bookpapers | AERITH

[Lavi will head over to approach her, probably abandoning the booth mid-way for the jjks to handle, shooting her an amused look.]

You've been watching us the whole time, haven't ya?

[which he thinks it's so unfair!!! why couldn't this be a two-way street]

Pretty sure today's been the most exciting it's ever been.

[she does not confirm or deny, but the conspiratorial smile probably says enough.]

I can't say I might being a part of that. It's been way too long since we've gotten to do anything over here. And this time there's no weird soup. I'd call it a win.

Can't believe I'm gonna say this -- but I miss the soup.

[now it's just TUMBLEWEEDS and FIFTEEN PEOPLE]

All those memories seem downright rosy now.

I don't think that's too crazy of a thing to miss. Most of us were still together by then. [it really was just aventurine, boothill and death who were gone.] It's always a little harder when you're somewhere and you keep looking at the spaces where you know people should be, and then they aren't.

[which is perhaps a sad notion, but she shakes her head.]

Sorry. Didn't mean to bring the mood down, like, immediately.

[he shakes his head, looking mournful]

It'll only get worse when you guys leave.

[he says so solemnly... but there's a twinkle in his eye]

Oh, I'm sure you'll find a way to keep yourself occupied in our stead. [whore ♥] I don't know how long we get to stick around, but I know we're all doing our best to spend as much time with everyone as we can.

[STOP HE'S INNOCENT?]

I guess I can't hog ya for too long then...

[rueful.... their very popular aerith who has to make the rounds,]

How're things with you? You're always asking about me in our letters.

Mm...nope! My time is yours right now, so everybody else can wait. [lavi time only? listen she has lowkey been losing her mind at how extremely terrible the last several weekends have been for him and clawing at the walls wanting to talk to him, like hell she's leaving right now.

but it's fine. they can do a back and forth.]

Believe it or not, things are actually pretty okay. It was a lot easier to adjust to everything than I thought. Everything happened so fast back then that having a little more time now to figure some things out has helped a lot.

[AERITH (PLEADING)

it's fine he's totally fine obviously? but he does look pleased when she says that... he's missed talking to her...]

...I'm glad you got that time, and that you weren't alone when you did.

[he'd been afraid of that -- especially back then,]

[lavi :sob: she absolutely does not believe he's fine, but she can accept he's fine enough. it's why she doesn't mind talking a little about herself first.]

Yeah. [there's a pause...and she chooses to continue.] There were some things from back home I was trying to figure out, too. Guess you could say being away helped there. There was a problem I wasn't sure how to fix, but I think I have an idea now. I don't know if it'll work, but it's nice to have the option when I might not have thought about it sooner. But it's funny how things are, right? You have something that sounds like it's nearly fate, but with more time, and working with other people, you realize maybe it doesn't have to go the way you thought it would end.

[Lavi listens closely -- and her words are -- very like her, and at the same time surprising. He's learned a lot about hope and the kind of people who wield it, and Aerith has always struck him as someone who has so much of it for others, maybe at the risk of having less for herself.

...But it's nice to hear this now, especially on the heels of so many people going back to their own hopeless situations.]

...That's the first bit of good news I've heard in a while.

[he doesn't know the exact details, though he's seen memories and wondered from talking to yuffie, but he hadn't pushed either subject.]

[this is not a wrong assessment even if she has no idea he thinks this about her.]

You think so? [it's...nice. even if it's about her and may not help the overall situation, it's giving back that little bit of hope. like "hey, things can be better for me, so i'm sure they can be better for you." she's not sure it's appropriate to explain either, largely in part because she's not sure what yuffie might've said.] I wish there was more good news that was a little more broad, but...maybe it's like starting small. If there's one little good thing, another one can come up. And then more and more build on them until there's something good for everyone.

[maybe if lavi said these things out loud then she'd know.... instead he's an idiot!!!]

Hey, just hearing about yours is enough!

[there have been so many sad and hopeless moments, that this one really does feel like it's enough]

And you're right -- maybe you just knocked down a whole line of dominoes.

Edited 2024-07-29 00:49 (UTC)

[lavi please say things.]

For now! But we're gonna do our best to bring you even better news next time we get to talk, I hope. There are things we're still trying but...no different than here, right? It's all trial and error and hoping something sticks.

It'd be nice to think of this as paving the way for more good things to happen though. Like a bridge to connect us again.

[lavi later: im so sorry aerith we fcked up and got war killed damn]

It's easier building just half of one too, that way we can all meet in the middle. Though maybe I'll pop over on your side first? I've heard that I'm pretty high in demand.

[aerith, in the gy, shrieking.

anyway she does smile to that.]

I would personally love to give you a tour myself. [and then, a little more solemnly:] ...he doesn't say it, but he misses you, I think. Things have been a little hard for him, but I can usually coax him out and get him to spend time with me as much as he hates that.

[he's still smiling, though there's a brief pained look in his eye at the mention,]

He's such a pain in the ass. Always putting up a fight, but giving in anyway.

...Thanks for looking after him.

[yeah that's what she thought.]

Sounds like someone else I know. [cloud behavior.] But don't thank me for that. You've been looking after our girl, right? And it's not like he's actually terrible despite what he wants me to think.

That's true -- you had him figured out since the moment you met 'im.

[he looks very fond as he recalls this memory..... 84 years ago]

And I dunno if I'm doing the looking after -- it's more like she's looking after me.

[there's a little hum of agreement. she won't argue that, though there sure is a lot about him she doesn't always get.]

You don't think it can be both? Looking after people isn't always a one-way street.

AERITH

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