(open) my own secret ceremonials

[anciently]

Who: Aerith and YOU!
What: January catchall.
Where: Various, see within!
When: Throughout the month.
Content Warnings: Will mark top levels as needed.



( top levels with locations below )

Comments

❀ mount silver

[anciently]

[ The mountain path is one of the best areas around to take a long walk and clear your head, she's found. There's a lot of need for that in this place, with so many unknowns still looming over them, so Aerith takes time to march up as far as she's able to go and back down, stopping occasionally to stretch, or to take in the view. ]

Whew! Wish I'd brought another jacket... It's a little chilly up here!

[ She also stops at one of the rivers that runs along the mountain, squatting down and peering into the crystal-clear waters with a curious expression. ]

Fish... [ Normal fish, too, it seems like! ...That is, they don't appear to be the kinds of hybrids of all the rest of the native life. She furrows her brows further and watches them for a while, realizing that she hasn't seen fish in the other bodies of water in the area, beyond the rivers of Mt. Silver... ]

[hightouch]

[For someone who likes to train as much as Shouyou does, it stands to reason he'd go exploring the area around Mt. Silver whenever he could. It's on one such run that he comes across Aerith, crouched near the river, and his natural curiosity takes over.

He slows his pace, then squats down beside her with absolutely no warning.]

What'cha looking at? [Miraculously, he keeps his voice low to not startle any creatures that might be nearby.]

[anciently]

[ Though she's surprised to hear another voice, she isn't exactly startled, and Aerith offers the stranger a smile and holds a finger to her lips. ]

Careful! They might get scared away. [ Not likely, since he'd spoken softly, but. In response to his question, the brunette points down at the river to indicate the fish that swim there. ] Have you seen them anywhere else? I know I haven't...so it seems pretty weird. Don't you think?

[hightouch]

[It's a quiet, sheepish laugh that escapes him.]

Dunno if I'm the right person to ask! I haven't been here too long, and some fish in the water looks pretty normal to me. Um, compared to the other things I've seen around here.

[But he peers into the river anyway.] I don't think I've seen them anywhere else, though. Is that...bad?

[anciently]

That's for sure. [ She laughs lightly, tilting her head as she smiles over at him. ] There're much weird things than fish!

[ They're not dangerous or anything, though, as far as she can tell. Just...odd. ]

Bad? No, I don't think so. I just thought it was funny. [ Aerith shrugs, turning back to the fish below them. ] They must really like this area, I guess.

[symbolofstrength]

"All I've got is my labcoat, but you're welcome to it if you think it'll help," comes a man's voice. He's perched on a nearby rock, a notebook and pen in his hands. He doesn't look at her as he talks, not at first; his gaze is unwaveringly fixed onto the fish as the hand holding the pen dances across the paper. After a good few seconds, though, he lowers his work and glances up at her with a friendly smile.

[anciently]

"Hmm?" Aerith glances over at the stranger as he speaks, but her gaze soon drifts to the paper in his hands. Her smile softens with curiosity, and she tilts her head to peer at the surface, where he moves the pen back and forth with practice motions.

"Wow...you're really good," she says, awed. "I wish I could draw like that."

If only to capture small moments like these that she'd like to remember for a long time, or to share them with others.

[symbolofstrength]

"Thank you. I do have a few decades of practice, though." Once he finishes his drawing, he caps his pen and holds out the book (full of more drawings of his various observations about the wildlife and scenery) in silent offering to let her see.

Before electronics were working, drawings like these were the only way to make a visual record of their surroundings... but now that they are, wouldn't a camera be better at 'capturing moments' for posterity?

[anciently]

"Practice really does make perfect! These are amazing..." She leans in to look as he offers the book, flipping delicately through with wide, impressed eyes. "It's good that we have someone with your talent to record all this!"

If only, as he's thinking, because there haven't always been the most reliable ways to do so otherwise. After a few moments, she returns the book with a smile.

"Are you a professional artist?" she asks, tilting her head with the question.

[symbolofstrength]

He just gives a humble smile at that, because, well, it'd be awkward to just thank her twice in a row. At her question, though, he shakes his head.

"Oh, no! This is just a hobby I've had since I was a boy. I'm a scientist, I study Pokemon."

Taking back the book, he gently tugs at the lapels of his labcoat, the one he offered earlier, in demonstration.

❀ hammerhead book stop & garage

[anciently]

[ On her way back down the mountain, Aerith stops into yet another location that she's somehow not yet visited in all her time here. Of course, she thinks, that may be because it's just appeared out of thin air, the way things tend to come into this world. Either way, the flower girl steps into the main Hammerhead building with raised brows and an expectant smile. ]

Hellooo? Anybody here? [ In the meantime, she peruses the shelves, chuckling when she realizes it's all books, rather than any kind of snacks or other products. She spends a bit of time leaning against the counter, giggling as she flips through one of the gibberish magazines before setting it aside again and wandering into one of the other rooms.

The library elicits a noise of awe, and she does a spin in place as she gazes around at all the books, and then up at the blue sphere. Aerith smiles slowly, contentedly, before taking her time in this room, too, looking over the spines of most of the books to pick out any particularly interesting ones. Before long, she's gathered a small stack and settles into one of the diner's (?) booths, very much reminded of how her own church had been changed to a church slash eatery. Anyone who enters will notice quickly the young woman in the pink dress, commentating aloud as she reads, but thoroughly engrossed in her activity. ]

[begetblue]

[ Turing had been looking for excuses to stay outside of their apartment after a recent incident, and a place full of books was a pretty good option, especially since they still didn't have access to the mesh. It almost felt nice to have a little hiding spot that was all their own. Maybe that was why their attention instantly rose from their book when Aerith called out from the main building. The thought of another visitor coming in after them was really, really not appealing for their current mental state though, so their first thought was to pretend they hadn't heard. Even if that was a little rude.

On the other hand, it was hard to concentrate on their own reading when Aerith was reading out loud. Their pursuit of knowledge was in danger! That was enough to spur them into action, and with their own stack of books in tow they tiptoed back into the diner area--

--only for them to stumble (lesson learned: the shape of their leg and foot modules were not at all suited to tiptoeing), and spill all of their heavy reference books onto the floor. Oops. ]

[anciently]

Oh! Hey! [ Aerith whips around at the sound of the clatter, setting down quickly what she'd been looking at to reach out to help Turing. ] You okay?

[ This unfamiliar figure had fallen, after all! If they don't accept her hand to get back up, she'll busy herself lifting the reference books, uttering a noise of surprise and effort at their weight. ]

Oof! These are some hefty ones, huh? [ She offers a little smile, peering at the cover of one of the books in her arms. ] Anything interesting?

[begetblue]

I think so... Thank you. [ As long as Aerith was only talking about if they were physically okay, anyway. Turing accepted that help, but they couldn't manage to look her in the eye anyway.

...Well, at least until that inquiry, anyway. ]

Yes! I managed to find some books about dendrology and botany! I wanted to see if I could find out what those purple trees near the lake are called as well.

[anciently]

Botany! [ She lights up, expression clearly interested. ] I don't know anything about trees - least of all, the kinds of trees around here - but I'm a florist, so...I'd like to help, if you need a hand!

[ Again, none of this is really her field of expertise, but it's more interesting than just hanging out alone in this place without any real objective. ]

Found anything yet?

❀ aoba shibumenosaki underground academy (gym)

[anciently]

C'mon, Mireille! Like Raihan taught us!

[ Today, Aerith is loudly cheering on her rabbit-Pidgey hybrid as the Pokémon (?) does a few hops around her feet. The creature seems sort of interested in learning how to battle, but it also seems like it just wants to play, and before long, the brunette is crouching down and giving it scritches, conceding defeat. ]

Okay, okay... Just a little break, though, alright? [ Mireille seems to get a bit more of a lapse in training than Aerith intended, though, as the young woman herself takes up a workout of her own. With her silver rod in hand, she spends some time practicing with it, now unable to use materia and fully reliant upon the weapon's abilities (or, more accurately, her own abilities with the weapon). There are a number of enthused and focused grunts and cries, and eventually she takes a break to catch her breath, sitting down against the wall and with the Pidgey-hybrid at her side. ]

Phew! I miss being able to use magic... [ Aerith heaves a sigh, undoing her braid and redoing it as she rests. ] You're lucky you don't really have to worry about monsters, Mireille. You should see some of what we have to deal with back home!

[ The little creature cocks its head, perhaps understanding, and perhaps not. After the respite, Aerith gets back to her feet to begin practice again, stopping in mid-twirl of the rod only to eye her companion suspiciously. ]

Hey, don't think I've forgotten about your training! Once I'm all done, we're gonna jump right back into it!

[ Mireille makes a sound that could either be staunch denial or affirmation... ]

Gym

[bridge_princess]

[Why was Parsee here? Probably exploring. The Gym wasn't her strong point, even if youkai were stronger than humans by a thin margin in her case. She just wasn't athletically inclined. Still, she did explore each 'zone' of the main island at least once in a while, to gauge what was going on during any period of time, if signs needed updating.

Accompanying her was a certain Smeargle looking creature with a black paint-brush tail. The two of them looked in and watched Aerith and her companion quietly for a moment.]

What're you two up to?

[anciently]

Oh! Hey, Parsee! I see you have a friend of your own, huh?

[ She waves over at the other, while her own Pokémon observes the Smeargle-looking creature from a safe distance. ]

We're just working on our training. Do you know Raihan? He's been giving us some tips so we can be better at... [ Aerith trails off, then admits a laugh. ] Hmm... At battling, I guess? Still sounds kinda weird, but I think it's...normal, where they come from?

[ Still gives her a weird feeling, though. She probably won't be doing any of that, honestly, unless it's against actual monsters, and they have no other choice. ]

[bridge_princess]

Hey, yeah. Wabi here follows me around when we're checking signs. Have to keep them up to date or I'll get lost.

[And everyone else could arguably benefit from having a smearglish thing painting directions on a regular basis to keep them up to date. It was a constant struggle.]

Haven't actually met Raihan yet. I wanna say he's the guy with the red headguards? I probably saw him at one of the parties.

...

But they're used to battling? That's... that actually sounds kind of normal to me honestly. There's lots of fighting where I come from too, though we have to do it ourselves normally.

[anciently]

Wabi, is it? Meet Mireille!

[ She gestures with flourish to the Pidgey-like creature by her feet. For itself, the creature just cocks its head, chirping nervously. ]

It's okay. They're our friends. [ Aerith tells it soothingly, before glancing back up to Parsee. ]

He is! He's a great Trainer, if you want some help with Wabi. If you need any, that is... [ Implication being that...well, Aerith and her companion had required a bit of guidance. ]

Sure, I mean...we have fighting where we come from, too. But not so much with-... The way Pokémon do.

❀ ota

[anciently]

( feel free to leave your own prompt! for any plotting, you can pm this account or reach out on plurk @ kairaptor! )

vroom-vroom

[memorate]

[ At some point while Aerith is doing her routine in the church, a loud revving noise of a motorbike can be heard from the outside. Cloud is aware of the volume, being the one who's actually sitting on the bike, and he expects the noise alone will be enough to draw her out of the building.

The flowery delivery service seems to have gotten an upgrade, and he's eager to show her! (he's been showing it to everyone.....) ]

[anciently]

[ Oh, she hears it, all right. Before long, Aerith bursts out of the church, brows raised expectantly, expression shifting to a pleased grin when she sees the source of the commotion. ]

That'll really get deliveries done quick, huh? [ Without further ado, she approaches the bike and inspects it, circling Cloud with a low whistle. ] Wow...this is great, Cloud! Did it just appear, or have you been holding out on me?

[memorate]

Hm. Let's call it a "Christmas present".

[ Whatever that word means. The concept has been explained to him, at least, and it wouldn't be inaccurate to say that's exactly what this gift was to Cloud. The fact that it appeared for Professor Oak initially is irrelevant right now. ]

A lot of us got something interesting a while back. How about you?

[ Her Secret Santa gift... ]

[anciently]

A "Christmas present," huh? [ She's also heard the term tossed around, and the concept is simple enough. Of course, Aerith thinks immediately to the item of hers that had appeared in another's possession not long ago...and, as if sensing this, Cloud asks.

A practiced and cheery liar, the flower girl maintains her smile and quirks her brows in question. ]

Nothing interesting for me, but that's okay. I'm not upset. I'll just have to make use of other people's gifts! [ To press the issue, she just goes right on ahead to take a seat on the bike behind Cloud. ] So? Can we go for a ride?