"I'm sorry to hear that Flutter..." he said to her. He knew that some people didn't really get along well with their family. He listened carefully to what she was saying and smiled at her question. "Don't worry Flutter...I like answering questions the best I can, I won't hate you no matter what questions you ask because they all will most likely have an answer." he said to her. "I do miss being with them, but I like living alone too...I feel more stress free and relaxed. When I lived with my parents, I always got headaches whenever they invited friends and family over...I hated it when they did that. The only time I got peace and quiet was when my dad left to his friends house to hang out, and when they fell to sleep." he said and chuckled.

((Sorry I took forever ;-; ))

Flutter didn't want pity- especially since part of her story wasn't explained properly. So, she purposely ignored the apology, since to her it was a show of pity. "Just because they have answers doesn't mean it's right for me to pry though. They say that curiosity killed the cat... That can mean a lot of things, big brother used to say. It can also just kill a person's comfort level with you if you ask too many questions." She giggled a bit, adding, "I don't like when strangers come to visit that often myself... So far though you don't feel like a stranger to me. But either way, I'm the one visiting I guess so that isn't my call... Is it strange though that I think that way?"

Neer listened to her and chuckled. "Sure curiosity kills the cat, but not all the time. It all depends on the situation really." he said to her. "I don't see you as a stranger either Flutter, I like it when you come over....no one ever visits me..." he said to her.

"Sir, I've only known you for two or three days. The only reason it may seem more is because I keep coming for some reason or another, and because I sorta just pry for a long time..." She laughed a bit at her failure of explanation of logic, deciding it was stupid of her to keep going on about it. "But I don't know why after two days it doesn't seem like talking to a stranger... Usually it'd take me at least a month for that..."

Neer listened to what Flutter was saying and smirked. "People don't really need a reason to visit each other. It's just nice to drop on by and say hello." he explained to her. "Well, that is odd, but maybe it's because we get along very well....you know, not many neighbors have long cool conversations when they first meet...and we did, so that's different." he replied.

"I dunno, I know there are people who hate when people come for no reason," Flutter replied with a quiet shrug of some kind or another. It was true though- there were people like that. "Though your reasoning makes sense... It's still a bit new to me I guess. I mean, it isn't like I ever knew my neighbors before. But...I'm sort of happy with how things worked out. You know?"

Neer smiled as he listened to Flutter. "Yes, I won't lie to you...there are a few people that expect you to have a reason for coming...I don't though. I don't need a reason, I'm always happy just getting visits from neighbors." he said and looked at her. "You'll get used to it after a few weeks....that's how long it took me." he said to her gently and nodded. "Yeah, I know what you mean...all new neighbors go through that feeling though...but after a few days, they get used to it all." he explained.

She giggled a bit, smiling to him. "So if I come again for no reason you won't get mad? That's a relief." Considering she had been starting to worry about making excuses for visiting him so regularly, it was a relief to know she didn't have to worry about such a minuscule thing that tended to come a part of her job. However, inviting him to her own home may not be a safe idea without him knowing what she was really doing- so likelihood was she'd have to find a way to keep that from happening. After all, she lived at the base. "Hm..." She was running out of things to say, but she couldn't just leave. "I have a question for you. I was thinking of buying that game I watched you play recently, but I don't know the name or the system it's on... Can you tell me so I can find it sometime?"

"That's right...I won't get mad at all." he said to her and smiled. He didn't know why people needed a reason to come and visit you...he thought that was pretty dumb. "A question...okay shoot." he said to her and listened to what she asked him. "Oh...it's called Halo...it's for the Xbox 360...." he said to her and smiled. "I'm glad to know that you like the game. most girls find it boring you know..." he said to her.

She laughed a bit. "I'm not most girls. Maybe it's because I grew up with a dad in the military or I'm just strange, but it really was entertaining for me. I tend to be stuck in bed a lot too...So now I know what to get so I can do something other then just stare at the ceiling when I can't sleep but am supposed to rest." She gave a simple grin- not that she really needed the game, but she felt it'd been a good idea to say such a thing. After all, it was good training for general strategy, wasn't it? "Halo, Xbox 360...I will remember that. I think." She laughed a bit again, smiling. "Thanks!"

"Maybe....but it's okay...you're a unique person." he said to her. "Yes...I think staring at the ceiling would be quiet boring. Playing would be better instead and it will be very comfortable to play when you're on your bed instead of the floor." he said to her. "If you think you might forget....I'll write it down on a piece of paper for you if you want." he added.

She felt a tingle in her face as it turned slightly pink- well, she wasn't expecting something like that to escape his lips. Flutter was going to struggle for a while if she didn't learn patterns in how he acted- so far, that was a tad harder then usual. Still, she smiled- his words may have surprised her, but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. "If you wouldn't mind, that may make things easier. I'm not very good at reading myself, but some of my family loves reading, and they read to me a lot."

Neer wrote it down in a paper and handed it to her. "There you go Flutter." he said to her with a smile. He was surprised to hear that she didn't read that well. He fought the urge to ask her since he knew that it would be rude and he didn't want to be rude the her. She was a very nice person and deserved to be respected. "I hope you enjoy playing the game." he said to her.

"Once I figure out how I will, I'm sure." She thought- who would be the best person to get to read it for her? Graile just teases me...I'll ask Tawlina later. As she kept a smile on her face, she looked around slightly, as if trying to find a word to say out loud again. Her ringers lightly fidgeted with the paper in them as she thought. "Er...Thank you again." She laughed nervously- she couldn't think straight at all. That wasn't good.

Neer looked at her and noticed something was wrong, so he just had to ask her. "Flutter...are you okay?" he asked her. "You sound a little nervous." he added and wondered if she would get mad at him for asking that question. "You're welcome Flutter. I'm sure you'll enjoy it too once you get the hang of it." he said and smiled.

She looked at him curiously, laughing a bit in response. "Eh, as good as I'll ever be probably. It's just embarrassing when I remember how I'm the only one at home who can't read. It sorta frustrates me. People have tried to teach me but... Eh, so far it hasn't worked. I'm completely illiterate. I guess it's just a little embarrassing to me..." She looked at the floor shyly, genuinely uncomfortable about it. "I'll be able to enjoy the game once someone reads me the instructions, but otherwise it'll take some time... Or i can always come ask you for help!" She laughed a bit, teasingly. "Since you know the game already, you know the controls. So if no one can read them to me I might come ask you. Sorry."

"Flutter, I can help you read..." he said to her and smiled. "I'll be glad to help you with anything that you need. I'll help you every way I can." he said to her. "You don't have to be embarrassed about anything, some people just have a hard time doing certain things." he said to her gently. Neer hoped she would allow him to help her learn how to read. He believed her to be his friend, not just neighbor. Friends helped each other and that was what he wanted to do now.

As she felt her face grow red in color, warming up beneath her skin, Flutter kept her eyes glued to a spot on the floor as a way to hide it. She'd already known he was different then most people she was used to- after all, that was partially why she was there. However, she hadn't exactly thought along the lines of keeping some things to herself, which at that moment she'd wished she had done. She didn't know how to respond. Though, admittedly, it could make her job easier. "I-I guess it's worth a try... Something tells me you'll be a better teacher then my big brother was."

Neer smiled. "That's what I like to hear. We can start right now if you want...or we can start tomorrow. You can bring some books you want to read and I'll help you read them." he said to her. "I used to help out in the classes I had. I helped students who couldn't do the work, and I enjoyed it. So trust me when I say that I'll be more than happy to help you out. It will be fun." he said and smiled. He couldn't wait to help her read the books she wanted.

"I don't really know what type of books I want to read..." She thought about it. "I wonder if we still have those books Tawlina used to read to me when I was small." Giggling a bit, she nodded to him quite shyly, still getting used to even the idea. "I'm a little nervous though. My brother got so mad after a while when he tried to teach me that he ended up giving up. I don't want to frustrate you too."

"You can check when you can. I'm sure those books are still in your house somewhere." he said and shook his head at what she said. "You won't frustrate me. It takes a lot to frustrate me." he said to her. It was true. Neer was a very laid back person. He was the loner and quiet guy at school, and still believes he is.

She gave a slight smile, though still apparently a tad red from the surprise she'd gotten. "Well then, I'm lucky it takes a lot to frustrate you. I know I frustrate my family many times- though they do let go of it after a while, I do hate frustrating them as often as I do." Of course, by family she meant her job. However, she did think of the others at the base like a family- and she did tend to frustrate some of them a lot, especially the second-in-command under her who acted as a caretaker as well. "I'll do my best to learn what you teach me... But do know it may take some time. I apologize for that. But I promise to do my best."

Neer listened to her and smiled. "Don't worry Flutter...I'll be very patient and help you read and I'll help you with anything else you need help with." he said to her and patted her shoulder. "Time is never ending...we have all the time in the world and I won't mind staying up really late to help you." he said to her and smiled. Neer loved helping people and wouldn't mind staying up very late to help those who needed it the most.

((Oi. Sorry for the long wait! ><))

"Unfortunately...Not all would agree that time is never ending." Flutter stared upwards for a moment, thinking on the very thought. "On the battle-field, you must live your life to the fullest for you could die at any moment. An enemy can be anywhere, awaiting to throw the final blow that can destroy your life." She let out a sigh. "O-Or so my father would say. The doctors were surprised I lived so long myself so I fully believe it. Illness is like a battle after all. But...So far I've won. So I'll just have to keep fighting, right?"

((It's akay...^_^))

Neer listened to what she was telling him. It made a lot of sense since it was very true. "I see...and your father is very wise for telling you that." he said to her as he nodded to himself. "It's true...time can stop at any moment for everyone...but we do need to make the best of the time we do have." he said to her. "Correct...just keep fighting the battles that are making a war. You'll win all the battles if you just keep trying your best to fight them." he said to her.