<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://s300.photobucket.com/user/SociallyToxicBeauty/media/f9baa897-e285-4e2a-92b5-e0eb263a67ea.jpg.html"></a><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/f9baa897-e285-4e2a-92b5-e0eb263a67ea.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/><span style="color: #408000"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Alida</span></span></span></div><br/><br/>The moment Izu scowled, Alida's hopes had begun to dwindle at an alarming rate.<span style="color: #BF0000"> "A cat, huh...?"</span>Izu replied, clearly expressing his disinterest in the idea. Something, however, changed in Izu's demeanor as he seemed troubled for a moment. He then gave a sigh, followed by a shrug,<span style="color: #BF0000">"I guess that depends on you. I don't want to take care of the thing all by myself."</span>Izu took a bite of his food, barely swallowing before speaking once more,<span style="color: #BF0000"> "Having a cat is a lot of responsibility, and despite not wanting to take care of it, I'm inevitably going to end up helping you take care of it..."</span>Alida wasn't quite sure what Izu meant, but she didn't interrupt him.<br/><br/>Izu was quiet, clearly thinking the idea over as he finished his food. He finally looked at her as he placed his plate on the coffee table while speaking,<span style="color: #BF0000"> "I guess, but that depends what is in it for me? Nothing in this world is free, and I don't see you getting a job anytime soon...I'd prefer a dog, but the owner of the apartments only allows cats or caged animals...Otherwise, I'd already have a dog."</span>Alida cocked her head to the side, curious as to why Izu always insisted that there had to be a benefit for him to do anything. She was baffled by that sort of view in life and had a hard time grasping what he meant by it. Was he just that incredibly selfish or was it just normal in this world for others to demand some sort of payment for doing things?<br/><br/>In her world people could ask and receive without much thought to it, and it was rather normal for others to give to one another without thought or question--especially without the thought that what they did would benefit themselves as well. Sure, Izu's was a nice system, but it was also stressful seeming to Alida. It made her feel that you would never be able to ask for anything unless you had something to give, and if that was the case--there came the issue of equality. Just because she asked for something didn't mean that what she had to offer would be enough for the other person to agree to give. It didn't seem anyone would get very far, as everyone had different levels of resources available to them...what a complicated world.<br/><br/>It was then that the thought occurred to Alida that she would never have anything she could offer Izu as she had nothing with her. She had been dropped into his world with no explanation and nothing with her. Just knowing she'd never be able to give Izu anything other than her affection, devotion, and help had left her feeling suddenly very worthless and upset. It hit her slowly at first and she looked down at the ground with a contemplative, teary eyed stare. She was quiet for a few moments, her chin wobbling and crumpling every once and a while, then finally she spoke.<br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">"Alida have nothing. Alida not good," </span>she muttered remorsefully. She seemed genuinely distraught that she had nothing to offer Izu.<span style="color: #408000">"What Alida do?"</span>she asked Izu, wanting desperately to pay him back for all he had done for her so far. She had been trying to do what little she could around Izu's home, but she had been sick for most of the time and thus had managed to do very little.