Come As You Are // Open Post

[therealbrianna]

P.Y.T. [ Pretty Young Thing ]

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

Comments

[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.

[therealbrianna]

I can't imagine not being with my family.

[ And that's the truth. Brianna's biological family is her rock. No matter how tired she is from an engagement or training session, it's nice to come home to two - no, three younger siblings who look so happy to see that their ate is home safe. And just in time for playtime. ]

Do they know you gave them up?

[redemancy]

No. They basically forgot that I had ever existed.

[And she's not the only one who did but, but... well. That is Elias Tagabigay's story to tell.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Her eyebrows are furrowed, trying to fully grasp Aria's situation. ]

Seems like a lot of hunters naturally lose their families.

[redemancy]

You could look at it that way, yes. And it doesn't always involve circumstances like mine.

[Taking another drag.]

It's a hard life. Most people don't understand that, and some people never try to.

[therealbrianna]

[ Nodding in agreement. ]

Yeah, you can say that again.

[ She wonders if Aria's latter statement is coming from a certain experience, or is speaking of a certain person. ]

[redemancy]

[Tilting her head now, looking curious.]

If you don't mind me asking... have you been able to really sit down and talk to your own parents about being with Netsach yet?

[therealbrianna]

Hm? What do you mean?

[ Completely glides over her head. She's already with Netsach, and they seemed happy about her initiation. She even came home to a celebration. It really never occurred to her how her parents really felt about it. ]