.001 [[Action Post]]

[badmemories]

[Aya's had a hard time getting along. After the main gathering he disappeared into hiding, and didn't try to contact anyone. Thus, it's a surprise he's out now, in the hallway with his dog and an old tennis ball, playing fetch on the third floor.

They look happy at the moment, with him tossing the ball, and Blanca running to retrieve it, barking loudly now and then when he teases her by pretending to throw the ball instead.]

"S'okay, girl. Here. Catch it!

[And off she goes, chasing after the ball, the two of them lost in one another's company.]

Comments

[fireeyedjudgement]

[Pyrope is making a point of walking up and down the stairs every day. She's already more certain of where to place her feet on these steps, but they'll still take a bit of getting used to.

She stops at the third floor when she hears some barking, and smiles. It must be Blanca, Aya's dog. She hadn't seen, for lack of a better word, much of either since that first day, so it would be nice to check up on the boy. She pushed open the door to the hallway from the stairwell.]

Sounds like there's a party on this floor?

[badmemories]

Huh?

[He whirled around, Blanca stopping at his heels, giving Pyrope a bark of greeting. She didn't seem particularly concerned with Pyrope's presence, trotting right up after a moment to push her nose into the woman's hand in greeting. Aya followed slowly, mumbling a shy greeting.]

...Hullo

[fireeyedjudgement]

[She smiles kindly at the shyness in his voice, and pets Blanca quite enthusiastically.]

Hello, Aya. And Blanca! Am I disturbing you both?

[badmemories]

Nuh uhn. Just playin' ball.

[But he watched keenly how Blanca reacted to Pyrope and relaxed a little. Pyrope wouldn't see it, but his shoulders lost a little of their defensive set, drooping slowly.]

Sorry if we were too loud...

[fireeyedjudgement]

Pff. [She waves off that concern with the hand that's not petting Blanca.] I wouldn't have heard you if I didn't come up here.

[badmemories]

What 're you doin' up here?

[Softly mumbled as he calls Blanca back, crouching to wrap an arm about her.]

[fireeyedjudgement]

I want to get used to the way the stairs are laid out here, in case I need to run down them in an emergency. I was walking up them when I heard you, and decided to be nosy.

[badmemories]

[the simple answer made him grin a little, deciding that it was an acceptable enough response.]

Is it ...hard?

[He blurted out, face going red as he realized just how personal a question that was.]

[fireeyedjudgement]

Being blind? [She touches her chin as she thinks.] Sometimes. It takes me longer to get used to different situations than people with sight, since I need to feel out the place, you know?

[badmemories]

[He nodded quickly - then realized just as quickly how foolish that was and mumbled.]

Yeah, I guess so..

[fireeyedjudgement]

Are you all right, Aya? [Her voice is kind.]