The cats? [she has not explored that far, but the look on her face is very much ":o". yes please. she will take his arm, but she's also mindful of his injuries.] Better than the rats in the village, I bet.
I never did understand why you guys ended up in the barn. [given his. like. everything.] If they were here first, guess I can see why they wouldn't leave. The barn cats back on the ranch were the same way if you could get them close enough. I am kinda jealous you got a shopping center though. The most we had was the clothing shop on the island before it disappeared this week.
[...this is the look of someone who has just realized she may have lost her entire new wardrobe. damn.]
—wait really? [like. she still wants to see cats because she would simply like to hug a small and fluffy animal after nine hours of screaming but holy shit wait.] Is it permanent? It disappeared for us after a week.
Oh I see. [a delay, maybe? she doesn't have a frame of reference for this but she is in fact now worried it will disappear. that's a tomorrow problem though. today it's cats and aventurine and just...kind of reveling in being here and all too aware of what's happened.] I don't think I'll mind that. Didn't have a lot back home to begin with. You learn to find the things you like best and take care of them.
[ They make it to the entrance of the shopping center and once inside, they can spot a few of the cats already. ]
It may be hard to believe when I'm dressed this way, but I know what you mean, Miss Aerith. Even now, I try to take care of what I have. A learned habit from before.
[she does, actually, visibly perk up a little upon seeing the cats and kind of pulls aventurine a little faster so they can get inside and get closer. come to her, kitties.
but she is still listening to what he says, and there's a look of surprise on her face.]
Well, you're right about that. It is a little hard to believe, but looks don't tell a whole story. [interesting though.] ...a high risk came with a high enough reward for you?
Funny that you think I wouldn't remember things you've said. [it's just a light call out, but as soon as the cats approach she's carefully letting go of his arm to full-on crouch to the ground and pet these fuzzy creatures.
and eventually dropping to a full sit. she's an optimist by nature and generally tries to stay hopeful in all things, but...today she is a little tired and a little sad and kind of wants to just chill for a bit, picking up cat to allow it into her lap.]
I think that's even more impressive than starting out in a high place to begin with. Even if it's not entirely conventional, you still worked for it.
[ He will join her on the floor, watching a cat clamber onto his lap and immediately curl up there. His expression softens as he starts petting this purring machine. ]
That's kind of you to say.
[ There's something nostalgic in his tone, but his gaze lifts to study Aerith. ]
I've noticed it before, but you have quite the ability to lift people's spirits.
[therapeutic kitties...she's focused on the cat to scritch under its chin even though she knows aventurine's looking at her.]
You think? [she's not really agreeing or disagreeing, and it's said more like "that's nice of you to think."] ...there's a lot of people who were suffering even before we got here, I think. Those are the people I want to be able to help the most, but I don't think that want stops just because a person seems fine.
Maybe. But...[how to explain...] Maybe I don't know how to do anything else. As you've probably guessed, I'm not actually that strong in a fight. [considering lucas really did beat the hell out of her in the end.] But if I can help people stay positive and be someone they can talk to, or even just keeping people safe from harm, then that's all I can ask for. That's...what I do back home, too. Most of my spells are for healing or protection. It all comes from the same place.
[ He listens attentively, quietly. Maybe he's trying to better understand, as a person who's been alone and never really had to look out for anyone but himself, the idea of preserving everyone else. ]
Then... what keeps you positive? Who do you talk to?
[her attention is focused on a cat for a moment so that she doesn't have to answer.]
Myself, I guess? [...well, no, that's not entirely right either.] Recently it's been Cloud when I think he can listen, or friends of ours that aren't here. Yuffie tries, but...she's still a kid. [and she trusts yuffie with her life, of course, and knows yuffie can handle herself, but she's not going to burden a teenage girl either when everything's already so bad.] Staying positive for them keeps me positive enough usually.
[sometimes you are still learning how to share your problems with other people because you never had the option until recently.]
Usually, yeah. [the way she says this really is like "he's confused but he's got the spirit, usually." it's fine, it's fine.] But I think I will. This is...a pretty big change still, knowing so many people that I can actually talk to at all. I know what to do for them, but it's the other part I'm still figuring out, I guess. We're all learning though. Can't ignore that either.
[also IT IS FINE, yuul if you would like to handwave/drop this one and pick up in a new thread just for your inbox i am okay with that since i did just ask for a new one. i'm good either way ♥]
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Having slept in the same building as those rats, I can assure you that the cats are much better.
[ His barn PTSD. ]
They don't leave the shopping center, and some of them are shyer than others, but they make for good company.
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I never did understand why you guys ended up in the barn. [given his. like. everything.] If they were here first, guess I can see why they wouldn't leave. The barn cats back on the ranch were the same way if you could get them close enough. I am kinda jealous you got a shopping center though. The most we had was the clothing shop on the island before it disappeared this week.
[...this is the look of someone who has just realized she may have lost her entire new wardrobe. damn.]
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You're not going to believe this. That island is here now, with the clothing shop.
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[ Assumes that if it's the same as the living side, it's meant to be temporary. ]
... I grabbed a bunch of stuff from the store, though. It'll probably seem emptier than what you remember.
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It may be hard to believe when I'm dressed this way, but I know what you mean, Miss Aerith. Even now, I try to take care of what I have. A learned habit from before.
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but she is still listening to what he says, and there's a look of surprise on her face.]
Well, you're right about that. It is a little hard to believe, but looks don't tell a whole story. [interesting though.] ...a high risk came with a high enough reward for you?
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Still remember that, do you? Yes, I made the right bets and calls... Everything else fell into place after that.
[ The friendlier cats will come up to say hello, already purring and tangling themselves up between both their legs. ]
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and eventually dropping to a full sit. she's an optimist by nature and generally tries to stay hopeful in all things, but...today she is a little tired and a little sad and kind of wants to just chill for a bit, picking up cat to allow it into her lap.]
I think that's even more impressive than starting out in a high place to begin with. Even if it's not entirely conventional, you still worked for it.
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That's kind of you to say.
[ There's something nostalgic in his tone, but his gaze lifts to study Aerith. ]
I've noticed it before, but you have quite the ability to lift people's spirits.
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You think? [she's not really agreeing or disagreeing, and it's said more like "that's nice of you to think."] ...there's a lot of people who were suffering even before we got here, I think. Those are the people I want to be able to help the most, but I don't think that want stops just because a person seems fine.
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That's a lot for one person to take on.
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[her strong desire to help everyone.]
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Then... what keeps you positive? Who do you talk to?
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Myself, I guess? [...well, no, that's not entirely right either.] Recently it's been Cloud when I think he can listen, or friends of ours that aren't here. Yuffie tries, but...she's still a kid. [and she trusts yuffie with her life, of course, and knows yuffie can handle herself, but she's not going to burden a teenage girl either when everything's already so bad.] Staying positive for them keeps me positive enough usually.
[sometimes you are still learning how to share your problems with other people because you never had the option until recently.]
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I see... Well, I'm glad to know you have Cloud to talk to at least.
[ Tries to imagine him doing Aerith's work and fails miserably. ]
And I hope in the coming days, you'll find more of us to talk to when you need it.
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[also IT IS FINE, yuul if you would like to handwave/drop this one and pick up in a new thread just for your inbox i am okay with that since i did just ask for a new one. i'm good either way ♥]