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[leekspins]

Orihime Inoue
UN: MegaRobo3000

STATUS: Student, Year 10

ACCOLADES: Academic Top 3%

BIO: Member of the Arts & Crafts club, native Japanese speakers, speaks French and English fluently, adventurous culinary tastes, aspiring healer, loves comedy and sweet potatoes.

© TESSISAMESS


Oh noooooooo, I wasn't able to answer the phone in time! ...Or scroll. Or mirror. Whatever you were using, I completely missed out! Leave a message, please, I'll get right back to you!

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Comments

[leekspins]

[She was afraid of that. A job worked out of obligation isn't really much fun at all, especially if he feels like he has to stay around and protect her all the time. Eventually he'll realize he doesn't have to, then choose a new job he genuinely enjoys doing. Who is she to keep him from that?]

[But before she gives in to her conclusion-jumping, she wants to talk it out first, just so he knows he has options. This place is all about doing the things a person normally couldn't in their home world.]

What's the other part?

[liveandforgive]

... I like it here.

[that's not a good enough answer. he knows it isn't. because this feels like deja vu for him when it came to concealing how he really felt. Cloud kept his feelings guarded, despite his good intentions and making good on fighting for a better tomorrow. for his family, his friends, everything he held dear to him.

there's a softness to those eyes of his before gently breathing out. he'd seen a side of her, be it real or not, that she didn't want anybody to have to see. this person who became a god in her world, in another tragic reality... they could still come here. they could come after her. she had her companions and allies, and many would band together in the face of such adversity.

including him, he realized.]

Mm. I really do. Back home, all it seemed like I did was fight. Even when I was doing my job. I used to run a delivery business of my own, so this felt like a good fit for me.

That, and...

[they were his honest thoughts. he didn't think he had it in him to repeat himself, so Cloud was glad that it was just the two of them]

Even if that wasn't the real you... You helped me. Even when you were afraid of what could happen. [he never truly thanked her for that, even if she wasn't her own self. yet it stuck with him all the same. he remembered waking up only to shake his head with mingling concern and weariness.]

Maybe you don't need me to protect you, but I'll still do whatever I can.

[working here was a bonus]

[leekspins]

[She's relieved at his answer. As long as he honestly likes it here, she won't try to shake him loose. She smiles quietly, coming to stand beside him with her hands resting on the countertop.]

I'm glad. I just didn't want you to commit yourself to something you didn't like if it was only for my sake. I guess that's a little self-centered to assume.

[Orihime grins apologetically and rubs the back of her neck for a moment.]

But I could have done more. I should have. That other me was afraid of something that was a slim possibility, and you suffered for it. It's not something I'm proud of, Strife-san.

[Her shoulders rise and fall with an exhalation of breath.]

That reality never happened, though. Even if Aizen appeared in this place, I'm beneath his notice. The only reason he showed any interest in my powers was because he knew my friends would come after me if I was in trouble. He divided the forces that would stand against him and made an attack. Here, he wouldn't have any resources but his own abilities to alter people's perception of reality.

[She cups her hands together, leaning on her forearms.]

Kurosaki-kun defeated him too, even when Aizen had the upper hand. If he did show up here, I'm not worried about it. So you shouldn't be either. Okay?

[liveandforgive]

[Cloud wasn't about to try and change her mind about what she could have done for him when he was injured. many reasons came to mind, but it also came down to one simple fact. that wasn't truly her. just like Yang wasn't truly herself when this all happened in the first place. Cloud knew a thing or two about not being his true self...and what it did to the people that he loved. but that was a conversation for another day. for another time.

this was now. and as Cloud intently listened, everything that she said made perfect sense. so he dealt in illusions... it struck a chord with the swordsman, perhaps a little too deeply. and when she speaks of Aizen in how they altered people's perception of reality, a light frown may have marred his lips. but it doesn't linger for very long when he finds his voice again]

Well, if not Aizen... [his mind was made up already. there's a small, confident smile from her employee] I'll just look out for you because we're friends.

[leekspins]

[She can tell that he's thinking deeply about something. She's not sure what it is, but she doesn't try to interrupt him. Whatever it is he has to say, she'll give him all the time he needs to say it.]

[When he does speak, she smiles. She's glad she waited.]

As long as I can do the same!

[Whatever uncertainty she felt before, it's gone now. That confident smile of his works wonders for putting her worries at ease.]

Let me finish up here. Go have fun at the festival, okay?