(ley line)

[anciently]

[ Perhaps the light, female voice is familiar to those who hear it, recognizable as belonging to Aerith, or perhaps it's a stranger that you suddenly have chatting in your mind. Either way: ]

Hi there, everyone! I won't take too much of your time.

How many people have gone home from here and come back, and...how many have just...gone?

Just wondering. Thanks.

[ Those even a little familiar with the flower girl might note the uncharacteristic curtness to the message, clipped in tone and lower in energy than her usual... ]

Comments

[pinwheels]

[ She recognizes the voice in her head almost instantly, although a frown takes Rinoa's face at the sound - it's not the usual bright, energetic tone they share, but something softer and sharper, something sad. ]

Aerith? It's Rinoa. Are you okay?

[anciently]

Yeah. [ She's grateful for the sentiment - and, honestly, surprised at how many people have chimed in - but it's...also a lot, having all those voices in her head, crowding the thoughts that were already huddled there. ] Hi, Rinoa. I'll be okay.

[ She always is, really. It'll just take time. ]

Any change you wanna...meet up? Maybe grab a coffee?

[pinwheels]

Coffee sounds really good. Heavenly Blanc?

[ She's actually nearby. It wouldn't take long to head inside and find them a table... ]

[anciently]

Mm. Let's do that, then.

[ And it isn't long before Aerith, too, crosses the threshold, spying her friend already seated and offering a (admittedly more restrained than usual) wave as she approaches. ]

Hey! Thanks for agreeing to meet up. [ She takes a seat, smoothing her dress out beneath her as she does. There's a pause, her gaze mostly on the table before flitting to Rinoa's with an almost-sheepish smile, before Aerith folds her hands on the table. ]

So...that new power, huh? Talking to people from far away... It's really something.

[pinwheels]

Of course.

[ Rinoa's own smile is gentle, sympathetic. From the conversation over the ley lines, she understands that it's Zack who's disappeared. She met him only once herself, but from the way his disappearance has affected Aerith... it's easy enough for her to connect the dots there.

Still, the other is being careful not to talk about it right away, and so Rinoa follows suit, happy to wait until she feels more comfortable to talk about it. ]

It's... a little similar to a power I have back at home, but on a much bigger scale, you know? It might take some getting used to for people who haven't dealt with something like it before.

[anciently]

Really? Wow... That's incredible, Rinoa. [ To have an ability like that is...really something else! Of course, the other woman has proven to be a force of nature time and time again, and so maybe Aerith isn't so surprised that she can wield an ability like that. ] It'll definitely take some getting used to. I'm not used to having voices in my head like that...it's pretty weird.

[ The way the Planet talks to her is different. This is...not a bad thing, but - as Rinoa's just said - will call for an adjustment period. ]

It might make it easier...figuring out where people are. [ And where they aren't. ] ...Want anything to drink? I'm buying!

[ A joke, considering there's no currency, but she hops up out of her seat again all the same, hovering at the edge of the table as she waits. ]

[pinwheels]

[ Incredible, but also scary. She may have told Aerith about her magic before, but not the reaction of the general populace to it, the way she's continually looked at with suspicion back home since inheriting it - the way she herself looked at Edea, once upon a time. Not that this is the time or place for that. And besides, her own telepathic talent is limited and specific, quite different to what it seems like they can do here: hearing even the most random of others' thoughts if they're near enough to one of those strange glowing cracks in the ground.

She grins at the other. ]

I'd love a drink, but... with what money? Did you find a secret stash of gil somewhere, Aerith?!

[anciently]

I usually pay with the promise of a favor. Or a little bit of charm. [ She smiles mischievously, planting her hands on her hips. ] Besides, I'm in with the people that work here!

[ Not Tifa so much these days, with the other woman having moved away from the bartending business, but Ren and Blue, at least. ]

So? What'll it be?

[pinwheels]

[ She grins wider back at Aerith. It's funny how she agreed to meet up with the hope of comforting the other woman, and yet right now she feels comforted. It seems that the other just has that kind of effect on people. She still wants to help her, though, but... she doesn't want to push, either.

So for now, she nods. ]

Okay, okay~ maybe a hot cocoa?