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[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne's gotten good enough with her Omni that the feed only wobbles a little bit when she turns it on.  That's progress!  No one's getting sea sick.  Hopefully.

She's standing on the threshold, between her building and her garden, moonlight lighting up her silhouette.  She's wearing her gold gown, clearly eager to make a good impression.  Her long hair is unbound, falling nearly to her calves in rolling waves.  It gives her the look of some kind of forest spirit (but she's not one, Maul, shut up).

Arrayed behind her is Serenity Garden.  Which would look a bit more impressive in sunlight, but Ariadne's done her best to arrange lanterns to illuminate everything.  She does, however, continually cast a concerned glance over her shoulder.  You can't trust fire, you can't turn your back on it.]

Well, it's April.  So I was planning to announce the opening of Serenity Garden to the public.  It's just meant to be a nice place where you can sit, meditate, talk with a friend, court your lover.  Just be in nature.  All are welcome, but no violence against the other guests or the trees.

...hopefully the sun will be back soon so you can enjoy seeing it in the daylight.

[But it's Trench, so that may not be a sure thing.  She can only hope.

Although, on the subject of hope:]

Also, the anniversary of my birth is at the end of the month.  Does that mean I should expect some kind of mysterious gift?  Any thoughts on what that might be?  Just so I can...prepare myself.

Comments

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ She may have noticed, then, that he has not been outside at all since returning to his house a little under two weeks ago. He's been cooking for himself, at least, faint sounds of activity coming from the kitchen at least once a day, but otherwise, silence. No conversation and perhaps more tellingly, no music. ]

I'm sure it was beautiful then too, but it's nice to see it in bloom. Even if it is, um, awfully dark out.

[ He glances out the window at the full moon illuminating the sky, before continuing. ]

Anyway, I think my birthday would've been last month? We use a different calendar back where I came from, but it's usually right after the equinox for me, and I didn't get anything from the Pthumerians. So it seems like it can vary, whether that's your blessed month or not.

[demonicbeauty]

Did I miss your birthday!

[She looks genuinely distressed. Although, in her defense, she was sucked into an evil board game three times.]

I'm so sorry! Can I make it up to you somehow?

Would you like some cherry blossoms?

[themuseabandonsyou]

Oh, um! Don't worry, you don't have to do anything special! I um. I only realized it had already passed just now, too.

[ Huh. That's... well. He doesn't know how he feels about that other than 'not especially good,' so he just sets the thought aside for now. ]

We should do something for yours, though! Is there anything you want to do?

[demonicbeauty]

Just spend time with the people I love, I suppose.

[Her eyes crinkle a little.]

Which includes you, in case you didn't know.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Of course! [ says Orpheus, even as an unfamiliar spike of anxiety rolls through him.

Should he be promising anything when he still bears obvious signs of corruption? They don't seem to be letting up, and he doesn't want to risk getting worse and turning into a beast again while out and about - especially not while visiting Airy. But he does want to see her, and knows he can't just hide in this too-empty house forever. So he agrees, and tries not to worry about it for now. ]

You said it's towards the end of the month, right. Do you know the day? I can come visit you and the trees.

[demonicbeauty]

[There is so much going on beneath the surface. Ariadne just...just has to get him alone.]

April 30. I know because it was the day before the spring festival.

And I would love a visit...when you're ready.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus isn't sure if he should read much into that "when you're ready". He's never been very good at masking his emotions, so it wouldn't be too much of a surprise if Airy realized he was struggling despite his attempts to sound fine, really. All told it would be kind of a relief to assume she did, but he doesn't like to assume. Either way, he's overthinking it, just nods before remembering she can't see him and says; ]

Right! I'll be sure to remember. I, um. I haven't been doing very well recently, [ he admits. ] But I'll try to be better in time for that, at least!

[demonicbeauty]

Orpheus...don't be better for my sake. I'd rather you felt better for your own.

[Because the last thing either of them needs is some kind of pantomime.]

If. If you're not feeling better. And if talking to someone about it would help. You know I'm a good listener.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Oh.

[ There's a pause on Orpheus's end as he realizes he's doing it again, sort of. Shoving down or minimizing his problems to try to make things easier on other people. It may not have been what turned him into a beast in the first place, but based on his foggy memories of what happened while he was one he's pretty sure that particular habit didn't help. ]

Um, I'd like that. Talking about things. Maybe not over the Omni, though? If I'm well enough, I can come meet you in the garden soon, hopefully.

[demonicbeauty]

I'll be here for you. Whenever you want.

[Which is to say, no rush.

She didn't miss that "well enough" part of it.]

[themuseabandonsyou]

I appreciate that.

[ More than he can say, at the moment. He's pretty sure having friends here is the only reason he's even sort of keeping it together, and Airy's one of his closest friends of all. ]

I'll see you then, okay?

[demonicbeauty]

Okay.

[For now, she'll trust him to decide when that is.]