paradisalost | Phase 3

I'm relatively harmless, I promise. My friends just have a penchant for trouble.

Believe me, I can sympathize with that.

And don't think I didn't notice that "relatively" in there.

I can be pretty scary when I'm mad, but doesn't that go for everyone?

You have a point.

It's just hard to imagine you mad. Maybe I just haven't gotten to know you well enough yet.

Hopefully you'll never have to see it for yourself.

Edited 2009-07-31 02:49 (UTC)

I'll be careful.

[He leans a bit forward, resting his chin in his palm as he looks her in the eyes.] And what about you, hm? What do you do other than sell flowers and cook for hungry pilots?

[She has no qualms with staring at him right back.]

Mm... I like to take care of children or people who can't help themselves. I'm thinking about working in the clinic, too.

[Smile] That's pretty noble of you. On both counts.

We had some civilian kids on the Archangel. Probably not as young as you meant, though.

I just do what feels right, I guess. And children are children. Even if they're full-grown at the same time~

[Have a slight wink, followed by a cheery smile.]

[He reaches down for his glass of water and swirls the ice around with a little clink before looking up at her and chuckling.] I hope you're not trying to imply something.

[For a moment, a pause. The smile doesn't fade from his face, though it changes tone ever so slightly.] Those kids had to grow up fast.

Nothing at all.

[Her smile fades a little, though.] There was a war. [A statement, not a question, she can just read these kinds of things in people.]

[Mwu nods. No use trying to hide it.] There was.

The Archangel had to make a bit of a hasty departure from the space colony at Heliopolis... and we had some civilians on board. They volunteered to help, and... we didn't have the manpower to say no.

They signed on for real later, but... [He takes a drink of water, shrugging.] Didn't make 'em any less kids.

[She laces her fingers together and looks distant.] All sorts of sacrifices are made, every day, because of war or poverty or something else. It's not any one person's fault. In an ideal world, kids could grow up when they wanted to...

That's why it's every parent's dream for their children to have a better life.

[Oh, Aerith. You have no idea how relevant that statement is to the world Mwu comes from. He chuckles a bit.] Most parents, sure. Dunno about all of 'em.

[He shakes his head.] Hey, sorry. Didn't mean to bring the mood down like that.

Mm... well, every good parent, anyway. [She tries not to look at him too hard about that statement, and instead moves on like he does.]

It's okay~ We shouldn't lie to each other about where we came from. It makes us who we are.

Now I'll agree with that. [It's cool, Aerith. You have no way of knowing that Mwu's dad was a narcissistic douchebag.] And you're right on that count, too. Looks like you're two-for-two.

[Mwu looks at her quietly for a few moments before nodding and sitting up a bit straight.] ...Lt. Commander Mwu la Flaga, formerly of OMNI. A soldier and a military pilot, and all that comes with it.

[There's the return of that grin again, if a bit muted.] That's where I come from right now.

Edited 2009-07-31 04:36 (UTC)

[She blinks a moment, taking that all in...]

It seems I have a type, don't I? Every guy I've dated has been a man in uniform. And a soldier. [She makes light of the situation, though.] Aerith Gainsborough. I'm from the Sector 5 slums, and I was kidnapped by the government once because they thought I knew where the Promised Land was.

And that's where I come from.

Hm, is that a fact? So you're not out with me because you like me, but because you can't resist a man in uniform? [A little wink at her.]

[And then it's his turn to kind of take that in.] Kidnapped by the government, huh? Why'd they think that a flower seller - albeit a particularly lovely one - would know where something called "the Promised Land" was?

[Even so, he shakes his head with a smile.] Looks like we come from very different moments and worlds, don't we?

Ah, no, I'm not nearly that greedy. I'm out with you because you have eyes like the sky.

[She traces a finger along the rim of her glass.] They were just desperate to power their machines. That's all. [There's something hidden in that smile, though.]

There was a war going on at home, too, actually. So I understand.

[He laughs pleasantly.] I stand corrected. [Another sip of water.] You have quite a way with words, you know?

[Mwu's an observant kind of guy. There's something different about this smile than her normal one, but for the life of him he can't figure out what it is. Oh well, he'll just put it in the back of his mind for later.] And they thought you could help.

...as much as I hate to admit it... war seems to be one of the few constants no matter what world you're in. Did it spill over to where you lived at all?

Oh, I don't know. But I was in a play, once.

[She wraps a curl around her finger idly.] Actually, it started there. You see... what they used to power everything was mako, which was refined from the planet's life energy. And it was killing the Planet. And the rich got richer, and the poor got poorer, and some people went their whole lives never knowing what sunlight really felt like, because they kept the city under such tight control.

And it was happening in other places... and the people they trod on fought back, and that's why there was a war. Maybe a resistance is a better word, though.

Aha. Then you're the leading lady type.

[His smile turns a bit more sober as he listens to her story, nodding.] Makes sense. You can only press down so hard before other people start pressing back. [He shakes his head.] Not being able to see the sky... that's crazy.

[Ok, maybe he's a bit biased because of the whole pilot thing.] And what about you? Did you get caught up in it?

Not really. I was a short-lived character. The kind that you don't see after the first act, but you know she's watching what happens, and then makes a cameo at the end.

[She sips her water.] You say that because you're a pilot and you've lived up there for a while. But when it's a way of life, it's easy to lose hope.

[Aerith's lips curve into a brighter smile.] What do you think?

[Ha ha, Aerith. We see what you did there. Though Mwu doesn't, he recognizes something odd in her exact phrasing.] But if the audience knows you were watching, then that makes you the kind that makes a difference even if she isn't on the stage. [...Mwu isn't quite sure when he stopped talking about acting, but these might just be Newtype instincts acting up.]

But didn't you just tell me that people started to fight back? All it takes is a spark to light a fire.

[At her question, he leans back, considering her words for a moment.] Well, given what I know about you, and what you've told me...

...you were kidnapped by this oppressive government because they wanted to use you. You met people who kept running into trouble, and your plane was shot down just a few seconds after takeoff. Plus, you've got the manner of a medic, and... [Mwu frowns, trying to put it into words.] ...sometimes you say things that make me think you've seen a lot more than you let on. I'd say its a safe bet you were involved somehow.

[And then there's that muted grin again.] I pay attention every now and then. So how'd I do?

Edited 2009-07-31 06:11 (UTC)

[She doesn't bother dissuading him from that.] Mm-hmm.

Some people. Mostly they cheered from the side, but occasionally we found a good ally. We couldn't have done it without them.

[She nods while he goes through the list.] Yep! Not bad... for a pilot with his head in the clouds all the time. ♥

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