(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

i'm losing it

[memorate]

Aerith-- wait!

[ While she wrestles him for the utensil, he tries to keep the cake from sliding off the plate in his other hand. Suddenly, time slows down as all he can do but watch it fall...

Except this is Final Fantasy, which means time picks up at regular speed again, and Cloud intercepts the falling piece of cake by kicking it up with his foot.

Time slows down again as the cake comes back up and... over their heads... which breaks mid-air and rains down on both of them as the slow-mo moment comes to an end. ]

...

[ He lets her have the utensil back. ]

jesus christ bananas

[anciently]

[ Well, isn't this just some quality slapstick comedy? ]

You...! [ Oh, jeez. Aerith now has cake all over herself as the scene comes to an end, accepting the utensil without a word. She turns a flat-mouthed, unimpressed look on Cloud for a minute before breaking out into a smile, giggling a bit and brushing herself off. ]

I don't think I've ever seen you do anything that silly. Maybe you've got a little bit of playfulness in there, after all, Mr. SOLDIER!

[ Aww, she already knew that, but...it's still always so fun to tease him. ]

So, that happened... Guess I'll never know if the cakes were any good or not.

[ There are others, obviously, but the one they'd been enjoying is in chunks all over the ground. ]

[memorate]

What can I say, your childishness rubbed off on me.

[ Was that an insult or compliment?! It's a mix of both, because he has gotten comfortable around her, but at the time, her observation immediately makes him put his walls up again, which caused him to critique her in return. ]

Here - just have mine.

[ A fair trade. He never meant to let her go hungry anyway. The lack of mental stimulation in this world just made him want to tease her with the cake, but that's enough games.

It's time for business. ]

So, you thinking of setting up shop here, too?

[anciently]

Oh, gimme a break. [ She'd been teasing, and when he offers his cake she quirks a brow before taking a mollified bite.

It's cake worth fighting for, she thinks! ]

I mean, I'm gonna spend a lot of time here. You probably knew that. [ It's her church, after all. At least, partially. ] Do you mean a real shop, though? I dunno...I tried that once and it...didn't go great.

[ Her business partner at the time had been a touch aggressive. ]

But, this is a new place, right? A new start might be exactly what I need. [ Scheming, she snaps her gaze back to Cloud. ] I'll need some help with deliveries if I do. Know anybody for the job?

[memorate]

[ Without skipping a beat, he answers with a hint of desperation-- ]

I'll do it.

[ He doesn't even know if this was her game all along, but he's seriously losing his mind without having anything to do. Even if there could be better candidates than him, he's not about to give them something as precious as a job! ]

--I-I mean, what. What is it? The flowers, yeah? I... I could help you find someone. It's gonna be hard finding the right person, though.

[anciently]

[ The enthusiasm is so surprising that her brows lift, and she stares back at him as if he's grown a second head. ]

Wow. Eager, are we? [ The attempts to cover his tracks make her smile sideways, amused, and she nods slowly. ]

Hmm... You think so? What kind of person do you think we'd need to find who's "right" for the job?

[ They're just playing a game, now, because she's going to have him do it, after that reaction... But, still. ]

[memorate]

[ He's so busted, but he'll keep sticking to his cover story for as long as he can... ]

Well, someone with previous job experience for starters. [ Perfect, he's got that. ] Don't want someone who don't know what they're doing, right?

Besides, the flowers should have a say in this, too.

[ Good thing he "talked" to them before. ]

[anciently]

'Course not. [ She's trying to keep her smile innocent, but also...it's endearing, the way he's dancing around it. There's a little spark of affection at that, and she raises a hand to tap thoughtfully against her cheek. ] And you're right about that! Should we ask them?

[ Aerith moves over to where the lilies are clustered, leaning in a little with her ear toward them. She nods, as if listening (though these flowers don't 'speak' to her the way they do at home) for a bit before turning back to Cloud with her brows raised. ]

Hmm... They definitely have an opinion. [ She informs him, matter-of-fact. ] Did you hear it from over there, Cloud?

[memorate]

Already?

[ For some reason, he's surprised at how suddenly everything is happening, like he's unprepared for what's about to happen next. Like he's already at the job interview before he even knew it. They could have just been playing a game up until now, or maybe she's just teasing him after already having figured him out.

To nobody's surprise, he has no clue what the flowers said, nor if she can actually hear them here. ]

What did they say...?

[anciently]

Well, they said they already know somebody who can get the job done, and who they're already familiar with. And that's you! [ She straightens up, smoothing her dress before turning, as if the matter is settled. ] So, I don't really see the point in looking for anyone else! …Unless you don't think you're up for the challenge?

[ Aerith tilts her head a little, smiling teasingly at the merc from where she stands. ]

I don't want to pressure you if you're not interested!

[memorate]

[ Of course she had to choose those particular words. Challenge? Pressure? As if he could ever back down!

Turning away from her again, he smiles to himself as he accepts the job. ]

Hmph... I can handle it.

[ He has been feeling so useless ever since they arrived here, the least he can do is this much. ]

[anciently]

Great! Problem solved. [ Did he trick her into letting him have the job, or did she trick him into taking it?? The answer: yes. ] I know you'll do a great job, Cloud.

[ With that all ironed out, she smiles in her enigmatic way, peering at him for a moment with her arms behind her back before glancing back to the flowers. ]

Well, I'd better start working on the business plan, then... Maybe I'll find you tomorrow or something to go over the details?