felldenbox

[takeroot]

can i get an f in chat for fellden

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[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.

[summonere]

What was it you said about not being able to juggle my way out of it?

[ His tone is dry. ]

I'm apologizing instead.

[ Is he still tiptoeing, or is it clear enough now? ]