[ Aether doesn't bother pressing for details. Not because he isn't curious, but he knows that, back home, Childe only ever gave information when he felt like it and not from being pushed. He isn't aware of the trauma this particular situation put Childe through, but the same rule applies regardless and is how he is ultimately handles it. ]
Makes sense. I don't need anyone else but Lumine, but ... truthfully, it's kinda a little lonely here. I see friends... but they are just as far away as if they were all back home.
...Still, I'm glad you guys are taking care and watching out for each other and my sister, and that's what's most important to me.
I can see why you and Lumine are so close. I can't say I wouldn't feel the same as you if our situations were reversed.
[He understands, if they were taking care of Teucer, that's all that would matter to him as well. It's what a good brother would do, and it warms him to hear that Aether has the same values that he also cherishes.
Childe's Omni rings again, and he takes it out to tap a message into it again before putting it back in his pocket. He smiles, seemingly satisfied with what he'd seen on the device.]
For those of us who may not be from your timeline, there is a bright side to all of this. Even though we may not have memories of you, we've been given an opportunity to make new ones together as we push forward. Like right now.
[The treeline opens up, and a dead, dark, black lake sits before them.]
Lumine... is my only family left. [ he nods in regards to Childe's claim to understanding. Seeing how the other loved his siblings so much and that side of him was what had made it possible for the two of them to become close in the first place.
Aether blinks at Childe's comments, though, but before he can say anything, the place they've been heading to comes into view and Aether looks around curiously and with a healthy bit of interest. A black... lake? ] ...In time for... what?
[Childe only looks back to Aether and smiles, taking his Omni out of his pocket one more time. Another message is sent, but he doesn't put it away this time. He only stands silently, watching the time on his Omni until it's about one minute away from the time forecasted for this little show.]
In time for this, of course.
[It would be incredibly bad if he said that and nothing happened. He wasn't sure if it was going to happen or not.
But no less than ten seconds later, without warning, the lake lights up as if someone had flipped a switch. Light shines out from the pink water, the ice only serving to act as a prism that creates a flowing pink ribbon of light above the lake. The previously dead fish come back to life, and Childe looks on in wonder at the sight. It was beautiful- well worth coming out here. He's left breathless, eyes wide. Wow...]
[ Aether's eyes light up at the sight, awe struck, especially considering how gloomy Trench is. This vivid burst of color is so alien to him that it's almost blinding.
Nevertheless, it's a beautiful sight and Aether is disappointed he wasn't able to find the Kamera he carried back in Teyvat once here. Maybe their Omni will still take an okay picture, though?]
Wow! It is! Can we take a picture with our omni, you think?
Sure, I'd love to take a selfie with you. But honestly, I haven't even bothered to try to see if our Omnis can take photographs. It's not like the Fluid that I had, but it does function the sa-
[He gets cut off by one last text, his Omni playing the little text message jingle. It's important, so he reads it, messages back and smiles.]
Before we do so though, there's something I wanted to show you. Here. Read this.
[ Aether peers at the phone screen curiously, noticing a message and reading through it. He blinks before his eyes clearly light up with some joy but also some relief? His general aura feels a little less tense suddenly and more inviting, as if he's been holding himself back for some unknown reason.
The thing that really makes it hit home is the fact that Childe asked the right question. If he hadn't been so specific, Aether would have been a little more afraid of how Venti might know him. Afterall, he's been slowly suspicious that the archons would know both him and his sister from either timeline, it just depends which role one sits in versus the other.
He glances up to Childe now, big eyes bright even in the subdued light and offers him a very sincere smile. ] . . .Thanks, Childe.
Didn't I say I doubted your memories were tampered with?
[He sets his hand on his hip, giving Aether that same confident smile he flashes so often. All in a days work, really.]
I knew it would only be a matter of time before we found the answer. I just didn't think it would be so soon.
[He takes his Omni back, before going through the functions to find the camera. It wasn't exactly the same as his Fluid, but he's become technologically proficient enough now to figure it out. Selfies were another thing he'd learned from the dream too.]
Come here, we have to be pretty close together to both fit in the frame. Let's take that selfie you wanted.
[ Aether nods, going to move closer but ultimately jumps up to wrap his arms around the other's neck from his side to cling like a koala. His legs are dangling but he's good and careful to balance his weight by Childe's shoulders so he doesn't end up accidentally trying to choke him in this side-version of jumping on someone for a piggyback (which he would have done but equipment makes such things h a r d . ) ]
[He laughs as he's taken by surprise when Aether jumps up on him. There's something warm about it, something he'd never gotten to experience in his own world. He doesn't know Aether that well, but it doesn't feel like it's the same for his partner here.
Aether said that his friends felt far away sometimes...perhaps, he too, was one of those friends, having joyous moments together just like this one.
His eyes dart down to the traveler, smiling softly, before he focuses his attention back on the Omni that's he's holding out as far as he can to get a good shot of the both of them. Grinning, he winks at the camera as he snaps the picture, showing it to Aether once they're done.]
Say, how does that look? Think it got my good side?
[ Childe's will always be that person that Aether doesn't know if he's really friend or foe, but he likes to pretend while he can that they can be besties before what lies down the road pits them against one another. It feels inevitable in Teyvat with how fierce Childe's loyalty is to the Tsaritsa and Aether's clashes with the Fatui. Aether doesn't like to think about it, even though he should be preparing for it, but it's probably okay here in this place since they aren't on opposite sides.
Anyway, that's probably what he'll tell himself is the reason he is being so cozy all of a sudden with the other. Tomorrow he'll probably wake up and regret it considering it's only a one-sided level of friendship and probably is really really unsettling for the other.
For now, though, he's happy enough to know things with his memories are sound that letting his guard down a bit is okay.
Once the picture is taken, Aether drops down from clinging to him, leaning in to get a look at the picture on the camera. He grins, glancing up at the other. ] Yeah, I think you got it.
We can frame it and give it to Lumine. I'm sure she'll love staring at your face. For once it'll be not her doing so because she's trying to flatten you into the ground in a fight.
[He quickly sends Aether the picture to his Omni, so he can have it as well. Aether's comment is amusing to him, and there's no way he can't ask a question about that, even if it is a throwaway comment or a joke.]
Yeah? I had a feeling that I'd made that kind of impression on her, somehow.
[Is he kidding though? Who knows. Right now all Lumine is doing is fighting him every day to let all that unreleased steam out that she manages to build up every single day. Whatever, he's having fun with it, so that's all that matters.]
That's a pretty good idea though. I don't really have pictures of anyone. I'd like to get more to frame them and put them in my home.
[He goes to set his backpack down on the ice now, the pink glow from the lake easily letting him see to fish out a few foldable stools for them to use. They get set out so they could sit now, and Childe invites Aether to sit with him.]
[ Aether nods rather mindlessly. He doesn't have much to say concerning Lumine's feelings on Childe. They don't seem to be as warm as his own (then again he isn't always warm with his Childe back home like he just was with him here, either), which he isn't surprised. She's always been the smarter one when it comes to dealing with others in their travels.
Still, he knows she cares about him on some level since she wouldn't be willing to beat him up continuously if he wasn't at least intriguing to her.
It's funny, though. Despite their different approaches with Childe, Childe himself seems to not have wavered much in his affections ( can he even call it that? He actually doesn't know) for his traveler. He certainly was overly concerned about her, protecting her from the zealots and keeping a concerned focus on her wellbeing while they were at the farm. That's a good sign, probably (although he doesn't think his Childe would have done the same for him despite their sometimes friendly and fun adventures.) Still, he wishes he could talk to the Childe that remembers him, if only to be able to ask what he imagines the Childe in front of him now's thought process may be.
Well, beyond what he's pretty sure is physical attraction to his sister. Not that he's worried, Lumine can handle herself, but it does make his nose wrinkle a little. He'll keep his overly-protective brother feelings to himself, though, (at least for now) since he's technically only assuming from what little interaction he sees and considering how he might interpret it if the Childe he knows was doing the same with her.
Anyway, that's enough contemplation about that. While Childe is setting up, Aether is at the lake edge, leaning down to peer into the bright water curiously. ] Are there really fish here, you think? —oh, maybe that's one...! [ maybe? It's hard to tell, even with the illuminated lake since it seems to be a bit down there in the water depths. Aether has now also moved back to sit on the vacant stool next to the other as he contemplates what he just saw. ]
Will we put them back or do you think they're edible?
[It's incredible how well the light illuminates the water and gives them even the slight bit of visibility from under the ice, and after he's set up their rods and stools, he'll grab that auger that hangs from his backpack. It'll be his first time using it, and he hopes that it does everything he was told it could.]
We'd have to cook them under the moonlight if we wanted to eat them. Rumor has it that anything to do with this lake is only viable under the full moon. After that, you might as well be eating poison.
[Not that poison really affects him too much, due to his blood, but details.]
Which, if you want to do, I'd be more than happy to make you some grilled fish while we're out here. Filleting them will be a piece of cake.
Wait, what?! [ that sounds crazy, and maybe Childe has no issues with poison, but Aether does and will suffer from it. His face twists into a puzzled expression before shaking his head quickly upon realizing that he hasn't answered the other about grilling. ] I... think I'll pass. No need to trouble you, and that sound like testing fate even if under the moonlight, to be honest.
[He begins drilling the hole in the ice, and it's surprisingly easy with this new tool- cranking on it proves to require less effort than he was prepared to use, and the auger goes through the ice with ease, leaving them a nice big hole to fish out of.]
You're looking a little green there, hahaha. Don't worry, these fish are supposed to be quite healthy under the moonlight. The water itself has healing qualities as well. And, well, if I'm being honest, I could use a little pick me up right about now.
[With how much damage he'd taken in the last few weeks, he's probably looking a little worse for wear at this point.]
You mean you want to drink some? I guess it's fine since I'm here with you if something happens... You have look like you've had better times, if my memory serves me correct.
[Some have been worse than this. Some better. All of it disturbing and has delivered more than one shock to his system.]
Here. [He hands Aether an ice fishing rod, with a lure on it. He hadn't brought live bait, because he didn't know if this was even going to work or not.] I'll be the guinea pig tonight then, make sure you catch a good one. Fish as a midnight snack doesn't sound too bad.
[But before Aether gets the chance to drop the lure in the water, Childe kneels down next to the hole as he cups some of the water in his hand, looking down at it.]
Bottoms up, then.
[And he drinks it, instantly feeling better. It doesn't heal all his wounds, but it works.]
Feel better? [ Aether asks curiously after he swallows the water, waiting patiently with his fishing rod for the other to come and sit back with him. ]
... If you're going to do it, anyway, I'll eat it with you. Food should be eaten in the company of others and not alone, if possible.
In fact, I do. Much better, as if all the pain from my wounds is alleviated.
[He seems a little surprised at how well it worked, rather than the fact that it worked at all. It's not the weirdest thing he's consumed either, and at least this time it had a positive effect. He stretches his limbs, thankful for what would only be temporarily relief, because he'll get hurt many times in the days to come.]
Though I'm glad you've come around on the fish. I agree, meals are far more enjoyable when you have a comrade or family to share them with. I feel lucky that I've been able to acquire such relationships to be able to eat and drink with friends, well, since my family is back in Teyvat.
He should probably remind Childe that they aren't friends or comrades or anything like that. It just doesn't work when it's one-sided and it's going to take a while for Aether to believe he can possibly have friend status with the other again. They don't have the same connection they had to become friends back home in the first place, so there's no incentive or draw to one another that occurred back home.
Still, it's almost too much trouble to bother and would dampen the mood. Aether doesn't feel like doing it to himself more then anything. ]
I'm glad you've made those connections here. I know family is really important to you.
Haha, I must thank you for the sentiment. It's a little unfair though, isn't it? I never told you a single thing about my family, or how much they mean to me. And yet, you know about that part of me...it really is strange to think that you've lived through the same events as your sister.
[He spots a bunch of wood he can use to make a fire later, once they catch a fish or two. Good, that'll work. They'd have a nice night out here.]
[ Aether considers the question carefully. It's easy to just say yes, but that would ultimately be assuming he knows Childe well enough to see through his masks and... he knows he really doesn't. He only knows what Childe lets him see.
There's a small stretch of silence as he chews on his inner cheek thoughtfully before speaking up. ]
Maybe. Hard to say, but probably only you would know for sure if you had a chance to talk to yourself from my timeline. [ he imagines the Childe he knows would object to his answer, but, it just seems better this way. He doesn't want to put ideas into this Childe's head, either, since they would definitely not be friends in the timeline Childe comes from. ]
Pretty sure it's different than you and Lumi, though.
[Childe laughs inwardly at Aether's comment about talking to himself- that's a good answer, though he knows if Aether had truly lived through the same experiences as Lumine, he would have already called him a friend. Of course, those are just words. They don't need to be believed, especially after what he'd done in Liyue that fateful day.
But he didn't lie, and he meant what he said. And if he said it to Aether, then he would have more than likely sought Aether out, as he did with Lumine. At least, that's what he's banking on his other self to have done. And no one knows him better than himself.]
Now, why would you say that? Have you two been talking about me?
[He says slyly, though there might be a good chance of that since he and Lumine were pretty much beating each other silly every day.]
[ Aether shrugs. ] I'm pretty sure your other self wouldn't have gotten himself kidnapped by crazy zealots protecting me, for starters.
If you mean do I think of you as friend and are you important to me back home, though, then... yeah. You're someone I care about there. I get worried about you, and exasperated with you... and I miss you, even though you're right here.
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[ Aether doesn't bother pressing for details. Not because he isn't curious, but he knows that, back home, Childe only ever gave information when he felt like it and not from being pushed. He isn't aware of the trauma this particular situation put Childe through, but the same rule applies regardless and is how he is ultimately handles it. ]
Makes sense. I don't need anyone else but Lumine, but ... truthfully, it's kinda a little lonely here. I see friends... but they are just as far away as if they were all back home.
...Still, I'm glad you guys are taking care and watching out for each other and my sister, and that's what's most important to me.
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[He understands, if they were taking care of Teucer, that's all that would matter to him as well. It's what a good brother would do, and it warms him to hear that Aether has the same values that he also cherishes.
Childe's Omni rings again, and he takes it out to tap a message into it again before putting it back in his pocket. He smiles, seemingly satisfied with what he'd seen on the device.]
For those of us who may not be from your timeline, there is a bright side to all of this. Even though we may not have memories of you, we've been given an opportunity to make new ones together as we push forward. Like right now.
[The treeline opens up, and a dead, dark, black lake sits before them.]
I think we've made it just in time.
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Aether blinks at Childe's comments, though, but before he can say anything, the place they've been heading to comes into view and Aether looks around curiously and with a healthy bit of interest. A black... lake? ] ...In time for... what?
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In time for this, of course.
[It would be incredibly bad if he said that and nothing happened. He wasn't sure if it was going to happen or not.
But no less than ten seconds later, without warning, the lake lights up as if someone had flipped a switch. Light shines out from the pink water, the ice only serving to act as a prism that creates a flowing pink ribbon of light above the lake. The previously dead fish come back to life, and Childe looks on in wonder at the sight. It was beautiful- well worth coming out here. He's left breathless, eyes wide. Wow...]
What a gorgeous sight...incredible.
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Nevertheless, it's a beautiful sight and Aether is disappointed he wasn't able to find the Kamera he carried back in Teyvat once here. Maybe their Omni will still take an okay picture, though?]
Wow! It is! Can we take a picture with our omni, you think?
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[He gets cut off by one last text, his Omni playing the little text message jingle. It's important, so he reads it, messages back and smiles.]
Before we do so though, there's something I wanted to show you. Here. Read this.
[He hands Aether his Omni, to show him who and what he's been texting about this entire time.]
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The thing that really makes it hit home is the fact that Childe asked the right question. If he hadn't been so specific, Aether would have been a little more afraid of how Venti might know him. Afterall, he's been slowly suspicious that the archons would know both him and his sister from either timeline, it just depends which role one sits in versus the other.
He glances up to Childe now, big eyes bright even in the subdued light and offers him a very sincere smile. ] . . .Thanks, Childe.
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[He sets his hand on his hip, giving Aether that same confident smile he flashes so often. All in a days work, really.]
I knew it would only be a matter of time before we found the answer. I just didn't think it would be so soon.
[He takes his Omni back, before going through the functions to find the camera. It wasn't exactly the same as his Fluid, but he's become technologically proficient enough now to figure it out. Selfies were another thing he'd learned from the dream too.]
Come here, we have to be pretty close together to both fit in the frame. Let's take that selfie you wanted.
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Okay, ready!! Smile!
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[He laughs as he's taken by surprise when Aether jumps up on him. There's something warm about it, something he'd never gotten to experience in his own world. He doesn't know Aether that well, but it doesn't feel like it's the same for his partner here.
Aether said that his friends felt far away sometimes...perhaps, he too, was one of those friends, having joyous moments together just like this one.
His eyes dart down to the traveler, smiling softly, before he focuses his attention back on the Omni that's he's holding out as far as he can to get a good shot of the both of them. Grinning, he winks at the camera as he snaps the picture, showing it to Aether once they're done.]
Say, how does that look? Think it got my good side?
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Anyway, that's probably what he'll tell himself is the reason he is being so cozy all of a sudden with the other. Tomorrow he'll probably wake up and regret it considering it's only a one-sided level of friendship and probably is really really unsettling for the other.
For now, though, he's happy enough to know things with his memories are sound that letting his guard down a bit is okay.
Once the picture is taken, Aether drops down from clinging to him, leaning in to get a look at the picture on the camera. He grins, glancing up at the other. ] Yeah, I think you got it.
We can frame it and give it to Lumine. I'm sure she'll love staring at your face. For once it'll be not her doing so because she's trying to flatten you into the ground in a fight.
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Yeah? I had a feeling that I'd made that kind of impression on her, somehow.
[Is he kidding though? Who knows. Right now all Lumine is doing is fighting him every day to let all that unreleased steam out that she manages to build up every single day. Whatever, he's having fun with it, so that's all that matters.]
That's a pretty good idea though. I don't really have pictures of anyone. I'd like to get more to frame them and put them in my home.
[He goes to set his backpack down on the ice now, the pink glow from the lake easily letting him see to fish out a few foldable stools for them to use. They get set out so they could sit now, and Childe invites Aether to sit with him.]
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Still, he knows she cares about him on some level since she wouldn't be willing to beat him up continuously if he wasn't at least intriguing to her.
It's funny, though. Despite their different approaches with Childe, Childe himself seems to not have wavered much in his affections ( can he even call it that? He actually doesn't know) for his traveler. He certainly was overly concerned about her, protecting her from the zealots and keeping a concerned focus on her wellbeing while they were at the farm. That's a good sign, probably (although he doesn't think his Childe would have done the same for him despite their sometimes friendly and fun adventures.) Still, he wishes he could talk to the Childe that remembers him, if only to be able to ask what he imagines the Childe in front of him now's thought process may be.
Well, beyond what he's pretty sure is physical attraction to his sister. Not that he's worried, Lumine can handle herself, but it does make his nose wrinkle a little. He'll keep his overly-protective brother feelings to himself, though, (at least for now) since he's technically only assuming from what little interaction he sees and considering how he might interpret it if the Childe he knows was doing the same with her.
Anyway, that's enough contemplation about that. While Childe is setting up, Aether is at the lake edge, leaning down to peer into the bright water curiously. ] Are there really fish here, you think? —oh, maybe that's one...! [ maybe? It's hard to tell, even with the illuminated lake since it seems to be a bit down there in the water depths. Aether has now also moved back to sit on the vacant stool next to the other as he contemplates what he just saw. ]
Will we put them back or do you think they're edible?
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We'd have to cook them under the moonlight if we wanted to eat them. Rumor has it that anything to do with this lake is only viable under the full moon. After that, you might as well be eating poison.
[Not that poison really affects him too much, due to his blood, but details.]
Which, if you want to do, I'd be more than happy to make you some grilled fish while we're out here. Filleting them will be a piece of cake.
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[ some things are just not meant to be eaten. ]
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You're looking a little green there, hahaha. Don't worry, these fish are supposed to be quite healthy under the moonlight. The water itself has healing qualities as well. And, well, if I'm being honest, I could use a little pick me up right about now.
[With how much damage he'd taken in the last few weeks, he's probably looking a little worse for wear at this point.]
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[Some have been worse than this. Some better. All of it disturbing and has delivered more than one shock to his system.]
Here. [He hands Aether an ice fishing rod, with a lure on it. He hadn't brought live bait, because he didn't know if this was even going to work or not.] I'll be the guinea pig tonight then, make sure you catch a good one. Fish as a midnight snack doesn't sound too bad.
[But before Aether gets the chance to drop the lure in the water, Childe kneels down next to the hole as he cups some of the water in his hand, looking down at it.]
Bottoms up, then.
[And he drinks it, instantly feeling better. It doesn't heal all his wounds, but it works.]
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... If you're going to do it, anyway, I'll eat it with you. Food should be eaten in the company of others and not alone, if possible.
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[He seems a little surprised at how well it worked, rather than the fact that it worked at all. It's not the weirdest thing he's consumed either, and at least this time it had a positive effect. He stretches his limbs, thankful for what would only be temporarily relief, because he'll get hurt many times in the days to come.]
Though I'm glad you've come around on the fish. I agree, meals are far more enjoyable when you have a comrade or family to share them with. I feel lucky that I've been able to acquire such relationships to be able to eat and drink with friends, well, since my family is back in Teyvat.
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He should probably remind Childe that they aren't friends or comrades or anything like that. It just doesn't work when it's one-sided and it's going to take a while for Aether to believe he can possibly have friend status with the other again. They don't have the same connection they had to become friends back home in the first place, so there's no incentive or draw to one another that occurred back home.
Still, it's almost too much trouble to bother and would dampen the mood. Aether doesn't feel like doing it to himself more then anything. ]
I'm glad you've made those connections here. I know family is really important to you.
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[He spots a bunch of wood he can use to make a fire later, once they catch a fish or two. Good, that'll work. They'd have a nice night out here.]
Are you and I friends as well, in your timeline?
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There's a small stretch of silence as he chews on his inner cheek thoughtfully before speaking up. ]
Maybe. Hard to say, but probably only you would know for sure if you had a chance to talk to yourself from my timeline. [ he imagines the Childe he knows would object to his answer, but, it just seems better this way. He doesn't want to put ideas into this Childe's head, either, since they would definitely not be friends in the timeline Childe comes from. ]
Pretty sure it's different than you and Lumi, though.
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But he didn't lie, and he meant what he said. And if he said it to Aether, then he would have more than likely sought Aether out, as he did with Lumine. At least, that's what he's banking on his other self to have done. And no one knows him better than himself.]
Now, why would you say that? Have you two been talking about me?
[He says slyly, though there might be a good chance of that since he and Lumine were pretty much beating each other silly every day.]
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If you mean do I think of you as friend and are you important to me back home, though, then... yeah. You're someone I care about there. I get worried about you, and exasperated with you... and I miss you, even though you're right here.
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