001: New beginnings

[cetraflowergirl]

[Aerith wakes up in the flowers at the cathedral, a flower basket with clothing neatly bundled in it not far away. She raises a hand to her face and blinks at the light streaming in through the high vaulted windows and the flowers around her. She sits up slowly, confused and disoriented]

...Where am I?

Why can't I hear the Lifestream anymore...?

Comments

[1/3]

[feignedsoldier]

[is currently at the cathedral now, alone with his thoughts as he is reminiscing about the past and coincidentally enough, a certain someone having just awoken before his very eyes; Cloud lightly gasps at the sight]

.....

[2/3]

[feignedsoldier]

[trembles only for a very brief moment as he begins to realize who had just arrived, slowly rising to his feet as he berates himself to calm his nerves]

...I...

[3/3]

[feignedsoldier]

[gives himself a moment to take in the current situation, his time spent here having taught him an understanding of being reunited with those once lost]

Aerith...

[a very sincere smile graces his lips as he gazes upon her, his body not as tense as before as he has calmed himself, a serene feeling overwhelming him]

I knew I could meet you here.

[cetraflowergirl]

[Aerith startles, her eyes going wide before she smiles]

Cloud!

[She's hugging him tightly, so glad she found him]

I was so worried once I couldn't sense you in the Lifestream anymore, oh Cloud. I'm so glad to see you.

[holds him tightly, the beat of his heart and the warmth of his skin a comfort]

[feignedsoldier]

[unexpected to find Aerith so swiftly rush into an embrace, caught off guard before soon hugging her back, holding her head softly against his chest]

Aerith...

[is not about to shed a tear or two, rly... okay, maybe just one]

Is this...real? ... [lightly nods his head, still smiling] No, it has to be.

[not about ready to let go, not now]

[cetraflowergirl]

Of course it is, don't be silly. [rubs his back in soothing motions] Afterall, somebody has to keep an eye on you, no matter where you go. So I suppose the Planet decided I needed to follow you. And here I am.

[is teasing]

Everything is going to be all right, Cloud. Didn't I say so before?

[feignedsoldier]

[still can't help but smile, breaking away from the embrace enough to keep her in his arms but to gaze at her]

I'll never forget.

[brings her close into his arms again] Thank you... For everything.

[cetraflowergirl]

[smooths out his hair, rubbing the back of his neck and shoulders]

I'll always be with you when you need me.

[feignedsoldier]

[breaks away from the embrace and nods his head in understanding]

I'll hold you to that.

[checks his surroundings, remembering the first time he fell through her church, and having awoken in this new sanctuary]

You're probably...confused right now.

[cetraflowergirl]

[looks around at the new sanctuary. It's different from her home church, but close enough to feel like home]

Mmm, not so much. I could feel it pull me here, which is probably more warning than most people got. But I'd be happy to hear you tell me about this place.

[feignedsoldier]

[folds arms across his chest]

Template's... So bizarre. You show up here, but you can't leave, at least, that's what I've found out.

If you arrive here...that usually means that you...

[is finding it hard to say]

...died. Anybody once gone could return here. [steps forward and around Aerith as he looks down at the bed for flowers she had awoken in] Me... Zack...

[turns to face her]

You... We're all bound to this world. Wherever we are...

[cetraflowergirl]

[watches him, her expression calm] I don't feel like you've died. You were taken away, true. But when all traces of you disappeared from the Lifestream, it was different from if you had died.

[smiles a little] Although in my case, it's definitely true. So I suppose it's different for each person that finds themselves here.

And even if they had died, and they can't leave, I should think we should look at is as an adventure.

[feignedsoldier]

It's hard to know what to feel right now. You're...probably right though.

An adventure... Well this one's for the record books. That's for sure.

[cetraflowergirl]

See? You just have to look on the bright side of things.

[feignedsoldier]

Sounds like a plan.

We should find the others.

[cetraflowergirl]

That sounds like a wonderful idea. I've missed them.