[ Why did he imagine her shaking her head, the sides of her hair in ribbons swaying... Cloud's so far away, but he can see it clearly. Even that was a surprise to him, always keeping to himself least he didn't trouble others. He's the one who fights and deals with things when others come to him. It's...not often that it's the other way around. ]
I'm just...not good at this part.
[ But he's trying! And even just letting that much out actually meant a lot. He starts walking again, a good twenty minutes to go before he's back at the apartments. They weren't that far away from the others around this supposed "Neo Midgar" they planned on starting. ]
Honestly? Still think I'm absorbing it. Nothing went wrong. S'just...hard to forget.
[ And don't even get him started on Sephiroth. That conversation was going to wait. ]
[ Ayaka listens and waits patiently. Cloud talking about how he feels to her is a compliment, because he trusts her with these things. The same way that she does him. If she was feeling lonely tonight, she doesn't have to, anymore. She's reminded that she has the gift of friendship, and that weighs more than any of the burdens she has in her heart. ]
It was only recently that I was able to make a friend, Cloud. I'm not good at this part, either. Just as you'd allow me to show you who I am in confidence, I would like to be there for you during moments when you feel vulnerable, or when you just don't know what to do or how to feel. In turn, I will keep these moments to myself and share them with no one else.
[ That's quite a mouthful, Ayaka, and rather bold of you. To which she realises soon after and she stammers. ]
A- Ah, that is... if you'd allow me... I'm sorry for speaking out of turn!
[ There's a pause, but before he can think of saying anything...it's her turn. She can't see his face, but he hangs off every word. While he's still aware of where he's stepping and how close he was getting to his apartment, the longer she speaks, the more the world around him feels like it's disappearing. He doesn't lend his ear with flush cheeks or flustered thoughts, holding his breath with broader mako-infused eyes when she commits to keeping these moments to herself. He was always telling others that he would go do something for their sake. This was the first time he can think of that he really let himself just...talk, instead of shutting them out or moving on.
And she was listening. ]
Aya—
[ "A- Ah, that is... if you'd allow me..." She cuts him off, and he cocks an eyebrow as he stares at his magicomm when she apologies for something, in his eyes, silly. Was she losing her cool over that? The next sound she'll hear is something rare, even if she's heard it before. He laughs, a short yet sweeter huff that he doesn't fear being called out for, wearing a smile through his words. ]
Well, my day got better after calling you, so... Maybe I will.
[ Was it bad from the get go? Or perhaps his thoughts were riddled with anxiety because he had a dinner with this... former enemy?
She finds herself slumping in her seat, her free hand resting on her cheek as she rests her elbow on the table. Ah... she can feel her face getting warm. Cloud just said his day got better after he called her... Her heart is beginning to beat a little faster now, the same kind of feeling when she saw his name when her magicomm began to ring. ]
Ah. . . then, please. Please send correspondence or please call me. I... [ Hehe. ] I would like to keep doing so. [ Oh, god. She can't say it without her face getting more flush. ]
[ Maybe it wasn't fair to say "day"...but this was weighing on his thoughts for most of it, anyway. His heart's beating faster too, the cooler night air countering the softened warmth in his cheeks. If he were sitting, he'd be canting his head a little, relaxing into this conversation better than he would have thought. He wasn't about to turn into a chatterbox, but those nerves over accidentally dialing her late, especially with how he was feeling? They start going away.
Well. Until they're replaced with a completely different kind of nerve. And the image of her smile entering his thoughts as he finally starts feeling the sting in his face.
He can faintly hear Ayaka's voice, the softer cadence of her words doing things to his chest as he sighs through his nose as if that'd help steel his nerves. On the other hand...there's another kind of warmth he remembers. The same warmth that spread from his chest in a comforting manner when they laughed and escaped the palace together. ]
Count it, Ayaka.
[ Maybe it wouldn't be every time. But...now he's really contemplating whether he should just turn around and head to the train station— ]
[ At first, she's not really sure what to say, so she just laughs it off. It's... a nice feeling, to be needed and to know that she's helping someone. It is both the Shirasagi Himegimi and Ayaka's proudest moment, knowing that someone is having an easier time because of her efforts. ]
Are you well on your way back to your house? I hope the walk there is safe.
Then... I hope you'll get a good rest when you are back. If you have watermelons, I have heard that eating it with some salt makes a good and cooling dessert.
[ She's never tried it herself, but she heard some children say so! :) ]
[ At the mention of a festival, Cloud has to bite his tongue. Because while he's settled in a bit better when it came to the more...affectionate sways of this world, and he didn't regret a single thing of what happened, especially with the girl on the other end of the magicomm, ]
We'll check it out.
[ He hopes he can at least still be Cloud, the way he wants to be with her. ]
He wants to go to a festival together! At first, Ayaka's not quite sure how to react, because her heart is already racing a mile a minute. It's not that she would have said no if he asked. If anything, she would have initiated to ask him if the time came!
Now? She's just excited. And she hopes the festival to come, if any, would be a very fun one where she can share good memories with a friend. ]
I would like that very much.
[ For now, though? ]
Ah... I should wash the dishes and head back to my room. I'd been here in the dining area since you called.
[ That's when it hits him that, yeah. While it's not VERY late? He's still called her and held her up when he'd meant to start via texts. ...even if he was starting to feel like he's glad he did. ]
Oh. Right, you do that. I'll letcha go.
[ There's no disappointment in his voice in saying that either. If anything, he's slightly embarrassed that he kept her. ...oh well. He'll just shrug over it after. ]
I will still be awake for a while as I want to read some more chapters in my book. If you'd like to send a message when you've retired to bed, I will be able to respond quickly.
[ Just saying! Because she actually enjoys talking to him like this, or through text messages. This phone call has been nice, too, even though she wishes Cloud wasn't feeling weird about the events of tonight.
She lets out a soft laugh after saying that, finding some joy in sharing something about her. ]
Have a good evening, Cloud. I'm... very thankful we had this, ah, call.
Wha... [ It's faint, but it almost sounds like he was about to say "What—", to ask her something before he realizes that, he'd be the one keeping her again. Instead, her gentle laugh over the magicomm lifts him a little bit again. ]
Ah, you too, Ayaka. Thanks.
[ He was going to ask what book she was reading. ]
Cya.
[ With that, he hangs up for the night, his shoulders slumping slightly with relief. ]
[ He's not quite retiring to bed, but it comes some time after he's settled into his apartment, sitting at the table as he hits send. ]
Thank you, Ayaka. [ He hesitates, backspacing and typing and backspacing and typing before this time, he doesn't mess up or ring her, ] I'll listen if you ever need it too.
I know you will. You have always been so kind to me.
[ It actually takes some time for Ayaka to send that message because she wonders if there's anything more she can do for him. She can be very good with her words, but... she thinks she's made her point clear earlier. She will be there for him if he needs someone to listen to him. ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-06-04 08:08 am (UTC)I'm just...not good at this part.
[ But he's trying! And even just letting that much out actually meant a lot. He starts walking again, a good twenty minutes to go before he's back at the apartments. They weren't that far away from the others around this supposed "Neo Midgar" they planned on starting. ]
Honestly? Still think I'm absorbing it. Nothing went wrong. S'just...hard to forget.
[ And don't even get him started on Sephiroth. That conversation was going to wait. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-06-04 08:51 am (UTC)It was only recently that I was able to make a friend, Cloud. I'm not good at this part, either. Just as you'd allow me to show you who I am in confidence, I would like to be there for you during moments when you feel vulnerable, or when you just don't know what to do or how to feel. In turn, I will keep these moments to myself and share them with no one else.
[ That's quite a mouthful, Ayaka, and rather bold of you. To which she realises soon after and she stammers. ]
A- Ah, that is... if you'd allow me... I'm sorry for speaking out of turn!
no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 02:22 am (UTC)And she was listening. ]
Aya—
[ "A- Ah, that is... if you'd allow me..." She cuts him off, and he cocks an eyebrow as he stares at his magicomm when she apologies for something, in his eyes, silly. Was she losing her cool over that? The next sound she'll hear is something rare, even if she's heard it before. He laughs, a short yet sweeter huff that he doesn't fear being called out for, wearing a smile through his words. ]
Well, my day got better after calling you, so... Maybe I will.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 03:18 am (UTC)[ Was it bad from the get go? Or perhaps his thoughts were riddled with anxiety because he had a dinner with this... former enemy?
She finds herself slumping in her seat, her free hand resting on her cheek as she rests her elbow on the table. Ah... she can feel her face getting warm. Cloud just said his day got better after he called her... Her heart is beginning to beat a little faster now, the same kind of feeling when she saw his name when her magicomm began to ring. ]
Ah. . . then, please. Please send correspondence or please call me. I... [ Hehe. ] I would like to keep doing so. [ Oh, god. She can't say it without her face getting more flush. ]
Making your day better.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 04:53 am (UTC)Well. Until they're replaced with a completely different kind of nerve. And the image of her smile entering his thoughts as he finally starts feeling the sting in his face.
He can faintly hear Ayaka's voice, the softer cadence of her words doing things to his chest as he sighs through his nose as if that'd help steel his nerves. On the other hand...there's another kind of warmth he remembers. The same warmth that spread from his chest in a comforting manner when they laughed and escaped the palace together. ]
Count it, Ayaka.
[ Maybe it wouldn't be every time. But...now he's really contemplating whether he should just turn around and head to the train station— ]
no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 05:14 am (UTC)Are you well on your way back to your house? I hope the walk there is safe.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 05:29 am (UTC)Yup. I don't actually live so far away from where I was. I'm about a block away now.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 05:40 am (UTC)[ She's never tried it herself, but she heard some children say so! :) ]
no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 05:59 am (UTC)[ It's clear he's never heard of it before either! ]
Guess I got a new item on my shopping list.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 06:27 am (UTC)[ They can even shop together! ]
no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 06:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 07:18 am (UTC)[ Ah, she sounds so wistful just thinking about it. ]
Perhaps there will be a nice festival soon.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 08:02 am (UTC)[ At the mention of a festival, Cloud has to bite his tongue. Because while he's settled in a bit better when it came to the more...affectionate sways of this world, and he didn't regret a single thing of what happened, especially with the girl on the other end of the magicomm, ]
We'll check it out.
[ He hopes he can at least still be Cloud, the way he wants to be with her. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 08:23 am (UTC)He wants to go to a festival together! At first, Ayaka's not quite sure how to react, because her heart is already racing a mile a minute. It's not that she would have said no if he asked. If anything, she would have initiated to ask him if the time came!
Now? She's just excited. And she hopes the festival to come, if any, would be a very fun one where she can share good memories with a friend. ]
I would like that very much.
[ For now, though? ]
Ah... I should wash the dishes and head back to my room. I'd been here in the dining area since you called.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 09:22 am (UTC)Oh. Right, you do that. I'll letcha go.
[ There's no disappointment in his voice in saying that either. If anything, he's slightly embarrassed that he kept her. ...oh well. He'll just shrug over it after. ]
Catcha later.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-05 10:50 am (UTC)[ Just saying! Because she actually enjoys talking to him like this, or through text messages. This phone call has been nice, too, even though she wishes Cloud wasn't feeling weird about the events of tonight.
She lets out a soft laugh after saying that, finding some joy in sharing something about her. ]
Have a good evening, Cloud. I'm... very thankful we had this, ah, call.
1/2
Date: 2022-06-06 02:52 am (UTC)Ah, you too, Ayaka. Thanks.
[ He was going to ask what book she was reading. ]
Cya.
[ With that, he hangs up for the night, his shoulders slumping slightly with relief. ]
2/2 text; un: exsoldierboy
Date: 2022-06-06 02:59 am (UTC)Thank you, Ayaka. [ He hesitates, backspacing and typing and backspacing and typing before this time, he doesn't mess up or ring her, ] I'll listen if you ever need it too.
Good night.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-06 04:07 am (UTC)[ It actually takes some time for Ayaka to send that message because she wonders if there's anything more she can do for him. She can be very good with her words, but... she thinks she's made her point clear earlier. She will be there for him if he needs someone to listen to him. ]
Good night, Cloud.