felldenbox

[takeroot]

can i get an f in chat for fellden

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[takeroot]

[Trinkets and mismatched decorative chotchkes are, and will continue to be, something Constantin is very passionate about! So please just endure it, V. His room at the Temple, while it did have a literal tree growing in it, did not suffer the same decorative genius as this cottage for the simple reason that it was not all Constantin's; this, on the other hand... well, it's his, so he's free to make it as much of a mess as he likes.

It's going well. He loves this little plant dearly already, too, but he does not reach to take it yet. It's time... to play in this space with him; he gestures around the room.]

Pick a spot for it! I leave it... up to you. [as if this is a grand production. Come on, V.]

[summonere]

Oh?

[ He sounds incredulous. The woman he bought this plant from said they actually like a bit of cold air, so they're excellent for keeping in a breezy window. But where V goes and puts it is next to Constantin's bed. ]

So that it can drink your blood, while you're sleeping.

[ He's definitely being absolutely serious. ]

[takeroot]

[Constantin watches this placing of the plant, tickled by the very concept of A Friend in His House moving around, doing ordinary things. How new! How novel!

How what the hell, V, as always. He folds his arms and raises an eyebrow, like, alright...]

My friend, you are as strange as the day is long. My blood isn't any good, even for such a tiny thing.

[summonere]

[ You invited this upon yourself when you asked him to help decorate. Here let him be nicer, ]

You seem pleased. Have you lived on your own like this before?

[takeroot]

[He expects the weird, but sometimes it needs to be pointed out. That's friendship(tm).]

Never, actually! A handful of guards or a tavern full of people have always been just a few steps away.

[So this is both liberating and a little nerve-wracking. Who could have seen that coming. He glances at his... kitsch.]

I may have become a little manic about it.

[summonere]

Is that what all this is?

[ V pauses over a basket of junk, poking through it curiously. Maybe other people would think twice, but V has some very loose concepts about personal property. ]

Do you know how to cook, or are you going to starve in here?

[ Can he starve with the fairy cottage sending cookies all the time. ]

[takeroot]

[The pause is telling. Hm.]

I know how to boil things that need boiling.

[He can also make sandwiches!]

[summonere]

Practice frying eggs.

[ That is V's sagest advice. He comes out of the basket with a set of tangled wind chimes. The carved wooden decorations appear to be... an umbrella and some ducks. It comes out of V's mouth before he can stop himself, ]

What is this?

[ Did he actually want to know though?? ]

[takeroot]

[Hmm, frying eggs sounds like work. And oh, be gentle with those--]

Wind chimes!

[Like there's nothing strange about keeping wind chimes in a basket. You know, he's getting to it. Slowly.]

I'm trying to pick a place for them, too.

[summonere]

[ He untangles the different threads of the decoration. Chimes, yes they do make noise. V isn't sure that it's pleasant noise or why anyone would want this?? ]

Are you going to-- individually select places for all these things?

[ Like. How does one determine 'spots' for things like this? He blinks. ]

I wasn't involved in decorating the house.

[ Hakuno had curated the entire thing, down to his quiet black bedroom. Some might say that's too on the nose, but V actually found it incredibly peaceful when he was well and truly in the mood to just be left alone. ]

[takeroot]

Well, I am going to put them somewhere, and consider them meaningfully, and move them around a few times until it feels right.

[That is how one decorates, for sure? This house came furnished, he can only contribute the kitschy parts.]

I'm sure it will be invigorating.

[summonere]

[ That sounds absurd, V nods like that makes sense but he's laughing a little. ]

Good luck.

[ He really feels like all these little things will never stop being moved around, because there's no way to give any reason to all of it. ]

Is there any theme to these things?

[ Maybe he'll want to buy you something silly one day. ]

[takeroot]

Yes— I like them.

[Duck wind chimes... blood-sucking plants... he has a couple children's drawings around here somewhere, delicately set aside, waiting to be framed. It's the least princely he has ever been and he is enjoying himself.]

Why should there be a theme? It's my house.

[summonere]

You're the theme, I see.

[ That's an interesting enough way to think about it. ]

[takeroot]

I suppose I am! You did bring me a plant.

[See? It's like V already knew about the theme.]

[summonere]

You were very emphatic about liking flowers.

[ There was also that bit about needing to embrace smelling the flowers... Sigh. ]

I've wanted to ask, did it upset you? The letter I sent.

[ The one full of V's anxiety about not keeping a tight enough hold on his soul and a bargaining chip to that effect. ]

[takeroot]

I kept some of them.

[And clumsily attempted to press them, but his flower antics can wait a moment. Was he upset... hm! His brow furrows, thoughtful; hmmmm.]

You know I hate to see you upset, but I did want to help. It didn't wake me in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, if that's what you mean.

[summonere]

You were right, about how I don't-- Hm. Do a good job of carrying my weight. I realized I might have asked too much.

[ His gaze is thoughtful on his friend, sinking down to sit on the arm of a chair. His hands hang loosely between the set of his knees. ]

[takeroot]

Oh.

[...well, maybe so? Constantin is admittedly still a novice about how much is too much to ask of another person, after all.]

Are you asking for your trinket back, then?

[It's in his coat pocket because it pinched, but nobody has to know he doesn't understand how to wear ear cuffs.]

[summonere]

If it troubles you, yes.

[ Maybe it wasn't cold sweats at night, but maybe the niggle of dread that V really didn't mean to inflict on him. ]

[takeroot]

It is just an earring, you know. I'm not that fragile.

[But he crosses to where his coat is hanging by the door and fusses with it; one of these pockets... "If it troubles you" just sounds like polite noise, so is it a yes, for real? Hmm.]

You changed your mind so suddenly!

[summonere]

Well. I haven't been there for anyone as much as they've needed.

[ Hakuno had, much like himself really, lost it to a fit of anxiety that had needed talking down. Then there was haunted Dimitri alone in his big house pretending to be fine. Everything is great! Everything is fine. ]</small

[takeroot]

[Ah. He pauses, looking at V over his shoulder. Is that the secret crux of the issue...]

Sorry, what does this have to do with returning your trinket? Is that going to help?

[summonere]

[ Constantin, please. V rubs the space between his eyes with his thumb, this is already hard. ]

I'm apologizing to you.

[takeroot]

Ah. [He lets go of the coat.] You think you've wronged me somehow.

[Absolutely wild that people seem to give a shit when they do that to him these days, or at least, a few people do— but never mind.]

Did you come all this way to give me a plant and tiptoe around saying you're sorry? You are adorable, but it's nothing so earth-shattering as you think.