jigokulogs | 🌸 two | i drank every scar that i could.

I bet. [ Beat. ] You sure didn't seem to be her biggest fan. [ He gives a small little look at her as they make our way out, past the concierge - he gives a wave as thanks. ] You sure you're okay, over here?

[ Aerith has no doubt fended off the question before, but it's probably not surprising to her she's picked up Cloud's attention on how uncomfortable she was during that conversation. He's turning the card over as they walk. Held out so the two of them can look at it. ]

I know there's no changing it now, but- [ In other words, its an offer to help - Cloud's trying to be reliable, if nothing else. ]

[ A noise of acknowledgement leaves her before Aerith knows she's responding. It's both disarming that Cloud noticed, and comforting that he did. For a moment, she's content to sit silently in that knowledge, as if the weight of it could settle between the two of them as warmly as a wool blanket. ]

Yeah, I'm alright. [ It's genuine. He'll know— Cloud is right to know that she can handle herself, but he doesn't ask to belittle her. He asks because... they're friends. She looks up at him. ] It's not my favorite place to go, but... [ Part of her wonders if Cloud knows what she had meant— and worse, she wonders if the kejourou already knows there's little difference between herself and Aerith. All those people around her, and still... ]

She knows almost everyone in Tamamo, and even more people outside of it, I think. So... But, hey, what about you? She's not exactly easy on the nerves. [ Kinda gives Aerith the willies, truthfully. ]

[ Yeah, if Aerith says she's fine, he trusts her. She can handle herself, and if she needs help - well, he's here, and she knows how to reach him. That's enough, for him. ]

Uh- [ The counter-question catches him off-guard, at least a little bit, as he gives a sort of... awkward smile. Which, admittedly, most of Cloud's smiles are awkward, but this one? Especially so. ] She's... interesting. Definitely harsher than anyone we met in Wall Market. ...Even Madame M.

[ Cloud may have nerves of steel in some respects, but even he was a little taken aback. ]

But I guess it can't exactly be easy, in a room like that...

[ Looked at, but never approached unless it was for someone else's pleasure, never talked to... Deliberately isolated. No better than ornamentation in the room. Even Cloud's got a heart for a story like that. ]

[ He's always like this, straight forward and heartfelt even through the awkward smile. Along the street, they walk, and Aerith's gaze falls onto the business card as he turns it. The back is decorative, with the business name emblazoned on it even bolder. They know they're looking for someone working in a particular host club now. ]

Yeah, Tamamo is pretty different even if the surface paint is similar. People come here to blow off steam, but the people are... different. [ She imagines it has to do with the fact Tenkohime is different from Corneo— but that's a conversation you probably shouldn't have in her territory. Fox ears are surprisingly astute. ]

It sounds awful lonely, but... all she wants is a picture. [ Somehow, ... she understands. ]

Speaking of... I don't have a camera.

[ This was not well thought out, in retrospect. ]

Guess whoever this is means a lot to her. [ That's the only thing Cloud can think of. Sure, maybe this person is working at the host club... but it might be she has some sentimental attachment. It was amusing, at least - Cloud would have never thought about the stories under his feet until he had met Aerith. So even the words out of his mouth are a surprise - and he quickly tries to break glance when he realizes it. ]

[ But he can only nod at Aerith's assessment of Tamamo. Even being one of the slimiest people the two of them have ever met, it was ironic to think that 'the esteemed Don Corneo' certainly would have a harder time in Hell than either of them were having. ]

[ ...Though when Aerith confesses she doesn't have a camera, Cloud realizes - well, neither does he. He stops for a moment before he fumbles for a solution- ] There's some convenience stores in the Sutoku areas that sell disposable ones. Maybe we can swing by and grab one of those?

[ She agrees with him, makes it known through a thoughtful hum. This person, whoever they are, is a source of comfort for the woman in Jack in the Fox. They both know it, and identify it easily. Momentarily, she wonders if Cloud is speaking from experience— but sweeps the thought away easily. ]

Okay. Guess the tour resumes, I know where the biggest one in Tamamo is! Hmm, it'd be nice if we could visit Kim, but that's a longer walk... Well, let's go!

[ They're off to the races, Aerith leading the way eagerly. Move over, Tamamo, the Dynamic Duo has arrived. ]

...Someone bought them all??

[ Fastcut to a 7-11. Inside are shelves— empty. They should be blessed with rows and rows of cheap, disposable cameras, but they were barren. Employees were unhelpful, and just as lost as she seems to be. The youkai behind the counter, standing in front of a wall stuffed with smokes and questionable gas station pills of all sorts, looks tired. There is no amount that a gas station pays for someone to put up with this. ]

Now what?

Great.

[ Cloud's face at the fact that there's not a single camera left in stock is one that's both crestfallen and frustrated. He looks at Aerith, only to look at the attendant at the counter. ]

[ Cloud is starting to get a shape of what's going on here, and judging by the way his gaze seems to sourly look off towards nowhere in particular, he clearly doesn't want to voice it. ]

[ This was gonna take a while, wasn't it? ]

Hey! [ He comes onto the counter attendant strong because, well, of course he does, he quickly reels it back. ] I mean, uh - sorry to bother you. Do you know where we can get a camera on short notice? Any camera at all. We're - it's a long story.

[ there's an edge to Cloud's words, an implicit understanding that he's pretty sure how this next part is going to go... ]

[ Cats have a time limit. This is just simple fact, and something Aerith has come to know from growing up with cats roaming the streets of the slums. Cloud, just like a cat, also has a time limit. ]

It'll be fiiiine. Look, we'll just ask around until someone finds one for us. It can't be that hard, right? Tamamo might have the red light distract down, but it's also a center for the arts.

[ The underpaid employee must be used to outbursts, because they just keep chewing their gum, bored and glum. ]

Sorry to bother you. [ With an inclination of her head, Aerith begins the trek out of the store. Maybe there's another one near by...? ]

[Aerith is right, in a manner of speaking.

the nostalgic sound of a shutter clicking closed cuts through the low bustle of the district for those close enough to the convenience store to catch it. it seems that the gods of petty fetch quests have finally decided to smile down on the pair - nestled at the mouth of an alleyway is Hazel, crouched down with a retro camera pressed up to her face. judging by the angle she's getting what must be some very gorgeous upshots of the neon-splashed city; they'll look fantastic framed by the limitations of the dated technology.]

Maybe a little further back? Catch the motion blur...

[but honestly, who gives a shit about any of that? she's got the goods and she's definitely not paying as much attention to her surroundings as she could be with mumblings like that. maybe you can knock her over before she notices you're around.]

[ Oh, Cloud immediately takes notice of the girl who appears to be using a camera. He stops for a minute, looking at her, as engrossed as she is in the world. ]

Hey. [ His voice is low, pointing Hazel out to Aerith. ] Think we can...?

[ He's not going to wait long for an answer - they are, in a word, desperate for a camera. And here is at least some possible good luck. Maybe. Hopefully. ]

[ He's gonna walk forward, but let Aerith strike up the conversation first. His patience is pretty short, after all. Not something they need right now. ]

Edited 2022-06-16 08:34 (UTC)

[ That girl is, in fact, a familiar face. Cloud points her out first, and the look of recognition on Aerith's face is immediate. She doesn't wait for an answer either, and just rushes up ahead. ]

Hazel! Heya!

[ She skids to a halt in front of her, hands together in a plea. ]

Can we borrow your camera? Long story! Promise we'll bring it back!

[no one is that excited to see her. no one. Aerith's positive attitude immediately fills the young woman with immense suspicion, and when she sees her acquaintance form the telltale gesture for p l e a s e her eyes narrow.]

What? No.

[she clutches the device to her chest as if anticipating either the woman in front of her or the unhappy specter trailing behind her to make a grab for it regardless of what her answer may have been. is this camera important to her? not especially. she just bought it today, after all, using it as she always did to fill her bedroom with photo after photo of inspiration. but someone else wants it now which means, of course, that she has to dig in her heels.

never easy, is it?]

The hell am I just gonna give you my shit for? There aren't too many shots left in this thing.

[ It is never easy. Cloud doesn't rush forward, content to flank Aerith as she makes her case. When Hazel digs her heels in, he only steps forward enough so he can join the conversation. His arms are folded and his look is one of thrice-thinned patience. ]

It's a long story, but we need a photo for this... request, we've been given. Convenience store's all sold out.

[ He is not going to elaborate on the long story. He said it was a long story so that he didn't have to explain, okay? ]

🌸 two | i drank every scar that i could.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject