[Complete] Saïx and Ranmaru - Stroll the Garden

[eternalorchid.livejournal.com]

Who: Saix [falltheseventh]. Ranmaru [eternalorchid]
Where The Gardens
When: November 18th
Rating: G
Summary: Ranmaru asks Saix to meet him in the gardens to show him the walking roses, and gets some advice.
the Story:

Ranmaru had practically flown down as soon as Saix had given the mention of arriving. He couldn't place why, but the one friend who he really enjoyed being around since he'd arrived here was this very strange blue-haired magician. He'd fascinated Ranmaru from the first time he'd spoken to him, and impressed him with his graceful mannerisms. (Plus, he encouraged him with his sweets, how much better could things be?) It was nice in this place where he didn't have his Lords, and he was all alone. He didn't want to be a bother, so he remained out of most people's business, but.. even so. It didn't mean he didn't get lonely and he missed his dear lords, who.. he paused, thinking about them would make him sad and he didn't want to be in a strange mood when Saix-sama arrived.

Right now, kneeling in front of a row of pink and red roses, all of who were gathered around him like a crowd, Ranmaru was chuckling to himself and watching them walk around. He'd never seen such magnificent blossoms before, and they were so.. friendly. It was too bad he couldn't take them to his room, he didn't want them to wither!

In general, people in the mansion are strange; Saix rarely has any sorts of relations to them -- as much as he tries to simply observe and keep out of business, at any rate. People are simply far too easy to judge here. Though, he finds no reason to manipulate Ranmaru. The boy is actually quite a nice contrast towards the demeanor that the rest of the residents seem to have, and in a way it's charming.

Though it's not as if Saix can be charmed, but he doesn't dislike the boy, at least.

The roses already have their familiar scents; from this distance, as he approaches, he know this is Marluxia's garden -- though oddly, he hasn't really seen XI for sometime now. For the better, perhaps, in Vexen's case. If Saix's been ordered to refrain from getting into fights, he cannot oppose Marluxia too greatly then.

"You find them enchanting, do you?"

It's not exactly a greeting, but it is an observation.

Hearing the voice of the other man who he had treated to sweets and cakes on occasion, Ranmaru raised his gaze and smiled brightly, immediately standing and standing at attention, he bowed at the waist quickly before raising his head again, his hands before him in a polite gesture- his lords would be most unhappy if he displayed anything less than propriety, especially to a man who was understandably a man of high power.

"Saïx-sama!" he greeted, giving the other man a cheerful smile, before he got distracted by one of the red roses trying to clamber up his leg and onto his belt. With a gasp and a laugh, Ranmaru put a hand down so that the sentient blossom could climb into his hand and he looked up at Saix with a little bit of a sheepish grin.

"They're different.." he tried saying. Then, he held it out to Saix with a pleased look. "They're very friendly too! And they smell nice too!" he looked up at the other for an explanation. "The gardener, Marluxia.. he said if Ranmaru didn't hurt them, Ranmaru could play with them!"

he bowing and respect still strike him a bit odd -- but he understands the need of it all. No point in pushing the boy in the opposite of what he's used to, after all, though he waves his hand a bit as if to say "that is unnecessary".

"Hello, Ranmaru," he says at least as a proper greeting. "Ah, yes. I know Marluxia. Just be wary -- though they do seem quite harmless, I imagine one foolish enough to crush them may find quite a bit of retaliation."

Saix glances over the flowers a bit hesitantly, but he does approach. "You like flowers, I take it?"

"Really?"curiosity lining the boy's voice as he let his hand down, Ranmaru allowed the rose to jump back down and it seemed to be pleased running around in circles around Saix's feet, calling to the others around it, who promptly followed in a strange train and briefly breaking his attention away from them, Ranmaru smiled and nodded. "That is so! Ranmaru enjoys flowers! Ranmaru has nothing to do here, so Ranmaru comes down here to watch these flowers."

His expression changed to worry, though. "Ah-- not that Ranmaru doesn't appreciate Saix-sama being here too!" a smile came over his lips again and he moved forward and tilted his head to a side. "It is good to see Saix-sama well.. why were you being made to sleep in such a limited bed space, Saix-sama..?"

"Hm? You are not kept busy, then, around the mansion. That is... unfortunate. But I suppose there's little one can do here. Its charms and its limits." The mansion, in some ways, is both a blessing and curse -- and mostly a prison. That is, of course, Saix's observation.

"Mm. It's not important to wonder, but simply, I chose to room with someone. Bed space is, of course, limited for two." Saix shrugs a little. "It's a minor concern, however. Let it not weigh your mind, Ranmaru."

He would consider it a prison, had he not been able to step out into the fresh space of the outside world, as fabricated in itself as it may have been. It provided a mild illusion to freedom, which was possibly why Ranmaru didn't stay inside the mansion as much. He didn't like the feeling of restriction and being closed in and more than that, he didn't want to lose himself to the sadness that many seemed to be experiencing around here.

Smiling apologetically, Ranmaru nodded. "Ranmaru is just concerned. Ranmaru worried a lot for his friends!" he stated, then moved a hand to the back of his head nervously.. only to notice that a rose, standing next to him, was imitating his action exactly and had a leafy 'hand' going up to the back of it's head.

The term is almost... alarming. Saix raises a brow, leaning his head forward a little, as if to stare at Ranmaru intently. "...'Friends'?"

It's not as if the concept is that far beyond his grasp, but the very idea of such companionship is something as if he's never been able to consider, maybe not quite have. The berserker folds his arms a moment, peering down at the frolicking blossoms before he glances back up to Ranmaru. "'Friends', you say," he muses quietly.

To him, nothing was nicer than having a companion to pamper and share things with, but ever since coming her, wrought by loneliness, the boy couldn't really think of a better term to compare to what he occasionally had the fortune of sharing with the mysterious blue-haired man. A blush touching his cheeks, as he glanced down at the rose that seemed to 'look up' at him, then jumped and went and dived into the rose bush, the boy then laughed gently. "Ah.. perhaps someone as great as Saix-sama would consider the term inappropriate to one as low as Ranmaru? Because Saix-sama is a great master mage after all.. Ranmaru hopes he didn't offend.."

The reaction is quite timid that it almost amazes Saix. The Nobody shakes his head. "Not at all. You must understand, Ranmaru, that I... am simply unfamiliar with the idea. I do not believe I have had something quite like a 'friend' in sometime to even realize that I may have one." He folds his arms. "I do not think so lowly of you. I prefer equality, at any rate." Even if he does dig to have an advantage over his opponents, he has decided that he does not see Ranmaru as a threat and rather... quite useful.

"You think quite highly of me. Though I doubt I am as great as you proclaim."

Shaking his head, the page of the Oda and Akechi smiled at the Nobody again- it was his instant defense mechanism to do so, as well as a mark of his own sincerity. Hearing those words, the boy couldn't help but grin and shook his head. "It does not matter, Saix-sama. The fact that you take your time to look to one obviously unequal to our standing is a mark of your honor. Not many give people the same sort of respect that Saix-sama seems to be able to bestow apon one of lower standing. Ranmaru really respects that." he couldn't help but be sincere, he liked being around Saix. It brought him memories of serving his beloved Lord Mitsuhide and gave him some sense of direction.

"Greatness does not come from battles won, but from one's attitude towards those below him. My Lords always said that!"

His lips twitch a little, not quite smiling. He finds the boy almost foolish for such a belief. It's far too easy to twist him around and trick him -- but there's just no need to. Saix could almost even be sympathetic -- were he capable.

"I suppose I just know your position quite well, Ranmaru. Servitude and masters alike. I suppose I would much rather prefer to think of ourselves as equals as opposed to one higher than the other. Not all 'Lords' are so kind, I take it -- and that, too, I know very well."

t was sad, but true. If the boy's respect went strongly with someone, he was quite easily manipulated into doing what his higher-ups wanted from him-- but to him, not only was this the right thing to do but THE thing to do. After all, why else would someone work under superiors, if only to disobey them? Such a thing was only right if the higher-ups were doing something moralistically wrong. Which, Saix wasn't really doing. As far as Ranmaru could see anyway.

Besides, he'd already suffered the price for allowing his pride to get in the way.

However, once Saix had spoken, Ranmaru couldn't resist a look of surprise, and tilted his head to a side. "Ranmaru apologises.. Saix-sama should meet.. well.." he railed off, looking to another side. "If Ranmaru hadn't killed one of them and the other hadn't killed Ranmaru's Lord Nobunaga, Saix-sama would have been able to meet them.." looking sad for a moment, he then blinked as a white rose with blue tips on it's petals tripped and fell over, then brushed itself off and strolled over to stand next to Saix.

Unable to help a bright smile, Ranmaru kneeled and picked it up, then looking at it with a chuckle. "It matches your hair!" unbeckoned, he walked forward and laced the stem into one of the links on the Nobody's uniform, to which he rose seemed to look content and promptly 'fell asleep'. Letting out a little laugh, standing at a close distance now, Ranmaru looked up at Saix with a bright smile.

"Look, Saix-sama!" he offered, as a pleasant distraction, showing Saix the rose he now had on his chest, too impressed by the similarity of colors to even think he might have offended. "It looks dashing on you!"

The reaction is not quite one that Saix had anticipated. After all, interaction for the Nobody is quite limiting. He cannot properly respond the way a normal human being can -- and he's beginning to wonder if he ever can again, in spite of Sora's odd faith and determination. It's the sort of thing he can't quite understand about those in the mansion, how determined they are to prove that he does feel when he can only remember the spite before his death.

But he does remember emotions, even if he can't feel them himself. The way Ranmaru looks upset is inquiring.

"I see. You lost someone important."

He speaks as if he can relate, and he probably can in his skewed way.

The distraction almost works; Saix is baffled to have a flower settle into his coat like that, comfortable as can be -- and Ranmaru's remark furthers the distraction. The berserker raises a brow, then looks down at the rose. "Dashing. Hn," he muses. "I rather doubt that, but thank you all the same."

Ranmaru would have responded to the earlier comment about losing someone important had the distraction not entered. A forlorn look entering his eyes, he managed a weaker smile than one prior and took a polite step back to give Saix his room and personal space-- and chuckled a little, moving a hand to brush back his bangs. He wondered why Saix thought so little of himself, but he supposed it must have something to do with his position and status.

"Don't doubt it, Saix-sama!" he told him encouragingly, eyes lighting up. "Flowers are often a compliment to a great warrior." he smiled cheerfully, then looked around him, motioning to the other roses. "Saix-sama should take a bouquet for his room-- Ranmaru can make one for you!" he smiled brightly. "Your roommate might appreciate it!"

"Ah, I am not so sure about that." Considering Vexen's rather disliking of Marluxia, he doubts it -- that, and XI may no appreciate one picking at his garden. "I believe that he may be allergic. But the offer is appreciated, of course. Though, should you ever make any food, I would like to know. I rather enjoy it when you make something." It never disappoints his sweet tooth.

Gently, Saix coaxes the rose from his chain, though it seems quite comfortable where it is. "Ranmaru -- have you no other friends or Lords here that you meet with? You are by yourself?" It's a sudden question, but there's likely reasoning to go with it.

Allergic? How awful. Ranmaru found it mildly amusing that someone would be unable to enjoy blossoms that were used in healing itself- but didn't argue it too much. He respected flowers, so there wasn't a chance he was ever going to let the blooms come to harm. He was more than willing to do as Saix requested, especially since it would prove as some use to the other man for something he liked. And if his cooking made Saix happy, then that was all the more reason to do it!

At Saix's question, however, Ranmaru blinked, then looked up at him and gave him a slight shake of his head. "Ranmaru's lord's wife was here, but she seems to have found a way out.. as well as one of his close friends." he looked slightly saddened that he was left behind, but he was happy that they'd found their freedom. Then, he remembered. "Ah, there is a boy, named Roxas-kun-- he gave Ranmaru sea-salt ice cream. And perhaps, Zelos-san.. though Ranmaru hasn't seen either in a while.." then he trailed off, smiling sheepishly. "That's it, unfortunately.. " he raised his gaze. "Why does Saix-sama ask?" he asked with a tilt of his head.

Saix doesn't choose to immediately respond; he listens carefully to when Ranmaru speaks. Anything besides Roxas, of course, confounds him -- but that is no surprise. There are indeed people inside the mansion that he still doesn't know, and if they have disappeared, perhaps he shall never know them. Well, not that it's important, but he certainly can understand the idea of Ranmaru being lonely. Though he doubts he can feel loneliness, he remembers despair and that it's close enough.

"Since you are inclined to listen to a Lord, I have something important for you to do, Ranmaru. Please pay attention." Looking as plain and professional as he can, in spite of the blossom, Saix continues. "I would like you to socialize with some of the others in the mansion, for your best interest. Since you seem to favor these flowers quite well, perhaps you'd get along with Aerith? Either way, I believe you should get to know others here. It would do you well -- perhaps give you a better perspective of matters."

Though Saix hadn't a problem in informing Elphaba what Nobodies were, he seems to inevitably have an issue with informing Ranmaru. Here, possibly, Ranmaru will find out on his own. There are several members of the Organization in the mansion now, after all.

His attention remained as soon as Saix mentioned the inclination to listen to a Lord, and he didn't take his attention off the other until he was done talking. The rose was snoring-- quite a feat, if you could call the fluttering of it's petals snoring, and asleep quite comfortably in the Nobody's hold and he blinked in surprise when Saix suggested that he go out and meet other people. His first fear was that he might have been a bother to the blue-haired man for him to have even made the suggestion-- but if that had been the case, he wouldn't have asked him to keep in touch if he made something in the form of meals, right?

A blush touching his cheeks, Ranmaru smiled shyly and glanced to the ground, thinking for a bit, then looked up again and nodded. "Ranmaru will try, Saix-sama. It is kind of you to worry.." he then moved a hand behind his head, laughing a bit. "The problem is, Saix-sama.. sometimes, their speech is hard for Ranmaru to grasp. But Ranmaru is learning!" he smiled then, eyes meeting the other's. "Ranmaru will do as you say.. but Saix-sama must ask Ranmaru if Saix-sama ever needs anything.. alright?" he requested. He wanted to fret and fuss over the other man for some reason, merely for the fact that he was doing the same for him in his own way.

Eventually, the berserker chooses to lift the sleeping blossom from his chain. Kneeling down, he sets the rose to the ground before brushing himself off; his actions suggest that he isn't listening to Ranmaru, but he is. Saix turns to him, then nods. "Speaking with them more will allow you a better understanding of their language. Or you may find others who speak in a tongue you are familiar with. Either way, I think it will be best for you. And... should I ever need anything, I know I may ask that of you, which I am grateful for. You as well; if you require anything of me, do not hesitate to ask."

He is capable of generosity -- should he want to be.

"For now, concern yourself with yourself. Getting to know others might be best for you."

So he would like. Saix would rather that Ranmaru not follow the same path he has before. Servitude is one he understands and continues, willing or not. "It is best if I return to my room for now. But... it was not unpleasant to see you again."

As far as he can admit to having a good time, anyway.

With a small smile, Ranmaru gave Saix a nod. He appreciated that the man was giving him some advice and he promised himself he would honor it, if just for the fact that Saix bothered giving it at all. "Ranmaru understands.. Ranmaru will try his best, Saix-sama!" his eyes twinkled with mirth for a while, and he glanced down at the rose, feeling bad that Saix would have to leave it, and decided he would look after it. Saix could come down and see it again.

Turning to the older man, Ranmaru quickly stepped up to his side. "Will Saix-sama do Ranmaru the honor of dinner tonight?" he looked up at him expectantly, then tilted his head to a side. "Saix-sama seems to have much to speak of too, and Ranmaru will attempt speaking to as many people as possible to find who share similar interests!" he bowed again. "Thank you for honoring this person with your company, Saix-sama! Ranmaru is very grateful." he was happy, and moreso that he got to spend time with the other Nobody. Giving him a charming smile, he motioned the way back to the mansion, and talked to him the entire way.

Maybe living here wouldn't be so bad after all!