[ She's typed and retyped 'Are you still there' about six times. It's probably not the best opening line, she knows, but she also still can't quite believe this is happening, and a big part of her wants to reach for affirmation that what she was sure was the wildest dream she had is coming true. It still feels crazy.
Aerith has been at this too long, and with a huff of frustration, she settles on an old classic– ]
Hello!
[ Can't end it there though, can she? Her moment of pride about finally settling on how to reach out to Zack is gone in an instant as she scrambles to follow up her greeting with something a little more substantial, all without letting the first message hang too long to feel awkward.
It's been a long time since she had a boyfriend to talk to, she's a little rusty. ]
It's Aerith. I'd like to see you again soon if you're free. :)
[ The smiley face is silly, isn't it? Too late now. ]
[During the year or so he's been on the long after escaping Nibelheim, Zack has been a little more cautious when it comes to using the communicator provided to him here. Sure, he isn't a wanted man in this place, so he's probably, but it's kind of a habit by now.
So when he gets a message from a username he doesn't immediately recognize, he can't help but pause. Who is this? What do they want with him?
Thankfully, the answer comes unbidden and he smiles immediately upon seeing Aerith's name.]
Hey yeah definitely! I'm down in the big room. Sitting room? Whatever they call it. I was about to head out and explore the city some more if you wanted to join.
[ Of course she wants to join! When she lets herself think about nothing beyond the fact that he's here and so is she, Aerith wants to follow him everywhere so she doesn't miss a second of having him back in her life.
She checks herself in the mirror a few times, smoothing her hair worriedly before setting off down the stairs.
This time she has left his message hanging, but it's clear from the way she leans into the doorframe of the big sitting room and grins at him that she doesn't feel awkward about it in the least. ]
Like a date?
[ Cocking her head in Zack's direction she raises her eyebrows, acting like she's waiting very expectantly for an answer, privately thankful that while all of this is still very surreal, teasing him feels as normal as it always had. ]
[Zack remains in the sitting room, looking out the window and watching the inhabitants stroll along the street. He's not usually one to people watch, but since they don't really know what they're being kept here for, aside from making Thumos or whatever, he wants to get an idea of what the locals do. At least on his previous explorations, he hadn't run into anyone who was aggressive toward him. That makes him feel better about inviting Aerith out in a place they don't actually know that well.
He must have been so engrossed in looking out the window that he doesn't even hear as she approaches the doorway, but when she speaks up, he turns around and gives her a big smile.]
Like a date!
[It does feel good to fall back into this particular old habit. Even though their reunion at the ball had been unexpected and their following conversation was a little awkward and pretty emotional, this part of their relationship, now unpaused, feels right. He makes his way toward her and leans down to give her forehead a quick kiss.]
[ Oh, that smile, she could look at it all day. In fact, Aerith had a feeling that's exactly what she was setting herself up for. There are still a few things they need to talk about before things can relax into something nobody can stop smiling about - he doesn't know anything about what's going on back home. She has to tell him about her friends, the Planet, and all the other things he's missed.
For now, though, she's too busy flushing at the compliment to do much more than reach out and shove his shoulder gently, an almost shy laugh escaping her. She almost forgot how nice it felt to be appreciated by him, the most flippant compliment enough to make her feel sixteen all over again. ]
You look pretty too.
[ Still grinning, she laces both of her arms around one of his, looking up at Zack's face expectantly. ]
[That little shove is so nostalgic to Zack and he can't hold back a laugh. If he were to close his eyes, he would feel so much like a teenager all over again, back when things were still pretty okay. Things really did fall apart so quickly at Nibelheim, though, and Zack doesn't know how much he can put back together.
But! Those are things he can't fix while he's stuck in this city. He can worry - and he does - but letting that overtake him when he has a chance to be with Aerith again would be a waste of energy and this gift. So he happily surrenders his arm to her and gently taps her nose with his free hand.]
You got it, Miss Gainsborough. Is there anywhere you wanna check out first?
Lorcan says there's an ice cream place called Jolly Good somewhere - but I can't remember if it's in the Trade Quarter or the Pleasure Quarter. Either way, want to see if we can find it while we explore? They're supposed to have every flavor you can possibly imagine.
[ She isn't sure if that's true or just very good advertising, but either way it sounds like the perfect excuse to spend the whole day wandering around with Zack.
When they were younger, she couldn't get enough of the time they had together, and now that he's come back to her life she finds that absolutely nothing has changed about that. She still wants to spend more time with him, and it still doesn't feel like she'll ever grow tired of that.
As she leads him out of the house she takes his arm properly, her head tilting sideways enough to rest her head against his arm briefly in a passing show of affection. ]
What about you Zack? What do you want to do today?
[Zack's face lights up. He feels like a kid again, able to get excited over the simplest things in life. The promise of a sweet treat is definitely at play here, but the real treat is the fact that he can spend seemingly relaxed time with Aerith again.]
We are finding this place. I don't care where it is. Do you know how long it's been since I had ice cream?
[...Okay, maybe she does based on what he's told her, but those details aren't actually important. He happily goes out the door and is ready to turn down the street when he realizes something. Zack looks down at Aerith, then raises a hand to shield his eyes when he looks up toward the sky.
The very bright, very open sky.]
Hey, hold on. Is this...okay? There's no plate here.
[ His excitement over her suggestion makes Aerith smile, even if when she thinks about how long it's been since Zack got to have ice cream or do anything fun, her chest aches, quietly sad for everything he's missed in the last four years.
Aerith doesn't get the chance to dwell for very long, as Zack brings them to a halt on the house's front step, ]
I don't like it. [ She says honestly before looking up towards the sky and back to him with a shake of her head. ] I got used to it while you were gone. I started going above the plate to sell flowers, before I was brought here I even made it all the way to the road heading to Kalm, but, I don't think I'll ever stop missing the steel sky.
[ It's just so much without it.
Aerith lets go of Zack's arm and catches his hand instead, guiding his arm around her shoulders before she loops hers around his back, giving him a quick nod once she's settled herself against his side. ]
You'll keep me on the ground though, right? So let's get ice cream!
[ Lorcan almost looks pleased when he finds Zack and passes off the notecard enclosed in the sealed envelope. Certainly, not having looked at the note, Aerith's retainer has no reason to think she's doing anything beyond sending a proper note to a gentleman, as a lady ought to.
[Zack has once again failed to convince the tailors for looser pants. This is becoming a joke at this point, but he doesn't feel like giving up yet. The experience has left him a little frustrated, but when Lorcan gives him a letter, his mood lifts. It must be from Aerith if Lorcan is playing delivery boy.
So he opens it immediately because he can never resist anything Aerith-related. At first, he looks at the drawing of a vegetable. And nothing else. But then something clicks in his head and, right there on the street, he barks out a laugh.
Sorry, Lorcan.
Not long after, Aerith will get a text.]
Something else you want to plant in your garden?? XD
[Is that meant to be a euphemism? The world may never know.]
[ She is, of course, waiting for a message from Zack, and even before she's opened it Aerith's grinning from ear to ear. Whatever they're talking about, even when she's not making a pass at him she knows is likely to go down very smoothly, she's just so happy to be able to reach out to Zack and have him respond. The best part of being with Zack again, is simply - being with Zack again. ]
Could be, if you think we can avoid crushing the flowers completely.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
un: ranunculus
Date: 2023-04-05 02:00 am (UTC)Aerith has been at this too long, and with a huff of frustration, she settles on an old classic– ]
Hello!
[ Can't end it there though, can she? Her moment of pride about finally settling on how to reach out to Zack is gone in an instant as she scrambles to follow up her greeting with something a little more substantial, all without letting the first message hang too long to feel awkward.
It's been a long time since she had a boyfriend to talk to, she's a little rusty. ]
It's Aerith. I'd like to see you again soon if you're free. :)
[ The smiley face is silly, isn't it? Too late now. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-04-05 02:23 am (UTC)So when he gets a message from a username he doesn't immediately recognize, he can't help but pause. Who is this? What do they want with him?
Thankfully, the answer comes unbidden and he smiles immediately upon seeing Aerith's name.]
Hey yeah definitely! I'm down in the big room.
Sitting room? Whatever they call it. I was about to head out and explore the city some more if you wanted to join.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-05 03:08 am (UTC)She checks herself in the mirror a few times, smoothing her hair worriedly before setting off down the stairs.
This time she has left his message hanging, but it's clear from the way she leans into the doorframe of the big sitting room and grins at him that she doesn't feel awkward about it in the least. ]
Like a date?
[ Cocking her head in Zack's direction she raises her eyebrows, acting like she's waiting very expectantly for an answer, privately thankful that while all of this is still very surreal, teasing him feels as normal as it always had. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-04-05 05:56 am (UTC)He must have been so engrossed in looking out the window that he doesn't even hear as she approaches the doorway, but when she speaks up, he turns around and gives her a big smile.]
Like a date!
[It does feel good to fall back into this particular old habit. Even though their reunion at the ball had been unexpected and their following conversation was a little awkward and pretty emotional, this part of their relationship, now unpaused, feels right. He makes his way toward her and leans down to give her forehead a quick kiss.]
You look pretty today.
[She looks pretty every day.]
no subject
Date: 2023-04-06 02:09 am (UTC)For now, though, she's too busy flushing at the compliment to do much more than reach out and shove his shoulder gently, an almost shy laugh escaping her. She almost forgot how nice it felt to be appreciated by him, the most flippant compliment enough to make her feel sixteen all over again. ]
You look pretty too.
[ Still grinning, she laces both of her arms around one of his, looking up at Zack's face expectantly. ]
Come on! Let's go exploring Zack.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-07 06:14 am (UTC)But! Those are things he can't fix while he's stuck in this city. He can worry - and he does - but letting that overtake him when he has a chance to be with Aerith again would be a waste of energy and this gift. So he happily surrenders his arm to her and gently taps her nose with his free hand.]
You got it, Miss Gainsborough. Is there anywhere you wanna check out first?
no subject
Date: 2023-04-07 07:12 pm (UTC)[ She isn't sure if that's true or just very good advertising, but either way it sounds like the perfect excuse to spend the whole day wandering around with Zack.
When they were younger, she couldn't get enough of the time they had together, and now that he's come back to her life she finds that absolutely nothing has changed about that. She still wants to spend more time with him, and it still doesn't feel like she'll ever grow tired of that.
As she leads him out of the house she takes his arm properly, her head tilting sideways enough to rest her head against his arm briefly in a passing show of affection. ]
What about you Zack? What do you want to do today?
no subject
Date: 2023-04-08 04:16 am (UTC)[Zack's face lights up. He feels like a kid again, able to get excited over the simplest things in life. The promise of a sweet treat is definitely at play here, but the real treat is the fact that he can spend seemingly relaxed time with Aerith again.]
We are finding this place. I don't care where it is. Do you know how long it's been since I had ice cream?
[...Okay, maybe she does based on what he's told her, but those details aren't actually important. He happily goes out the door and is ready to turn down the street when he realizes something. Zack looks down at Aerith, then raises a hand to shield his eyes when he looks up toward the sky.
The very bright, very open sky.]
Hey, hold on. Is this...okay? There's no plate here.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-09 07:42 pm (UTC)Aerith doesn't get the chance to dwell for very long, as Zack brings them to a halt on the house's front step, ]
I don't like it. [ She says honestly before looking up towards the sky and back to him with a shake of her head. ] I got used to it while you were gone. I started going above the plate to sell flowers, before I was brought here I even made it all the way to the road heading to Kalm, but, I don't think I'll ever stop missing the steel sky.
[ It's just so much without it.
Aerith lets go of Zack's arm and catches his hand instead, guiding his arm around her shoulders before she loops hers around his back, giving him a quick nod once she's settled herself against his side. ]
You'll keep me on the ground though, right? So let's get ice cream!
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From:un: anonymous
Date: 2023-05-02 05:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-02 06:03 am (UTC)But i don't have a chocobo
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Date: 2023-05-02 06:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-02 06:15 am (UTC)I don't even think they have chocobos here to lease
So
Awkward
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Date: 2023-05-02 06:18 am (UTC)Nugget leased to giant guy that looks like a black chocobo.
Pretty sure that's you, bud.
Where are you hiding it?
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Date: 2023-05-02 06:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-02 06:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-02 07:00 am (UTC)(no subject)
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From:post event
Date: 2023-05-12 03:12 am (UTC)The contents of the notecard, however, are not at all subtle. She hopes anyway. ]
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Date: 2023-05-17 06:32 am (UTC)So he opens it immediately because he can never resist anything Aerith-related. At first, he looks at the drawing of a vegetable. And nothing else. But then something clicks in his head and, right there on the street, he barks out a laugh.
Sorry, Lorcan.
Not long after, Aerith will get a text.]
Something else you want to plant in your garden?? XD
[Is that meant to be a euphemism? The world may never know.]
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Date: 2023-05-20 02:04 am (UTC)Could be, if you think we can avoid crushing the flowers completely.
Otherwise, there's indoor gardening. ;)
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Date: 2023-06-09 04:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-06-10 03:02 am (UTC)Hey, speaking of practicing with my hands, when are you coming home?
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Date: 2023-06-10 03:09 am (UTC)Are you planning something
For my pretty face
Huh huh??
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Date: 2023-06-10 03:13 am (UTC)What if it's for your pretty everything?
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Date: 2023-06-10 03:20 am (UTC)If my pretty everything shows up will your pretty everything be happy too?
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