expiationnet | [Video]

Entry tags:

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She's not surprised at all by his reaction, though he's taking it just a bit better than she's expected and she can't help but feel incredibly pleased at the realisation. She understands very well that she's tried to keep information she's given out about either of them to a minimum. Surely offering a helping hand to those in need won't put them in any additional hardship.

Surely.

She meets his expression with a somewhat sheepish smile. He's offering her a gentle deference and she can't help but be appreciative over it. Maybe she's worn him down over time. She's certainly starting to get that impression. It makes her all the more thankful for him.

To think she wasn't sure she would see him again.]

Uhm... I know it might not be the right time for this, but if we're trying to fit in, I'll take you on a couple of dates. We can find out what the locals like to do.

[Pragmatic and cute!]

( there's an exasperated shake of his head, embarrassed at the words. )

I never agreed to that. ( --well, he never really said no, either, but that was a more dire situation. there wasn't time to negotiate. ) Dates... I mean.

( yet he's not really offering an alternative; his gaze isn't meeting the video, either, and he lets out a slow breath. )

Don't think we can really fit in, anyway. Might be worse if we went out like that.

[She almost reminds him that he didn't turn her down when she originally brought it up either, but she decides to relent. Maybe just for a day or two. Just to give him enough time to better acclimate. But when he's least expecting it...]

Hmmm. I think you just need a little adventuring spirit! If you don't like that idea, what did you have in mind? I guess I could try to sell some flowers here?

[Maybe she'll have better luck in Aldrip than she was having in the slums.]

No.

( did he say that too quickly? immediately he narrows his eyes, glancing away. )

At least not until I'm sure about this place. I don't want you out on the streets when I can't keep my eye on you all the time, or...

Well. Whatever. You know what I mean. For payment...

( there's a soft sigh, resigned, though he isn't really upset. ) ...I have an idea. If you don't like it, then an outing is fine.

( he just wants to stress that he's not using the word date. )

[She looks surprised for only a moment. Just a breath or two. Of course, he doesn't want to be worrying about her in this place that's new and foreign to them both. But he also can't just keep her under glass either.]

I promise not to do anything intentionally that will make you worry about me. [At the very least, she can make that kind of agreement.] What kind of idea do you have? I'm all ears.

And— [She grins from ear to ear.] —you mean a date.

( knowing aerith, she's not really going to listen to him, so-- )

At least let's see where a safe place is, before you run around selling weird flowers you don't know anything about...

( is that a hint of a smile? maybe. )

And I said outing. That means just. Going...out. Side, I mean. ( he's very quick to follow this up with-- ) Anyway, you know how to braid, right? Since you do your hair like that. I need something braided.

[He knows her well. The little tease of curve in his mouth does not go unnoticed. It's good that she hasn't gotten completely under his skin. Just enough to linger, as she suspects she often does. He still tolerates her, after all. If he hated it, he'd just leave.

Or so she figures.

She listens to him fumble, looking somewhat pleased to have such a reaction on him, though it gets pushed to the side at his request.]

Oh...! I can braid something for you. What did you want me to braid? I don't think your hair is long enough for that, Cloud.

Not my hair. ( obviously, he sounds a little...exasperated, but it's still good-natured. ) It's just hard to use this...charm, thing, the thing we're using now. I don't know what to call it.

I thought a bracelet would be good. Maybe you could braid this into it. That way, I won't lose it.

[Aerith relents.]

That's a good idea and would be a great way of keeping it close by. I thought they were a bit clunky myself. Maybe I'll do the same with mine.

[Regardless, she offers him a nod and an incredibly earnest smile. He could probably ask many things of her and she would be inclined to do them. Such is the way of friendship, no?]

I can do that. I'll take care of it for you tonight. Do you have colours you want me to use in particular?

Nothing in particular. Just...nothing that stands out too much.

( there's a faint tilt of his head, considering-- )

I'll see what I can track down before I come back tonight. Is our room full yet?

Oh. All right. So something modest. I can do that.

[Which basically means no pastels. No pinks. No purples. Maybe dark colours...? She'd love to do a blue that makes her think of his eyes, honestly.]

Would you believe that no one's actually taken me up on my offer? I think maybe the idea that I have a bodyguard scared them. Some people seem to think I'm a... 'ruler' or a 'princess' or something?

( ...he's smiling a little at that. it is kind of amusing, but also-- )

Yeah, makes sense. I guess it'd be pretty intimidating to think you'd have to get past someone like me to get in.

But you do have that...feeling. I just didn't really know what it was until... I found out. That's why I told you to try to keep things about yourself to a minimum.

( he isn't scolding, just...concerned. especially if people are starting to catch on to the fact that aerith is, in fact, more than just a nice little flower girl. )

I'd be pretty intimidated by you if I didn't know you.

[Which is completely untrue. If it were accurate in any sense, she certainly wouldn't have latched onto him almost immediately and he wouldn't have gotten into this bodyguard mess, really. But if she's trying to look at this objective, being someone who isn't her, yes, maybe the idea of a bodyguard would be a difficult one to face. And Cloud, not being very forthcoming about his feelings or his person does deliver a rather untouchable aura.

Someone out there in the world is probably intimidated by him, provided they don't know him particularly well. Or. They're like Barret. Who... probably isn't afraid of very much.

Her expression grows a little more serious as he continues. He's thoughtful enough not to spell it out for her. Doesn't need to. They both know what he's saying and she's figured enough that it's very much the reason as to why he'd suggested she keep information about them to a minimum.]

I haven't said anything to anyone. It's better that I don't.

[And even if she felt she could, Aerith suspects she wouldn't. She wasn't ever planning on telling Cloud and the others anyway. That they found out was purely because of circumstance. If they ever became afraid of her, of what she can do, of what she sees, she isn't sure she could stand it.]

I don't want you to feel like you can't...make friends, here.

( because if anyone's going to do it, it's aerith--in some ways, he's almost envious of how easily she can fit in with anyone. here, he already feels like he sticks out a little more than he would like.

but it's good, isn't it? it's good for her to get out and blossom a little, like her flowers. )

But just be careful, alright? If you feel uncomfortable, let me know. I'll take care of it.

[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.

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.

[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?

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.

[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.]

( 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. )

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Video]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject