Mary
Amelie was rather recently discharged from the hospital, much to the nurses haggling for her to stay another week. It was a cold argument they had. Honestly? It was a little funny as well. 

Amelie had wheeled herself back to the cradle with no fanfare and none to notice if she was gone or back again. It's a little sad how it slightly hurts Amelie but, she did such a thing to herself. She can deal with it.
Amelie quickly went to her dorm, changed out her wheelchair for her crutches and dutifully went down to the greenhouse. Where she stares at the flowers she'd taken valiant care of before she went to the hospital.

 They're superisingly... Well... They look young, beautiful and unhurt. But, that's simply... Amelie shouldn't question these things. She knows the raspberries she planted would do well despite everything but the lilacs... Lily's... And other flowers should be dead. It's astonishing.

Amelie's brow furrows as she drags her frail fingers across a leaf of a pink rose. She hums looking at it. It looks perfect as if it were put up for decoration at a store. 

Amelie's face flickers to a slight strained yet hopeful smile as she checks her other plants. Which all look rather well kept despite her absence.
Johnny
It was a fun challenge for Anja to work on the plants out here. The colder Sweden days became a new obstacle compared to the still temperate Serbian autumns, especially for little flowers, but she made sure they continued. It was an interesting experiment. *How long could spring and summer flowers last?* She never was really given who were the original caretakers of these ones, but as she passed by the greenhouse, taking note of the different plants that the other residents who were more green-thumbed had chosen to grow, she had noticed the lilies and roses that began to wilt, the soil dry and unforgiving for the little flowers.

She decided that she would take care of them until she could confront the negligent person, and either take ownership, or find their excuse. So, Anja would come around everyday, marking what soil helped the flowers grow, what kept their petals sturdy, if any had dropped, which ones could pollinate, if she could make them remain intact and create more. Something to keep her interested between the classes she was mandated to take. It was something.

A cool colored overshirt covers her dress, her "Cold" Layers for the day, as she stepped out to the chilly winds that swirled around the inner courtyard. In her hand, she held a small leather bound journal, the pages littered with notes. Inside her native language and her secondary were fighting for total control. It was a true war of attrition.

Her plan for today was to see if the rose was able to produce seeds. Seeing if there was hopefully enough sun today had provided temperance into the greenhouse. It was a fantastic uphill battle for these plants.

She stepped into the greenhouse, not letting the door shut quietly. After all she had only really seen herself in here most days, she was used to the solitude. It was nice.

Looking up from her journal, she had noticed a woman, crutches being wielded underneath her shoulders. She was touching the rose. It almost rested against her hand, like an animal that missed its owner's hold. This must be the original caretaker.

The woman didn't need an excuse, clearly herself was the more important thing to take care of first. Anja makes her way over to the other woman, she was still here to do work.

"Interesting is it not? Just a little water and the right fertilization." She speaks up, and crouches down, doing her own investigation of the soil. It was still fine, but could use a change. "Since I've been here, has not been long of course, but rose has kept itself strong. Waiting. Wasn't fully sure for what, though." 
She looks up to the frail woman, studying her as well.
Mary
Amelie made a muffled choked noise and flinched, her right hand immediately going back to rest on her crutch. The rose seemed to lean forward at the loss of the girls touch as Amelie herself mentally stumbled over her own feet, which isn't really hard to do right now. 

Amelie stared at the girl with her one eye wide like an animal caught by a hunter. She opens her mouth to say something but all that comes out is a broken squeak. 

This girl is quite the surprise, sneaking up on Amelie and catching her attention by surprise that almost sent Amelie to the floor. She supposes that this is the girl that took care of what Amelie regretfully left. She took such care without knowledge that Amelie really should thank her for. That's something Amelie even though she has just met her, greatly admires the girl for. 

Amelie forgets she dosent need to make up an excuse for things anymore, this isn't that awful house and this girl dosent seem like anybody Amelie should be afraid of. 

"A... Yes. I've been gardening for quite some time. It's genuinely amazing what some care can do... If that person was to try." 
Amelie's voice was quiet, hoarse, she didn't like it. Amelie's gaze is on the girl's eyes, they look like a clean river rushing into her sight... That's odd to think of. 
"This may be a little selfish but I like to think the rose and my others were waiting for me... Like they have their own little minds and their own things they get excited about. It's a small joy I partake in, as delusional as it is."
Amelie's lips purse as she looks away from the girl and back to her flowers that have been so paitently waiting for her to return.
Johnny
"I do not find you foolish, ma'am." She stands up, giving the woman some space. 
"I would be judging myself by judging you." As she continues, she goes to investigate the other flowers. The lilacs are still holding strong. Good.
"What I said was not fully true. After seeing you, I knew what it survived for. Rose, lilac, lilies." She pointed to each one as she listed them with her pen. "They truly did missed you." Not the best English, but she did not care.

"It was odd. Other little plants around here were being taken care of. Except for these little flowers. Like no one else was allowed to touch them." 
She wrote down her findings on the lilacs' status in her journal. After all, she had just come down here to continue her experiment. "I am sorry if it was overstepping. Now that you are here I can leave them alone. Was simply a test for my plant..." 

Anja pauses tapping her finger on the pen she held, thinking of the word. What was it? She remembered it was about familiarity and experience of a fact or situation. It was a weirdly spelt word. Normally she would just use her phone to auto correct it normally, but forgot the pronunciation.
The other woman was waiting. Time to try her best.

"Nawlidge." Was what escaped her mouth. She was sure it was close enough. She presses on.

"Again, you are back home, if you would call it that. I will let your plants be your plants again. I thank you for letting me try something. It was fun challenge."
She tries to keep uncaring. But a pain crosses her heart. It was a fun challenge. She would miss the flowers. She thought to take some stem cuttings later, or maybe even work on other flowers.
Mary
Amelie looks to the girl with a guilty stare. It looks a little happy though. Her face an ugly mix of sad and joy. 
"Don't. You shouldn't judge yourself if you're not the first to do so. You're just following in little steps already made. It's fine."
Amelie raises her hand in front of the girls face for a moment before it hits back to the handle of her crutch. 
"Thank you."

Amelie looks to the other plants. They look remarkably better but, Amelie is just happy her own had survived. She was alone in her endeavor. No help as she took time that was most likely needed for her to rest getting her hands dirty with soil and regrets. 
"Others tend to see me and never bother me or vhat I work on. Even iv it harms." 
Her rough voice grew quiet. Nervous. 

Amelie looked to the girl when she finished talking Amelie began to reach out the girl, before looking at her hand and pulling it quickly. 

Amelie seemed to press weight more on her left moving slightly away from the girl with a sorrowful look to anything but the girl.

"Please don't leave me. I'm sorry iv this seemed out of turn vat, you have been nothing but well. It would be unkind of me to let you walk away like that."
Amelie has surprisingly grown lonely as she had those months after that day. Nobody had visited her much less stared. All she got was the disappointed look of that nurse, she deserved that though. 

"If you enjoyed it. You can still do it. It's actually nice knowing another cared for them."
Amelie had a smile it looked a little watery. Her right hand had busied itself with the pocket of her jacket. 

"Also, can you show me that word you spoke when you wrote it down. Just for a moment? I swear no harm." 

Amelie looked a little cautious but hopeful as she again locked her eye to the girl. It flickered to her hands the notebook and then the girl's eyes. In that succession, in a small weak plea much weaker than her words.
Johnny
"It is unfortunate that people treat you that way, miss." Anja looks back up, matching her gaze. "Perhaps I just do not know how rest of facility's social groups act."

She was about to close her journal. Leave this woman alone, let her get her deserved time to breathe and live and become wholly unbothered. But before she could, the woman makes an attempt to reach for her. It's clear she wanted it to not be noticed. Another quick meeting of their eyes commences as the woman speaks.

"If that is what you would like. I always could spend more time out here." She gives a slow blink, like a cat expressing trust to an unknown stranger. "Plants are something I understand. It would be nice to make this single flower a flower bed."
Something about this woman sparked familiarity, and even a small source of nostalgia. Like meeting someone from home long ago.

"Ah..." Does she mean the word she struggled to say? The other did not say if Anja said it was right. "If you mean about the lilacs, it is written in my native tongue. I could try to explain. Other word... I am still working on English."

She writes down the word *Knowledge* On a page, again, something that she had learned to write, but not perfectly pronounced. 
"Wasn't sure which one you meant." She makes an apologetic smile, it's a thin smile, but clearly a new expression from what appeared to be a permanent scowl that crossed her face.
Mary
"They're remarkably close with eachother, if that's what you're talking about."
Amelie chimes in but her tone is a little defensive when she speaks about it.

Amelie felt caught and insanely nervous, like speaking to something completely alien to her. They were completely alien to eachother for a matter of fact. Amelie looked at the flowers that frequently crowded her mind, watching it stand so proudly by itself. 
"Yes... It would. Wouldn't it."

Amelie's eyes lands on a purple hyacinth and, her gaze turns colder from the vulnerable warmth it once was as she looks at the girl's journal. She feels oddly like something she would have loved to had when she was younger... But that has long past and the pain of those times are still taking its toll.

"Vhat is okay. It's nice having things in your native tongue. I write to so many people and I often forget some don't know my own tongue."
Amelie jests while she leans slightly forward, looking at the worn and well loved pages of the notebook. 
*It seems warm. The notebook. Filled with things so loved.*
Like a fire on a cold day, something nice to curl against and forget.

Amelie reads some of the notebook. Catching fragments so she could poorly put something in her mind to ease it of it's violent storm. Lilacs... They remind Amelie of her little sister... She would have loved to see them, and in her naivety picked a few of them to show Amelie how pretty they were. 

Amelie looks to the thin yet well meant smile and Amelie almost breaks into one of her own. But her face stays cold.
"You're fine. Vhat is actually ze one I vas going to point out. No harm in guessing."
Amelie soothes.

.

"Your notes. They're... Rather extensive. It's astonishing really. Even iv I can't read it I know already you take care in joy in zhis. Ze notes are simply wunderbar."
Amelie knew the second she glanced over the page it would make her want to know more. Ah, to read something with care... It's so much better than something mass made. Ah, but she shouldn't compare. Such idle drifting would be wrong. 

"Vat! Excuse me. It's probably intrusive to say such things." 
Amelie leans back, away from the girl and her musings. Amelie looks to her raspberry bush. They seem to be doing well despite the lack of sun. They most likely don't taste as sweet as they did before she left. But, things tend to happen she shouldn't meander. 
Amelie looked over the flowers again and again, like a robot does on a factory line.

I went a little insane.
Johnny
"Maybe another time, I can translate some of the notes. Most of the English here is me remembering how a word is pronounced, but sometimes I forget to write in native tongue." 
A small chuckle escapes her. *There it was again.* It was a feeling. Something she's felt before, but long before she had arrived at the Cradle. Anja decides to leave it to the side. Process it later.

"It's like a little hobby for me, I guess." She flicks her eyes over to the other woman and then back to her own notes, flipping through the recent pages. 
"Too late to work with crops I think. Too cold. So I study other plants."


"Intrusive?" She looks back up, quizzical towards the woman's own internal struggle. 
"Would be intrusive if you just took the book out of my hands. You are simply curious, miss. I will not blame you for curiosity. I kept your plants alive."

"Will take some time. But I can give you things that I wrote down in journal on flowers."
She sets her pen away in the pocket of the over shirt she wore. "If you'd like as well, soil must be replaced for little rose there. Could check the others and show you what to do."

An olive branch had been held out to the woman. She just had to take it.

A glimpse thought, the woman reminded her of a stray cat she had met in her hometown. It was a little thing, calico colors splashing across its fur. When she went into town she would end up meeting it near the grocery store. It was untrusting, but always stuck around the thing it hated the most. She would let it be until one day, she had decided to provide it with a small little meal. A little tin of food. Something to keep it going for a few days. Just for her own personal satisfaction. It would eventually become a ritual: She would meet the little thing by the side of the store, it would hiss at her, and then would hear her opening one of the tins. 
When she left for Sweden, she hoped that she was not the only one who had this little ritual of personal satisfaction.
Mary
"Oh, that would be most appreciated."
Amelie tucks into herself as she listens to the girl speak. Tugging on her words to inspect them thoroughly, it wouldn't be the first Amelie is persuaded into something fowl. Or is it just the fact she's been awfully alone and has met so many disgusting people she dosent know what to think. Her mind screams at her that this is another fowl, ill hearted joke. 

She'll take it... Just this once. 

"Please. Frau. If only you would wish to."
Amelie let's a smile that looks more like a grimace flash across her features in a way to say she's thankful. It's rather ugly but, it gets the job done. Hopefully. 
"You're quite... Ah... Well-versed in zis? Yes. It would be nice to have your help."

It's been quite a while since Amelie has reached out upon her own accord. She won't get her hopes up, maybe this will burn like everything else. But, she's so tired... Of what? She dosent understand. 

It is nice meeting somebody so willing to help, she should thank her thoroughly for what she has done. But, her mouth stays shut when she wants to say something. What a complacent girl she is.

Amelie frowns a scowl leaving her features ugly, but when she looks to the girl beside her that stoney look softens. She hasn't done anything worthy of hatred. That would be uncouth. 

Amelie is uncertain of anything to say; Like water rushing past her feet and she's scared she'll fall if she takes a step.
Johnny
Somehow, a weight has been lifted from the air.

The woman utters the allowance, and Anja is immediately at work. She picks up a pot, setting it next to the bed of soil. She supplies the pot with fresh soil and scoops some of the older soil into the pot.
"Well... Yes I supposed I could be called well-versed." She looks over to the other woman. "It is just hobby."

She flicks her eyes over. "I am going to remove the flower, let it live in its new soil as I replace it." 
It would be improper to immediately take over the other woman's hobby. She should be able to work with it.

Something about looking over to the woman. Anja always feels more comfortable when she looks over to her. Again that nagging feeling. What was it that made this feeling so familiar?
It was frustrating to try and piece this together, especially with the work she should be doing. It wasn't *Her* Though. Never could it of been her. This was something stirring from somewhere else. Anja just couldn't place it.
Finally she decided to get to the bottom of this.
"...What is your name, miss?"
Mary
Amelie looks over the work the girl was quickly started doing.
"A hobby you love or at least like... Certainly."
 
Amelie looks at the girl with a confused stair before it hits her. Amelie looks around for a moment before she gets to the ground all though slowly. She places her crutches against the floor and she pushes herself to the rose.

"No need to remove the rose. I'll do that myself, Frau."
She has a small shovel in her hand, which she uses to dig out the proper area where the roses roots are. It's not even a year old so it isn't grafted. It's small, a fickle thing that Amelie greatly cares for. 

Amelie gently pulls it's lightning-esq roots from the soil she cleans the roots of it's past soil clinging desperately to it. She looks to the pot and moves towards it making a small divet in the pot to place the rose in. Only the best for something so beautiful. 

Amelie is moving the soil onto the rose when she looks back to the girl. Oh. She forgot. She dosent even know her name. 

"Amelie." She says as she gently pushes the soil to the base of the stem. 
"Amelie Valentina."
She turns her right hand on the ground and her left holding onto the pot. There's a small smile to her face.
"Do you wish to tell me yours? You don't really need to."
The smile flickers out as quickly as it came. The gardening seemingly making her forget of whatever struggles she has been facing. 

Amelie looks at her right hand, she got the bandages of her right dirty. She'll change those later.
Johnny
Amelie... *Amelie.*
Familiarity finally passed through the woman.
"Wait." She pauses, watching the now revealed Amelie scoop more soil into the pot. 
She's doing well, especially for someone who was just doing this to keep herself busy.
Back on track. "Like the *Lady bones*, Amelie?" Her eyelids flutter, THIS was Amelie? Amazing.

Don't go and get starry eyed yet. Frau Anja.
"Ah... Anja. Anja Leta." She speaks out. 
Damn lemon tree. She knew it would end up embarrassing her, not even bearing fruit to harvest for when Amelie had returned. She curses it in her head. It will learn hell to pay another day.

Oh she's done. Time to quickly get this soil changed now.
She takes another pot, this one for convenience of carrying, taking the trowel that Amelie had set down and shoveled away the old soil. 
The little specks of the old dirt that remained would require a true replacing and cleaning of the box. She then sets the other pot to the side, and shovels in the new soil, just enough for Amelie to place the rose back where it belonged.

Right. Amelie. Anja looks back over to the woman.
"I wish I knew it was you sooner, would've greeted you with more pleasantries." She gives another smile, apologetic in nature once again. "Will keep your face in memories. Won't make same mistake twice." She taps the side of her temples.
Mary
Amelie stops and her brow raises comically. She looks to the rose then to the girl with a perturbed glare. 
"Da..." 
Amelie genuinely thought it was a cruel joke, is she this completely out of sync with everything? She didn't give her name so she guesses it was only fair. She was sad and it was a little funny to read, sue her.

Amelie hums as the girl glared holes into something in the soil. If looks could kill whatever in that dirt was sure to be evaporated. She best not try and actively get on the other side of that glare.
"Madame Anja? It's nice to finally meet you." 

Amelie noticed the girl had quickly moved the old dirt and already had new soil in. Amelie was just busy looking at the state of her hands. It took Anja speaking once more to get her to move. She took the rose from where it once was like it was a frail and old porcelain. Looking at it as if it held her world together and in a way, it did. 

Amelie put the rose back, her boney finger tracing up it's stem. Her finger moves last thorns before stopping at a leaf and gently caressing it before bringing her right hand back to her lap. She stares at the rose before paying attention to the newly unmasked girl, Anja.

"No need for pleasantries, your company is enough." 
Amelie waves off the apologetic broken smile Anja wore with ease. Having done this with many people before really, it's a sort of nature.
"I hope you do. I'm sure my face dosent change much from it's usual look. If it does then that's something to worry about."
Amelie wipes the tips of her fingers on her shirt, while giving a raspy kind of half-laugh. 

"Also, you were glaring at the soil there like it cursed you. What was that about if I may ask, Madame Anja."
Her fingers gently interlace within eachother and her Intex of her right taps against the back of her left palm in waiting and thought.
Johnny
"Ah. That. You remember seed stall, yes? I had purchased ungrateful sapling." She begins settling the roses roots back into where they would sit comfortably, she let the rose do the rest of its work, it sat as straight as could be, now all it had to do was make the soil its new home.

"Hate that little lemon producer. Remembered I will have to go see it again after this."
She set the trowel back down. Both of the women's hands were covered in little layers of soil now.
"Now that I think of it, glad I can spend time down here with you. Would despise seeing tree again." She spoke in a kinder tone, no one else around to listen to Anja's walls being taken down, brick by brick.

As she spent time with this woman, it became harder to leave the scowl that usually was painted on her face.
For once, a lighter, neutral expression was what was shown when she wasn't looking over at Amelie.

"Also, I do appreciate you telling me of stall. Maybe one day I can take you with?" 
Instead of the cursory glance she would make towards her, whenever Anja would speak to Amelie, she would decide to face her, showing more attention to the other woman.
Mary
Amelie watches Anja make sure the rose is to be comfortable with narrowed eyes. Looking like she is trying to piece together something but it ends up in shambles in her hands.
"Yes. I had actually gotten the seeds for these lovely things from that stall. Ungrateful?" 
Now why would a fresh new sapling be ungrateful...
It's a plant.

Amelie looked a extremely confused, which was an amazing feat for a girl with basically half a face. Amelie listens and nods, her index itches the back of her middle finger before she answers.
"I am able to say much the same. I've spent far too much time gardening alone. Having you along is nice."
Amelie was looking at the purple hyacinths oh how they stand so brightly against the lilacs and Lilies. They almost bring out the one rose as well. Beautiful even in sorrow. 

She shouldn't think of such awful things. Not when she's within such good company that would be just rude. Her company was appreciated, after fighting losing battles over and over, Amelie finds Anja a wonderful different air. Solid and grounding even. Homely.

Amelie raises her brow at Anja facing her as Amelie herself looks out of place. Amelie has been to shows but having only one person's eyes on you has always felt more charged if you knew them. Amelie thinks and shrugs just a little.
"I've been there many times before. Vat, another time vill not hurt. I'd love to if zhat day ever comes."
Johnny
"Da. Ungrateful little thing." To Anja, it was a simple concept, the idea that plants had their own thoughts and feelings. They were like little children to her, moody and demanding. Amelie's though? They were grateful things, she mused, the understanding of how their caretakers status was, and the sheer perseverance that the plants had come through, she could only hope she was right, that they wouldn't just die a later day.

She nods. "I usually do like gardening alone, most of time someone just questions what I'm doing or gives unhelpful suggestion. But out here. It is nice." She leans against one of the table tops, continuing. 
"In greenhouse, people just trust the process. See that plant is no longer dying. Understand I am working. Asks to see notes instead of asking me directly."

She wouldn't truly be aware of the internal struggle the other woman held, Anja was not that type of person, one to be able to read others like a book. She knew what her expertise was. She was just glad someone showed interest in it, for once.

A small smile crosses her face. "Glad to hear that, miss Amelie. Glad to hear that."
Mary
It seemed that Anja's little ones are just started, it isn't necessarily their fault. But, the thought of Anja glaring at a sapling has Amelie covering her mouth with the back of her hand to stifle a small laugh. This girl was a riot in her own little way, it was fun. 

Amelie hums. 
"They're blind I think they should go home if they do that. Talk to a wall."
Amelie curls her fingers into her skirt as she listens to the points Anja paints onto her walls of memory. 
"Well. You have only done amazing things, it's like watching the trees turn shades of yellow and orange. Mesmerizing really."

This girl need not know Amelie's own problems for it is her own. They have shown one commonplace, it's up to Amelie to not destroy it. She's happy to find one who's seemingly blunt and well... She dosent know how to describe it. 

Amelie's hand drops and only half her face smiles the other is meek and small. 
"Wunderbar, Frau Anja. Simply amazing."
It's not to feel the manic boiling of eager bones with this girl, Amelie hasn't felt this calm and happy for a while. Not even with the other people she has seen and met. Definitely not.
Johnny
Anja nods, it felt like Amelie has been through the same experience that she has. But, of course, she knew it was not that case. The woman has been through her own life, with varying experiences in the world.
But something just felt like a missing piece. Like she had known her forever.

"I could only imagine you have your own amazing things you have done. I would love to hear of them, or perhaps experience them with you." She says, a small smile forming from her as well. "If you would have me of course. I would mind to avoid the worst of the questions."

Another offer for her. 
Something that would take a strong denial for Anja to give up on. To the Serbian, Amelie Valentia was the most interesting resident that she has met. Anja rests her thumbs in the pockets of her sundress, continuing to study the woman in front of her
She was now invested.

"I could say the same about yourself, Gospođo Amelie."
A slip, the pleasantries of Miss's and Frau's had for once, made her slip into her native tongue. She had accidentally stumbled over herself, and would blush harder if she could.
Mary
Anja was something Amelie has never met before. Through disgusting faces of rage and drunken thoughts, Anja was something that Amelie could easily forget everything over. Silence breeds thoughts and oh is Amelie having many. It's not like a missing piece it's, Anja is a note of a song Amelie has been playing for so long Amelie has forgotten this note over and over. 

The song isn't beautiful without that note. It isn't worth hearing without everything. And Amelie can now play it again, but will she?

Amelie's eye trails down the fair petals of the rose and the others surrounding it. It moves past thorns and leaves to over pale calloused hands to cheeks flushed with red to calm cold eyes, they're slightly warm. Amelie's eye narrows. 
"I would love to have you. If course if you don't mind."

Amelie was interested in this girl in a vauge sense of inquiry. Everything but her eyes show sun and warmth the flush of her cheeks to the small almost invisible scars on her hands, to the lean muscle of work. But her eyes, they're cold. Amelie wonders why they equally show the same warmth her body does. It's interesting.

Amelie tilts her head at the sudden... Siberian? Was it. How Anja's voice leaks and melts in her native tongue. Amelie wants her to speak it more often.
"You give me too much credit, Frau Anja. You are more deserving, after all you saved my flowers. Did you not?" 

Amelie leans back and looks at the flowers. 
"I think they like you now too."
Johnny
"Izvini, miss Amelie. Ah. Sorry, miss Amelie. I've been practicing to not slip like that." 
The embarrassing slight seems to have gone completely past the other woman, Anja clears her throat, working herself back up from what the reaction she was expecting.
What was she expecting? To be made fun of? She wasn't sure why that was her first reaction, especially with Amelie.

Amelie. She quickly became more and more of a comfort. Was it the kind words? The similar interest? Perhaps, in a foolish way of thinking, it was fate. The unkempt flowers that only one person had ever bothered taking care of. The pristine pink rose that had brought these two together. She looked down to the bandaged hand that was still covered in dirt. She wanted to help clean the hand. 
*No.* No. 
You're going too fast, Leta. You've been here before and you regretted going like that.
You will not make that mistake again.

She matches the woman's gaze. Amelie has always seemed to give a cold, calculating aura from herself. But right now? Her eyes and words had only shown a kindness that has felt like it always belonged in a woman like her.

She was going to have a fun retort. *"If not for you, I would've never found the flowers. You kept them around for this long, no?"* Something along those lines, maybe. But it never escaped her lips.
"I like them too." Was what really could break from the flustered woman. She looks towards the flowers as well. "Think I could spend long time with them."
Mary
Amelie scoffs and levels Anja with a tight-lipped quizzical stare. She sighs and mumbles something in German before speaking in English. 
"It's fine, you are at no fault for speaking in your native tongue."

Amelie's face shifts to unreadable as she looks at her hands and brings them somewhat close to her face. Her fingers of her left moving under the bandages to hopefully brush away some dirt from the open holes and cuts her skin. The nurse tried to help her but they always come back. So before the stubborn old woman could do anything more she had stopped the nurse. Amelie would rather take care of herself anyway, she does a rather good job even if that dosent matter because the bones are sporadic and uncaring to how hard she tries to fix it. 

Amelie was ignorant on Anja's plight. 
She was busy glaring holes into her hands. She looked up when Anja spoke. 

The awkward musings of Anja's face played out for a moment, Amelie watching as the girl stumbled and tripped over the words she wanted to speak for a moment. 
"Ah." 
A moment for Amelie. 
"I'm happy you like them, I'm sure they're happy to hear that."

Amelie looked at the raspberries they looked ripe. Soft. Sweet. Something to indulge in when hurt. Her face stoney. Amelie didn't quite like looking at them.
"Could you hold out your hand for a moment, Frau Anja."
Johnny
"I... Right, of course miss Amelie." She had gotten herself to cool down. A quick lapse of judgment had happened there. Shouldn't be soon that it would happen again. Anja looks down at her own hands, rubbing at some of the dried soil that stuck to her.
Oh. Okay, she *Was* Just talking about her flowers. Right. She gives a quick smile in return.

She, too, was not understanding what the other woman was going through. The bandages were something that covered up a story that Anja would never peer into the pages of, as it would not be one for her to read. Just one that would be read to her, if that time had ever come. 
She had rubbed a small clearing of the palm of her hand by the time Amelie spoke up again.

"...Okay." 
She holds her hand out to the woman, a hole of pale skin in the middle of her palm, slightly red from the friction of her thumb. She had no reason to distrust the woman, of course, it was just an odd pace from the... Pleasant, as she would call it, conversation that had held.

She looked down to her own hand, and back up to the kind eye of the other woman, waiting for her action with a quiet attempt to predict the next move.
Mary
Amelie saw the snap and cover of the girl like an armadillo would when frightened. Did she want Amelie to say something else? Amelie missed key points again, it wasn't the first time. It won't be the last. 
Were they not speaking about flowers? 

Amelie picked off a few ripe raspberries from the plant she grew. They looked a little to rip. But, she never did quite understand the lovable taste of it. 

She leans over to Anja and drops the few off into her hand. 

"I can't just simply place it into your hand, that's too close. So I ask people to open their hands, or I just leave it somewhere they'd find. Or in front of them really."
Amelie leans back with a slightly perturbed stare. 

Amelie still wonders if she did something wrong. I mean of course she did, everyone but her does things right. 
Amelie sighs and leans on her palm, this is too much thinking to just be back from the hospital.
Johnny
She watches Amelie's hands, the gentle tug against the ripened berries pulls easily from its receptacle. The few berries dropping into the center of her palm.
"Oh! Miss Amelie, you could've just said so. I am not one to say no to gift of fruit." 

She examines them closely, almost judging the berries for their own work. Most of them were rich in their red color, only a few stray were discolored or softer than what is usually described as the perfect berry. She preferred them that way. She always hated the idea of the end product having to be perfect and pretty. That's not what normal is.
She pops one of the overripe berries into her mouth.

Anja looks to the other woman, a slight tilt following after the woman's sigh. She wondered what Amelie was thinking about. She's been wondering that a lot.

"I can only assume you make many pastries with raspberries, no? You did mention you bake." She asks, picking up another one of the berries from her palm.
Mary
"I've noticed." 
Amelie said it a little harshly, Amelie's eye focused on Anja's two. Or at least it tried, it shook a little from exhaustion. 
"I didn't mean it in a harsh way, it's just I notice things quickly."

Amelie furrows her brow at the woman's questioning tilt of her head. Amelie never quite thought of the gifts she gave, she just gave over and over. With no question. Does she still have something left to give? Most likely but she'd rather not speak of what's left. Her arms, her legs. Her other eye. 

Amelie makes a clicking noise in the back of her throat. 

"I do bake a lot, I made a Raspberry and almond one. Once. I just have to make one for you." 
Amelie taps the leather of her jacket. 
"You did mention you were vegan, yes?"
She'd have to make other pastries for her. Ah, she'll make do.
Johnny
Anja lightly flinches at the change of tone from Amelie. From her own experience now, this harsh tone could've only been from just how she typed her messages. Hearing it out loud was a different feeling.

"Ah, I see. Good skill to have."
Fuck, Amelie looks like shes getting frustrated. She did something wrong, didn't she? What was it though? She didn't want to ask and be wrong.
She didn't want to leave her alone, but perhaps it was time to give her space? 
She takes a quick breath. Press on, Leta.

"Oh! Da. Recent decision. I could help you with the baking if you would like?" 
Anja holds onto the table with her free hand, lightly pressing her weight into it.
"Recipies can be easy to convert, I've learned. Ah, at least for cooking. Would like to see how it can be for baking."
Mary
A flash of fear let's itself be known and buries deep in her thoughts. Amelie looks worried. Oh. Oh no, I've made her uncomfortable.

"It's good. Da. Especially when..." 
Amelie trails off and mumbles something incoherent. She remembers noticing awful things. Immediately avoiding people when she noticed these things. She remembers awful smiles, disgusting words under their breaths. 
Amelie looks not frustrated but cold and neutral once more. 

"Oh?" Amelie raises her brow. 
Amelie thinks. She lets mirth seep into her words. 
"Please do. Trying new things on your own is nice but this is a whole new thing. It'd be nice with your help, admittedly." 

There was no hostility concealed, odd that Amelie would be looking for that. But, you'd be surprised. Amelie would love to figure out these new things, but. 

"Admittedly I can be a little out of sorts in the kitchen. This comes from trying to teach somebody how to cook and somehow they ended up spinning the pot of water on the stove."
Amelie made a noise, exasperated.
"The pot of water was on fire. And I looked away for a second. Honest."

It was a little funny. But, it almost burned the kitchen down.
Johnny
"I would not mind helping. Baking sounds nice. Did not do it as often as I would like to." 
The light that is brought into Amelie's words with that amusement, albeit small, could bring Anja back to how she was earlier.
Her lips curl into a slight smile, listening along to the story that Amelie weaves and watching the little changes in the woman's facial expressions.

She is unable to stifle a laugh that comes as a short chuckle.
"I-" She clears her throat, sitting back up. "I apologize Ms. Amelie, your story just reminded me of back home." Absent-mindedly, she rubs a part of her forearm, where a small discoloring of her pale skin sits. A slight burn that hides from the world, with the flushed red of her skin.

"But! I can leave the more important tasks for you, I like to think myself as able to follow instructions. Would love to work with you on new recipe. Will do my best to not spill pot onto stovetop."
Mary
"Well. There's at least hopefully time to do it now? I hope."

That was before Amelie went on her little tangent about how one person was awful at cooking. Amelie was about to say something else but then she heard that chuckle and she stopped quicker than she should. She coughed loudly. Putting a hand on her chest to breath for a moment. 

"Course course, forgive me. I choked and ate my own words. They want me dead." 
Amelie noticed the odd rubbing of that one area and said nothing of it. Keep your words to yourself Amelie. 

Amelie waved her hands in mock surrender. 
"I assure you I trust you enough to not do that. It'd be nice to try something new, hopefully. I've done all areas due to nessesity."
Amelie pauses and brushes off something from her shoulder. 
"Payed off somewhat. I'm a good cook. I don't eat the sweets I make. I've been told how sad that is so do not try." 
Amelie pointed an accusing finger at Anja, narrowing her eyes. There's a solid moment before she snorts. It's a loud and ugly thing which Amelie covers her face and leans back on the pot instantly. 

"Ignore that."
Amelie pleaded. Her voice muffled with her hand, the quiet thing made barely comprehensive.
Johnny
"Perhaps words should learn to treat you correctly. Should kill them before they get to you." She added, finally ignoring her arm again and resting the now empty hand to her side. She was really just relieved it was a simple catch in the throat.

A quick accusatory point is directed towards Anja, before a... Snort? What would be observed as loud and unappealing, was instead found to be endearing to the Serbian woman. It was cute, especially seeing the other slightly flustered by her own action. The other's pleads are heard by her, she hums.
"Of course, miss."

Anja reverts it back to the topic of the accusation.
"Sad? Not exactly, just willing to provide others. Proves you are good cook. 
But! When we make these baked goods you will have to try at least one. Will not take no for answer, miss Amelie."
She adds her own cursory glance to prove her point. This woman will not take a no lightly.
Mary
"I'm fearful to say that just will not happen, Frau Anja." 

Amelie hated snorting, it was ugly, awful. And it hurt. She appreciated that the girl in front of her was willing to forget that. Amelie tents her fingers I'm front of her torso. 

There's a little apprehension that twists Amelie's face into an odd half facade of acceptance. Amelie taps the backside of her palm with her fingers again.
"If it's permitted. I'm not one for sweets anymore."
This girl is stubborn, like something stuck in a shirt you can't quite shake out.

Amelie purses her lips. 
"One."
Amelie raises one finger as she says it and it goes down when the word it out. 

Why would this girl want to cook with her. Usually it's they meet once the after about a month really they meet again. Odd change. But, Amelie... Are you willing to accept it. 

Amelie shrugs, but it comes out physically. 
"You're going to have to make me though."
Johnny
"A shame. I will only hope that the attempts continue to fail. Would be shame to lose you so soon."

Anja's face rests into a neutral state. Quick, impulsive glances follow the other woman's hands movement. She lightly bites the inside of her cheek. Clever woman.

"I will not push harder on that, your taste is your own."
She folds her arms across her chest, her brow furrows as she formulates a plan in her head.

"Hm. Compromise, then. I meet with you to make baked goods. And we try to make the best pastries that we can. We try to give the taste buds another chance."

She brings up her hand, her index finger pointing up. 
"One."
The hand falls back on top of the other arm, resting as she continues.
"If still not to your taste, then you win. But! Then I will simply look for meal to cook for you. Either way. I am not eating food alone during this visit. Mind has been made."
Mary
Amelie makes no comment. She looks tired with her mask of polite tranquility. It pulls at her skin in all the wrong ways, it's not natural. 

Amelie knows that the girl is glancing at all ways to decide how to act. Does she get anxious when she has no queue? That's a possibility that shouldn't be wrung out currently and Amelie knows. 

Amelie makes a noise of acknowledgement in turn to Anja's chosen words. She tilts her head slightly though. 

"Sure. Why not, it will be quite the challenge."
She shrugs her head going back upright.

Amelie makes a waving motion with her hand. 
"Yes, despite all the children here with powers to make you feel alone. It's easy to feel more alone than you ever were."
Amelie points at Anja, her brow furrowed. 
"You're not eating alone, I'm quite the conversationalist. I've needed to find another to simply just speak with for months now. You seem delightful." 

Amelie clicks her tongue, talking to everyone else felt like a chore. Like she had to work to simply speak to them. Anja? No, it was nice. 
"I promise."
Johnny
"Challenge I am willing to task myself to. It is added benefit of just meeting with you again."
Anja hasn't even realized what she's doing with her own actions, she just continues to watch Amelie's movements, one part watching for a subtle cue, the other enjoying watching her mannerisms.

Ridiculous as it was, she was still waiting for the moment of regret from the either woman. The time to back out that was supposed to happen soon. The point that proves she should've kept up her guard.

"It still puts me into shock that someone would leave you lonely. They must be foolish."
She bites her cheek again, the real reason was something she was ignorant on. She unknowingly trades the ignorance for an attempt at flattery.

Yet, Amelie always seems to one-up her with the flattery. She blinks once, twice, a third time. She hold back an unintentional smile.
"I- I am glad to hear that. I find you delightful as well."

*How is it that she finds herself alone?* 
It was a whirling pool of confusion that Anja was never in the loop for, jumping into the vortex in the middle without a second thought.
Mary
"You think it's a benefit. But, sure." 
Amelie isn't fearful of saying what she wishes, not anymore. Not quite. There was still that fear but, Amelie can manage herself. 

Amelie took one side of her jacket and lifted it just a bit to look at the bandages under. They looked red, even in the dark light the moon casted upon them. Makes sense. Amelie is fresh from the hospital. Not too red to warrant immediate departure though. 
Amelie put her hand over the leather concealing the area with a slight wince. 

Amelie will take care of that soon, she assumes her crutches disturbed it. You're fine Amelie. Do not panic, *You're fine.*

Amelie takes a breath and exhales. 
"It's fine. I've gotten used to it, odd game." 
Amelie scrunches her face while saying that it was a game. Amelie pats her jacket until Anja said she was delightful. She paused. 

Amelie looks at Anja, with a comically wide eye. 
"I'm glad you think so, you're the first I've heard that from. I'm confident in saying you shine far brighter, Frau Anja."

Amelie puts her hands in her jacket pockets, she just looks a little awkward sitting on the floor like that. She seems okay though. A party for one. That's her.
Johnny
Anja makes a face at her comment. It's a blend of thoughts and feelings, none supportive of Amelie's belief in her own statement. 
"I will decide where the benefit lies, miss Amelie."

Her faced would've dropped back into a neutral state, if she had not caught the same glimpse as Amelie. A reopened wound, it appears. Her eyes widen impulsively. She hated it, the staring. It was not her place to gawk. 

As the other woman begins to tuck her secret away, Anja pulls herself back together.
The woman just came back from the hospital, out of recovery of some kind. Even without Uriel's spilling of the story that need not be said, the appearance of the other woman wouldve provided enough context clues.

She waits her turn. Her face does not change from a neutral, cold look. She makes a sharp inhale, before she takes another plunge into the freezing water that was Amelie Valentia.

"Miss Amelie. Do not tuck away what needs taken care of." Her words are cold. Unwavering. A decision had been made as she spoke.
"While I would stay out here forever with you, I can not sit lightly while you have something to tend over."

She pushes herself from the ledge that held her weight, dropping down to the other woman's level her cool colored warm eyes drive their gaze into the warm toned cold eye of the other.
"If you would still like to spend time. I can walk you to either of our dorms. I do not have the supplies that you may need in mine. And, I will understand your privacy if you need to take care of this yourself. Just say the word, miss."

She stands back up, her left hand held out infront of Amelie. Olive branch upon olive branch, it was the only thing she would give this woman. A choice for herself. She would not force Amelie into desicions that would only end up hurting one or the other.

"You will not wilt away tonight Madame. Odd game is over."
Mary
Amelie knows it was seen. But, there was some dignity in trying to hide it. If she looks up and sees pity in those eyes she'll be thoroughly disgusted, she's tried of people looking at like she's a sick dog. She's not. 

 Amelie makes a noise of sorts. Amelie feels the bubble of nausea; gods, it still feels awful. 

"I know, Frau Anja." 

Amelie's stare seems to dance right through Anja's. It bleeds a fridgid feeling that leaks from Amelie herself. She frowns, keeping a hand over that part of her shoulder. Protecting it. Fierce. 

Amelie says nothing. There's a shake of her eye, a twitch. 
"You don't need to see this, Frau Anja."

Amelie looks at her left hand, it's bandages laugh and mock her. The pads of her fingers calloused and scarred. They're fragile. Boney and cold.
Amelie reaches but before she could touch she pulls back. 
She grabs her crutches and heaves herself off the ground with a huff. It puts strain on her arm but she just breathes. Her steely gaze freezes upon Anja's. 

"I'm afraid it will be long before I am able to touch another." 
As if on queue bones peel through the bandages on Amelie's face, not violently but they peek through the sterile white, staining it. 
"I don't want you hurt, Frau Anja." 

There was no harshness, it was almost as breathless as it was cold how she said it.
"You're welcome to walk with me."
There was a frown on her face that twisted on her face. Amelie leans on her right crutch. 
"You only need participate."
*The game will continue if not.*

Amelie waits for an answer. The smell of flowers struggling to overlap the awful stench of blood that is slowly itching to Amelie's nose.
Johnny
Another look of confusion comes from her, but she rests her face again.
"I will not run away from you. You are no monster, miss Amelie."

Anja drops her hand, standing straight as the other stands on her own. A missed opportunity, but it would be suddenly proven that it was the right decision for both of the women. She flinches, eyes widening against her will once again. She cups a hand over her mouth. She hated her own human fear at this moment. It's not what Amelie needed. But still...
What was happening to the woman in front of her? The cold demeanor of Amelie was what kept her struggling against the tide. This was not the first time for the woman. Was this her powers? Was it not agonizing?

She turns away, refusing to let Amelie to continue to see her shock. It was not Anja's turn for this. She will not let herself fear someone. Not again. She will not abandon another at their bed. She will not let her own pain overshadow another's.

"I must- I apologize for my unnecessary reaction. You do not deserve this." She says, choking back her fear. Not now. Not again. "It is first time. Just. Ah- Just a moment."

The ocean's cold was the obstacle that weeds out ones that aren't committed, foolish, or some mix of both. Anja only hoped she was not foolish this night. Another sharp inhale, another dive into the unknown depths.

Anja turns back to face Amelie. Any fear she had hidden behind a mask of control. This was not her moment. Process another time. Another day.
"I do apologize for my first impressions, but, I will not let this hurt me. You could not hurt me, miss Amelie." 

"After you, madam. I will stay by your side until I am no longer needed."
If a new game must be played to end the old one, then so be it. She will play.
Mary
Amelie looks unamused, simply turning away. The bones on her face curling inhumanly. Looking more like the the unfortunate tusks of a boar that have curled so far backwards it caves in it's skull. It's painful but Amelie dosent make a motion to notice it. 

"It's fine. You're certainly the first to do something about it." Amelie speaks her head turned away from Anja. 
"*Es wird nichts tun.*" 

She adds in a whisper, indescribable.

Anja was unlike the sterile cautionary hand offered to her frequently. The words of how long she had left. Amelie made another akin to a growl of sorts, scratchy and broken. It's better to have that gloves hand reach for her than Anja's own. This girl doesn't realize she'll be hurt, never able to touch. 

A bird standing within the confines of a storm, it's the eye. Watching this fickle thing move. Amelie puts one step on front of the other, steady. You can't even tell she's bleeding. 
"*Ich lasse dich das glauben.*"


Amelie stops and looks at Anja, scanning her in an odd way. Something cold washing over Amelie making her colder. Maybe Anja felt it too. Would this last? 
"Sure. If you want to."
Johnny
Anja had forced herself into a mindset. Getting an injured woman back to her dorm. Letting recovery instill what it was meant to do. She follows, keeping the pace with the other woman.

"Telling me if I want to is unnecessary. If it were my decision, you would never be able to get rid of me. I would become awful to be around, Madame." 
She would ignore the cold, the whipping winds that threatened her of danger that would come if she pressed on. If she stopped diving.

"What dorm is yours? If you do not mind my asking." She focuses on Amelie's eye. It was the easiest thing she could watch right now. Her own look kept Anja nerves at ease.

She had to get over this. It was something Amelie lived with for however long she did. Amelie did not care for them, why did you, Leta? Get over it.

She shuts her eyes, another sharp inhale. And she takes a full view of the woman as they were stopped. She forced the questions back. She did not need to ask why, and the how. If she knew, she would've controlled it by now. Right?

She furrows her brow. They're still outside. It's actually beginning to get cold. Damn autumn nights.
Mary
Amelie furrows her brow. Anja thinks she'll become awful to be around. Amusing yet confusing little mindset she has. 

"You think you'd become unbearable? That's an odd little assumption, kluger Narr." 
Amelie says with a hint of amusement. She continues to make her way to the main building. 

"2382, Frau. Third floor. It's where they keep the double dorms. A little inconvenient if you were to ask me." 
She's disappointed, this place dosent seem it was properly thought out, like they panicked and slapped it together with an influx of powered children. The teachers arnt properly prepared either. 

Amelie's fingers twitch and clench around her crutch at the wind. Shame she couldn't stay out here longer. Also the wind, seems warmer than Amelie's own body. 

This damn thing, is still relatively new. Everyone complaining how they can't control their powers at first, but now they can control it. It's easier controlling it when it isn't hurting you, Amelie has to watch everyone get better and she stays behind. It's nothing new. 

This is a new girl correct? Quite the same she met her of all people. It could have been worse. This is actually one of the nicer meetings she has had. She can even go far as to say she liked it. 

Amelie dosent turn. 
"Are you still with me, Frau Anja?"
Johnny
"We will see then." Anja muses. It was easy being a quiet girl when she was out in public. But everyone has a filter, it just takes enough time for them to wear down.

She stays behind, now tracing the outline of the woman, furrowing her brow at the bones that forced their way out on their own, whatever good that would do. 
What would be a facsinating statue is a woman who should not be forced into this situation. The open-ended questions fight in her mind again. She knew they were not meant for Amelie.

"Oh! You are near me. I did not know you had a roomate." She hums, it was nice to know that she wouldn't have to go to far during what would hopefully be the next visit.

"Da. Right behind you, miss."
Mary
"Mhm." 
Amelie wants to know what this girl is trying to aim for with her. There's almost always an ulterior motive. Be it money or something else. 

"I had one, they moved out. I have a new one who I don't think likes me very much. But, they're necessary." 
They're close to the front door of the building, the sound of crutches and footsteps on concrete and that girl behind her, pleasant. Nice to know she's not something else. 

Amelie gets to the front door and takes a moment to open it. Her skinny hand splayed against it's cool metal. When Amelie lifts her hand, strangely enough where her hand was is colder than the door itself. The light inside illuminating her face and the bones and red that paint her features. Her face itself? Neutral, unchanging. 

"That's nice to know. It'd be nicer to see you though." 
Shame they have to end this meeting. Amelie waits until Anja enters the building.
Johnny
She nods, despite the woman not looking her way. "I see. Unfortunate I was not found sooner. Shame they do not like you."

Anja grabs the door from her. It feels like gripping onto an icicle for her. She didn't mind. As Amelie steps in, Anja follows. "At least they provide elevator. With foolish planning like that." 

She steps in front of Amelie. She wishes to see her, no? Anja looks at Amelie now. It wasn't comfortable. But it was what Anja wanted, she wanted to look at her again. A scarred body or not, this was Amelie. She studies her one more time. 

Her lips part.
"This will not be last goodbye, miss Amelie. I do not plan it to be. So it will not."

Anja takes off her overshirt, getting used to the uncomfortable change of temperature that was stepping into the building. She will miss the cold biting at her arms. "May I still walk you to your dorm? I *Am* Heading that way." She asks, pressing the button to call down the elevator.

Third floor. 2382.