expiationnet | [Video]

[At first, there's just audio as Aerith is figuring out how this little trinket works. A phone would be easier, wouldn't it? As video comes on, she lifts a hand and wiggles her fingers in greeting.]

Hellllooooo!

[If it seems like she's too cheery, that very likely might be the case. Despite the situation and bizarre circumstances, she's chosen to approach all of this with a great deal of optimism. Smile, and the world smiles with you, goes the saying.]

I understand a lot of us are kind of going through the same thing and it's probably very easy to focus on what we don't know, but I thought it might be kind of nice to have the reminder that we have a common goal. So whether you arrived here with friends or without them, you're not alone! You have the rest of us, too.

[Gesturing to herself, she continues.]

My name's Aerith and I didn't arrive with very much, but if there's something I can help you out with, make sure you let me know and I'll do my best! Also, if you're having trouble finding a place to stay, I'm sharing a room here with my bodyguard, but I'm sure he won't mind too much if we make a little more room for you.

[You're welcome, Cloud.]

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[...He sounds like Cloud then. Always about the money. And honestly, she hasn't really paid him anything out of her own pocket. Does she look like she's made out of gil?

Regardless, she smiles. His concern is coming from a good place. Could be a trap, but she's pretty sure it's not.]

No, I understand. We don't know anyone here, so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to be cautious. It might not seem like it, but I'm being careful. I won't do anything intentionally to make you or anyone else worry.

[She can, at least, agree to that.]

[Holy shit, they don't know anyone here. Which means he's definitely been shouting at her as a complete stranger, just as strange as the guys he's warning her against.]

Oh! That's right. I'm Takemichi Hanagaki! I'm part of Touman, uh, the Tokyo Manji Gang. Some of my friends from the gang showed up here too, so if anybody mentions that name, you can trust they won't hurt you.

They can be pretty crass though.

[Some people might look at this information as if it's a little questionable. Members of a gang and all of that, but honestly, after the whole Wall Market fiasco thing, Aerith is relatively certain she just might be unshakeable. It doesn't appear to be a terrifying discovery to make.]

Oh, you have friends here!

[Yes. That's what she's really taking from all of that. It's one thing to be making friends in this place and it's really quite another to have some from home. Much the way she's been so fortunate to have Cloud.]

Well, Takemichi Hanagaki— [Did she get that right? She's doing her best here.] —If they're as nice as you have been, they're all welcome over, too. I know that appearances can sometimes be deceiving. Sometimes the people we think are the most intimidating, aren't actually intimidating at all.

[Takemichi can't hold back a choke of laughter. No, they are definitely intimidating. Takemichi is the odd duck of the gang, literally recruited because the leader of the gang wanted someone to scold him for the shit he was pulling.]

Y-Yeah. [He manages with a knowing and apologetic smile.] They're really good guys, but they're not like me. Sometimes I think they could take down a real army if they tried.

They sound strong.

[And if they're a collective, surely that's where a lot of that strength comes from. If she were on her own, Aerith has her own kind of resilience, but it has always been bolstered by those around her. Her mom. The others living in the slums. The orphanage kids. Cloud and the others.

There is an inevitable strength in numbers and hearts when they work alongside one another.]

I'm glad that you have friends like that. You said... some of them are here? How many of your friends came with you?

Unbelievably strong!

[The Tokyo Manji Gang's strength undoubtedly stems from their comradery, and Takemichi is almost too quick to fanboy over that fact.]

Three of the guys've barged in so far! They're some of the coolest and craziest of the bunch, though I guess that might be why they're here. Mikey is practically unbeatable, and Baji and Kazutora can be seriously scary, but all three of them care so much about each other that it's amazing. They'd do anything to protect their friends.

['Barged in.' Aerith looses a soft laugh at that. What a cute way to put it. Of course, the act of barging in on everything usually isn't very cute at all, but eh, technicalities.]

As friends should do. I feel the same way about my friends, too. I would do anything that was necessary to protect them.

[Probably. There are probably things she wouldn't do, of course. So maybe she'd do almost anything. Some pretty serious exceptions apply that she doesn't feel is necessary to share.]

I look forward to meeting them, too.

[It's just a matter of time. Aerith's going to meet everyone in this town whether they want that or not.]

I think you're already chatting with Mikey.

[Eheh. How embarrassing, seriously.]

Oh, yes. He's the one who was worried that you were going to invite a bunch of people back to their room.

[She definitely remembers. It was pretty easy to put two and two together.]

Yeah, that's him. I kinda forgot to ask permission too.

[Lookit that. They're twins.]

[Aerith is inclined to think that the glaring difference here is that Takemichi forgot. Because... well. She didn't. She just chose not to, which is not a big surprise coming from her, because she normally just does whatever.]

He didn't seem too bothered by it, honestly. Maybe if you just give him time he'll warm up to the idea?

[Takemichi laughs.]

Maybe if we get a taker who cooks him dinner! Other than that, I've got no chance.

Hm...! I'm not much of a cook, but I can do a little of it. Like, maybe a stew? Or something simple. I could make sandwiches.

[Expert sandwich maker is Aerith. Maybe.]

[Video]

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