expiationnet | [Video]

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[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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Aerith, honey, my sweetie -- if Cloud is really like how we described him, is he really going to be okay with you inviting every lonely soul into your bedroom?

I didn't say they all had to come in at the same time. He might not be real happy about it to begin with, but I think he'll loosen up in time.

I can usually wear him down. Eventually.

[Kind of. Might not always work. Aerith knows better than to constantly press her luck.]

You can always shift some of those people to my room, if you'd like. Although, I'd love to see you again, Aerith. We'll need to catch lunch sometime like we promised.

When are you free? And when can we drag Cloud to his doom?

I do owe you a lunch.

As for Cloud, I don't actually know. Have you run into him yet? I think he's been out looking for work, which sounds just like him. I don't think he does very well being idle, so he's probably intent on keeping himself busy.

Find any good places around here? I need to do more exploring myself... I've just been trying to look for people to fight me so I can keep up with my physique.

You know! I think I did! He's one of the ones that popped up when I asked for a fighting partner.

What kind of secrets can you tell me about him? Anything juicy so I can have the upper hand? Just kidding.

I'm still getting to know the area, so I can't say for sure. I know the bar likes to sing a lot of songs about places I've never heard of. They get very friendly later at night!

[After they've had all the drinks, of course. A shame they haven't given her any useful information. Not that she'd know if it's useful or not, since it seems to be about stories and landmarks, things like that. Maybe one day it'll be useful?]

Uhm. It's not really a secret because you'll see it when you see him, but he uses a really large sword. And he makes it look super easy! Other than that, it's best just to experience him for yourself.

[Which really just means that she doesn't know very much about Cloud's past outside of what he's chosen to share. She's pried a little, but not excessively. Just enough to say she knows something about him. In spite of that, she respects one's desires to have secrets, given she carries plenty about herself. Anything anyone here learns about him beyond the simple stuff will be entirely up to Cloud's wishes.]

That so? Maybe I'll need to go to the bar sometime so I can serenade them with my beautiful voice. Perhaps this young lady would like to come with me, sometime?

[She's delighted to be in Aerith's company, if anything. The girl reminded her of one of her friends back home, making her a bit homesick, but she'll manage.]

Noted! I'll be sure not to kick his butt, or to have my butt kicked too hard. I'm excited to fight the guy though, he seems pretty cool and collected.

I think I could agree to that!

[Lunch. A nighttime visit. It's nice to have someone want her companionship like this. It was only a little bit before arrival that she had begun to form that close friendship with Tifa and the others. Before any of that, she couldn't have said she had many experiences with friendships like that.]

Those are good descriptions for him. Cool and collected. He's very cool.

I'm glad! I'm eager to know more about you. You're a very nice lady.

[Rin could easily make friends, but she certainly wanted to spend more time with Aerith. The girl showed her nothing but kindness when she first arrived here, and even hung out with her when she was sad and homesick.]

Speaking fondly of your bodyguard~? Cute.

I'm usually pretty nice! I guess it's possible for me not to be? That doesn't happen very often, though.

[One day, she'll regale Rin with the tale of the Wall Market misadventure. In fact, she almost thinks to go into it now, but 'fond' and 'bodyguard' in the same sentence grab her attention. It's true, isn't it? She is fond of Cloud.]

I care about him. There's no reason for me not to be fond of him. Although I don't know that I'd say it like that to him. He's kind of feelings averse, I think.

Yeah? I'm sure there are interesting stories of when you aren't so nice. I'd love to hear them over lunch, or a drink sometime. They're probably hilarious.

[Please. She needs to know this information.]

As sweet as that is... Yeah. I would say that people like him tend to be feelings averse. Not that it's a bad thing! It's kind of charming in it's own way.

I'm sure I can find a way to wiggle them in at some point!

[Once Cloud says it's okay for her to tell a little more about herself. Even as she's thinking about it, she's wondering what she can and can't get away with. But speaking of her blond-haired muscle man—]

I'd agree with that, too. I can tell that he's trying. He doesn't have to, but the idea that he does means a lot to me. I would, however, be just fine if he didn't.

I'm sure we can get him out of his shell if he wants to be taken out of his shell. Just a gentle push from two lovely ladies!

I'm kidding, of course. Cloud's fine the way that he is, and I'm sure he cares about you and other people in his own way. That's what makes him special.

But honestly, it might be fun to tease him a little bit. Just a little.

[Aerith does like to give him a push here and there. Some people need it. But she's always careful not to push too hard. There is something incredibly heartening that someone else finds him to be fine just the way he is. If Cloud was any different, he wouldn't be Cloud anymore.]

If I can get away with teasing him a little, then so can you. If I didn't care, after all, I wouldn't tease him to begin with. I feel like that's something you and I have in common.

[Call it a hunch.]

I do love teasing the people I care about... Not too much, but just enough to make them flustered. I think it helps them relax a bit more after a good bit of teasing.

[Oh her hunch was absolutely right.]

I wonder if Cloud will be able to handle us two women, hehe. He might explode with two of us, but oh well!

[She isn't sure she would describe Cloud ever as relaxed. If anything, her teasing him seems to just put him more on edge, which is part of the reason she doesn't do it in excess. But maybe he'll be different with different people. Better to just let Rin test it out for herself.]

He can probably handle it. There's a friend of ours back home who teases him, too. I thought he'd have a hard time with us both, but he handled it in stride.

[Rin isn't very much like Tifa, Aerith thinks, but maybe a little bit. Cloud will probably be just fine.]

That guy gets more interesting the more I learn about him. I guess he's not as prickly as I initially thought he might be. Honestly, with the conversation we had, he isn't a bad guy at all. Like you said, a bit bad with feelings, but he cares in his own little way! It's really sweet to see.

[True. He is Cloud Strife.]

Anyway, I'll be sure to keep your bodyguard in one piece after our duel. I don't think we'll actually be hitting each other, so a healer might not be needed afterward.

[There's not really anything here that Aerith isn't inclined to agree with. Cloud isn't as prickly. He can certainly try to be, but there's so much more to him than just that. And he's a wonderful guy, not great with feelings, but extremely caring. Rin's got him nailed down.

Cloud would hate to hear that.

Of course there are other complexities to him, but she'll come to find them in her own time.]

Can I come watch? I won't interfere. I just wanna watch.

Of course you can come and watch! I think... We might be trying to investigate some things after our little duel. So the more the merrier! Plus, I think Cloud might like it, if you were to go.

Oh, you think so?

[She's rather under the impression that Cloud likes it when she's safe and out of harm's way. She's personally inclined to agree with Rin. The more the merrier, but she also understands why Cloud would be apprehensive to let something happen to her.]

Let's check with him first. If he doesn't mind me spectating, I'll come on by and bring you guys something to eat for after. If he doesn't want me to go with you afterwards, I can also just stay here in town. It's not a big deal to me.

[Or so she says.]

I would like that! My stomach is always itching
for something to eat after a nice little spar, to be honest with you. So, yeah, let's ask him first, and see what he says, then we can plan for a picnic or something!

Sounds like a plan to me. I guess it's easier if I ask since we're rooming together. But it might sound better coming from you? After all, he doesn't know that I know you're both going to have this little fight. I don't want him to think I'm just inviting myself along.

Don't worry! I'll let Cloud now, and we'll do this song and dance, hehe.

Sounds good! I can't wait to watch! I'll be cheering for you both.

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