[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]

We're like that with any of our friends, aren't we? We want to support them without restraining them, but we also want them to be safe and we worry when they might not be. It's a difficult balance. I'm sure I put Cloud through plenty of stuff and yet he's still willing to put up with me.

You're welcome to join me anytime you'd like to. I'm not suspecting I'm ready to venture out too far just yet, but we should definitely get out of Aldrip and see what the surrounding lay of the land is like.

[emyoji]

Is that how it is?

[He wonders if that's what his life has been. Has he been too restraining? Have people who cared for him actually been stopping themselves from restraining him in the past? Seimei probably messed that up, if this is what good support should be. After all, he did in a way restrict the entire world without asking.

Maybe he's just a bad friend.]

Ah, but that means he likes it, right? Or he wouldn't go along with it?

[Doubts shrugged aside, he smiles brightly, happy to get the invitation.]

In that case, I will join you. I want to see this world for what it is, and I suppose we can't do that by living in one place forever. If I help protect you, your bodyguard should be satisfied, right?