Come As You Are // Open Post

[therealbrianna]

P.Y.T. [ Pretty Young Thing ]

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

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[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. ]

[redemancy]

I mean asking them how they feel, now that it looks like you'll be doing this for the rest of your life.

[A lot of parents with kids in Balamb go through that with their own children. Many of them think that it's just a phase, that their sons and daughters will quit or are simply training in order to get a handle on their powers. When the truth really sinks in, though...]

[therealbrianna]

Well, they said -

[ Huh. Hm. Right. Now that she thinks about it, she pauses for a quick moment, looking quite dumbfounded. Rest of your life, girl. ]

... I don't.. know exactly.

[redemancy]

[Ah.

Gently:]

Maybe you should take some time out to talk to them about it. It doesn't have to be now, but it's good to have everything out in the open.

[therealbrianna]

Yeah, I uh, I will.

[ How did this conversation get here?! o_o ]

Thanks. [ Smiling at Aria gratefully. She didn't ask for anything, or for any tips or advice.

Aria is just so damn nice. ]