Well... [ "In every way," she thinks, hearing the shaky tone and taking in his stance. ] In general, and...right now, you're kinda...just one big ball of nervous energy, to be honest.

[ She won't shove her way in! Probably. Maybe? ]

You really don't seem okay. [ Brown brows twitch together again: unsettled. ] Is someone threatening you?

[ let her at 'em if so ]

...Yeah. No, I know. [ There's unquestioningly a lot going on, and maybe this is just how Fabian handles it. Still, she can't help but watch him with ongoing suspicion, expression one of unmasked concern. ] But if you need someone to lean on to help get through everything, you just have to say so.

[ That's hard for some people to do, of course. (Looking at you, Cloud.)

Aerith doesn't push forward, but neither does she retreat. She remains a hovering presence on the threshold, hands curling into determined fists. ]

Can we just talk a bit? Doesn't have to be inside, if you'd rather sit here on the stoop or something. [ Which she'll encourage by doing herself, patting the stone next to her as she looks over her shoulder at him. ] Just for a minute, 'kay?

[ It isn't silly. He can probably tell, based on the small, but earnest smile that appears, that she won't judge him, either. ]

Promise. [ Again, she pats the ground next to her in an invitation. ] No matter what.

[ What do they have if not for each other, right? They should be in a kind of competition, considering the stakes, but it's never felt that way. To Aerith, it's...more like a united cause that they're working toward, and achieving that goal - saving their worlds - starts with connection. ]

If it helps, I'll look the other way. [ And she does, turning her head to the side and lifting her chin, as if there's something very interesting in that direction. ]

[ As promised, she keeps her eyes averted. That bright, green gaze fixes firmly on something in the distance as she folds her hands over her knees, listening patiently.

He only says one thing, but it's...well, relatable. Her mouth twitches upward at a mirthless smile. ]

The mission? [ Aerith asks softly. ] Or...?

[ If it's the mission, then...she gets it. Her 'life' here is picturesque on the outside, but it's full of troublesome complexity. From having to act in a professional role she has no clue about to trying to actually learn what's going on in town to navigating the pitfalls of a fake marriage, Aerith has had her own share of doubts. When it comes to Fabian, though, she has no room for anything but the utmost faith in him.

Sure, people often project bold confidence when they're masking what they feel are weaknesses, but from everything she's seen of him so far, her opinion of him is unchanged. He's sweet, and brave, and...a hero, right? As any good adventurer should be. ]

[ Aerith, at 22, is not much older than Fabian. She's been put into the role of "parent" in this place, working a job she has no experience with, living the kind of life she...also really doesn't have so much experience with. Something very traditional. A husband and children.

Her smile is present: small, sad. Understanding. ]

It does seem like that, doesn't it? ...When you're a kid, you look at the grown-ups and think: "they've got it all figured out." And then you realize one day that you're in that same place, but you've got no idea what to do. People are looking up to you, counting on you, and...you still feel like that same little kid. With no answers and a heavy weight on your shoulders. [ She pauses. Heaves a sigh. ] I'm sorry. It isn't fair, not at all. Because I know you're working as hard as you can to do what's been asked, but sometimes that doesn't feel like enough.

[ Clearly, it doesn't, or he wouldn't be feeling like this.

Gently, though still without looking at him, she shifts to bump his shoulder with hers. ]

I think...all you can do is take it a day at a time. Just get through the next task, the next minute. Maybe that's all adult life is, you know? And then you eventually pause and look back and can see how far you've come, even if it doesn't feel that way all the time.

[ She's careful not to look, because she can hear the sniffles and wants to respect the pieces of his privacy that have still been preserved. Still, Aerith is curious what he means, and frowns off into the distance, wrestling with how many questions she should ask, and how much would be too much. ]

...D'you wanna tell me more about what happened? You don't have to. But...getting an outside perspective can sometimes help.

[ Turning it over only within one's own mind can often make a mess, distorting the situation as self-doubt and other nasty things poison the truth. ...Maybe it's hypocritical, given how private Aerith herself usually is with her feelings, but that's no reason not to try to help Fabian now. ]

[ There's a little nod of understanding, and she even smiles a bit, though it's still down at her own knees. ]

Oh, I'm with you there. It's tough. [ She shakes her head, sending the braid swinging a bit, and utters a sigh. ] Not sure I'm cut out to be a mom, to be honest...

[ This is all to say: he isn't alone. Aerith shifts, bumping Fabian with her shoulder. ]

It's a huge responsibility. And it's not something any of us asked for. So...whatever you've done so far - all the work you've put in - is not nothing. [ Has anyone ever claimed it's easy to raise a child? If so, she imagines they're lying, or that they don't shoulder much of the work involved. ] And I'm not saying it hasn't been hard! I know it has. But I also know you've probably put 110% into this. You always do.

[ There's a beat, and very nearly, her gaze flicks toward him. ]

What're you trying to prove is possible, Fabian?