A soft smile returned to his lips upon noting her response, a faintly, yet amused glimmer within his remaining eye as it shifted its gaze towards her.[break][break]

”...You say that as if I haven’t already been trying~.”[break][break]

A hum followed the words that escaped his lips, and although an azure gaze lingered upon her within the wake of them, he’d averted his attention towards the flickering bonfire continuously crackling before them. His eyes narrowed in throughout its idle eying, yet before long, his chest and shoulders rose within a quiet, yet heavier breath in prolonged thought.[break][break]

”...For the ones that’ve made it clear they want me in their lives— which, admittedly, is most of them~.” A lazy chuckle found its way from him. ”For those that don’t, though, I haven’t quite fought against it~. …The choice is theirs, anyways, and the choice is understandable, to say the least.”

mielle [break]
mission: vacation time

☉

The passion that met his ears had only been one of countless things that had proven to imbue a sense of nostalgia within him.[break][break]

Though a look of disdain had gradually overtaken her features as the performance shifted from crescendo to morendo (and from morendo to a simple, idling lull), there had been a sense of relief within his heart upon noting the sheer gravity of how easily taken to the music she’d proven to be. He hadn’t known the depths of what she’d endured during her time away. He’d been curious about it, though resigned to not pry too much about it, lest she be discomforted.[break][break]

At the very least, however, he found it nice to see her so invested within matters less…harmful.[break]
Harmful. Concerning.[break][break]

”...For now, mhm~,” he mused with a soft chuckle, nodding. He eyed the keys as they dwindled within the aftermath of the tune, only shifting towards her, altogether, as the last note rang within the air. ”I have to say, though, piccola— I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard you play anything, now that I think about it~...”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
notes

☉

The scent of the store had been oddly nostalgic for the both of them, truthfully speaking.[break][break]

It hit him within a subtle wave as he followed in tow, and though he simply sought to follow after her as she made her way through the loose isles and shelves of the store, he found himself gazing about within an idly curious manner, all while relishing the air contained within the establishment as he breathed in.[break][break]

For a moment, he, himself, paused while running a gingerly finger along a nearby violin display.[break][break]

With note of her words and the melodies that soon followed, however, he merely glanced over his shoulder prior to properly and fully turning his form to face her; a simple smile upon his lips being the lone response to her words as she sat down and began to move her fingers along the piano display.[break][break]

He eyed her with a degree of amusement and interest, and—as the song pushed further and further within the fields of recognition—gave a soft chuckle under his breath before absentmindedly beginning to hum along.

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
notes

☉

”So you say, but it’s been several years by now,” he chuckled, equal parts content and amused within the face of her seeming exasperation. While she seemed to find some solace in rubbing her face, he merely gave her a soft pat on the shoulder before faintly further ahead, adding a swift, ”I wouldn’t mind hearing you play a song or two if you still remember how,” as his fingers wrapped around the handle of the door just a small ways away.[break][break]

He pulled it out, stepping to the side while propping the door open with his foot.[break][break]

”...In any case, after you, piccola~.”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
notes

☉

He laughed at her remarks, raising a brow higher than the other in amusement.[break][break]

”So pessimistic, little one…” he hummed with an idle smile, pursing his lips softly in faux, teasing judgment. Azure hues strayed briefly towards the woman in reception of his responses before tracing her gaze towards the window for another time. ”Truthfully, though, yes. All things considered, I just wanted to talk and catch up…”[break][break]

He eyed the numerous instruments within the displays for a while longer before turning his head towards her once more, giving her a soft nudge while nodding towards the storefront.[break][break]

”...It almost seems as though you wanna take a look, though~.”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
notes

☉

…Always from a logical standpoint.[break][break]

He hadn’t doubted that she would be able to devise some means of spurring his own psyche, but at the same time, it had truthfully been a matter that he hadn’t necessarily given up on, but rather came to terms with some time ago. There were a number of pros and cons to gaining his own memory and sense of prior identity back, after all.[break][break]

Despite that, he oddly found himself content enough where he was.[break][break]

”The thought is always appreciated, piccola,” he hummed, chuckling softly. He watched as she lifted the drink he’d gotten her up for a sip before doing the same with his own, eventually beginning to eye another storefront off to the side as a familiar array of musician’s equipment entered his line of sight. ”And that’s definitely a brighter side to matters, at the very least~...”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
notes

☉

Though the responses had been shorter and simple enough, there had absolutely been truth to them, and in light of such acknowledgments, he simply nodded and hummed in agreement as she spoke; an agreement that he’d truly thought to have led into a thoughtful period of silence in the midst of the words. Some time into the response, he’d shifted his gaze towards the waters afar, once more, and opted to simply watch the moonlight ripple upon its surfaces.[break][break]

The inquiry she posed a small time after caught him off guard due to the assumption.[break][break]

For a little while longer, he gazed afar, though with a subtle idleness within his eye as he allowed the question to properly process, and as he allowed himself the time to begin gathering his wits. Slightly, the smile upon his lips faltered (whether in thought or in dismay), and a second, lower hum escaped his lips.[break][break]

”...Mmn… The honest answer?”[break][break]

He furrowed his brows slightly, glancing towards her once more as she rested herself against his arm.[break][break]

”...It’s all I know, and it’s all I have,” he said simply, his tone vaguely pensive for once. ”I’m aware I have my family, and I’m aware I have other connections from my past, but they’re…people that I don’t know, simply put. I love them, instinctively, but…aside from that, this life is really all I know.”

mielle [break]
mission: vacation time

☉

Ah, it was good to see that she still knew how to smile.[break][break]

”Mmn. I’ve been well, piccola,” he mused, the smile he wore broadening in light of the one she’d donned in response. Inhaling deeply and leisurely, he briefly shifted his attention towards the path before them as they walked along, taking a sip of his own drink. ”Sadly no changes with my memories, but, well…that’s something you know I’m not quite counting on becoming resolved…”[break][break]

A touch of wistfulness graced his lips before disappearing just as swiftly as it surfaced.[break][break]

”It really has been too long, though,” he went on, peering towards her a second time before eying the vast array of buildings and storefronts within an absentminded interest. ”How’re those studies treating you, though, mmn? Not too overworked, I hope~?”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
notes

☉

For an amnesiac to be unaware of certain pieces of information would always seem to be on brand— but even an amnesiac, within the midst of his new life and memories, could stand to be anxious about the gaps in knowledge he had regarding those within said, new life. Such was the case with this little one in particular; a young woman of whom he’d met some years ago, and a young woman of whom he’d personally held a degree of affection towards within her first life.[break][break]

An affection borne of worry.[break]
An affection borne of wishing and wanting the best for her.[break][break]

When she’d first disappeared, he had been worried, to say the least. Within his memory, there was at least a month’s worth of time in which he attempted to search for the trail she’d left behind in her absence before rendering the search inconclusive in light of other priorities that arose. It was a matter that he, truthfully, had assumed would always be left unresolved and without closure.[break][break]

To say he was pleasantly surprised to be walking alongside her once more—whether it was under a different look, moniker, or what have you—would have been a bit of an understatement in light of everything else.[break][break]

”So how’ve you been since we last talked, piccola?” he hummed with a drink in hand (and not without having given her one for herself upon first meeting). Turning his head slightly, he spared her a faint glance from the corner of his eye, smiling softly. ”I hope you’ve been well?”

MARISOL SIMONE[break]
notes

☉