♥ 1 [action/voice]

[dropof_light]

[Aerith comes out of the elevator, still looking a little mussed and sleepy, blinking as she looks around the lobby, completely lost as to how she got here and where "here" actually is. Figuring if anyone can answer her question, it'd be these people at the front desk, she crosses to it, blinking the last bits of sleep from her eyes.]'Scuse me, I

Comments

[Voice]

[x_dotdotdot_x]

[Well, that's a familiar voice, thank the worlds! Maybe there's some sense to be made here after all!]

Aerith?! Is that you?

Re: [Voice]

[dropof_light]

Leon! Thank goodness! Where are we? Do you know what's going on?

[Voice]

[x_dotdotdot_x]

No idea. But I kinda got a feeling this isn't Hollow Bastion.

[He starts to mention Cloud, but thinks better of it for the moment.]

There are others here, too, Aerith.

Where are you?

Re: [Voice]

[dropof_light]

[She laughs.]

There's a little too much sunshine and sand for this to be Hollow Bastion.

Others? Like who? Anyone we know?

I'm .... I don't know. I just came out of this elevator - hang on.

[The noises around her shift and move as she goes outside.]

Now I'm on a porch on a beach ... looks like some kind of central hub building. Is that any help?

[Voice]

[x_dotdotdot_x]

Yeah, that's true.

Yeah. I've talked to Tifa - but she has no idea who I am. And I even heard from Cloud, too. They seem to know Cid, but don't know anything about me or Hollow Bastion...

I'm here by a swimming pool, I just left there not too long ago. Hang on and I'll come find you.

Re: [Voice]

[dropof_light]

Tifa?

[A pause.]

The girl from the Colosseum? And - Cloud's here?

[She manages to keep 90% of the excitement out of her voice.]

How can they not know you? Tifa seems pretty set that she knows me - but I know that any situation I would have met her, you would have been there too.

Okay, I'm keeping an eye out for you. [Her voice grows teasing.] Have you changed into trunks and sandals yet~?

[Action]

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[Leon doesn't answer by phone; by now he's rounded the corner and heading over to the Main Office. He spies Aerith standing there and lifts a hand in recognition.]

Hey! No, I'll keep my own clothes for a while, thanks.

[He looks at her seriously.]

Something's going on, Aerith. No one here knows who we are. And they should know us. It bothers me.

And I can't find Cid or Yuffie, either.

[Action]

[dropof_light]

[She spots him, and her face lights up and she waves, coming down the stairs.]

Hi! Oh, it's so good to see you!

[Her face grows serious as well.]

Tifa doesn't know you? She seems to know me - she seems pretty insistent that she knows me, from somewhere called 'Nibelheim.' Have you ever heard of Nibelheim?

[She's silent for a moment.]

...you don't think anything ... happened to Hollow Bastion, do you?

[Action]

[x_dotdotdot_x]

[Leon shakes his head gravely.]

She knew Cloud and Cid - well, at least I think she did, she recognized their names, anyway.

Nibelheim? Where's that?

[He looks at her, a frown on his face.]

...I can't say for sure, Aerith. Everything was fine when I woke up this morning, but then I suddenly arrived here...

[He shrugged and spread his hands helplessly.]

[Action]

[dropof_light]

Darn, I was hoping you'd know. I've never heard of it.

[She shrugs as well, then her eyes narrow slightly as she considers his words.]

Wait, then do you remember how you got here? Because I fell asleep in the library last night and I woke up in the elevators here.

[Action]

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...not exactly. One minute I was headed to the computer room to talk to Cid, when the door swung open, I walked out of that elevator in the office.

Kinda strange.

And apparently there's no way back, either.

[Action]

[dropof_light]

[She makes a small, frustrated noise.]

So much for that, then. But Cid's not here? Have you heard from anyone besides Cloud?

[With a sigh, she shades her eyes and looks out over the beach.]

Well, if we've got to be stuck somewhere, at least it's pretty here.
...I really hope everyone back home is okay.

[Action]

[x_dotdotdot_x]

[Leon shakes his head.]

Cloud didn't know me either, Aerith. Some kid Roxas said that Sora was here, but I haven't seen him yet.

[Turning around, Leon gazes with her across the resort, nodding somewhat reluctantly.]

It is.

[Then, more quietly...]

Yeah, me too.

Re: [Action]

[dropof_light]

[She reaches down and squeezes his hand, and is silent for a moment.]

Cloud didn't know you either, huh? That's weird - he recognized me, seemed surprised to see me. I wonder why.

[It won't do to mention that it seems to be a running theme here - or that that Elena girl seemed to think she had died. She giggles softly, trying to lighten the mood.]

Hope Sora knows you.

[Action]

[x_dotdotdot_x]

[He squeezes her hand in return, thankful for the silent comfort. Saying nothing to her former comment, Leon just sighs and looks down at the concrete, noting that there's not the first crack in the pale cement.

Then she speaks of Sora and he nods slowly.]

Yeah, me too.

[Action]

[dropof_light]

Don't worry, Leon. Cid'll figure out we're missing lickety-split and then he'll get us home. I know he will.

[He has to, she doesn't say.]

We'll bring Sora, too, and Cloud, once we've knocked some sense into him.