Aerith pitied him somehow; she wasn’t even sure of why, but he felt LONELY, and she knew only too well how it was. A part of her even wished to offer him some support, but she doubted he would listen, so at least, she kept smiling and tried to help him while she could. Maybe it was because of her own loneliness, but she had always been willing to help other people.

She chuckled a bit. “It’s not really an exciting sector.” She admitted, keeping a smirk on her features. “But you should come home. The view is relaxing, and my mother’s food really is the best.” She suggested. 

Loneliness. Busy though he was most of the time, surrounded by lackeys and the don’s men - he was lonely. Never did he have any legitimate connection with anyone and in truth he scarcely had the time for it at all.

Just hearing Leslie sprout the bad news left a bad taste in her mouth. But it couldn’t be helped. Corneo was always going to be Corneo no matter where he went. Now Tifa was starting to have regrets about not smashing his balls when she had the chance… “Ridiculous… Sigh.       One of these days he’ll have nowhere else left to run.”

The drink she ordered slides down the slick surface of the bar’s counter, catching it in her gloved palm whilst offering her thanks towards the bartender—and to Leslie—who paid for it.

As she takes a sip of her drink the dull dry burn traveled down her throat and to the pit of her stomach, somehow prompting a memory she nearly grazed over.

“Oh! I almost forgot,” Turning around on her barstool the brunette faces Leslie as she leans somewhat (mostly to keep eavesdroppers out of the know about her whereabouts.) “Leslie, if you’re ever in sector 7 slums and you need a place to stay, lay low, or find work, my doors are always open for you. Always. Again, its the least I can do.” She smiles again, nodding her head to him before having another sip of her drink.

Unfortunately, the Don would thrive wherever he was; hidden from the masses but continually digging his pudgy little fingers into everything he could. Weapons smuggling, women, narcotics - anything, everything; he would continue to rule even when laying low and unfortunately enough - it likely wouldn’t be stopped. 

Somewhere to stay? Given that he was now out of a job, had no income to keep his home and simply drifting around - the offer came at a rather good time. Pride tore at his chest to deny the need for help but with a cant of his head to the side and a short sigh - he nodded. 

With gloved hands Tifa makes a pinching gesture towards the host and chuckles, “Something easy. I still need to get back to sector 7 with my wits about me.” She shifts around on her stool meeting the silverette’s gaze and nodding once. “I figured. Glad to see you’re still kicking and going strong.” It was written on her face; she wanted to press him for any details regarding his missing fiance. Maybe even join in the effort to help him look for her.

Yet she hesitates, and decides to wipe that look away as fast as it had come.

“Anyway, has the whole ‘Corneo’s bride’ operation officially shut down now that the Don is "missing”? I haven’t heard anything about new recruits since we were here last.“

“Gonna take more than that shit to drag me down-” And indeed, he was still doing his absolute best to get his own life back on track now that he had been freed from the Don’s grasp. No income meant he was now looking for work and somewhere else to stay, but he would work it all out in time. 

A soft sigh, weapon no longer required and hands to rest relaxed behind her back. Stepping forward now, bringing herself into visible light, the cetra to greet him with   gentle   smile. Though, she supposed he had more reason to be questioning   her   – this was his usual work quarters. He certainly would not be interrogated had someone of intruded in this moment. 

Light shrug and cant of her head just so, perhaps she could   charm   her way out of this.     “   Would you believe me if I told you I …   happened   to lose my way?   “      Her own words fail her as laughter could be heard slipping betwixt her lips. Shaking her head just once before she addresses him fully.     “   I have my reasons, I suppose ~   “     Spoken almost melodically, as   innocent   as a baby bird.

Aerith was keeping her smile on her lips. She wondered how Leslie could seem worried all the time; she wondered what was truly going on with him, but she didn’t ask. She hated to talk about herself, so she wouldn’t force someone to do the same. Actually, this was why the Cetra was SMILING this much; she wanted people to think she was happy, even when she wasn’t. 

“I understand.” She assured as she nodded briefly. “Cloud and the others are here, too. We wanted to help the children.” Actually, it was Aerith who wanted this, and it seemed that Biggs had requested the same, too, so she was glad they were back around. “Anyway, I’m from here.” 

He was exhausted but in essence there was very little he could do about it - rare days off were spent running errands and doing chores - he couldn’t just stick his feet up and catch up on the sleep he was sorely missing out on. Ah - he wish he could - but even when he attempted to ease himself, he found he often couldn’t. Spending most days on edge and uptight had taken their toll-

Just when she was about to leave, the sound of his voice causes her to cease advancing further. The invitation leaves her speechless, as Tifa wasn’t expecting Leslie, of all people, to want to hang around her far more longer than their exchange went. It was a kind gesture. One Tifa would graciously repay by joining him in kind. “I would love that.” It brings about a warm feeling in the air, a small smile curled on her pink lips

As she saunters towards the lackey, she finds and seats herself at a stool to his right. “By the way, how are things? Walmarket still keeping you busy?”

Company was company - and there was no doubt in his mind that her genuine demeanour would be far more tolerable than the overly chirpy willingness of the Honey-girls or boys. The less time he spent there feeling like a sad-act, the better - 

A gentle gesture of a hand beckoned over the barkeep and in turn did he silently offer for her to make her order - on him, for the evening. It was the least he could do for the pleasant basket of things.

Aerith had HATED having to dress up to please Don Corneo, but she had done this to make sure Tifa was safe, and she would do it again if she had to. Helping people in need was what was driving her these days. She had lost way too much, and wanted to prevent this from happening for everyone else. The small group was back in Sector 5, probably not for too long, but Aerith still smiled gently when she saw Leslie. He was a bit strange sometimes, but he was a good soul; she could tell it.

“Oh, but it’s because I am myself.” Aerith replied, half-teasing before a brief chuckle escape her lips. Leslie didn’t seem like someone who was working for the Don; he always seemed DISGUSTED by the other’s actions. “You’re taking a break from Wall Market ?” She asked. 

Cheery - her apparently equally pleasant nature from the night they had met seemed to be a trait she kept and although Leslie felt as if he should have been smiling pleasantly - he simply didn’t feel up to it. Exhaustion burned every muscle in his body and for once he wanted the time to be bleak and miserable, to let himself rest-

Wow, this guy was still as hilarious as the day they’d met, and Cloud shows his obvious amusement with a roll of the eyes and an incredulous shake of his head before he claims the seat opposite. 

“If I’d known you liked me so much in it I’d have put in on special for you, yeah?” another snarky comment to add to the rest, needless to say that Strife was full of them. But he wasn’t here to snipe at the man, nor was he in the mood to receive anymore jibes. Apparently there was business to attend to. 

“Tifa tells me you require my services. Either you’ve found a lead for me to follow or you’re looking for a lap dance -” So much for reigning it in… “- I ain’t offering the latter, so if we could cut to the chase?”  

Once more does the male sip at his chosen drink, the cold glass in hand idly swirled as he listened to the male to his side - cocking an eyebrow upon the notion that  - no  - he was not there to simply hit jibes back and forth for the fun of it but instead ~~ there was something else.

“A lead for you, huh?” So his message had made it to sector 7 well enough, then - one could never be too sure. Some couriers got lost, killed - sometimes they read the note and headed home. Folk were hit and miss when it came to the interior of Wall Market and he couldn’t use one of his regulars and have them discover his underhanded dealings; 

“Yeah… well.” She sets down a basket in front of him; a gift basket full of assorted fruits and chocolates. “I just wanted to say   thank you   for everything. You really helped us out back there; back when we were trapped and unarmed. You risked a lot for us with the expense of what you built for yourself. I appreciate it.” Gloved hands clasp behind her back as she steps away from him, “I don’t know you well enough to get you anything fancy but, I hope this will suffice   for now.” She hums her approval, nodding once, a smile forming at her lips.

The only GIFTS Leslie ever received were usually in the forms of violence and DISMAY; thus he had become vastly unused to witnessing any variety of kindness. What he had done in ensuring AID for the female and her companion was simple courtesy; something Wall Market was entirely VOID of. Too many fell to its vulgar grasps; if he could help the odd FEW then he knew he was using his position wisely.