Day 50: Courtyard

[hasnomeaning]

Again, there were choices. After leaving the child and the animal, Rei had followed again. When prompted where she wanted to spend time, the pilot had no preference. If they wished her to do something, they would place it before her. If they left her with options, she would take the ones they did not want. So her response was minimal, and so the

Comments

[simplemechanics]

Her smile was contagious, and although he returned it more mildly, he meant it. It was good to see a friend. Although perhaps that was too much of a leap to make, to call them his friends, but he trusted them, and he liked them. Although their opinion of him had been tarnished, Reeve had learned a great deal about Cait Sith's traveling companions. They were good people, even Yuffie with her penchant for appropriating resources that were not strictly hers.

She seemed so happy to see him that it caught him somewhat off-guard. See him again? Although that could have been a simple lack of distinction between himself and Cait. Most people assumed the robot was not as independent as he truly was. But she had even used his real name, naturally and casually. He didn't mind, but he had never officially given it out to them. There hadn't been time for him to sit and explain who he actually was, and why he had done what he had. In a way, this made the inevitable introductions trickier, because he was unable to default to names.

Reeve wondered if it was because he usually saw her so indirectly that she looked different now. He had always imagined her as younger, and he must have forgotten exactly the way she wore her hair. Yuffie also seemed to notice something was different, and so they stood there, both trying to identify what it was. He felt it made for a strange moment.

Still, he wouldn't refuse her enthusiasm. "It's good to see you too," he agreed. Once he said it, he felt the relief he had been reluctant to embrace rush through him. They were alright after all. "And in person this time."

[thatdamnedninja]

In person this time, huh.

Ohhh yeah. Geez. Landel really wasn't gonna lay off any, was he?

Still, Yuffie kept on smiling. Right time or wrong time, Reeve was still Reeve. Just like Cloud was still Cloud. And Tifa, and Nanaki, and… And Aerith, and Zack. And Rude, unfortunately. Then again, Rude had probably been like that from day one, even before he'd popped out of his mom all bald and fully dressed in his dumb old Turk suit.

She glanced away, scanning the courtyard briefly before saying, "C'mon, let's grab a bench. I was gonna take a totally boring and repetitive jog, y'know, soak up the scenery, but I guess I can make an exception for you just~ this~ once~." She skipped backward a pace, before twirling on heel and making for the closest seating area. It wasn't a far walk. Then again, it wasn't a big courtyard.

Something pensive flickered behind her expression. Reeve obviously hadn't been around very long. Couldn't have been; she'd have noticed him. So, no doubt it'd fall to her to get him filled in, up-to-date, and caught up. And it was gonna sound nuts and totally whacko crazy and who knew if he'd believe her? If she was right in her hunch that he was from before her time, which she was, he'd have no real reason to take her at her word. Ahh, but Cloud would vouch for her. He was still pretty green, as far as Landel's went, but he had a good couple of days experience tucked under his belt now.

Yuffie hopped up onto the bench, perching on the back of it. "So, how're you settlin' in so far? As far as AVALANCHE goes, I'm the vet here. Any questions you've got, I'm the one to ask!"

[notthistrain]

[Hopping in. Hi.]

The note on the bulletin from Zack had been a little depressing. Cloud had been wanting to hope that it was just him not running into Aerith. To have her missing, after being granted the opportunity to see her again, just broke his heart. Landel was messing with them in the worst possible way. His friend had the right idea, going to search for her tonight. The whole group needed to, really. Perhaps they needed to split up and cover more areas. But just getting a hold of everyone was difficult. He could only hope they all saw Zack's message, as well as his reply.

Having sat quietly through the oddly not too terrible movie the previous shift, Cloud decided some fresh air (when it wasn't pouring buckets) would do him a little good and asked his nurse to lead him in that direction. Thankfully, she didn't try to force her own recommendation. A chance to walk around would also give him time to think.

That plan was shut down before it even started, however, when he caught sight of Yuffie and another man he didn't recognize the moment he walked out into the courtyard. He wouldn't have thought much of it, but the way she was talking to him spoke of familiarity - the sort of familiarity she probably wouldn't have with someone she'd just met at the Institute. Either she was someone she'd gotten to know while here, in which case Cloud might need to get to know him as well, or... Well he just felt it couldn't hurt to get involved in the conversation.

As far as AVALANCHE goes... Yes, he was definitely missing something. "Hey." He interrupted their conversation with a smile. "Am I interrupting?" His expression clearly stated that he didn't care if he was.