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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[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.

[ She takes it, was it broader than she remembered or perhaps she'd forgotten how fit Zack was ]

Well, let's see... there's Cloud, and he... well, I think he's been going through your wardrobe let's say. He's in the SOLDIER first class uniform I wonder if he ever wears anything else? Then there's Tifa, she's my best friend, and she's got long brown hair and she wears this cute mini-skirt and tank-top combo. Who else...? Barret, now he's huuuuge and has a gun for a hand and is always pretty angry. Then there's Red thirteen, and... oh! He's so cute, he's like a big red cat-dog! But you mustn't tell him that I said he was cute, or he'll probably get upset. Then there's Cid, and he's a cool, old man who's constantly smoking and swearing. Then there's Yuffie, she's from Wutai and she's trouble (with a capital T). Then there's Cait Sith, who's this cute cat that rides a giant mog I know that sounds strange but bear with me, and then there's Vincent. He's really tall and only wears black and red, I think he's pretty depressed about his past but he's really very nice when you talk to him.

[Zack just listens, brows disappearing into his hairline. Man, Aerith...you sure made some odd sounding friends. Then again, you also fell for him. And forgot how fit he was back then, too; he hasn't lost an inch of muscle tone yet.]

Well, I know that Cloud and Tifa are here, somewhere, but the Tifa that's here wears SOLDIER uniforms, too. It's kinda weird; she wasn't wearing 'em when I met her back home, and she definitely wasn't a SOLDIER then, but she's...still Tifa, I guess. Just older. [A smile] Kinda like you. You're still Aerith, even if you're older.

[Now he pauses, tilting his head.]

I don't recognize any of the others, though. I knew Yuffie, when she was a little kid back in Wutai, but I haven't seen her since then.

Cloud and Tifa are here! Fantastic!

[ She subconsciously squeezes Zack's arm in excitement ]

We have to find them! I feel like I haven't seen them in years!

[ A pause ]

I'm not that much older!

[The squeeze on his arm makes him smile. It's good to see her so happy, even in the midst of all this.]

We'll find 'em. Shouldn't take long, either. I mean, it's not like you could miss Cloud even if he was hiding.

[Don't put your foot in your mouth, don't put your foot in your mouth--]

Well, no, but you were, what, sixteen when I last saw you? You look older now, is what I mean. So does Tifa, and so does Cloud. [he scrunches his nose a bit.] You guys used to make me feel old, but now it's probably the other way around.

Hrmph! You don't make me feel old at all, just so you know!

[ She's not really scolding him, it's more or less teasing. Aerith doesn't really feel her age, she doesn't feel like an adult, maybe she never will. ]

[He snickers, patting her hand with his.]

Well, that's good to know. Means I can act like a kid without making you feel like a Mom.

[She can feel like an adult in her own time. Not like they've got much else to do once this mess blows over.]

[ And the teasing continues ]

I hope you don't want me to feel like a mother!

[And he...barely manages to avoid putting his foot in his mouth. Don't make that comment, Fair. Just don't.]

Well, me personally? Not really. But you'd make a great mom someday anyway.

Oh Zack!

[ Aerith limp-wrists at the SOLDIER in a good-natured, humorous manner ]

You're always trying to charm me!

[Grriiiiiiin. Cheeky pup is cheeky.]

Hey, is it charming if it's the truth? You really would make a great mom!

[He will list your motherly traits should he need to, Aerith. Don't doubt that.]

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