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There's a lot to be thankful for in life, and a young man named Kaori is focusing on those moments as he walks home.
For now, his "home" is a hotel room, and while, many years ago, he wouldn't have thought that he would be in a situation like this, he's thankful that he has a home at all, especially because there were people who helped him. He wonders if he could really repay their kindness at all as well as the aid they gave him, and he wonders if there are enough coincidences set out in the timeline for him to even meet them again.
The weather is a breezy sort right now, though it's not supposed to rain anytime soon. The weather here is relatively temperate, and though Kaori would have preferred a bit more sunlight, he's glad he's not being rained or snowed on. Slowing down a bit, he takes the time to take in his surroundings.
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(aH, idk how to get Kaori's attention so here we go aH)
Off to the side was Francis, art canvas and easel set up to paint, seeming to not actually be painting yet. He held his paint brushes, but not a move to create art was made.
He muttered to himself, unable to find inspiration yet. The need to paint was overwhelming, but an idea wouldn't materialize just yet.
He stared at the blank canvas, a slight frown setting on his face.
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It's kind of easy to grab Kaori's attention. Either because he's so familiar with the particular things Francis had set up or because it's just kind of a weird place to paint in general, he finds himself watching the other, though he doesn't approach.
After a while, it's kind of easy to see that he's basically the only one in the immediate surroundings who isn't moving, though, especially if the other guy is looking around and trying to find inspiration in the settings.
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It didn't take Francis long to notice Kaori's watching.
Hm...
Francis waved and yelled, "Hey! Can I paint you?"
He was pretty straightforward with this request.
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Surprise clearly manifests itself on Kaori's face like "Why me?" mostly because he has no distinguishing features to him, really, other than general indications of malnutrition.
"Uhm, sure!" he answers, making his way carefully over to Francis. For good reason. He's fallen quite a bit times just from strong gusts of wind.
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Francis looked very excited, starting to open paints to work with.
"Ah! Thank you!" Francis said, his excitement reaching his voice.
"Uh-uhm- just stand or sit or something where you want!"
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Kaori wonders if he'd ruin the painting if his knees buckle. He spends a good few seconds trying to ponder if he'll be able to keep standing up before deciding he should just lean on something nearby. Fortunately, there's a tree that's planted and secured nearby, so he kind of just ventures there and places a hand on it to test it. Once he thinks it won't be easily taken down by his weight, he slightly leans against it. "Is this alright?" he asks curiously.
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"Yes sir!" Francis nodded, giving a thumbs up.
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"Alright," he says. "Please let me know if I falter or something like that." He tries to steady himself a bit. He's mostly not shaking, which is good but also kind of questionable.
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Concern shows itself present as Francis is extremely observant.
"Hey, are you okay? We can find a bench for you to sit on if you want."
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"I'm alright," Kaori insists calmly. "I just need to get more used to standing. Thank you for your concern, though."
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Francis hesitated, but nodded.
As he opened some paints, Francis friendly asked, "How you doing today?"
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"I'm doing pretty well," Kaori answers typically but sincerely. "How are you, sir?"
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"Pretty good, I think!" Francis smiled.
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"That's good to hear," Kaori states with a reciprocated smile, and then he tries to stand still again.
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"Name's Francis, by the way," Francis said, continuing on setting up.
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"Oh, nice to meet you, Francis. I'm called Kaori," the teenage-looking young man says with his ever-constant smile.
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"Ooh, that's a nice name!" Francis nodded. "Nice to meet you too."
He repeated Kaori's name to himself a few times.
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"Thanks!" He smiles a bit more, but not too much. Even though he's aware facial expressions aren't actually very prominent until later on, he'd like to leave a semi-constant impression so the job is easier for Francis.
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Francis finished setting up and started to sketch lightly on the canvas.
"It's pretty nice out today, I think," Francis said to fill up the quiet space. He laughed a bit.
"I say that, but honestly I think any and every day is nice out."
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"I agree on both counts," Kaori states placidly. With his company, it kind of seems like quiet is natural and not awkward at all, but then again, that likely goes for Francis too. On Kaori's end, though, it's kind of like he gives off an attracting peace as his aura.
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It doesn't take long for Francis to start painting, humming cheerfully while doing so.
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R.I.P. the conversation, but Kaori's standing there naturally, or as naturally as he can stand, that is, when it kind of feels like he hasn't stood for years. And he hasn't, to be honest, if the comparison is to the recent month or so.
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Francis uhhHHH continued painting lol. RIP conversation indeed. Poor Kaori oof.
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Kaori tries to think of something to talk about, but he's also not too keen on interrupting Francis' humming, so even if he thinks of something other than topics Francis probably wouldn't like to talk about, he doesn't say it.
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Don't worry too much about it because Francis quickly found a topic to ramble about.
"Whoa! Butterflies!" Francis smiled as a small group of orange butterflies fluttered by. He doesn't stare at them too long to stop painting, but the teen seems happier (if possible at this point) from noticing the monarch butterfly flock.
"Butterflies are soooo pretty! That shade of orange is, like, super nice, right?"
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Kaori honestly wants to question why the butterflies are there just out of his pure sense of logic--they're in the middle of a city, after all--but nothing is impossible, including the presence of entities that are there for roleplaying convenience. But the logic, dull and traditional, is quickly succeeded by emotion.
"Are those monarchs?" he asks rhetorically with an awe that could only be described as childlike. His eyes sparkle with delight and his mouth starts quickly towards forming an elliptical shape. He'll notice he forgot to nod later, don't worry.
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it's bold for anyone to assume that the Narrator over here will ever narrate anything with logic in it. Have you seen anything I have written? There is zero percent logic.
"I think so," Francis nodded, noticing Kaori smile.
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Kaori's expression changes towards a gentle one, his eyes filled with warm light. Almost as if he were somehow a monarch butterfly himself, like one of their family members, he muses, "I wonder how many of their one hundred miles they have left to travel today."
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Francis nodded, "They must be very strong to travel so far, especially in such small bodies."