[He quickly moves into the bedroom, and emerges a minute later with a young calico cat in his hands. She looks wary, shrinking into him, but she's not trying to get away. Alexei sits down next to Aerith and holds the animal on his lap with a gentle grip.]
Means 'little squirrel'. [The reason may be obvious, given the fluffy tail she has.] Told the Admiral he could get one out of a bad situation, and he said he pulled her out of a place called Pripyat. I had to look it up - there was a nuclear plant explosion there a long time ago in my universe. [The kitten lets out a plaintive meow.]
She must have had a family, but maybe they couldn't get back to her to take her with them. Took me two days to get her out from under the bed.
[She's just a baby who had gone through so much. Poor thing. She shook her head, before offering her a low hand, palm down slow to offer her fingers to sniff.
Slow so poor kitten can get used to the idea of fingers.]
[Though the little cat is very wary she sniffs at the offered hand, looking up at Aerith with big eyes. Alexei smiles a bit. He loves cats, and this one is so cute.]
And it was a really...hard. A really hard time. In the breach, I ended up being taken care of by Arthur and Varker for about five years, when breach me was seven. Turns out dad...breach dad had to go and make a deal so breach me would be safe.
[The cat's head wobbles as she follows the track of Aerith's finger.]
Sounds like you had a rough time.
[Even if it wasn't 'real', it doesn't erase the emotional impact. He's quiet for a few moments, rubbing his fingers into Belochka's fur, then he glances sideways and asks quietly;]
[Alexei leans back, resting one arm along the back of the couch so she can lean in if she'd like.]
Got a feeling Arthur gets into things too fast sometimes when he's worried. Pretty sure he knows I'd just hit him if he tried it with me though. [A small, wry smile.]
John... I think he'll understand. [He picks Belochka up with one hand and gently deposits her on Aerith's lap. Despite seeming momentarily startled, she doesn't run away.] He knows how Arthur is better than anyone.
Look, I love Arthur, the guy cares a hell of a lot, but he's still an asshole. I know it, he knows it, John knows it.
[Alexei, being something of a professional in leaving messes for other people, doesn't often have those same concerns.]
Did he go too hard 'cause he was worried? I'd bet on it. Was it right? Nah, and I think you know that too. [He gives the cat a gentle pet.] I'd say it's more his mess than yours. He'll figure it out. You're definitely not the first person he's pissed off by aggressively caring.
[Aerith ducked her head, but she was trying not to laugh. Trust Alexei to get to the heart of it and be blunt about it.]
Oh, I'm sure I'm not. I just feel bad because- I would like to be part of his family. But - you and I Alexei, we're similar. We don't do well when pushed.
[She sighed, stroking Belochka's back.]
If John wants to talk to me about it, I won't run from him. Arthur...he can cool down.
[Nod nod. It probably wouldn't seem like it to most people who knew them both, but he and Aerith really are similar in a lot of ways, especially when it comes to stress and people pushing at them.
He smiles a bit, though.]
Families argue all the time. Should have heard some of the fights me and Calina would get into when we were kids. [A little snort.] You'd think we hated each other sometimes.
[Then, after sinking back against the couch cushions.]
You're allowed to say 'I don't want to talk about this' and have that be fucking respected. If Arthur gives you any trouble over it, I'll talk to him. ... When you're done ripping him to shreds.
I never had siblings. Maybe it'd be different if I had some, maybe even adopted ones.
[She smiles, giving the little cat a skritch on the back of the head.]
I'll have to remind myself of that. I'm...yeah. Sometimes I'm not clear with my boundaries.
[She rubbed her face with a gentle huff.]
I did give him a talking to. I really felt smacked with all of this...need to be open and tell him everything. Nope. I'll be firm with him next time. Though, I might have to heal him for a concussion once I'm done.
[She strokes Belochka on the back. Good little loaf! She smiled, and gently leaned against him.]
Mmm. I'm not sure what to talk about with the breach. It's so...strange, feeling the overlap. It was fine for, well, when I was a teenager. Just a...exciting childhood.
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Thanks. I'll show you around properly soon.
[He quickly moves into the bedroom, and emerges a minute later with a young calico cat in his hands. She looks wary, shrinking into him, but she's not trying to get away. Alexei sits down next to Aerith and holds the animal on his lap with a gentle grip.]
This is Belochka.
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[She smiles, pressing her hands together. And melts, seeing the little calico. She's just a baby!]
She looks so sweet.
[Her voice was hushed.]
And scared, poor thing. Bel...ochka? That's how to say it?
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[He rubs a thumb behind one of her ears.]
Means 'little squirrel'. [The reason may be obvious, given the fluffy tail she has.] Told the Admiral he could get one out of a bad situation, and he said he pulled her out of a place called Pripyat. I had to look it up - there was a nuclear plant explosion there a long time ago in my universe. [The kitten lets out a plaintive meow.]
She must have had a family, but maybe they couldn't get back to her to take her with them. Took me two days to get her out from under the bed.
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[She's just a baby who had gone through so much. Poor thing. She shook her head, before offering her a low hand, palm down slow to offer her fingers to sniff.
Slow so poor kitten can get used to the idea of fingers.]
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You said you had some news to tell me?
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[She smiled at the kitten. She's so cute.]
John and I adopted each other. Because...he was my dad. During breach.
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He's got that vibe, huh.
[Not for Alexei, who isn't looking for a father figure at all, but he could see it.]
I missed it, I think. Or I don't remember anything.
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[She bit her lip, gently wiggling her finger.]
And it was a really...hard. A really hard time. In the breach, I ended up being taken care of by Arthur and Varker for about five years, when breach me was seven. Turns out dad...breach dad had to go and make a deal so breach me would be safe.
All because my breach mom died.
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Sounds like you had a rough time.
[Even if it wasn't 'real', it doesn't erase the emotional impact. He's quiet for a few moments, rubbing his fingers into Belochka's fur, then he glances sideways and asks quietly;]
... Are you okay?
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...Arthur, I think...he pushed way too hard, too fast when I went to him to talk. So I ended up shutting down.
[She sighed.]
It's going to make things hard for John, once he knows. If he doesn't already know.
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Got a feeling Arthur gets into things too fast sometimes when he's worried. Pretty sure he knows I'd just hit him if he tried it with me though. [A small, wry smile.]
John... I think he'll understand. [He picks Belochka up with one hand and gently deposits her on Aerith's lap. Despite seeming momentarily startled, she doesn't run away.] He knows how Arthur is better than anyone.
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[Oh! Kitten on her lap! Gently, she started to pet her, offering cheek and head skritches.]
Maybe I should have hit him. But I went all 'I'm fine' and I think he took it as a challenge.
[She wrinkled her nose.]
I know John can and will be fine. It doesn't mean I like leaving a mess for people to clean up.
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Look, I love Arthur, the guy cares a hell of a lot, but he's still an asshole. I know it, he knows it, John knows it.
[Alexei, being something of a professional in leaving messes for other people, doesn't often have those same concerns.]
Did he go too hard 'cause he was worried? I'd bet on it. Was it right? Nah, and I think you know that too. [He gives the cat a gentle pet.] I'd say it's more his mess than yours. He'll figure it out. You're definitely not the first person he's pissed off by aggressively caring.
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Oh, I'm sure I'm not. I just feel bad because- I would like to be part of his family. But - you and I Alexei, we're similar. We don't do well when pushed.
[She sighed, stroking Belochka's back.]
If John wants to talk to me about it, I won't run from him. Arthur...he can cool down.
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He smiles a bit, though.]
Families argue all the time. Should have heard some of the fights me and Calina would get into when we were kids. [A little snort.] You'd think we hated each other sometimes.
[Then, after sinking back against the couch cushions.]
You're allowed to say 'I don't want to talk about this' and have that be fucking respected. If Arthur gives you any trouble over it, I'll talk to him. ... When you're done ripping him to shreds.
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[She smiles, giving the little cat a skritch on the back of the head.]
I'll have to remind myself of that. I'm...yeah. Sometimes I'm not clear with my boundaries.
[She rubbed her face with a gentle huff.]
I did give him a talking to. I really felt smacked with all of this...need to be open and tell him everything. Nope. I'll be firm with him next time. Though, I might have to heal him for a concussion once I'm done.
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You tell him. I've got your back if you need it.
[Honestly, Arthur... would it be so hard not to swing in like a wrecking ball? Even Alexei can manage it!]
Ever told you I love it when you're feisty? It's a good look on you.
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[She beams up at him, even as she chuckles. Her, feisty...that's funny.]
When am I ever feisty? I thought I was never spicy or anything. Just so quiet and never gets into any sort of trouble or anything!
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Pure picture of innocence, you are. Couldn't imagine you ever getting into any trouble. Don't be like me, it's a bad path to go down.
[Snort.
Belochka is purring, timidly loafing on Aerith's thighs. Alexei sits up and puts his arm around her, bumping kiss to the side of her head.]
Do you wanna talk about it? The Breach?
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[She strokes Belochka on the back. Good little loaf! She smiled, and gently leaned against him.]
Mmm. I'm not sure what to talk about with the breach. It's so...strange, feeling the overlap. It was fine for, well, when I was a teenager. Just a...exciting childhood.
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Yeah... I remember the last one, took me a while to shake it off. Most of it's gone now, but I still kinda like horses for some reason.
[A soft laugh.]
You don't have to talk about anything, or you can tell me what it was like.
CW: parental death mention
[She laughs a little- but it fades and she blows out a breath.]
Everything was okay until my mom died. And then...I lost all stability. Dad left me with Arthur. And Arthur was a mess. Clement- Varker- was a mess.
They tried to hide it, but they were stressed all the time.
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[He remembers when his father died, even though he was only very young at the time.]
You want to come horseriding with me some time? I'm not great at it, but I can stay in the saddle.
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[She blew out a breath.]
I'd like that. We could-give that a try and all.
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Mm. Trevor was showing me the basics, but... well, you've seen how he is lately.
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