expiationnet | ( video )

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It seems that no matter where I find myself, flowers always carry a significant meaning, huh...?

[Ritsu has tried to focus the video on Aldrip's flower field, but since he's using a device that's utterly alien to him, he's decided to err on the side of caution and spend maybe a little too long panning over empty scenery. You know, just in case he's too zoomed in, or the image comes out too blurry, or something else of that nature.

Eventually, though, he does adjust it to focus on himself.]

Where I come from, each day is associated with a flower, and if you happen to be born on that day, then that flower is designated your "birth flower."

If you're interested, why not tell me your birthday? In exchange, I'll tell you your birth flower and its meaning. Given the wide selection of flowers here... maybe I'll even be able to find it.

[He has completely neglected to introduce himself, but clearly flowers are more important.]

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[There may be several others who would be terribly bored by such stories, but Aerith, on the other hand, loves to hear about these kinds of things. She's well aware that flowers have meanings from type to colour. There's even a difference between holding onto a flower for one's self and giving it to another person. She could easily listen to him talk about flowers for hours without tiring.

Whether she's known some of this information already or not is not something that finds way into her expression, because frankly, to her it doesn't matter whether she knows already or not. What matters is learning about him. Asking about this wasn't purely for her benefit, though a good chunk of it was. It was to see how he'd react, how he'd carry himself. So many things are said about a person with how they speak. Their tone. Their word usage. Pitch.]

I agree. Something being sad doesn't make it any less beautiful or important. There are a lot of lessons to be learned in something sad. Many of these stories might be about separation, but I believe that there are some people we're tied to. So when you're leaving one another, it isn't a goodbye. It means there will be a reunion in the future.

[But maybe that's just the romantic in her.]

A reunion in the future...

[Even though two of the stories are about death? That's quite unusual. She must be the type who believes in a kind afterlife. There are points in his life when Ritsu would have scoffed at such wishful thinking, but with everything he's experienced recently, it doesn't seem like such a farfetched concept anymore.]

You're an undauntable optimist, aren't you? [Or maybe a hopeless romantic.] That's probably a valuable trait to have in times like this. When everyone else is starting to give up hope, or when they're feeling too discouraged to keep going...

[He gives her a small smile.]

Maybe you could be like a light in the darkness for them — a flower that blooms even after a tragedy.

I don't think there's anything wrong with being optimistic.

[Undaunted? She's not sure she'd go that far. But she does distinctly believe in not giving up. In trying to do absolutely everything that one can do. That's important. Not just for herself, but for everyone around her. Aerith's situation, however, is a very unique one. She doesn't do what she does for one person. She does it for an entire planet.

That's not exactly something one brings up in a casual conversation. Or even really a non-casual one, honestly.

The way he puts the description. 'A light in the darkness.' 'A flower that blooms after tragedy.' Maybe both have their place. The latter may even be a bit on the nose, but... She just laughs modestly.]

Nothing so grand like that. I don't even know that I'd want that kind of attention, honestly. I just want to help others where I can. If I can. When I can. With words. With actions. I'm not very physically strong, but I sure can be annoyingly persistent.

[And that tends to yield results.]

["A flower that blooms after a tragedy" just seemed like the way to describe her birth flowers, really. He has no idea how fitting it might actually be.

Still, he can definitely relate to the idea of not wanting that kind of attention.]

Sometimes mental strength is more important than physical strength.

["Annoyingly persistent" strikes him as a surprisingly self-aware description, though, and it makes him ask...]

Do you get called annoyingly persistent a lot?

[Mental strength is as valuable as physical strength. Aerith questions her own strength at times, but even she has to admit that she is certainly no wilting flower, no matter how she may seem to the objective eye. In many cases, it is better that others underestimate her.]

Hm... Maybe not in those exact words? But definitely close enough. It doesn't bother me. I am just who I am!

[Yet she doesn't seem at all upset by this realisation. Again, probably because she recognises the value in having that kind of personality.]

That's sort of enviable, in its own way.

[It's preferable to letting oneself be too easily discouraged by others, anyway.]

Have you ever run into cases where no matter what you did, the other side didn't appreciate it?

I'm pretty sure I've probably seen that a lot. Everyone has a different story. It's not about trying to change other people or how they see something. How they approach something. It's about learning why they do it, and understanding them. I've found if I take the time to really talk with someone and learn about them, it's not as bad if they don't appreciate the annoying part of my charm.

[In short, Aerith is a people person, and believes that most people need to be understood. There are some exceptions, of course. She's not sure she could ever want to understand someone like Hojo or his efforts, but that's a very different situation. She's also not sure if she'd ever consider giving Shinra the time of day, considering what they're doing to the planet.]

We can't change free will and that's a very important thing to keep in consideration.

[The annoying part of her charm. That sure is a way to put it.]

Doesn't that... ever get tiring?

[People put on masks to hide who they are, and they build walls to keep others out. He's sure not everyone takes kindly to the idea of someone trying to understand them.]

Isn't it painful? If the other party just pushes you away, or reacts with hostility.

Mmm... No?

[She looks a bit puzzled by the question, actually. And it's not because she isn't sure of the answer itself. It's more or less because she's trying to remember if there's ever been a time that she's just... given up on someone. There are some, she knows, that she feels just aren't going to be worth the time, so with those types, she doesn't push very hard. But almost anyone is worth a touch of effort.

Maybe her heart is just too big.]

Usually if someone does something like that, it's not personal. Although it's true that you can't really help anyone who doesn't want to be helped. I guess that's the difference there, too. I don't want to give advice to people and that can be easy to fall into. I just want to listen and support. Maybe that's why it doesn't really bother me.

I see.

[It's probably not an ego thing on her end, then. Often, when a person shapes their identity around their ability to support others, they're just people who want to be perceived as caring or selfless. Savior complexes are pretty common.

But Aerith — at least on the surface — doesn't seem to fit the label. People with savior complexes tend to take rejection pretty poorly, after all.]

That's very admirable. Just don't forget to take care of yourself, too.

Kindness like that... Well, there are people out there who don't have any qualms with exploiting it.

[She's certainly heard that a lot. Probably out of Elmyra more than anyone else, honestly. Aerith is too nice, too kind for her own good and there are no shortage of people in Midgar alone who would want to take advantage of that. But for one reason or another, even when she's in a situation like that, Aerith has shockingly been able to handle herself.

Impressive considering she certainly doesn't have the appearance of a combatant and she wouldn't label herself as one either.]

It might not seem like it, but I'm pretty good at talking myself out of trouble. Not that I find myself in it very often, honestly. I'm a pretty good judge of what people are like, too. Not perfect, but pretty good!

[Her smile is gentle and reassuring.]

I'll be careful. I don't want to worry anyone. I worry people back home enough already!

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