[ Maika doesn't like being cooped up inside in the best of circumstances, and less so when things have been getting... distinctly more annoying. She's only a few more obnoxious events away from deciding to start sleeping outside altogether.
But for now, giving in with minimal grumbling to an outing is the next best thing. It's a strange reminder of their early conversations to wander through Carnation Court with Aerith, Maika not even mindful of the way the space she unconsciously leaves between them has reduced. When another pushy food vendor turns hopeful eyes towards them, it's only natural to dodge back towards Aerith and nudge her shoulder to hurry her along a little. ]
They're vultures today... If you get conned into doing more errands for them, I'm making a run for it. [ (threat) (real??) Maika scans the restaurants around them for haven. If they go sit, they won't be targets anymore... probably. ]
[ It's nice walking around with someone by her side, and it's why she always makes an effort to go out with someone else whenever she does go on her little ventures. It just so happens that most of the time, she enlists Maika to her cause.
And if this time she's paying less attention to the space between them, well... she doesn't think Maika will mind all too much. ]
Aw, come on. You wouldn't do a good deed for one of our lovely citizens?
[ She grins, knowing full well that the citizens in this town in their present state are anything but lovely. But she lets her self be nudged along anyway, eventually coming to stop at a table for two. ]
And feed into more of their conflict bullshit? Not a chance.
[ See? She even has an excuse ready-made for why she isn't going to play along with them. She's not being difficult... she's being strategic.
Luckily Aerith is either quick on the uptake to play along with her plan, or else their thoughts are moving along the same lines. Maika isn't going to examine too closely which it is. It doesn't matter, right? Either works for her purposes. ]
Please. Before I have to take a bite out of one of them instead.
[ Joking? Probably? But since Aerith is amenable, Maika is quick to shepherd them in. ]
[ Maika gives the barest, momentary consideration to her dignity. To the measly limitations of a human appetite. It's not like she's generally much for decorum, but it's worth at least a tiny bit of thought with this company...
[ Aerith... please. She's getting a long, long speaking look from Maika for that one. She's just going to savor this smirk like she will the burger. ]
...Try to make it a real contest.
[ (affectionate). But Maika will absolutely also be reaching in her pocket to ready her phone before they order. She needs pictures of this so badly. ]
[ They are, in fact, tucked safely in Maika's diary and therefore with her at all times. But Aerith doesn't need to know that. Instead, Maika wiggles her phone and gives a little smirk. ]
Maybe I should post this one. Or save that for later.
[ Maybe everyone deserves to see Aerith being defeated by a burger in the near future? ]
So everyone can make fun of me, huh? Wow, you've got a real mean streak in you!
[ As if she wasn't already aware of that already... but despite her pout, Aerith doesn't seem too put out by the thought of Maika actually posting it. There's an element of fun to it, after all.
She recovers quickly, too, waving a waiter down and immediately offering the two of them up as burger sacrifices. Too bad that also means the waiter turns toward the restaurant at large and announces that there are two new challengers.
Aerith sneaks a grin at Maika. Is she embarrassed? ]
And you keep spending time with me anyway. I think you like mean people. I think you're jealous.
[ Don't you ever get tired of being nice, Aerith? Maika flashes her a quick grin, which transforms into incredulity when the waiter makes a fuss and some of the other patrons look over. Luckily Maika is immune to embarrassment from anything but emotions, so after a second of surprise, she rolls her eyes. ]
See? I won't even have to post it. They'll do it for me.
[ Yeah, that sure is a fuss being made, and even one of the other waiters has a camera at the ready. So much for doing this covertly… but Aerith doesn’t mind too much. It’s simply another record of a memory made. And now that the initial fuss is over, the waiter disappears to go give their order to the kitchen, leaving them by themselves again, other patrons having returned to their own meals and conversations.
But… jealousy, huh? No, that’s not it. She knows that for sure. ]
Ever consider I just like spending time with you a lot?
[ But she does like mean people. A little. Maybe. ]
[ If Aerith's feeling shy from all the attention, Maika thinks she hides it pretty well. She watches her more than the nearby patrons, who have already tragically been relegated in her mind to NPC status.
Especially when Aerith goes and says something like that. Maika startles a little, actually leaning back slightly in her seat in unconscious retreat. ]
I already said you were strange. That doesn't need repeating, does it?
[ What is Maika supposed to do when confronted point-blank with it, anyway? It's not like she wants to change Aerith's mind. ]
[ She's teasing, but she understands where Maika is coming from. Sometimes you live the sort of life that makes it hard to relate to anyone "normal." ]
If you want my opinion, though... I think you're pretty cool.
[ There's more, of course there is, but that's all she'll say this moment. ]
You really don't... no, of course not. I've been practically human the entire time you've known me.
[ Not that she thinks Aerith would hate someone inhuman. But there's a huge difference between this, and the creature that can wipe out thousands in the blink of an eye.
Still. She'd made plenty of people hate her just fine long before she ever had those powers under control. So it's... something. ]
[ And that's not something she's going to back down from! Maika Is Cool, a new Aerith campaign coming straight to you. ]
But you know... my opinion isn't going to change, even if you were suddenly not as human as you are now. The you here is still you, even if it's not the whole picture.
[ That's... welcome and unwelcome. There's enough reason underpinning it that Maika doesn't flinch back entirely. Not so open-ended that it's completely untrustworthy. ]
Maybe. And maybe there's a lot that's not in that picture. I've done things that make Ushirono's list of crimes sound almost cute. I just seem safe because I'm weaker here.
[ That could very well be the case, but at the same time, Aerith still thinks there's a lot of truth to the powered down version of Maika she's seen here. Sitting back in her chair, she gives herself a moment to think. ]
[ Maika props her chin on her hand, her eyes narrowing in something like amusement for a second. At herself, or at Aerith? Maybe both. ]
There's nothing stopping me from lying. Or picking whatever reason I think would tug at your heart.
[ Because Aerith is kind, would want to believe her. She gives it a moment's further consideration. ]
But it's not like it's a secret. I'm not a good person.... strip away all the noise and that's what it comes down to. I want to live, no matter how many other people that hurts.
[ You know, the thing she said she doubted Aerith could choose to do. ]
[ She could have lied, and yet she didn't. To Aerith, that makes a difference, and it's why she sits in a contemplative sort of silence for a few moments, her eyes searching Maika's face for an answer that she wouldn't know how to identify were she to even find it.
Eventually, though, she settles on another question. ]
Why? Why do you want to live so badly?
[ What does she have waiting for her to make her strive so far? What drives her? That's what Aerith wants to know. ]
Does it matter, when the people who die so I can live want to live just as much?
[ Maika's brow furrows at that, and she scuffs a boot restlessly and leans back in her chair. She hates giving words that sound like excuses.
But... it's not like she's never thought about this, either. She has answers upon answers. ]
...There's something the poets say. "There's more hunger in the world than love." That's probably true. But... I still think there's more to the world than that. There's more to me than just hunger and death. I'm not good. But as long as I exist, I can make people even worse than me regret trying to put more pain and misery into a world that doesn't need any more of that shit. Maybe that would make up for something.
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week 6, post Arcana forecast
But for now, giving in with minimal grumbling to an outing is the next best thing. It's a strange reminder of their early conversations to wander through Carnation Court with Aerith, Maika not even mindful of the way the space she unconsciously leaves between them has reduced. When another pushy food vendor turns hopeful eyes towards them, it's only natural to dodge back towards Aerith and nudge her shoulder to hurry her along a little. ]
They're vultures today... If you get conned into doing more errands for them, I'm making a run for it. [ (threat) (real??) Maika scans the restaurants around them for haven. If they go sit, they won't be targets anymore... probably. ]
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And if this time she's paying less attention to the space between them, well... she doesn't think Maika will mind all too much. ]
Aw, come on. You wouldn't do a good deed for one of our lovely citizens?
[ She grins, knowing full well that the citizens in this town in their present state are anything but lovely. But she lets her self be nudged along anyway, eventually coming to stop at a table for two. ]
You hungry? I know I am.
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[ See? She even has an excuse ready-made for why she isn't going to play along with them. She's not being difficult... she's being strategic.
Luckily Aerith is either quick on the uptake to play along with her plan, or else their thoughts are moving along the same lines. Maika isn't going to examine too closely which it is. It doesn't matter, right? Either works for her purposes. ]
Please. Before I have to take a bite out of one of them instead.
[ Joking? Probably? But since Aerith is amenable, Maika is quick to shepherd them in. ]
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If you're that hungry, then... wanna try that big burger challenge?
[ Aerith isn't completely serious about this, but... she wouldn't mind seeing Maika try either. ]
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But that's alright. She has a backup plan. ]
I will if you will. Is that a challenge?
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You know what? Yeah, it is a challenge. Think you can beat me?
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...Try to make it a real contest.
[ (affectionate). But Maika will absolutely also be reaching in her pocket to ready her phone before they order. She needs pictures of this so badly. ]
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A picture? Seriously? At least take a nice one of me first.
[ Y'know, before she stuffs her face full of burger. ]
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[ It's absolutely bullying!! But she'll still raise the phone to snap a quick picture of Aerith pouting. There, quality. ]
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[ They're cute pictures! But when she hears the phone shutter go off, Aerith grins, leaning foward a bit. ]
What are you gonna do with that one, huh?
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[ They are, in fact, tucked safely in Maika's diary and therefore with her at all times. But Aerith doesn't need to know that. Instead, Maika wiggles her phone and gives a little smirk. ]
Maybe I should post this one. Or save that for later.
[ Maybe everyone deserves to see Aerith being defeated by a burger in the near future? ]
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[ As if she wasn't already aware of that already... but despite her pout, Aerith doesn't seem too put out by the thought of Maika actually posting it. There's an element of fun to it, after all.
She recovers quickly, too, waving a waiter down and immediately offering the two of them up as burger sacrifices. Too bad that also means the waiter turns toward the restaurant at large and announces that there are two new challengers.
Aerith sneaks a grin at Maika. Is she embarrassed? ]
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[ Don't you ever get tired of being nice, Aerith? Maika flashes her a quick grin, which transforms into incredulity when the waiter makes a fuss and some of the other patrons look over. Luckily Maika is immune to embarrassment from anything but emotions, so after a second of surprise, she rolls her eyes. ]
See? I won't even have to post it. They'll do it for me.
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But… jealousy, huh? No, that’s not it. She knows that for sure. ]
Ever consider I just like spending time with you a lot?
[ But she does like mean people. A little. Maybe. ]
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Especially when Aerith goes and says something like that. Maika startles a little, actually leaning back slightly in her seat in unconscious retreat. ]
I already said you were strange. That doesn't need repeating, does it?
[ What is Maika supposed to do when confronted point-blank with it, anyway? It's not like she wants to change Aerith's mind. ]
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[ And she still prefers "unique" here, but she's not going to protest anyway. ]
Guess that means you like hanging out with strange people, so I don't mind it.
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That's the only kind worth spending time with. I wouldn't know what to do with a normal person anyway. ...Scare them, probably.
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[ She's teasing, but she understands where Maika is coming from. Sometimes you live the sort of life that makes it hard to relate to anyone "normal." ]
If you want my opinion, though... I think you're pretty cool.
[ There's more, of course there is, but that's all she'll say this moment. ]
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[ Not that she thinks Aerith would hate someone inhuman. But there's a huge difference between this, and the creature that can wipe out thousands in the blink of an eye.
Still. She'd made plenty of people hate her just fine long before she ever had those powers under control. So it's... something. ]
"Cool"? Really?
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[ And that's not something she's going to back down from! Maika Is Cool, a new Aerith campaign coming straight to you. ]
But you know... my opinion isn't going to change, even if you were suddenly not as human as you are now. The you here is still you, even if it's not the whole picture.
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Maybe. And maybe there's a lot that's not in that picture. I've done things that make Ushirono's list of crimes sound almost cute. I just seem safe because I'm weaker here.
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What's your reason for doing those things?
[ That, she thinks, makes a difference. ]
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There's nothing stopping me from lying. Or picking whatever reason I think would tug at your heart.
[ Because Aerith is kind, would want to believe her. She gives it a moment's further consideration. ]
But it's not like it's a secret. I'm not a good person.... strip away all the noise and that's what it comes down to. I want to live, no matter how many other people that hurts.
[ You know, the thing she said she doubted Aerith could choose to do. ]
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Eventually, though, she settles on another question. ]
Why? Why do you want to live so badly?
[ What does she have waiting for her to make her strive so far? What drives her? That's what Aerith wants to know. ]
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[ Maika's brow furrows at that, and she scuffs a boot restlessly and leans back in her chair. She hates giving words that sound like excuses.
But... it's not like she's never thought about this, either. She has answers upon answers. ]
...There's something the poets say. "There's more hunger in the world than love." That's probably true. But... I still think there's more to the world than that. There's more to me than just hunger and death. I'm not good. But as long as I exist, I can make people even worse than me regret trying to put more pain and misery into a world that doesn't need any more of that shit. Maybe that would make up for something.
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