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. ]

[Video - Locked to Cloud - Normal filter - 50%]

[This starts in the hallway, with Aerith moving from her and Zack's apartment to Cloud and Tifa's as she records. Of course, since Cloud is gone...the filter is bad. (Lifting a note from Noel's example!) Bold is unfiltered/public. Italic is easily hackable, as even normally, the filter is only 50% unhackable. Without hacking, the visual wavers in and out with the audio.]

Oh, Clouuuud~ I bet you don't know what today is. Any guesses?

[She pauses for a moment or two, to give him time for a response, but when nothing comes she moues.]

Are you busy again? I haven't seen you at all the past few days! But today, we're going to spend some time together, because--

It's~ my~ birthday~ and it's a surprise party! The surprise is I didn't warn you earlier. Honestly, I hadn't decided about celebrating it yet. Since things are strange here--with time-- But I think it is something to celebrate! Because I've learned a lot since my last birthday, so I really am another year older and wiser. Aren't I so mature now? You should be impressed. [She winks at the journal.] Sooo mature, in fact, that I'm about to go in your room [she announces, as she creaks open the door] and the only way you're getting me out is--

... Huh? --Oh, I must have mixed up rooms. You didn't see anything! [She moves further down the hallway, opening another door.] Right, this is Tifa's room, so it's...door #3!

[But when the third door is opened, the mischief and anticipation leaves Aerith's expression, replaced by blank confusion. There's silence for a long stretch before she finally says:] Oh. You... but, you-- [She fumbles with the journal, keeping her face turned away from it as she turns the broadcast off.]

[Voice - Filtered to Tifa - 50%]

Tifa? Are you okay?

[Voice - Filtered to Zack - 50%]

... Cloud's back... home. [There's a long pause, like she'd say something else, but she finally just gives a shaky smile and turns the journal off again.]

[Action]

[Aerith is going to drown her sorrows in hot chocolate at Good Spirits a little later. No, she won't cry in her cup or anything like that, but her face seems rather blank for someone usually smiling.]

[The journal gets opened with a little gasp and...hello, Aerith's dripping water on her journal.

She also appears to be on the bank of one of the forest rivers, treading water. This is the kind of stuff that happens when you drop your journal in the river while being pursued by Teases. You have to go find it after it's been carried downstream.]

There you are. And now we're both soaking wet. I won't be writing on this for a while...does talking still work--? Anyone hearing this?

((ooc: Yes, this is my excuse for having Aerith be quiet during the Tease event. She lost her journal and was harassed by Teases for the duration. |D And this is also my declaration of slowatus. I still want to stick around with Aerith and not hiatus her and not be as slow as before, but I've been a little braindead with her in luceti (and distracted by job-hunting) so if responses are slow, then. I apologize beforehand. Hopefully this won't last much longer. Fingers are crossed.))

[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.

One more week, and then it's March! Winter will be over soon, I can hardly wait. It sounds like there's lots of things people want to get done around the village, which should get easier with the snow melting. And it'll be pretty as a picture too.

Oh, yes. Tifa, what kind of flowers do you like? I don't think I've asked you before. Have I?

...Let's see. I wonder what else I can do today.

[Taken, please hold :> Taken and open for comments now! :D]

Let's see...I guess they do reports too.

Oh Tse~eng, fearless leader! Observations indicate an experiment has been in progress since at least Monday morning. Signs are--oh, reports should be confidential, shouldn't they?--well, I don't think there's any too private about this. And filters take too long anyway. Anyway, it looks like everyone affected wants to be try a new job. Guess what mine is. [Yes, she's still wearing the suit. :| At least you know with her hygiene standards that she's been keeping it washed and fresh.] So, boss~ what are the orders?

If you don't have any, I'll just keep practicing for now. Which reminds me. [She straightens up, smooths out one of the suit's lapels, and puts on a perfectly friendly smile.]

Who'd like to volunteer for a kidnapping? I promise no one will get hurt! This is for the development of creative problem-solving skills. [aka "getting by with methods that are not 100% legal".] And you may learn important skills as well! I don't expect you to just sit back and take it, after all. Having been kidnapped multiple times, I can tell you being abducted is hardly a passive experience, and it wouldn't be educational for me if you just came quietly.

Whoever sent the letter, they talk about the Organization like they're not part of it. I wonder if the Malnosso would mind us leaving? After all, none of us are supposed to be here, and their goal is supposed to be travel between worlds. They might learn something from seeing us leave.

If they would mind, well, they might have something to say with how many mentions the letters have already gotten on here! A little late to keep it hush-hush; I hope it wasn't supposed to be. Ow.

[Footsteps; the soft crinkling of paper being handled.] Unnatural existence...breaking apart...what did happen to Tyr?

[Pause.] Ah, this is kind of bothersome, isn't it? If you don't try and we don't hear back from the ones who do, you'll always have to wonder. Not that anyone should go because of that.

( [Filtered to Cloud - Effectively Private - 80%] )

[Filtered to Tifa - 72%]

Are you doing all right, Tifa? Between that broadcast, and--

I don't know if you've seen Cloud's room yet...it looks like he went back.

[Filtered to Zack - 75%]

...Hey.

Where are you?

[Public]

Sigmund? Cloud's not going to be able to help out. I'm--well, I'm no stand-in for Cloud, obviously~ [If she was in better spirits at the moment, she'd laugh.]

But I'm still available.

[A sigh as she pushes back her hair.]

This heat wave will end soon, hopefully...the flowers aren't enjoying it one bit! Back home and in the flower shop, they're starting to wilt a little.  And speaking of drooping flowers...[Zack's been moping a lot.  D|]

...Clooouuud? I haven't heard you, either. Tifa, he's staying with you, right? And Denzel too?  How are you all doing? Well, I hope. [A small ♥ is drawn.]  And I bet you're having fun with Kamina, right Simon?  Train hard!

No one's seen Hurdy around, have they? I haven't heard him playing in the village for a while.  ...Is he gone?  That's better for him, but...I feel like...