Frolic through the flowers

[Guest]

Beautiful weather of a sunny day beneath wavering clouds. The occasional bashful sun would hide behind the white fluffs of gray-tinted covers in the sky. A neat effect of shading and burning light accented each shadow upon the ground. The odd specters danced at the feet of unsuspecting toes. Were they wayward souls with no real home to return? Were they simply shades that followed or were they something more than all of that? An unfathomable thought to be left unperceived and unexplained. A deep thought that would never cross the mind of someone as simple as Lian Dan. Her brain avoided deep topics like that and instead focused on the then and now. A fun pursuer, but of true and righteous ways. Malice and justice could not co-exist in her opinion. The best way to help was through providing happiness. Though she was a bit odd, she never noticed. Her absent-mindedness would not allow for something so 'hidden' to be on her mind.

Today's agenda? A game with a group of children. They had come from separate to play at the park for the day. Upon reaching there, Li had found them all rather bored and disorganized and as such causing a bit of trouble. It started with one, then progressively had snowballed into a group of six playing hide and go seek. There weren't a lot of good hiding spots and the kids often ruined it, but it made for good fun. As her face hid in the bark beneath her hands. She counted loudly. "1.. 2.. 3.." Pauses in between with squeals and running. Like she were some monster they hid from. Her breath shook excitedly as she continued. "9.. 10... 11" More squeals and sudden silence. A breeze blew through the field, caressing her legs. The ears on her jacket fluttered as if sensing the sounds. "15.. 16.." Squirms in her ears as they became restless and giddy.

"19.. 20!" She spoke loudly to enforce the last number. "Ready or not, here I come." The second her feet pivoted, the bodies flew out from the hiding spots and ran right past her. A single child caught. "Gotcha!" She spoke as she fell to the ground with a thud, hugging the child close to her. His tears aught her off guard and she blinked a few times. "A-Ah! Don't cry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!" She begged, releasing the kid from her grip, startled by the fear he let off. The other children were chanting again. Lian looked over and laughed light, pushing herself onto her feet. "One more time, but you guys should be going home soon." A calming lilt of her voice as she walked back to the tree. The children fleeing instantly, like race-cars back to the playground and the counting started once again. A repetition that wasn't minded as she spun again, to get knocked over by speeding children.

Good-nights were wished followed by hugs and groans. Promises for tomorrow and the park began to disband to the dinner bell. Lian, alone as far as her (poor) observation skills were, left her to fall backward onto the grass. Lilac hair askew and blueish eyes sky-turned with a giddy happiness. She enjoyed moments like this. The feeling of accomplishment was one not easily forgotten, even if it left her alone in a park, laying on the ground. For a militant, she sure didn't seem her age. Though, none of that mattered to her. For now, she could sky-gaze until the stars peaked out at the world.

[Xiao Yu]

Despite the war, nature continued to blossom. It never failed to be beautiful, even with the horrors this country had ensued recently. And the horrors were far from over. But the Xingese were a strong people and they would endure. Frankly, Xiao was just grateful to be done with his duty for the day. He had shooed Nanny Qiu home and did what he enjoyed best: spending time with Zao. His son seemed to be getting smarter every single day. And thus far, the “twos” had not been quite as terrible as he had heard. Xiao was breaking his own rules tonight, taking Zao into the park in the late afternoon. It had been a gorgeous day and he enjoyed running his son around on his shoulders or watching him climb the playground. Most of the children at the park were still a few years older than Zao, but it didn't stop the boy from imitating the larger children. Xiao also enjoyed playing the mimic game with his boy, making funny faces at each other.

The children were leaving the park steadily for their meals and Zao was still quite content to stay and play. He babbled to himself, a combination of baby speech and words. He was a fast learner and was picking up words quickly. Xiao gestured towards the field besides the playground, which on the other side their home lay. “Come on Zao, let's go eat dinner.” Zao looked up at his father, who stood with a backpack thrown over his shoulders. Xiao had decided against the stroller today, allowing Zao to walk more. And it wasn't like Xiao minded caring the squirming kid. “Din!” Zao gurgled and laughed and Xiao smiled at his son. He was picking up on the bigger words, but still enjoyed using his own shortcuts. Xiao nodded and holding his son's hand (though he had to walk a little funny to manage it), they began their trek home.

Zao was tugging at his father's arm, and Xiao responded, letting go. Zao's walking was strong and he liked to walk more on his own now. Xiao followed close behind as Zao marched resolutely forward. Xiao saw that there was a person in the grass but Zao was far too busy paying attention to his own feet to notice. Zao continued marching until he came right up on Lian lying in the grass. He glanced back at his father, unsure of what to do. Xiao looked across at the girl from the few feet away that he was. The name tickled at the back of his mind... Lian. Yes. A healer in the military. They'd met once or twice before, but primarily in professional settings. And as we all know, Xiao does not talk much at work. Xiao nodded though, indicating that the person was not a bad person and could be approached. Zao, going for bravery like his father, moved so that he was standing closer to Lian's head, babbling out “HI!” Xiao rolled his eyes and a flicker of a smile crossed his face. He reached down and scooped up his son so he was out of Lian's face. “Good evening, Miss Lian.”

[Guest]

A shadow crept upon her face. An odd wispy shadow that seemed to form out of nowhere and led to- the cutest little boy she'd ever seen! Lian nearly jumped in both surprise and excitement. Children! They were adorable and she loved them- but. Her eyes found those of a man. Instantly she paled and looked away. Not that he was intimidating, but her shyness took over when adults were around. For some reason, she could talk to children all day, but talking to adults- forget about it. He had a kind sort of voice. “Good evening, Miss Lian.” He said to her. The small boy in his arms. She was almost jealous! She wished she had a little brother that was so cute -derp Lian had no idea it was this man's kid-.

"A-ahm h-hi." She stammered shyly and looked left to right shyly, as if she were in trouble. She was sitting up, her hands positioned on the ground between her legs, with her legs curved beneath her butt. "Uhmm.. Y-You're uhm.." BLASTED! Names. She couldn't remember his name, but wasn't he a guard- of sorts? She felt embarrassed, unable to remember the name and her face reddened from being upset at herself. A mental scream at herself. Why couldn't she remember things. Like it was the most possible thing to remember everyone's name in all of Xing.

Sighing she looked up, almost pathetically at him. "I-I ahm.. I'm sorry. I-I can't remember your name." She admitted through her stutters. After a second she beamed, looking at the little boy. "H-He's adorable though! What's his name?" Derp. Bad conversation was bad. Don't know someone's name, so forget about it and change subject to someone else's name? Perhaps she should practice on that. She didn't want to upset the man, and in her mind, she never realized the consequences of these actions. She wouldn't realize how awkward she looked or sounded. Of course, Lian was also the type to not really care about what people thought of her or didn't think about her. She wasn't into that deep sort of hidden thought.

With a bit of a shaky movement, she got to her feet. Her long strands moving with her, swaying to the movements. She dusted her front and back off, followed closely by her hands. Her hands then latched behind her back and she rocked on her heels a bit. "Uhmmm oh yeah, wh-wh-what's your name t-too?" She was warming up a bit, little by little. Though who knew how long it would take before she would stop staggering on words.

[Xiao Yu]

"A-ahm h-hi. Uhmm.. Y-You're uhm.." She seemed... nervous? He couldn't remember if she naturally had a stammer. He stood there as Zao wriggled in his arms, giving a quick glance to the sky. If he was one who would show emotion, he probably would have just rolled his eyes. Maybe she was just bad with names. He ought to at least give her the benefit of the doubt.

"I-I ahm.. I'm sorry. I-I can't remember your name." See? Just like he expected. Bad with names. "H-He's adorable though! What's his name?" Xiao's eyes sparkled for a moment in amusement. Apparently every woman in the Xingese military had a thing for his son. Well, maybe not every. But Jeu-Hee loved his son and Lian seemed to be instantly attracted to him as well. Lady killer, much? He watched her stand, and she seemed antsy... or something. She was rocking on her heels. Apparently she couldn't stand still very well? Probably why she was a healer and not an Imperial guard. Then again, he suspected it was also because she was good at healing.

"Uhmmm oh yeah, wh-wh-what's your name t-too?" Xiao glanced skyward one more time, then he looked down at her. Definitely nervous. And he suspected he looked well... closed-off. He was stoic as always. But maybe that was intimidating her? Well, he couldn't exactly change WHO HE WAS. He managed a small nod and a whisper of a smile. It was the best he could. “Xiao. This is Zao.” Zao brightened at the mention of his name. “Zao!” Xiao nodded to his son, a more gentle facial expression changing Xiao from his stereotypical demeanor. “Yes. This is Miss Lian.” Zao looked at Xiao a moment, trying to determine how best to handle the new word. He still stumbled over a few letters on occasion, especially when he was around new people. Apparently coming to some sort of decision, Zao looked over at Lian. “Lia!”

[Guest]

{Sorry for ze intrusion. Thought you might like the company.}

Nightfall. The strange time where light seemed to be at its most absent, yet some things could be seen far easier than others. It was at times like this that he wished to be at the greatest level of peace, quietly wandering through the streets of his city as he had his eyes half-closed. It had been a little while since he'd given up the throne--some had made arguments against the idea, others had tried to solicit the power for themselves--but Ace knew that he was doing something right. For some reason, he had never felt himself truly good enough to be a leader of men. Reaching a hand up to his face, a finger was pressed against the bridge of his glasses, sliding them up so they were properly adjusted upon his face. Hiding away his curse, the man sighed softly, shaking his head as he continued to walk through the twilit streets. The peaceful noises of the evening entered his ears: the last of the children playing before their parents called them in for dinner, those one or two people finishing up the last of their work, the animals barking for their food. It was almost time to return home for Ace as well. He'd taken to living in the Xi'an house of the Shen clan, but it was likely that it wouldn't be long before he had to move back to their own district. Hopefully he could remain here, especially in the palace, but it was unlikely.

Sighing softly and feeling somewhat down after the fact, Ace heard a few voices that seemed remotely familiar. Turning his head slightly, he could somewhat make out shapes in the distance. The glasses were quickly removed, and the heightened vision from the now glowing-blue eyes revealed the image of Xiao, one of his guardsmen. The other one was somewhat recognizable, but he couldn't recall a name. Maybe something could jump-start his memory. The glasses returned to their rightful place, and Ace turned his body to face that direction, setting off in a calm walk. It was a peaceful evening--it was unlikely that he would miss them. And if he did, it was easy enough for him to simply turn away and continue on walking. However, they did not part ways, and Ace heard quiet talking between the pair. "--wh-what's your name t-too?" The female was nervous. “Xiao. This is Zao.” A soft smile crossed his lips as he passed through the final small threshold--he was close enough that he could be noticed, but not so close that his presence would be felt by the pair. He simply watched this small situation for a couple of seconds, hands in his pockets and smiling. “Yes. This is Miss Lian.”

"Oh, right. Lian." He spoke out loud, completely forgetting the fact that he was standing silently beside them, until it was far too late. A hand was quickly at his mouth, and he gave a sheepish smile with his eyes from behind the hand. "Apologies. Continue." It was too late, wasn't it?

[Guest]

“Xiao. This is Zao.” Zao!”
“Yes. This is Miss Lian.” Lia!”

.. BAWWWWWWW! Lian felt completely taken to the little boy. In some freakish alternate world, she may have been killed for such a silly stupidity on her part, but she was endeared. Children were so cute! She loved to play with them and watch as they grew. Such a neat aspect that they started with nothing and grew into being that spoke so perfectly. She never quite understood, but it was weird to know that one day she was that size. She now, was tall enough she had to bend at the waist and rest her hands on her knees to look at the boy. She was still not at eye height.

Grinning brightly at him, she opened her mouth to speak but the wrong voice came out. "Oh, right. Lian. Apologies. Continue."What was this magic!? That wasn't her voice talking about herself. Then it hit her, right.. someone else had spoken. That was unexpected. Nonetheless, she accepted it. Her heels turned a bit and looked for the speaker, to see a rather bashful (ex) emperor staring on with a sheepish smile. Ahh! So cute! Well, not exactly what she meant, but she couldn't help but bow to the man. Not that Lian knew of the knew emperor so well, she didn't notice things well. "A-Ah! Emperor Aeries!" She'd speak with her stutter and a smile.

Her body had straightened to turn, but now it bent again, just to straighten once more. After she'd bowed to him, she found herself staring (though not meaning to). "Wh-what brings you here? Di-did you need something?" Lian remembered well, serving the man, though not so long. She wasn't sure though, what to say. "Did you want to play with the children too??"

[Xiao Yu]

"Oh, right. Lian." Xiao reacted almost on instinct, spinning on his heel to face Ace. He would've shot his hand up in a salute, had it not been for the squirming boy in his arms. "Apologies. Continue." Then it slowly came back. He didn't need to salute to Ace as his Emperor anymore. He was a servant of the new Emperor now... just like Xiao. It was a strange circumstance. Luckily, he was able to collect himself because Lian had directed her attention to Ace, inquiring as to his purpose in the park. He smiled faintly at her simple question of his want to play with the children here. Although at this point in the evening, most of the children had gone. Zao was probably one of the few ones left, and even they had been planning to go home and eat some dinner. But a change of plans wasn't too bad. At least until Zao started crying.

“Ace.” Xiao nodded his head and smiled in greeting. Calling him “Ace” felt awkward on his tongue, but he didn't want Ace to feel uncomfortable with the change. “I don't believe you've been introduced. This is my son, Zao.” Zao squirmed to look at Ace, his childlike smile growing with another new person to wow with his cuteness. “Ace!”

[Guest]

Aw, man. They noticed him after all. Sighing softly, the male put his hands back into his pockets, trying to act as casually as he possibly could despite having already been noticed for the position that he was in. He was, of course, mentally lambasting himself for letting himself get so easily noticed by these two--what sort of assassin-type character would let that happen?! "A-Ah! Emperor Aeries!" He blinked a couple of times and gave her a sheepish smile, as if willing himself to say to her I'm not the Emperor anymore, it's okay! Of course, that was all he could do--for some reason, saying the words didn't actually seem right to him. "Wh-what brings you here? Di-did you need something?" He almost wanted to let out a large and exasperated sigh. He had hated people being so formal with their language when he was the Emperor--what was the point of being so formal around him now?! He breathed out calmly, watching carefully as the pair spoke to him. "Did you want to play with the children too??" This one... seemed a little airheaded, and rather naive to boot. Tapping his chin slightly with a finger and a soft smile, Ace tilted his head to the right and laughed softly.

"Oh, no, I was just in the area." Yeah, that was about right. He was just in the area. Chuckling softly to himself, he reached a hand up to his face and slid his glasses up the bridge of his nose with a soft smirk. "I saw some people I knew, so I decided to come over and visit!" A soft laugh brought itself up from the lower recesses of his throat. He wasn't lying--he really had been in the area, and he really had wanted to visit! “Ace.” He turned his head and gave Xiao a kind smile at the same time. "Ace, huh? Sounds weird, coming from you." “I don't believe you've been introduced. This is my son, Zao.” Nrn? He looked down, and saw the little mite. Wow, wasn't he adorable! Honestly, Ace never really got much of a chance to play with kids while he was the Emperor. It was sad, but true. “Ace!” He chuckled and knelt down, reaching a hand out and planting it carefully on top of the boy's head, his eyes closed. "Heya, Zao. It's nice to meet you. I work with your daddy." He chuckled and stood back up straight, looking at Xiao with a smirk. "Nice night tonight, is it not?" Small talk wasn't pretty, but he needed to learn at some point.

[Guest]

A tap on the chin, a tilt of his head and the man had a response. "Oh, no, I was just in the area." That explained a lot, actually. Her blue eyes rested contently as she eased up a bit. It wasn't like the man bit. Or did he? The questions... Were unimportant. Ace seemed rather conflicted, but Lian took no notice. She noticed not a thing. Instead, she shifted her weight and turned to watch the other two interact. Out of place-did she even belong here? For a second her heart skipped and she felt forlorn. Sad eyes hidden under a sweet smile. "I saw some people I knew, so I decided to come over and visit!" He had stated, explaining with a smirk. The grin widdened. Visiting others always WAS fun!

Of course, Lian could not forget the only person on level with herself, the little boy. Zao was carefree not understanding of anything awkward or strange. Aa! To be young and naive! (PFffft!) The other three introduced each other, as Lian found her eyes chasing the fireflies that flickered around. A hand extended slowly, pawing at the twinkling bugs with giddy excitement. It sped up, until she was practically pouncing like a tiger. The terrifying trusted 'fighter' was chasing fireflies, tripping over her own two feet before stumbling up again. How absurd she looked. However, she wouldn't notice.

A glowing light of life was crawling and wiggling between her fingers. Odd that some were cannibalistic and yet, they looked so pretty. Despite the glowing light, they were vicious and even cruel. A side humans often never saw now would ever likely see. Walking over to the group once more (having pounced and jumped her way a good ten feet away), she plopped on the grass. A small black and red bug crawled and wormed its way over her fingers. It took a moment, before the beetle spread its wings and fled the scene. Lian couldn't help but smile and watch the other lightning bugs dance. The night was calling.

"Nice night tonight, is it not?" Her eyes found Ace once again and welcomed him kinder and less nervously. It was rude to interrupt so instead she waited for them to finish and simply hummed a Xingese merry tune under her breath. She wasn't exactly included but not excluded either. The three knew each other sort of while she was the stranger and yet, tehy were all strangers to her.

[Xiao Yu]

"Heya, Zao. It's nice to meet you. I work with your daddy." Zao smiled brightly in response to the new attention. He reached up to Ace's hand on his head, grabbing it his toddler-vice-grip and dragging it from his head. A new toy, surely. He began to explore the new hand for a moment before flinging it away from himself with a laugh. Zao waited patiently for the hand to come back so he could continue his new game.

"Nice night tonight, is it not?" Xiao nodded his head at Ace. He noticed that Lian had started watching fireflies, clearly not wanting to be a part of the conversation for the time being. “Very nice.” Zao wriggled in his arms a little bit and Xiao rolled his eyes slightly. Casually he shifted Xiao up onto his shoulders, his two hands lightly holding his son's legs. Zao was pleased to be up so high, although Xiao grimaced when Zao tugged hard on his hair. He knew that Zao was going to get more squirmy the longer they were outside, because an empty toddler tummy made for a squirmy, noisy toddler. He felt kind of rude leaving Ace and Lian, but Zao did rule the roost... sort of. He mused for a moment before deciding he'd go for the polite option.

“I've got to get Zao home to eat something before he starts screaming the sky down. The two of you are more than welcome to join us. I'm not sure what I'm making yet, but I can promise it'll be good.” Xiao hadn't cooked for anyone but himself and Nanny Qiu in a long time. It would be a nice change to cook a big meal. If they accepted, of course.

[Shula Brighton]

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