08-26-2014, 03:52 PM
Lucas saw Aria seem to transform. Maybe that wasn't it exactly. But from the way she'd always seemed to carry herself, the way she walked and kept herself from touching most people, he'd naturally expected her to be like that at all times. But here, here was an Aria that he did not expect to see. She seemed friendly with people, as if they were family. She seemed relaxed here.
It was odd, to see Aria this way. It wasn't what he expected. Given what he knew- which wasn't much- it just wasn't something he'd imagined. But he found himself smiling. There was a kindness in it. Despite her lonely childhood, especially once her ability or whatever you called it showed itself, there was this place, this memory for her, of a time before that. It was just a little thing. She'd lived in Rome and probably didn't get to Moscow that often. But he could imagine her, a small girl, living isolated and alone, wondering at God and his plan for her. And deep in her heart, she could go to this place, a memory from before, from a time when she was "normal". It was a bittersweet kindness to her. It said something that she was letting him come here.
Victor was friendly enough and made it clear that he liked Aria. She was right though. They did seem to make a big deal about his presence. But he didn't mind. He liked Aria. What that meant, he didn't know. And at this point, that was ok. People tried to define things too quickly anyway.
They sat down. He was unsurprised that Aria's order was so vague. Either she liked everything here or didn't really care about food. At this place, at least, he hoped it was the former. He looked at the menu as he thought. For some reason, it was important for him to know that she loved herself even a little bit. That she did at least one thing just for herself rather than whatever it was that she was dedicated to. Joy and peace in life came first from coming to terms with yourself- estimating yourself as being of worth, that you matter. That was the big lie people believed and even sometimes tried to make others believe, that they were worthless. It was hateful and cruel and it oftentimes sucked the life out of a person as they sought to fill that void or emptiness with drugs and sex and whatever else. He knew it all too well. And the key to really dealing with it was to learn to view yourself as a person of value, that what you wanted was also important. Not most important, of course. He wasn't thinking of selfishness. But basic human self-worth. A little thing, what she chose to eat, but somehow, because of that, it felt important to him.
Finally, Lucas decided on lasagna. There were lots of good choices but right now, in the midst of winter, something like that sounded warming and perfect. He made his order and the chef went away. He looked at Aria, suddenly feeling awkward. It seemed like every conversation they had was deep and emotional. For some reason, he just wanted her to enjoy herself here, to not have to think about any of that other stuff. She had let him into this place, after all.
"So...suddenly I don't know what to say."
He grinned at her. "I do like this place though. And that you brought me."
She looked cute in his coat, since it was big on her. He would've liked to see her in her dress though, now that he could look directly at her. She had filled it out nicely, from what he'd seen in the church as he tried not to notice such things in that place. But he wouldn't ask for it back now. She seemed comfortable. He lifted his water in a toast. "To good memories that get us through the tough times."
It was odd, to see Aria this way. It wasn't what he expected. Given what he knew- which wasn't much- it just wasn't something he'd imagined. But he found himself smiling. There was a kindness in it. Despite her lonely childhood, especially once her ability or whatever you called it showed itself, there was this place, this memory for her, of a time before that. It was just a little thing. She'd lived in Rome and probably didn't get to Moscow that often. But he could imagine her, a small girl, living isolated and alone, wondering at God and his plan for her. And deep in her heart, she could go to this place, a memory from before, from a time when she was "normal". It was a bittersweet kindness to her. It said something that she was letting him come here.
Victor was friendly enough and made it clear that he liked Aria. She was right though. They did seem to make a big deal about his presence. But he didn't mind. He liked Aria. What that meant, he didn't know. And at this point, that was ok. People tried to define things too quickly anyway.
They sat down. He was unsurprised that Aria's order was so vague. Either she liked everything here or didn't really care about food. At this place, at least, he hoped it was the former. He looked at the menu as he thought. For some reason, it was important for him to know that she loved herself even a little bit. That she did at least one thing just for herself rather than whatever it was that she was dedicated to. Joy and peace in life came first from coming to terms with yourself- estimating yourself as being of worth, that you matter. That was the big lie people believed and even sometimes tried to make others believe, that they were worthless. It was hateful and cruel and it oftentimes sucked the life out of a person as they sought to fill that void or emptiness with drugs and sex and whatever else. He knew it all too well. And the key to really dealing with it was to learn to view yourself as a person of value, that what you wanted was also important. Not most important, of course. He wasn't thinking of selfishness. But basic human self-worth. A little thing, what she chose to eat, but somehow, because of that, it felt important to him.
Finally, Lucas decided on lasagna. There were lots of good choices but right now, in the midst of winter, something like that sounded warming and perfect. He made his order and the chef went away. He looked at Aria, suddenly feeling awkward. It seemed like every conversation they had was deep and emotional. For some reason, he just wanted her to enjoy herself here, to not have to think about any of that other stuff. She had let him into this place, after all.
"So...suddenly I don't know what to say."
He grinned at her. "I do like this place though. And that you brought me."
She looked cute in his coat, since it was big on her. He would've liked to see her in her dress though, now that he could look directly at her. She had filled it out nicely, from what he'd seen in the church as he tried not to notice such things in that place. But he wouldn't ask for it back now. She seemed comfortable. He lifted his water in a toast. "To good memories that get us through the tough times."