[it's fine. it's hard for cloud to offer comfort when aerith doesn't even know what she wants, but...it's okay.]
Well look who's come a long way. [teasing lightly, because she remembers a cloud a while ago who didn't always have the patience or care too much to listen to the silly little problems. but then again she also remembers a cloud who'd once admitted he'd have no idea what she was talking about, but he wanted to know anyway. and that's the thing. cloud has always been someone who despite his prickliness, he's become a little softer and a little sweeter. someone kind and someone protective and someone who at his core is brusque, yes, but also loving in his own way that just works for her. and she thinks about back then, when she'd had all of those memories from before, when she'd warned him not to fall in love with her. and now she thinks "okay well it doesn't matter because i didn't listen to my own advice."
it also means she's now thinking about the possibility that despite her best efforts...after this week, if things don't work out, it really could be over. if they don't figure out how to stop the cult, and figure out a way for her to go home (scien's offer is on the table, she thinks, but she's not going to ask right now, not when he's focused on lucas and when he's also going to help karlach and maybe other people and he's already trying to solve other problems), this might be some of the last times she gets to spend with him.
so she's thinking all of this and she's not entirely aware of the way her entire expression kind of crumbles because of these thoughts but she's nodding and swinging their hands a little.]
We can...go through one of the doors to check out one of the other areas? We can go back to the beach, or we can visit the academy. We can go back and get our swimsuits for a few hours at the hot springs, too. Or we can get ice cream or...anything really.
no subject
Well look who's come a long way. [teasing lightly, because she remembers a cloud a while ago who didn't always have the patience or care too much to listen to the silly little problems. but then again she also remembers a cloud who'd once admitted he'd have no idea what she was talking about, but he wanted to know anyway. and that's the thing. cloud has always been someone who despite his prickliness, he's become a little softer and a little sweeter. someone kind and someone protective and someone who at his core is brusque, yes, but also loving in his own way that just works for her. and she thinks about back then, when she'd had all of those memories from before, when she'd warned him not to fall in love with her. and now she thinks "okay well it doesn't matter because i didn't listen to my own advice."
it also means she's now thinking about the possibility that despite her best efforts...after this week, if things don't work out, it really could be over. if they don't figure out how to stop the cult, and figure out a way for her to go home (scien's offer is on the table, she thinks, but she's not going to ask right now, not when he's focused on lucas and when he's also going to help karlach and maybe other people and he's already trying to solve other problems), this might be some of the last times she gets to spend with him.
so she's thinking all of this and she's not entirely aware of the way her entire expression kind of crumbles because of these thoughts but she's nodding and swinging their hands a little.]
We can...go through one of the doors to check out one of the other areas? We can go back to the beach, or we can visit the academy. We can go back and get our swimsuits for a few hours at the hot springs, too. Or we can get ice cream or...anything really.