[He has an exclamation point at first, but thinks better of sounding too eager and deletes it before hitting send.
Exactly an hour later, he's wandering into where Haru's keeping her hydroponic garden, hands buried in his jumpsuit pockets as he looks around. He hadn't been lying before, when he'd said he didn't know much about gardening in general, let alone hydroponics. Is there even any dirt involved...? It's why he'd worn one of the station jumpsuits instead of his old uniform he'd found in the sink.]
[She is in the garden already, the top half of her jumpsuit tied around her waist (yes she has a tank top on underneath)! She is tending some of the smaller plants. The ones that need more help.
[Oh... it's a good look for her. It looks more comfortable than having sleeves dragging everywhere, anyway. He pauses in the middle of the room, not quite sure where he should go. He's not the kind of jerk who would startle a girl on purpose, after all!
It doesn't seem like she's noticed him, so after a few seconds, he clears his throat with a cough.]
[He does venture closer and take the offered seat, looking at the smaller plant to see if he knows what it is. Probably not. Biology was never his best subject. Not that he had any best subjects, but that's not the point.]
I believe it will turn out to be a vegetable. Which one... I'm not so certain right now. This was one of the dried out seeds that I originally found, actually. So for it to even be growing is amazing.
[The bigger sprouts were intact seeds that she found later on.]
We can't really afford to not try salvaging all we can here, you know?
[He reaches out to gently touch the leaves of one of the other plants, as if somehow touching them might make them more real. It seems crazy, to be able to grow stuff on a space station without any sunlight at all. But then again, the entire concept of a spinning space station is crazy on its own. Plants not required.]
[This feels like a multiple choice question on a test. Which one's the wrong answer? He doesn't want to waste a seed if he messes up, but he doesn't want to mess up a plant that's already growing, either. Then again, he has to start somewhere, right?]
I can move them, I think, if you show me what to do.
[...? He cracks a bit of a smile to hide how concerning that sounds. We need to talk always just sounds serious.]
Yeah, of course. I'd hope we wouldn't work in silence the whole time.
[Cue a small instructional on how to carefully remove the plants from the pot, shake some of the extra soil back into the original pot. The replanting process it rather simple. She shows him how to carefully move and place the plant in a new pot, pat the soil down, and water it.]
Simple, right?
[And then she takes a deep breath.]
I wanted to apologize for being vague at the meeting the other day...
[+1 to Hajime's gardening skill. Now he's not completely useless around the plants!!]
Yeah, I can see why you like it. It's kind of relaxing.
[Doing something with his hands that takes up just enough of his attention to keep him from wandering off into his own thoughts. They're not always the best thoughts.]
Huh?
[He pauses with a plant in hand, ready to move it to another pot, and shakes his head almost immediately.]
N-No, it's okay, I was... kind of prying. It really wasn't the best place to talk about that kind of stuff.
My Father was the CEO of a family run food business, Okumura Foods. He used to be kind and loving, but once he saw that he could use his status as a CEO to gain respect in the political world it always became about how he could get more power and more standing.
[She frowns, knowing that telling this story was always the hardest. Always.]
One particular business deal that he made was to force me to marry a man I had no feelings for. I couldn't argue it because I didn't want to ruin his reputation, and I dealt with it because I found no other way out.
Hajime pauses with his fingers in the dirt, almost seeming to forget about what he was doing as he listens to her story. Listens, and feels his heart sink into his shoes.
And then he's angry, bitterly angry. His fingers squeeze into the dirt before he stops himself, almost surprised at what he was doing as he looks back to her. He's angry on her behalf, obviously. But there's something that resonates with him, too; it's not the same, it's not nearly the same, but the feeling of having no future, of having everyone else decide what's important for you... yeah. It makes his blood boil with useless resentment.]
But... you didn't end up marrying the guy, right? [he ventures, unable to put exactly why he's so angry at the thought into words. Just because he doesn't have a future to look forward to doesn't mean anyone else should feel that way, either!] I mean, there's no way...
[That sounds like something from a manga or a TV drama. Not something that could happen to someone in real life, that he's spoken to.]
She doesn't want people to be angry for her sake. She grew up knowing her Father had the capability to be kind and compassionate. But she also knew that she grew up with expectations. What she wore, who she spoke to, how she was to carry herself in front of other people. This was the only life that Haru knew.
But she looks at Hinata, quickly resolving his burning questions.]
I have to be honest and say that the only thing that Sugimura-san was into was having a high schooler as a Fiance, it was a turn on for him. I truthfully did everything I could to not have to be around him.
[She sighs.] Fear not, I did not end up marrying him.
My Father has passed as well. [And someone here on this ship? They are at fault for that.]
He manages not to say it aloud, though his revulsion probably shows on his face. He's still a painfully honest boy, in spite of himself, and his emotions are never really a mystery.
Hajime doesn't know what to say, though. It sounds like it has a happy ending, and while he can't really speak toward how she feels about her own father, he can't quite stop an uncharitable good from floating across his mind at the fact that he's dead. What kind of asshole would make his daughter marry some guy like that in the modern age??]
I'm... sorry to hear about your father? [he's not quite certain if that's the right thing to say in this kind of context,] But... I'm glad it worked out. You're the kind of person who should be able to make a future for yourself.
[She understands that look, it was a look her friends gave her too. Before they decided to help her in her attempt to save her Father. But that was another story for another time. She didn't want to sour the mood too much more. Plus that would entail telling Hinata she is a Phantom Thief, and that can't come out yet.]
I will admit that I gained my life back, but the things I have had to struggle with since then are...measurably almost worse.
[It's a lot.]
My trust for adults is so little because of the things I grew up with. It influences a lot of my decisions.
[He just nods. After hearing that, he can't... really fault her, not at all. Even trying to justify it by saying that not all adults can be assholes like that seems like it would ring hollow in the face of her experiences.]
I... never experienced anything like that, so I don't think I can really get it, but... I get where you're coming from, [he says finally, glancing sideways to her.] I can't blame you at all for not wanting to trust adults.
[He hesitates, looking back to the plant he'd paused in the middle of uprooting as if surprised to remember that oh yeah, he's had his hands buried in dirt for the past several minutes now. Really, he's trying to figure out how to put what he wants to say into words.]
But... you can trust me, okay?
[It's not nearly what he wanted to say. He wanted to say something cool, about how he'd protect her (laughable, really) or something, but. That's the best he's got.]
[It did ring hollow is the thing. Even if Hinata preached that "not all adults can be assholes", it took her the longest time to even lend any of her trust to Sojiro back at home. Nothing quite like growing up under a strict Father who didn't want you to run your own life to give you trust issues for the rest of your life.
Which, is entirely why Haru seems a little surprised at Hinata's comment.
She has grown into being a little easier with her distrust of people in general though. Something that her friends were willing to help her through.]
As long as you don't give me a reason to distrust you. I can trust you.
[There is a pause before she says:] I want you to be able to trust me as well.
[He says that a little quickly, because he doesn't have to think about it at all. He doesn't want to do anything to make someone like Haru distrust him, whatever it takes. She's been hurt by enough people she's trusted, he doesn't want to make that hurt worse.]
And... I do.
[There's a beat of hesitation, a pause where he does have to think about that answer. Because he does trust her, he just... can't talk about the Project just yet. He just isn't ready.]
I mean, you're trusting me to move plants in your garden. As long as I don't mess that up, I should be good, right?
[He cracks a small smile, clearly meaning it as a joke.]
[Well, now that they've established they both trust each other, with conditions, Hajime can freely return his attention to moving the plants. A little more nervously, what with the reminder that plants are important to her, but it's fine. He can't let her down.]
You said... you used to keep a garden at school, right? [he says after a few moments of silence.] Do you miss it?
[Either the garden, or school itself. Or Earth in general, really.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
text; -> action;
[He has an exclamation point at first, but thinks better of sounding too eager and deletes it before hitting send.
Exactly an hour later, he's wandering into where Haru's keeping her hydroponic garden, hands buried in his jumpsuit pockets as he looks around. He hadn't been lying before, when he'd said he didn't know much about gardening in general, let alone hydroponics. Is there even any dirt involved...? It's why he'd worn one of the station jumpsuits instead of his old uniform he'd found in the sink.]
no subject
She won't notice him come in at first.]
no subject
It doesn't seem like she's noticed him, so after a few seconds, he clears his throat with a cough.]
Hey, Haru? Are you busy?
no subject
[She's moving it closer to the heat lamp, hoping that the extra "sunlight" may help it out for the time being.]
You can sit next to me?
no subject
[He does venture closer and take the offered seat, looking at the smaller plant to see if he knows what it is. Probably not. Biology was never his best subject. Not that he had any best subjects, but that's not the point.]
Thanks. Which plant is that? The small one.
no subject
[The bigger sprouts were intact seeds that she found later on.]
We can't really afford to not try salvaging all we can here, you know?
no subject
[He reaches out to gently touch the leaves of one of the other plants, as if somehow touching them might make them more real. It seems crazy, to be able to grow stuff on a space station without any sunlight at all. But then again, the entire concept of a spinning space station is crazy on its own. Plants not required.]
So what can I do to help?
no subject
[She will give him the choice here. Whatever he wants.]
Also, I would like to talk to you while we're both here. Is that okay?
no subject
[This feels like a multiple choice question on a test. Which one's the wrong answer? He doesn't want to waste a seed if he messes up, but he doesn't want to mess up a plant that's already growing, either. Then again, he has to start somewhere, right?]
I can move them, I think, if you show me what to do.
[...? He cracks a bit of a smile to hide how concerning that sounds. We need to talk always just sounds serious.]
Yeah, of course. I'd hope we wouldn't work in silence the whole time.
no subject
[Cue a small instructional on how to carefully remove the plants from the pot, shake some of the extra soil back into the original pot. The replanting process it rather simple. She shows him how to carefully move and place the plant in a new pot, pat the soil down, and water it.]
Simple, right?
[And then she takes a deep breath.]
I wanted to apologize for being vague at the meeting the other day...
no subject
Yeah, I can see why you like it. It's kind of relaxing.
[Doing something with his hands that takes up just enough of his attention to keep him from wandering off into his own thoughts. They're not always the best thoughts.]
Huh?
[He pauses with a plant in hand, ready to move it to another pot, and shakes his head almost immediately.]
N-No, it's okay, I was... kind of prying. It really wasn't the best place to talk about that kind of stuff.
no subject
Mm, I felt like it was a little unfair. At least for you not to understand why I have so little trust for adults.
[She's going to move another plant, a firm expression set on her face.]
Do you have a little while today? I... would like to share.
no subject
Instead, he just hums, looking from that firm expression on her face, then back to his plant and setting it in the right pot.]
Yeah, of course. I'll do my best to listen.
no subject
[She frowns, knowing that telling this story was always the hardest. Always.]
One particular business deal that he made was to force me to marry a man I had no feelings for. I couldn't argue it because I didn't want to ruin his reputation, and I dealt with it because I found no other way out.
[She will let that sink in.]
no subject
Hajime pauses with his fingers in the dirt, almost seeming to forget about what he was doing as he listens to her story. Listens, and feels his heart sink into his shoes.
And then he's angry, bitterly angry. His fingers squeeze into the dirt before he stops himself, almost surprised at what he was doing as he looks back to her. He's angry on her behalf, obviously. But there's something that resonates with him, too; it's not the same, it's not nearly the same, but the feeling of having no future, of having everyone else decide what's important for you... yeah. It makes his blood boil with useless resentment.]
But... you didn't end up marrying the guy, right? [he ventures, unable to put exactly why he's so angry at the thought into words. Just because he doesn't have a future to look forward to doesn't mean anyone else should feel that way, either!] I mean, there's no way...
[That sounds like something from a manga or a TV drama. Not something that could happen to someone in real life, that he's spoken to.]
no subject
She doesn't want people to be angry for her sake. She grew up knowing her Father had the capability to be kind and compassionate. But she also knew that she grew up with expectations. What she wore, who she spoke to, how she was to carry herself in front of other people. This was the only life that Haru knew.
But she looks at Hinata, quickly resolving his burning questions.]
I have to be honest and say that the only thing that Sugimura-san was into was having a high schooler as a Fiance, it was a turn on for him. I truthfully did everything I could to not have to be around him.
[She sighs.] Fear not, I did not end up marrying him.
My Father has passed as well. [And someone here on this ship? They are at fault for that.]
no subject
He manages not to say it aloud, though his revulsion probably shows on his face. He's still a painfully honest boy, in spite of himself, and his emotions are never really a mystery.
Hajime doesn't know what to say, though. It sounds like it has a happy ending, and while he can't really speak toward how she feels about her own father, he can't quite stop an uncharitable good from floating across his mind at the fact that he's dead. What kind of asshole would make his daughter marry some guy like that in the modern age??]
I'm... sorry to hear about your father? [he's not quite certain if that's the right thing to say in this kind of context,] But... I'm glad it worked out. You're the kind of person who should be able to make a future for yourself.
no subject
I will admit that I gained my life back, but the things I have had to struggle with since then are...measurably almost worse.
[It's a lot.]
My trust for adults is so little because of the things I grew up with. It influences a lot of my decisions.
no subject
I... never experienced anything like that, so I don't think I can really get it, but... I get where you're coming from, [he says finally, glancing sideways to her.] I can't blame you at all for not wanting to trust adults.
[He hesitates, looking back to the plant he'd paused in the middle of uprooting as if surprised to remember that oh yeah, he's had his hands buried in dirt for the past several minutes now. Really, he's trying to figure out how to put what he wants to say into words.]
But... you can trust me, okay?
[It's not nearly what he wanted to say. He wanted to say something cool, about how he'd protect her (laughable, really) or something, but. That's the best he's got.]
no subject
Which, is entirely why Haru seems a little surprised at Hinata's comment.
She has grown into being a little easier with her distrust of people in general though. Something that her friends were willing to help her through.]
As long as you don't give me a reason to distrust you. I can trust you.
[There is a pause before she says:] I want you to be able to trust me as well.
no subject
[He says that a little quickly, because he doesn't have to think about it at all. He doesn't want to do anything to make someone like Haru distrust him, whatever it takes. She's been hurt by enough people she's trusted, he doesn't want to make that hurt worse.]
And... I do.
[There's a beat of hesitation, a pause where he does have to think about that answer. Because he does trust her, he just... can't talk about the Project just yet. He just isn't ready.]
I mean, you're trusting me to move plants in your garden. As long as I don't mess that up, I should be good, right?
[He cracks a small smile, clearly meaning it as a joke.]
no subject
[And when Haru promises? She means it. She would only ever break a promise if she were put in a position where she had to.
But she doesn't want to think about that right now.]
Plants are very important to me, Hajime-san. You are lucky I am letting you handle them. Just continue being delicate with them.
no subject
You said... you used to keep a garden at school, right? [he says after a few moments of silence.] Do you miss it?
[Either the garden, or school itself. Or Earth in general, really.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)