Argenti's Palace

[beautifulknight]

The stage is set they say;
They don their masks and shields,
Shadows creep and cover their minds;
Now, what beautiful role shall they play?

𝓜𝓮𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓵𝓮


♫

Comments

[gardenful]

[ There is no doubt that this is Argenti. It's plain and obvious, and so Aerith starts to think.

What would Argenti answer? After their discussions regarding what is beautiful and what beauty means, she thinks she has some ideas, but...

She'll go with what she feels right now, what calls out to her most. ]

The heart.

[bloodandstars]

[ That's such a sentimental answer. Way too sweet for reality or practicality.

But Maika gives her a long measuring look. ]

...I think he'd agree with that one.

[ Thanks Argenti; she can foist off all sentimentality blame onto you in absentia. Good man. ]

[gardenful]

[ That look just gets a little smile in return as she shrugs. ]

We're kinda on the same wavelength, in a lot of ways. But that's probably not surprising, huh?

[ Two very sentimental people who find beauty in a lot of things... yeah, it's not shocking. ]

[bloodandstars]

Good. You can be my navigator through these parts. Call me when we get to the step where I smack him on the head.

[ She has a promise to keep to Aerith! And the more she can focus on the potential fighting part, the happier she is. Less mulling over this part. ]

[gardenful]

[ Splitting up the work... she likes it! ]

You got it. I'll call out for my loyal protector and everything.

[bloodandstars]

[ She gives a quick sidelong glance towards the group around them, an awkward pause in hesitation... and then redirects back to the more important part. The less embarrassing part. ]

You'll know how to find him. We'll bring him back.

[ She's not worried about Argenti. But she doesn't want some of these people to be sad. And she really doesn't want to deal with the howling chorus of upset dogs, either. ]

[gardenful]

[ Coward!! But she half expected Maika not to acknowledge her little comment aloud anyway. ]

We will. Knowing you're feeling optimistic too just makes me feel it even more.

[ Since she knows Maika isn't one for optimism.

Also— ]

You didn't deny what I said, so I'll take that as you agreeing to it.

[bloodandstars]

Reading into silence is a good survival skill to learn.

[ She's not denying not denying it! But she might start hunching into her coat more. ]

And it's not optimism. He's just too stubborn for this to end any other way. And so are you, probably.

[ That's the parallel she's seeing here. ]

[gardenful]

[ She'll let Maika off the hook now, because that's as good of an acknowledgement as she's going to get here. And honestly? Aerith will take it. ]

I sure am. I'm not gonna let him continue on like this. I'll punch him if I need to.

[bloodandstars]

[ Hm... Just this once? Maika hopes Argenti will be a pain for a little longer, so she gets to see that. ]

Do it again when we're out of here. I want a picture of that, too.

[ One more memory to save up. ]