silversnowfall | [52][voice/action]

[52][voice/action]

[the voice that comes over the journal is tiny, but sure of itself. ...Even if she's shivering. Why is she dressed in something without even sleeves when it's almost always too cold to even go without a jacket?]

I-I think...I'm lost.

[and then, more quietly, and sounding a great deal more vulnerable]

Did you get hurt too Miss Milly?

[[ooc: Yes. Oh yes. Back from mallynap and small for a short while. Replies will come from

alittlesilver until she grows up again.]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...Damn. Should he give her his real name? No. Not over the journals. For now, he'll just walk a little faster, and mumble something into the journal.]

I know your brother...I'm Jade's friend.

[not that Dist can see it, but her head snaps up and her eyes get wide]

Jade? Did he get hurt? Is he in trouble?

[He really stinks at this, doesn't he? Dist mentally curses and is half jogging by now. The bakery should come up in a minute, but he still mutters back into the journal.]

Jade is completely fine, please don't worry yourself. I-I should be where you are in a little bit, c-can you see me at all? [He looks up from his journal as well, looking around frantically for the little girl.]

I don't know what to look for sir.

[It takes a moment of walking and searching (his neck ached), but Dist finally spotted her. Without even looking back into the journal, he replied as he walked over, very stiffly.]

It's all right. I think I see you... [Dist approaches a moment later, standing a few feet away before he crouches down to look at her better. The emotions he felt, looking into her face, her eyes...it was so strange. A pained smile spreads on his face, pulling up at the corners.] ...Would you perhaps be Nephry, little one?

Y-Yes sir. [and standing there in bare feet and a new feather dress and shivering with no end in sight probably isn't helping. Him or her. She holds a little tighter to Miss Milly, but the eyes she looks at him with now are just about as intense as they will be in twenty-odd years. She's learned how to show she isn't backing down.]

And this is Miss Milly.

It's...a pleasure. To meet you both. You can call me Saph--...Dist. You can call me Dist. [He glances at the dool for a moment, and then at Nephry. She must be freezing, and standing in the snow, with nothing on her feet-- Dist removes his coat, offering out to her.]

Please, put this on. You must be extremely cold, little one. Is...Is it all right if I pick you up? I can take you home to warm up some as well, and I'll make Milly's arm all better too, if you'll allow it.

[Well there's not that much snow. Not like home. She doesn't know how to take the jacket and put it on without letting go of the doll and without moving her aching right arm. Because it's not the doll who hurts, obviously - Dist might be able to notice, at this range, the bruises and swelling on her upper arm.]

I think I want to walk, sir. [...and yes. Still Nephry.]

[Oh, he notices. And can't do anything about it. Dist drapes his coat over his arm in case she changes her mind or anything and looks at that arm a bit more closely. He's also going to try and usher her into the bakery, just for the warmth it provides. Hell, he may even get her something to eat and drink, if she wanted.]

I'd...much rather you didn't walk barefoot, Nephry. It's not good for your health. You wouldn't want to get sick, correct? Now...could you tell me what happened to your arm, please?

[she allows him to lead her into the bakery. And he's right. It's too cold to walk on bare feet. She holds Milly a little tighter at the question]

I don't know. It just hurts now. [He may infer the Malnosso did something she can't remember.]

[Dist nods once they enter the warmth of the bakery, where the pungent smell of sweets and chocolate fills the air. He holds out his hand, palm flat up in a passive gesture.]

May I see? I promise I won't harm you further, little one. Ah, and I'm sure you'd like something to drink, yes? I'm certain I can get some hot chocolate for you. Is that all right? Then we can go get you some warmer clothes and I'll take you home.

[He wanted to stroke her hair, but refrained. She still didn't know who he was, and he didn't want to scare her off. He'd never forgive himself if anything happened to her again.]

Well...okay.

[she steps closer softly - but not timidly, it's clear she's sure of this decision - and holds out her right arm. It isn't broken and there are no cuts. Just large, swollen bruises clustered on her upper arm and perhaps one on her forearm.]

Am I going to get in trouble? I should be in school.

Thank you.

[He very gently takes her little arm into his hand feeling it for unseen fractures or anything similar. Dist may not be a doctor in the medical sense, but his work with replication has taught him an abundance of how a human body looks and operates, and he was reading medical texts here in Luceti right now, to reintroduce himself to the field.

No breaks, and he's pretty sure she didn't sprain or fracture anything either. She'd have been in a lot more pain. In fact, it really just looked like those blasted scientists took their own spin on acupuncture. To a child. To Nephry.

He sincerely wished he could subject them to their own hideous torture.]

You'll be all right. Just a few bruises to worry about. Be sure not to move your arm too much, all right? [He smiles, then blinks at her question only to chuckle once it's posed.] No, my dear. You're not in any sort of trouble at all. You just...got lost, right? There's nothing to worry yourself of.

[He sighed, pushing up his glasses.] But you shouldn't stay dressed like that. Not in this awful cold. ...May I escort this princess to the clothing store? You can pick anything you like! Hhere as well, if you so fancy.

Oh, no, I can't. I don't have any money.

[and, all his friendliness aside, Gelda taught them all early on about strangers. He seems nice, and something about him is very familiar. But.

And he said he knew Jade. ...But.]

[Dist was only half aware of her thinking. He was sure she didn't trust him, so he was trying to be as gentle and friendly as he could. He wanted Nephry to trust him, so it'd make explaining this to her even a little simpler.]

Don't worry yourself over money, Nephry. I'll...purchase everything for you. Y-You're my friend, just like Jade is, so I'd like to...do what I can. For you. [Ugh, this...he didn't want to admit that out loud, but he had to. He had to. He didn't know what else to do.]

How can I be your friend if I don't know you?

You...You do know me. [He's going to sincerely regret this--] I-It's Saphir, Nephry. I'm Saphir. I-I just...grew up a bit. This place is much like the old stories the Professor used to tell us, do you remember? With magic and the like.

[He took a deep breath, then turned a little, flapping one of his wings.] See? You have them as well. ...A-Are you afraid?

You...grew up? By magic?

[can artes do that? ...Well, if they can make a whole new something out of nothing, maybe they can.

Nephry takes a bold step closer, setting Milly down so she can reach over and pull off Dist's glasses. She looks at the lenses in her hand, then at his face. His eyes in particular.

After a minute or two of serious, heavy silence, she smiles]

You are Saphir!

[Dist doesn't say anything while Nephry does her own little thing to be sure of his identity. He does stare, though, into her eyes curiously once his glasses are taken away. The two lock gazes for what seems like forever, and Dist barely makes a movement or sound, holding his breath as well. His eyes may be a bit more of a deep red-purple than the violent hue of his youth, but they were the same.

He sighs once he sees that smile though. That smile he hasn't seen on Nephry is such a very, very long time. He returns it with a smile of his own, giving a quiet laugh.]

Th-That's right! I just look a bit different, Nephry, but I'm still your...friend, r-right? [Ugh, he hated that word, but he had to use it here.] You'll let me take you home with me so I can make sure you're all right, won't you? You'll be safe, I promise.

[And he finally pats her hair, feeling he could without spooking her.]

What kind of magic makes you grow up?

[When he pats her hair, she smiles again, holding out his glasses]

It wouldn't be magic if I knew, now would it?

[He smiles in return, taking his glasses with a soft 'thank you' and putting them back on. He holds out his arms in a silent question of if he could pick her up. He'll even wrap his coat around her to keep her warm once they begin walking back home.]

Jade does magic and he knows. ...Is he still mean even though you're big?

[she carefully puts one arm around his neck. After all, the other aches.]

[Dist picked up Nephry, giving her an affectionate hug and curling his coat around her much smaller frame as carefully as he could. He didn't want to injure her any further. Her question makes him chuckle as he exits the bakery, heading home with his tiny friend.]

Haha, only a little! And mostly just towards myself. [He doesn't seem too bothered by it, though.]

He shouldn't be mean to you. That's bad.

It's all right, I've grown used to it over time. You needn't worry yourself over such things, my dear. [Aaaand he'll divert the subject back onto her as he walks briskly back home with the little girl in his arms.] Are you cold?

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