aerith gainsborough (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
anciently) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
tabularasa_rp2020-08-04 12:42 pm
anciently) wrote in tabularasa_rp2020-08-04 12:42 pm
"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...
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...
[ She definitely starts to go for it, lips parting as she leans in for a bite...and meets his eyes, noticing he's not actually taking a bite. ]
Hey! You jerk! [ Now, instead, she's going to plant her palms on the table, conjuring up a look of mock anger. ] You're just gonna leave a girl to get poisoned on her own, is that it? A real bodyguard would try both pieces first to make sure they're safe!
[ Will this turn into a terrible, Matilda-like punishment? Probably not. But she is going to nudge her plate toward him, staring through steely, narrowed eyes. ] So? What'll it be?
Hey! You jerk! [ Now, instead, she's going to plant her palms on the table, conjuring up a look of mock anger. ] You're just gonna leave a girl to get poisoned on her own, is that it? A real bodyguard would try both pieces first to make sure they're safe!
[ Will this turn into a terrible, Matilda-like punishment? Probably not. But she is going to nudge her plate toward him, staring through steely, narrowed eyes. ] So? What'll it be?
I'm sure it's no fun watching me with the flowers, but I appreciate it. [ She smiles a little, tilting her head as she considers him. ] Maybe the people who are more interested in putting on a show can find a stage somewhere. There's gotta be a good performance space out in this big, wide world!
[ Her mind goes back to the stadium, even if it's in ruins. Hopefully, though, they have a better option than that. ]
Oh...yeah, they did. [ Her smile perks up even more as they talk about the flowers, and Aerith spins on her heel to admire them again. ] This is where I spend a lot of my time back home. It's nice to see them again.
[ Even if it's not exactly the same. ]
What about you? Anything come through from your home, yet?
[ Her mind goes back to the stadium, even if it's in ruins. Hopefully, though, they have a better option than that. ]
Oh...yeah, they did. [ Her smile perks up even more as they talk about the flowers, and Aerith spins on her heel to admire them again. ] This is where I spend a lot of my time back home. It's nice to see them again.
[ Even if it's not exactly the same. ]
What about you? Anything come through from your home, yet?
Well... [ Aerith keeps her tone light, taking care not to stare at Tifa as they both busy themselves and start to creep toward more sensitive territory. ] It was a big relief, to be honest. I know it's not the real thing, but it...makes me feel a little better to have something so familiar nearby.
[ Especially in the midst of so many unknowns. ]
It's a little strange to have all the differences - [ Not just the cakes, but the lack of her connection to the Planet, too. ] but it's still nice. Maybe it can be a place for you to feel at home, too.
[ The flowers certainly don't mind, and as the self-declared arbiter of the church, Aerith would encourage it. ]
[ Especially in the midst of so many unknowns. ]
It's a little strange to have all the differences - [ Not just the cakes, but the lack of her connection to the Planet, too. ] but it's still nice. Maybe it can be a place for you to feel at home, too.
[ The flowers certainly don't mind, and as the self-declared arbiter of the church, Aerith would encourage it. ]
It sounds really beautiful. [ Her tone softens to something like reverence, and her smile is earnest and warm. ] If I see anything like that, I'll make sure to tell you right away.
[ She isn't about to point out the potential tears, of course. This woman...obviously has a lot on her mind, and Aerith can certainly relate.
"I'll find him, too." A little chill creeps its way up her neck at that. ]
You're looking for someone? [ ... ] If you want, you can tell me about him, so I can keep a lookout for you?
[ She isn't about to point out the potential tears, of course. This woman...obviously has a lot on her mind, and Aerith can certainly relate.
"I'll find him, too." A little chill creeps its way up her neck at that. ]
You're looking for someone? [ ... ] If you want, you can tell me about him, so I can keep a lookout for you?
Yeah, think so. Those guys with the realllyy tall necks [ the giraffes with wings. he means those. the cat pidgeys have a little too much going on for him to distinctly pick out the Cat in them ] look like something from back home. But like what's happening here in your church, it ended up being some kind of weird mix?
[ at least, that's what he's guessing. because there's some chaotic dissonance going on here which isn't entirely unpleasant to him, as it's... funny, but this place isn't really his.
he could be wrong. maybe she really did have just some kind of cafe church mix going on back home, so he looks up at her to add in a simple: ]
... Unless the cake shop is how it's supposed to be, and you normally have
a sacred, divine capitalism thing going on here! Then forget I said that!
[ but judging from how he says that, he doesn't really think that's the case? she did talk about someone setting up shop here, after all. ]
[ at least, that's what he's guessing. because there's some chaotic dissonance going on here which isn't entirely unpleasant to him, as it's... funny, but this place isn't really his.
he could be wrong. maybe she really did have just some kind of cafe church mix going on back home, so he looks up at her to add in a simple: ]
... Unless the cake shop is how it's supposed to be, and you normally have
a sacred, divine capitalism thing going on here! Then forget I said that!
[ but judging from how he says that, he doesn't really think that's the case? she did talk about someone setting up shop here, after all. ]
Normally, Merlin would be quick to return the friendly greeting, if only to keep up appearances. At the moment, however, he's in a bit of a mood, so all she gets in response at first is a vague wave of acknowledgement, his attention clearly grabbed by the flowers. He's careful no to disturb them, of course, though he doesn't hesitate to plop himself down on the floor next to the patch for a better look.
He does, at least, glance up when the woman approaches him a few moments later.
"So you say, as you come right over." The words themselves are phrased in a teasing manner, but his tone is decidedly lacking in feeling.
He does, at least, glance up when the woman approaches him a few moments later.
"So you say, as you come right over." The words themselves are phrased in a teasing manner, but his tone is decidedly lacking in feeling.
I'd love to help your flower shop. What would you like me to do?
(He's beaming! Good job, Aerith! He'll have nice food on display AND get to go back to a job he really liked back home.
♪♪♪)
(He's beaming! Good job, Aerith! He'll have nice food on display AND get to go back to a job he really liked back home.
♪♪♪)
[She laughed, shaking her head in mild, detached amusement at the thought of that before pointing at what was clearly a hole in the roof. Look, she might not know the story, but... that hole didn't come from nowhere.]
Please. Even without doors, things have a way of dropping in. The patch job's pretty obvious. Is that hole familiar to you too?
Please. Even without doors, things have a way of dropping in. The patch job's pretty obvious. Is that hole familiar to you too?
[She pauses in her shuffling, allowing her smile some time and room to blossom onto her face. Hearing that... it fills her with the kind of joy that she can't quite put into words.]
Maybe. [It's uttered quietly, but then she turns to Aerith, her usual optimistic self slowly returning to her.] Wouldn't mind helping out where I can. I am an expert in running a business, after all!
[Not to toot her own horn or anything, and if her expression doesn't make it clear that she's kidding, hopefully her laugh does. That doesn't diminish her offer, of course, and it still stands. But then, her posture shifts, and the laughter fades.]
... Actually. I wanted to talk to you about that.
Maybe. [It's uttered quietly, but then she turns to Aerith, her usual optimistic self slowly returning to her.] Wouldn't mind helping out where I can. I am an expert in running a business, after all!
[Not to toot her own horn or anything, and if her expression doesn't make it clear that she's kidding, hopefully her laugh does. That doesn't diminish her offer, of course, and it still stands. But then, her posture shifts, and the laughter fades.]
... Actually. I wanted to talk to you about that.
[He looks up briefly at the patched hole. Since there isn't a hole now, maybe that part came from someone else too. It must look enough like the place she remembers for her to call it hers, though.]
[He wonders if she's something like him, if she can hear things like that. He moves just inside the hole, careful not to step on any flowers, and crouches down to look at them more closely.]
Yes. There are no songs or whispers here. Everything is silent.
[He wonders if she's something like him, if she can hear things like that. He moves just inside the hole, careful not to step on any flowers, and crouches down to look at them more closely.]
Yes. There are no songs or whispers here. Everything is silent.
"Pleasure districts," huh? That sounds a lot like Wall Market... [ All kinds of pleasures, too. She..........has not forgotten Cloud's weird hand massage. ]
Maybe we can find a bar here, then! One that's not too bad... [ If there's even any functional businesses here at all... ] What d'you say? Up for a little adventure?
Maybe we can find a bar here, then! One that's not too bad... [ If there's even any functional businesses here at all... ] What d'you say? Up for a little adventure?
Oh! Those are yours? Tifa and I ran into one in the woods a while back. [ They didn't seem too bad... ] And...yeah, seems like it. All the lemon and cafe stuff is definitely not mine.
[ Not that she really minds! Aerith is happy to share her space. She just wants to know who it belongs to so she can meet them! ]
Any chance you've met somebody who might fit the bill? You know, someone who just screams "I love lemon?"
[ She cracks another smile - it's doubtful that it'd be that obvious - but the mental image is pretty funny. ]
[ Not that she really minds! Aerith is happy to share her space. She just wants to know who it belongs to so she can meet them! ]
Any chance you've met somebody who might fit the bill? You know, someone who just screams "I love lemon?"
[ She cracks another smile - it's doubtful that it'd be that obvious - but the mental image is pretty funny. ]
Aerith doesn't seem bothered by his lack of enthusiasm. Instead, she merely smiles from where she stands, watching him watch the flowers.
"Can't help it. I gotta check in on the visitors we get here." 'We' meaning her and the flowers. She tilts her head as she studies Merlin, hands linked behind her back. "So, what do you think?"
He's certainly staring hard at them. Maybe he knows a thing or two about gardening?
"Can't help it. I gotta check in on the visitors we get here." 'We' meaning her and the flowers. She tilts her head as she studies Merlin, hands linked behind her back. "So, what do you think?"
He's certainly staring hard at them. Maybe he knows a thing or two about gardening?
Maybe. [ It may or may not have been the handiwork of two different people. ] I guess a lock on the doors wouldn't stop them from coming through the ceiling...
[ Clearly. She's still smiling, though, content in her memories of those times. ]
It's fine, though. Lets the sun in to shine down on the flowers, you know?
[ Clearly. She's still smiling, though, content in her memories of those times. ]
It's fine, though. Lets the sun in to shine down on the flowers, you know?
Yeah! And I...don't know anything about running a business, but I've got wares! So...perfect partnership, am I right?
[ She absolutely believes in Tifa and her business abilities, and so Aerith looks sufficiently Pumped about this idea!
...Until the other woman's expression changes, and so her own softens a bit to match. ]
About running a business? [ Aerith tilts her head slightly. ]
[ She absolutely believes in Tifa and her business abilities, and so Aerith looks sufficiently Pumped about this idea!
...Until the other woman's expression changes, and so her own softens a bit to match. ]
About running a business? [ Aerith tilts her head slightly. ]
If being magically able to grow plants counts as gardening, then sure.
"It's a rather refreshing change of pace."
He means the flowers. He doesn't really care much about the rest of it.
"It's a rather refreshing change of pace."
He means the flowers. He doesn't really care much about the rest of it.
Aww, it's not completely silent, right? We have each other's company. Plus, I can still talk to the flowers, even if these don't talk back.
[ He's...different than most people. Maybe a little more like her than she'd thought. ]
Do you hear things, too? Things that other people don't hear?
[ He's...different than most people. Maybe a little more like her than she'd thought. ]
Do you hear things, too? Things that other people don't hear?
[Company, yes. It's good that she's not alone here, and now this place and these flowers are here for her too, even if she can't talk to them.]
Yes.
[Not that he counts himself among people, though he's not sure it's like that for her. She seems like a person. Maybe she's a mage? Or something different, from a world he doesn't know anything about.]
I don't usually talk to flowers, though. I'll listen, but they don't like to answer.
[Or they just can't. They're bound in a single shape after all, like he is.]
Yes.
[Not that he counts himself among people, though he's not sure it's like that for her. She seems like a person. Maybe she's a mage? Or something different, from a world he doesn't know anything about.]
I don't usually talk to flowers, though. I'll listen, but they don't like to answer.
[Or they just can't. They're bound in a single shape after all, like he is.]
Sort of...?
[In a way, it is related to Aerith's new idea to run the church as a flower-cake shop. Tangentially. She's had a lot on her mind, even more so now that she's had the chance to air those grievances out.
Tifa stops the shuffling around of the books and turns to face her friend, hopping up to take a seat on the desk.]
I'm planning on leaving Heavenly Blanc for a while. [Not right away, but soon. She couldn't do that to Ren, or the other people who enjoy going there. It'll still be a "few weeks" if time meant anything here.] I wanna get out there, see what else I'm good at... what else is fun! That, and...
[She kicks her feet, sheepish, as they dangle just above the floor.]
I'd really like to spend more time with you and Cloud. I've been taking my time here with you guys for granted.
[In a way, it is related to Aerith's new idea to run the church as a flower-cake shop. Tangentially. She's had a lot on her mind, even more so now that she's had the chance to air those grievances out.
Tifa stops the shuffling around of the books and turns to face her friend, hopping up to take a seat on the desk.]
I'm planning on leaving Heavenly Blanc for a while. [Not right away, but soon. She couldn't do that to Ren, or the other people who enjoy going there. It'll still be a "few weeks" if time meant anything here.] I wanna get out there, see what else I'm good at... what else is fun! That, and...
[She kicks her feet, sheepish, as they dangle just above the floor.]
I'd really like to spend more time with you and Cloud. I've been taking my time here with you guys for granted.
I actually have worked as a florist before.
(And a million other things, we might add. On the flower side of things, he used to tend to the plants in the shop and put together bouquets for customers, keeping the composition and meaning in check with each and every blossom!)
(And a million other things, we might add. On the flower side of things, he used to tend to the plants in the shop and put together bouquets for customers, keeping the composition and meaning in check with each and every blossom!)
[ pffft. that mental image is pretty funny, and leo cracks an amused grin at that.
bless you, aerith, he'll play along: ]
I dunno! Whaddya think someone like that would look like? Dressed in all yellow, maybe? Kind of a sourpuss, since lemons are a little sour?
[ ... ]
Ooor would they be really sweet, to balance it out?
bless you, aerith, he'll play along: ]
I dunno! Whaddya think someone like that would look like? Dressed in all yellow, maybe? Kind of a sourpuss, since lemons are a little sour?
[ ... ]
Ooor would they be really sweet, to balance it out?
[ The smile on her face softens a little further in response to the other woman's tone. Tell her about him? She can do that. It might even help to further ease her mind on it... She takes a deep breath, and the fingers of her right hand come up to loop around the rings hung around her throat. ]
He's tall. Brown hair, blue eyes, a scar on his nose from here— [ she presses the tip of her other pointer finger above her right eyebrow, and traces it down in a slash across her nose, ending on where it joins her left cheek ] —to here. He's easily the most handsome guy you'll ever see in any room. But also the grumpiest. [ Her smile twists into a soft laugh, something soft and affectionate, although it fades a moment later as both hands drop back to her sides. ]
He's my boyfriend. We... made a promise to meet there, you know? If we got separated for some reason.
[ Which they are, now. With no flower field anywhere around. ]
He's tall. Brown hair, blue eyes, a scar on his nose from here— [ she presses the tip of her other pointer finger above her right eyebrow, and traces it down in a slash across her nose, ending on where it joins her left cheek ] —to here. He's easily the most handsome guy you'll ever see in any room. But also the grumpiest. [ Her smile twists into a soft laugh, something soft and affectionate, although it fades a moment later as both hands drop back to her sides. ]
He's my boyfriend. We... made a promise to meet there, you know? If we got separated for some reason.
[ Which they are, now. With no flower field anywhere around. ]
What-- I was gonna eat it! Just wanted to make sure that you would, too.
[ Not that he ever suspected the food to be dangerous, or else he would have advised her not to have any at all. Although he never expected her to turn this around on him and his ego... he's totally a good bodyguard, and now he has to prove it! ]
Fine, I'll try yours first.
[ He accepts her plate, but he doesn't allow himself to show any fear or hesitation. Poisoned or not, he takes a small bite first... then quickly takes a second bite.
After chewing in silence, it is now followed by a third, bigger bite.
Actually, it feels like he's got the upper hand here again, because the cake is kind of delicious, and he's gonna eat it all in front of her. What kind of game are they playing here?! ]
[ Not that he ever suspected the food to be dangerous, or else he would have advised her not to have any at all. Although he never expected her to turn this around on him and his ego... he's totally a good bodyguard, and now he has to prove it! ]
Fine, I'll try yours first.
[ He accepts her plate, but he doesn't allow himself to show any fear or hesitation. Poisoned or not, he takes a small bite first... then quickly takes a second bite.
After chewing in silence, it is now followed by a third, bigger bite.
Actually, it feels like he's got the upper hand here again, because the cake is kind of delicious, and he's gonna eat it all in front of her. What kind of game are they playing here?! ]
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