confessions and collywobbles - Traverse Town 2nd District [ OPEN TO CLOUDIA ]

[landofcanaan]

After her abrupt and brief meeting with the red-coated stranger's more refined, twin brother, Aerith had retreated briefly into the hotel to fetch her coat as she was in dire need of a nice walk. A breath of fresh hair had been nice, but she was quick to find herself in need of another kind of peace and quiet, the kind that wasn't entirely quiet at

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[sunshine_dark]

It took quite a while more than expected, but after the meeting with the girl in the tavern Cloud managed to shove the previous meeting to the back of his mind. The girl, Alice, had decided not to linger around but it had been a welcome distraction. Instead of thinking too much about what had been bothering him, he felt a little more at ease afterward. The worries about heartless had been downsized to a lingering feeling of uneasyness.

For the moment, anyhow.

By some graces he managed to pay for what he ate and headed out again. This time the refuge he had claimed above the Waterway was the goal; a good snooze before heading out could never hurt.

Whence making his way out of the first district and into the second, the blonde circled around the path which wrapped around the district, overlooking the ground level. Picking out the girl clad in pink was difficult not to do in a town that had such a sparse distribution of bright colors.

Cloud paused. He wasn't going to make it a goal to bother her since she had wanted some time to herself. Finding another route wasn't out of the question.

[landofcanaan]

Aerith didn't notice Cloud standing there at first, which was blatantly obvious as she shook her head and stared deeper at the dry fountain.

"I don't understand..." The flower girl spoke quietly as she shivered a moment, though the sensation was not derived from the bitter cold. "What are you trying to tell me?"

They were fruitless inquiries. Aerith knew it all too well. She wondered if perhaps it was human nature to question what wasn't meant to be questioned rather than remain patient. The answers would come in time as they always did, and she knew that she was just being impatient. Given the nature of what she'd experienced, however, it made sense that she would be anxious to unravel this, particular riddle.

The pink-clad woman stiffened for just a moment, whirling around as though someone had just tapped her on the shoulder to see Cloud standing right there. Her heart skipped a beat, and she found herself at a complete loss for words for perhaps the second time that day.

Honestly, Aerith had meant to say something, but having it slip out like this... He'd probably think her mad.

"Cloud..." She clasped her hands behind her back, forcing herself to look at him and not avoid his eyes. "I must look kind of silly, huh?" The young woman forced herself to laugh.

[sunshine_dark]

What wonderful observational skills were possessed seemed to go hand-in-hand with just a similar gifted talent in good timing, or lack thereof in both cases. Instead of bad timing, he just felt like he got caught eavesdropping on something important and confidential. The reaction was about the same of any guilty person: As soon as the girl looked in his direction, the blonde forcefully looked another way in order to avoid it.

Cloud only scratched his head, probably underlining the obvious feeling of intrusion. “Not more than usual.” Was she acting particularly strange or silly? Not..really. People sorted things out aloud lots of times; doing so wasn’t particularly weird or anything. As a person who was noted for being pretty off-key, he couldn’t say anything. He didn’t mean to imply that she was to begin with. “..Not..that you...uh.” A sigh filled out the rest of the sentence.

Well, he could sure add something along the lines of his lack of verbal skills to the list that was beginning to compile of things that he wasn’t gifted with.

“Whatever you’re doing, It’s none of my business right?”

[landofcanaan]

Aerith just smiled as he stuttered, eventually coming back to a response she'd half-expected. Cloud was, well, Cloud. It would still be hard, but...

"Well, it might be your business. There's something I kind of wanted to talk to you about. You, Sephiroth, and Zack, more specifically. Leon too, but it's kind of hard for me." The flower girl smiled, almost a touch nervously, before she turned back to face the fountain. "I know that must be pretty hard to believe, considering I never stop talking and all." Best to be light about it.

Aerith had to wonder if it was the best option all in all, always smiling and joking around about things like this. She always found that it lightened the load somewhat. For herself, anyway. Maybe it was her selfish, little way of dealing with things to cover up the fear that he wouldn't want to know, wouldn't care, or worse yet. He might be angry at her keeping it a secret.

No, the feeling had been clear, as it had been so many times before. It was time to look into things, and she wouldn't be able to do it alone.

"Um, I know I planned to stick around for a while and maybe go to the Coliseum with you and Zack, but I think I might have to cancel for now. I need to go back to Hollow Bastion for a little bit." Aerith reached down to touch her hand against the cool stone ledge she'd been sitting on. "I'm curious about some things a little bird told me."

[sunshine_dark]

"A little bird?" Well, she had his attention when she talked so strangely--especially when it concerned Hollow Bastion. 'What are you talking about?' Cloud narrowed his eyes at her cynically and seriously. Calling off everything else must meant that it was pretty serious.

The trip (or escapade) to the Coliseum probably wouldn't have been for a long time anyway. Canceling it was fine; partially he suspectes that they both had said yes just to hinder any potential of dissagreement anyway. Though he was sure some slight dissapointment would follow; the three of them hadn't done anything like that in years.

He disreguarded his stairside perch, circling to the wallside his friend stood aside. "That..... must've been some bird."

[landofcanaan]

Aerith laughed lightly, though the sound seemed somehow weary as it died in the cold, night air. Cloud... what would he think of it? Of her? What would everyone think to know that she'd hidden something that was quite frankly very important.

"You... could say that," she finally said, turning her head to look at him as he approached with a small smile. How did one go about talking about this sort of thing?

"I've been keeping a secret to myself for some time, something that I always wanted to talk about but could never find the courage to mention. Maybe it was childish of me, maybe it was wrong of me, but..." Aerith looked up at the sky again and sighed. "Zack and Sephiroth's confessions were so frank and honest that it really made me reflect on my hesitation. You're my friends, you, Zack, Leon, and I really do trust the General too. I should've said something earlier, and I'm sorry."

The silence hung thickly in the air until she could no longer stand it.

"I'm... well, I'm different too."

[sunshine_dark]

The silence which lingered before those few words were spoken lingered again afterward, more heavily than before.

Different how?

He didn't want to ask, simply because he dreaded what answer the question could bring. The words themselves made uneasy knots of dread well up in Cloud’s stomach. "Different" was something he continually was forced to deal with, most cases of which were unpleasant; Hollow Bastion, Zack, the General, of course it would come down to Aerith as much as he disliked the thought. Change wasn't necessarily a bad thing, it just seemed like every time there was something that changed it always did so for the worst. A first in order to break that pattern would be welcome, but still met with the same cautiousness.

They had met a while back in the Halls of that library back home. Even then, He hadn’t noticed anything different, aside from the given things which were aided by time-slightly longer hair, being a little taller or wiser than the last time they met.

"You don't have anything to apologize for. We're all a little different, It happens." Somewhere along the train of thought, the blonde had inadvertently hung his head. He didn’t try to correct the unintentional action. All this talk of secrets and even having an apology laid out for not saying anything beforehand...

Cloud rubbed the side of his face with his palm, "But I'm guessing you mean something else that would be worth not mentioning."

[landofcanaan]

Aerith noted the way he hung his head, quietly accepting what he said without turning the tables on him and prying about it. A few years ago, she might've, but, as she kept telling herself, she'd grown up. And, in this case, she understood.

"Right. Thanks, Cloud, but I think I'm ready to tell. I almost feel like I should, no..." the flower girl's voice trailed off for a moment. "No, I want to talk about it. I've been putting it off for way too long."

The air was still for the time being. Aerith exhaled, watching the small puff of smoke that filled the quiet air. Let it out. Let it go. It'll be easier later. Besides. It's Cloud.

"I guess I mean to say that I've always been different. I'm adopted, you know, and I never knew much about my real parents, but, ever since I was little, I could hear things that other people couldn't hear. It always bothered Mom when she'd walk on me talking to nothing." Aerith had to laugh genuinely at herself. "Please, I know it sounds crazy, but it's really true." A moment to compose herself was needed before she continued. It... well, it wasn't so hard now that she was getting into it.

"As I grew up, I started to recognize it more, become more familiar with it. I sort of felt the Heartless before Ansem officially opened the door, even if I didn't know exactly what they were or how to save Hollow Bastion." Sometimes she still felt guilty about that. "I had my ideas about what the voice was, but it was when I came here that I really started to get a feel for it. You might notice where we're standing now." Aerith gestured to the fountain, to the Heart. "I come here to talk to the Heart of Traverse a lot. We're actually good friends, even if it doesn't make a lot of sense most of the time." She tilted her head to side and smiled up at Cloud. Hopefully it wouldn't seem to outlandish, and if it did?

Hopefully he at least wouldn't think she was crazy.

[sunshine_dark]

It wasn’t a change like she’d made him think at first, making it a relief that it wasn’t through influence like the other two. So this ...ability had always been there but just neglect in the way of mentioning it-With good reason. If she had said that she talked to some ..thing which embodied the heart of the world back then, they would have surely thought it crazy. In light of the recent years of having hearts of the worlds, darkness, heartless, and sealing worlds coming into play more frequently it sounded plausible.

That didn’t mean that the news didn’t take one back a little bit, it was still quite a bit to accept in one sitting. If he hadn’t been slightly dumbfounded at everything Aerith had laid out, maybe the word ‘crazy’ would have crossed his mind at some point. In spite of all of it, Cloud drew a blank on what to say to everything.

Instead, he looked slowly to what she had pointed out: Heart of Traverse? Heart of the World. It looked just like a regular fountain, rusted over at certain places and camouflaged into the dingy exterior of Traverse. If it were practically anyone else he would dismiss this idea right as some sort of tall tale, coming from one of his friends made him consider it more carefully.

He spoke slowly and carefully about it in response, “Hearing it when a heartless invades the world must really be a unsettling sound. I don’t think I’d ever want to hear it.” It was his little way of saying that if she said so he’d believe her, but it still sounded a little out there.

Cloud turned more towards the fountain itself, “So.. what does it say when it talks to you?” Somehow he didn’t expect that she would have a chat to the Heart of the World about the weather.

[landofcanaan]

She anticipated his reaction anxiously, biting her lip unconsciously before he finally spoke up. All at once, Aerith seemed to relax visibly, the smiles all genuine now as relief flooded over her.

Two in one day. Times like these were why she knew she could depend on Cloud; she only hoped that he knew that he could depend on her too.

"It wasn't pretty, I can tell you that much," the flower girl answered honestly, shuddering from a force that was most assuredly not the chilly, winter air. But on to less painful subjects. It was really a huge weight off of her shoulders to finally have someone, Cloud, know, and it made talking about the matter so much easier. Even if maybe she wasn't all that used to doing so yet.

"Hmm, it's really hard to describe. Most of the time, it's not very clear. I just sort of know what it's trying to say or feel it. It can be a little weird and even scary sometimes, but..." Aerith paused, wondering how to phrase her thoughts. "...it's kind of a comfort most of the time."

[sunshine_dark]

Her explanation of ‘Being able to understand it without actually understanding it’ didn’t really succeed in clarifying much. Despite the confusion, he went along with it trying to contribute where he could trying his best to offer some sort of feeling of understanding. Gasping most of the explanation wasn’t too terribly difficult, but being the only one with these abilities obviously made it difficult to put everything into layman terms.

If she could hear the heart of the world, where did that leave the other hearts in other worlds, or even other entities? The heartless which lacked hearts, the people who inhabited it, it sounded like they all could be heard or felt on some level; She was always rather keen on reading people, too. “Actually, I think this ability of yours would explain a lot. Maybe it doesn’t have anything to do with it but you do always seem to ..know things.” Cloud gave her a mope-y expression when the thought passed through his mind that there was a chance she could hear him.

The blonde tilted briefed a visual pass at the quiet fountain again. “Why does it want you to go back to Hollow Bastion? That world is sealed.”

[landofcanaan]

"Hmm. Maybe you're onto something with that," Aerith mused seriously. She'd always had an eerie sort of intuition when it came to people that she knew and scared about. The young woman was well aware that it could tend to put people off sometimes, particularly people like Cloud. She laughed. "Don't worry, though. It isn't like I can read your mind or anything. I doubt there are many things that can unravel the mystery that is the mind of Cloud Strife."

And then the more serious question. Aerith pondered just how to answer it... It was wonderful to get this off her chest, but it was so difficult to put into words.

"I don't know. Not exactly, anyhow. I just know that I felt almost sick a few seconds ago. Something's happening back home. I'm sure of it," Aerith finally replied, meeting Cloud's eyes with a serious, worried look. "I've got to go see. I don't think I'll be able to just ignore it."

[sunshine_dark]

As comforting as confirmation was, it...well..wasn’t. He never really thought of himself as a mystery, but leave it to Aerith to take a comment such as that and consider it the opportunity to poke fun at him. She couldn’t read his mind, though sometimes he just had to wonder. (Maybe it was plain ol’ intuition..)

On to more serious matters-this rough description concerning Hollow Bastion sounded kind of serious, though sketchy as far as details. Aerith was the more rational out of the people he knew, so if she felt this strongly about something it would have a reason for it. “It’s Hollow Bastion. They have quite a lot of people there to look after the place.” Cloud paused, dismayed at having to mention the newest re-addition to Hollow Bastion, “Even a military.”

Changed as she might have over the years, odds are that his friend was still a stubborn girl. There was no way convincing her would do much good. At least if she was going to check into it, she would have the numbers in her favor. “If your intuition got you this far it’s probably best to follow that. But say there is something wrong what could you do about it?”

[landofcanaan]

"I don't exactly know," Aerith answered honestly, casting her gaze down at the fountain again as though looking for some sort of additional information to be prompted by her friend's question. Whatever the reason, it was hard to ignore the impulse, and she knew that she wouldn't be able to keep her wits about her constantly worrying about home. No, she'd have to make sure everything was alright first.

"I just know that this... this intuition has gotten me pretty far up until this point. If I go there, I'll find something. It wouldn't tell me if it didn't think I could do anything about it." Aerith sighed and looked up at the sky. At least maybe she'd be able to catch some sun while she was there. "You won't miss me too much, will you?"

[sunshine_dark]

“You say all that then ask me how I’m going to be.” Cloud shook his head, not sure whether to be amused at the question or not. Having to get along by his lonesome was the least of his worries. She wanted to leave him with the knowledge that their could be something going on back at home and have him be at ease with not going to help out? It would be strange to sit on the sidelines as opposed to doing something. Even in the past he tried to help out where he could.

The thing was that Aerith was right. If anyone were fit to go investigate, it was the person who could tell there was something wrong in the first place. Hollow Bastion, of all places, should’ve been the most secure place to go looking for trouble he supposed.

After thinking for a moment more, Cloud managed a response to her selfless question, “ ‘I’ll manage as long as you make it back in one piece.’ How’s that?”

[landofcanaan]

Aerith smiled gratefully at his response. He'd taken it all well, and he understood that she needed to go. He wasn't going to lecture her about the safety of her decision, nor was he going to judge what she'd just told him and label her as a lunatic.

She'd really miss him when she went away. Unless...

The comfort of having someone else along for the ride might've been a little selfish to want, but Aerith wondered if Cloud wouldn't agree to come along. Sure, she might be able to figure out what was going on alone, but if things got sour, the woman wasn't one to think she'd be able to face whatever danger had surfaced alone. Still, asking Cloud to come along when Zack had returned so soon and with so much to sort out with the General.

But Aerith couldn't make those decisions for Cloud or presume to know what he would want. It was an offer she had to extend, and an offer he had to accept or decline. She clasped her hands together in front of her.

"You could always come with me, you know," she said, the offer coming with a small smile. "I know there's a lot to be done here, and I can't ask you to leave with Zack and... and everything. But you're welcome to come, if you'd like, and I know I'd like your company."