Aerith Gainsborough

[ 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. ]

[Filtered from Hope, written]

I heard it takes a week for people to be revived. Is that just "about"? Sometimes it can be longer? [The top quickly scribbled out to leave only a period.] Li She's la

[There's a sudden break into voice when Aerith mutters:] I feel sick. [She still has to check on Hope... she doesn't know what to say with Lightning not returning--yet. Because she is returning. ]

If anyone sees Lightning, tell her she's in trouble... [Not like it'll make her come faster.] ... for worrying people.

[Action (if people want?) open to Zack, Hope, people passing through the first two floors of C4, as she'll be passing through them herself later. Allie, if you want to do a backdated thread instead to play out her breaking the news, that's cool too? Up for anything, even if Aerith isn't quite. She's looking drawn and paler, despite the sun being out more.]

[ooc: Lightning will be back soon! Part of why this is dated to Thursday. I have to work, so responses will come in about six hours.]

[Here is a fully bundled Aerith, blue scarf wrapped loosely around her face as she smiles.]

Speed run! Don't try this at home. I'm a professional.

...Not really. But I've been practicing, and I think I'm getting better!

[This is about all the introduction given before the journal gets set down to show wide open sky, but once Aerith throws herself in its direction and sets things into a blur of motion, it quickly becomes apparent what she's doing: enjoying her toboggan present from Christmas. She seems to be quite childishly pleased with herself on the faster runs, and pouts when one bumpy ride ends only halfway down. Finally:]

All right, now for the obstacle course! [Tucking the journal under-arm, Aerith drags the toboggan ba-a-a-ck up. This time she turns it to a different position a few feet away and a very different angle. She starts out more slowly, letting gravity lead the way, and steers the tobaggan around trees and rocks, her expression turning focused as the wind whips back her hair. And then--] Oh, no, no! Move, rabbit, run! Hey--ah--!!!! [After wildly veering, once she hits a fallen tree, Aerith and journal are airborne. Too bad they have to come back down, but at least it's in a snowdrift, right?]

...Mmmf.

[...FEEL FREE TO ACTION IT UP / BE SLEDDING WITH HER? She's on the lower part of the mountain slope, closest to the village. Or just shake your head at her from afar, whatever.]

[Unlike her intro, this post is much more cheerful: Aerith's smartly dressed in her pink dress and ribbon, she's in a warm apartment, and she's smiling at the journal.]

Hello! How is everyone? Hmm, let's see... My name's Aerith Gainsborough. I came here... oh, on the 12th, and I'm from Gaia, if any of you know of that planet. I worked as a flower girl, and I guess I was taking care of the flower shop last time I was here, so I'll start doing that again.

Speaking of last time--I don't remember it. Not yet, anyway. I'm going to keep trying. In the meantime, you'll have to excuse me if I don't recognize you! Go ahead and jog my memory, if you want. I wouldn't want to miss anything important, and that especially means people.

That's all for now, I think. I just wanted to say hi.

[Beat.]

...I hope that recorded, I'd feel silly talking to an off journal--oh, right, turn it off!

[Action]

[Aerith's not going too far today, but there is grocery shopping to be done, so she'll be around the plaza and at the store; after she does that and puts those away, she'll be going around community building #4 to see who aaaalll the neighbors are.]

[Aerith's journal falls to the floor with a clatter, but she continues to sleep for a few minutes longer before she starts speaking. It's with an adult's voice, but the way she talks sounds rather childish. Also sleepy.]

Mom? I feel funny... Mom...? Oh! [Sounding a bit more awake now, out of surprise, and the sheets rustle as she moves around.] The bed got small!

--I got big! How did I get big? Mr. Zack?!

[pause.] Wait...was I grown up before? That doesn't make any sense.

[ooc: MOMENTARY BRAIN OVERLOAD. ~17 years of memories being sorted through. She'll be back to normal soon. I'll still be tagging back on the threads of her as a kid, but I really wanted to get her back as an adult.]

[An hour or so after dawn on the 31st and a little before it starts storming, the mun got confused on the weather calendar, the sound of water splashing can be heard over the journals. This little girl woke up to much confusion, but she also woke up outside for the first time that she can remember and amazement has temporarily displaced alarm. Thus, after briefly exploring a small section of woods and chatting with a few small animals and puzzling over the plants not getting voices too (that didn't seem fair or right), she's returned to the river south of the village,where she and her journal were dropped off. For now she's content to sit by the water's edge in her white dress and kick out with her legs, until the voices from the journal catch her attention and she looks over. There is a ladybug crawling across the pages.

...This nearly-seven-year-old has the entirely wrong idea.] Miss Ladybug has a boy voice! [She giggles, but then stops in surprise.] --oh, now you sound more like a real lady! ...huh? Are there more of you, Miss Ladybug? Uh oh, are they stuck? [She leafs through the pages.] Come out, bugs! You don't belong in books.