voidtreckerexpress | (closed) we're all gonna be alright

Entry tags:

(closed) we're all gonna be alright

Who: Madoka and Gladio
When: A day or two after the party-ish..
Where: The greenhouse car
What: Madoka teaches Gladio the wonders of gardening.
Warnings: Probably nothing, but will edit if that changes!

The greenhouse has been an excellent addition to the train. It's not as if Madoka can't appreciate the others that had been added over time, but this one feels extra special. Especially since it arrived right after they had started on the little plants project-- maybe the train was listening to what they wanted after all?

But ever since its addition after the most recent time the train stopped at a platform, Madoka has often been in there. Just admiring the carriage, looking at the bulbs and trying to figure out what might grow out of them, starting to plant some and helping out others who asked her for help on how to learn about gardening..

And so she's seen Gladio there before, just quietly spending time there as well. But the poor girl is so shy that despite how nice he seemed on the platform, she's just too nervous to approach him.

Until now, that is. Because the crate that contained seeds and bulbs has been entirely emptied. And there's definitely more left, but they're all closed. And there's only so much a fourteen year old small girl can do to try and get one of them open. And Gladio is right there, sitting in a corner and reading. Of course she worries that maybe she'd just disturb him if she asked for help.. and so she just stands there next to one of the closed crates for a moment, hesitating and changing her mind over and over.

But in the end she decides to go for it, no matter how nervously her heart is pounding in her chest. Madoka makes her way over to where the big guy is sitting, trying really hard to smile although the nervousness is so very evident in the edges of the smile.

"U.. Um. H-Hi, sir, I remember you from the platform.. I'm sorry, b.. but could I maybe ask you something? If you aren't too busy..!"

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"Um, let me see.."

She moves over to peer into the crate as well. Madoka ends up having to stand on her toes just a tiny bit to be able to properly look into it, but she's managing.

"Maybe you should start with some kind of succulent then? Those are really hard to kill, because they store a lot of water! So even if you forget to water them for a while, they'll be okay." She points at a corner of the crate. "I think it's those seeds over there!"

"Succulents, huh?" Gladio mused as he reached over for the seeds that Madoka had gestured to. He looked at her for confirmation they were the correct ones before he pulled them out.

For a moment his lips twitched as he thought through his next thought. He shot the young girl a curious look, then back to the seeds. "My... my mother loved flowers." He started, figuring why not, she could know this. Who else was she going to tell? "I used to watch her in the garden when I was a kid. Didn't know what the... what she was doing really. But she'd talk to me when she did it."

"Gladiolus." Gladio pointed at himself and grinned. "My full name. Her favourite flower. She's the only one who ever used that name though. Think there's any of those in one of these crates?"

Madoka stops and stares when he starts telling that story, as if she didn't expect him to suddenly share it. But it's definitely a nice story, and it makes her warmly smile by the end of it.

"That's so pretty.." Although it makes her wonder why he doesn't use his full name. Is it too long? It can't be because it's too strange, Madoka thinks it's so beautiful!

And helpful as ever, she's already looking through the contents of the crate again a moment later, carefully picking up some packets of seeds and putting them off to the side to look at the others below to see if she can find what Gladio is looking for.

"Your mother has such a great taste in names! I wish I had a pretty flower name."

"She was a good woman." Gladio nodded and watched what Madoka was doing with a smile. He folded his arms upon the edge of the crate and leaned himself down against them, half bent over and just leaning as he watched.

"You have a nice name." He assured her with a grin. "Don't wish for another, alright? The name you were given is perfect for you."

"I.. is that right?" Her reply sounds half-surprised, half-slightly-flustered. It's not that Madoka dislikes her name - it's fine! - but she doesn't think it's anything all that special either.

Thankfully she's quickly distracted by suddenly finding what she's looking for. Her face lights up as she grabs something from the crate before holding it out to him. It's a small bag with bulbs.

"Here, I think these should be the right ones! They come from these rather than the small seeds. Because they can become big flowers, just like you!"

"Its the name your mother gave you, so why wouldn't it be?" Gladio grinned. He wasn't trying to embarrass her at all, just reassure her. She had a perfectly nice name in his opinion.

"Big, you say?" Gladio took the packet of bulbs and his smile softened. He wondered if his mother had known? Who knew. He sure didn't. Nor did he know how best to plant them. So he looked to the pink haired teen for guidance. "You'll show me how to grow these?" And maybe, later, he could see if she knew how to grow iris' as well.

Even though he doesn't say it out loud, Madoka can figure out why he repeats the part about them being big. She may not be able to read his thoughts, but she's reached the same thought all the same anyway. Maybe it was just his mother's hope that he'd grow up to become so big and strong.. That's a sweet thought. She likes it.

Rather than mentioning anything about it out loud though, she just gives him a smile and a nod at the question. "Of course! To be honest, there aren't a whole lot of things I can do.. But at least I know how to grow flowers."

After casting a last glance into the crate, she turns back towards him. (Even if that means looking a long way up.)

"You should pick a spot where you want to try planting them here. Anywhere should be fine as long as the soil isn't too wet. Otherwise it'll make the bulbs rot."

"I think you know more than you think you do." Gladio replied and pushed away from the crate, bulbs in hand, to do was he was told and find a little spot of soil he could call his own.

He stepped closer and looked around, there were several spots that looked occupied. And he wasn't sure how to tell what was 'too wet' and what was 'wet enough'. All he could do was crouch down when he thought he'd found a place that looked good enough and, when he ran his fingertips along the soil on top, it seemed cry enough. He looked to Madoka for her opinion. "Will this place be good enough for them?"

Maybe he's on to something about Madoka knowing more than she thinks, since when she follows him over to the soil he's looking at, she only seems to need a look before she's already nodding at him. No need to actually touch the soil to tell.

"I think this place should be fine! Now all you have to do is make sure to plant them with some space left between, so they won't get in each other's way when they grow really big."

Gladio, without any tools to use, just used his hands instead to make a hole in the soil. Then he made another a few inches away. "Is this about right? Is it deep enough?" Or too deep. He knew that much. If you put them too deep maybe they wouldn't be able to get out, just like if you packed the soil in too firmly. He remembered, could hear the sweet tones of his mothers voice in his mind telling him these things. But as a boy he hadn't really understood, even though he had hung on to her every word. Remembering her voice was a bittersweet pain in his chest. It had been a long time since he had thought about her...

"Yeah, I think this is about right."

Rather than squatting down next to the spot the whole time - which would be too tiring - Madoka sits down on the grass next to it instead as she watches. She's letting him do it all by himself though, they're his flowers now, after all.

"We should make a sign or something for these too, huh.. So no one will trample on them before they're able to grow out of the ground. It'd be so sad if that happened." And listen, Madoka likes to think most of the people on the train are good enough people to not do that on purpose, but.. you know! Accidents happen. But accidents certainly aren't allowed to happen to Gladio's precious flowers on her watch!

He was happy to do these things himself with Madoka's direction. So he opened the packet and where he'd made little holes he placed the bulbs and then covered them back over with dirt. And noticed the same think Madoka had with a frown.

"Think I need a sign just to remember they're here." Gladio dropped himself down and sat in the grass along with the teen. "You're the expert here, do you have any signs I can borrow or..." Should he just take a shoe off and put it there making that spot as his. Would that work or would someone find it and just bring the shoe back to him?

Madoka hums and looks around her, as if she's trying to find something that could make a sign here.

"I made mine with some stuff I got from dad.." After all, if there's anyone here on the train who has random junk lying around to make other things out of, it's Tony. "But anything should be fine if it's just to remember where you planted them! As long as it's recognizable to you and not something that could easily be moved.." Like rocks from the rock garden. People would just think they're decorations or something and end up moving them. That'd be no good!

"Suppose if no one is using that empty crate I could pull off a piece of wood from that?" Gladio offered. "Or the lid? Think you'd be able to make it look nice if I did that?" Just a random piece of wood sticking in the dirt wouldn't do. It would need to look fancy, and he dared say pretty, for people to actually avoid messing up his flowers.

"Oh..!" She gasps in surprise, before looking up at him with amazement. Maybe it's a little too over the top of a reaction, but at the same time it's all genuine. This is just what Madoka is like..

"Mister Gladio, you're a genius!" She happily clasps her hands together. "I could help decorate that for you, I just need to borrow someone's art supplies! Your soon to be pretty flowers only deserve the best, right?"

Gladio was laughing as he pulled himself up to his feet. "Any chance you can drop the whole Mister thing? Makes me feel old." He grinned and turned to head to the crate lid. Madoka's excitement was enough of a positive to tell him that yes, it was okay to break off a piece for his own needs. She hadn't outright said yes. But she wanted to decorate it so it was a good sign.

He debated giving the lid a swift kick to shatter it, but didn't want to make a mess. What he did was a little less dramatic. He pulled the lid toward himself and started poking at the slats to find one that was loose. When he found one he thought he could wriggle free, he pushed and jiggled until he was able to get his fingers around it. Then he just yanked the slat off, snapping it from the lid. Half of it came away, about half a meter in length. Gladio held it up to Madoka. "Too big or will this be alright?"

The girl slowly nods as he holds up the part of the crate to her, although she doesn't seem to be fully paying attention this time. Hopefully it's still enough attention for her to have given an actual opinion rather than just randomly nodding, but it's hard to tell!

Since her brain is still so occupied by that first thing he said. If he's asking her to drop it, then she probably should.. Especially if it makes him feel old! That'd be rude!

"Um, so should I just be saying G... G-G-Gl.."

Her face is steadily turning the same exact shade as her hair as she sputters. There's some politeness meter at its limits working overtime in Madoka's brain right now. She just can't do it!

Gladio grinned watching her try and say his name. Madoka had turned a very interesting colour. "Gla-dee-oh..." He chuckled and walked back over to where the teen sat. Down he went again, sitting in the grass by his little plot of dirt. "Gladdy, if you'd like." Prom and his sister called him that. Sometimes Noct. He'd answer to both.

With the bit of wood in his lap, he gave his attention to Madoka. He was still grinning. "Is my name that hard to say?" He teased.

Gladdy?! That's even worse! Just saying Gladio already feels impossible, but calling him by a nickname like that?! It'd almost be more like calling a pet!

The teasing sure hits its mark too, since it's only making her go from pink to absolutely red. She almost looks as if steam is about to spout from her ears at this point.

"N.. No..!" She shakes her head. Apparently she took that teasing a little too literally.. "Y-Your name is great, mister Gladio-- Oh no, I said it again!"

Madoka is just going to cover her face with her hands in shame now. Don't mind her.

Gladio couldn't help it, he started to laugh and reached out to gently take Madoka's hands and eased them away from her face. He ducked his head to try and catch her gaze.

"It's fine. Maybe one day you'll feel comfortable calling me by name." He smiled gently at her, he didn't want to embarrass or upset her. His teasing had gone too far and he realised that. "I look forward to that day, Miss Madoka." Okay, maybe he wasn't done just yet!

At least him letting up on the teasing for a moment does make her actually cautiously peek right back at him when he pulls her hands away rather than attempting to look away and hide her blush even further..

.. but then there's that final blow. It's a critical hit.

"Miss Madoka?!" She's probably getting more startled about this now than she'd be if he'd ever slip up and curse in front of her.. As if this is somehow worse. That's way too much politeness aimed at her! It seems like she's not even picking up on the fact it's obvious teasing, maybe since she's already so flustered to begin with. The girl looks like she's ready to jump up and down just to somehow find an outlet for all this nervous energy. "N-N-No, just Madoka is fine! But.. um, if you.. if you insist, then I guess I can't force you to since that'd make me a hypocrite..!"

Well.. At least she's being fair, even as she's taking the teasing far too seriously?

More laughter. It was too easy. He wasn't trying to be cruel and he was definitely not trying to panic the girl. But he was amused to note that she could realise when she was being a hypocrite. So he grinned.

"Until you can call me Gladio, I think I'll call you Miss Madoka." He decided, cheered by this idea. It was only fair after all. Plus it was cute. He wondered how Ignis would react to him calling his daughter that? Then he realised he didn't really care. This was between him and Madoka! It was war. Eventually one of them would crack, and he was hoping that it would be Madoka... and not just his bad memory that would slip up and forget to use 'miss' on her.

This is most definitely war. A war between Madoka's exaggerated politeness and Gladio's ~~old man memory~~ teasing ability in the face of Madoka's panic! And a war that for sure isn't going to be solved today, since there's just no way she can find the courage within herself to leave out the 'mister' part today. Maybe someday in the future.

.. the more she thinks about it, the less likely she feels it is.. so she's just going to accept her awkward, awkward fate for now as she awkwardly pokes at the dirt.

"O.. Okay, if that's what you want, mister Gladio.." She'll be a big girl and accept it..! And probably still get flustered every single time. "I-I'll still help you look after your flowers." Even though he's a teasing menace!

"That's what I want, Miss Madoka." Gladio managed to get his smile toned down to a very serious look, though his lips were trying very hard to ruin that with a smile. Which was then ruined by Madoka's next words. "Still? You mean you were going to stop?" He asked. Maybe he'd actually pushed the teasing too far and she'd reached her limit if she was actually considering not helping him look after his flowers.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me?" He said then and offered her a gentle smile. "I didn't mean to tease you so much."

"Huh?"

Apparently she didn't realise the impact of her words just now (or more like didn't think well enough about the words themselves, really), since Madoka's gaze snaps towards him in surprise.

"O-Oh no! I.. Of course I forgive you! I'd forgive you for anything!" Maybe it's a slightly wild thing to say, considering she hasn't even known him for long. But to be fair, Madoka would forgive anyone anything as long as they didn't kill one of her friends or something similarly extreme. And, teasing aside, Gladio has been really nice today. "I.. I don't think I have anything to forgive you for anyway..! You should be allowed to tease me if you want to.."

Don't tell people they're allowed to walk over you, Madoka..

(closed) we're all gonna be alright

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