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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I'll take it under consideration.

[He's softened a bit, perhaps, when it comes to taking would-be pirates under his wing, thanks to Vaan, though it helps a great deal that this is only jest.]

I can't imagine it will be anytime soon, however. I'm currently missing my ship— and I've yet to determine if flight is something people around here have managed. Still, only a matter of time. I'm not inclined to remain grounded any longer than I have to.

[Which is to say that he'll find a way to take to the skies again, given half a chance.]

Oh, I didn't even think about it. I bet it's hard for someone who's used to being in the sky having to be stuck on the ground.

[And she has no idea if they even know anything about sky travel. Do they have a space programme or something equivalent to it? Aerith is beginning to doubt it.]

The only thing I saw was a ship for the water, I think? I don't know if it was operable, though. I haven't even seen anything that would be appropriate for something that takes to the skies. Buuuuut, it's not like I know much about that kind of thing anyway. I'm definitely probably not the person to be asking. Couldn't hurt to check with the locals. If they look super confused when you do, I think that'd be answer enough.

It is something of a challenge, but I've faced worse. Given the opportunity, I'm determined to rectify it.

[He may not have always been a man of the sky, but it's long since become a part of who he is. Of course, finding such an opportunity here means resigning oneself to the fact that he's rather stuck at the moment, which he is less than inclined to do. Rather troublesome all around, in his opinion.]

I'll be asking around, at the very least, though if you do happen to hear something, I trust you'd pass it on. I imagine I'll find out rather quickly, as you say, but perhaps the natives will surprise me. I can't say I fully understand them. I'll admit, I'm still suspicious of most of them.

Probably safer to be suspicious, actually. Not overly so, but just enough to understand there might be more to all of this.

[There is probably something more to all of this. Things here are too nice to stay this way. Something's going to go wrong eventually. It would be better to expect the unexpected.]

If you find anything out about airships, I wanna hear all about it! I've always wanted to go on one, so I really want to see one, too.

Do my ears deceive me, or does that sound like the beginning of a compromise regarding our differing approaches?

[He smiles, and despite how very irritable he'd been during their first meeting, it's both warm and genuine, moreso than the cheek he'd been giving her even a few moments before while discussing his chosen path. Of course, it's all rhetorical— he doesn't expect a real answer, but he'll admit that he's enjoying the fairly easy banter that's begun to spring up between them.]

That said, I'll be certain to let you know. For now, it seems like you'll have your hands full, regarding that invitation you made in your first message. Something tells me your bodyguard might have some opinions about that. No doubt we'll cross paths again soon, flower girl.

[Video]

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setting us up to wrap!