That makes it sound like it's going to take hours. "Christ. How many lilacs do you have?"
Honestly, it doesn't matter. But he's enjoying the griping, lest she think he's really that easy to placate and boss around. It's also the closest thing to actual conversation he's comfortable with right now, so... that's pretty pathetic.
"You'd be doing all this yourself if I wasn't around?"
Or she doesn't think it'll take long for him to be ready to eat - a suspicion she assumes will be confirmed if the way he's going at those pastries is any clue.
"Probably, but, I do it myself back home." It's just a matter of lugging a ladder around - not a huge hindrance but as far as Aerith is concerned, this is much better.
"So, were you a solider for your homeland, or a big evil corporation?" Her time in Andovale has taught her it could be either, which is nice. Every universe doesn't need a Shinra - even if some apparently have similar.
He would, at the very least, lug the ladder around for her.
The question's a dangerous one, though one he's been asked here before. And it's not like Aerith would know how fraught it is, so he tightens his jaw and his voice somehow stays evenly calm when he answers.
He doesn't have to say more - the tension in his jaw speaks volumes. Maybe another time a chance to pry further will present itself, but Aerith's not going to push her luck. Instead, she nods understandingly and takes a sip of her water.
"You sound like you come from a world like mine." How many spurned Shinra operatives were out there, making ends meet as mercenaries?
"Do you stay at Whetstone now?" She's seen him there before, on the roof, and though she's around fairly often, it's a pretty big place.
Thank God. He doesn't trust his patience to hold out on that particular topic. Doesn't know what she means by "a world like mine," but for the same reason, he doesn't ask her to explain it.
"I guess." More like, he hasn't bothered packing up what few things he has and moving anywhere else. "Nowhere better to go, and nobody's told me to fuck off yet. And I'm not staying in that apartment, that's for sure." Though he's now aware that his "maid" can show up wherever she likes, at least out here the footing feels more even. It feels like she and by extension Pheme control everything in the "free" apartments.
"Sometimes. It gets quiet here, and Shaxx let me take over one of the storage rooms." Or rather, she took over one of the storage rooms and made it cozy, and Shaxx didn't protest.
"I go a lot, even if I don't sleep there. There's a garden on the roof to take care of." And it's more than likely that before this adventure is through he'll be told when it needs watering and trusted with the task.
Whether he'll agree is the real question. Not because he think he'll see less of Aerith if he does it for her, though. Definitely not that.
"Guess it keeps me out of the way. Out of a cave." Was that a self-deprecating joke? It kind of sounded like one, except for the completely deadpan dry tone in his voice. "Supervised and everything."
"It's all the same to me. I've had practice." Not just in the cave either. "'Least here I don't have to catch 'em first."
He polishes off his 9th pastry and tops it off with a few big gulps of water. Then he huffs and stands up. "Fine. Point out the lilacs and how high you want 'em."
Aerith gets to her feet, and waves a hand, leading him around the side of the house to where a now very dense patch of lilac bushes are growing high against the windows they were planted in front of.
"They just shot up like crazy! I didn't know lilacs liked the beach this much, but, they're starting to touch the roof, and I think if we cut them down far enough, at least, that I can see out this window again, that would be nice."
It takes a couple of trips, first to bring a chair and then to bring the food and water he asked for but eventually, Aerith gets Krauser's request situated by him, plus a tart for her that she nibbles on in between trips over to where he's working to gather up the lilac limbs he cuts down.
"These are going to be great for bouquets on the cart tomorrow too!"
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Honestly, it doesn't matter. But he's enjoying the griping, lest she think he's really that easy to placate and boss around. It's also the closest thing to actual conversation he's comfortable with right now, so... that's pretty pathetic.
"You'd be doing all this yourself if I wasn't around?"
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"Probably, but, I do it myself back home." It's just a matter of lugging a ladder around - not a huge hindrance but as far as Aerith is concerned, this is much better.
"So, were you a solider for your homeland, or a big evil corporation?" Her time in Andovale has taught her it could be either, which is nice. Every universe doesn't need a Shinra - even if some apparently have similar.
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The question's a dangerous one, though one he's been asked here before. And it's not like Aerith would know how fraught it is, so he tightens his jaw and his voice somehow stays evenly calm when he answers.
"Freelance, now."
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"You sound like you come from a world like mine." How many spurned Shinra operatives were out there, making ends meet as mercenaries?
"Do you stay at Whetstone now?" She's seen him there before, on the roof, and though she's around fairly often, it's a pretty big place.
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"I guess." More like, he hasn't bothered packing up what few things he has and moving anywhere else. "Nowhere better to go, and nobody's told me to fuck off yet. And I'm not staying in that apartment, that's for sure." Though he's now aware that his "maid" can show up wherever she likes, at least out here the footing feels more even. It feels like she and by extension Pheme control everything in the "free" apartments.
"Do you?"
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"I go a lot, even if I don't sleep there. There's a garden on the roof to take care of." And it's more than likely that before this adventure is through he'll be told when it needs watering and trusted with the task.
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Not because he think he'll see less of Aerith if he does it for her, though. Definitely not that."Guess it keeps me out of the way. Out of a cave." Was that a self-deprecating joke? It kind of sounded like one, except for the completely deadpan dry tone in his voice. "Supervised and everything."
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Finishing off her glass of water she sets it down and sits up, reaching for the garden shears. "Ready to get to work again?"
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He polishes off his 9th pastry and tops it off with a few big gulps of water. Then he huffs and stands up. "Fine. Point out the lilacs and how high you want 'em."
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"They just shot up like crazy! I didn't know lilacs liked the beach this much, but, they're starting to touch the roof, and I think if we cut them down far enough, at least, that I can see out this window again, that would be nice."
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"More water. And if you could set the strawberry plate over here on something. Please."
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"These are going to be great for bouquets on the cart tomorrow too!"