(open) and i had a dream about my old school

[anciently]

Who: Aerith Gainsborough and YOU
What: A general catchall log for the month!
Where: Various locations within.
When: Throughout the month.
Content Warnings: n/a, will update if needed




( top levels with locations below )

Comments

❀ the lemon cello church

[anciently]

[ The moment she sees the exterior, she knows. Aerith's heart swells with the feeling of home and she wastes no time in hurrying through the front doors of the place, expression alight with relief and joy (a little more vulnerable and open than usual, with no one to see).

Except... Her face falls a little, but more with a curious confusion than disappointment. This is definitely her church: the dilapidated church from the Sector 5 Slums in which she spends more time than really anywhere else. Even so, there are...differences. Aerith cocks her head as she takes it in, walking inside with some trepidation. Above the doors, for one thing, had been a big, painted lemon. Huh. The interior is largely the same - with her flowers, even, which sends her spirits soaring again - but there are...some other changes. It's like someone decided to make a little business out of the inside, with tables strewn purposefully around the floor.

It's - darker? She glances up, blinking. The holes in the roof have been fixed. As she approaches her beloved "babies," she notices, too, that the simple altar has been replaced with a display of cakes.

Aerith can't help it: she smiles, planting her hands on her hips. ]

Hmm-hmm. Who set up shop in my church, huh? I want in on this business! [ They look delicious, after all! For now, though, the brunette stoops down to start tending to the lilies, humming to herself as she does. ]

[theforgottenboy]

[It's not unusual for Cole to wander the forest when he's not off exploring the harder to reach corners of this place, so the addition of a new building in the middle of it is easy to notice. Though it looks like someone else noticed it first. Aerith. The way she rushes toward it, he wonders if it's a place she knows.]

[He follows in a few moments after her, looking around and up himself. It reminds him of a Chantry building with its tall ceiling and pretty windows, though those don't usually have so many chairs, or cakes.]

This place is yours?

[anciently]

[ Aerith turns to look back at Cole as he speaks, smiling back at him as she gets to her feet again. ]

Mm-hmm. But with a few changes... [ She gestures to the tables and to the cakes, shrugging lightly. ] Not sure where all this stuff came from, but I don't mind. And the flowers don't, either!

[ Gods, is she excited to be back with them. Even though she's separated from the Planet here, Aerith knows for certain that these flowers are...the same. ]

Well? What do you think?

[theforgottenboy]

[It's always nice when someone is clear about what they're feeling. Guessing how people feel without hearing it himself is hard. As for her question, maybe it's not exactly what she was going for when she asked, but:]

It's good, that you're happy here.

[memorate]

[ The church sure brings back memories, this is the first time they've been here together since that day they met. Of course, Cloud had been back a few times when dealing with the Angel of the Slums, but Aerith was taken away... this is an odd reunion, to say the least.

While she appraises the new shop, Cloud's gaze is fixed upward. That's new, too. ]

They fixed my roof hole...

[ He kind of liked the bit of sun rays coming through, but he wonders how Aerith feels about the new look of the church, especially knowing how deeply the bar had affected Tifa. ]

[anciently]

[ Aerith, of course, doesn't correct Cloud in that he wasn't the first SOLDIER to fall through the roof of her church...and instead smiles over at him as he approaches, getting to her feet. ]

They did. Gotta admit, I kinda liked how it was before. [ There's a pause, and then she whirls to face him, eyes alight and mischievous. ] Maybe we could drop you through it again?

[ She probably doesn't mean it!! ]

That's not the only change, though... [ Aerith gestures briefly to the tables and the cakes before offering a shrug. ] Seems like someone set up shop here. I don't mind, but I really want them to show up so I can ask for one of these! They look delicious...

[memorate]

Hmm, I think I could do something about that.

[ No, he's not considering falling through it, but maybe he can open it back up again with the right tools. Yes, something he can do...! ]

Anyway, considering this is on your turf, I think you're entitled to some compensation. Go ahead and take it.

[ Meanwhile Cloud is already thinking of the best way to get up there. ]

[bridge_princess]

[She'd heard that there was a church of some sort eventually. That was what brought her here. But, as she entered it, very little about the structure was familiar. It reminded her of how people would describe western religious structures, though she'd never actually been to one. Nothing like a Shinto or Buddhist shrine. If it was closer to either, it was the latter, and still... run down and strange.

She heard the voice and cocked her head, looking up at the ceiling as she spoke.]

It seems like every memory here isn't 'quite' right doesn't it?

[anciently]

[ Aerith is somehow comforted by the fact that people she's met in this world keep finding her in the church, drawn to it for whatever reason. She smiles faintly, glancing upward again when Parsee speaks. ]

Mm...it does. Weird, huh? [ She's not really bothered by it, though: it isn't as if this is the real deal, back in Sector 5. ] So, what do you think? This is pretty much where I spend most of my time back home.

[bridge_princess]

More elegant than a bridge, if you ask me. It's old. Kind of forgotten. Did anyone even come to this place besides you in those days?

[This place had the feel of a ruin, more than it did anything else. It looked almost like it was the forgotten remnant of a faith no longer followed by anyone. There was something haunting about the fact that such a thing would still stand.]

Who was worshiped here?

[forethinking]

(Ren wasn't expecting more new places to just pop up. He had visited the Market and yet, there wasn't a single explanation as to how they just appear and what exactly was the correlation. He's starting to think there really isn't any, which means the world is pouring his theories down the drain.

There's always something new to learn in each of these locations, he reckoned, so there's no hesitation when he steps in.)

Eh-

(Aerith?

The girl had an upbeat vibe, but she seemed to just be glowing...

Ah, there's why. Her church.)

You've never told me you had a church.

[anciently]

[ Aerith rises and turns when Ren enters, arms linked behind her back. ]

Well, you never asked! [ She glances around at the place, smiling warmly. ] Besides, it's not really mine. It's...different, like how Heavenly Blanc is different. See?

[ A wave of her hand indicates the cafe piece, and she shrugs helplessly. ]

This part's new. Not sure who it belongs to, though.

[pinwheels]

[ The building is... a strange one, to say the least. It looks like it should be a church, something beautiful and ornate, although the sign above the door is something distracting all on its own, and Rinoa can't help but tilt her head in confusion. The only thing she can think is that it's another of those strange half-places, like the bar or the mountain, or... well, anywhere else here, really.

It's with a curious smile that she steps into the place, eyes wide as she looks around. It's not particularly bright inside, but she can see the bed of flowers in the center of the place. Her heart soars - they're not her flowers, but it hardly matters to her right now - and she crosses the wooden floor, pausing when she sees the girl in the pink dress crouched among them. ]

Oh, um. Hi.

[ Rinoa smiles, taking a few more steps closer, hands visible so that the other woman can see that she means no harm - she knows all too well how it feels to be taken by surprised in this place. ]

Is this place yours?

[anciently]

Hi there. [ Aerith rises, perking up as Rinoa enters. ] Come on in!

[ It might not be exactly "her" place, but she's certainly treating it like home. As such, Aerith steps away from the flowers, leaning forward a little to look around at them before turning back to the other woman. ]

Mm-hmm. It's a little different than I remember, but that...happens around here. [ As surely Rinoa has noticed, unless she just arrived. ] There definitely wasn't a bakery in the church, last time I checked!

[bachagain]

[ this place is an odd mix of peaceful and sweet, with the flowers and the... cakes... a little random, like most things here, but leo can't say he doesn't enjoy it.

he had been off to the side -- kicking his feet gently as he sat on one of the pews -- but aerith's appearance and words draw him out of his distraction.

without even moving from his position save for a slight lean forward to rest his arms on the other pew in front of him, he calls out (quieter than usual, because it doesn't seem right to use gremlin volume in a place that is, like, half calm): ]

Is the humming the big performance you were gonna show me? I'm still waiting!

[ he's kidding,

maybe. he'll offer her a wave whenever she turns to look at him, as he enjoys what little he can hear of the humming. ]

[anciently]

[ Surprised, but not startled, Aerith straightens up and waves back when she spots Leo sitting nearby. ]

Hey! And...no, definitely not. To be honest, I don't think I'm cut out to be a big star... That life is just so grueling, you know?

[ Well, he might, but she sure doesn't. Her 'fame' isn't really fame at all, but she sure does hate the attention her heritage has brought her over the years. ]

You might be waiting a long time, if you're still gonna keep it up.

Let me know if this works!

[gardenerofavalon]

While it's at times mildly exasperating to have to take the time to go walk from place to place to see things in person, Merlin has definitely been trying to keep tabs on the various changes to the world. Which means that, sooner or later, once he notices the church he of course goes to investigate.

For the most part, it proves to be yet another odd mashup of at least two distinct buildings... But then one thing in particular catches his eye: the flowers. The first he's seen in this place, aside from the alien flora of that peculiar forest.

Needless to say, he's going to take a minute or two to sit and enjoy the sight, even if he's unable to use his powers to do anything with them.

[anciently]

"Hey there."

A brunette woman in a pink dress pops up when she notices someone's entered, waving briefly. She'd been in the back, trying to take stock of things, but approaches Merlin when she returns, smiling.

"Don't mind me," Aerith advises, now holding her hands up in an almost defensive position. "Just go on and enjoy the flowers."

While she figures out how best to keep the cakes from getting stale just sitting out like that...

❀ wall market

[anciently]

Oh, jeez... Who let this place through?

[ It's another unmistakable location from back home...or, at least, it's something very similar. She can't help but scoff at the sight of the infamous Wall Market, the den of-...well, a lot of stuff from Midgar. The neon signs and the various food and drink are enough to clue her in, and Aerith begins to wander through the area, stopping beneath the "Bathhouse in Wall Market" sign to stare up at it. ]

Well, that sure confirms it. [ She doesn't venture into the bathhouse, and instead pokes her head into another local business. It's...kinda strange, though. Most of them seem absolutely empty, with nothing and no one inside. It makes the front of the place seem like a set from some kind of play. ]

Weird... [ It has an eerie feeling, like she's being watched, after she discovers the bare interiors. As such, she starts making her way back out of the area, though...it starts to feel a little like a maze... ]

[zenryokubatankyu]

[So this looks like a pretty seedy place. On the offset, at least. There are neon signs and various food and drink, and so much as Osomatsu doesn't mind the idea of seedy places, it's probably not too good to be off wandering alone. He hums to himself idly, his arms folded behind his head as he looks around, before he sees the back of a familiar-looking girl departing the area.]

Aerith-chan! Wait up~!!

[He calls out, before approaching her. He raises a hand in greeting, a grin on his face.] Yo~! This is a bit of a shaky-lookin' place, huh?

[anciently]

Osomatsu! [ Aerith stops and waits when he calls out, smiling brightly despite their...interesting surroundings. ] Hey again!

[ "Shaky-looking" definitely describes it. Aerith hums to herself in a thoughtful sort of way as she glances around, crossing her arms. ]

It is. It...looks a lot like a place from home, called Wall Market. Not exactly the same, but I think that's how it works here... [ She tilts her head as she studies the facade of one of the buildings. ] It's weird, though...the insides are all empty. Like they put together all this out here, but forgot the rest.

❀ merlaut apartments

[anciently]

[ You can probably even get a sense of it from the ground; up on the third floor, someone is moving in! She doesn't have a lot of stuff, of course, but Aerith has brought in at least two things from this new world: a bouquet of lilies from The Lemon Cello Church, and - ]

You can come in, Mireille. It's completely safe! [ One of the rabbit-birds, who hops outside of the door, a little nervous. ] I bet you prefer the outdoors, huh? That's okay. If you ever want to come in, I'll leave the door open for you.

[ There's a little chirp, to which Aerith nods firmly, before continuing to busy herself inside the apartment. It's actually not bad at all, except for the milk in the fridge (which goes right into a trash bag) at the sink, at which she halts and frowns. ]

That is pretty gross. We're gonna have to find a sponge and some rubber gloves. [ She's definitely not touching that with her bare hands, and neither is she going to live in a room with it! The brunette steps back outside, using a hand above her eyes (as if there's any sun) to help in her search, and before long she's calling out to the first person she sees: ] Hey there! Any chance you have any cleaning supplies? My room's sink...has a bit of an ecosystem.

[starshower]

[Lucky for Aerith, the first person she sees is the woman living right next door! After some discussions and facing the harsh reality they've found themselves in, Tifa is carrying her cleaning supplies from Cloud's room back to hers. Her solemn expression quickly lights up when she hears Aerith's voice down the hall where her silhouette peeks out from the door.]

Oh...! Aerith?

[Boy, is Tifa glad to see her. First thing she had done after she discovered the apartments was tell Cloud and Aerith about them, so it's nice that they're both here. Both safe.

Tifa lifts the large bucket filled with an assortment of supplies and jogs over to her. When she stops and dim light through the windows washes over her face, her eyes are red and puffy, but Tifa does what she does best and hides behind a sunny disposition.]

You made it! Got plenty here... We just finished cleaning ours!

[anciently]

Hey, Tifa! [ Aerith brightens at the sight of the other woman, always cheered to be in her company (and to remember that she isn't alone in this place). ] Perfect timing, huh? [ She peers toward Cloud's door, hands clasped behind her back. ] Helping him out? I hope that bum was doing some cleaning of his own!

[ She's teasing, naturally, and it's clear in her big grin. As Tifa approaches, though, she can't help but notice the other's eyes...and her grin falls just slightly.

Hmm. ]

Mind if I borrow them for a bit? [ There's a pause, and then: ] You're probably pretty tired, but if you want to relax in my room, I'd never say no to the company. [ Aerith glances down to the animal by her feet; Mireille cheeps, head tilted curiously. ] What's that, Mireille? You really want Tifa to visit, too?

❀ wildcard

[anciently]

( feel free to leave your own starter, or else to hit me up via pm or at kairaptor for plotting! )