It would be the first time he would have been more then gently exasperated at her antics. But it was justified. Being mistaken for someone else, especially someone's wife...
Not his fault, but it was still a lot.
Aerith watched him for a few moments, before gently patting the ground beside him.
"The place was a mistake. That's what it was. But I want to apologize too for what happened. Come sit with me."
She pats the ground and Alan can't even finish the sentence, almost instantly defeated. Instead, he takes a pronounced breath, shoulders rising, and joins her.
"You remember kissing someone for once? Alan...you need to live a more careful life."
She was (gently) teasing him, even as she gently patted his back. It was a sort of assurance that in spite of everything they went through, they were friends.
"But seriously. I'm just...not happy that I upset you. You love her. I get that."
Aerith sighed, and her expression became more serious. "Missing someone so much....I get it."
She kept patting and rubbing his back. It was a comforting gesture and made it easier to talk.
"My boyfriend- my partner. He went...missing for years. He went out on a mission and he..." Aerith shook her head, her fingers curling into a fist on his back. "He never came back."
"Then this is a reunion." Selfishly, Alan knows that means there's the hope--however small--that Alice can one day join him.
But this isn't about him. He genuinely wants to know more, curious and calm. Apology given and apology accepted. Good.
"He's here now," he assures gently, and moves a hand to gently squeeze her shoulder. "That's the important part. Is he different than how you remember? Since he's been gone so long..."
"I tackled him when I saw him." Her voice was a gentle, if rueful at her enthusiasm. But having the gentle squeeze...
She moved to lean again Alan and offered a peaceful sigh.
"It'd been five years for me. And in all the important ways, he's exactly the same."
The smile came back to her face- a more warm, happier expression. "I'm going to marry him. I don't care if I have to make the ring out of tinfoil and ribbons, but I want him as my husband."
Alan's heart melts. He keeps his composure, of course--even leans so his head is on hers while she leans on his tall frame--but it's the determined confession that really gets him.
He makes a mental note to meet with Zack. He's sure he's fine--especially if Aerith likes him--but now's the time to pull on what little protective sibling or father energy he has, even if the shovel talk won't be nessecary.
"You gonna propose? Or is that traditionally the guy where you're from like Earth?"
It's nice like this. She's not his wife, but she was certainly his friend. And it feels better to know that they're now okay.
Even if it would be hilarious if Alan gave Zack a stern talking to. Of the pair of them, Aerith was the troublemaker. But he was one of the men who'd fallen through the chapel roof, so maybe it was situational.
"Maybe it's traditional, but that never mattered to me." She shook her head. "I'll talk to him about it. He might know someone who can make us rings."
"There has to be someone on board who can. The people here have some of the strangest skillsets I've ever seen. You'll need an officiant, too. You can find one at the chapel, probably."
That made her laugh. Gently, but still. Somehow, that seemed completely Alan.
"Well if- when- it happens, of course I'll invite you. You can wear a three piece suit." Her voice became teasing. "Maybe have a flower or two braided into your hair. It can be a sign you've been invited by me."
That's decidedly unmanly. Alan looks over at Aerith, his thoughts clearly written on his face, but he's also kind of considering it. After all, it's Aerith.
"If it's the bride taking time out of her special day to help me, I guess I have to." He's smiling despite the reluctant words, though a thought crosses his mind.
"Hey. Aerith. When I graduate--and you graduate someone--you should come visit Alice and I some time."
"Clearly." She was smiling still, though that offer had her glance his way. To meet Alice...she did want to know her. She was curious about the woman Alan was clearly deeply in love with.
"I'd like that." She smiled up at Alan. "You'd have to take me on a full tour you know. I want to go to at least one greasy spoon."
"Of course. And a real bodega. John Doe can make a great bacon egg and cheese, though, you should talk to him. You'll at least get some of the experience."
It's nice, he thinks, to offer that to someone. A place. It's one hell of a motivator. He just wishes he knew what the fuck the magic thing to do to graduate even is. A thought occurs to him, a quiet whisper at first but he starts to broach if after a few seconds.
"You've had a few months of wardening under your belt now, right?"
Now she had to bug John for food. Well, at least she was happy to make foods for others. She was ready to make sure that Alan had sandwiches in the fridge, if he didn't mind her trying to fuss over him again.
"But I'd like that. I'd like a visit- and have Zack come along too. I don't think he's been to a Bodega."
She was pretty sure she hadn't either. But she'd like to.
But the rosy thoughts were interrupted by Alan's question.
"Yeah? I haven't been permanent paired yet, but soon maybe. What's up?"
Alan's nodding, encouraging the other as she peaks. He doubts John will mind if Zack comes along--he's the kind of guy who offers his bathroom if an inmate needs a shower. No way he'd mind.
"What do you think separates you guys from us? Not just power or responsibility wise, but... Do you think it's just atonement?"
There's some other things that she and John needed to cover. She'd be happy to bring him tea or muffins or something because breakfast foods were great.
But Alan poised an interesting question. Aerith tilted her head, and considered.
"I think there may be a mindset. Or maybe...a responsibility we take for what we've done." Aerith shook her head a little. "We're for sure not perfect. That's for sure."
"Well...maybe...let's make it a thought exercise."
Aerith spread her hands. "If you were a warden, who would you be? What have you become in order to take responsibility and show someone what to do? Who do you want to be?"
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Not his fault, but it was still a lot.
Aerith watched him for a few moments, before gently patting the ground beside him.
"The place was a mistake. That's what it was. But I want to apologize too for what happened. Come sit with me."
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She pats the ground and Alan can't even finish the sentence, almost instantly defeated. Instead, he takes a pronounced breath, shoulders rising, and joins her.
"You have nothing to apologize for."
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She still moved sideways to give him a gentle hug and a squeeze, if he allowed it.
"But I felt like if I did, I'd hurt you. And well..instead I heard things you wanted to tell her. And you kissed me."
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"I know." No anger, just glum admittance. This is embarrassing. He feels like a teenager all over again, and he's a 43 year old man.
"I remember, for once." Convenient. Why can't he ever have holes in his memory when it's convenient?
"Look--Aerith, you really didn't do anything wrong. If you would have insisted you weren't her sooner... I'm not even sure I'd listen."
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She was (gently) teasing him, even as she gently patted his back. It was a sort of assurance that in spite of everything they went through, they were friends.
"But seriously. I'm just...not happy that I upset you. You love her. I get that."
Aerith sighed, and her expression became more serious. "Missing someone so much....I get it."
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"Yeah?" He straightens, all attention on her.
"Missing someone from home?"
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She kept patting and rubbing his back. It was a comforting gesture and made it easier to talk.
"My boyfriend- my partner. He went...missing for years. He went out on a mission and he..." Aerith shook her head, her fingers curling into a fist on his back. "He never came back."
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But this isn't about him. He genuinely wants to know more, curious and calm. Apology given and apology accepted. Good.
"He's here now," he assures gently, and moves a hand to gently squeeze her shoulder. "That's the important part. Is he different than how you remember? Since he's been gone so long..."
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She moved to lean again Alan and offered a peaceful sigh.
"It'd been five years for me. And in all the important ways, he's exactly the same."
The smile came back to her face- a more warm, happier expression. "I'm going to marry him. I don't care if I have to make the ring out of tinfoil and ribbons, but I want him as my husband."
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He makes a mental note to meet with Zack. He's sure he's fine--especially if Aerith likes him--but now's the time to pull on what little protective sibling or father energy he has, even if the shovel talk won't be nessecary.
"You gonna propose? Or is that traditionally the guy where you're from like Earth?"
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Even if it would be hilarious if Alan gave Zack a stern talking to. Of the pair of them, Aerith was the troublemaker. But he was one of the men who'd fallen through the chapel roof, so maybe it was situational.
"Maybe it's traditional, but that never mattered to me." She shook her head. "I'll talk to him about it. He might know someone who can make us rings."
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He's assuming he'll say yes. He glances over.
"And write vows."
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She didn't know if Vincent Smith did do weddings, but maybe he would as a favor.
Though she was amused. "Alan? You wanna be my wedding planner?"
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"Me? God, no. I'm terrible at that. It was six months of bare-knuckled hell when Alice and I were doing it. But I'd like to attend."
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"Well if- when- it happens, of course I'll invite you. You can wear a three piece suit." Her voice became teasing. "Maybe have a flower or two braided into your hair. It can be a sign you've been invited by me."
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"You gonna be the one doing the braiding?"
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"Of course. It's my request. It'd only be fair if I braided it in."
She might see if she could to it to her groom or others too. She thought it was a cute idea.
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"Hey. Aerith. When I graduate--and you graduate someone--you should come visit Alice and I some time."
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"I'd like that." She smiled up at Alan. "You'd have to take me on a full tour you know. I want to go to at least one greasy spoon."
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"Of course. And a real bodega. John Doe can make a great bacon egg and cheese, though, you should talk to him. You'll at least get some of the experience."
It's nice, he thinks, to offer that to someone. A place. It's one hell of a motivator. He just wishes he knew what the fuck the magic thing to do to graduate even is. A thought occurs to him, a quiet whisper at first but he starts to broach if after a few seconds.
"You've had a few months of wardening under your belt now, right?"
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Now she had to bug John for food. Well, at least she was happy to make foods for others. She was ready to make sure that Alan had sandwiches in the fridge, if he didn't mind her trying to fuss over him again.
"But I'd like that. I'd like a visit- and have Zack come along too. I don't think he's been to a Bodega."
She was pretty sure she hadn't either. But she'd like to.
But the rosy thoughts were interrupted by Alan's question.
"Yeah? I haven't been permanent paired yet, but soon maybe. What's up?"
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"What do you think separates you guys from us? Not just power or responsibility wise, but... Do you think it's just atonement?"
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But Alan poised an interesting question. Aerith tilted her head, and considered.
"I think there may be a mindset. Or maybe...a responsibility we take for what we've done." Aerith shook her head a little. "We're for sure not perfect. That's for sure."
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"I've been trying to figure it out, the inmate-warden thing. It's a very thin line."
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Aerith spread her hands. "If you were a warden, who would you be? What have you become in order to take responsibility and show someone what to do? Who do you want to be?"
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