{1st Flower}

[callingallholy]

Dozens of paintings, all unfamiliar to me.

The sounds of church bells in the distance.
...and not the slightest feeling of magic.

This is interesting! Just where am I?

I wonder if this is a dream.
If it is, Cloud might be here.

Comments

[paradoxicalhero]

...Aerith?

[A long pause, maybe some disbelief in there as well.] You're... okay?

[callingallholy]

Of course, Cloud!

I'm sorry about leaving everyone behind without saying a word. Were you lonely?

[paradoxicalhero]

[Another silence as he grapples with this new revelation. Too good to be true?]

Me? I'm never lonely. But... you should have let me go with you. I could have... [He trails off uncomfortably]

[callingallholy]

Could have... Gone on a second date with me?

There's nothing to be afraid of anymore, Cloud. I'm not sure where we are now, but Gaea is safe. I can feel it.
Though I can't use my magic.

[paradoxicalhero]

Uhhh... [Awkward silence] After how horrible the first one was?

I know. Meteor was destroyed by the Lifestream and Holy. Still... you... shouldn't have gone alone.

[callingallholy]

Now now. The date was fun!
We just hit a bit of a snag afterward.

It's okay. After all, nothing bad happened to me alone.
I can take care of myself; but i'll bring you along next time if you insist.

[paradoxicalhero]

Snag is putting it mildly.

Nothing bad? [A pause]

[callingallholy]

Well, okay. A predicament!

I managed to cast Holy. It took a lot of time and concentration, but I did it!

[paradoxicalhero]

...sure.

Yeah, you did. But Sephiroth....

[callingallholy]

You beat him, right? You used that big sword you carry around to beat him, I bet!

[paradoxicalhero]

Eventually. We fought a couple of times before Meteor was destroyed....

[callingallholy]

That's the Cloud I know! I knew you were super strong.

Now we have less to worry about, so smile, Cloud!

[paradoxicalhero]

Smile? Why would I do something like that? Girls can smile.

[callingallholy]

It proves you're strong, Cloud. A handsome boy like you should smile!

[paradoxicalhero]

Boy? I'm twenty-one! Smiling takes effort anyway, and I have better things to do.

[callingallholy]

Better things, hm?

So that's why you havn't found me yet.