tabularasa_rp | open ✨ life can be harsh, it can be bitter.

[At first Zack thought he was having some sort of strange nightmare or hallucination (again). But while he wasn't sleeping he could hear the crashing of metal and the harsh cacophony of explosions in his head like he was really there. Seeing an old tower that he's seen a hundred times now cracking and exploding dangerously over the expanse of buildings and life down below. It's horrifying.

... It has to be a nightmare. Something his brain cooked up since he's so wound up from all of this. Coming into this world and seeing old faces ... It's just-

He almost doesn't notice the girl coming up to him. Her voice startles him out of his stupor where he's standing with his arms crossed over his chest. Her red eyes remind him of the ones he sees in the memory and Zack just ... stares at her for a second.

Oh, shit. He doesn't mean to be awkward. Again.]

Uh, what? Yeah, what is it, Tifa?

[She stares back, even as he answers, before she has to shake herself out of it, too. They're off to a great start!]

Let's, uh... go upstairs, yeah?

[Zack's never been inside her apartment before, so with a single motion of her hand to the stairs, she leads him up three flights and down the hall past Aerith's to room 305.

Entering it, there isn't much to it besides a few small details: a whiteboard with Cloud's handwriting reminding her to "Get some rest", a handmade punching bag hanging from the ceiling in one of the corners, and a few empty glass bottles scattered about with single flowers from Aerith's church turned flower shop. The rest is the same as every other suite in the Merlaut, if not a touch more organized.

Tifa doesn't even ask if he wants a drink but takes two bottles of beer from the fridge anyway.]

So, about those memories going around... [She starts, twisting off the cap of one and handing it to Zack.] Think I might've ended up with one of yours.

[She doesn't look upset about it in the least. In fact, there's a warmth that passes over her expression, awkward as things have been between them. It could have been a lot worse, and she's glad that it wasn't.]

[Zack follows her without a second thought although his eyes to drift to Aerith's door as they pass it. When he's inside Tifa's apartment he can't help glancing around too. Reading over the message on the board with a small smile pulling his lips and then looking to her as he takes the offered beer. Beer is nice.]

Thanks.

[He's still a little shaken by the memory he saw in his head. It's making him feel uneasy and lost. But it's quickly put aside for now as he catches how she seems to be a little happy about her end of things.]

What did you see? Don't tell me it was something stupid or embarrassing. If it was anything with the guys, it's my friend Kunsel's fault.

I don't think it was embarrassing.

[It was kind of cute, honestly. She had no idea that the two of them knew each other, or that there was something special between them. Doesn't take a monkey to figure that out.]

It was you and Aerith.

[But before she gets any further into that, she has to know...]

You didn't... see any of mine, did you?

[The warmth fades ever so slightly from her expression while she waits for an answer, hoping that it was something as happy as the one she got from him, or none at all.]

[Boy, does he wish it was something as cute as him and Aerith. Zack almost wants to backtrack and have her explain what she saw rather than bring up what Zack saw. Stick with the cute things. Like Aerith. Always Aerith...!

But he knows it wouldn't be fair to leave his side out. And he has questions...

He sighs.]

I saw something of yours, I think. Yeah. I saw sector seven and the suspension tower.

[That holds the plate...]

You were with Cloud and some big guy.

Barret.

[There's no one else who could be described as 'some big guy' besides Wedge, and he never went on the missions Tifa and Cloud went on together. So, he and Zack must not have ever met.

There's only one problem:]

We spent a lot of time around Shinra's headquarters. [She's afraid to ask the next part, but does it anyway, with a shaky breath behind it.] Did you see anything else?

[It could have been something that happened while they were shutting down the sunlamps, or the collapse, or even climbing back up to rescue Aerith from Shinra's grubby hands... And none of them are pleasant memories.]

[Zack clenches his teeth for a moment before he turns to her and looks at her squarely. Ever since their last meeting, Zack's wondered what he could've done to change things and how he could've done right by her. So he figures the first thing he can do is be completely honest.]

Tifa... I saw the plate fall.

[And knowing that Tifa had called the Seventh Heaven her own it's safe to say that this memory probably hits Tifa particularly hard.]

Shinra let it go. You, Cloud and the Barret guy tried to stop it from happening. But it happened anyway.

[He doesn't look away from her.]

You guys did the best you could.

[Her breath catches in her throat when he says it, and the words force the memory to play over again in her head. In that moment, it's like she's back, staring over the edge at her world, her home below, with sirens blaring in her ears and the support pillar crashing all around her. Her body wouldn't move, she refused to move, until she'd felt Cloud's hand pulling her away.

They lost to Shinra that night and remembering that brings all the hatred she feels for them back to the surface, and Tifa can hardly look him in the eye.]

It wasn't enough.

[If they had done the best they could, no one would have been hurt, or died because of what they did. Jessie, Biggs...]

They blamed that on us, you know. Said it was all AVALANCHE's fault, just like every other time. [But this one hit particularly close to home. Literally.] ... Shinra will get what's coming.

[Since she's shared this memory with him Zack can practically feel the emotions from it. The terror, the failure... In a lot of ways Zack knows how that feels.]

Shinra will always blame outside forces to control the headlines and their own cashflow. You and I both know that. But we also know the truth and anyone with their head screwed on right does too.

[Somehow Shinra always gets two steps ahead by stepping on people like AVALANCHE. Like Zack.]

But what goes around comes around. You, Cloud and your friends... I have a feeling it'll be enough. You guys will get them back for it all.

[She's a spitfire. He knows that.]

Edited 2020-09-27 00:45 (UTC)

I know. It's just hard to know we've gotta sit back for now... wait until we're sent home.

[Even harder now that Sephiroth is here. The man that they set out to destroy. The only thing bigger than getting revenge on Shinra for what they did. And even then, there's still nothing they can do but sit back and try to play nice with each other as best as they can.

She shakes her head of the thought, not wanting to linger on it or the memory too much. Tifa's said what she needed to, and the memory did the rest of the talking for her. Besides, there are other pressing matters to deal with, and much happier ones at that. She never was one to sit on the negative if she could help it!]

Anyway... [she begins, trying to lighten the tension she feels in her shoulders.] About these memories...

[Her smile comes slowly but as naturally as ever.]

Wanna tell me what's up with the flower carts instead?

[God, does he ever understand the frustration of having to sit around and wait for things to happen. That's half of Zack's problems in summary... But- Tifa has this way of just turning things upwards. Her smile is this safe little picture outside of all the bad memories.

He looks a bit startled, though.]

Flower carts...? [...] Don't tell me you saw Aerith and I working on her flower carts.

[... So many...]

Let's just say I'm more than just an ex-soldier. I'm a carpenter too.

Mm-hmm...

[She hums, her smile pulling a little wider. More than an ex-soldier and carpenter, isn't that right, Zack?

Tifa doesn't say as much—not yet. It isn't all about the flower carts, and even she knows that through the single, small glimpse she got into his past, and Aerith's. It felt too personal, but she can't help pressing him for more answers.]

How do you and Aerith know each other? Looks like you guys go way back.

[Now that safe little smile is making him grin stupidly. Just a second ago they were talking about something so serious. Now the topic of Aerith just lightens the mood right up.]

Yeah, we do go way back. I met her back when we were younger.

[She was about sixteen and Zack was just a few years older. But the memory of all that and the lost time in between makes Zack's grin falter just a bit.]

I guess you could say we were ... dating at the time.

[But why does Zack look so unsure about that now??]

She wanted to make some cash so I told her the best way to do that would be with her flowers. Not a lot of people see flowers all that often in the slums and what not. So we made her a few carts to try out... She was so fussy about it all the time.

[That warms Tifa's heart, washing away the ache and anger that she feels anytime she thinks about home. It's something light, happy, linked to home and even if it isn't her memory, she feels connected to it now somehow, thanks to this new link between her and Zack.

She had gathered as much about what the two of them meant to each other, but having that confirmation seals the deal.]

Of course she was. Gotta make sure they're just right if you wanna make the business work.

[Is Tifa giving him lessons now? Perhaps.]

Did you guys manage to sell any? I would've bought a ton if I'd been working at Seventh Heaven then.

[Zack's shoulders seem to go up like he's about to stand at attention. Not only did Aerith give him a fussy time the entire time but now he's getting it from Tifa too? Ladies, please!]

Tried my best, that's why I made a bunch of them! [He rubs his hair.] We managed to sell a few of them but the business was a little slow...

[Maybe because Zack is a shitty salesperson. Yep. Just leave it to Aerith, next time...]

Some people just don't know a good thing when it's right in front of them.

[From what little she saw of them, Aerith's flowers were always well taken care of. She put a lot of love into them, and it shows in how they glow with life. The one she had in Seventh Heaven lasted as long as it could...

But it turns out... there was more to Aerith's life than just tending to flowers at one point.]

You two were together, huh...? [She wonders if it's any of her business to ask this, but she is curious, and there's a flicker of concern in her eyes.] Did something happen?

[He'd said it in past tense, so something did happen.]

[It's an important question to ask and honestly Zack is expecting it from someone eventually. Zack and Aerith obviously treat each other with this fluffy air but underneath it, is this quiet sadness that sits there.]

I'll ... I'll spare you the details but... [Zack sighs.] Work pulled me away from her. For ... about five years.

[... Yeah, he ghosted her pretty hard.]

I wasn't in a position to tell her where I was. Honestly, it was safer for her to not know where I was.

[And if Tifa suddenly wants to hate him for doing that to her? Well, he wouldn't blame her. He deserves it.]

[Her feelings on that are... complicated, and Tifa's gaze drops from him immediately, going to her hands clasped in front of her instead.

It feels like the same thing Cloud had done. Kept his distance, never reached out, never visited during his time training for SOLDIER. It was what she'd been afraid of—that they'd grow apart—and while she's thankful that they haven't and that they could pick up where they left off, it still hurts not knowing what had happened. It hurts that he never, ever talks about it.

But that's okay. She isn't going to push him, and she isn't going to press Zack about it either.]

I get it... [she says quietly after some time.

Maybe it was better that way for her and Cloud too, and even though she can relate, this isn't about them. She and Cloud have reunited, and she's tried to put the past behind them, so maybe...]

You're here now though, right?

[Maybe Tifa is the one person that would understand Aerith's feelings on it the most. Zack knows that Cloud ditched home for Shinra fairly early too, leaving behind the girl in his hometown and everything else. Zack's and Aerith's story might be a little harsh but it's those same feelings where the soldiers had picked to distance themselves for certain reasons.

He's expecting some kind of comment against his actions but when she reacts like that Zack can't help but be reminded that Tifa really is a kind and forgiving soul.

Zack's not quite sure he deserves that. But he's grateful.]

Yeah. I'm here now. [Now it's time to make an awkward noise as he grins like an idiot.] I'm not sure what I should do to make it up to her, you know? Bringing her flowers is kind of redundant. Would a dozen red flower carts be too much?

[Help him, Tifa...]

[Tifa's expression brightens again.]

A flower girl can never have too many flower carts.

[If one breaks, then she'll have eleven others waiting to be used! Always keep at least one extra of everything is another good business practice lesson.

Though she isn't sure that he would have to make up for anything with Aerith—she doesn't strike Tifa as the kind of person who would need that, but... what's the harm, right?]

I don't think you should make them all red. If you can find some different paints, make them each a different colour. The ones she doesn't use can go in the shop, she can fill them with flowers to put on display!

[He gains a grin on his face immediately at that. Leave it to Tifa to make a grounded comment and making Zack feel better about all of this that he's trying to navigate. It's true, Aerith wouldn't need Zack to make up for anything but Zack feels like he should still try. For his own conscious and for her heart.]

Alright, a few carts to start it is. Different colours that she can interchange and the rest can be used for displays.

[Back to the workshop for Zack, it seems.]

It's a good place to start.

If you need any help with the painting, let me know. I've done my fair share of touching up around the bar.

[And what can be so hard about wielding a paintbrush!? Maybe she'll even try decorating them with flowery designs, too.

Tifa crosses over to him, a reassuring smile on her face, but not without a glint in her eyes, too.]

Who knows, maybe things'll work out better for you two this time...

[Zack grins and feels appreciative of all of this. Aerith and Cloud are really lucky to have someone like Tifa in their lives.]

Thanks. Yeah, that's what I'm banking on. But luckily I've got you to back me up.

[He puts one hand on his shoulder and rolls it.]

I know she'll probably tease me if I try too hard. But I feel like I should anyway.

No such thing.

[She knows she would appreciate it if she were in Aerith's shoes.]

I bet if you went out to the beach, you'd find plenty of supplies to use, if there aren't any around here already. I can come with you; help you carry some of it back.

[Tifa really, really wants to help him see this through, okay?!?]

Sounds like a plan. Maybe we can get started in the next few days.

[He gives her one last smile. The tightness in his chest is palpable but he's truly grateful. Things will start looking up for him and Aerith. He has a good feeling.]

Thanks, Tifa.

[And who knows. Maybe next time Zack can nudge her around about her and Cloud...]

open ✨ life can be harsh, it can be bitter.

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gonna start wrapping 💖

🎀