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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[Under any other circumstances he'd tease her about the blush. As it is, he still has trouble keeping the grin off his face as he shakes his head.]

Not by much, I promise. I don't want us to get separated if I lose your hand somehow. Besides, this way you can yell at me while we go instead of needing to save your breath for running.

[Two chocobos with one green, two monsters with one spell or some such metaphor. Of course, if she doesn't want to, they can forget all about this, but...]

Well... I suppose it would give me a chance to tell you off.

[ She said, as if trying to justify letting Zack carry her. ]

Okay, but only for as long as is really necessary!

You got it. SOLDIER's honor, you'll be back on your feet once we're down and safe.

[Safe enough, anyway. He'll just be picking her up easily now, one arm under her knees and the other around her shoulders like she's a princess in one of those old fairy tales. At least like this can wring his neck should she desire?]

Hang on tight!

[And he's off, running for the next staircase. She's really not all that heavy, so this won't be hard. Provided none of the tremors knock him over, anyway.]

Oh!!

[ Of course Aerith knew that Zack was probably very strong, being in SOLDIER and all, but she was still taken aback at just how easily he lifted her up. Now he was running with her and talking and smiling and he didn't seem even slightly phased!

When Zack started to move Aerith's arms quickly linked around his shoulders and she clung to him tightly, eyes closed (as if not being able to see where she was going would stop anything bad from happening). But eventually she began to feel more secure and, after finding the courage to open her eyes again, she began to talk to him. ]

Zack... you never came back.

[SOLDIER training, conditioning, and a heap of adrenaline plus Zack's own determination were all it took to carry her like she weighed nothing.

Despite being a little out of breath due to running while he speaks, Zack's tone is light and calm, a stark contrast to their situation and what those four little words do to his heart. Never came back, huh? There's only one way that could end. Still, he needs a little more detail than that.]

From where? Last time I saw you back home, you'd just given me your wishlist. How long ago was that?

[Because she's older than he remembers, but is it months? Years? A decade? He can't...really tell.]

That was a long time ago.

[ Years, and Aerith had sensed strange things about Zack after he disappeared. She had worried about him dreadfully and at times had thought the worst had happened to him...

But evidently that wasn't true at all, because he here was, healthy as ever. Although she did note that he didn't really look that different from when she'd last seen him. She felt like she'd changed a lot.

She wondered if he noticed that she was wearing all pink now. Hadn't he said that pink looked good on her? ]

And I waited for your replies for ages! Didn't you like the letters I sent you?

[A long time ago, huh? Long enough that she'd swapped out that flowery sundress for a longer pink one, at least. Her hair seems a bit longer, too, but it's hard to tell.

Maybe Cloud was right after all. Maybe something had happened in Nibelheim. It would make sense, a little. But he can't dwell on that now, dodging around a monster to get to the next floor.]

I never got any. I've been here for about three months, but it was only a couple of days for me back home. I didn't get any letters.

You didn't get any of them?

[ Aerith was about to add something but found herself gasping suddenly as Zack effortlessly dodged a gnarled, strange looking creature on the stairs. She was quiet for a moment, in shock at what she'd seen, but then forced herself to go back to their conversation. It was too important to ignore. ]

Zack? How long do you think it is since you last saw me?

[He shakes his head, skidding a bit with the tremor that is, thankfully, much lighter now that they're further away from the monster whale outside, before he continues like the little train that could.]

Well, we took off at dawn...had to stop to refuel the chopper at midnight...so around two or three days? [He glances at her now, from the corner of his eye.]

But it's been a lot longer than that for you, hasn't it?

[ She replies to him with a nod and Aerith has trouble taking this in for some time. All the signs point to the fact that Zack had not aged, and she trusted him, believed in him, if he said he hadn't got any of her letters or that he hadn't seen her for three days then she would believe him. As unbelievable as it sounded.

The young Cetra was quiet for a little while now, trying to figure out logic to a situation that she felt had none. The whole morning so far had been nothing but confusion and worry, and deciding that focusing on the negative at a time like this would only make things worse Aerith came out and said. ]

So... how old are you right now? You're not still a teenager are you?

[He frowns. How long is "a lot longer"? He can't say and she looks so confused he can't ask. He just knows that he's telling the truth and he has a lot he needs to make sense of.

Well, that and if his arms weren't full of a loved one he'd have scratched his cheek. It's not a bad thing that he's still young, is it?]

Still eighteen. Or maybe nineteen; not sure. Think I might have missed my birthday while I've been here.

[still a teenager. Sorry, Aerith; your (former?) boyfriend is younger than you now.]

Eighteen or nineteen?!

[ She's teasing him, it's about time she got him back for some of the horrendous teasing he'd done to her years ago anyway. Nineteen wasn't really that far away from twenty-two, was it? ]

You know, I'm a cosmopolitan woman of the world now. Can you believe it? I bet I've been to more places now than you have!

[The teasing earns her some good natured grumbling, and one of Zack's famous puppy pouts, but there's something more important than his ego at this point.]

So the sky doesn't scare you anymore? That's great! [the pout turns into a warm smile, even if there's something else in his eyes besides happiness.] I'm sorry I couldn't take you to see it myself first, though.

[ He remembered.

She smiled back at him, Aerith had forgotten how cheerful Zack was, and quite how much she'd missed him. ]

Nope. Not a lot scares me now, I'm pretty fearless!

[ At least she thought she was, going through the sleeping forest alone had been a challenge, in fact, lots of things had been difficult for her but Aerith felt stronger now than ever. ]

Well, you're carrying me down the stairs, which I don't think anyone else has done for me before!

[Like he'd forget something that important. Especially since he cares so much for her.

And the missing is a mutual thing. Years for her, months for him...gods. Their lives are messes. Especially now!]

That's good. Being scared's never a good thing.

[Not that he would have minded helping her with her fears, but still. She came this far without him; she's clearly capable of handling herself.]

Nobody? Well, I'll just have to make it the best carry you've ever had, then!

[Which involves no falling, Zack. Watch dem feet!]

Edited 2012-08-16 08:03 (UTC)

[ Aerith sighs contentedly, she's finally starting to feel less alarmed with this situation. Zack was good at calming her down (when he wanted her to be calm at least)! ]

You're exactly the same, it's so strange, I feel like you should be different from when I last saw you.

[ A pause ]

Are we at the bottom yet?

Well, yeah. Maybe I've changed a little, but I'm still me, Aer. I'm not gonna start dying my hair and stop being me after just a couple months.

[Gods forbid he does that, ever. Zack likes himself as he is, thank you! Most people do.]

Almost. Just this last flight and we're safe.

[Relatively. But he's not saying that, nope. He's just smiling at her]

Why? Don't like being carried?

Oh!!

[ Aerith pulled one of her hands free just long enough to gently hit Zack in the shoulder, it was a playful action that had no real force behind it. ]

Don't tease me! You know I'm not going to tell you if I like you carrying me or not just because you're winding me up about it!

[Zack just laughs and laughs at that; he's missed her teasing and it's good to know it hasn't changed.]

I'm just kidding! I'll put you down real soon, so hang on a bit longer.

[See all those pretty lightshows and people, Aerith? It means safety and food and no more being carried. Really close now!]

[ Yes, she does see them, and she wriggling somewhat to try and get a better view of them ]

Oh! Are we almost there? I wonder if any of my other friends are here too!

[Whoa, squirmy lady! You're gonna topple him over onto you!]

They might be, but--you don't want them to see you in a heap on the floor cause you fell, right? Just hang on!

[He picks up his pace, giving a quick three-count before...yep. Back on your feet with you, Aerith. He's just making sure you're steady before letting go of your arms, is all.]

See? That didn't take long, did it?

[ Aerith had kept her arms around Zack until the very last minute when she finally let go and stood up on her own two feet again. ]

That was a lot of stairs!

[ She exclaimed, pausing briefly before adding ]

Thanks for coming for me,

[ She linked her hands behind her back, almost looking bashful ]

I'm glad you did.

[Zack smiles warmly, rocking back on his heels with a shrug. Puppy's a bit bashful, too.]

What, did you think I'd leave you up there? [he scrunches up his nose, shaking his head.] I'd never change that much, Aer. Promise.

[he'd never abandon her like that. Ever.]

[ And she just smiles at him ]

Hm, okay... Well, she we go in and see if my friends are here?

[A nod, and he offers her his arm. May he have the honor of escorting you to people, Miss Aerith?]

Sure thing. You're gonna have to tell me who they are, though. Can't help you find someone I don't know.

1 Petal | [ video ]

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