California Sunset
"I used to live in a city like this." Flora wound a wistful entreaty out of the revelation, so unlike her usual matter-of-fact way. Maybe it was Rozana's own perky briskness that brought it out of her, so as to act counterpoint.
Maybe it was just the missing of Auresco that did it, made her maudlin. She didn't quite know that it was called Auresco, this city she missed, of course, but she knew that she had once belonged to just such a populace, bustling and brimming with children in hats and free-range financier Nopon and peeping Cubibis up above.
"I know," replied Rozana. Had Flora mentioned it to her once already? Or was it just rhetorical...oh, but she was woefully moody. "I hope they're good memories?"
"They're not much." Not much good? Not much to hang onto? Not much of anything, at all?
Or maybe Flora was just being modest. There was always a chance!
"But you're making new ones?" Rozana probed again. It was both a generic cheer and a genuine query into the state of Flora's mind; whether or not she actually felt her mind recording anything about her experience in the City, with the risk of recurrent amnesia blithely looming. Maybe she just floated through her life here, empty as the moment.
"I suppose." Flora then seemed to cast about, mildly bemused, for the next word her meaning intended. "Everything...blurs."
"You're in need of something truly special, then."
Even if she was empty-eyed, even if she was missing (lacking) something, Flora was eminently likeable. Rozana surely did like her. Sort of like a nice-to-have - was that perhaps a bit cold, to say about a person? But it was only true.
Flora nodded, slowly, so slowly. "That's right. That would do it. Wouldn't it?"
Oh, poor, lovely dear. Wrapping up the report she'd been writing, Rozana reached over to gently, but primly, squeeze Flora's hand. "Will you be able to remember to meet me at the lookout at nineteen-hundred hours, or shall I pick you up?"
"Which lookout?"
"Mitia," Rozana answered, rather than chide. "Just above the War Room, when you look on your map. Alright?"
Flora closed her eyes, committing the instructions to memory or some facsimile thereof. Then she pursed her lips, dipped her chin, and opened back up to engage Rozana with her confirmation. "I'll be there."
Rozana must have looked awfully surprised, at that, because Flora soon softened back to a vague murmur of thanks, before standing and moving away. What would she do for, oh, seven-odd hours? It was anyone's guess, but she wasn't an invalid, just...foggy.
Good to her word, though; the lookout indeed boasted a pleasant pink guest at the railing, lit orange at the edges by the sinking of the sun.
"This is what you wanted to show me, Rozana?"
Gorgeous sunsets like this always helped ground Rozana, when she felt that everything was fading a bit too...well, gray. No pun or reference intended. She'd not expected just how much tonight's would help Flora, though. Fire flickered in her bright blue eyes from within and without both.
"Sure is," Rozana replied. "A beautiful sight for any eyes, but especially sore ones."
The painterly skyscape even inspired Flora to reach out a hand for Rozana's, beckoning her closer.
"I'll remember this, of that much I'm certain. And if I don't...you'll remind me?"