439. Meeting anew, 9

(Rose)

It took another minute or so for her to awaken her consciousness.

I was holding between my fingers the main and larger flower growing from my chest.

R - Rise and shine little flower.

B - Hm... Hello there... Who might you be?

I turned cold, petrified.

Then, I felt her chuckling. She’s already mocking me!

B - How could I forget my Rose... It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

R - About four years I think.

B - You’ve aged horrendously.

I’m the one chuckling now, even though that wasn’t exactly flattering. It still amuses me.

R - And you haven’t changed it appears so.

B - Actually I had! I had a gorgeous human looking body all this time. Even you would have been in awe looking at me.

R - Oh would I have? Hm... I’m curious now. I’d like to see that someday. How do you feel?

B - Hazy, but I still carry a good abundance of metabolic memories, from you and from me. We’ll get better fast.

We had a moment of rest, keeping ourselves warm with the ever slowly consumed magic stone in a towel, while night was falling outside. I think it was even snowing quietly.

B - I’ve seen the end.

R - ?

B - Have you been happy?

Oh. My heart fluttered a little more heavily, as I understood the meaning of her words.

She’s talking about Bleue and our time together... Before the dreadful end.

I gather my thoughts for a moment.

R - I was happy... I have been really blessed yes. Thanks to you. You granted me that selfish wish, a long time ago now.

B - I did my best creating her for you.

R - She was aware of her condition and origins. She was a nice person. And in the end... She was human. Still, on many occasions, she reminded me of you.

B - That was unavoidable. Her persona was built with much of what I could relate to, and fill in the gaps. She wasn’t the real Blue. There wasn’t enough information left of her in the world.

R - She was the real Bleue. A really nice woman, most of the time. I loved our life together and enjoyed it well.

Still, today I’m relieved to have Blume back by my side, or front side.

R - No matter what her origin was, and what mine was, we enjoyed that life we had, fully.

B - I’m glad to hear it. That you enjoyed living. I’m also a little nostalgic. I had a nice life too away from you.

R - I bet you have little one. I lost your trail heading toward the red sea back in Egypt. Where did you go?

B - Persia. Iran.

R - Oh... You’ll have to tell me everything about your journey. Now that you’re stuck with me again.

B - How annoying.

Eh. She’s smiling before I am.

~

R - Thank you for coming back to me.

B - You’d be doomed without me.

R - Joke aside, a being-like-you wouldn’t have done half of what you did, again, for me, without a strong form of love remaining. I’m grateful to you and humbled.

B - I’ve grown up. But I still have a ticklish shred of affection left for you indeed.

R - I remember back in the days, you were so enamoured with me, all you could say was I love you.

B - Meh, I was young and reckless back then. I’ve matured.

Her flowers turn away from like a pouting maiden as I chuckle along.

We went through a lot. We grew up. We aged. But we still love each other quite a lot.

She sacrificed everything for me when I needed her most. If that wasn’t pure radiant love, I don’t know what could be.

R - So... Shall we spend a little more time together like this?

B - Hm... I was getting tired of walking on my own feet lately anyway.

R - Does that mean yes?

B - Oh Rose... Yes.

R - No matter where I’d like to go?

B - Hm... yes.

R - And you still love me?

B - Hm... yeah.

R - Really?

B - Yes!

R - You... You were my only god Blume...

B - Er... Yes?

R - I love you.

B - I know, I know.

R - Let’s go bloom some flowers together for a while, shall we?

B - Yes. I will love that.

~

Blume grew back rapidly to her former self, fusing her tissues with mine in a chimeric manner.

Her brambles and ribbons reappeared over days of very slow walk, away from there. Leaving the ruins of the NPP behind, we headed East.

We still had so much to share, we didn’t know where to start.

There was no rush. We had all the time in the world ahead of us, along with a world without visible end to venture across.

I have so many or weird memories to share with her. Weird even to her. That’s saying something.

Blume on her side obviously has some nostalgia about her body, given how much she mentions it. She’s very proud of what it was. Beautiful and strong she says.

R - You know, we can settle ourselves somewhere if you would like some time to create yourself a new body like the one you had. I don’t mind.

B - I’ll keep that in mind. I’m good for now. Thank you kind Rose.

R - We’re partners after all. We’ve grown a little beyond dependence now. Your life is your own.

B - I haven’t forgotten that freedom yet. But for now, I’m feeling lazy, I’ll content myself by being there in these flowers for a little longer. It’s cosy and easy enough.

Woah, no less.

R - Arrogant little flower.

B - Hag.

R - Ouch. Mean little flower!

B - Hm... Still no silver tongue. But I still love you nonetheless.

I flicked my fingers at the main flower bud.

R - Bad flower.

B - Of course. I’m a playful plant demon by nature. That will remain true... Forever!

R - Ooh...

I look like I’m in contrition. But my lowered gaze returns to the horizon with a blossoming smile.

R - I can live with that.

She’s laughing. And I can hear her unspoken thought somehow.

She’s happy.

So am I. It’s a different kind of relationship, of life, of love.

But we’ll have some fun again together.

B - So where shall we go?

R - It’s a long story. We’re heading toward the end of the world as I know it. The foremost outer lands of this seemingly endless continent...

B - You don’t know. Do you?

I laughed, heartily.

R - I have sort of an idea. Isn’t that enough to start with?

B - That’s more than we need.

~