IC Greenwich

[sele]

Location: Greenwich Grocers | Tag:@PavellumPendulum 's Tenet

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Tenet was the peach.

Well, not the literal peach, and not because he was a peach farmer. He just was the peach! Or its parallel more like. She'd just made this revelation, or so she'd presumed.

Dahlia's glance lingered on Tenet, bounced toward the peach in her hand, then back toward him. No, yep, he was the peach! What a sight – and sound! – and by consideration, too, what a taste when the sweetness hidden within tingled on the tongue, nourished the senses, and altogether proved abundant. Or, again, as she presumed – by relative comparison to Tenet's general highly reticent nature.

Like the peach syrup on her chin – which she'd only delayed to smudge away while caught up in DEEP REVELATION – Tenet had split, then spilt. His was laughter, clement as flower-giggles wobbled free by a breeze. It could have been a bellowing guffaw and she'd have enjoyed experiencing it still, too. Whatever would have been genuine – and that her company seemed to stifle his laugh lent to this being well and truly genuine! How lovely!

Oh, right, peach juice slowly beading down her chin. Dahlia caught it with the side of an index and guided it back up toward the corner of her mouth. She'd been pulled in by the genuine mirth, so her finger brushed up into a grin before flying away. Nothing to see here! She wasn't really feigning to hide anything, though – she'd not even know what she'd be hiding to begin with.

"What an....-" Oh no, was she about to pun them into oblivion? SHE WAS. But HE'D called HER strange! A gleeful thing, really.

"-...unimpeachable observation! I'm delighted to be both strange and interesting." She'd meant it. How lovely! More, from someone who seemed to give more weight to what words they chose to offer to the world than others. "Thank you." She added, more in line with his quieter tone than her own.

"You're interesting – and strange, too, can't forget it! – Mr. Unicorn!" She hadn't forgotten his mention of shapeshifting into a unicorn for a previous Halloween to charm his daughters. "I'll tell you what the flora have to say if you'll shapeshift through their leaves!" Dahlia ambiguously declared. She just had a general vision for them both to proudly experience their unique fae gifts!

Oh, she'd rampaged through her peach already, left now with a pulpy pit.

"That's it! We'll just be forced to meet again – intentionally! – and tease the plant-life together!"

Another declaration.

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[PavellumPendulum]

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TENET

It felt odd, to be having this conversation with her and not wishing he was anywhere else. Though no one really harboured ill will towards him in Greenwich (as far as he knew), most kept their distance. After the death that his family had suffered, many had tried to reach out repeatedly, only to be shoved away as bluntly as possible. He hadn't had the mental capacity or desire to speak to anyone for at least a full year after the incident and the repeated attempts had only made him seem more crazed and not worth the effort. Nowadays, people had learned to keep their distance, only really interacting with his children, who were likely more pleasant to be around.

Perhaps Tenet just felt a little less like Dahlia was looking for something. Answers about what had happened, or trying to give him pity... He felt more like she just felt like being silly instead of having any ulterior motives.

She mentioned his previous Halloween costume. Though he was not particularly embarrassed by it, it wasn't something that he thought on with much gusto. "I would do anything to make them smile." he stated with a little shrug, completely meaning it, though of course such a gift came in moderation, lest it no longer be fresh. The costume had been absolutely delightful to his daughters, but it was still a rare treat for them to see him engage in something silly.

Dahlia suggested that they use their powers in tandem: hers for communicating with the plants and him for... Going through them? Tenet stared at her a touch quizzically as they approached the flower stand, where it almost seemed as though the blooms were leaning towards Dahlia conspiratorially, stems lolling in her direction. Or was that just the breeze coming through the continually opening and closing door...? "Through? ... As a bug?" he tried to make sense of her suggestion, his eyes settling on a daisy in the mix. Of course it'd caught his eye first.

「 @sele 」

code by wren.

 

[sele]

Location: Greenwich Grocers | Tag:@PavellumPendulum 's Tenet

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Perhaps someone else would have experienced a note of embarrassment regarding 'Mr. Unicorn' but as it was, neither Dahlia or Tenet leaned that way on the matter. She hadn't considered that it might be an embarrassment for someone or not. He'd done it for the delight of his children. She hadn't been there for the previous year's costume, but it still stuck with her as a second-hand memory for how bright it sparked!

Oh. But then she – or something – had baffled Tenet. She recognized the look – what teacher didn't? Dahlia didn't consciously ply Teacher Things:tm: at him beyond school, it'd just been by experience to catch the slight bewilderment.

Dahlia's glance only slid away into the corners of her eyes toward the flower stand, as though beckoned by the quietest in the room.

And then Tenet spoke to the note of subtle bewilderment she'd spotted just the moment prior. Wait, what had been her idea specifically? She'd been distracted by a floral whisper.

"Huh? A bug? What?" She began, as though it was actually Dahlia who'd been confused, and as if it'd been Tenet's train of thought all along that she was trying to follow.

"They say you're handsome. The flowers. They like your hair." She declared about what had distracted her. She then slid her gaze back with force toward Tenet. She gave him an unapologetic shrug while her eyes widened and her mouth squiggled briefly. "It wasn't me, it was the carnation. The daisy, too."

What had it been – OHH, both of their fae skills enjoyed in tandem!! He'd be a bug amidst floral leaves while she shared their secrets with him!

"What a GRAND idea, Tenet!" She burst, celebrating what was obviously his idea here and not merely the confused offering he'd made to try to understand what she'd actually meant.

"I sooo look forward to the opportunity! I can't wait, really! Ah, I should hurry up and buy this peach!" She spoke of the... pulpy remnants and pit.

Wait, did she think they were going to go on fae-adventures straightaway? Maybe! She didn't say!

"I'm so happy I ran into you today, Tenet!"

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[PavellumPendulum]

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TENET

The flowers... Thought he was handsome?

Tenet stared at Dahlia, expression unchanging, despite the shock slowly blooming in his system. Flowers had a sense for beauty? In all honesty, he'd never thought much of his appearance. He did like to adorn himself from time to time, but it was no priority of his. If anything, his daughters took more to that hobby on his behalf than he did. Dahlia was smiling so brightly. It seemed out of character for her to try and prank him like that, so he tried to take it at face value. Awkwardly, he slid his gaze from her to the daisies and carnations once more. "... Okay. Thanks."

He wondered what types of voices plants made, how fae like Dahlia communicated with them. Tenet could only become animals in physicality; shifting into one had never really granted him further insight to their lives other than allowing him to see the world from their perspective. It would certainly be much faster to just listen to them speak. He shrugged at Dahlia's seemingly impressed response to his idea. "I could become a bumblebee."

With shimmering eyes, she announced that she needed to go pay for the remains of her eaten peach, as well as the fact that she was happy to have met with him that day.

He shifted in place briefly, the silence growing from his lack of response as the seconds ticked by. He had never been one to so effortlessly say such positive things, especially if he did not feel them strongly. Had he disliked the conversation? Not as far as he could tell. But trying to mirror her kindness felt like attempting to shimmy into ill-fitting clothing from one's childhood. "... Yes. You should pay for that." he stated the point simply at first, bringing his eyes back to hers, "Talking was good. I will see you next time."

Whenever she decided to show up at the farm, he supposed.

「 @sele 」

code by wren.

 

[sele]

Location: Greenwich Grocers | Tag:@PavellumPendulum 's Tenet

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Tenet's stare was not something that Dahlia knew how to interpret, even with her regular study of students who were still learning to express their growing nuances. Here? There was a shield of blankness. It wasn't emptiness, just a placid shield.

But when Tenet somewhat awkwardly turned toward the flowers to offer his uncertain affirmation and thanks, Dahlia's eyes caught aflame with mirth. When he offered to become a bumblebee, that's where Dahlia deposited the jolly laughter she'd held back – as not to be oppressive or misinterpreted a moment prior.

"YESS!" She cheered with the laugh roiling through her declaration. "A fuzzy, tumbly little bumblebeeeeee! Oh, yes – of course! – I won't forget! Tenet! It was so lovely to see you, and we'll adventure through the groves at your farm together soon!!"

Dahlia didn't want to make Tenet feel trapped there for too long, so she smooshed all of her replies together in one big, explosive (aka avalanche) of enthusiasm and answers. She leaned his way on reflex to attempt a cheery side hug, but then froze part-way there, remembering not to overwhelm people – and not to invade.

She froze in that halfway place, grinned, and waved maybe uncomfortably close to the poor fae before he went his separate way.

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