aerialassault | 006 [Action/Audio]

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006 [Action/Audio]

[Action: Locked to Souji Okita]

[Consciousness crept upon him slowly, like a migraine. It slipped in through the window panels with the sun and stung his eyes, but for once Cliff did not want to awaken. He instead rolled over with a groan, burying his face under his arms and promising himself another ten minutes.

But a nagging sensation in the back of his mind kept sleep at bay. He knew in his gut that it was something important, something that was blue and white...

...Fayt.

His eyes snapped open as he crashed into the memories. The dogs and the cultists were all a blur, but the spear stood out in his mind. It was only when he sat up that he registered the not-entirely familiar surroundings and the warm body lying by his side.]

[Action: Locked to Fayt Leingod]

[He messed up, and there was no way to fix and forget about the mess that he had left for everyone to deal with in the battlefield that was once Zompania. It was afternoon by the time he returned to his apartment in the ground building, wearing a fresh set of denim jeans and a comfortable tee-- both of which fit because of some miracle. The dark shades he wore were new, as was he bag he carried by his side that contained the clothes he borrowed off of Souji and yet another set of loose white pants to add to his small collection.

Entering as quietly as he could manage, Cliff did a once-over of the apartment to make sure that things were still mostly as he left it. The Vac whirred and hummed patiently as it made a pass over the carpet, and Cliff found himself smiling.

At least that was still functioning.

After throwing his belongings into his room, he made for Fayt's. A quiet knock was the only warning he gave before he nudged the door open...]

[Audio: Open to All]

Yo. It's Cliff.

[It was dark by the time he reached for his journal, but he didn't care. There were plenty of other people that he wanted to see, but there was no way he could go visit them all in one day.

This was the next best thing.]

Can I get a headcount of who all's here and a tally on the damage? And, is the bar open?

[He'll be heading there later if he get's confirmation. For once, he plans to drink unil the damage doesn't look so bad.]

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[Cliff glanced over at her from above the rim of his glass, brows lifted in surprise. He set it down-- a tad too harshly this time, to more of his embarrassment-- and leaned back in his seat, suddenly curious.]

Wait. You don't like men?

[As a man himself, he hoped that he wasn't pressing.]

Romantically, I think you already know that I don't like men.

[Rei leans back and sighs, shaking her head. That is a loaded question, and one that has had shifting answers over the years.]

But under normal circumstances, no...I don't dislike men. I just found it really hard to trust them for a long time. I still do, to a point, find it difficult. Especially boys my age.

[Her shoulders rise and fall in a half-hearted shrug.]

My...biological father...wasn't really a good person. And neither were most of the men in my life at home. Mamoru-san and Motoki-san were alright, but we weren't close. It wasn't really until I woke up here that I found guys who proved they were trustworthy.

...Well, that can't be a fun way to grow up.

[He frowned at this, thoughtful. While he didn't entirely know the customs that were in place in 20th Century Japan, family was family regardless. Having part of that fragmented even a little bit could screw a person up.]

At least you managed to find a way to get some peace here, though. That counts for something.

[She snorted, a bitter exhalation of annoyance rather than sadness, and took another gulp of her drink. She's starting to feel a bit warmer, her cheeks turning slightly pink as the alcohol begins to affect her. She's small, barely 100 pounds wet, and it won't take much.]

My mother died when I was young. My father didn't even go to the funeral. He was too busy with his work. I grew up with my grandpapa, in his shrine. That wasn't so bad. It was lonely at times, but at I had him and Phobos and Deimos. And it was better than being around him.

We haven't really spoken since I was ten, and I prefer to keep it that way.

[Although it would take longer for Cliff, this is still his third drink of the night-- he was more apt to contemplate the vagaries of life and travel down memory lane with his friend.]

Can't blame ya if that's the situation 'bout it. Growing up at a shrine is better than with a jerk, and ya did some friends along the way too.

I did. Two crows and an old man. Most people stayed away from me, at that age.

[Her smile grows wan as she drinks more.]

Because of my abilities.

Yeah-- the fortune telling, right? Lot's of people get nervous around what they don't understand.

And my other abilities. The control of flames...the psychic empathy. And I talked to crows.

[Cliff hummed thoughtfully, finding himself pondering once again over how closed minded people could be over what was different.]

Everyone talks to their friends, even if they are animals. And....if it's worth anything, I think those things you do are pretty cool.

Well, you're a space man. And you have friends who do symbology.

[She huffs a laugh, tinged with a bit of scorn.]

The people where I'm from don't even believe those things are possible. And those that do think they're evil.

True, I am a space man...but, anyone who'd bothered to talk with you can easily see that you're anything but evil. You're smart and helpful and kind've a brat sometimes, but definitely not evil.

Hey! What do you mean by that!

[A brat?!]

[Cliff grinned.]

What I mean is this right here. [He reached over and poked the side of her head.] It's a compliment-- Fayt and Maria are both brats too, and so are lot's of other people. Like Souji. It ain't a bad thing at all!

[Sigh...

Rei just takes another drink.]

Fayt-kun saved me, you know.

Oh-- did he?

[It was interesting. Neither Souji nor Fayt was telling him much about anything that happened during the times they were separated in Zompania, especially for the latter part of the week.

...he would need to ask about that later.]

Yeah.

[She looks down at her leg with a frown.]

There were two elites. I killed one, but in the process...my leg.

[Cliff followed her gaze with sympathetic frown of his own.]

Yeah. You don't take fights up close and personal like Fayt and I....you got really lucky there.

I can. I don't like to. But Mars is a lot stronger than I am.

[She shakes her head.]

But two of them is too much for me.

I know she is, but two is still too much for a lot of people.

...You really got lucky back there, to have Fayt show up when he did.

Please...[She gulps down the rest of her drink.]

Don't remind me. I...would rather not think about how close that was.

[Cliff downed the rest of his as well, grunting in agreement with her sentiment. He clacked the glass down on the wood when he was through, this time not even bothering to be embarrassed by his screw spatial judgement.]

Yeah, no kiddin'. This is getting a little heavy for a place like this, don'cha think?

Yes. I think so. Let's...talk about something else.

[She holds up her cup, cheeks flush and feeling warm.]

Another?

[He grinned broadly at the suggestion, eager to jump on it.]

Sure. I was planning on another too.

[After three drinks his movements were noticeably clumsier as he tried to adjust to his visual deficit, but he simply didn't care at this point. After a near fumble he managed to take the glass and keep it, and the trip back to the bar itself was thankfully uneventful.

He returned a couple of minutes later with another pair of crisp, cold glasses filled with the sweet, amber liquid.]

Heh. Let's be careful with this, or we're gonna need to call a ride home.

[She watches him with a vaguely amused expression, bitterness turning into mirth. And when he returns, she takes the cup with a nod.]

I should be...okay. Probably. Two isn't a lot, is it?

At your size? Two should be plenty. I'd be a little more worried if you drank as much as me. Just take your time if you wanna keep your head.

[He slid into his seat, and happily took a drink from his glass. Perhaps he should follow his own advice and slow down...?]

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