hearthwarming | inbox 🌙 songerein

Hello, Ori.

[Aether smiles upon seeing her and is about to hand her the cookies, when he notices the duster behind Ori's back. Then he leans to the side, trying to take a peek inside. There seems to be a lot of cleaning going on, with so many little helpers. The traveler chuckles.]

It looks like you're busy... Do you need some more help?

[Since he's already here, he can't not offer his assistance.]

[ Ori blinks as Aether peers around her and notices the flurry of cleaning going on behind her, and chuckles a bit. ]

Ah, it would be so rude of me to ask you to help when you're a guest...

[ Yet, somehow, she has a feeling that he'll insist on helping anyway - it's what she would do, too - and Aether is such a kind person, besides that.

So she smiles as she steps to the side to invite him into the house, sweeping her arm in a welcoming gesture, duster and all. ]

But please, come in. If you're sure about helping, you can go ahead and leave the cookies on the table - then maybe you and I can enjoy them with some tea after we finish cleaning!

Not all. [Aether reassures her.] I'm used to helping everywhere I go.

[That's how his adventurer life is. People always need something and Aether can never say no. When it comes to helping friends though, the traveler will always offer.

He enters the house then puts the cookies on the table as instructed and takes a look around.]

So where do I start?

[ Ori stands with her hands on her hips as she watches Aether enter and look around. ]

Well, first of all...

[ She lifts a hand and poof! From a cloud of dreamotion, Ori conjures a cute apron for Aether to wear to match hers, and then she holds it out towards him. ]

We can't let your nice clothes get all dusty, hm?

[He blinks when the apron is poofed into existence, but only smiles as he accepts it. He then puts the apron on and presents himself to Ori as if awaiting approval.]

I guess I'm ready now.

[The apron definitely looks good on him, if he says so himself.]

Ah, just one last thing...

[ With a warm smile, she holds Thoma's old feather duster out at him. ]

Would you like to use this?

[ As much as she and Diluc miss their beloved sunshine, Ori knows that Aether must be missing him, too. Although she knows that the Thoma that had been here in Reverein hadn't been the same Thoma that Aether knew, they were still friends, and it's difficult not to miss such a bright presence. ]

[He stares at the duster for a moment. He knows why Ori offers it to him and yet he's not sure if he should take it. They both miss Thoma dearly.]

Are you sure?

[Slowly, he reaches out just to touch the duster, as if considering it. Who would've thought that a simple daily use item like this would have this much significance. What would Thoma think if he saw them now? Would he laugh? Maybe he would smile as bright as always.]

[ Ori nods and smiles as Aether reaches out and touches the duster so very tentatively. In response, she presses the handle of it into his palm, gently and yet a little insistently, too. ]

I'm sure. He'd be honored that you helped us out and used his favorite duster, too.

[ And probably think them both a little silly - in the warmest, most loving way possible - for making such a big deal out of it, too.

With the duster in Aether's hands, Ori's little bird friends swoop in and drop a cloth into her hands, twittering in a rather animated way as if to say, it's time to get back to work! ]

Come on! These shelves aren't going to clean themselves...!

[Aether smiles, softly as his eyes linger on the duster.]

...That sounds like something he would say.

[A short, quite laugh escapes him and Aether turns around to the shelves.]

Let's get this place nice and clean!

[It'll be so clean that Thoma would be proud of them!]

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