gardeningaia | Voice & Action

[ There's a fib of a Feather under the shade of the barracks after noon; she's got the sundress on, but Aerith is undoubtedly not new. She knows where she is, and after she gets past the jolt of terror that strikes when that last painful blow is remembered, she knows why she is there. She's plenty upset, and she's also angry and tense as she returns to house #41, keeping near the side of the street and under the cover of buildings for the brisk walk. She'll stop if a friend calls to her, but otherwise make a quick excuse and keep going; she really, really wants to go back to what's become her home here.

After stopping in at the house and checking in with her housemates--and letting herself have a good cry to help get it out--she goes and makes a journal post from her bedroom.

She takes a big, deep breath, first. ]

I'm back... this is Aerith. I hope no one [ else ] was worried, but it's... better now. I'm back. I'm not hurt.

...Is it...normal to see nothing when you die? Like you just stop... I'm sorry, ignore that. What a stupid thing to talk about!

[ ...It doesn't help to keep thinking about it right now. As she handles any responses that come, Aerith goes and does something extremely mundane and calming for her. She checks on all the flowers, at home, at the flower shop, and at the memorial garden, with the wolf Daisy close by her side. He's being more protective than usual right now. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's something to do with the temperature. I can't really feel it.

Like hot and cold? You can't tell the difference?

Guess not. ...It makes hugging a little weird. [ Which may seem random, except--when you come back from the dead, you tend to end up hugging people. ]

A little sad, you mean.

Different. It'd be sad if everyone felt pointy or prickly or something.

[ but body heat's half the joy! she has learned this, finally. ]

You'll be careful, right? Not being able to tell if something's too hot -- that's risky.

[ ...Do Buffy vampires have body heat? ]

I know. No burning myself on the stove. But I think I should be fine. At least I know it's this and...not memories, or something really important.

...I won't lose anything else.

[ they do not -- which has made re-accustoming herself to being close to the very human jack sparrow a very interesting time indeed. ]

And in a few months...

In a few months? [ She's not had reason yet to become acquainted with John's services. ]

You can have the price refunded.

Wha-- really? How?

John will remove them, after time.

...John's a scientist? [ She's not trying to kneejerk "no" when Buffy's helping her out, but she's already upset at the Malnosso right now and she doesn't like scientists on good days. ]

...John's a bit of an enigma. He's not all-in with the others, I don't think.

Mmm...I'm a little more worried about his ethics than who he gets along with. I don't--most scientists really creep me out, Buffy. [ She's not sure...did she ever tell Buffy about that? It's not something she'd normally tell but Buffy's always known more than normal... ]

For good reason. Most scientists are creepy.

...Some of the elders at Cosmo Canyon are scientists. Or were. They're good people. But then you get scientists who experiment on people and--ugh, there's no way they couldn't be creeps!

There was a whole slew of them -- working under the college -- back home. Evil as evil could be.

...Under a school? Oh, no...

Working for the government. All of it top, top secret.

...I hate that people think it's okay to do things like that.

..Or that they revel in it.

All the more reason to give them a good lesson!

[...well, at least it's firing her up]

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