animus_network | 1 Petal

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1 Petal | [ video ]

[ The last few hours had been a blur, Aerith could vaguely remember going to the City of the Ancients and she could somewhat recall going down a seemingly endless series of steps on a glass staircase, and maybe Cloud was there? But she couldn't quite focus on what had happened after that as she had been so rudely awaken by the sound of crashing and sensation of the room shaking.

The young Cetra sat up with a start, in an unfamiliar place and couldn't help but panic. She quickly scanned the room and spotted something that might just help her. A small device that resembled her PHS! Launching from the bed she had been ~~snoozing~~ laying on she reached for the object and began to fiddle with it, inadvertently turning the video broadcast system on. ]

Oh what was his number? Oh-seven... nine?

If I could just have my PHS with me this wouldn't be a problem! Who can remember strings of numbers like that? That's why they have address books in them!

[ A sudden thud against the tower walls caused her to stumble, at which point Aerith noticed herself displayed on her new PHS ]

Oh! That's me!

Is this sending out this is a video? Who's it sending it to? Maybe it's just broadcasting it to everyone? Well that's more sophisticated than what I used to but alright.

[ Aerith clears her throat and stumbles again as the room continues to feel the tremors from above ]

Hello?

Is anyone there? I think you have the wrong person, I'm not meant to be here right now.

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[It's been a long hard couple of days, between everything that's happened. Because of that, Zack actually things he's hallucinating a bit when she appears on the screen. This woman that sounds like Aerith and looks like Aerith, if someone had added years to her, but then again...Cloud and Tseng were also older. He can't waste this chance just because she's not how he remembers.

Even if the last thing he wanted was for her to be in a place like this.]

Aerith!

[How's that for a hello?]

[ Now there's a face she hadn't seen in years, and boy was she angry with him! ]

Zack!

[ Another tremor caused the flower girl to stumble ]

Ouph!

Oh if I wasn't standing in the middle of an earthquake I'd have a bone or two to pick with you!

[ Like, where had he been for the last few years? Where were the replies to her letters?! ]

[the tremor has also made Zack stumble, right out of sight of the feed. He's back within seconds though, and confused as he is, he can't leave her wherever she is. Not in this mess.]

Can you pick 'em with me in person? Tell me where you are and I'll come get you!

[He'll scour the tower for her if he has to, but having an idea where to look will make this faster.]

Oh, I don't know!

[ On the surface Aerith just sounds frustrated, but those who know her better might pick up on a hint of fear in her tone. She has no idea where she is, the building she's in won't stop shaking and she can't remember how she got here. ]

Wait a minute!

[ She insists before going to check her room number again, she's off camera for a moment before she returns ]

I'm in room 1-07.

[ A pause, she sounds a little less frustrated and a lot more sincere now ]

Zack, what's going on? Earthquakes aren't meant to last this long.

[Zack can hear the fear and longs to comfort her, to get her to safety, but he's too far down and not leaving the terminal until he's sure she's making a break for it.]

That's cause it's not a quake, Aer. It's...[huff] It's complicated. I promise I'll explain everything I can later, but right now you need to get out of that room and get downstairs. The stairs are at the end of the hall, so go and don't stop. I'll meet you on the way down, okay? Can you do that for me?

[ For a moment she didn't say anything, but there was an unhappy look on her face that almost said I have to go on my own? ]

Alright, let me just see if there's any of my things here I should take.

[ Well, she was putting this off as long as she could. She propped up her new PHS (so that Zack could still see her) as she quickly searched the room. At the end of her bed she found a large trunk, from which she pulled a couple of her possessions that could fit into the pockets of her jacket (namely one compact mirror, a lipstick and her mother's materia, which she did not place in her pocket but instead tucked under her hair ribbon) ]

How did that fall out of my hair...

[ She quietly pondered, unaware that it had fallen from her at her moment of death. She now returned to wave at Zack. She really didn't want to do this. ]

Okay, I suppose I have to go now.

[ She said as if waiting for encouragement ]

[He watches her for those moments, wanting to rush her but unable to find the words. It's bad enough to end up in a place like this on a good day, but during this mess? He can't rush her in good conscience. If she needs a minute to steel her nerves, he'll give her that.

He'll also give her a quiet tone, filled with all the courage and determination he can muster. Thankfully, it's a lot.]

Yeah. I promise, you'll see me really soon. Just keep going and don't stop for anything.

[he smiles, wide and encouraging, before...yep. His side of the connection goes black. He's already running to find here, wherever it may be that they meet up. Hell hath no speed like a worried puppy.]

Okay, I will---

[ But before she can finish her sentence the display of Zack disappears. ]

Oh! Oh no.

[ Aerith had stalled for as long as she could, she knew it was now or never. So taking a deep breath, and clinging to the little electronic video player, she opened the door and made a dash for the stairs.

The hallway was shaking violently and she kept hearing something slamming against the building, each time it did she stumbled but always picked herself up each time.

That stairwell felt like it was miles away, but eventually she made it there. Opening the door and quickly shutting it behind her as she got inside, as if closing the door would keep out the danger ]

Phew! Okay, down I go.

[ And she began to descend the stairs ]

[True to his word, it doesn't take long for Zack to find her. He's not sure how many flights of stairs he's bolted up or monsters he's jumped and left in his wake, but he can't bring himself to care once he's caught sight of her.]

Aerith! Down here!

[He says "down here", but he's already running up the distance between them. He stumbles only when there's a large tremor and the sound of twisted whale song that still sends shivers down his spine, but he's quickly back on his feet and yelling out the nearest window as if that's going to do anything at all.]

Oh, will you go away already!?

[anger spent, he'll just be closing the distance to Aerith now. Please don't be hurt please don't be hurt please don't be hurt--!]

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