expiationlogs | maybe we're just like flowers startin' down in the dirt

Let's see what they're like first, and go from there.

[Aloy will just go to lean on a wall, let Beta deal with clothes for herself. She's used to traveling, and figures she either has everything she needs, or will be able to find what she needs to make do.]

I'd like to try it, though. It could be, uh. Convenient.

[She means fun.]

You're definitely going to try and ride it.

[ hopefully they can find a place while they're out there to stay, something that won't leave Aloy feeling penned in. ]

I think I'm about ready to go when you are. I know you like being out in the wilds more...Thank you for staying here with me for so long.

[Staying is made easier by the determination not to leave her truly alone. It's one thing to wander off on a mission, it's another thing to separate here.

But.]

You know you don't have to go somewhere just for me.

I want to. We're family, we should stay together.

Just remember you said that when I settle on a place out there.

I will.

[ she won't be surprised if Aloy starts going off on her own self-giving mission around Aldrip and the rest of the world. but at least she'll have somewhere to come back to here. ]

I think it'll be nice, being surrounded by so much flora.

Edited 2025-02-06 03:28 (UTC)

[She isn't even planning it, yet. But sooner or later Aloy has to wander, much as she is able to.]

You like that? Because - if this is a simulation, I'm sure you could find something a little more advanced, instead.

Like your server room.

[That room back in the base is Beta's room now, after all. It had been, what, a refuge for her sister? Maybe something closer to the familiarity of the Odyssey.]

[ she doesn't answer at first, lips twisting as she visually takes a moment to think about it. ]

The server room is...familiar. [ she says it slowly, feeling out the thought as she goes. ] But I like sunlight, and grass, and plants. I think it'd be nice to be around them? I could go outside and enjoy being outside without worrying about running into people all the time. Maybe...choose when to see people so I could get more used to it.

Be great to always get to choose when to deal with people.

[Aloy says it so casually. That's the difficult balance. Wanting to stop being lonely, not really wanting to deal with a lot of people.]

Well. Wherever I end up, you'll have a place with me.

[ she straightens up where she sits, unable to stop a smile. ]

I'll follow wherever you go. We stick together.

[ sisters!! ]

[Nice to see Beta perk up. Aloy's seen her in a lot of bad moments, and she'd like to think they want the same things.]

And if you get tired, I guess I'll shoulder some of your things. Think you've got everything?

I think so. I followed all your suggestions.

[ she scrambles off the bed, suddenly energized. ]

It'll be our first trip together.

Nice to have someone who listens to me, sometimes.

[Aloy pushes off the wall, ready to help if it should look like there's anything to be done.]

Not counting our mission to the cauldrons?

Our first trip that isn't a super important mission. And you're the expert.

[ she corrects, going to grab her bags. it's a little heavy, but she manages. she's going to need to get used to it, isn't she? ]

[Her lips quirk a bit, but since Beta doesn't look like she's going to fail, Aloy doesn't intervene. Just as she hadn't taken Rost's hand when Aloy had been training, best to lest Beta learn to handle it. That's being a good sister. Right?]

Not sure either of us count as an expert, when we've never seen horses.

So you'll be a definite expert after this.

[ HEADING FOR THE DOOR it's adventure time!

banter feels good. the sisters in Second Time Around had bantered often, conversations flowing easily. this definitely means she's doing it right. ]

Ha. I just pick things up quickly.

[Aloy doesn't even have that model to go off of. It's just vibes, what she thinks they should be acting like.

She doesn't try to take the lead today, as she heads for the door with Beta. Beta knows the simulation better - this is her time, surely.]

Apparently I'll be making a trip out to see a "cat cafe," too.

[ Luckily for them both, she had made the trip enough to have the way memorized already, stopping just before actually leaving the safety of Aldrip. So Beta takes the lead for once, taking them out the door and on their way out of the building. ]

A cafe...serving cat customers?

[Aloy doesn't necessarily expect anywhere outside to be safe, but...there's no robot t-rexes, so she is a little more relaxed than usual out there.

Besides. It feels more right than a lot of the indoors.]

It sounded like it's a cafe where cats happen to be.

Whatever a cafe is.

A cafe is a business that serves drinks meant to be enjoyed while sitting inside the business. So... You have a nice drink surrounded by cats? That sounds nice.

Oh, a business...that might be a problem. No shards.

[Like that's an afterthought. At least walking is free.]

Drinking surrounded by cats. They must be calm animals.

They are! I've read about them. They're generally quiet and calm, and they can be less obviously expressive. They're independent by nature so they're often mistaken for cold or uncaring, when they're very affectionate and companionable in reality. And they're excellent hunters.

[ as she speaks, she sends Aloy's Focus a few pictures of kitties. so many kitties. ]

They made me think of you, actually.

[She touches her Focus, and does start swiping through the images, as careless as ever about the optics of walking around apparently poking at empty air.]

They’re small.

[Hey, wait a second.]

. . .I’m not cold or uncaring.

I said mistaken for being cold and uncaring. The way they show affection isn't as obvious as it is for other companion animals, so some people think that means they don't care. But they do, they just show it differently.

[That's still implying she's not normal...]

...Thanks? I think.

What about you?

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