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National flower day,March 12. Usually,such days and events aren't celebrated,yet when you have a few fanatics of gardening and nature,a little gathering party at the garden is.. Inevitable.
Clearly,not everyone was there. A lot of survivors tended to stay away and locked in their rooms,avoiding social life even now. Others didn't feel like celebrating. Others saw it as a waste of time. And maybe it was,but doesn't everyone need those moments in their lives where they have the need to get away for a bit? From all the worries and responsibilities? Most refuse to accept such reasoning,out of stubbornness and unacceptance.
And sometimes, those same people found themselves having no choice on the matter,not when they're being forcefully dragged around.
" Miss Woods... Miss Woods. Just one moment-- "
" Not a second! We must hurry,we are already late! "
" To what exactly? "
" The party! "
" What party? No,Miss, listen to me--- "
" No excuses,mister Carl! You need to get out a bit,talk to people! It won't hurt ya!"
" I beg to differ... "
" Enough whining! "
As much as Aesop was hoping to get away from all of this,Emma's death grip on his wrist said otherwise. He wanted to go back to his room,practice on his embalming,read a book maybe.. But not this. Just not this.
Before he could protest again,they had already made it at the back door of the garden. Panic washed him. What if it was completely crowded? What if all hunters and survivors decided to gather? What if...
There were no seconds left to think. Emma opened the door,and the garden was revealed before them.
" I convinced him! "
Grey,uncertain eyes gazed around. Thank heavens,it wasn't crowded. He actually doubted even half the survivors were gathered here. That... That brought him relief. Sort of. He still had to be among people.
Without realizing,his wrist had been let go. Aesop turned his head,watching Emma turning her head to him,her casual smile plastering her face.
" Will you be okay on your own,mister Carl? I need to find Emily! "
" Ah.. yes,of course. Carry on. "
" I'll find you later! "
And just like that,the little gardener was gone. The embalmer stood at the top of the stairs for a moment,unsure of where he should go. What he should do. Not many people noticed him thankfully,just that woman who always carried a gun on her hip wherever she went,and the diva by her side that reeked perfume from a mile away. He was ought to stay away from them. And everyone,really.
His hands stayed on his sides as he walked down the little steps,not sure what to do with them. He didn't have his kit with him,so his palms remained empty. Not a good sensation,he thought.
Keeping his head down,he walked on the sides of the garden,scanning around the floor to see where there were less feet standing. The corner of the garden behind the bushes where a small bench sat became his destination.
A few seconds later,he allowed himself to breathe. Mostly hidden away, the Embalmer found some peace in this spot once he sat down. Emma told him he needed to socialize. Communicate. Yet what did he do? Hid away. From everyone.
Or so he thought.
" To hell if I care! "
A,rather loud voice,compared to the rest in the garden,reached the once relaxed Embalmer's ears. Turning his face in faint shock,the bench shook.
And someone else was sitting on it.
" Oh come on Naib! They were just trying to talk to you!"
" I don't 'talk'. "
" Yes you do! You talk to me! "
" Because you're not leaving me alone. Now get lost."
" I'll be ba-- oh hi Aes! "
Two heads suddenly turned his way. One covered by a green hood,and the other with brown hair and beard.
Aesop only staired.
Naib stared.
Kurt blinked.
"... I'll be on my way then!"
In a flash he was gone.
And now,silence.
"....Should I move?"
" You're fine."
With that answer,Aesop's shoulders relaxed a bit. He allowed himself to rest his back against the heavy bush behind him,eyes closing for a moment. He didn't wish to talk,Naib didn't wish to talk. It was peaceful this way. It wasn't so bad.
His ear picked some rustling on his side.
With that,he opened one eye,and looked to the left where the Mercenary sat. He wasn't sure what his hand was doing reaching into that bush,but it didn't feel so safe if there were any thorns around. Yet he stayed quiet.
A moment later,Naib pulled his hand out. A flower rested between his fingers,one which Naib took in his palms to examine after.
"... Liliums. "
" What? "
" That is a lilium. The flower. "
" Oh. "
" It's cool. I guess. "
" They symbolise purity. The white ones,at least. "
" There are more colors? "
" As much as I'm aware of,yes. "
"...Like? "
"Well... There are pink,red,orange,yellow... I can't say I remember more. "
The Mercenary,even if he wasn't looking at the Embalmer,stayed invested in what he said. Even if he didn't show it.
He quietly twirled the flower between his fingers,eyeing it,observing.
" Y'know a lot about flowers. "
" It.. was kind of part of my job. But that's not why I took up on learning more about them."
Usually,Naib wouldn't care,and he'd leave the conversation at that. But the Embalmer... He never heard him talk. It was almost pleasing to the ears to listen to his explanations. They weren't rushed,too long,too annoying. Just calm,simple answers to his questions. For the first time he was actually tolerating a conversation.
" What was it then? "
" Pardon me? "
" Your reason. For the flowers. "
Having someone looking..almost interested in what he had to say,something he enjoys doing.. He never had that before. And as much as he disliked attention,knowing he was listened to for once felt fulfilling.
It may have taken him a moment,but he responded.
" My mother liked flowers."
That caused Naib to lift his head a bit.
" She.. loved gardening too. We used to have a small garden of sorts,in the back of our house. "
His hands fiddled with the end of his shirt.
" She adored yellow roses. Hard to find,so we planted them ourselves. "
" They became my favorite as well. "
There was one thing Naib always hated about this manor and it's people. Rumors spreaded so easily,no matter what you did,someone always had an opinion over it. So many people were misunderstood,and in that circle,himself as well. And Aesop. He reminded himself of that after listening to the Embalmer speak,talk about something he enjoyed. With just a few sentences,he had proven so many awful people wrong of their accusations. Naib felt a bit glad about it.
Lifting his head,Naib finally looked at Aesop. The other wasn't looking back,but rather at the floor at first.
" Did she celebrate this day? "
" She did. "
" And you aren't? "
With that thought,Aesop lifted his gaze to look at Naib. No response.
" Well? "
" I..can't. Not without her. "
" It doesn't feel the same. Every year,it's just getting.. worse. "
" Or you're just making it worse yourself."
Aesop looked at him confused. And a bit surprised.
" Just because your ma isn't here doesn't mean you shouldn't celebrate. Do it for her. To her memory or whatever. Wouldn't she want that? "
Aesop didn't know what to say.
It's not like he ever had someone close to him to have these conversations with him. To open his eyes,to show him what is right or wrong. He always acted by what he believed. His guidance in life ended after his mother passed,after all.
So hearing Naib now,telling him something he should have been told a long time ago.. He almost felt like a small weight left his chest. Like something felt more.. Right.
Not so sure of what to say,Aesop looked further behind Naib,to the bushes of flowers resting up ahead. Then,to the people standing around them,chatting away,drinks in their hands.
Never forgetting his and Naib's conversation,Aesop stood up from his seat. Straightening his shirt out,the Embalmer turned to look at the Mercenary.
"..Thank you. Truly. "
Thanked? What exactly was the Embalmer thanking him for?
Not responding,or moving,the Mercenary watched the other man walk away from the bench. He seemed to not be walking to the exit,but to a different group of people. Specifically,to the one that girl,Woods,was in. Naib couldn't hear what they were saying,but Emma seemed rather excited. What Aesop told her,he never knew. But after that,they bid their farewells,and the Embalmer moved to the door leading inside. He didn't look at Naib's direction. He didn't look anywhere.
Naib almost wanted to follow.
Did he? No.
Instead,he decided to turn his head and look at the direction Aesop was once looking before he got up. Those bushes..
They were empty. Zero color except green.
It made no sense.
Yet again,he had no business making sense over it.
Looking down at his hands,the lilium was still there. He inhaled,took it in one hand,and stood up. Stepping away from behind the bush,the Mercenary walked through the groups of people chatting away. He eyed Emma,then the door. Then,he walked inside.
A bit further down the manor,the familiar Embalmer had just walked out of the gardener's room. Putting something away in his pocket, he shut the door,and walked away to leave the dining area. As he did so,he didn't notice someone else coming from the garden. Already moving through the double doors,Aesop disappeared. At the same time,Naib was shutting the garden's door. Walking further up ahead,he stopped to look around. Once he saw there was no gray in sight,he shook his head.
" The hell am I doin'?"
Almost as if he surprised his own self with the decision to go after the Embalmer,Naib took a step back,and stormed off to go back where he was. He'd rather find something to fill his stomach with than sit around and ponder over nonsense.
3 days later later....
Quietness over the manor,time 12 am. By now,everyone had gone to their rooms,no wandering around.
Except some people.
Grumpy footsteps echoed down the stairs of the Manor as a displeased brunette made his way through the doors of the dining area after reaching the main floor. His targeted destination was the kitchen. Well.. was. Until he heard the faintest sound of rustling.
Turning his head alarmed,Naib was ready to fight. Literally.
Cautiously stepping away from the kitchen's door,he looked over the table,and crouched.
Eyeing the doors resting by the end of the hall,he awaited for movement. Anything.
Yet when something did move,he didn't think it would be that. Or him.
There the Embalmer was,stepping out of Wood's bedroom,at 12 am at midnight.
What the hell?
Naib didn't blow his cover,no. All Naib did was to carefully hide himself behind the table as Aesop walked by,then moved through the doors of the dining area to,as he guessed,return to his room.
Everything was just too confusing to Naib. What did Aesop want with Emma? Why was he in her room so late? What did they do?
Suddenly,the respect that grew in him for the Embalmer three days ago was gone. He wanted to follow him,question him,threaten him for answers. But he didn't. Not yet.
He decided to await and see if all of this would continue.
And it did. Every single night. Naib's door was close to Aesop's,so every time it opened and closed,Naib heard it. At 11:30,Aesop left his room. At 12 am, he was back.
Naib had enough.
Days later,after Aesop had left his room,Naib waited for around 2 minutes. Then he got off his bed,and followed his suspect. He was so ready to confront him.
Being as quiet as a mouse,Naib stepped down the stairs,then soon after into the dining area. Crouching,he moved close enough to have a clear view of Emma's door. He was more than ready to shoot up and storm towards it... until it opened.
But why? It was too early.
Aesop was seen stepping out of Emma's room,bag in hand,shutting the door gently. Right when Naib thought he would move to the dining area's door,he didn't. He,instead,moved down the hall on the left. A moment later,the garden's door was opened.
What was he even doing in the garden? Would he meet up with Emma there soon?
Well,with him there,he surely wouldn't.
Standing up,Naib didn't miss a beat when he walked up to the door that led outside. He paused,for just a second. Then he took a hold of the handle,and turned it. He stepped outside,and scanned the area with a hard look in his eyes,ready to knock some sense into that Embalmer for thinking that it was okay to mess around with someone like the gardener.
Yet that,never happened.
Gray eyes lifted in surprise when he heard the door of the garden open.
Then,eyes met.
The shocked eyes of the Mercenary glanced over the silhouette of the Embalmer that sat by the floor of the garden,in front of a bush,gardening tools resting by his side.
" Subedar? What are you doing here? "
Faint panic in his voice,Aesop did not wish to be seen doing what he was doing.
Yet Naib couldn't even respond,too..too surprised by the sight in front of him.
He expected to catch Aesop waiting for Emma,not see him...planting flowers? Is that what he was doing?
Suddenly,a pit of guilt formed in the bottom of his stomach.
Without realizing it,he became one of the people who formed opinions over the Embalmer without knowing a thing about him. He refused to believe he fell that low.
" I... "
" What...what are you doing? "
" I'm... Ah. I truly didn't want anyone knowing..."
Almost looking defeated,Aesop put one of the gardening tools down.
" For the past few days,I... I've been busy back here. Looking after these flowers."
"Well... Roses. Yellow ones,to be exact."
Naib was speechless.
" Remember when you told me I should celebrate? That it is what my mother would want?"
"Perhaps I needed that advice. You were right."
" I decided to try planting some roses,by myself. In honor of my mother. I didn't want anyone seeing me,though,so I did it at the time everyone was in bed. Or.. so I thought. "
The last sentence was said almost playfully,like Naib wasn't someone who truly minded if he saw him like this or not. He was actually rather relieved it was him.
Naib couldn't form proper words. He had turned out to be so,so wrong over all this. And he didn't even know how to explain himself.
" .. What about Woods? "
" Miss Woods? What about her? "
" Nothing is... happenin'? Between you? "
" What?? Heavens,no! I could never. Miss Woods is like a sister to me. Why would you think that? "
"...."
How do you tell someone you've been spying on them for the past week?
" You've just seemed... close. "
You don't.
" Oh,well no,there is nothing going on. Miss Woods has been helping me with my gardening,and I've happened to be borrowing her tools to look after the flowers. "
At long last,relief. And some sense.
" Well that was a rollercoaster. " A mumble under his breath.
" Pardon me? "
" Nothing."
Lifting his hand to rub the back of his neck in embarrassment, Naib looked around. He didn't like feeling bad.
" Do you..need help? "
Aesop lifted his head once again. Then,he looked at the flowers,the tools,and then at Naib.
" I wouldn't mind. "
With that being said,Naib walked up to Aesop,and sat down next to him. Handing him the second pair of gardening gloves that rested in the bag,Naib put them on. And with that, the two sat by the yellow roses littering the once empty bush,and with the help of the moonlight casting down upon them,they tended to the flowers with the quiet company of one another.