Named after the shepherdess in Virgil's pastoral Eclogues. The Greek word amarysso means "to sparkle." In Victorian times, an "amaryllis" was a strong, confident, and beautiful woman.
[objectively speaking it is actually very funny like just imagine aerith was busy talking to her flowers and some stupid pretty fuck fell through the roof and right in front of her. if she had a nickel for every time that happened...]
Nah, they were okay! They're a lot tougher than they look, so he didn't do too much damage. [hehe.] But he's pretty lucky he landed somewhere soft.
[snap spin? what happened there, that should have said snapped his spine i'm glad i erased half of that. anyway, love that for karlach. aerith is just as stupid as cloud actually because she does not realize that's what karlach is thinking nor does she think about how it just sounded.]
He always seems pretty prickly, but he's still different. All of us have been traveling together and we're still learning about each other, but if we didn't get along the way we do I don't think we'd stand a chance.
[you know i read that and was like i bet she meant snapped spine and i was right
anyway she grins a little.]
Sounds a little like our ragtag team of dipshits. [she is so affectionate.] I think Cloud's a little less bratty than Astarion, but it's the prickles, you know? You just gotta know how to get past 'em a bit.
[i'm glad they're both the same brand of "yeah my friends are dipshits but they're MY dipshits /fond"]
Oh, I met him! He did seem pretty cagey, but he's kind of funny. [astarion will also know no peace now.] But that's the way. If they really didn't want to be bothered they wouldn't let themselves be, you know? You just keep at it until they let you in and...it's worth it in the end.
[there's a big, warm smile on her face at that, because that's exactly how she feels about astarion. and gale too, to an extent, but gale sucks less at squishy feelings.]
Yeah, it really is. It's worth it.
Don't tell him, he'll be so mad, but I've watched Astarion grow so much over the time I've known him and I'm so fucking proud of him.
[our matchies...she looks very intrigued by all of this because aerith likes hearing about people's connections, in the end.]
Cloud's changed a lot since we met, too. Even if he hates hearing it any time any of us point it out to him. [hehe.] It's kind of nice, isn't it? Knowing they trust you enough to be comfortable enough with that change and getting to know the real them.
That's a sweet way of looking at it. Like an anchor to keep you from drifting too far away. It's a big responsibility, but it's worth it for the people you care about most. [...] They must have been happy together. Your parents.
They were. They loved each other so much, it was fucking inspiring. [wow... she had nice parents... a novelty] They're not around anymore, but I try to live like someone they'd be proud of.
[except they're DEAD and that's LESS NICE, FLURRY. she hears that "loved" though and there's a tinge of sympathy in her smile.]
I think you probably are if you're someone who genuinely wants to do good. [she barely knows karlach and she sure as shit doesn't know her parents, but she likes to think she's a decent judge of character with these things.] Has it...[hm. how to politely ask this.] How long has it been?
anyway. she catches that, and she doesn't exactly mean to because it's one of those private things, but. it makes her frown, soft. yeah. yeah, she understands that one.]
You're right, yeah. But they're with me forever. I carry them wherever I go. [a beat.] What about you? Can I ask about yours? Don't tell me if it's going to make you sad, though, I don't want to upset you.
I think that's a nice way to look at it, too. Even knowing they aren't really gone as long as you remember them, it doesn't change that they are. But it does help, sometimes. [interesting question though! she thinks about what she wants to tell her...
don't just say "don't tell me if you'll be sad", aerith is always sad about this. but she also doesn't think it's fair to not talk about things even if they're a little depressing.]
I don't remember my dad. [a polite way of saying she never really knew him because sometimes your dad is killed when you're a baby and you don't know the full story.] ...my mom and I were together for a while when I was little. But she was really sick. [the rest is self-explanatory, she thinks.]
I get it. [heh.] It's hard to stay miserable when you know things have to keep going and people still need you. I've never been very good at it.
[being miserable, that is. which isn't entirely true because of course aerith has her own moments of being wracked by grief and her own sadness and fears, but she always bounces back. she sort of feels that karlach is the same. just a sense.]
But I don't mind being less-miserable company with you either.
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Nah, they were okay! They're a lot tougher than they look, so he didn't do too much damage. [hehe.] But he's pretty lucky he landed somewhere soft.
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No joke. Depending on how far he fell he could've broken every bone he's ever had. [tail flickies.] You guys seem close.
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You could say that. [the tail flickies continue to be cute.] We've been together for a little while now.
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Oh yeah? Cute. [sorry she takes this as they are dating 100%]
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He always seems pretty prickly, but he's still different. All of us have been traveling together and we're still learning about each other, but if we didn't get along the way we do I don't think we'd stand a chance.
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anyway she grins a little.]
Sounds a little like our ragtag team of dipshits. [she is so affectionate.] I think Cloud's a little less bratty than Astarion, but it's the prickles, you know? You just gotta know how to get past 'em a bit.
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Oh, I met him! He did seem pretty cagey, but he's kind of funny. [astarion will also know no peace now.] But that's the way. If they really didn't want to be bothered they wouldn't let themselves be, you know? You just keep at it until they let you in and...it's worth it in the end.
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Yeah, it really is. It's worth it.
Don't tell him, he'll be so mad, but I've watched Astarion grow so much over the time I've known him and I'm so fucking proud of him.
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Cloud's changed a lot since we met, too. Even if he hates hearing it any time any of us point it out to him. [hehe.] It's kind of nice, isn't it? Knowing they trust you enough to be comfortable enough with that change and getting to know the real them.
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[it's actually one of the best things in the world, she thinks.]
Think I want to be that for people, you know? A person you can trust with whatever. A...
My Mum used to call my dad her safe harbor. I liked that.
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They were. They loved each other so much, it was fucking inspiring. [wow... she had nice parents... a novelty] They're not around anymore, but I try to live like someone they'd be proud of.
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I think you probably are if you're someone who genuinely wants to do good. [she barely knows karlach and she sure as shit doesn't know her parents, but she likes to think she's a decent judge of character with these things.] Has it...[hm. how to politely ask this.] How long has it been?
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Thanks. [genuinely! it makes her feel nice to hear, even from a stranger. maybe more from someone she doesn't know well.]
Ah, years and years. I was a teenager. Mum got sick, Dad was in an accident.
[the tone's kind of like, she misses them but it's not this horrible faux pas to ask about them.]
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anyway she...hm. that really does seem unfortunate, so she's sympathetic about it in a way that isn't pitying but more like something understanding.]
I'm sorry to hear that. Even if it's been a while, it doesn't make you miss them less, right? Especially when they were important to you.
[and maybe the context makes sense when her arms shift, and a little flash of ink appears from under her bracelets: loss.]
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anyway. she catches that, and she doesn't exactly mean to because it's one of those private things, but. it makes her frown, soft. yeah. yeah, she understands that one.]
You're right, yeah. But they're with me forever. I carry them wherever I go. [a beat.] What about you? Can I ask about yours? Don't tell me if it's going to make you sad, though, I don't want to upset you.
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I think that's a nice way to look at it, too. Even knowing they aren't really gone as long as you remember them, it doesn't change that they are. But it does help, sometimes. [interesting question though! she thinks about what she wants to tell her...
don't just say "don't tell me if you'll be sad", aerith is always sad about this. but she also doesn't think it's fair to not talk about things even if they're a little depressing.]
I don't remember my dad. [a polite way of saying she never really knew him because sometimes your dad is killed when you're a baby and you don't know the full story.] ...my mom and I were together for a while when I was little. But she was really sick. [the rest is self-explanatory, she thinks.]
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Ah... sorry. [she says, and it's genuine but she's not over the top about it.] What a shit thing to have in common, huh.
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but there's a small smile. it's not her usual cheery one, but it's quiet and thoughtful.]
It is, but I think maybe it's not the worst thing either to know other people understand. You know?
[like. at a base level, because aerith is avoiding exactly how complicated everything is but it's the principle of the matter.]
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[a little smile.]
Misery loves company and all that - not that you're miserable. I'm not either, really.
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[being miserable, that is. which isn't entirely true because of course aerith has her own moments of being wracked by grief and her own sadness and fears, but she always bounces back. she sort of feels that karlach is the same. just a sense.]
But I don't mind being less-miserable company with you either.
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[she's right, though. even in the worst of times, karlach has a hard time letting people see her down. sometimes, you are a caretaker by nature.]
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["let's be friends", she says wordlessly. they could both use someone who just gets it]