had_not_lived | ♕ |[40]|

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♕ |[40]|

It's a beautiful day, City. Make the most of it.

I need your advice. I'm looking for something to read, something that isn't poetry. ~~Knowing I can't just makes me want to read more!~~ Anything, really. Novels or essays or, I don't even know, so long as you like it.

Call it a change in perspective.

~~There are a hundred thousand lines that'd suit today and I can't remember one. Still. It's a small price to pay.~~

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A little hard to believe, isn't it?

A bit unexpected, certainly. What inspired that decision, may I ask?

It's a convoluted story, I'm not certain where to start. I'm not swearing off it, I promise. Just setting it aside a little while.

Well...sometimes a change isn't--such a bad thing, after all.

I have plenty of collections of fairy tales, if you'd like to borrow any of them. Or there's The Count of Monte Cristo, I read that last summer while we went camping--no, stop it, stop it. Or, I suppose, I could always try my hand at writing a story for you again, if you'd like.

I would love to read another story of yours, Rosella, if you'd like to write one. And you'll have to tell me where to start, what your favorite is of the fairy tales. And...

Would you like to go somewhere? It's perfect out. ~~And I wish I could share my mood with you...~~

Oh, well...if you'd like my favorite of them, I suppose I'll have to write it out for you, since it's not in any of the books. It's one of the ones about my father.

I'd like that, very much. Where shall we go?

I would love to hear it.

Everywhere. Anywhere. We could walk in the woods, if you'd like? I haven't been out there so much, lately.

I'll see what I can do, then. It's a marvelous tale, and it made a fine bedtime story for a little girl, too.

Oh, yes, that does sound nice. And it seems to be quiet enough out today, too, not like all that--whatever all that was last night.

I stayed in last night, so I don't really know anything about it. But it seems all right now? And there doesn't seem to be a curse, either, which is always a good thing.

I don't know what went on either. I stayed late at the Library last night, and then all of a sudden there was a great lot of noise outside and some of the lights nearby went out, but I didn't go to look to see what any of it was. I just stayed inside until it was all quiet again.

I think that's probably for the best.

Well. Where should we meet?

One of the cafes around the Square, perhaps? It won't take me long to finish up here, and then I can walk right over.

All right. I'll meet you in, say, half an hour?

[ooc; prefer to action or assume? :3]

That sounds just fine, of course.

[OOC: I am all about the action! Just bear with me if I am a bit slow at times. ♥]

Coming up on the Square, Neil looks positively in love with life. He feels a little guilty, being in such high spirits when Rosella's still reeling from the loss of her closest friend; but maybe he can do some good, cheer her up a bit. It's not unusual for him to be alive-- it would be his week even if they'd kept to the old deal. But though each moment is not so dearly bought it's no less valuable; only all the more joyous as it comes with no equal suffering for his friend. So, he's smiling at nothing in particular as he looks around to see whether Rosella's beaten him here.

As it turns out, Rosella has only beaten Neil by a minute or so; she's still lingering outside the doors of the cafe when he arrives, in the midst of debating whether or not to go order something inside to tide her over while she waits. His arrival, therefore, answers that question immediately, and she raises her hand in a slight wave when she notices him walking up.

Anyone even the slightest bit familiar with Rosella under normal circumstances would be able to tell that she's still out of sorts; her smile still doesn't quite meet her eyes, and her face is starting to show the signs that she hasn't been sleeping well lately. But she's out, and she does brighten a little at the sight of Neil, smiling a little wider as she comes down the cafe steps to greet him.

"Hello, Neil," she says, as cheerfully as she can manage. "How are you today?"

"Good," he answers, though it's pretty easy to see that's an understatement. He's trying not to be too overbearing, but it's tough to suppress. He moves in to give her a tight hug, in part because he can't quite contain his mood, in part because she needs it.

"I didn't keep you waiting long, did I?"

His enthusiasm is both apparent and infectious, so Rosella can't help a little laugh as she hugs him back, leaning a little more on him and holding on a little longer than she normally might. Neil at his happiest is a force to be reckoned with, and while she's not entirely sure what has brought on such a good mood, she is pleased to see him so happy, for whatever reason it might be.

"Oh, no, not at all. I just arrived a minute ago, really," she answers as she pulls back, reaching up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "And was just thinking of getting something from the cafe to take on our walk, actually. Would you like anything, yourself? I'll treat."

He damn well intends to be infectious in his mirth; and so he doesn't mind in the least mind embracing her a little longer. Rosella needs cheering up; he can only imagine what he'd be like if Todd left.

"Iced tea, maybe? Too hot for anything warm," he answers with a little laugh.

"It is, rather. Well, all right, I'll be back in just a moment, then," she says, glancing through the glass and noting that there's currently a lull at the counter. She heads inside and comes back out a few minutes later with two carry-out mugs, one of which she offers to Neil upon her return.

"There, now we're both set," she finishes with a note of satisfaction, taking a sip of her own drink. "Shall we?"

"Certainly," he replies, offering her the arm not holding a beverage. The weather's about as close to perfect as anyone could want, and even if he wasn't caught up in his own joys it would be difficult not to have it lift his spirits.

"I didn't have any particular place in mind, I thought we'd just go and see where we end up."

Smiling faintly, she links her free arm through his, and for the first time notes its warmth. Though several of her friends are among the dead in the City, she often forgets until she comes into contact with them. It must be Neil's week to be alive, she decides, and wonders how strange it must feel, switching back and forth between alive and dead so often.

Still, there's no use in dwelling on those thoughts--particularly considering that she knows pondering such matters will almost certainly lead to thoughts of Sam, and she's trying hard to keep her mind on other things as much as possible. So she nods a little at Neil, giving his arm a squeeze, and follows along at his side when he begins to walk.

"That sounds nice," she agrees, giving him a quick glance before lowering her gaze to the ground ahead once again. "It's a fine day out for it, certainly. And it seems you're in a good mood to match, I should think?"

"I am," he confesses, a wry note in his grin. Honestly he's trying not to rub it in. He'd like to share his joy, to explain his mood and the reasons for it but figuring out where to start-- and gauging whether it would cheer Rosella or just lead her back around to thoughts of lost friendship-- is easier said than done, so for the moment he doesn't jump into it.

"How are you?" he asks, tone innocuous but a little concern evident in the gaze he shoots her.

"Well, I'm glad for that," she replies gently, and means every word of it. Being in a bad mood is an exhausting undertaking, and while she's not anticipating that she'll be back to her usual self for the foreseeable future, it's always easier to be cheerful when her friends are happy, too. One friend can never replace another, of course, but by the same token, losing one doesn't mean all the others have gone, or that she can't still enjoy the company of the ones that remain.

"I'm..." she begins, hesitating a moment as she tries to decide how best to answer. "I'm doing all right, I suppose. I'm trying not to slip into bad habits, but it's a bit easier said than done, at times."

He smiles at her, gentle, and leans in a little; not enough to crowd her or even bump against her shoulder, just a slight, reassuring gesture to remind her that she isn't alone in this. He might not have been close with Sam himself, but Neil feels the loss for her sake.

"Well, I think that's normal... I'm glad you're feeling a bit better, though."

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i'm a slooow tagger myself so nooo worries <3

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