#⊰ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ʜɪs sᴀᴋᴇ; ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴀʟʟ sʜᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴅᴏ ║ verse: main ⊱

[devouthope-a]

@blodblomma ♡’d for a starter 

Oh child, when will you learn? Haven’t you realized the world will be harsh to a doe eyed girl like you? You are no girl, just a bird, and just about as weak as one too ( — she knows this, tucks away the cruel realities of the world underneath the warmth of her heart, head with the clouds above ).

And when will you learn that there is a reason why they say innocence is bliss? When will you learn your curiosity is a double edged sword that you wield dangerously? Clearly, the answer is not today, incessant chatter that falls from her lips as she tags along, little bird foolishly following like lamb to slaughter. Ahiru is as bubbly as ever, even when her company is not, and if her presence is an unwanted one, she never seems to pick up on it.

“What are you looking for, anyways?”

[devouthope-a]

@storiesgiven​ ♡’d for a starter 

“Rue!” There’s a bright smile that accompanies her words as she approaches the other girl, sounding pleased— of course she is pleased, Ahiru adores her, even when Rue does not. There’s a small bounce in her step as she looks up to her, never a moment where she’s stationary. “You were really good during practice today— I mean, you’re always really good of course, but I thought you seemed extra talented today! An’ I know it doesn’t really mean anything coming from me, but I wanted you to know that anyways! ‘Cause you deserve to know how good people think you are, Rue-chan!” She is envious, of course, she wishes she could have that natural talent, but nonetheless, she’ll ignore that in favor of being able to appreciate her instead.

[devouthope-a]

@madefate​ ♡’d for a starter   

Oh! A flash of dark green hair in the distance catches her eyes, her previously disheartened expression brightening up in a matter of moments as she yells at the boy. “Fakir!!” One might almost consider the noise Ahiru makes to be akin to a loud squawk... that actually manages to take her breath away for a moment, before she’s on her feet and running— oh, there’s a bush she narrowly avoids slamming headfirst into, a stumble in her step as she hurries to catch up with the other.

“Good morning— ah, it’s not morning anymore, is it? Ahaha... oops! I was wondering where you were, ‘cause I was looking for you, because I has something important to ask, ‘nd you weren’t in the library... or at least I didn’t think you were since you weren’t in your usual spots, and I didn’ want to be too noisy in case you were actually doing something important in there, and...! Oh, then I got distracted because I saw something weird, and Pique and Lillie had something they wanted to talk ‘bout, an... uh...” There’s a pause as she rubs at her neck. “What was I talking about again...?”

[devouthope-a]

@dclighted ♡’d for a starter   

“If that’s how you feel, you should express that! Don’t let yourself be swayed by your doubts!” She grasps the other’s hands with a smile, a stubborn streak in her eyes— though, that is not something wholly unusual, she tends to be like that. “You should let yourself be more positive, you know? N...Not that you’re unlikeable or anything like that, being negative, I didn’t mean it like that— I’m sorry if that seemed rude!” Her mouth really did work faster than her brain did, she really should think about what she says before she speaks. “But, but doesn’t it feel a little tiring being like that all the time?”

[devouthope-a]

❀ except she just made a flower crown because she doesn't know how to braid hair

send ❀ for soft braiding time || accepting!!

“Ooooooh.” She can’t help the awed sound that falls from her lips, a soft coo as she admires the flowers that now adorn her head, a nod of approval to herself as she fluffs up the ends of her bangs. So pretty, that for a moment, Ahiru really does think that she could be a princess— a thought that gets voiced, a moment of simple minded bliss. “Aaahhh, it’s so pretty… I almost feel like I really am a princess.”

Almost is a key word, one that saddens her— princess is a title that she does not have any right to claim, just out of reach; she is not nearly elegant or graceful enough to be one in truth (and what business would a duck have, being a princess? None, none at all.) That’s a depressing thought, and save for the slight quiver of her lips, manages to save face and not seem too upset outwardly; that would be the last thing she wants, instead beaming up at the other as her fingers brush against petals gently. “Heehee, well, that might be too hard to achieve… maybe I could become a knight like you, though!” Or maybe not, since she’s not got the strength for that kind of thing (there’s no need for another knight in the story either), but the thought at least brings a smile to her face. 

“But, oh— thank you for the gift, it’s so pretty, an’, and… oh, I said that already, didn’t I? Ooops! But I’ll treasure it forever, promise!” 

[devouthope-a]

@wiildgrace ♡’d for a starter  

Envy lingers in her gaze ever so briefly as she watches; she’s long accepted that she’ll never be the graceful dancer that she dreams of being, a soft sort of sigh falling from her lips. Unfair, is a thought that comes to mind, but that’s a childish thought; for she must’ve put in lots of work to get where she is today, and for that it is admirable, nothing less. She reminds her of Rue, pretty and elegant and talented— if not just much older than them.

“Miss Heidi?” Ahiru wiggles her feet, a small, nervous movement, taking a moment to chew over her thoughts before continuing to speak. “I’m sorry if it’s rude to ask... but, do you ever feel like... like you’re missing something by not being able to speak? I mean, because you dance really well, but... I’d be really sad if I couldn’t talk.” A sad half-chirp follows, before she straightens back up. “Ah! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! That was probably really rude, wasn’t it?! Pretend like I didn’t say that, hahaha...”

[devouthope-a]

❀ ( from Rue bcs we need more of them

send ❀ for soft braiding time || accepting!!

Ahiru wishes that this moment could last for this like forever.

…Well, forever might be an overstatement, because she’d miss ballet, and more importantly— Mytho, she’d miss Mytho and she was sure Rue’d miss Mytho, and she still had Mytho counting on her, waiting on Tutu to finish restoring his heart. It is more precise to say that she wishes that this kind of peace could last forever.

(In the back of her mind, she can hear Fakir scolding her for mingling with their ‘enemy’, how she was dumb for falling for what could’ve been a trap— but no; that was not here or now. She could never consider Rue, kind and gentle Rue her enemy; even if that sentiment was not reciprocated, even if Kraehe would always insist that she was not Rue. But she’d always be Rue to her, Ahiru would hold to that, if nothing else.)

“Rue-chan, if you braid my hair, do you think you it’ll make it as pretty as yours?” Not that she finds her own hair particularly ugly, it’s just a lot more messy, in her mind, abrasive to the eyes unlike Rue’s dark hair. It’s the first time she’s spoken in a while, more occupied with the task in her hands than trying to make much conversation— she’s sure the other girl has been thankful for her silence, compared to how chattery she usually is. “‘Cause your hair is really pretty! I’m jealous of it…” She’s exaggerating a little, a pout on her lips; and as she finishes the task at hand, she spins around— she forgets about the fact her hair was being braided (and has surely been ruined by such a harsh movement, if the protest Rue makes is anything to go off of), but little is deterring her from her current goal.

Her own collection of flowers have been weaved into what can be called her best attempt at a flower crown, a wide grin as she places it on the other’s head with care. “There! Now you look extra pretty, like a real princess should, Rue-chan! …Do you like it?” And as Ahiru beams at the other girl, she once again finds herself wishing for their peace to last— it will not, but she will cling to happy memories while she can. 

[devouthope-a]

❀

send ❀ for soft braiding time || accepting!!

She’s a little surprised, if she’s being honest about it— it’s not that he doesn’t strike her as the type to be able to braid or anything like that. It’s not anything like that (Ahiru would like to think she isn’t that shallow), she’s noticed the way his hands shake and the hesitation when it comes to even the smallest touches that she greets him with; rather, such is the reason why she tries to hold back from her usual self, waits for him to move at his own pace.

This, in her mind, is a bigger victory than most things she’s accomplished in her life, so she can’t help but giggle and grin a little as she sits patiently— well, as patiently as she can be, quiet save for the soft hums under her breath, and nothing more than that so she doesn’t get on his nerves. It’s not bad to be quiet, she rationalizes, if it means that they can spend time like this; give him some reprise of peace. She may not know what goes on in his life, but even someone as ditzy as Ahiru can connect the dots, figure out the way he acts has to do with something that has happened in his life— if even for a moment, she can offer some sort of relief, that is enough for her (and so, she will be on her best behavior, happily noting the way that for once, there seems to be a certainty in the movement in his hands, no wavering unease present as her hair is worked into a nice braid of some sort).

There’s only elation when she gets to see the end result, tucked into a nice bun with the flowers that they’d gathered earlier— it’s without thinking that she throws herself around to wrap her arms around him, just a hint of tears in her eyes as she beams up at him. “It’s—! It’s so pretty, not that I didn’t think you’d make it look nice or anything like that, but it’s just... I’m very happy with it! Thank you so much!” She takes a moment to pause, blink the tears out of her eyes, voice softening a bit. “I really... I really do love it, so... thank you.”

[devouthope-a]

❝ Only the man who has known freedom can define his prison. ❞ // from corrin!

incarceron starters  || accepting!!

She considers this for a moment, a frown tugging her lips down— surely, that is true, but wouldn’t people never knowing freedom feel confined too? Then again, she supposes that required one to realize their freedom is being limited in the first place; a person such as she would perhaps never be able to recognize that fact.

“That’s… kind of lonely, isn’t it? Because, surely the person knowing freedom and not would have different ideas of what a prison is like, but they would know what a prison is all the same?” Ahiru’s not very good when it comes to speaking on such subjects, and thus it comes with hesitancy when she does speak. “I think… even if their prisons are very different from one another, they’re both real! And however they feel about that emotionally, it’s still valid! Even if, in a sense, one of them is kind of privileged, they… they still suffered in the end, didn’t they?”

[devouthope-a]

‘ sometimes people just want to be happy, even if it’s not real. ’ //from darling!

book starters  || accepting!!

Ahiru falters for a moment— she is sure she can be proven guilty of the same, she who likes to linger in positive emotions, and she knows of one who would accuse her of being almost delusional in her dreams. That is who she is, in the end, all hopes and wishes and dreams; she acknowledges with a small dip of her head.

“Everyone has the right to that. Being happy, being sad… we all want to be able to express our emotions freely. That’s such a beautiful thing, isn’t it?” Her lip wavers for a brief moment, before raising her head back up. “But who has the right to say if it’s not real? If it’s real to you, is that not enough?” And, after a moment’s thought, she adds on, “An.. And anyways, it’s no fun thinking like that, right?”

[devouthope-a]

❝We forbid growth and therefore decay.❞ (Muninn)

incarceron starters  || accepting!!

Her brows furrow a bit, as much as she might try to understand, there are some things that just don’t quite make sense to her; pausing to take a moment to try and seem thoughtful about it. Was it really that bad to not grow? Sure, that might make you stagnant, but… couldn’t there be benefits there too? Not many, mind you, because Ahiru certainly could name more positive associations with growth, but there was always something good in everything. Or, so she’d like to think, anyhow.

“But, but…! That isn’t completely true, right? It’s true that not allowing growth isn’t good for people, but that doesn’t mean the worst. Not if we don’t let it, anyways. Decay can be resisted, can’t it?”

[devouthope-a]

@wrotefate ♡’d for a starter 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” There’s a huff, a puff in her cheeks, petulant almost child she is, there is scrutiny in her gaze as she sizes him up— whether he’s said something insulting or if she’s misinterpreted what he meant is up for debate ( given who she’s talking to, both are fairly likely, in her opinion ). It wouldn’t be quite like her if she hasn’t managed to jump to the wrong conclusion, bypass some level of overthinking; crossing her arms to sulk.  “Seriously, I don’t know what you meant at all... even though I’m really trying, I swear!”

[devouthope-a]

💏 + 11 ( from momiji ~ )

kiss kiss!! || accepting!!

11. …in joy.

Like a sunny sky, her smile is always present— even during the dark times, amongst a rainy season (her lip may quiver and falter among tears, but her smile will return, with time).

These days, she can’t help but think herself so helplessly weak, a mouthful of struggles she can’t voice— who would understand? Who could she speak to without worry of weighing them down too? Like this, Ahiru feels like she could be drowning in her negativity, and on days like that, she suddenly feels like she might be able to understand how people, those victims, felt. But hope— hope, it lives in her soul and shines through every essence of her being, reminds her that tomorrow may be a kinder day, that one day, her efforts will be worth it (and that, while she might not be so fond of such negative emotions, they are important too, so she will live through them, if only to bring back the happier ones with extra strength).

Some days, reminders come in more gentle forms, with smiles as warm as her own and soft voices that don’t quite believe her when Ahiru says she’s fine and her voice waveringly gives her away, but she will not say what weight lives in her heart, so they are at an impasse. Reminders come in smiles and kindness and company and leaves her with laughter and her heart feeling light, a hatching in flight— and for a moment, she can forget about the problems weighing her down, the conflict she will have to force herself to face, and instead just live, live and breathe and smile.

“Thank you.” She says at the end of the day, and he laughs— and she wonders if that is a you’re welcome, or a for what, both or neither. It is without much thought when she leans up and in to press her lips against his cheek, giggle bubbling from her lips as Ahiru pulls back (it is a gesture of happiness, a thank you, an attempt for words she doesn’t know how to voice). And with that, she rocks back on her feet, another step back, hand already raised in farewell.

“See you next time, Momiji-chan!”