[Action]

[gardeningaia]

[It's rather late in the evening to be out in the snow, but so Aerith is. Behind ch. 4, out in the forest, she's cleared the fresh-fallen snow from a small patch of earth and is now kneeling down in it, talking to Faeren.]

Wasn't it strange back then? Everyone changed so suddenly! ...Were you...a little nervous? Hm... But...people seem to be treating the forest and plants all right. Better than they do back home.

...Did I talk to you last time? No, you don't need to tell me. I'm sure I did. You don't have a voice, but still, it's less quiet when I'm talking to you.

[...and so on. In general, Aerith is just naturally chatty with spirits anyway. She'll be doing this spirit-talking for a while into the early night, roaming around the perimeter of the village to see if she can get in touch with Nala... The cold and still-falling snowflakes don't seem to deter her. This is more important.]

Comments

[baka-jyanai.livejournal.com]

-Curious fairy is curious, and hides partially behind a tree to watch the conversation.

... She's probably very obvious.-

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[Especially with all that blue. Aerith soon looks up and smiles.]

Hey, are you eavesdropping~? [It's not a serious accusation at all.]

[baka-jyanai.livejournal.com]

-HOW COULD SHE KNOW? Cirno continued to badly pretend that she wasn't there. By squeaking and hiding.-

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

...I'm not mad, it's okay! [She stands up, approaching the tree.]

[baka-jyanai.livejournal.com]

... Who are you?

[herotypical]

[Your friendly neighbourhood (but troubled) Slayer is out and about and...ah, Aerith. She looks up with a hesitant expression. She doesn't want to interrupt the girl. So she waits.]

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[Aerith's focused on talking to the spirits, but not oblivious to her surroundings. Once she spots Buffy, she starts winding down, and pats the dead grass and dirt with her hand before standing up and heading over to Buffy.]

Everything all right? You look like you're feeling, hmm, a little out of place. [She rubs her hands lightly together as she speaks. It's not especially cold, but still. No sense letting herself get chilly.]

[herotypical]

That's probably because the snow is definitely not my element.

[She gives a small attempt at a smile.] Are you talking with the plants, Aerith? [Because she vaguely remembers being told about such a habit before she left, last time.]

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

More of a summer girl, then. [Not that she buys that as the reason, but she'll roll with it for now.] And maaaaybe I am~ That doesn't seem too crazy, does it? [Gives Buffy a little side glance because. Granted, most people who catch her actually doing it think it's a little odd.]

[herotypical]

Don't worry. I kinda managed to deal with the is it or isn't it crazy the last time. And while certainly eccentric? I fell firmly into the no harm no foul camp.

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[Aerith wasn't next door when Cloud looked for her, so he's out scouting for the resident flower girl.

...okay she's doing that weird thing she was doing back in the Ancient Temple again.]

Aerith? Can you hear this Planet too?

[Action]

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

...No. [She shakes her head, slowly turning back to Cloud.] Not yet. It's a little different here. --Every Planet has a Lifestream, right? That's what Bugenhagen said. But I don't hear one here, not yet. [Not ruling out the existence of a Lifestream yet because that's just...weird, okay. LOOK HOW MANY FLOWERS THERE ARE, OBVIOUSLY THERE SHOULD BE LIFESTREAM AROUND.]

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

You can't? [That's weird. Maybe there weren't any Cetra on this particular Planet. Of course, the idea of there not BEING a Lifestream is ludicrous. Of course there is, otherwise nothing would be alive.]

[Action]

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

Maybe... it takes time to adjust? I don't really know how it'd work. [She looks down for a moment as she thinks, her breath fogging in the air, before she looks at Cloud again.] I'm talking to some of the spirits here. Trying to, at least! Faeren can be shy.

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[The-

Oh yeah, they're in the guide. Cloud just kind of skimmed that part, because WHAT? No. Materia does magic, not creepy disembodied voices. He crouches next to Aerith, resting an elbow on his knee.]

Which one is that one?

[thestormishere]

[ You know who else is being stubborn and trudging around in the snow? Lightning, that's who, and when she spots Aerith she pauses and then slowly begins to approach her, trying to discern who she's talking to and why.

She... also falls into step without realizing it, so that the other woman's first warning that she's not alone is probably the sound of her footsteps being a little louder than they should be. Blame instinct. ]

1/2

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[Aerith's heard oddities like that before. Usually, when she was being followed by a Turk. So blame instinct and several years of bad experience for the slight glare she has when she stops talking to Nala and whirls around, taking her staff in both hands as she looks to see who's stalking her--]

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

[...oh, it's Lightning. She immediately relaxes, her staff lowering back down to touch the ground.]

What are you doing, being so quiet? You'll spook someone like that!

[thestormishere]

[ ! Lightning kind of jumps back in turn, but then stops from reaching for her gunblade when Aerith doesn't do anything more. Oops? Her expression flattens defensively as she straightens and puts her hands back in the pockets of the extra coat she's wearing, eying both Aerith and her staff. ]

Tch... Habit. Sorry. What are you doing out here?

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to find the spirits here. You've heard about them, right?

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning steps closer while Aerith answers, but then pauses and doesn't reply for a very long moment- just stands there very still as her eyes narrow by just a bit. ]

Vaguely.

/totally not late

[wingenvy]

[Zack hasn't been trying to be nosy or anything, no sir. But a missing Aerith late at night is kind of worrisome, so he hunts around the building a bit before noticing her outside, opening the window and poking his head out to call down to her.]

Don't catch a cold out there, Aerith!

Zack is /never/ late. Except when it's been five years.

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

I won't, I won't! I know how to dress myself and everything! [She waves her gloved hands out at him.]

........BURN. :c

[wingenvy]

Are you sure? You look like you could use another coat or something. [A mild tease, since she's probably bundled plenty.]

W-we still love him!

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

What? But then I'd just look ridiculous! I'd rather keep moving to stay warm!