Finished A show of genuine concern

"No, I didn't..." Dalia sighed. This was harder than she had thought it would be. She leaned forward on the table, resting her elbows on it.

"No, I don't want a favor from you. I did it because when you get released, it'll be nice to have a group to come back to. Being alone sucks. And when you get out, I don't want you to have to deal with that. Because I know it sucks firsthand."

"I do feel sorry for you," Dalia admitted. She really didn't have much to lose with Aedes. Even if she said she didn't hate her, with the way they had treated each other in the past they might as well have. She leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms defiantly.

But that last bit, something about it struck a cord with Dalia, hitting her hard. "I... know what that's like. I don't know if you were around really but... at some point I was dying. Like, the doctors basically said my DNA was unzipping because it didn't want to be together. My immortality, my regeneration, none of that helped."

There was another pause, this one far more uncomfortable than the last one. "Are... are you..." she didn't want to say the words. Dalia's eyes welled up. She was on the verge of tears because if that was true. If Aedes was dying, then she understood her way better than she ever had. And that hurt a lot more than Dalia had expected it to.

"Of course I'm crying, you moron," Dalia said with something like a laugh, rubbing at her eyes to try and push the tears back behind them. Dalia slowly got up out of her seat, glancing at the window where she knew a guard was watching the two of them. He could come in and drag her away if he wanted, but she was still going to get up.

Dalia moved around the table with deliberate purpose, opening her arms to hug Aedes. She didn't give the mosquito a choice in the matter and embraced her as tightly as she could without hurting her. "You're a dumbass, Aedes. Of course I'm crying over you. That's not fair... it's not fair and I won't have it."

"I'm hugging you, you dumbass," Dalia said with an exasperated laugh, burying her face in Aedes' hair. "I'm sorry, I know it's weird. I'm just really physical and I needed to hug you."

She took a step back when she heard a tap on the window, giving the mirrored glass an apologetic smile and brushing her hair back behind her ears.

Dalia sat back down, clasping her hands together over the table as she struggled to look at Aedes but not stare. "I want to- I mean, I'll come visit you again before you get out, if you want. But only if you want me to. But once you're out, we're hanging out."

It wasn't a question, more like an assurance. Not asking, but telling. Dalia grinned through her tear glistened eyes at Aedes, already resolving herself to find a way to help her.

Their time was probably almost up though, and she didn't know what else to say at the moment. So she left the floor open for the girl sitting across from her.

Dalia shrugged. "I'm just naturally inclined to touch. I dunno, it just feels like a more natural way to express myself. Always has. And then her smile turned into a wider, cheeky grin. "And nope. No choice. You're stuck hanging out with me. Maybe I'll see if Orsick wants to come too."

Her smile fell a bit though and Dalia got a bit more serious. "I am really sorry that you're going through all this. It's not pity. I just... get it. Thanks for actually talking to me though. If you need anything, just let me know next time I visit and I'll try to help you out."

She slowly slid out of her chair, putting her jacket back on over her cheer uniform. She looked at the window, nodding at the officer she knew was there so he could come unlock the door and let her out. "Bye Aedes. I'll see you soon. Just... try not to think about how much longer you have and it'll be over before you know it."