Another log.
The silver haired man known as Sephiroth returned to Figaro in much the same way as his first visit. Though instead of on a black chocobo, it's a black haired man that carried him. The exhausted and bedraggled youth brought him as far as the city limits then collapsed himself. What exactly happened that left the man, whose military tags identify as Zachariah Fair, and the ex-General in this state is unknown. What they do know is they were covered in the Geostigma lesions, freshly erupted and oozing copiously.
Both were placed in a quarantine room with in the clinic. While the healers are almost certain the disease is not contagious by conventional means, the men are in such poor shape that they're sure to catch something from some one else. It's there those with the means will find them. Nothing like connections to the medical community or an irritating pressure in your head when SOLDIER's are around to keep you in the know.
Upon entering the room you'll find both of them clothed in what looks like shirts of bandages. Zack's start around his neck and loop his chest and abdomen. Sephiroth is pretty much mummified in them. Most of his face, his chest and arms all the way to the fingers are wrapped in greenish stained white cloth. You'll also notice that Zack's hair is shot through with grey. The nurses inform you that both of them have been unconscious since their arrival, though the dark haired man is showing signs of stirring.
After much searching and inquiring about town, she had finally got a lead on the two SOLDIERS, much to her relief - and dismay as she had heard of their conditions, particularly that of the Black-haired SOLDIER. Having been informed that they were both now in stable condition, and too worried to wait a moment longer, she bursts into the room, eyes widenned and anxious as she hurries to Zack's side. Normally she would hug him like crazy, tell him what a stupid crazy thing he had done and make him promise never to do it again. However at the sight of him, she has to catch herself, choking back the tears, forcing herself not to squeeze the life out of him for fear of inflicting further injuries upon his body. Instead, she settles down into the seat next to him, reaching out to gently clutch his hand while gently brushing the graying wisps of hair out of his eyes. If nothing else, she'll keep a constant watch over him until he wakes up.
It isn't very long before those "signs of stirring" start to get more pronounced. His breathing becomes more rapid, his fingers and eyes twitch. Eventually his violet eyes slide open, punctuated with a groan. The voice that escapes his lips is gravelly, like he's got a sore throat.
"Nnngg…Where?" A blink or two and his most recent memories come screaming back. He sits up suddenly, hissing a wince and clutching his chest. "Seph!"
Aerith blinks a bit, taken aback by his odd behavior - alarmed even. What on earth went on between the two of them during those long weeks when he went missing? Though she is quick to cover herself, trying to keep calm, trying to emit that same aura of calmness over Zack, as she reaches out to try and clutch his shoulders, though her touch is gentle, trying to reassure him, "Zack? Dont worry, you're safe now.." she bites her lip, trying not to look at all the strange, frightenning lesions on his body, or the numerous bandages covering him, "Please..Try to relax, you're at the hospital. Do you remember what happened?" Then carefully, she tries to force him to lay back in the bed again, pulling the covers over him if she can.
Like any beast, Zack is soothed by the beauty. He yields under her touch, laying back down gently. "Sorta…" His voice isn't getting any better with use. He takes a long look at the man in the bed to his left. What had happened? Bits and pieces were coming back to him, though for the most part it's a painful haze. "I took him outta town." A raspy cough utterly fails to clear his throat. "I told him what happened, who his parents were and everythin. Something switched on. All I remember is watchin him collapse and tryin to catch him. There was this weight on my chest and it burned…"
"Oh no, Zack.." she reaches for a nearby mug of warm herbal honey and lemon tea that was left there by one of the nurses, offering it to Zack, "Here, drink this. It should help.." well if nothing else, at least it will calm him down a bit, soothe his dried throat. Though as she listens to his story, she frowns softly, emerald eyes alight with increasing worry. Briefly, she glances towards the second occupant of this room, who is still unconscious. Did Sephiroth do this to him? Was this deliberate? Turning her attention back to Zack, she takes a closer look at his wounds now, trying to assess the seriousness of the situation. The doctors and nurses and healers probably did all they could. Could she do any more for him?
Zack accepts the tea gratefully and takes a long drink from the mug. It felt good and did help calm him, though as he speaks it obviously hasn't done much for his voice. "It wasn't on purpose." He says, guessing her train of thought. Every one expected Sephiroth to be this maniacal creature. It just wasn't true! "Seph's got more Jenova cells in him that Jenova herself, his prolly called out to mine or something."
She nods slowly, sighing inwardly, feeling a tad guilty that she didnt trust Zack's opinion of Sephiroth - not entirely. But can she really be blamed? Afterall, he HAD killed her once upon a time *ahem* She nods however in understanding, smiling softly down at him, "Alright..I'm just glad you came back Zack. Hopefully you'll be in good enough condition to go shopping with me tomorrow - like you promised." she smiles and winks at him, trying to lighten up the situation, though deep down, she knows it could be serious. "I'll have a look at him later, but first..Let me help you.." she reaches for his hand again if he'll let her, using the contact as more of a focal point than anything else and begins to concentrate.
Not so much on the geostigma just yet - that will come later when she does a thorough planet reading - but for now, she focuses on the more obvious and severe signs of injury, and as she does so, his body begins to glow in a soft green, healing light as she focuses on the lesions and the mysteriously glowing green marks that are most noticeably visible. Concentrating both her healing materia and her inherant Cetra powers, she focuses primarily on trying to ease his pain, on preventing the spread of the virus and on minimizing whatever damage has been done already if she can. She may be no doctor, though her knowledge gleaned through the planet is enough as if she were. "I'm sorry I doubted you, Zack.." she murmurs softly as she works.
Zack grins up at her wryly. "I never break a promise. It's a date." He winks. When she takes his hand he opens his mouth, brow raised inquisitively. What comes out is a soft moan of pleasure, his eyes fluttering as the healing magic courses through him. There isn't much to heal, just the disease and extreme fatigue. Her ministrations do wonders for the pain, but at a cost. He hadn't realized how much it hurt until it didn't any more. "It's all right, I'd doubt me too if our situations were reversed…where'd you learn to do that?" The rasp to his voice is some what improved, as is his over all skin color.."
She smiles, somewhat relieved to see the improvement in his condition. "Thanks, I'll be looking forward to it!" though of course it'll be a while before he is on his feet again. She winces a bit as she sees the pain across his face, almost as if she were feeling it too and shakes her head, "Oh, I'm sorry! I should have warned you..I guess this is my first experience with this illness though." though as the pain seems to subside, she seems relieved too, touching a hand to his forehead, checking carefully under the bandages to see if the spell worked. "Hmm didnt I tell you before? I'm a Cetra.." She closes her eyes now, glancing skywards, her lips moving slightly as if she were deep in prayer, or in a light trance. "Hmmm.." her hands move over his wounds, moving towards the focal point of the illness and hovering there a second, glowing in a strange, golden glow this time. After what seems a long moment, she finally murmurs softly, as if still in a trance, "I think......Yes, yes that's it, only.." nodding to herself, she presses down over the wound with her hands, almost sharply as if she were sending some energy through his body. Though initially a bit painful, it is more gentle, soothing than the first cure spell as if it were re-energizing his body, lending her strength to him, helping his body to fight the illness with what the Ancients know of this being Jenova.
"Yea. Didn really know it came with perks though." The disease is unchanged, still festering and bruisish looking. Though it's affect on him seems to be diminished. Even before she does the cool light-works magic, he's looking better. Some of the color returning to his skin and alertness returning to his eyes.
"Gah!nnngg" The cry of pain dissolves into another moan of pleasure. He goes glassy eyed, heavy lidded like a cat purring. He feels her strength curling up inside him, filling those hollow places left by what had happened with Sephiroth, by months of worry and the disease quietly working it's way through his body. Tears spring to his eyes, as happens when intense emotional healing occurs. They go unshed and he wipes the residual away. "You…you are an angel." He murmurs, voice nearly back to normal now.
She opens her eyes again, reaching a hand to his head, stroking his hair, trying to calm him as she works, "I'm sorry...It'll all be over soon, I promise.." though the pain takes a while to subside it finally does of course, just as a needle might hurt at first, before it heals the illness. Finally when the lightshow is finished and the warm, golden energy dissipates from around Aerith, returning the room to its normal intensity, she flops back in the seat, having exhausted a great deal of her energy in too-short a space of time. "Zack? How are you feeling?"
The man doesn't answer for a long moment, he's too busy marveling at her. That was amazing! While there isn't anything Aerith could do for his new colors, the rest of him feels 98 better! "I'm…better." Awe apparent in his now only slightly hoarse voice. The Stigma is still there and oozy, but its sapping pain is almost completely gone. Sits up and reaches for her hands, without a wince. "Are you all right though? You shouldn't have hurt yourself for me!" The scolding has no teeth, though there is concern in his dark eyes.
@emit %r%tShe smiles softly, happily now that Zack's on the road to recovery. Inwardly breathing a sigh of relief even; Thank goodness her magic didnt fail her! "I'm glad you're doing alright, Zack..Just do me a favor and dont mention what I did to anyone else.." even as she says that, she makes sure no one else overheard or oversaw it. It would do no good if more people like Hojo out there decided to experiment on her. Glancing back at him, she shrugs, "Hey, dont be silly, Zack! I want to help you as much as I can! It's why I'm here right? So dont worry about me, focus on recovering, okay?"
She smiles softly, happily now that Zack's on the road to recovery. Inwardly breathing a sigh of relief even; Thank goodness her magic didnt fail her! "I'm glad you're doing alright, Zack..Just do me a favor and dont mention what I did to anyone else.." even as she says that, she makes sure no one else overheard or oversaw it. It would do no good if more people like Hojo out there decided to experiment on her. Glancing back at him, she shrugs, "Hey, dont be silly, Zack! I want to help you as much as I can! It's why I'm here right? So dont worry about me, focus on recovering, okay?"
Zack nods and stuffs the pillows under his back so he can sit up more comfortably. "I wouldn't, even if you didn't say any thing." Too many people were sick with the Stigma, had family dieing. If they knew some one could supply this kind of relief, maybe even a cure, the poor woman would be run ragged! And it wasn't in her heart to say no. As selfish as it may be, he wants to keep her strength up so she can focus on Sephiroth.
"I'll be up and about in no time!" He consoles with a smirk. "Even before SOLDIER there wasn't much that could keep me down." Except English essays, literary terms were his kryptonite! "Will you be okay though? Seriously, as much as I want us to be better I won't have it if it hurts you in the long run."
"Oh, I'm fine..Usually it subsides in a bit. I guess I've had more experience with this illness now, since visiting the streets of Figaro..There were some cases much worse than yours." She smiles, "You were lucky it hadnt advanced too much yet." like Sephiroth's. She bites her lip, not wanting to glance over at the other occupant of the clinic. If she's desperate enough and cant help him, or some of those other serious cases she had come across, she may just have to ask Hojo what he knows about the illness. But not now, not with Zack around.
"Thanks Zack, I appreciate your keeping quiet. I'll continue to do what I can to help the others.." his usual optimistic nature causes her to giggle a bit, tilting her head, watching him curiously, "Heh, you're so impatient! It'd be good to get some rest here for a while first though..I'll do the same once I know you're okay. I'm sure my strength will return by tomorrow, then I can take a look at your..Friend."
Placated, for the moment, Zack turns his attention to the man whose form she's avoiding. The a pang of regret and fear shows on his face. Would Sephiroth die? After everything, would he still loose him? It's hard to think about. So much so that he lets some of his pessimism show. "For now. I don't think you'll be able to hold it back." He says distractedly, absently fingering the bandages on his neck. He could easily end up like the man next to him, weakened and afraid. Though, Sephiroth's reasons were a lot different than his would be. "Yea. I'll stay put." He turns back to her, managing a smile again. "I kinda need the rest after everything. Sides, they don't hire old maids here like they do in Midgar." He sticks his tongue out at her, grinning.
Aerith sighs a bit, "Oh I know, there's only so much I can do, but at least it's better than nothing, right? I just need to find out more about this illness, talk to some other...People, experts on the subject. I'm sure I'll think of something! Oh!" she nearly rises from her seat, as a thought hits her, "Hey, you said when you told him, his condition flared..Can you be more specific? Did something erupt from the ground? Lifestream maybe? I need to see the area that it happened in.." catching the worry and fear in his voice, she finally ventures a glance towards Sephiroth, her gaze softening on him for a moment, a mixture of pity and fear tinging her heart, "He'll be alright. He's strong, Zack. He survived this long, didnt he? I'll do all that I can to make sure he's okay, so dont worry.." she grabs his hands again, bringing them to her face, brushing her lips over his knuckles as she kisses them softly, trying to calm him.
Zack nods. "I know I'm grateful. I'll be able to go and look for a cure now." As long as he had her to block the pain from time to time, that is. "Do you think going back to the church would help?" All of the stories about the cure revolved around the place. Maybe being there would help some how?
He eyes her when she asks about the LifeStream. "Errr..no. We just kinda…Have you ever gotten…" Okay, stabbed isn't the question he wants to be asking with Sephiroth laying behind him. "Your hand caught in a door or something and couldn't get it loose? Imagine that only your entire body. It's like…a burning, slicing, crushing pain where the Stigma is. Mine's just on my chest, his…" Another long look at the man mummified in bandages. "I don't think any one coulda with stood it if they were as bad as him. Hell, it probably woulda killed me outright." Considering the little bit on him now knocked him out for almost a day.
When she takes his hands, he smiles at her tenderly and leans forward to kiss her forehead. "Thanks for doing this for me, even after…" He extract one of his hands to trace where he thought the scar would be. Sorrow, anger and affection war across his features. What a mess!
"Hmm, I had considered that too. I know the flowers that used to grow there were particularly hardy. I always suspected it was due to a concentration of mako energy underneath the church. If I brought you there, maybe that would help, maybe even cure you guys completely.." she sighs, shaking her head, "Only..The church has been destroyed! I dont know what happened." Well, Rude had mentionned something about a faulty heater but.." she shrugs, smiling hopefully "Well, that's okay because Rufus said they'd see to getting it rebuilt..We should head back to Midgar soon..Soon as we get a chance to properly enjoy ourselves here.." a michievous smile plays on her lips, winking up at him, "..Soon as we get to have some fun in Figaro that is..."
Her smile fades though as he reminds her of why exactly she is here and she shakes her head stubbornly, "No, Zack, you dont have to apologize..You know I'd do anything for you.." even if being this near to Sephiroth sends a shudder down her body, every part of her being warning her against this. As long as she's with him, she'll be okay. She smiles, gazing lovingly into his eyes, reaching up a hand to brush a strand of grey hair out of his eyes, caressing his cheek lovingly.
The mako comment draws a puzzled look from the ex-SOLDIER. You know, that kinda made sense. The places were the LifeStream touched the surface were always lush and pristine. They'd spent a lot of time there, he wondered why it never crossed his mind. "Destroyed?! Oh, wait. Heh, I was there when you asked him." He rubs the back of his neck and looks embarrassed. The significance of it hadn't hit him until just now. Loosing a cherished retreat was one thing, the key to curing this bit of nasty was something else entirely.
Any thoughts on it are abruptly cut off with her flirting. Not enough blood, you know. He stares into her eyes with this dreamy sort of smirk. Oh wait, fun in Figaro? You tease! Ah well. Now that he knew what had plagued him all this time wouldn't happen, he could relax and cut loose. And boy did he need it!
"And I you." He says softly, a bit of that poetic spirit showing through. That is, until she brushes his hair back. Zack is so used to looking past his hair that he hadn't noticed the color change. "What the?!" He pulls the longer strands from behind his ears and eyes them. "Holy crap! Is my whole head like this?!"
Aerith is already giggling as she runs her fingers through his hair, shaking her head, "No, it's not all grey, just a few strands here and there..Hey, you've been worrying too much Zack! But that's okay, it's a new look for you!" she smiles and winks mischievously at him, "Yeah, I say we both need some time to kick back and relax, have some fun for once, right? Oh, I had a look around, it's such a beautiful town, Zack! So warm and fresh and different from Midgar..I kinda dont want to leave.."