SymphonianBookworm

Aria stares at Jock, knowing they don’t have much time left before the games. “Stay safe. And don’t listen to whatever anyone else tells you.” She reaches over and squeezes his hand before they are both taken away.

Aria shakes her head. "I'm not what's important right now." She grins. "I mean, usually I am. But not right now. Do you have a long-term plan for... you know, what's going to happen for your future?"

Aria smiles gently. “I’m not going to leave you. I need to make sure that you’ll be able to take care of yourself before anything.”

Lilac looked around. "This sort of ruins the point of my dramatic death. It was supposed to be all, oh, I'll never see anyone or anything again, but at least I had a good life. But now this?" Lilac rolled her eyes. "Please, you were practically sobbing. Be thankful you have sentience." Lilac huffed. "I don't know what you're talking about. I was very calm and collected." "No. You weren't."

heh. you wish. but no thought will go through my mind so i cannot lose.

@SmilingPanda19

She pauses, taking a breath. "But I... I also don't want to leave the DDF."

Aria’s smile falls into something more… serious. “I don’t want to get rid of you either.”

Aria laughs. “Most people don’t choose to like me. I force it out of them against their will.” She grins. “I’m like a disease. Stick around me too long and you’ll soon find me hard to get rid of.”

Aria smiles too. “It’s all right. I… I could’ve moved away. But…” She takes a breath. “I like you. I think. I haven’t really liked anyone before? But. I do like you.”

Aria’s eyes widen with surprise, but she doesn’t move back, kissing him softly for a moment before drawing away. She stares at him for a second. “Um.”

“I hate you more,” she says, unable to stop the corners of her mouth from twitching up.

Aria, about to say something, turns to look at Jock, before realizing he's staring at her eyes. She pauses.

"And isn't there something magical about that? Art that can stop time, or at least give time a measure of worth to a person?"

Aria lightly punches him on the arm. "It's more than just nice." She shakes her head. "You see, there are two kinds of art. One that feels implausible, as though you can't even begin to try to comprehend it. It's far away and inaccessible. And then there's the second: the kind of art that does not draw you away but pulls you closer. It is infinitely harder to create, but when you see it, instead of it demanding something from you it gives you the thing you search for when you find art: a moment of wonder. Your art sparks wonder, Jock."

"I- oh," Aralia says, her breath catching as the lights go out. "It's..." She holds up her hand as if to pluck a star from the delicately painted sky. "It's beautiful." She turns to Jock, her eyes alight. "It's like floating in an endless void, nothing but your thoughts and surroundings to accompany you on a melancholy journey. It's beautiful."

Aria blinks, seeming slightly flustered. “Well. I. Supposed it was safe. Because you went down. So.” She huffs.

Aria’s eyes widen, but she follows suit, though she’s much less… graceful about it.

Aria smiled. “Thanks, Junior. …Cover for me, will you? I owe you two. Perhaps even three? Four? I don’t know. Some number more than one.” Aria steps out, squinting at the darkness. “So, this is where you… spent time? Grew up?” Aria trails off, realizing how little she knows him. But she still trusts him, somehow.

Aria grins back at him. “It certainly was. Honestly, being able to fly like that is… impressive.” She nods with respect. “So… what’s next?” She peers into the cavern around them.

Aria takes his hand, meeting his eyes with a knowing smile. “I think you’ll be able to manage.”

Aria grins. “Do you need help?” Aria winked. “Enjoy your new position!”