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.
[They all know how he's been lately. He was kind of an ass before, but tolerable. Now, Alexei's pretty sure he'd end up swinging for the guy if they tried to have a conversation, which is why he doesn't.]
Wen?
[Not a name he's familiar with, though it rings a bell as if he should be.]
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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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Oh yeah. I...yeah. Know how he's been lately. Let's just...see how it goes. We could have Wen help instead.
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Wen?
[Not a name he's familiar with, though it rings a bell as if he should be.]
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[She gestures to her neck.]
Black veins on the neck? Passive, but allows for food requests? Like...actually were you here for the taco bell request?
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[He glances at her, lifting his eyebrow slightly.]
The fuck is a 'taco bell'.
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[She's not going to mention that the pair of them could get into conversations for hours. Weird ones but are...kinda fun.]
I think it's a restaurant? But people wanted something called a taco supreme? I think that's one of the things they make.
And we made our version here on the Barge, because some people wanted some.
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You made it sound like it was some kind of big ordeal.
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We had an assembly line and everything!
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I don't think I've ever had a tortilla. Sounds fancy.
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It's just flat bread. Kinda. Maybe I'll ask the kitchen if we could make tortillas to go with something.
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[He's not the world's biggest foodie, but he's into the idea.]
Like what?
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I mean...we could wrap up what we'd like in a sandwich?
Or...sprinkle it with cinnamon and sugar and bake it to make it crispy?
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