[ ...this isn't ukyo realizing he just gave her such an earnest compliment just now. he's definitely not the one who's supposed to look sheepish here, but he is. luckily he can finish off his danish to help regain his composure. ]
You can talk to the planet...that makes you sound like some kind of princess. What does it say?
Oh, umm... [ he could try to talk around it like he just did, but that looks of hers compels him to answer honestly. he's not very good at lying anyway, and she just shared something important with him.
(maybe it'll sound less weird considering she just told him that she talks to her planet). ]
I've lived the month of August, 20XX, over and over again. I'd tell you how many times but I honestly don't remember, but it's in the thousands. It's the August of various timelines but the same people, with big and small differences. So I've gotten good at being able to tell what's going to happen, even if never happens in quite the same way.
Some people are fated to die when they turn twenty, or others when they take a certain job, or go to a certain place. It's impossible to really avoid fate altogether but...you can cheat it or postpone it, at least for a little while. I've been living the same month over and over again, so I guess you can say I'm good at spotting it?
So I try to help people when I can, even if a lot of the times—most of the times, no, I guess all of the times...it's just a temporary measure.
[ Maybe to some it would seem like a farfetched story, but to Aerith? She knows that anything is possible. It's possible to be so in tune with your surroundings that you're able to manipulate things such as time... though, of course, she wouldn't even know how to go about doing that in her world. Even so, that doesn't mean there aren't easier means of doing so elsewhere.
If world travel is possible, so is time travel. ]
So you're trying to cheat it... but are you doing it for everyone you come across? [ That would be selfless, repeating the same month over and over again just to help random passersby. So... ] Or is it to save someone specific?
One person, the girlfriend I told you about—it's not really correct to call her my girlfriend though, she hasn't been since that first time and she doesn't remember who I am. And usually she finds love with someone else, and that's okay, as long as she's happy. Her name is Ai.
Sometimes as a result I'm able to help someone else, and that makes me happy too but I'm not that selfless.
I just want her to be happy and safe. Which means not being with me, so—I won't say it wasn't, isn't, hard sometimes but I love her, yeah.
It sounds kind of contradictory, right? But I really don't mind and until now, I never really had the time to do anything other than try to make sure she lived through the month of August.
[ another reason this entire experience has been strange. ]
No, I don't think so. If anything, I'm the contradictory one here. I'd want the person I love to be happy too, but I think I'd still feel a little bit jealous anyway.
[ With time she'd get over it, of course, but still. She knows herself well enough to have a good idea of how she would feel, even temporarily. ]
I guess now you have a lot more time to think about all that stuff, huh?
I don't think a little jealousy is a bad thing. It means you really care about them and it's a way of expressing your feelings too. Besides, from what I know of you, you're kind, considerate, and accepting. Anyone would be really fortunate to be loved or even liked like you.
...oops, that was a lot huh? I tend to overthink when I have free time... [ so maybe that answers her question too, actually. ]
But that laugh of his? Yeah, she also can't ignore that, and she waits until they've started walking towards their destination before speaking again. ]
You're really thoughtful, huh? But I guess it makes sense, with all you went through for that girl you love too. I hope that our time here is a nice break from... all of that.
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no subject
I do. I have to go back.
[ Aerith takes another bite of her croissant, using the time it takes her to chew to contemplate. ]
It sounds kind of dramatic, but I have to go back and save the planet.
[ May as well say the whole of it upfront. ]
no subject
And I believe you. You seem like the type of person who could save the world, even if no one else can.
no subject
[ She laughs softly. It's a bit of a dramatic compliment too, so maybe they're just both dramatic. Definitely a good thing, she thinks. ]
But... you're kinda onto something there. I'm a Cetra, which means I can talk to the planet back home.
[ Not as well as she'd like to, but that she can do it at all is notable. ]
no subject
You can talk to the planet...that makes you sound like some kind of princess. What does it say?
no subject
[ Sorry, Ukyo, the sheepish look on his face is too amusing for her to let it slip by. ]
It's like... a feeling. I've never heard words, but I can feel if it's in danger, or if someone's soul has returned to the planet. That sort of thing.
no subject
Whoa, that's amazing. I can see why you need to go back if you're able to communicate with it like that, your friends would be lost without you.
no subject
[ Or trying to find her, most likely. But she doesn't want to think about that right now. ]
So, what about you? Got any world saving you're doing?
no subject
No, nothing that grand. I don't have any special powers I think, either. [ *asterisk required but maybe she will get to call him out one day~. ]
I'm just trying to make sure everyone lives a happy life, even if that's not what fate has planned for them.
no subject
On the last bite of her croissant, she fixes Ukyo with a curious look at she finishes chewing. ]
What do you mean by that?
[ Donating to charity? Taking portraits? She has no idea. ]
no subject
(maybe it'll sound less weird considering she just told him that she talks to her planet). ]
I've lived the month of August, 20XX, over and over again. I'd tell you how many times but I honestly don't remember, but it's in the thousands. It's the August of various timelines but the same people, with big and small differences. So I've gotten good at being able to tell what's going to happen, even if never happens in quite the same way.
Some people are fated to die when they turn twenty, or others when they take a certain job, or go to a certain place. It's impossible to really avoid fate altogether but...you can cheat it or postpone it, at least for a little while. I've been living the same month over and over again, so I guess you can say I'm good at spotting it?
So I try to help people when I can, even if a lot of the times—most of the times, no, I guess all of the times...it's just a temporary measure.
no subject
If world travel is possible, so is time travel. ]
So you're trying to cheat it... but are you doing it for everyone you come across? [ That would be selfless, repeating the same month over and over again just to help random passersby. So... ] Or is it to save someone specific?
[ To her, that makes sense. ]
no subject
Sometimes as a result I'm able to help someone else, and that makes me happy too but I'm not that selfless.
[ he laughs a little, a shy and helpless sound. ]
no subject
[ Aerith doesn't know if she could ever have that in her. She'd be jealous, she knows it. ]
You really love her, huh? To relive all of that for her.
no subject
It sounds kind of contradictory, right? But I really don't mind and until now, I never really had the time to do anything other than try to make sure she lived through the month of August.
[ another reason this entire experience has been strange. ]
no subject
No, I don't think so. If anything, I'm the contradictory one here. I'd want the person I love to be happy too, but I think I'd still feel a little bit jealous anyway.
[ With time she'd get over it, of course, but still. She knows herself well enough to have a good idea of how she would feel, even temporarily. ]
I guess now you have a lot more time to think about all that stuff, huh?
no subject
I don't think a little jealousy is a bad thing. It means you really care about them and it's a way of expressing your feelings too. Besides, from what I know of you, you're kind, considerate, and accepting. Anyone would be really fortunate to be loved or even liked like you.
...oops, that was a lot huh? I tend to overthink when I have free time... [ so maybe that answers her question too, actually. ]
no subject
[ She laughs softly, clasping her hands in front of her. ]
Y'know... I don't know if I agree with everything you said, but I'm happy you think that way anyway.
[ It's nice, knowing that others can think of her positively like that when a lot of her is still filled with uncertainties. ]
no subject
[ with a grin, just holding back a laugh of joy. the not quite giggle carries through his tone despite any effort to the contrary. ]
Do you want to go and develop the photos now? I just remembered I promised you that too.
no subject
[ She even pumps her fist, full of enthusiasm.
But that laugh of his? Yeah, she also can't ignore that, and she waits until they've started walking towards their destination before speaking again. ]
You're really thoughtful, huh? But I guess it makes sense, with all you went through for that girl you love too. I hope that our time here is a nice break from... all of that.