Come As You Are // Open Post

[therealbrianna]

P.Y.T. [ Pretty Young Thing ]

(Taken during THAT mission that we do not speak of.)

Comments

[redemancy]

[Nods. Then, wryly:]

Don't worry. You're only ever going to hear it from me once.

[Because she knows that it is incredibly annoying, having folks harping on you all the time. One should just never get to the point where they'll have to.

(Right, self?)]

[therealbrianna]

[ She's certain she'll see more of Aria now that she took on the task of somehow rehabilitating Michael socially, so maybe what Aria's just nice and trusting enough to know that she doesn't need to be reminded constantly. ]

Thank you for that.

[redemancy]

You're welcome.

[Always, really. Any Keeper of the Vigil is a friend of hers until proven otherwise.]

So, do you think that you'll be able to come in every day, or...?

[therealbrianna]

Yeah, I can do that. [ She looks at Aria and smiles. ]

For Michael. [ She's actually serious about him. She's never really helped out anyone before, not like this. To go out of her way and test her patience like that is something. If anything, it's a big step. She's learning a lot in Netsach, absorbing the generosity of others and learning how to be selfless. ]

[redemancy]

Great.

[Well, that is a load off of her shoulders. This isn't something she can do alone, and she recognizes that.]

I'll make sure that there's always a seat for you in class. Maybe you can help me keep track of his progress too?

[therealbrianna]

[ No oppositions here. ]

Sure, why not? He's your student anyway.

[ What a caring woman this woman. And suddenly guilty that she thought ill of Aria, though only slightly. ]

[redemancy]

Great.

[Ah, one more thing. Ditching her cigarette, and rifling around for her tablet. Once that is out:]

If you like, I can give you access to Ziz's file on him. It includes his schedule with their division, and rights to visit him when you feel that it's necessary.

[therealbrianna]

[ She's quite unsure about that. Yes, she wishes well for Michael, but at the same time she doesn't know how he'll react to knowing that much about him.

But then again, he's just a kid, right? He probably won't look into it that much. Hopefully. ]

Yeah sure, that'd be great! What else does he do anyway, aside from attending class?

[redemancy]

[And sending that file over now~]

Nothing, beyond regularly scheduled sessions with a therapist at the Psych Ward. I've been told that he spends his time in his room... if he isn't drawing or reading a book, he's sleeping. It's hard to get him to eat too.

[therealbrianna]

[ Trying to look at the bright side, even if it makes her sad. [

Oh! Maybe I can give him more books, both for reading and coloring and drawing. I could probably get him some toys, too. When my siblings were younger, my mom would buy these weird toys to encourage them to eat or teach them the importance of proper nutrition or whatever.

[redemancy]

That's very nice of you. As it stands, the people who live with me are the only ones who give him things.

[Because he doesn't have anyone else.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Ooh, Gideon? ]

At the Heartnet-Duskrider house, right?

[ Placing a finger on her chin and looking thoughtful. ]

I can easily buy those stuff for him, but if I set up something like a donation for him, maybe he'd learn that some people do have his best interest in mind.

[ Then furrowing her eyebrows. ]

But he might take it as people looking at him as a charity case.

[ Looking at Aria now. ]

Do you think he'd mind? [ This girl talks FAST when an idea pops in her mind. ]

[redemancy]

[Nodding to that first question. Afterward, she's making a thoughtful noise at Brianna's last statement, and expertly concealing the fond amusement she felt over watching the gears turn in Brianna's head.]

I'm not sure, actually. Although, if donations are your thing, the orphanage down at the West District is always looking for stuff as well.

[therealbrianna]

[ Oh. ]

That's pretty neat! I didn't know a lot of Netsach kids are orphans, though...

[ If anyone told Brianna a year ago that she'd turn into this soft-hearted kid-adopting girl who's running after kids and adults alike, making sure they were okay, she'd probably laugh in their face.

Things are different now. ]

[redemancy]

We have a pretty constant number of those cases coming our way. I mean, we pick some up during engagements, and sometimes, our own Hunters go down and there's no one left to take care of their children.

[She knows more than a few examples for both.]

[therealbrianna]

That's... really sad.

[ She can't imagine not being with her parents. Nope. ]

[redemancy]

Yeah.

[And maybe this hits a bit too close to home for Aria too. Now that her guard is down, you may be able to pick up on that, kid: it's written in the twist of her lips, and the way she's going for another cigarette.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Eh?

She looks around. ]

Did... I... Say something?

[redemancy]

Just remembering my own family. I had to let them go a long time ago.

[What an interesting choice of words, Aria Skye.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Whaaaaat. ]

Why would you do that?

[redemancy]

[How do say this neutrally...]

You've read about the Unnamed Tower in class, right?

[therealbrianna]

[ If it's about the Unnamed Tower, then Brianna expects that this is going to be a sad story.

Or dumb, or funny. But since the topic is about family... She nods silently. ]

[redemancy]

Well, that makes this a little easier.

[Only, not really. But she could pretend a little, right?]

They never accepted the fact that I was one of the Awakened. I tried my best to reconcile with them, but... it never happened. That hit me pretty hard, and started determining everything that I did.

[Taking a drag now, of her cigarette.]

I gave them up on the 195th floor in order to advance. To make sure that it wasn't going to affect my resolve, and to keep them safe.

[therealbrianna]

Oh...

[ That's all she manages to say. Funny how Brianna suddenly has no words. ]

[redemancy]

[Smiling at her a little, but she isn't quite fine yet herself. It's still difficult to discuss, even after all of these years.]

I never really came back to see them as their daughter. I watched over them and did what I could. My siblings are still alive, in fact. They have families of their own.