Somehow I Always Find My Way To You

[portolan]

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[floresco]

She doesn't know what to make of being pulled off into a small, cozily warm room alone with him, but her heartbeat picks up in pace as the door swings shut. Stuck between relief and disappointment when he lets her go, Aerith is grateful for the new, wonderful plants to admire, turning towards a display of red, fragrant orchids as she listens to him.

The talk of suitors gets her raising her eyebrows, and without looking at him - she can hear the smile in his voice and some part of her warns against staring directly at it when she's already feeling a little silly - Aerith shakes her head. "No suitors, agreed. I'm not a princess anymore."

[portolan]

It hasn't even occurred to him she may read this some other way, not with how convinced he is that she finds the idea of being with him repulsive. So it's good to see her wide-eyed and smiling, floating to the plants like they're magnets pulling her to them.

"No, you aren't," he agrees. He hadn't believed that before, not until that day with the wine, and even then -- something had changed that day, but it was only recently that when he looked at her, he saw a woman with a life to live, a pirate, and not a lost princess playing adventure.

"I was worried you wouldn't realize that. They'll give up on you in another few months, arrange some other marriage, and then you'll really be free."

[floresco]

She does look at him when he agrees with her, gratified. It's dizzying to think about leaving behind everything to learn a new way of life, and her ignorance of how the world works makes her feel silly, more often than not, but hearing him reinforce that she still wasn't a princess anymore made her feel good, steadied.

"And I get to stay and work for you?"

[portolan]

Is she still concerned about that? Well, he remembers what it was to have no place in the world, and fear the new stability he'd found would disappear just as thoroughly.

He comes to stand beside her, catching her gaze even as he runs his fingers over the leaves of the orchids. They're a bit like her, wild and bright. "You have a place on my crew so long as you want it. I've never met a healer half as good as you."

[floresco]

"Not bad for a soft little princess, right?" She beams at him, pleased that her abilities are this appreciated, shimmying from side to side as she talks.

"Maybe I can learn how to fight someday too, I can help out more then."

[portolan]

"You are one of those things," he says, smirking at her as she genuinely squirms with delight. What a strange person.

To the latter, she has a point. "It would be good for you to have more defense than your cutting tongue and tendency to disarm people with your cuteness."

[floresco]

Catching that remark, Aerith narrowed her eyes, barely holding back a smile. "You're always going to make short jokes, aren't you? We can't all be tall and elegant you know."

[portolan]

He's going to make them as long as they get a rise out of her.

"We can't all be tiny and feral either. You should appreciate your assets more."

[floresco]

"Feral?" Aerith does her best to sound disapproving, though she can't hide how amused she is at the assessment.

"They used to let me use a staff for casting magic, I'm sure I could knock someone out with it if I tried!"

[portolan]

"I would not put it past you. Bruise them a few times too," he saids with mock disdain in his voice. But he looks thoughtful. "A staff would suit you. It has good reach, not heavy. I think I know someone who could give you lessons."