dizzyspells | (no subject)

[The town of Mobliz was a cheerful place. What it lacked in food and shelter, it made up for it tenfold in energy. It had been several days since Kefka's tower fell, and as the celebrations died down, the task to rebuild seemed daunting-

But not nearly as daunting as taking care of the children, who ran around the town with renewed energy. Fearless of monsters like Humbaba or destruction from the Light of Judgement. They warmed up to the group, enjoying wrestling with Sabin, or listening to Locke's stories, but what surprised Celes was the children that seemed to follow her around like a shadow. Every spare moment they were telling her about a frog they caught or a flower they picked and questions, the questions never stopped. About their journey, asking her to sing (apparently the Opera was a favorite story among the kids), or just random questions about why the sky was blue, what made the grass grow, why did it rain.

Currently, Celes was seated outside, one of the younger children seated in her lap, while two others yanked and pulled at her hair, bickering over how to braid it, and one boy sat in the grass nearby, picking a bouquet of dandelions and shyly handing it over to Celes.]

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[Terra hadn't been at all surprised that her orphans had taken so easily to her friends. Walking around Mobliz now made her happier than she'd been in ages, possibly ever; her friends were all here, the children were safe, Katarin's baby was healthy and the world could finally start healing now that Kefka was defeated. Without that dark shadow from her past looming over her, Terra was quick to smile and even laugh, her entire demeanor changed for the better.]

[So it's no surprise that when she sees some of her troupe playing with Celes - and the former general's current hairstyle - she bursts into gentle laughter.]

So this is where you all wandered off to.

[Celes looked up, almost pleadingly at Terra. Her hair was piled up in big bows on top of her head, and there were dandelions being carefully stuck into her hair, the little girls having taken the younger boy's gift out of his hands, and causing him to start crying loudly.]

Terra...

[Help me]

Edited 2013-01-07 21:25 (UTC)

[Oh. Oh this was entirely too precious. Terra scoops the crying boy up in her arms, shushing him gently while walking closer to Celes.]

It seems quite a few of my orphans have grown very fond of you, Celes.

[She sits down next to her friend, placing the boy on her lap as she wiped away his tears.]

[Precious is not how Celes would describe it, more like, confusing and overwelming. She couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief when Terra took the crying boy. She didn't know how but Terra just had a way with the kids that Celes wasn't sure she'd ever really understand.]

It's just because my hair is longer than Edgar's, the girls like to play with it.

That's part of it, yes.

[The boy is finally reduced to sniffling, squirming around in Terra's lap as he tries to hide his face from Celes.]

Setzer has very long hair too, though, and they haven't tried that with him.

[A pause.]

...Yet.

That's because he never gives them the chance.

[And never sits so low to the ground that they'd be able to.

She looked at the sniffling boy in Terra's lap.]

If he wants more Dandelions, there's plenty around here.

[That's helpful.]

That is true.

[The boy had just about finished crying when Celes's words sent him off again. Terra winces and gently rubs his back.]

Ah... I don't think that was the problem, Celes.

[Celes was taken aback when the boy started bawling again, looking at a loss.]

Then what's the problem? I'm not trying to upset him.

[CHILDREN, heaven help you Locke for the future.]

I know you aren't.

[Terra gives her friend a sympathetic smile, then turns back to the child. A few murmured words and his tears once again slowed, then Terra placed him back on his feet, gently ushering him on his way.]

[With a soft sigh, Terra turns back to her friend, once again trying not to laugh at the state of her hair.]

Would you like me to help you untangle those braids?

[The other girls seemed quite pleased with their work, and now that the adults were talking, they quickly dispersed to, looking for their next victim.

Celes flushed, reaching up to touch a braid in her hair. She could only imagine what it looked like to others.]

I'm not sure how you do it, Terra.

Do what?

[Her confusion is plain as she rises, picking up one of the hairbrushes discarded by the girls. She begins to gently untangle Celes's hair, careful not to pull - she'd had plenty of experience with untangling hair in all states of disarray, and she was now a pro at the task, fortunately for her friend.]