( video )

[suicideprototype]

It seems that no matter where I find myself, flowers always carry a significant meaning, huh...?

[Ritsu has tried to focus the video on Aldrip's flower field, but since he's using a device that's utterly alien to him, he's decided to err on the side of caution and spend maybe a little too long panning over empty scenery. You know, just in case he's too zoomed in, or the image comes out too blurry, or something else of that nature.

Eventually, though, he does adjust it to focus on himself.]

Where I come from, each day is associated with a flower, and if you happen to be born on that day, then that flower is designated your "birth flower."

If you're interested, why not tell me your birthday? In exchange, I'll tell you your birth flower and its meaning. Given the wide selection of flowers here... maybe I'll even be able to find it.

[He has completely neglected to introduce himself, but clearly flowers are more important.]

Comments

[maiestas]

Tough, but I can manage! We're... Dealing with some stuff back at home, and I don't know if time stops or continues without me being there, so I rather he's back at home to deal with it.

[She's one of those people, and sadly, in due time, her happiness will likely start to fade the longer she's here. Although, right now, she's in higher spirits despite being separated from her loved one. Even though this conversation has made her a bit more solemn than normal.]

And what flower is associated with your birthday, cutie?

[suicideprototype]

[Ritsu is contemplating the temporal implications of the possibility that time could just be stopped outside of this place, but —

— wait.] Cutie? [Surely she isn't flirting with him, right? Because that would be totally weird. Going from reminiscing about your husband to flirting with the person you're talking to is simply not something that (most) people do.]

...Torch gingers. They're this big, unwieldy plant.

[maiestas]

[Rin can only chuckle at his response. Given how old she is, it seems like it's a compliment coming from a Grandma, rather than anything else. Either way, she smiles regardless. A bit of curiosity showing in her expression, given that she's never heard of such before.]

Oh, I don't think I've ever seen those... They probably don't exist in my world. Do the flowers mean anything at all?

[suicideprototype]

[Frankly, if flowers of all things were somehow a universal constant, he'd start squinting.]

It has multiple meanings, but... not all of them are very nice.

[He hesitates momentarily, trying to decide on a meaning to tell her. Maybe it'd be best to go with a more positive meaning.]

Red is often associated with passion, and they're red, so sometimes they can stand for passion.

[maiestas]

[Oh. Well, she can't help but frown a bit. She hadn't thought that flowers would have negative connotations, but it seems as if they do. Still, the fact that it has multiple meanings perks her attention, and her frown quickly shifts into a soft smile.]

That's a good one. Does it match with your personality at all?

[Here it comes, ever the eager one to get to know someone better whenever she could.]

[suicideprototype]

[Apparently, there were people who loved to use flowers to send passive-aggressive messages. Ritsu is quite partial to the flower that means, "I declare war on you," personally.]

...Well... maybe just a bit.

[Unfortunately, Ritsu is the opposite of eager when it comes to talking about himself.]

Sometimes the way you see yourself differs from the way others see you — have you ever encountered that?

[maiestas]

[Quietly, she listens to his response, and can't help but smile when she does manage to get to know him in some small measure. It was a victory for her, and there's a smile that curves on the corner of her lips.

However, when his questioning comes, she tilts her head to the side. Completely silent in thought as she hums to herself quietly.]

Sometimes, but I don't let it bother me. Although... I understand that not everyone can be like that. Does it bother you? To be perceived differently than what you think?

[suicideprototype]

It doesn't hurt my feelings or anything. It's just...

[He pauses, trying to decide how to put it.]

When that happens, there are two possibilities, right? Either they don't understand you very well, or you don't understand yourself very well.

[But maybe the idea of not understanding yourself sounds a little silly.]

[maiestas]

My Dad always told me that no one understands you better than yourself! It'd be a bit silly if you didn't understand yourself better than anyone else, but I guess that's just my opinion. People's observations can be pretty subjective.

[This is honestly the hardest she's ever used her brain for something, and the fact that she's using it in general is honestly incredible.]

Where are you on that spectrum?

[suicideprototype]

Hm... Well, it'd be nice if I were as confident as your dad sounds.

[Maybe that's still a bit of a vague answer.]

In psychology, that sort of thing is known as the "blind" quadrant in the Johari window. Self-awareness isn't a skill that everyone has — some people don't realize that they're stubborn, or that they're naive.

[maiestas]

[Oh man. That honestly just went over her head, and she squints into the charm almost. The cogs in her head slooowwllyy turning now, as a soft laugh finally leaves her. Her hand scratching the back of her head sheepishly.]

I have to admit, I've never heard of such a thing, but I guess that goes beyond my intelligence. When you explain it like that, though, I sort of get it! You must be a smartie pants back home, huh?