith's tutelage. He'd like to think she'd be proud, but...
Well, he knows what memories his wreath is going to be filled with, let's put it that way.
When it comes to Lightning, though, he's not quite as sure. And the fact that she wants to just hang the wreath up without another word about it only has him more curious. ]
Well, hold on! [ He plants his hands on his hips and glances from the wreath in Lightning's hands up to her face. ] Is it working as intended?
[ Zack had gathered some of the forget-me-nots with Maria, so he knows they're the real deal. This is really just his way of wondering at what Lightning would consider treasured memories. Something to do with that sister she mentioned, maybe...? ]
["The scent of the forget-me-nots will trigger cherished memories of those you picked them for," the wreath attendant had informed her. Lightning was told to think of someone special as she chose them and braided the wreath together and figuring out who to remember wasn't difficult at all. But others had slipped into her consciousness among all of this too, so it could be any one of them, or all of them for all she knows...
Her hands hold the wreath delicately in her palms, and she's careful not to grip it too hard when she looks down to examine her work.]
Probably... [she concludes quietly, a fond smile pulling at one corner of her lip.] You wanna give 'em a test run first?
[Her fingers wrap around the flowers, almost protectively, and she heaves a breath that turns into a laugh.]
[ It's not as if Zack wants to demand that Lightning let him get a glimpse of what memories have infused themselves into the ring of flowers, but she doesn't outright refuse the implied request either. It's more that she issues a warning, and while Zack isn't quite sure of what she means, he doesn't think he needs to shy away from it.
Asking her to explain kind of ruins the point of this, and while he isn't sure that he'll get more from the wreath than a distant set of feelings, he is curious about how it all works. ]
They're supposed to be happy memories, right? And... even if they're not, I'm pretty sure I can handle it.
[ He watches her for a few seconds before holding his hand out, palm-up. Not demanding, just requesting. ]
[More like: Lightning is a little embarrassed about what he might see. If it's a happy memory, it's not going to be one of the hardened soldier image she's worked so hard to maintain up until now.
When he offers his hand, she lays the wreath in it and holds out hers in exchange.]
Guess I could spare you one look.
[He's done enough for her that he's earned the right to have a peek into her life past what she leads people on to believe.]
One sniff, and everything'll change. You ready?
[She's joking, for the most part. If it's the memories she thinks it will be, then it'll at least offer some more understanding of who she is, and she hopes that his will do the same.]
[ It's only fair that this be an exchange, and so Zack doesn't hesitate to hand over his own wreath when Lightning holds out her palm. She's being a little dramatic about all this, isn't she? Whether it's just a joke or a way to actually prep him is hard to say, but he'll get the answer to that soon enough. ]
I was born ready.
[ He shoots that back with a cocksure grin and then gently curls his fingers around the ring of forget-me-nots, drawing them up toward his face. Then he breaths in deep, the smell sweet and pleasant, and waits for the memory to wash over him. ]
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no subject
You make it look way too easy.
[Uh oh, does that mean she owes him a beer now, too?
She tests the sturdiness with some gentle tugs, making sure to tuck any loose stems in by wrapping them around one another, but besides that single mishap, her wreath is looking pretty good for someone who's no good at this.]
Guess all that's left is hanging 'em up with the rest.
no subject
Well, he knows what memories his wreath is going to be filled with, let's put it that way.
When it comes to Lightning, though, he's not quite as sure. And the fact that she wants to just hang the wreath up without another word about it only has him more curious. ]
Well, hold on! [ He plants his hands on his hips and glances from the wreath in Lightning's hands up to her face. ] Is it working as intended?
[ Zack had gathered some of the forget-me-nots with Maria, so he knows they're the real deal. This is really just his way of wondering at what Lightning would consider treasured memories. Something to do with that sister she mentioned, maybe...? ]
no subject
Her hands hold the wreath delicately in her palms, and she's careful not to grip it too hard when she looks down to examine her work.]
Probably... [she concludes quietly, a fond smile pulling at one corner of her lip.] You wanna give 'em a test run first?
[Her fingers wrap around the flowers, almost protectively, and she heaves a breath that turns into a laugh.]
You might not like what you see.
no subject
Asking her to explain kind of ruins the point of this, and while he isn't sure that he'll get more from the wreath than a distant set of feelings, he is curious about how it all works. ]
They're supposed to be happy memories, right? And... even if they're not, I'm pretty sure I can handle it.
[ He watches her for a few seconds before holding his hand out, palm-up. Not demanding, just requesting. ]
It's up to you, though. So... no pressure.
no subject
When he offers his hand, she lays the wreath in it and holds out hers in exchange.]
Guess I could spare you one look.
[He's done enough for her that he's earned the right to have a peek into her life past what she leads people on to believe.]
One sniff, and everything'll change. You ready?
[She's joking, for the most part. If it's the memories she thinks it will be, then it'll at least offer some more understanding of who she is, and she hopes that his will do the same.]
no subject
I was born ready.
[ He shoots that back with a cocksure grin and then gently curls his fingers around the ring of forget-me-nots, drawing them up toward his face. Then he breaths in deep, the smell sweet and pleasant, and waits for the memory to wash over him. ]