gardeningaia | [Video/Action]

[Here is a fully bundled Aerith, blue scarf wrapped loosely around her face as she smiles.]

Speed run! Don't try this at home. I'm a professional.

...Not really. But I've been practicing, and I think I'm getting better!

[This is about all the introduction given before the journal gets set down to show wide open sky, but once Aerith throws herself in its direction and sets things into a blur of motion, it quickly becomes apparent what she's doing: enjoying her toboggan present from Christmas. She seems to be quite childishly pleased with herself on the faster runs, and pouts when one bumpy ride ends only halfway down. Finally:]

All right, now for the obstacle course! [Tucking the journal under-arm, Aerith drags the toboggan ba-a-a-ck up. This time she turns it to a different position a few feet away and a very different angle. She starts out more slowly, letting gravity lead the way, and steers the tobaggan around trees and rocks, her expression turning focused as the wind whips back her hair. And then--] Oh, no, no! Move, rabbit, run! Hey--ah--!!!! [After wildly veering, once she hits a fallen tree, Aerith and journal are airborne. Too bad they have to come back down, but at least it's in a snowdrift, right?]

...Mmmf.

[...FEEL FREE TO ACTION IT UP / BE SLEDDING WITH HER? She's on the lower part of the mountain slope, closest to the village. Or just shake your head at her from afar, whatever.]

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[Ami shakes her head, but stops midway through the gesture, uncertainly.]

The Water. I know the Water. But it's not like talking to it.

[Curious... Aerith puts one finger on her mouth thoughtfully.] Knowing the water... That sounds really interesting. Is it more of a feeling?

You could say that. There's not really a better explanation.

Still, I think that will help, if you're used to feeling it out. With the spirits, it's really more searching them out and then listening to them carefully.

I understand. I'll go out to start trying soon.

It's a little like praying, if you've done that...and Nala's one of the easier spirits to contact. She'll speak to you nearly anywhere.

I understand. But in that case, why hasn't everyone done it?

I can't really speak for them, but I know some people have their own magic, so they don't need Nala's. Others don't really trust the spirits... and you know? Some people are just bad at focusing! [lol Zack.]

I'm still interested.

Good! Then I'm sure you won't have too much trouble getting Nala's help.

Thank you for your encouragement. It means a lot.

It's nothing. You just need some determination to find the spirits. Actually, I'm still working on them myself. Nala--and Faeren, too--they really are the easiest. Some of the others are so stubborn! [Eferin. Just. Eferin. Stupid fire.]

Stubborn? [She moves with the word as she considers this, glancing to the side.]

But, if they don't want to be disturbed, maybe we shouldn't.

[She shakes her head.] Don't worry about it. He's pretty rowdy, in fact, just picky--and Nala isn't like that at all. Trust me... with her, it's just a matter of paying attention.

I'll make sure to listen carefully. [If there's one thing Mizuno Ami can do, it's listen: to instructions, to classroom lectures, to directions from superiors...]

Is there a special place people go to? Or can it really be anywhere?

For Nala, anywhere. The other spirits are more tied to certain places. Like Sona, the water spirit... she's best heard near water. You should give her a ring next! Mm, so I'd say really the only condition to worry about is if you can concentrate in that area. Like somewhere quiet, without too many people around.

It makes sense, of course.

I wonder... could you come with me? If it's too much to ask, or if they won't come that way, I understand. But.. I'd sort of like not to go out alone.

I'll come with. Are you worried?

It's not worried, exactly. I just feel like I don't understand what I might be doing enough. So someone who's done it before will be a good companion while I try.

...Mm. [She pauses for a second, thinking back, hand light against her chin before she smiles.] You know, that's a common feeling even when you are doing it. Maybe it's not meant to be understood. Feeling it is enough.

[She's always worked sort of the opposite: trying to go by what she knows in her head and rationalizing what happens, but getting tangled up when her feelings don't match it.]

I guess we work different ways, sort of.

Maybe. Don't get me wrong, it's good to understand. But the spirits are a different existence from humans. Boiling it down to simple facts doesn't seem quite right.

But maybe you'll figure it out better than I can while we're out there.

I don't know if I'll really understand more than you already have.

I'm not that experienced here. You'll catch up.

We'll catch up together.

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[Action] oh my gosh I've had this tab open over a day and kept misplacing it /_\

Re: [Action] It's alright. <3

[Action] Can't believe I still goofed up the html tag XD

Re: [Action] no worries <3

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Re: [Action] sure now it reappears >_<

[Action] Oh LJ.

Re: [Action] Oh LJ.

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