View source for 2457/A Teacup of Feelings

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025/04/08
|Location=Dorms #1
|Synopsis=Thinking about the events of Scene 2444, Amy comes to thank Aloisia and check up on her, and ends up pouring out more feelings than she expected over tea. Aloisia has things to share too.
|Cast of Characters=107,216
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Knock knock. "It's me, Amy. Are you in?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When the door is opened, Amy's there in a red T-shirt and her uniform skirt, with a field jacket tied around her waist by the arms.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She smiles awkwardly and gives a little wave, "Hey, uh, how've you been? With the whole... ''not'' having your body puppeted by an ancient Belkan monster, finally, thing?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:216|Aloisia (216)}} has posed:'''<br> There were multiple things that Aloisia had had to take care of, now that the worst of things were out of the way. Upgrading the platinklinge as much as she could, practicing manual spell creation since she wasn't sure how long it would be until her actual Devices were ready... but right now? Right now she was just sitting in her ... much less spartan room with a nice cup of tea. <br><br>When the knock on the door is heard, she stands, the smell of a nice cinnamon-vanilla tea wafting through the air as she approaches the door. And when that door is opened... <br><br> Gone is the spartan room that just had a cot and the barest of things, she's actually gotten a proper bed, her room themed much like the colors of her twin devices, mixes of greens and blues, and... there were some adorable little green and blue plushes sitting on a shelf, and another set of shelves above that worktable now had a set of various different stones and jewels now. Likely things she'd gathered herself while wandering, from the general roughness of them. <br> In the center of the room is a nice kotatsu, with some little frog cushions around it for sitting on. <br><br> "Ah, hello, Faust." Aloisia says, motioning for her to come in. She was, presently, wearing a comfortable and relatively simple dress that seems to be purely for comfort over fashion, though it was still relatively cute with a slight cinching around the waist. Black short sleeved top, and at the waist descending into a mix of green and black with a printing of lilypads against the night sky towards the bottom edge of the dress. <br><br>"Come in. It's been... an adjustment, that's for sure, but I'm doing well." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy can smell the tea, and glances at the room, but she didn't... see it, before, to compare. She notices the slight degree of personal touch, and wonders how everyone knows how to ''do'' that. She steps into the room, and closes the door behind her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You like frogs, huh? I didn't know they made cinnamon tea. I've tried licorice, sometimes. And one time I got eggnog-flavored tea..." She shakes her head. "Anyway, um. I know we kinda started off as enemies, but..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She starts to walk around the room slowly, glancing around. "You had it super rough until recently, that's why I wanted to take extra care to... Like, I was kinda focused on fighting Seriss Nyx's monster at the time, but... I didn't want you to think like, I didn't care, or still held stuff against you, that's why I wanted to say..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her mind drifts back to a moment it's been circling back to sometimes since, and Amy's not sure why.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Aloisia helping her up in that reassuring manner, a feeling of warm and secure energy, and then standing in front of her protectively to face the monster that inexplicably wanted to eat her, declaring ''She is not yours.''<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Thank you," she looks at Aloisia with a smile, "for helping me against Seriss's monster. It uh. Yeah." Why so ''awkwaaaaard''<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:216|Aloisia (216)}} has posed:'''<br> "I decided on a color scheme. Frogs seemed to naturally fit into it, honestly." Is Aloisia's response with a bit of an awkward chuckle. "I'm still somewhat discovering what I like, to be honest. I figured the colors of my Sisters were a good option, though." She glances towards the colors, a slightly bittersweet look on her face. <br><br>"Ah, yes, they make all sorts of teas. Though this one isn't particularly traditional, but they have all sorts of bagged teas in the market." She walks over to the counter, where she has a small set of metal wire drawers sitting on the counter, which she slides open to reveal a rainbow of colors of different flavors of teas. <br><br> Talk of the starting as enemies gets a soft laugh. "Well of course we did. When I came to this planet, I was here to kill someone who you cared for dearly -- even if that desire died quickly afterwards." Her tone is even and calm, not really mirthful in spite of the laugh, more calm and relatively understanding. "I'd have been bitter too." She pauses. <br><br> "But no, we were busy with the fact the whole ship was about to sink afterwards, so I honestly didn't think much of it -- especially since that's just my Role. I am a defender, I defend those who need it in the moment." She turns towards Amy, holding up a mug and gesturing towards the tea. "Pick a flavor? I imagine a chat between us has been long since coming." <br><br> A pause, and then she adds, "You're welcome." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Still discovering what I like. "Mood!" Amy smiles at that, and glances at the tea but not closely.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And after saying her piece... "Right... just your role. I guess Hannah was like that too..." She looks away again, and at the tea. She picks out something citrus-flavored.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;You're welcome. "Oh um, thanks." Amy answers, feeling like that prompted a response for some reason. And then she processes what was said just before and blinks at Aloisia. "It has? Oh..." She looks down at the tea. "I guess... because of... yeah."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:216|Aloisia (216)}} has posed:'''<br> Aloisia proceeds to add some hot water to the mug along with the teabag, before offering it to Amy to take. Afterwards, she makes her way over to sit at that kotatsu, settling to sit comfortably on one of those frog cushions, her legs splayed out to either side instead of sitting all properly. She was going for comfort right now, it seems. <br><br>"Well, it's more than 'just' my role, but it is how I handle fights. I mean, I /did/ have two giant shields before everything went down. It's somewhat natural for me." She sets her own mug down, before leaning forward a bit more, resting her elbow on the table and cheek on fist, just a comfortable pose more than anything. <br><br> "I know that you do not necessarily hold much against me; you know my past, and you know the reasons of them. But I was still an aggressor to this planet, and had been out to cause harm to those you care for. I am sure you still have some feelings about that, if you want to get them out. It doesn't have to be now of course, I understand that we're thinking on other things right now just -- well. You know." There's a slight bit of awkwardness in Aloisia's voice at that point. "I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to deck me, that's for certain." She gives a soft chuckle, before taking a sip of her tea. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy watches Aloisia's faace as she speaks. Trying to tell if she's... something. At the comment about decking her she looks shocked. "What!? No!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...At least, not for a long time. Not since it became clear Otto was just using you, anyway."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She takes a seat across the kotatsu and sets her mug down, staring at it.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...How you handle fights. Did you fight a lot, before you came to Earth?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:216|Aloisia (216)}} has posed:'''<br>Aloisia is mostly just getting comfortable, she's relatively calm looking and still has a light smile on her face; in spite of the topic. Either extremely good at hiding her emotions, or just enjoying the moment while talking about the serious subject. "Well, that's good then. I wasn't entirely just being used of course, otherwise I'd have probably never escaped to be honest. If I'd just calmly accepted his orders, I think you'd have viewed me differently now." <br><br>She takes another sip of the tea, at that question of how she handles fights. "Mmm... yes and no. My position at home was not that different from Harlaown's. I was a part of the Tungeturm Defense Force, we helped to keep wild animals at bay as well as deter any threats that might attempt to steal from our miners, since the planet is one of the sources of the gemstones that are used for the cores of Devices. Most of the time this meant fighting animals much larger than us and desperate for food to be willing to attack a human settlement, or detering animals that just wandered too close who were bad for the infrastructure of the domes." Aloisia explains. <br><br>"Most days were just spent on patrols and training though, as well as making our presence known to make sure that the people knew that they were safe, that there guardians were there to keep them safe. As well as help out occasionally with work that might need done." There's a bittersweet fondness in her voice as she speaks of Tungeturm -- a mix of love for the planet and bitterness at her own past. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy isn't sure how to sit. Legs sort of awkwardly spread, or kneeling... eventually she settles on loosely cross-legged, with her knees and feet off the frog cushion, under the kotatsu.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She listens. "It really is kind of wild. I mean... It sounds like something out of a science fiction book, or maybe an anime." She looks at Aloisia. "I don't say that like, I think it's better or wish I'd lived that, just..." She looks back down at her mug, and moves it slightly to swirl the steeping tea inside. "Earth is pretty well tamed, you know? So it's unlike anything here."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks back up at Aloe curiously. "Did you save people a lot?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:216|Aloisia (216)}} has posed:'''<br> "Tame? Earth? Have you not gone to the jungles around here? The insects alone are vicious little beasties." Aloe says with a soft laugh. "Earth is not tame, no. It is just a different kind of wild. Tungeturm for the most part was similar levels of peaceful, if not for the coup, to be honest. I imagine if I looked up pirate and animal attacks, they would have dramatically increased after my joining the defense force." Aloisia gives the slightest frown at that. "I am fairly certain that the count was helping to set up more and more violent encounters, trying to push me into being more vicious than I naturally am." She says somewhat hesitantly. <br><br> "Besides, the food is MUCH better on earth, and there's significantly more to do on a planet that has an atmosphere." She gives a bemused smile. <br><br> "Mmm. A few times. Most of the time my 'saving people' was helping to stop threats before they became true ones. Bear in mind I was like 13 when I fled tungeturm. I did not have THAT much time on the force, and likely wouldn't normally have been allowed to join it if not for my ... circumstances." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy blinks. "No, we generally do not go to the jungles here." She admits. "Like, unless you're studying the flora and fauna there or tribal people living there... no."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She listens to the story, her mental image of Aloisia fighting off megafauna to protect the citizenry being repeatedly revised -- putting her in a spacesuit outside colony domes, and then aging her down. Frowning as she discusses the Count's manipulations. "Right... Chrono said he'd been a Bureau agent for years. I guess... they let kids do a lot more out there, for good and ill."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She takes a breath, and lets it out. Lifts the tea to sniff it, sets it back down. "What are you gonna do now? Oh right. Moon knight. Uh, how's that working out for you?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:216|Aloisia (216)}} has posed:'''<br> "Chrono is in a similar situation to what I was -- though in a much more benevolent way. His family, much like mine, had already been involved in things, so he just naturally ended up there. He is an oddity as well, I am fairly certain, due to his frankly monstrous ability to do as much as he does with a Storage Device instead of an Intelligent Device or an Armed Device." Aloisia responds, she pauses thoughtfully, before explaining. <br><br> "If you do not already know, a Storage Device is more or less just a storage method for spells, but you have to manually activate them yourself, more or less. Whereas an Armed Device or Intelligent Device help to automate parts of the spells so that you have to do less processing and math." Aloisia shifts slightly in place. <br><br> "Kristallritter. The Crystal Knight." She says softly. "I will be doing what comes natural. I have been told I don't /have/ to fight, but I will anyway. It is in my nature. I will defend that which needs defending. I will support those who need it, and I will crush evil where it infests this world." Those words are stated with a confident calm, as if it weren't a question of IF she would do any of that, but instead that it was an inevitable end. "And I will be doing my best to enjoy myself, like with redecorating my room." She motions towards a folded up cot in the corner. "My room used to be very... spartan." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I might've heard some of it before, but I confess, as no one is able to explain to me how to ''use'' such magic, even in basic forms, even with access to a basic storage device, I haven't really... looked into how it works as much as I might have otherwise."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She lifts the teacup and blows on it. Takes a tiny sip. Nope still needs time to cool.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'd like to think that if I grew up in such a society I'd be a talented mage, but who can say. S'not like learning to program computers did much for me here."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She smiles as Aloisia speaks on her nature. "I respect that. People who can... be themselves, rather than who others tell them they have to be. People who stand up for their beliefs."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She blows on the tea. "I used to think that perhaps there was some... objectively better way to be everyone should try to be, or to think, but... I understand now. Being yourself feels so much better. I'd rather live a short life as me than forever trying to be someone else."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks around at the room. "Even if I'm not entirely sure who it is that I am. I don't know how to decorate a room, either. How did you figure it out?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:216|Aloisia (216)}} has posed:'''<br> "It's more or less complex mathematical formulas." Aloisia explains. "That's really the easiest explanation. Not that it would help you with casting it -- while it's a magical society, and almost everyone 'has' magic, most people are not like myself, Harlaown... Takamachi... really most of the people with a Device on this planet are somewhat... abnormal as far as magical potential and skills go." <br><br>The talk of her living in a society as a talented mage ... actually gets a soft laugh. "Honestly, that /would/ help you somewhat on my planet, because of the aforementioned mathematical formula explanation. Our devices are magical technology, so if you'd learned the language that our magic is written in and applied it to device creation, you could have been what we call a 'Meister', or someone who creates and maintains devices. And that is a very valuable skill that would have put you in high demand. Possibly helped you to be a talented mage as well, though not all Meisters are even particularly good mages. Too interested in the devices, not enough interest in the magic." <br><br> Hmm. An objective better way to be... "Well... there are some things that people probably should strive to be, but most of those things are fairly basic things. Not stealing, not harming others, not manipulating people to evil ends..." She gives a helpless shrug. "Beyond that, it's hard to say what is or isn't good. There are so many shades of grey, and as you said... it's much easier just to be yourself while striving to be a good person." She nods simply. And then... <br><br> "Decorating my room? How did i figure it out?" She pauses, then just... laughs. It's not really at Amy, nor is it a mean laugh. <br><br> "...I just got things that I thought would look nice that matched the colors I wanted. That's ... that's really the extent of it. I got gemstones because they remind me of home. I got green and blues because those are the colors associated with the cores of Doppelwand. That is... that's really it, to be honest. Also the frog plushies were cute, so I got some more frog stuff." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy listens attentively, but she gives a short bitter laugh at 'valuable skill in high demand', followed by a wheeze. "I've heard ''that'' one before. No, I suppose it'd be just the same if I'd grown up on a world of magic, after all. My only value to society is that I can fight, as long as I can, with a power I got by luck."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She sips the tea, and listens curiously as Aloisia describes how she learned to decorate. "Huh. I guess when I was a little kid I collected pretty rocks, but I didn't have a place to like, put them so I just kept them in a little pile in the back yard."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks over at the frog plushies. "Cute stuff, huh... I guess it's okay for me to have it now, but I don't... know what to get."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:216|Aloisia (216)}} has posed:'''<br> Aloisia's head tilts slightly, before she reaches a hand out to lightly poke Amy's nose. "That thought right there will take you right down the path to despair. Your worth is not what you can do for others, not what you can do for the world. Your worth is purely that you are you. What you can do, what you can earn, what you can make? All of those are just vehicles for you to be able to be yourself. If those are the things you enjoy? That's one thing, but if it's /all/ you're doing, and it's /not/ something you enjoy? Then girl, you need to go hang out with your friends more often outside of 'work'." <br><br> She gives a soft exhale at that, closing her eyes quietly as she seems to ... think a few moments. "The main difference between that." She gestures at her shelves. "And your pile of stones in your backyard is that I have money and options to put it on a shelf instead of having it in a pile. That's it." <br><br> She taps her lip as Amy talks about ute stuff and not knowing what to get... <br><br> "Well, that's easy enough to answer... you go to a store, and you see something that you like -- that you think is cute? And... just... get it. That's really all you have to do. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, if anyone else thinks it's appropriate. It doesn't even have to be themed; you just have to like it. It just has to bring you joy. That's it. That can be clothes, that can be plushies, that can be that weird statue that everyone looks at and goes 'what is that???'. If you enjoy it, that's what matters." She takes another sip of her tea. <br><br> "That's all." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy's eyes go wide at the nose poke. And she listens for a few seconds, and then starts to frown.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She mutters, "I probably coulda put them on a shelf, but it'd have been weird to bring random rocks inside. Actually maybe I did bring some of them inside, it's been so long I don't totally remember."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She watches Aloisia through the explanation of getting things. "I mean... I can't just spend money willy-nilly, either. It's bad enough that I have more videogames bought on sale than I'll ever play. Yeah, they seemed neat enough to spend a little money on at the time, and then I forgot about them. I don't know how you find like..." She looks at the plushies. "Stuff like that you actually ''want'' enough to be worth it."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She shakes her head and frowns back at Aloisia. "Anyway... what you said simply isn't-- Look. The only place for me is here at Radiant Heart. Noplace else ''wanted'' me. Radiant Heart is an anomoly. I guess maybe once I graduate, if I'm still alive that long, they'll give me a job or something, but I'll always know I'm--"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her eyes water and she glares down at the floor. "I'm not like everyone else, with their... dreams to chase. With their ''futures.'' With their ''place'' in the world outside."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A tear runs down her cheek. "You can say I'm special and I deserve it but that won't change the world, if it's what's broken, or me, if I'm what's broken."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And she has to sabotage this somehow, before Aloisia keeps reminding her of the difference between how she wishes things were and how they ''are'', it's painful. Well, there's one thing that's been in the back of her mind that'll make things too awkward to continue:<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Dammit, I came here because I kept thinking about that moment--"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She didn't know why? She couldn't think of a single reason she'd keep thinking of the moment someone defended her, shared that warmth and strength, and told the monster 'she is not yours?'<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nope, not a single reason.<br /><br />https://radiantheartmush.com/images/0/07/That-was-a-facade.png<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"--and I think I was starting to feel something for y--"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nope on second thought now that she's made a mess of things she's too chicken to admit it after all, "Nevermind. I shouldn't have bothered you." She takes a sip of the tea and stands up.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:216|Aloisia (216)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I don't think it would be that weird. Especially for a child. Though my viewpoint might be slightly weird, but I find beautiful stones to be beautiful regardless. And... so long as you're not making a mess, and it's your space, it doesn't matter that much if it's weird or not." Aloisia responds gently. <br><br> The talk of not just spending money gets a slight tilt of Aloisia's head. "...Are you unable to get a part time job? I'm sure you could figure something out, one way or another. And... things that are what you're interested in ... that is enough to be worth it." She muses a bit. "And you can always go looking at places that are cheaper. Or second-hand stores." And then Amy starts to break down. <br><br> That talk of how Radiant Heart is the only place for her. That noplace else wants her. That Radiant Heart is an anomaly. The talk that she's not like everyone else. That she doesn't have a future. And Aloisia actually frowns slightly at that. "Talk like that certainly will not help, Amy. If you give up, before you've even fought? That's ... that's not a winning fight." She moves as Amy begins to talk, to talk about starting to feel something for her. That she shouldn't have bothered her. And Aloisia is not sitting anymore. She is on the other side of the kotatsu, reaching to take Amy into a hug. <br><br> It was gentle, it was calm, and it was that same sense of warmth and strength -- not shared through magic this way. "And that is okay. Thinking about a moment that struck you is okay. Feeling something for someone is okay. Being unsure of yourself is okay. But don't give up, Amy. Don't hold yourself back. So what if you're different? So what if our futures might look different from yours? What matters is the /here/ and the /now/ and what I see right now is someone who has been there for me from day one. Someone who has fought for my freedom. Someone who cared when I thought I did not deserve care." <br><br> Aloisia would, only after saying all of that, allow the hug to end, allow Amy to escape, if she wanted to. "I am not in a position where I can reciprocate romantic feelings right now. I was nearly erased. I lost my family. I lost my home. And I have a new home now, I would even go so far as to say I have a new family, but as much as I put on a strong face, I am still gravely injured from those things and healing." She says softly. "I do care for you though -- as I do everyone who came to save me. And I will be there for you in any capacity I can." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy stiffens at the hug, "No, I'll fall for--" she starts to protest, but listens.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Here and now. She nods. That's how she's been seeing it... But then--<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Someone who cared when I thought I did not deserve care.''<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That ''meant'' something to someone. Maybe not many. She's not sure how positively or strongly Hinoiri felt about that. But it meant something to Aloisia.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's not trying to escape the hug at that point.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's still kinda processing that, as Aloisia continues. It's more surprising than what she says next, Amy nods a little.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I understand. I think maybe, now that I said it, I can move on? I'm not--" She pulls a kleenex from her skirt pocket, dabs her eyes, and blows her nose, and tosses it in the wastebasket. "I'm not sure what I was feeling, I'm still kinda figuring all this out... but thanks."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She takes a breath. "I'll try to keep focusing on the here and now, and remember that... That caring for people that don't think they deserve it," she smiles, eyes watering again, "can matter to them."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And she holds out her arms to offer a hug in turn.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:216|Aloisia (216)}} has posed:'''<br>"You're a wonderful person, Amy Faust. You are there when people need you. You don't hesitate to help -- even when it might not be in your best interest, considering your status as a Puella Magi. And that means a lot more than you think, just by that simple action." Aloisia listens quietly at the talk of moving on, dabbing her eyes and blowing her nose. <br><br>And she lifts a hand to pat the top of her head lightly. "Trust me, I know exactly what you mean on 'figuring all this out'. This world is strange and beautiful to me, as are its people. It's all very overwhelming. In many ways, wonderful, but overwhelming nonetheless." She gives a soft chuckle. <br><br> The offered hug gets Amy wrapped up in Aloe's arms again, and she would freely share that strength and warmth again. "Just remember that you need to care for yourself just as much, yeah? Start thinking about what you think is cute. I know I said the future doesn't matter, but thinking about what you might want to do -- without thinking of what you did in the past -- is still worthwhile. Because your future might look different from ours, perhaps, but it's still a future. And I'm sure, should you need it, there are ways out of the Contract for you." <br><br> She doesn't really worry too much about further deep talk though, instead just holding Amy for as long as she needs it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Puella Magi leans against Aloisia at being told that it means more than she thinks, and that Aloisia understands having to figure things out.<br><br>R&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She nods,<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"''Life'' is kinda a lot. Everyone going here is figuring it out, no matter how many years they remember." She smiles and nods a little, "And it ''is'' wonderful, too."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She listens, and after a time calming down, thinking on if she should say anything, calming down, she speaks, "...The Contract's not the issue. It's actually a pretty sweet deal given that as a magical girl I'd be fighting monsters ''anyway''."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy blinks. "Well. I recently heard that maybe less than 1% of Puella Magi make it to nineteen, but ''they'' didn't have this many other magicals to support them. Radiant Heart ''is'' an anomaly, after all."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She takes a breath and looks down at the floor. "As you said, I have to get a job, to be allowed a place in the world after I graduate. And I already know what happens after I graduate, ''despite'' having this world's equivalent of Meister skill. Anywhere else, I fail. If something happens to Radiant Heart, or whatever ''other'' skill I might try to pick up doesn't work out, or even if something else ''does'' work and I get sick or something happens and I can't do it anymore or the place where I worked goes under." She shakes her head. "My friends are kind, and Radiant Heart is kind, but to the rest of the world, my worth depends on luck and I can't change it."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...And like you said, I should focus on the here and now. And it's a ''wonderful'' here and now. But... if I'm spilling my secrets anyway... Sometimes I think about how I can't get a life free of that worry, after all this is done, and I get really sad."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:216|Aloisia (216)}} has posed:'''<br> "It absolutely is a lot." Aloisia nods. "But it sure has been interesting." For the most part, Aloisia is opting to listen for a while, though. the talk of the Puella Magi, that she'd have to get a job after she graduates... <br><br> "You know, as much as you talk about that 'meister skill'... I wonder if it's something you actually care much about, I mean.. have you been making use of it here? You talk as if your future is set in stone because of that 'skill'. But it's not, you can always choose another area. Another place. Perhaps somewhere more stable." <br><br>"Life is a series of luck and coincidences, I'm sure... but I mean... we're young, we have time to figure out. Right now, we don't have to worry about those things as much. And, frankly. I think even should something happen to Radiant Heart, or whatever... it doesn't change the fact of the friends you have made. Friends who you have likely grown close to, who you can rely on and who can rely on you." Aloisia moves to go settle back on her cushion and finish off her cup of tea. "So... you know what... even with that... ... I don't know, past life, it almost sounds like? ... I don't think things are quite so set in stone as you think. ...Not that I necessarily know, I'm not that old myself." She gives a helpless shrug. "...But I /am/ in a similar situation. I am effectively an illegal alien on this planet who mostly is allowed to exist by virtue of the fact that I happaned to meet Chrono Harlaown and they helped to get me an identification, otherwise I would suffer much the same struggles." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Have you been making use of it?''<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy winces a little. "I suppose not. It's not... something like a chara-bearer's dream. I had one of those, and it came true, and now the next one is not having to worry. I dunno how to make my brain let that go. And just trying to make myself do something else without satisfying that dream feels just as empty. It can be interesting, but that ''passion'' isn't there. I'll never think about it every day like I do this."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She takes a breath, and sighs. Friends she can rely on? "I hope so. I've seen how people grow apart when they're not all going to school together or working together anymore. And even if we're still close in the future... come on, I can't ask someone for that."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy listens to the talk of a similar situation and gives Aloisia a squeeze in the hug. "Damn. I, uh, I guess it ''is'' kinda similar. ''Amanda Faust'' only has an identity as far as the school has established it. And living here's made it easy to forget that there's ''nothing'' before 20-and-a-half months ago."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"At least I already know ''Earth'' but... I guess I'm technically the ''other'' kind of illegal alien. ...Fudge, I don't have any records in America, either... Like I can't actually go... back..." Amy stares into space.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then shakes her head. "Well, that doesn't matter, the world sucks outside Radiant Heart anyway, so I don't really wanna ''go'' anywhere. Except like, other dimensions and cool stuff like that, just to see."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:216|Aloisia (216)}} has posed:'''<br> "Habits are hard to break, and things that you had a deep connection to are impossible to forget; perhaps simply forgetting it is too hard, but maybe an evolution of it instead? An alternate area of study that uses it instead. Something to stir the pot and remove stagnation. To remove those limits and reach for something that may be less safe, but at least it won't be boring." Aloisia pauses. "Well, not that I actually know if it is or not, to you. It seems to be a source of stress, at the very least." <br><br>Talk of friends she can rely on and drifting away from people... "I... mean, that sort of thing will happen, but one always has phone numbers and other methods of remaining close, even at distance, and I hear stories of people still spending time with highschool friends years later, so I'm sure that it's not that bleak." She muses. <br><br> Amanda Faust didn't exist 20 and a half months ago, and she doesn't exist in America, the 'original' place she lived. Hm. Some sort of witness protection program, perhaps? Well, whatever, it's not really her place to pry. "Well, luckily, you are currently talking to someone technically from another dimension and..." Pause. "... Earth complicates getting to that other dimension but I mean there's other people from other dimensions, so perhaps eventually you could find some other dimension to visit regularly." She muses. "Traveling the stars and space is certainly interesting -- were I not in such a desperate situation, my two year journey to earth would likely have been a wondrous thing, to be honest." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Habits are hard to break, and things you had a connection to are impossible to forget; Amy ''thinks'' Aloisia's perhaps thought computer skill was connected to the 'first impossible dream', but she supposes in a way it may poignantly apply to her past life and the lens it makes her view life through now. "...We can talk about it later, I guess."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She doesn't comment on the talk of staying in contact with high school friends. Just thinks of how few she still corresponded with, even before.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She hugs Aloisia tightly again. "Space travel ''does'' sound pretty cool... a ''lot'' of people on Earth think so, I think... or at least we did. I guess this generation takes it for granted that we'll never leave Earth, instead of the opposite."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She lets go and sits down again, and sips the tea, which has now had some time to cool. "Thank you. I'm glad we can be friends." She smiles.<br> <br>
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