It was a strange feeling talking with someone who could relate to her in such a way. The important things were their had been no SUPER ambush and well she she had to admit that while it may have made the situation easier to deal with it was prolbely better this was not a dance. The dance floor could be used to clear ones mind but it granted less and less of the that clarity over time. Aura's response to frustration and emotions she could not process had long been to go into battle.

She had chosen to enjoy combat and war and thrill of the blow and counter blow in her mind, not quite understanding the natural mental survival instincts that had kicked in to let her survive. She was considering her reply when Lenna asked for the hug. It took Aura secound that felt like epochs before Aura put her own arms out amd embraced Lenna in the hug.

Her thought out response to Lenna's words vanished. "We really don't but to be honest. The battlefield tends to numb you to those feelings, discard whatever feelings don't help at the time. How does one ask for help before they know just how damaged they are?" she asked though really she did not figure it somthing Lenna could answer. Aura has meant it more rhetorically, in that both her and Lenna likely never understood they needed help or that anything was even wrong.

"The real scary part if I'm a mom. Until a few months ago my girlfriend mostly raised the kid, I had been searching for a battlefield to die on for years, but something in that kid's eyes demand i stay. Sorry, i'm sure this is not really the kinda thing you wanna talk about" she said not sure how much Lenna was trying to change from her own incarnations. Maybe Lenna had been deaged because she ahd been more worthy then Aura or maybe Lenna just had better luck. Either way she was happy for lenna's second chance.

"Kinda funny don't you think? Two weapons of mass destruction feel awkward over what humans do as habit. Really though, i think i need friends like you, people i can talk with i mean. she said only thinking to release the hug at this far longer then normal point.

>> "We really don't but to be honest. The battlefield tends to numb you to those feelings, discard whatever feelings don't help at the time. How does one ask for help before they know just how damaged they are?"

Lenna was silent for a brief period, after which she stated: ”I do not know.”

This response felt inadequate. They both needed help. But this was new for the both of them, the actually contemplating how one would go about getting it. If she had been more well-versed in reality, and the realities of war veterans and soldiers dealing with post traumatic stress as well as all the other mental health issues they face from day to day... she may have had something to say. Or less. Often, they also received inadequate help. Which was very sad.

Aura continued to speak.

>> "The real scary part if I'm a mom. Until a few months ago my girlfriend mostly raised the kid, I had been searching for a battlefield to die on for years, but something in that kid's eyes demand i stay. Sorry, i'm sure this is not really the kinda thing you wanna talk about"

Lenna squeezed her tighter in the embrace, just to let her know she cared. Got it. Somewhat.

”I will listen.” Lenna insisted.

>> "Kinda funny don't you think? Two weapons of mass destruction feel awkward over what humans do as habit. Really though, i think i need friends like you, people i can talk with i mean.”

They released the hug, somewhat awkwardly. Yes. It was true. This stuff basic humans did as matter of course was wholly out of both their comfort zones. Beyond the pale of what they were used to. That needed to stop.

Lenna cleared her throat. ”Um. Yes. We do. Both need good friends. I think. I think talking is an important thing.” Lenna took a step back, resting a hand against her chin in a thoughtful pose, head bowed. She turned slightly away, in contemplation. ”I believe that may be what soldiers do. When they return from war. Get together. In groups, or just with a friend... and deal with their issues.” She said it like ‘iss seeeyouuus.’ Like someone who had taught her the word had worn a British accent. Maybe learned English as a second language from someone from Europe. Or something. Sounded weird coming off the end of words very heavily flavored with a Colombian accent.

”I mean... it would make sense. Maybe we can meet. Once a week or something? And eat lunch and talk as friends? Does that seem amenable to you?”

Lenna looked to the other woman expectantly. This was how she handled many relationships with her friends, such as Megan. Skye. When everyone was not busy.

She embraced Lenna back, it had been awhile since she had gotten one from an adult. It felt nice both to talk and the hug. Aura knew she needed to talk but even she knew she was unprepared for the consequences of what that might reveal to her. She knew she was a monster, their was far to many souls clinging to her shadow for her to be much eles. Her memory did not recall each kill of course, or maybe they had just started to run together. Even so she knew something had to change in her thinking.

"That would make sense. I would be open to it as well, their are few like us and i trust you. I'm not really sure the average person could understand us or even not be out right disgusted by some of the more brutal things. " Mutant or human, few were going to want to hear how she used to make all her furniture out of bone, until her father had suggested a less attention grabbing means of acquiring it.

f700c5]"I can even cook for ya. I tend to faver exotic meats, a hobby of mine has always been trying to eat one of every animal i can get. The zoo is prolbely rather happy i ran thrue their supply in the first five years i was here. " Aura said having been mostly a battlefield cook, the concept of actual spices had been a more recent addition. The zoo had both become to public and they had largely run out of new animals for Aura to aquire and eat.

Aura considered had she been deaged she might have largely lost the friendships and even the bonds with her family in exchange for that peace of mind. Leanna troubles had not left her and she suspected her own would have followed her as well. Their was also her child Alex who she likely would never have met or knew.

>> "I can even cook for ya. I tend to faver exotic meats, a hobby of mine has always been trying to eat one of every animal i can get. The zoo is prolbely rather happy i ran thrue their supply in the first five years i was here. "

Yes. They probably were.

Well. As long as she did not make her eagle or something... the more legal exotic foods were probably okay. Lenna had not really been to any zoos, so her frame of reference there was weak. Weak enough what might have caused someone else to take a step back and revaluate only made her pause for a moment, and then move on.

”And I can cook, too.” She agreed.

She was quiet a moment, then suggested they write down and exchange numbers. She could not recall if she had already done that or not? Once they had set up a suitably discrete way to contact each other, Lenna nodded.

”Good.” She said, and turned to leave. ”I will be seeing you.”