#v: listen to the cries of the planet

[sacredflorist]

Aerith has always known this moment will come. As much as she knows the Turks would never hurt her, but she also knows their goal has always been to bring her back to Hojo's lab. Protecting Marlene was the most important thing to do. But she wishes she could protect everyone from Sector 7. What they are doing now... it's unfair. And Aerith just knows they are better people than that.

"Listen, Tseng, I already agreed to follow you, but there's something I just don't get," she explains. She's sitting inside the helicopter, her arms crossed over her chest. They should reach Shinra building in no time now. "Why destroy an entire Sector ? There are so many innocent people there!" Her voice sounds somehow angry, but mostly disappointed. "You're a much better person than this. Same for Reno and Rude!"

@luzofstars / tseng ❤'d !

[sacredflorist]

Aerith wishes Don Corneo could be stopped for once and for all. He hurt and killed so many of these women... He's probably the most disgusting man she has ever seen. And to stop him, Wall Market needs people like Leslie, who are working against him from the inside. Hopefully, more and more of them will turn against him like this. Aerith wishes she could fight him herself, hurt him with her magic. Make him suffer deeply. But she also knows going after him on her own wouldn't be wise at all.

"I believe in karma sometimes... but some other times, we also have to help it." She lets a brief chuckle escape her mouth. "But I agree with you. He deserves to be stopped for good, and a lot of people are angry at him, and want him to pay."

With only a small glance towards the entrance of Wall Market, Leslie chooses to help up their charge and take note of directions offered to her home; naught more than a nod offered in quiet understanding. Corneo was a difficult case and subject for the male - he'd only gotten himself close to seek answers, but in the end he had gotten himself just as stuck as anyone else in Corneo's web of deceit and lies, manipulation and devious tactics. It was what it was, and he simply had to make the most of what he heard and saw for his own advantages- there was nothing else he could do, most of the time.

"Who knows. I like to think something will catch up to him eventually. He's done more than enough to invoke the wrath of plenty of folk - - maybe even Karma will get him... If you believe in that kinda thing, that is-"

[sacredflorist]

Continued from x | @materiiaism

Cloud is so mysterious, so hard to read. Aerith is trying to reach him, to make him talk, but it's hard. Or maybe she just doesn't have the good way with him. She's better at teasing him and at making him feel awkward. And she hopes he enjoys it at least a bit, even if he often rolls his eyes at her.

But then he talks. At first, she tilts her head a bit, wondering what he means. I don't know. Does he mean he's confused ? Instead of talking right away, though, she gives him some time to explain himself. And suddenly, there is sadness on her features. She knows Cloud doesn't always seem with the group. Sometimes, he's fully disconnected, and she truly wishes she could do something, anything, to make him feel better.

"I... I can tell if something was real or not, but... Sometimes, dreams feel real, yeah. I understand what you mean. Trust me." Her parents, Zack, so many ghosts from her past haunt her dreams all the time. And there's all these voices she hears, too, the voices of her ancestors. She clears her throat and hesitates a bit. "If... If you don't mind telling me... What kind of vision do you have ? Maybe... Maybe I can help you."

[sacredflorist]

Continued from x | @obscureign

To: Mr. President!!!! 👨‍💼💵

[ 📲 Aerith: ]  Awwww! You don't like a compliment ? I think you always look very good, you know! GEORGEOUS MR. PRESIDENT! [ 📲 Aerith: ]  Who's available for me right now ? It's boring! [ 📲 Aerith: ]  It's impossible that Reno, Rude AND Tseng are out of Midgar at the same time, right ? Who's watching over me now ? A stranger ? [ 📲 Aerith: ]  But maybe you'd like to visit the slums ? I'd like to show you around! I'm sure the citizens would appreciate!

[sacredflorist]

Aerith's heart almost misses a beat. She was very concentrated on her flowers, and yet, she hears something coming from the church's roof. The last time it happened, Zack fell right on her flower bed. But no, it doesn't sound like someoneis about to fall now. This time... it seems like someone jumped there. But it sounds crazy. Maybe it just shows how lonely Aerith really is.

And yet... she can't help herself. She stands and looks at the roof, fixing it with her emerald gaze. "Is someone there ? I'm pretty sure this church is not the best hiding spot!" Well, it is a very lonely church, though. Aerith and the Turks are pretty much the only people coming around.

@amazingwcbs ❤'d !

[sacredflorist]

Aerith smiles gently as she feels him slightly closer to her. Maybe it's silly, but she truly cares for Reno. Maybe he's a Turk, but he will always be her friend first. She wishes Elmyra could understand that. He has never hurt her. None of the Turks has.

"Most people are stupid, then." She lets a chuckle escape her mouth before she gently pats his arm. "I mean it. I'm very, very glad you exist, Reno!"

reno hums as he presses his arm into aerith a little more, allowing himself to relax. the contact was nice. he didn't realize how much he needed it until now. sure, she was his charge, his responsibility, but she was his friend.

"y'know.. most people are annoyed by me existing." reno snickers, sinking further into aerith's hold. he doesn't seem bothered, his lips twitched into a slight smile. "i'm glad you think so."

[sacredflorist]

Continued from x | @devcvec

Aerith is still smiling at him, of course. The Turks are pretty much the only friends she has nowadays, and it has been this way since Zack disappeared. Maybe their goal is still to watch over her and to eventually bring her back to Hojo's lab, but they are always nice to her. They are not bad people at all. That's why she still enjoys their presence.

"But... won't you protect me if monsters show up ? You're my bodyguard, and a very badass one!" she assures, letting a chuckle escape her mouth as she pats his arm. "Please! Just a bit of more walking in the area ? And... I can fight too, you know ? Tseng and Reno let me fight!" That's not true of course, but she still hopes Rude would believe her.

[sacredflorist]

Aerith is aware that they don't know each other much, and yet, she can tell Cloud is a good man behind that cold facade. After all, he has spent a huge part of the day helping the children of Sector 5. It's something Aerith herself does quite often, too. She sells flowers and plays with these children. She wishes she could do more, though. She wishes she could use her magic to really help. She's clumsy, but she still can fight.

As they're walking back to Aerith's home, she takes a deep breath. "Hey, Cloud, tell me... is that sword very popular among SOLDIER ? Or is it some kind of rare, special one ?" She has recognized the Buster sword right when they first met as she was selling flowers on Loveless Avenue. Maybe it's a silly question, but she needs to know.

@brokeniisms ❤'d !

[sacredflorist]

Aerith has gotten outside of Kalm's inn. It's still very early in the morning, but she can't sleep anymore. There are still so many things they don't know, and so many things to do. It,s only the beginning of their journey, and Sephiroth already seems to have a great advance on them. How will they change that ?

When she notices Cloud approaching, she offers him a smile. "Already awake, mmh ? It's early!" she teases, letting a chuckle escape her mouth. "Want to go for a walk ? Just a bit ?" Tifa said Cloud wasn't in Nibelheim 5 years ago. If Tifa can't make him talk, Aerith knows she can't either. And yet... she wants to try, somehow.

@cloudyfenrir ❤'d !

[sacredflorist]

Aerith offers him a warm smile. "And I feel the same! That's why I'm doing my best to help them, as much as I can!" And she often feels like she's not doing enough for the children, but when she sees the big smile on their lips, she feels that what she's doing is important. She wants to make them feel like they have a normal, happy childhood. Much different than what Aerith had back in Shinra building... and even with Elmyra, she quickly couldn't be entirely free because of the Turks watching for her.

She thinks for a moment. "I'm pretty sure food is always welcome. But other than that... just company. You know, playing with them and making them smile. It means a lot to them."

"Well... I'm of the mind that those of us in the position to help, should." And thus he would, to whatever end he was able to in a short amount of time; clothing was easy, it was always within his grasp, and he often recycled many perfectly wonderful garments for donation; that was hardly a problem. Perhaps he could do something more, however.

"Is there aught needed outside of clothing? Simple day-to-day needs and the like?" He finds it is always best to ask as opposed to just presuming; there was no use in gifting something that wasn't particularly needed. What Vaux needed in a day and what a child under the plate needed in a day were likely vastly different.

[sacredflorist]

❛  this day feels like it's never gonna end.  ❜ //from vincent

Random Dialogue Starters | @vancreux

Aerith stretches her arms. Yes, Vincent is right; it feels like this day will never end. Since the group left Midgar, so much has happened. Aerith is exhausted quite often because she's not used to walk this much during a day. Even when she sells flowers, it just doesn't feel the same. Now... it physically hurts, but she doesn't want to show it to her friends. She doesn't want them to consider her as weak.

"Yep. You're right!" Aerith agrees before she gently pats Vincent's shoulder. "But it will end, Vincent, and then, we'll laugh about it! So let's keep going with that great work and we'll be happy about it very soon!" As she says that, she clings to him just a bit because she's about to fall. Hopefully, he won't notice. Oops.

[sacredflorist]

@finalvii said:

"You've never been out of Midgar before?" There's curiousity laced through Tifa's tone, with a touch of sadness. Sure enough they were well out of Midgar now, catching their breath at Kalm Inn. It felt like the first moment where they could really stop and exist beyond fighting for their survival. She wasn't letting it go to waste. Not when she was finally able to ask Aerith the questions she had been holding onto 'for later'.

Aerith has started feeling somehow better since the group reached Kalm Inn. She doesn't see the sky anymore, but she knows it's there. She just can not escape it. When she hears Tifa's voice, though, the flower girl offers her friend a soft smile. Yeah, Aerith really didn't see much of the world. And as much as she hates that blue sky taking away everyone she loves, she's also somehow curious to see the world.

"Never!" she replies, letting a chuckle escape her mouth before she shrugs. "I mean, I heard about it, even spoke about it, but the slums were pretty much all I knew." She pauses for a short moment. "But it was okay, Tifa, really. I had happy moments in the slums. I never felt trapped or anything!"

[sacredflorist]

"I .. I think you're a... cute friend!" and then she placed a mushroom inside the Florist's basket.

".....and I appreciate our friendship .... so ... yeah!!! That's ... all I wanted to say. Okay.... BYE..."

And now she is speed walking away.

Unprompted Ask | Always Accepting | @exturk

Aerith offers Cissnei a warm smile. Cissnei is so mysterious, but the flower girl still believes someday she'll manage to read through her properly. Because they have naturally become real good friends. At least, that's how Aerith sees their relationship, and hopefully, Cissnei agrees. She's nice to her now... But then she walks away already, really too quickly, which makes Aerith blinks in confusion.

"Hey Cissnei! Wait!" And she quickly starts walking after her, maybe even running a bit to make sure she actually reaches the other. She grabs her arm to stop her and smiles again. "I appreciate our friendship, too! Don't be shy with me! And... thank for the mushroom!" She chuckles a bit and lets go of the other. "Where are you going ? Maybe we could do something together! Have a little girl talk! Or anything else, really!"

[sacredflorist]

💋 [ can't stop; won't stop asking about the promised land ]

Send 💋 to abruptly kiss my muse | Accepting | @obscureign

Aerith just can't believe she's back with Shinra again. Maybe she should have been more careful. She knows she can influence the Turks sometimes, but when it's the President himself who decides it's time to get her back, she knows she has to take him seriously. But it's too late to have regrets now. They have the Keystone; they can find and open the Temple of the Ancients. Aerith herself isn't even sure if she believes in the Promised Land, but she knows it has nothing to do with mako deposits. If only Rufus would understand that... He's a very intelligent man. She knows he is. Then why is he this stubborn ?

As the last remaining Cetra, she must stop Shinra. She doesn't know if the Temple of the Ancients has something to do with the Promised Land itself, but it still belongs to her people. She doesn't want Shinra to destroy or to corrupt it in some ways. No, she must do something.

"Rufus, listen to me. Please." She takes a deep breath and lets a half-smile cross her lips. "I want to help the Planet. I want to help everyone. Seriously. Unlike my friends, I know Shinra isn't only bad. I know you guys better than they do." Maybe she is speaking this way for a reason, to make sure he's willing to at least listen, but she means it. Aerith has seen too many good people working for Shinra to fully hate the company. She has also seen the worst of it, though, because of Hojo. Rufus is hard to categorize. Maybe he just can't really be categorized; he's too mysterious.

As she's about to continue her speech, Rufus interrupts her... with a kiss. Aerith blinks with confusion. Seriously, he's going there ? What's his intention, anyway ? She's not even sure she wants to know, but she hates to admit how much she doesn't remember what she was about to say. Think Aerith, think...

Without hesitation, she grabs his tie. "That's it. The Promised Land. It's the way you can find it. It's inside you, inside your heart. Let it shine. I can help you." And before he can say anything, she kisses him again. If he wants to play that game, they will play it together.

[sacredflorist]

Continued from x | @devcvec

Aerith knows Zack died. She felt him return to the Lifestream that day. After his mission to Nibelheim, he disappeared. At first she was angry, even thought he ghosted her. But she knows it's not true. No. Something happened. Because when he returned to the Lifestream, she also knew he was trying to get back to her. It was comforting, but also... it made her question everything. She needs answers. She needs closure. No matter how much it hurts.

The Turks are her best hope for that. After Zack disappeared, they were the only friends she had, even if they weren't entirely friends either. But they made her feel less lonely, which was already more than she could have asked for. This time, though, she asked Rude for the truth. Maybe she should have waited for Tseng, but she didn't take the time to think more than that.

And even if she knows Zack was dead... these words coming from Rude's mouth make her heart miss a beat. A punch on her face would have been less painful. And he never got her letters... She doesn't want to cry, but here she is, fighting the tears.

"I already knew he was..." She doesn't finish her sentence, though. She shakes her head, locking her eyes with Rude's. "Where was he ? What happened ? He disappeared for four years... I need to know. Even if it will probably hurt me. I can handle it."

[sacredflorist]

“ You're - you're here! Thank goodness, I was worried about you. ” from Tifa

Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion Prompts | Accepting | @heroesvow

Aerith is still not used to this, having friends who genuinely worry about her. Of course she had Zack before, but he disappeared, and no one else has ever seemed to care for her, just for the young woman she is. Before Zack, she has never had any friends. The Turks were some kind of friends, of course, but they are also still Shinra. Nothing could ever change that. With Cloud, Tifa and the others, she feels that maybe she can belong in a group of friends for the first time, and it means so much to her.

She offers Tifa a bright smile. "Sorry... I just needed a moment on my own." She lets a brief chuckle escape her mouth. "So much has happened already since we left Midgar, mmh ?" She puts her hands together. "I just hope everything will be fine in the end."