[Even with the name, it takes a couple seconds for recognition to settle. Cloud! Prompto's brother! That makes sense, and Lalli nods to himself...after Cloud's question about following him... mmm.]
I live here. [Ah -- ] Lalli. You thought I was Prompto once.
[In his heart he's accepted this reality, but the blank way he's staring is one of the ways that speaks to how he...can't comprehend...being Prompto's brother's neighbor. Like, what? That's bananas. He should probably eat those banana chips Ryoji gave him... If they're dehydrated, how long does it take for them to go bad? The packaging probably helps, too. Maybe it even has one of those oxygen packets, like what came with beef jerky.]
Hn, I should buy beef jerky...
[.........god he needs to sleep.]
...This is weird? I don't know if I'm supposed to meet you.
[Toooootally fine. He's stuck puzzling out this social situation.]
Umm, not like that. But it is weird, right? If you just met Prompto and I just because his friend, but we meet... I don't know. It might make more sense after I sleep.
[He's not sure why he's entertaining this conversation. Any normal person would be like, "all right, nice to know you're my neightbor, have a good night", etc.
Not Cloud, who also doesn't know how to approach these strange social situations.]
It is weird? Either way, we're neighbors. Even if Prompto wasn't in the equation, we would've run into each other eventually.
[He waves this off and goes to lean against his door, eyes closing somewhere in the process.]
Doesn't matter unless I want to talk to them...
[Not like people feel comfortable calling him out on it, if they've lived in the building long enough. The tenants are torn between being convinced he's witchspawn and feeling overwhelming sympathy at the fact that he's an orphan that then lost his guardian.]
[Cloud knows what it's like to hole yourself up somewhere, and deprive yourself of human interaction. But even he limits it; even Cloud Strife communicates with others -- family and friends and co-workers -- and takes no displeasure from it when it happens. He skews towards anti-social, but balance does not escape him completely.
Well, he'll be visiting my place a lot. I think that's a given.
[A pause.]
So, back to the original point-- we'll probably be hanging out a little over the next few months. I mean, I assume you want to spend some time with Prompto, right? And if he's just right next door...
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I live here. [Ah -- ] Lalli. You thought I was Prompto once.
[now they're even!]
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Wait... you're right. I did. I remember you.
[Looks like they are even. Cloud can hardly feel offended either way.]
What do you mean you live here? Like, in this apartment complex?
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Like...there.
[He super lives right here, dude.]
I thought you were visiting me...
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Wait, that means you're my neighbor.
[Just. What. Okay.]
Go figure. I'm getting to meet you in person after all.
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Hn, I should buy beef jerky...
[.........god he needs to sleep.]
...This is weird? I don't know if I'm supposed to meet you.
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[What? What's happening. Why is he talking about beef jerky? Did he not get the memo?
Cloud continues to hover on the edge of confusion, which seems to be the theme as of late.]
Supposed to? Who's stopping you? [MORE IMPORTANTLY...] Are you okay?
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[Toooootally fine. He's stuck puzzling out this social situation.]
Umm, not like that. But it is weird, right? If you just met Prompto and I just because his friend, but we meet... I don't know. It might make more sense after I sleep.
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[He's not sure why he's entertaining this conversation. Any normal person would be like, "all right, nice to know you're my neightbor, have a good night", etc.
Not Cloud, who also doesn't know how to approach these strange social situations.]
It is weird? Either way, we're neighbors. Even if Prompto wasn't in the equation, we would've run into each other eventually.
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[like,]
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Did I offend you?
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No? I just wouldn't talk to you.
[It's a fact.]
If you were a normal neighbor, I wouldn't care. Probably ever.
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[That sounds judgmental, and he doesn't mean for it to. Thus, Cloud tries again.]
Sorry, I mean... but you don't even just say hi when you pass each other sometimes?
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Why should I...? I don't want to talk to them. I shouldn't greet them and walk away.
[That's rude? He's never understood all these adults they are like "hey, how are you" as they're already passing him. What rude weirdos.]
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[THIS IS CLOUD STRIFE TELLING YOU THIS, this is a problem.]
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Doesn't matter unless I want to talk to them...
[Not like people feel comfortable calling him out on it, if they've lived in the building long enough. The tenants are torn between being convinced he's witchspawn and feeling overwhelming sympathy at the fact that he's an orphan that then lost his guardian.]
I don't leave a lot anyway. It's fine.
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This, though...]
That sounds lonely.
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Maybe. It's my choice. [When it comes to neighbors.]
...Your brother is enough company if I want it.
[He's kind of. A lot.]
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[It's a small attempt at a joke in the face of an awkward situation.]
You hang out with my brother a lot?
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Usually he's the only one that talks to me.
[Hanging out, ehhh... They have many plans to hang out, but hey haven't really acted on most of them, not that Lalli minds at all.]
He's never been here. I was confused... [How did Prompto know where he lived? Good thing it was Cloud.]
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[A pause.]
So, back to the original point-- we'll probably be hanging out a little over the next few months. I mean, I assume you want to spend some time with Prompto, right? And if he's just right next door...
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If that's okay...I guess. I don't know what he thinks of that stuff.
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[Have you met Prompto, really, come now.]
He'd be more than happy to. He's full of energy. He's social. He's like... the opposite of me.