come_sailaway | and love itself is just as innocent as roses in may

You should be eating more than just sweets, Sou.

( she won't scold him for only knowing about the pumpkin marshmallow candies, and instead she eyes the cup he's set down. orange coffee with marshmallows and candy corn would be nice, it'd melt on anyone's tongue. )

Jack-o-lanterns with candles and smoke bombs. Wouldn't it be fun to fill the hallways so no one can see!

( exciting way to set the eerie atmosphere without causing any harm to the ship, also it's not like she's crazy enough to slip any sort of drug into the fumes to kill or poison anyone. it's simple fun that would fit in with the holiday. a hand rests on her lower stomach, turning her back towards him now as she expects him to follow. )

We can grab a plate of them as we work, what do you think?

Smoke bombs, is it? That'll be a first for me. I've made the ones with colored flames. I doubt those would go over well here, but the smoke bombs are sure to be a hit.

[ Though there's part of him that thinks even the smoke bombs are pretty risky with all the brats running around. They're liable to knock a wall down out of fear of not being able to see in front of their face. Still, who is he to say no to such a charming idea? Her enthusiasm is catching, and he will follow along.

He feels like a little kid sometimes, but Halloween is the one time a year a person is encouraged to engorge themselves on candy. ]

You're too kind. One of the--[ He clears his throat before swallowing, as though something had caught in it, ] ... One of the kids I worked with used to find stuff like that and hand them out... But then they'd tell you they'd play a prank on you if you didn't give them candy.

[ It makes sense to a small child... It was meant to be candy trading. Probably. ]

The smoke filtering out from the pumpkins mouth would truly be a sight! There could be something hidden inside as well.

( as long as the smoke doesn't damage it then they're fine, but it just sounds fun to decorate in general. while she could have asked anyone, it's the fact that hiyori seems less than inclined to indulge in his drink that gave her even more confidence to ask.

she really wasn't going to let him slip away. )

Kids are charming individuals, they never cease to put a smile on my face— were they someone you were watching back home before arriving here?

( like with the rest of his patients. )

Yes... It was a young girl. She was an a pitiable child. Smart as a whip, but the only thoughts in her head were about witches and magic, and she was still playing pretend with stuffed animals, so she was just getting bullied at school.

[ Her mother hated it, too, even when adults were impressed by how sharp she was... But there's only so much that an outsider can say about how a parent raises their kid. ]

She'd probably be giving you a lecture on the history of it right about now if she were here... Hm, toys might not be a bad idea.

[ Little key chains and things like that. He's not big on them, but they're neutral enough that even adults can appreciate them. ]

What was her name?

( seems like a young girl he was very fond of from the way he speaks about her, and the fact she had witches and magic in her mind? it reminds her of the children back home that would huddle together and think of gifts and ideas to share with their master. )

To me, she had a creative mind. It truly is a shame she was bullied for it...

( words softly uttered, but at least they can talk about the best parts of her than the painful ones. there's no reason for hiyori to keep this from her, and she turns his way to meet his gaze. )

Well, the nail that sticks out gets hammered. There are kids that stick so far out that the tip is barely in. If she were an adult, there would be piranhas in the water ready to tear her apart and vultures to pick at what's left of her corpse.

[ None of which is to say that he wishes that. Men who wish harm on young girls are the worst kind of scum. He'd rather see her grow up to be a fine young woman. It's a shame that the world is so cruel, and that parents don't know how to raise their kids right.

The smile on his face is bitter, and he doesn't quite meet her gaze as he runs over those grim thoughts. The goddess before him would no doubt understand that well. ]

Her name was Maria.

[ His eyelids lower halfway for a brief moment before he looks back up, his shoulders rolling back as he fixes his posture. ]

That's quite the visual, but she's a creative child.

( isn't her creativity what they can't stand? she doesn't know maria, but she does have high hopes for the young girl once she grows up. hiyori's thoughts are troubling though it's not as though those are impressions he gained without reason, but as long as they look at it from all angles, there's still an opportunity for the coin to fall on a pleasant side. if not, she can pick it up and turn it over. )

She'd know to drop food in the piranhas' waters to distract them, and with a bow and arrow, she'll be equipped to take them down from the sky.

( or so she hopes. she turns to look towards hiyori, watching as he fixes his posture, and an arm outstretches towards to to touch at his elbow. it's a gentle touch, warm and inviting as she keeps her hand there as they walk together. )

Maria will be fine, she'll grow up to be an amazing adult thanks to your help.

[ ... ]

Please forgive me, I hadn't meant to imply otherwise. The children I work with are admirable, but the adults around them can be far more trying... It's difficult to watch one child make great strides while the other suffers from lack of support.

[ There's a rare hint of frustration, as brief and fleeting as the flame of a match assaulted by a winter winds. It's a feeling that any individual who works with children expresses at one point or another, and Pollux is sharp enough that he doesn't need to spell it out for her. How wide is the gap between a child left home alone while their mother fools around and one who has a mother who loves and supports them? Children need a village, not a single man who has them on a schedule.

How much Sou Hiyori, removed from the family register and wandering about like a zombie, had left undone. He would have taken much more into his own hands if he had a little bit longer. ]

It's the selfishness of adults that forces children to suffer so... Ah, but I shouldn't take such a cynical view of it. We can only offer those who have been left in our care better.

[ Which is to say, the kids on the ship - far too many of whom come from such unfortunate circumstances. ]

That child has you in their heart.

( she notes, reaching out to grab his elbow in order to offer a gentle squeeze. )

You'll help them meet others, and color their world. It's millions of beautiful colors, and the world you help paint for them will help in the long tun. It's horrible, but as long as there's someone...

( for someone like him to work hard to ensure the happiness of another person is tedious when he is on a schedule, but time heals all wounds, and every moment with him must be a blessing itself. to have sou treat another person with patience and kindness makes pollux happy, and to see that he's so concerned about his ave maria can't stop the smile on her face from growing.

someone hard-working and kind, that is the type of person she needs. )

Sou, a man like you offers so much. I can understand now why you wish to be with them, but I know your teachings will be applied, and she'll make you proud upon your return.

[ The Dioscuri truly are kind. They're kinder than they need to be, to the point where it agitates him a touch to think on how few appreciate that. They're no different than that girl, that boy - misunderstood and unappreciated despite how earnest they are. But Hiyori can appreciate that kindness, and he smiles and shakes his head in response. ]

... You're right. Please forgive my cynicism. The world is brighter for children who have such talent, and I shouldn't think the worst will occur for my absence.

[ There's no use in lamentations, and idleness truly is the enemy of man. There's too much time to think and act, and Hiyori can't say he's fond of it. Pollux's belief in humanity to pick itself up and move on is the air that flows into a stagnant room once a window is open, clearing out the suffocating and trapped feeling that grows when one stays in for too long. However much he worries and fusses about work undone, he can't erase the efforts applied by those he had worked with, nor will he downplay the effect he had on their lives. ]

You speak from experience, don't you? I'm certain that you and your brother must have touched many lives over time, even those who might not recognize all that you've done for them... You truly are admirable.

[ Time and thoughts alike work differently for gods, but their hearts are as frail as any human's - one only need to find the right spot in order to crack and shatter it. ]

There are those who may not know our name, but are aware of our deeds that helped in giving us the bodies that we have now. Humanity is quite amazing.

( she wants to meet her humanity, though. to know they've been wiped from existence, and they fight over and over— erasing singularities, lostbelts in order to return the world to where it was. even if the lostbelt is a better world where no one has to die or understand loss, where wars don't exist, and everyone can live in harmony... they remove those worlds in order to retrieve the imperfection of their own. or is it perfect because those imperfections exist?

she laughs gently though. )

But this isn't about us, this is about those we can help guide and influence.

( that's why hiyori's assistance for the one individual is readily accepted, and wanted along with adored. there's only so many people who would be willing to slot themselves as a role model for another person who could benefit from it; too much pressure. luckily hiyori doesn't seem like the type. )

There's so much to do, I wouldn't know what to do first! Should we start with pumpkins? Candy apples? Hehe, something nice for Fio, I really want to see her smile.

and love itself is just as innocent as roses in may

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