... We were out there so late... [ he huffs a little ] We'd just met. She brought me home after I fell through her roof. Her mother ... she asked me privately to leave during the night and not contact Aerith again. Didn't want me to put her in danger. So I did.
[ he shakes his head before, dryly; ]
Got all the way to the end of the sector to find her waiting for me so she could bring me the rest of the way.
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[she wipes the blood away from her face.]
I used to have the same. When I had surgically removed some of my memories.
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[ he frowns at her, a little wary. ]
That's not exactly something I know how to do.
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[she frowns as well, chewing the inside of her cheek.]
...My pressuring you about it won't help, either.
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But if you do ever want to...to talk about it.
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[ he sounds unsure what she is offering, here. ]
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I know what that is like.
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[ he really does seem to be thinking about it, but then he winces and holds his head with a hiss. ow. he thought about it too hard. ]
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...Let's change the subject. Your friend seems nice.
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... Aerith. [ he nods a little ] ... She can be. But she's stubborn, too.
[ he sounds fond. and worried. it is not really a secret that his hostage is named aerith because sometimes you die and letters are doxxing ]
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[it isn't a secret, but it's a little sadder to put a face to a name.]
You are stubborn, so I imagine your friends must be.
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[ he shakes his head before, dryly; ]
Got all the way to the end of the sector to find her waiting for me so she could bring me the rest of the way.
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[it sounds nice. she listens to the story, quiet, just letting him talk.]
I'm sure she will be safe.
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[ there's a sigh, like part of it is him trying to convince himself of it too ]
I promised her I'd come for her before. Not going to break it this time either.
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It's difficult, knowing that we do not live here only for ourselves.
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... Yeah. Whatever choice we make, someone else might pay the price for it.