(Untitled)

[kaiserknuckle]

[ Stained glass creates colorful rainbows of patterns on the wooded floor, beams of sunlight streaming in through the holes in the roof. Despite the decrepit nature, the church is fairly well kept, clean and free of most forms of debris (though there are more than a few shattered wood beams and pews scattered here and there); the one thing that

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[auncyenhalig]

[ This isn't the Midgar she left, and the vision worries her. In the remains of Sector Five she almost heads for her house before remembering that Mom and Marlene left, so whatever happened to the house, no one would have gotten hurt.

So she heads to the church. Even if the wreckage makes her feel disoriented she knows her way by heart and gets there quickly enough. To see it still standing is a massive relief, and she runs in the door, eager for sanctuary, comfort.

She halts for a second when she sees the woman by the flowers before recognizing her friend and calling out, in a voice far livelier than their surroundings: ] Tifa, you're here! You're okay!

[ She half-walk, half-run over in her excitement. ]

[kaiserknuckle]

[ That voice.

She knows that voice, the teasing lilt, the lively essence. Not wanting to turn, Tifa freezes in place, hands shaking.

There's no way. There's no way at all.

She had to calm herself, and she took a deep breath, steadying her body before she turned expecting to see no one there.

But there she is, pink dress and all, and Tifa's hands fly up to her mouth as she gasps. ] Aerith....!

my s's mysteriously vanished in that last sentence.

[auncyenhalig]

[ She stops just in front of Tifa, pink dress and all, vivid and real -- as real as it gets in a dream, anyway. But despite her initial smile, confusion and doubt sneaks over her face again and she turns her head, taking in the state of the church before looking at her friend again. ]

Mm ... Tifa, what happened? What's going on? This isn't right.

all good!!

[kaiserknuckle]

[ Tifa's answer is to rush forward and give her friend a big, tight hug, eyes squeezed shut. She wants to make sure you're really here -- that you're not some figment of her imagination. ] Aerith... I'm so sorry...

pretend that's not Zack lol

[auncyenhalig]

[ There's a moment of confusion before Aerith hugs tightly back -- even if nothing is making sense to her, she doesn't want Tifa to be upset. ] You're sorry? There's no way you could have made this great mess!

... And, you were taking care of the flowers, weren't you? [ It registers just now, Aerith looking at the garden in confusion. The tranquility hasn't changed, the flowers haven't ... so why does that seem strange when it's obvious everything else has gone off? ] Hm ... Thank you. I'm sure they're glad for the attention.