expiationlogs | ethereal moon logs (closed)

[ Marianne had been happy to offer her assistance when she'd learned that Tsuna had taken up the large chore of painting his house. As a friend and also because she feels a sense of responsibility to look after those younger than her. She knows he's strong in the face of adversity, but home ownership is an ordeal no one should have to tackle alone.

She greets him with a small smile when he answers the door. She's clad in a plain winter dress with an apron tied around her waist, holding a bundle in her arms. ]

Hello, Tsuna. How have you been?

Ah! Marianne....hi.

[It's a bit of a surprise to see her on his doorstep, especially since his house isn't quite up for receiving visitors yet. But eventually he gets over his shock and moves aside]

Please, come in. I'm sorry it's kind of a mess.

[There's a few piles of supplies that he's been collecting, but otherwise it looks like the kind of mess that would come with the house of a teenage boy.]

I guess I've been alright, with everything.

[ Marianne steps inside quietly and hesitantly, like someone who doesn't want to take up much space. ]

That's okay. I know you've been redecorating. Actually, I came to see if you needed any help.

[ That, and also to see how he was doing. Between the maze, the kidnappings, and now a giant monster demanding human sacrifices, it's been one harrowing trial after another. She's glad for the reprieve, peaceful moments like these now seem all the more precious. ]

Oh! Here...[ Marianne unwraps the bundle in her arms to reveal a gift basket with scented candles, cheeses, gingerbread cookies and other baked goods. ] This is for you.

Oh, well, uh....

[He looks around the house, trying to determine an answer. Which should be yes but somehow accepting help is always hard. Even if he's learned the lesson multiple times before. It's why he has Guardians, even if they aren't here.

Of course he gets sidetracked.]

Thank you! This is...really nice of you. I...you didn't have to.

Oh, it's nothing. I just hope you like it.

[ She had wanted to gift him a little something as a token of her appreciation. That, and the bakery had smelled of delicious goods when she passed by it this morning. Marianne follows his gaze around the haphazard state of the room. ]

Um, I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I should have sent word earlier.

[ It occurs to her as an afterthought that she could have messaged him through the tablet. Though she's learned how to use the device, the habit just isn't quite there. ]

Oh, no, you're not. I wasn't really...doing anything.

[He probably should have been cleaning, or getting prepared, but that hasn't really happened yet.]

Sorry, things are kind of a mess.

[He steps back to put the basket on the table, and create some space for her to enter.]

No, it's okay. Really.

[ She steps forward gingerly, taking care not to bump into anything. It's perfectly understandable to have things lying around when he's in the middle of decorating. Besides, her own room is a mess the best of days. ]

Do you need help with any of it?

Well, uh...I don't know. I've sort of been getting it.

[He's quiet for a moment, thinking.]

But, actually, if you know anything about painting walls? I'm kinda stuck on how to start.

It's intimidating, in a weird way.

[ Hmm, she can't say she has much experience with painting beyond watching Ignatz work on his art, and the one time at the monastery she had been recruited by Hilda to help paint her handicrafts. Marianne remembers brushing on the colors carefully and laying the charms out to dry, content to work quietly while Hilda chattered away filling the air with conversation enough for the both of them. ]

I've only painted accessories before, but...

[ She hums thoughtfully, looking at the walls. ]

Have you decided on a color and which rooms?

Well, I know I want to paint like, this area.

[He indicates the living room/kitchen room that they are in.]

And I guess some of the others. But I figured I would start here. I did find an orange that I liked.

[ Her gaze follows as he gestures around the room. Orange, hm. A bright color that suited the flame burning inside of him.

Now how to go about it... ]

Um, to start with, what if we covered up the floor by the wall so the paint doesn't spill over?

That's what people were saying to do. I found some sheets!

[There's a small pile of them by the paint cans. Folded fairly roughly.]

[ Ah, hearing that makes her feel more confident about how to begin. ]

Then let's start there. Maybe we should also push some of the furniture to the side.

[ She steps over to the paint cans to take a look at the sheets, thinking through things one step at a time. ]

Right. Guess I should have done that as well.

[Not that there is much in the way of furniture. There's a chair and a couch and a coffee table and that's about it. Tsuna moves to shove them into the middle of the room, creating space to get to the walls.]

There's so much more to this than I realized.

They say there's a first time for everything. If it doesn't turn out well, we can always paint over it agan.

[ She tries to sound positive, something she isn't very practiced at with the negative self-talk that goes through her head regularly, but it's easier when she's encouraging other people. Marianne unfolds the sheets and begins to drape them over the floor. ]

Something like this?

Huh...yeah, I guess we can.

[He hasn't really thought of it that way.]

But yeah, I think this is how it's supposed to work. They just have to go right up against the wall.

[Not that he would mind paint on the floor.]

Yes, that makes sense.

[ She pulls the sheets snug against the wall, overlapping them by a few inches in case they get nudged around. Once that's done, she straightens up. ]

Okay. I think we're ready for the paint.

Right, yeah.

[Tsuna goes over to his little pile and makes a small noise of effort as he picks up the can and the tray.]

This is kind of the part I'm worried about. I don't know how much paint I'll need.

I'm not sure, either. We could start with a little bit and layer it on...

[ Saying so, Marianne picks up a brush and dips it into the paint bucket that Tsuna has brought over. She's seen Ignatz in front of his easel working his brushes, admiring how a landscape can bloom across his blank canvas. Painting a wall should be easier in theory, but she hesitates before she applies the first stroke, glancing over to Tsuna for him to go first, and in doing so give her the go-ahead. ]

[There's probably something about paint rollers and cutting in and all these terms that are appropriate here, but hell if Tsuna knows them.

Instead, he gives an encouraging nod, letting her go ahead and start.]

Go ahead, we'll see how it looks.

Um, here goes...

[ Marianne is from before the age of paint rollers, so she's approaching this as someone from the ye old days might, simply dipping into the paint and brushing it on the wall. Repeating the tentative motions until the old color has been covered up by the new one.

And that's just one small part of the overall wall. ]

Should we paint the bottom first, and then push chairs over to paint the top?

[Tsuna has to think about that. But the paint does look nice on the walls.]

It would probably be easier to start at the top. That was if the paint runs down we can just paint over it.

O-Oh, that's a good point. Then let's do that.

[ She'll help drag over some chairs and they can get to painting. ]

[Who's to say if it's the right way to paint a wall, but it seems to be working for them. Or at least, Tsuna thinks so.]

Thank you for your help with this, Marianne-san. I really appreciate it.

Not at all. I'm happy to help.

[ She just hopes she's helping more than hurting, fumbling her way through it.

After they've given the wall a fresh coat of paint, there's nothing to do but sit back and wait for it to dry. Usually Marianne would lapse into silence and let the more talkative personalities in the room carry the conversation, but it's just the two of them and she feels comfortable with Tsuna to speak up first. ]

I've been wondering, Tsuna, what was your home like?

ethereal moon logs (closed)

@tsuna

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