(6/12/02-6/16/02)
Truly awesome. With this view and this picnic and this food that Angela cooked...and all this, then maybe Margie'll feel better and even forgive Bart. Bart stands watching the coastline from this rather tallish cliff, the only shade on which is a tree. Now...when's Margie gonna get here? Hopefully the advance warning'll come right about... "Captain! Captain!" Franz comes running up to Bart, panting. "Geez, this is an exhausting job." Bart turns and crosses his arms, "Hey, i'll make it up to you, Franz. Don't worry about it. What's the deal with Margie?" At this, Franz looks up and blinks. "OH! Right, i'm a bit late...she should be coming soon. You ought to get ready right now, Captain." Bart nods, and immediately dives behind said tree. "Thanks, Franz. I'll make it up to you!" he calls from his hiding place. "Yeah, right, right," is Franz's only reponse before walking off.
It's an awfully thoughtful idea, isn't it? A nice little picnic to get the Holy Mother's mind off of the worries that have troubled her quite nearly constantly since her rescue from the Dark Yggdrasil. Ironically enough, the notion itself makes Margie a little guilty, herself. After all, she must have been worrying everyone quite a lot for Maison to suggest such a thing, and no one on the Yggdrasil had the faintest idea just exactly what was troubling her... And even with situations as they are, she would rather not upset anyone. She just.. Has to find a way to deal with it all by herself, right? Right.
...So why is that easier thought than done? Regardless, she's made a promise to herself to put on the absolute best face for this picnic--She might as well put everyone's fears to rest if she can, right? Even if it's not fully true--And so that is the expression she wears, as she walks towards the picnic site. A basic look of reserved, nearly unreadable calm. Gentle step by gentle step up the hill--This picnic's awfully high up on the cliffs, isn't it?--And yet.. It's a gorgeous view all the way up, as she approaches the picnic site itself.
Oddly empty, the picnic site actually is. It's your basic set up, with a simple checkered blanket on the ground and your generic picnic basket in the middle. Franz is actually just now walking away from it and is a bit startled to see the Holy Mother. "Oh! Miss Margie. Umm...I finished setting it up and all!" and pretty quickly at that- though Bart was actually the one who set it up. "Sorry for being in such a rush, but i've gotta help out with some other stuff. You know, the Engine's been acting up a bit. I've gotta listen for all the noises it makes to see if it's working properly, cause the noise...," Franz then pauses, as Bart peeks around the tree. "What is he doing?!" Bart mutters under his breath. Franz rubs his head with his right fin, sweatdropping, "Ah, right! Anyway, gotta go. Enjoy!" and with that, the Dolphin(?) man hops off to leave Margie and Bart to their devices.
Oh... Franz helped too? This is all a wee bit confusing. But it's certainly not impossibly so. Just how many people were concerned over Margie's state of mind that they helped with this little event? And while that alone is enough to draw another thought of guilty-but-glad that people would be worried enough to do this to mind, it's only more puzzling when Franz turns to leave, and Marguerite is left with an apparently empty picnic site. "A... all right..." She sounds a little dazed as she rather distantly responds to Franz's comment, blinking in confusion about. What exactly is going on here...? Er, well... Maybe someone will come about later? Still.. It's a little depressing, inadvertantly, to be met with an empty scene. Regardless, as she walks the rest of the way to the picnic site, she lets her focus rest on the view of the ocean and the coast, silently. Well... Even if she has to wait a while, at least it's an extraordinarily beautiful spot. She must admit, she couldn't have thought of a better place if she had tried...
OK, she's here. She's alone. Now...uh...what to say? 'Oh, uh, Margie! I know you're mad at me and all but Hi!'. Nah. 'Why not just forget everything and eat here?' No. 'Don't blame me, blame yourself or...' that's just asking for trouble. Bart crosses his arms. This is stupid. Maybe if he's just himself, she'll forgive him. Yeah! That's it! He soon steps into view, with a bit of a wave. "...Surprise! Waaaah!" that second part was him tripping over a rock and falling flat on his face. How graceful!
....Gyah! Okay, Margie wasn't expecting even something like that. Silent picnic site, seemingly abandoned.. And she was busy contemplating the view. She jumps a little at that sudden note--'Surprise' of all things--catching her breath a little as she spins around... Just in time to watch Bart fall on his face. And even then... "Don't -do- that! You scared me half to death!" Poor Margie doesn't quite realize that he thinks that she's mad at him... Thus she can't very well know that that's likely not the best way to greet him with right now. Nonetheless, she gives herself a moment to get over that little surprise before she shakes her head a little and adds, a little lighter, "Er... Are you all right?" And what the heck is going on? No, no, no need to ask that quite yet. Goodness knows that he was likely as worried about her as the rest of them.
Bart mumbles a bit. "I'm fine, I guess." He pulls himself up and sits down on the grass, a bit disconcerted. She's still mad a him, and probably wants him to leave now. "If you want me to leave now, i'll understand," he scratches his head, standing up. "I thought that a picnic would help you feel better, you know? So I planned all this with Sig, Angela and Maison." He's being awfully apologetic. "You'd never have come if you heard I was the one behind it, so I asked everyone else. I guess I should've been more honest with you. Sorry."
Blink. Blink, blink, blink. Where the heck did -that- come from?! Margie's expressions go completely blank at that, entirely and completely lost. What on earth? And all she can manage for a long moment is a simple, "...What?" No, really. What on earth are you talking about? She's completely confused on this one, "...Why did you think I wouldn't have come if I knew you were behind it? And why would I want you to leave? You just surprised me a little, honestly." Really, Margie couldn't be more in the dark if she tried. What the heck is going on? Although.. Something else he said only seems to catch her attention a moment later, recalled in delay, "...You helped plan this?" That sort of blatant out-of-his-way thoughtfulness, out of Bart? That wasn't expected. And it's a little surprising, if not a little flattering.
Bart blinks. "Eh? I thought you didn't want to talk to me. So...you're not mad at me, then?" he tilts his head. "I...did help plan this, yeah. But I didn't want them to tell you I was planning cause I thought you were...well, mad at me." Does that mean he overreacted? Does that mean he screwed up? Maybe so. Does it mean he blew a small thing out of proportion? Hmm...why, YES it certainly does!
Mad at him? Why on earth would Margie be mad at Bart? Honestly enough, it's not inconciveable, but Bart has done literally nothing of that caliber lately. And yet... Because she seemed so withdrawn, he was concerned enough to plan something like this? That's.. really nice of him. As much as it makes her rather guilty all the same. But still.. Still.. How does one respond to that? Margie certainly doesn't know. And.. Despite how much of a bad and distracted mood that she's been in lately, she knows of nothing but to do than to.. Laugh. It's nothing more than a sort of amused giggle, all things honest, muffled behind the palm of her hand. But it's honest. And soon, she simply drops that hand and adds, sounding lightly amsued, "You're so -ridiculous- sometimes!" Sometimes? She shakes her head, letting some of that amusement drop as she adds, a little more quietly, "I'm not mad at you at all, Bart. I'm sorry if I've seemed like that... I've just..." That smile fades a little as she searches for something to say, "...Had a lot on my mind, that's all."
Bart blinks again, "I am?" She's not? She really isn't? As she laughs, he almost feels like a total idiot, but he's so relieved he can't help but start to laugh himself. "That's a real relief...I thought i'd really done something to hurt you and didn't know about it at all. You know how I am...I always do things right when they come to mind, you know? I thought i'd done something and not thought it through and hurt you." He scratches his head, "I guess I didn't think that through either, huh?"
That too is worth a little snickering, as Margie actually manages yet another truly honest little smile. Certainly, this is really very silly. But he really does try, doesn't he? It's yet the thought that counts, even if he did... Manage to get this entire situation wrong, "I know, I know.." Goodness, does she. She's known Bart for more than long enough to know that 'impulsive' might as well be synonymous with his name, "But it's all right, really. It was still really thoughtful of you to think of and plan and everything. And I'm really very sorry if I've not been quite myself lately." Not quite herself? No, being so distant and muted and quiet and disconcerted is definitly -not- Margie's style. But she can easily enough brush it off as nothing at all here, and continue on with a note of, "But a perfectly good picnic is still a perfectly good picnic, right? There's just nothing to worry about." Spare all of the chaos that happened in Nisan that you don't know about. And Shevat's plans. And Gabriel's safety. But.. But... She promised that she'd keep a convincing face up, right? So no brooding!
Can't disagree with that, so Bart nods. "I wanted to help ou feel better, so if it's making you happy then it's working at least on that. So yeah! It's a picnic, we might as well get the food out and talk about stuff. Maison and Angela really worked hard on this stuff. I think Maison might've baked some cupcakes...he was pretty vague on what he cooked and she cooked and if they cooked at all or what. So I guess we'll just have to tell them both that all the food is good?" at least
You know, Bart really does try hard when he means well, doesn't he? And while maybe a picnic isn't going to serve as some sort of miracle cure to all of Margie's worries, it's.. Really, really hard -not- to smile when someone is really so concerned over you being happy. "That sounds like a plan. And.. Really?" Goodness. Margie walks over to the blanket then, taking a seat as she peeks into the basket as Bart opens it, "Really, you all didn't need to go to so much trouble! I'll have to remember to thank them both.. It looks like you all went to a lot of trouble." Everyone went to so much trouble, it seems. That's.. Bah, enough with the guilt already! The concern is touching, though. Even if the reason is basically completely misinterpreted.
Bart digs through the basket, and sets all the food up. For brevity's sake, let's just be general. There's food here- you know what it is. So thus, it's a food thing (tm). Or not. There's two chicken legs, two cupcakes, a pair of canteens with water inside and some biscuits. Sounds good. "Angela volunteered and Maison said that if it would help you he'd cook anything. I don't think they mind at all...well, maybe Franz doesen't like the running around...but he said he didn't mind either."
It's good to have people who care, isn't it? Yes, well, Margie's already said it. She'll have to thank everyone profusely for this later. Although, all things honest, while she was well aware herself that she was upset... She hadn't fully realized how concerned everyone else was, entirely. My. "Still, I appreciate it." Yes, yes, well, moving on... Modesty and thankfulness can't make a conversation. But that just trails off into the sort of frustrated silence over what just -would- make a decent conversation, which has nothing to do with basically anything that happened since she got back to Nisan. And she's really apologized enough in the last few minutes alone, hasn't she? Eh, well, when in doubt, realize that there's a pretty view, it's a lovely day, and there is food. So she takes one of the biscuits before she speaks again, her voice a bit quieter. Well, for lack of anything else to say, what's neutral? Sigh. Poor Margie. "Is anyone intending to do anything now that things in Nisan have calmed down...?" Okay, so that's not completely neutral. Drat.
Bart could never help himself around cupcakes, so he grabs one and starts eating it right away. The whole point was to eat it AFTER dinner, but eh. Bart can live eating his cupcake before the main course. "Doing something?" he says between bites. Mmm, manners! "Well...," after talking in mid-chew in a way that would make Maison scream and yell, he swallows a bite of cupcake with a gulp. "We found you...but we never found Gabriel, you know? So I decided to float around Nisan and see if he'd make contact with us, but then our Engine started acting up and we had to sit up on this beach. You didn't talk to him before the Dark Ygg got you, did you?"
Why did Margie have to bring that up? That was barely a neutral question to begin with, and the answer.. That initself was the single issue that the young Holy Mother most did not want to consider. A mild peer is given to Bart before he recalls his manners for a moment, but that is really the only light hearted thing she can manage. "I see.." It's a phenomenal effort she puts forth to keep her expressions calm. Or, as it most likely is, a passable likeness to it. For it is obvious enough that the subject doesn't rest well with her. But exactly why and exactly how... She does try to keep herself as unreadable as possible at that. "I.. guess that makes sense. I saw him briefly when the talks were going on, yes. But not since then.." But Shevat claimed to have him, and claimed that his safety rode on her compliance. How could Margie possibly test that claim with a clear conscience?
Bart tilts his head. Eh? She's suddenly gotten all weird. Maybe he shouldn't have brought the Dark Ygg up. He clears his throat and nods, "Yeah, that's the weird thing...but maybe he'll make contact with us eventually," switching off from the whole subject as fast he can, he decides on something else to talk about. "You know, aside from what happened," damn it! It came up again! "...it's been kinda peaceful, hasn't it? When we do get...er...all set up and everything's ok again...want to go somewhere and explore? You know, like real pirates do."
A little weird? Well, it's more like... It'd be hard to call her simply depressed over the issue at this point. 'Frustrated' seems so much more accurate. That eternal wonder of what she should do, what can be done, and what she must do to -fix- it all beyond the shade of a doubt... Well, it's all background noise for the moment. "It'd be really nice if he did." If Gabriel called? That's an understatement. Then Margie could so very easily set everything about this very, very right. But yes, yes.. Let's leave the issue at that and move on. Brooding wont do anything for Margie's mood. And isn't this picnic simply too nice to spoil? So, move along. "Anyway.. I guess that's true. Besides this, everything's been really quiet. But that's good, right?" As long as this doesn't turn into a calm before the storm, sure. For Marguerite, the 'little issue in Nisan' was -more- than enough, thank you very much. "Explore?" She really does seem in a better mood as she gets her mind off of the subject. And she glances back at Bart then, a little curiously. 'Like real pirates'? Cute. You'd almost think he was quite a bit younger, for all that the leader of the desert pirates seemed so intent on.. Well, playing pirates. "Like what? Or where? Although.. it'd be something to do, isn't it? It's so very weird to think about, sometimes, just how much things have changed.. You don't even really have to worry too much about Aveh anymore, even."
Well, they weren't -exactly- pirates. They didn't really explore all that much and only pillaged gears from transports back when bald-man was in charge. It was exciting, sure. But Bart never got to check out the Aquavy area since they went to the Thames for the first time. He'd want to see the Captain anyway. THAT guy rocked. We are the MEN of the SEA! Oh, yeah! But Bart is caught daydreaming at that point and sweatdrops at Margie's expression. "Ah, yeah, with the SolAveh pact in place I don't have to worry about Aveh too much. It's weird, since I remember back when we used to fight Solaris all the time," or every weekend in almost sporadic bursts. The fights would even pause for even weeks if noone was around to continue them! Isn't it creepy? "We can keep in contact, but I always wanted to really check out Aquvy. You know?"
Oh sure, start daydreaming about something completely different when Margie's talking to you. Eh.. It's Bart. And her glance over managed to catch his attention, so there didn't have to be a thwaping. So! She gives a little nod to that, "I remember that, too... But it wasn't all that long ago though, was it? It feels like it's been much longer. But I guess that's because things have changed so -much- since then." It's certainly a big change from the days when the Ygg was evading Shakhan, wondering about the reclaiming of the throne. But things have only gotten better since then--Who could really complain? "Actually... Aquavy? I barely got a glimpse of it before, myself. I'd like to visit again sometime. And exploring sounds like a lot of fun." She actually smiles then. So rare it's been for her to do that lately. But getting her mind off of brooding certainly helps wonders. Although she does blink and add a, "Er.. It would be alright if I tagged along though, right..?" So she's a bit paranoid lately. It can't be helped that, after an event like that, she's desperately trying to sidestep any instance in which she might be a concieveable burden.
Bart sort of tilts his head to the side at that question, what brought that on? "Why wouldn't I bring you along, Margie?" he shrugs and takes a bite out of his chicken leg. "I don't mind having you along, it'd be more fun to explore with everyone around, you know?" wait a minute. It suddenly dawns on Bart just why exactly she'd ask that, and he sweatdrops. "Hey, you're not a burden...and i'm sure just exploring isn't too dangerous if i'm around anyway. Anything that wants to get at you'll have to go through me!"
It's such a thin line to walk, though. The wanting to not be a burden versus wanting to be helpful... Goodness, it drives one positively mad sometimes! Amazing, isn't it, how such things can so easily blot out common sense to boot? Well, regardless, it's no small secret that everything that's happened lately has disconcerted her. So even if that comment was a bit out of the blue... Well, an answer like that helps stop that ridiculous train of thought, doesn't it? For she smiles again at that, lightly but honestly, "Ah, I'm.. being a little bit ridiculous, aren't I. But hey.." Her tone draws a little joking then, "..Have you yet done anything that hasn't turned even a little bit dangerous?" A small pause, an amused smile, and she shakes her head and looks away at that, "It makes things interesting though, I suppose. I'm really sorry if I'm worrying about silly things. But really, thank you. But I really hope that nothing like that will have to happen." Goodness, can't -she- be of help for a change? Ah, the eternal worry that that issue is.
Gnawing on a chicken leg can really help things all the better, can't it? Bart never really considered Margie a burden and never really did figure out why Margie keeps worrying about it. "Have I? Yeah, actually! I...uh...er...hm. Well, I did something that wasn't dangerous anyway," he nods at that much. "...and really, don't worry about that, we don't know what'll happen in the future, right?"
Does it? Then maybe Margie should be doing a little bit more than just picking at her food whenever Bart is talking, and while she wonders of what to say. And it's remarkable, really, how something that Bart doesn't even wonder about can be so entirely important to Margie. Well... He always has taken things rather lightheartedly for the most part. And Margie.. tends to brood when she really doesn't need to. So it all balances out, doesn't it? She still smiles, snickering a little, "Oh, really? You even managed to turn cooking into a threat!" And poor Brighton might never be the same for it. Whoops! Let's forget that Margie ever had a hand in that, too. Cough. But at least she's smiling now. That's a world of difference from earlier. "Waxing philosophical? I didn't expect that from you, Bart.." Lightly joking, in a way, even though she must admit that she wasn't fully expecting that. But it's still appreciated. "Still, thanks.. That's really true. Everything has got to have a workable solution, and.. I guess I really have been pessimistic lately, haven't I?" Er, wait, maybe she shouldn't have hinted that she still considers things being wrong so far. Even though it's rather eerie how this seems to be putting the thought into her head that it can easily and neatly be fixed. Hmm. Well, whatever she's wondering, it seems to be cheering her up, at least? "I'll just have to try to worry less, then."
Bart sweatdrops. Yeah, with the pancake batter thing. He did learn one lesson from that, though- let Maison do the cooking from now on. It took a pancake batter mess for that, after several other attempts at cooking have destroyed stoves. "Being pessimistic all the time isn't gonna help much. If you don't think something even has a chance of going well, how can you work hard on it? See?" everything's so simple to Bart. Maybe this is why he's a pirate on the desert instead of a king. Citizens complaining about taxes? Give them money!
Yes, this is why Bart as the Aveh King is rather a terrifying thought at times. Mind, in some ways he'd do fine. But in other ways, impulsive optimism likely would really be, er, bad. But that aside, Margie really can't help but laugh a little, if just quietly, to that. And she shakes her head lightly, "I wish everything was so simple.. But I understand. And I try not to be pessimistic, really, but lately..." A small shrug. "It was all a little more trying than I let on. But I'm pretty sure that was obvious, wasn't it? But you're still right... Not a thing will get better if I just mope about it. So... So maybe it's time for me to move on." You think? She's been worrying herself nearly sick over this since she got back. And... And with the little wonder of hope turning out slowly but surely, her mood is inevitably heading brighter. And yet... Er, for all that she didn't tell anyone the truth of things, 'fixing them' is actually pretty dangerous. Thank goodness that's not obvious.
Bart nods, "Yeah, you see? Aren't people great? We've got to be the only things alive that worry about stuff like that. I wonder what a depressed cat would look like?" there he goes with the philosophy again. He adds to the thought about life with a munch of a biscuit, "...Whoa, hey...these are really good. I ought to tell Angela to cook these more often, they've got a differen't taste than Maison's." Bart is being carefree while Margie is being so melancholy x_X. It's a crime.
It is! Or, well, it would be if Bart's good mood wasn't so amazingly contageous. So to say, it's awfully hard for Margie to be broody or even particularly negative while Bart is sitting here being so entirely carefree. After all, she's smiling, she's amused. And even if what she's talking about isn't just a freaking ball of sunshine, she at least seems in better spirits. And that's what's important, right? And she really can't help but laugh at that, either. How random! "Actually, lots of creatures get depressed. Haven't you heard of dogs that will mope and wait when their masters go away? And cats can get lonely, I think, so.." A shrug. Ah, the anal note of the day. Whee. "But anyway.. Er, right. Nothing's hopeless, so... Wait, Sister Angela made these?" Margie finished off her biscuit a bit before, really. "That's funny... I didn't even know she could cook. But she did do a wonderful job. I'll have to remember to thank her."
Bart shrugs, "Well, the dogs don't worry about what dog has the biggest house, anyway. People're funny like that," he shrugs as he chows down another biscuit. At Margie's query, he nods. "Yeah, neither did I, but apparently she can really cook. I don't remember her ever cooking for the Church when we were kids, come to think of it...so maybe she just learned?"
How remarkably random! And snicker worthy, too. "Well, that's true... Ah, people really do worry about the most ridiculous things sometimes." And Margie would not really call what she was worrying about 'ridiculous', but regardless. Moving on, moving on... She shrugs a bit to that, with a small smile, "I don't remember her ever cooking then, either.. Or in any of the time I've known her. But of course, she could have learned." Makes sense to Margie. If nothing else, Angela just got back from her trip home, and goodness knows she had the time to learn new little skills. "Things do change, after all. So much has since then, anyway... I know I wouldn't have never imagined half of everything that's happened, even just lately." Eh, minor reminiscance. It would be nice to say that childhood was a warm and happy place compared to now, but even that can't be said for all of it, could it? Ah, the past is overrated sometimes.
Bart sighs, looking over to the beach on the side. "Yeah, weird that way isn't it? One minute your life's all set for you and you know what's coming, the next...BAM!" he looks at her and sort of emphasizes it with a punch to his right hand. Though it's a pretty random thing to do otherwise. "Everything's so differen't! It's messed up that way. But I liked all the old times and the new times, you know? There's been some bad and some good..," he shrugs at that. "But if everything didn't happen the way they did, we wouldn't have gotten to meet everyone, don't you agree?"
Such blatant optimism and cheer! Gyah, poor Margie is really outgunned here. She couldn't be overwhelmingly mopey in a situation like this if she tried. Goodness, maybe she should have talked to Bart earlier, rather than avoiding him and most everyone else and being broody? Well, it's all a bit late to wonder now. "You're just not going to let me be down, are you?" A small snicker, and she shakes her head lightly, "That's true too, though. Everything used to be so very straightforward, like the future was just obviously there and laid out, and.. Just as quickly, it was gone. But... You know, you're right. There's so much that wouldn't have happened and so many people we wouldn't have gotten to meet otherwise." Sure, there was more than a fair share of unplesantry wound up in the lot of the past, but... Goodness, it's nearly easy to brush aside for the moment. And she smiles. "Well, I wouldn't trade it all for the world. Things turned out well in the end despite everything, after all, and... I guess that's what's most important."
Bart nods at that, "Exactly. We gripe over mistakes and smile at everything we do right, but in the end...if you didn't do any of those things, you wouldn't be who you are! So, yeah...that's the most important thing of everything, you know?" he finishes his last biscuit. Current theory: There is a head on Bart's shoulders, but it's selectively permeable. Make of that what you will. "Huh...you know, I really like this view. I wish I could sit out here forever, don't you?"
Well, right, so everything might not make it to or through Bart's limited focus, but he really does mean well. And since the Holy Mother would have to be very devoted to being purely miserable to not be affected by this entire picnic, it's... really rather a miracle how roundabout her entire mood has come, isn't it? Well, even if it's temporary, Bart's overly excessive enthusiasm seems to have done some good. Even if it's, you know, brief like a motivational speech. How to be happier, in one roundabout conversation or your money back! And she nods in responce to that last line, "It really is beautiful, isn't it?" The ocean and the coast and.. Really, Margie would have a hard time thinking of a more lovely spot for this picnic. "And yes, but... Well, I'm sure no one will mind if we spend a bit longer out here then, right?" It's a pretty moment. And once the lot of this passes, it's just back to the Ygg and dodging Aniko and trying to wonder how to not get Shevat to hurt anyone while simultaneously spiting their efforts somehow. And right now.. This is so, so much more appealing. One of those times, one supposes, that would be wonderful if it'd never pass at all.