( 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

[suicideprototype]

[Hmm... That is pretty weird, admittedly. None of them know very much about each other yet (and Ritsu doesn't expect everyone to be open about something as grim as a crime they've been accused of), but it just feels like there should be some greater reason as to why they specifically were chosen.]

Do you suspect there's bias at work?

[emyoji]

I do.

[ And he really doesn't mind saying it. Even if the gods or whatever powerful people brought them there are watching, Seimei doesn't hesitate to share his thoughts. ]

In all the world, are we really the only ones who have committed any crimes? And even if they must be specific crimes, I find it hard to believe that there are so few offenders who qualify to be brought here.

What does your birth flower mean, if I may ask?

[suicideprototype]

[That's pretty similar to where Ritsu's train of thought was beginning to go, too. Even if one were to only gather up every person guilty of the very specific sin of overwatering a plant to death on a Sunday, there would doubtlessly be more people here right now.]

You want to hear about mine?

But I haven't even told you about yours yet.

[emyoji]

[It's suspicious from the start that no one has explained why them. What do they all share in common? Not criminal activity, surely, even by someone else's twisted definition. There must be more to this, and Seimei wants to know what the link is.]

I imagine yours must be fascinating. I'm a really boring person and never have particularly unique messages on lotteries, but everyone else seems to have so much fun.

[suicideprototype]

[That sounds pretty similar to what Ritsu might say about himself if pressed, which just makes him suspicious.]

You never know, though — this time might be the exception.

[emyoji]

Do you think so? I've heard it's difficult to change fate.

[He's certainly asking everyone else for information, but that also seems dangerous. Well, risks are necessary, right?]

Will you trade yours for mine? I'm curious as to how this all works.

[suicideprototype]

[Fate? That's an interesting way to look at all of this.

Ritsu seems to consider Seimei's proposal.]

That sounds like a fair trade.

[emyoji]

Then I accept your terms.

[Yes, he does have to be formal about this. Trades and deals are never things to take lightly when you are bound to your word.]

I was born February 21st.

[suicideprototype]

The flowers for February 21st are the nemophila, the Japanese cornel, and the violet. The nemophila stands for, "success everywhere."

[See? It isn't so boring. A lot of people would love to have that as their flower.]

The Japanese cornel is used often in medicine, so it means, "endurance." And the violet stands for "sincerity."

[A pause.]

My birthday is July 16th.

[emyoji]

[Seimei laughs softly, maybe fondly at the description. Once upon a time, he might have heard that and planted a whole garden around the flowers just because he liked the imagery.]

Such prosperous flowers. I wonder how many people would agree if they heard you? They might call that too generous for this simple man.

[Or just say it was complete bullshit.]

If I got to choose, I would hope it were all true. I used to hear that the Japanese bellflowers suited me. What flowers are important for July 16th? They must mean "studious" and "precise", right?

[suicideprototype]

[The bellflower... That one is associated with a tale about a girl who waited her entire life for her husband to return from war, he recalls.]

Were you perhaps known for your loyalty?

The flowers for July 16th are mostly red. Like this one — [His hand moves to the torch ginger hanging around his neck.]

It doesn't mean anything as lovely as "studious" or "precise," though.

[He hesitates a little. They did agree on a fair trade, though, so...]

The meanings are a bit contradictory, actually. It both has the arrogant meaning of "to obtain everything" and the self-deprecating meaning of "a worthless thing."

[emyoji]

I was once praised for being the most loyal servant of my generation.

[He does say that will a note of humor. People say the most interesting things when they want something.]

That one is lovely. What a warm looking flower. I suppose that is what one might call finding bugs that eat knotweed? After all, there is great worth in seeking and pursuit. And when you have what you want, even in a simple life, the greatest treasures can seem worthless.

Are you seeking something or leaving something?

[suicideprototype]

[The most loyal servant of his generation... It sounds like there's probably quite a story there, but now isn't the best time to ask about it. Ritsu will have to remember to ask when he gets a better opportunity.]

That's quite a way to interpret it.

[He's impressed, truthfully. He'd entirely expected a reply like, "wow, that's pretty weird," rather than something so thoughtful.

For a moment, he's rendered silent. Seimei is almost uncomfortably on-point. He'd call it uncanny — but it's just an interpretation of a flower, right? He has no reason to think it's in any way accurate to Ritsu.

Ritsu laughs.]

Well, maybe a bit of both.

What about you?

[Deflecting? Him? Never.]

[emyoji]

[He's always curious. That was his greatest strength and greatest fault as an onmyouji. Asking too many questions, trying to push everyone out of their comfortable routines, even the nobility, in order to achieve better understanding.

Eventually, he just couldn't stay in the city.

And hundreds of years later, he's still trying to pick out meaning in what should be a a few trivia facts about flower meanings. Because if Ritsu said it, then it must mean something to him, right? But that is only a guess.]

Oh, I'm definitely seeking. There has already been plenty that I have left behind, I'd rather have more to keep for myself.

That must sound selfish of me.

[suicideprototype]

No. It just sounds honest.

[It would be easy to make the argument that honesty is often a faux pas. For some, maybe Seimei's answer would be included in that. Ritsu's own answer wasn't very honest, after all.

But he thinks he'd have been disgusted to hear an overly-fake answer crafted to show how virtuous or selfless one is.]

Do you regret leaving so much behind?

[emyoji]

[An honest answer that would have surely offended many people, if they were around to hear him. Luckily they aren't. Sometimes not choosing is the best response, isn't it? Seimei can understand Ritsu's reluctance to be honest with strangers. But if he could avoid trouble, maybe he wouldn't be here at all.

He mulls over that question, smiling wryly when he decides on his answer.]

I can't regret it. It was my choice.