[Video]

[inemeraldfaith]

[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.]

Comments

[inemeraldfaith]

[She knows that. She can make friends without sharing that part of her. After all, again, it's what she would have done with present company and the others. If anything, she feels closer to them now because even in the face of that discovery, they don't fear her. They don't want to abandon her. They don't want to view her circumstances in any way that would have them treat her differently.

When she thinks about it like that, it leaves her chest feeling tight, curious over how much she deserves that.]

I promise to be careful, Cloud. [She reassures him with a gentle smile, not necessarily yielding but soft. A wordless appreciation.] You'll be careful, too, right? I know you can handle yourself, so you don't need to hear me say that. But I worry about you, too.

[mercedis]

Nothing to worry about. ( there's the jut of his chin as he turns away, like he's embarrassed to have to say it; a shake of his head, until his gaze lifts again. )

I'll be back soon. Try to keep the house parties to a minimum until then, okay? I'll bring you something to eat.

[inemeraldfaith]

[It doesn't work like that. Words are easy. Everything beyond that isn't and they both know it.

She smiles and offers a nod.]

No house parties: check! [She will probably not go overboard.] If you find ice cream, can you bring some ice cream?

[mercedis]

Yeah, I can bring you back some ice cream. Anything else you want?

( there is a faint smile on his face, though he's trying to sound like his usual impatient self. )

You're paying me for my time, I can wait.

[inemeraldfaith]

[Is he teasing her? She's pretty sure he's teasing her. Why, Cloud...!]

Uhm. Ice cream and... you? I don't know. I'm pretty happy with something simple. But if I think of anything else that I want, I won't hesitate to let you know!

[Now that he's left that open, there's a very strong chance she'll just take advantage of it. But how did he put it? She's paying for his time? Somehow she suspects he'll be just fine with it.]

[mercedis]

( a faint scoff, shaking his head slightly--she's always managed to one-up him, and rather than give in to embarrassment, he tries to fight it. )

Pretty sure I'm not something simple. You sure you don't want me to rope in some other guy to go with your ice cream?

( definitely teasing. )

[inemeraldfaith]

[She grins, almost from ear-to-ear. How is he so good at that? He doesn't even have to try very hard. The more he grows comfortable with teasing, the more it warms her heart.]

You are you. Isn't that all that matters? [Aerith asks it so earnestly, that there's no way one could mistake it for anything other than pure, unadulterated truth.] So ice cream and you. To me, that's perfect.

[The situation itself isn't, but she is willing to celebrate every small win as a large one.]