fatealteration | Sowing Seeds

"Come here...isn't your paw hurt?"

Giorno had full intentions of stealing a mid-day nap, but Croccante was high on one of the broken pillars beside the door to his room. The white cat eyed him but didn't come down. Giorno sighed and rubbed his head. Just looking up for too long was hard when he had been on his feet for longer than an hour or two.

It had been just two days since he cured Joseph. He had slept almost the rest of the day through and that was all he was allowing himself after making himself so scarce for a whole week. At some point doubt would creep into the community gossip and that was the last thing he needed to manage.

Giorno leaned against the pillar and put some of his energy into the ivy vines that crept up it. The flowers burst open, surprising the small cat, and urging her to leap down--right onto his head. He quickly pried her out of his now-mussed curls and inspected her paw. A little splinter poked out of the pink pad, and he squinted to pluck it out--and missed. And tried again--and missed. His hands were shaking. Croccante's tail was swishing in irritation. He summoned all his focus and managed to fix his fingers around it to pull it out, and the fluffy cat bolted out of his arms not a moment later.

"Yes, yes...you're welcome." Giorno watched her take off down the hall.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

buon_giorno

“Is that so?” That was a first. “How long have you had control of it?”

From:

takeba

"Not even a year."

From:

buon_giorno

“Ah.” Giorno laughed lightly again—something rare for him. “I’m a bit relieved. I haven’t had control of mine that long either. Everyone else I know has had mastery of theirs for at least two.”

From:

takeba

"Really?" Yukari couldn't help but show her shock. "But your p--your stand was so strong."

From:

buon_giorno

Giorno hummed as he cleared out the last of the roots from the vase. A few hung from his finger, limp and shriveled. They were truly dead.

“Well…I think of it this way. This power is something that reveals itself to me…but only if I have the courage and wits to use it.” The limp roots glowed and intertwined as they pulled themselves up in a dance. Purple flowers blossomed forth into vibrant irises. He refilled the vase with water and arranged them inside. “But it’s constant trial and error, really.”

From:

takeba

"It looks like what you do is a little more complicated than healing," Yukari said, looking at the blossoming flowers. She reached out to touch the pedals with the tips of her fingers.

From:

buon_giorno

“Is healing your power?”

From:

takeba

"Yeah. And manipulating wind."

From:

buon_giorno

Giorno’s eyebrows shot up. “Those are two quite different things…that’s impressive, Takeba-san.”

From:

takeba

"Thanks." Yukari smiled. "I guess it doesn't feel so impressive when you can do it, though."

From:

buon_giorno

He simply smiled at her reply.

“Here.” Giorno extended her the vase of flowers. “My thanks for the wine…and your help with my experiment.”

From:

takeba

"Thanks," Yukari said, taking it into her hands. "I could use some more room decor now that I have a permanent place to stay."

From:

buon_giorno

“You arrived at a good time. We’ll be holding a festival next week…though, I’m sure you’ve heard, haven’t you? The inspiration is, in part, Infiorata festivals.” Giorno nodded towards the vase. “The iris will likely keep growing and dividing. If you like, you can fashion some of it into something for the party.”

From:

takeba

"I'll have to give that a try, then!"

From:

alteredfates_npc

~~

“God, it’s hot…” Iris slumped over the table that sat beneath the shade of one of the big maples in the courtyard. She sat opposite Criff, who always looked cool and poised no matter what she was up to. “I’ve just been helping take measurements of the open space today and I’m ready to keel over…and I haven’t even started making my dress yet!”

From:

criff

"Well, I can help you. With the dress, anyway." Criff was not particularly keen on the physical labor part.

From:

alteredfates_npc

Iris’s green eyes peered up from the cradle of her arms. “…Could we make something that looks like one of yours?” The implication was clear—she didn’t have a date yet and Criff had no shortage of them.

From:

criff

"Sure," Criff said. "What color did you have your heart set on?"

From:

alteredfates_npc

“Green? …No, green isn’t sexy. Maybe…white? No, that’d get stained in an instant. Brown would make me feel like I’m totally from the country…” Which she was but she didn’t want to feel like it. “Ugh. I can’t even decide! What are you gonna be wearing?”

From:

criff

"Remember that little red dress I showed you? That."

From:

alteredfates_npc

Iris gaped. “That one? You’re really pulling out the big guns! We should totally put something with red roses together for you! It would really complete your look. Whoever you go with will be so…ah. Who are you going with, actually?”

From:

criff

"I haven't decided," Criff said, unbothered. "Well, if we are doing something with roses for me, maybe we can do something with irises for you. Or is that too much?"

From:

alteredfates_npc

A light went off in her eyes. “Why didn’t I think of that? That’d be…oh!” Iris squinted, seeing a familiar figure making her approach. “Hey, Yukari! Over here pretty girl!”