The pictures you took that cover your room...

[thishealingwind]

Characters: Aerith Gainsborough (thishealingwind), Cloud Strife (de_faulty_hero), Zack Fair (1st_class_honor)
Location: Holocaust Mall
Rating: PG at most?
Time: 10 am - Oct 7th, 2009
Description: Cloud and Zack need tuxs for the party. Aerith needs a dress. Obviously, they should all go together. (Okay, so Aerith strong armed them.)

Comments

[de_faulty_hero]

Cloud was apprehensive about meeting both Zack and Aerith together, fairly certain that he didn't belong on this sort of odd adventure. It didn't help that he had to go shopping of all things, and it wasn't even for something that he wanted. No materia, no swords, no items like potions. No, he had to go in order to get clothes, which seemed vastly out of his league of things that had to be done.

The company would be fine he was certain, but he'd rather save the world again than toe the line when it came to trying stuff on. It was some kind of group torture devised by Aerith to see them suffer, though he had no doubt that Zack would be a better sport about it than he would. He just plain wasn't interested.

Still, he arrived through the crowd precisely on time. He spotted them standing near the door and stuffed his hands in his pockets and did his best not to look completely dejected. His nailbat swung from the leather attaching it to his back, and he wondered how many times he would not to combat in the mall.

He pulled the pair of sunglasses down from obscuring his eyes and peered at the other two. "You sure you want to go through with this, Aerith?"

[thishealingwind]

Aerith waved back with a big smile on her face, waiting patiently as Zack walked over to her waiting spot. It had been pretty easy to convince him to come. The random element was Cloud - he'd been pretty hesitant about coming, and she worried a bit that he would call to cancel. He wouldn't stand them up, Cloud had never done that before, but this wasn't exactly a life or death ordeal either.

"Hey, handsome," she said, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him lightly on the cheek in greeting. "He should be. He's not late, yet!"

As if on cue, she heard his familiar voice from behind her, and she turned to meet him with bright eyes. "There you are!" The Cetra took light steps, not quite skipping, over to him before she leaned forward to grab his hand and pull him towards Zack. "Of course I am," she said as she pulled the group together, grabbing Zack's hand in her free one. "We better get started before either of you try to change your minds!"

[1st_class_honor]

Zack was easy to convince on most things. Go streaking through the cafeteria, sure. Do a hundred squats in two minutes, why not. Eat this creepy looking bug with the ten legs, give it here! Shopping, though, was a totally different avenue. Given the opportunity, Zack would’ve gone shopping on his own, but probably would’ve come in with a suit made out Hawaiian shirt patterns. The only reason why he so readily agreed now was because of the company.

It didn’t get any better than this.

He slipped an arm around her slender waist when she kissed his cheek, smiling and kissing hers in response, before he let the distance fall between them. Cloud was here, and the breath he was holding slid out. Good! He wasn’t the only one dragged out on this adventure. Raising his hand, he waved it back and forth, grinning. Over here!

“Hey, man, misery loves company.” He felt his hand being taken and followed along after her, trying to ignore the death-themed stores. This place never seemed to get any less morbid.

Smirking over Aerith’s head, he winked at Cloud, teasing both birds with one stone. “You know, I bet we could lose her at a shoe store and totally make a break for it.” And he made sure to tighten his abs in that second in case she decided to elbow him for that.

[de_faulty_hero]

While he tried to pass it off as apathy, it was hard to not suddenly feel like the third wheel already. Those two looked so happy together, and it was like an intrusion he didn't want to be apart of. Friends took the bullet after all. He should walk ahead and take out anyone trying to take up any of their time that they had together.

What would it be like to deck someone in a shopping mall? Probably like a bad night on the town, but at least he'd be asked to leave the mall.

Ah, he had never been behind this adventure in the first place, so there was no mind changing required. Still, he allowed himself to be dragged along into the mall proper. He glanced at Zack, but he had to wrinkle his nose. Was Aerith one of those girls easily distracted by shoes? "Are you sure?" He didn't sound convinced.

[thishealingwind]

"Hey," Aerith began, looking at them seriously. "There will be no misery today, got that? This is going to be fun." After all, they were together, and it didn't really matter what they did. What could possibly go wrong?

The Cetra frowned slightly, pouting as she looked over at Zack. "I don't even really like shoes," she said, bumping her hip into his. "Besides, now that you've told me your plan, you have no hope of escape." Her tone held just enough humor that it would be easy to know that she wasn't actually angry.

She led them into the mall, releasing her grip on their hands as she spotted a nearby map further into the main hallway. She walked briskly over to it, perusing the different shop names to look for formal wear. There seemed to be one nearby on this floor, just around the corner. She spun around and motioned for them to follow. "This way!"

[1st_class_honor]

Well, Aerith might have been one of those girls distracted by shoes if Zack was just walking around talking about his silly plans within earshot. Instead, she pouted (ouch! Right through the heart there, girlie!), and shot down his elaborate and amazing getaway. Alas.

“You know, I think we might be able to put the ‘fun’ back into ‘dysfunctional’ on this trip.” Laughing, he elbowed Cloud in the side, letting her hand go as she drifted to the map. Zack, however, had a moment of distraction when he spotted a soft pretzel stand. Leave it to him to find food within five seconds of being there.

Shiva, it smelled good. And, seriously, just be happy that he didn’t go into the toy store. The suction-tipped dart guns might just call his name.

Perking up as Aerith led them away, he cast one last longing look at the pretzel stand, before walking after them. “So, if you don’t like shoes, what do you like to shop for?”

[de_faulty_hero]

This was going to be active torture, but he decided not to say that outloud because it was bound to get him pouted at. Then he would have to put in an active effort to make it fun. As it was now, he could just wander around like he was dazed and confused about what to even do in a mall. Wall Street was hardly any kind of organized set of shops like this place.

He grunted when he was elbowed, casting a glare at his friend as he simply crossed his arms over his chest and looked awkward. He noted that Zack was already distracted by food, and he decided it was best to leave it like that while Aerith stared at the map.

"Cute boys," he replied to Zack's question in a dead-pan voice as he followed after Aerith's direction.

[thishealingwind]

Aerith scoffed a bit, though all in good humor. "There is nothing 'dysfunctional' over a trip to the mall with friends," she protested, glancing over her shoulder at them before turning back to the map. "Fun is all I will allow today, got that?"

The Cetra didn't fail to notice Zack's longing looks as he caught sight of the pretzel stand, and she had to laugh. "Shopping first, food afterwards. It'll be your reward, okay?"

Aerith was about to remark when Cloud did it for her. Her mouth closed shut as she looking over at the blonde, surprised by his words. She would have glared if she wasn't trying so hard to get him into a good mood. "I don't shop for boys," she protested. "What kind of girl do you think I am?"

[1st_class_honor]

Zack suddenly felt his mom's frown superimposed in her scoff, and though he knew they were getting into trouble, he couldn't help but snicker. After all, that's what he did when he was kid, too, laughing when his mother gave him The Look. "Don't worry, I'm sure we'll have fun." Especially when he started picking out clothes for everyone to try on. Fashion stylist, Zack was not.

Reward was the magic word. His imaginary tail started to wag, and he nodding, rather satisfied with such an answer. Food won him over every time. "Hey, okay, so maybe this won't be so bad. Let's get this done and over with!"

Ooouch, Cloud. But Zack snickered, reaching an arm around the blonde's shoulders, trying to smooth everything over before Aerith glared. "Well, she's already got the two best looking ones in the city right here. Guess there's no way of distracting her away from us then, huh? Doomed, I tell ya! Doomed."

[de_faulty_hero]

Except for the fact that all three of them were dysfunctional in some shape or form. Some more than others, actually, and he was probably still the most dysfunctional out of their entire group of three. "Fun like a hole in the head," he muttered to himself, making sure to keep it quiet.

It was amazing how easily Zack could be bribed into having a good time at a shopping mall. He shot his friend the 'you traitor' look when Aerith was leading the way to the store. He wasn't so convinced by food, but he had to put in the effort to make this fun for them.

Grunting at Zack's arm around his shoulders, he trudged along even as he rolled his eyes at Aerith. "You picked up a guy who fell through your ceiling. Probably Zack too, since I hear he entered that way too." It was amazing how similar their lives had been. "You mean you," he replied simply.

[thishealingwind]

"You know, if you'd just stop complaining and dragging your feet, this really wouldn't take that long," she said, putting her hands on her hips and giving each of the a look.

At least Zack seemed to have found a reason to get into it. He always had been pretty easy to please.

Aerith was still huffing a bit at Cloud's words, ever so slightly insulted by them. Just because she was nice to people, and perhaps a bit flirtatious, didn't mean that she was shopping. Hmph.

"Yes, both fell through the roof of my Church," she said, breaking into a smile at that. "And Zack's right, you're both doomed until I'm done with you." She motioned for them to follow her into the next store, who's window display held mannequins all dressed in formal wear . "I'm sure there's something that will suit you guys in here, and then I can stop torturing you, okay?"

[1st_class_honor]

What a bunch they were, weird and joined together by strange circumstances that repeated like a movie sequel. After all, how often is it that you have two people fall in from your roof? Zack snickered when he heard Cloud muttering (though he didn’t hear all of it and filled in the blanks with sarcastic quips of his own), then immediately stopped under her Look. Uh oh. “Don’t worry, we’ll behave.” Which was a relative term; “behaving” for them was different than it was for other people.

Of course, he made sure to blatantly wink at Cloud, that Okay, not really, we’ll stir up some trouble here, just give it a minute. Never a dull moment, you two. Never a dull moment.

Zack stopped at the window, staring at the mannequins. “It doesn’t even look comfortable.” Suits all stiff and starched, the plastic limbs all jammed in awkward angles to look optimal. Tch. He wondered if they had any nice hats in there, though. Cool fedoras or derbys. “You just need to take off the roof of that church and put in an escalator or stunt pillow thing. More people drop in than use the door, anyway.”

[de_faulty_hero]

Yes, they would behave for the most part until it came to trying on embarrassing clothing. Then he might just drag his feet more than he was doing right now. He wasn't about to inform either Zack nor Aerith of that fact because he had been arm locked into coming in the first place.

Plus, he was already feeling a little like the third wheel because of his resistance in being here. Still, he stopped in front of the window anyway and looked at the few suits on display. He was pretty certain he paled a little and rubbed the back of his head.

"Why does formal stuff look like torture devices?"

[thishealingwind]

Aerith's arms crossed over her chest at Zack's 'I'll behave,' her eyes studying him closely. The chances that the two of them would actually behave was quite slim, in her opinion, but as long as they ended the day with formal wear and a few smiles, she would be happy. As far as Cloud was concerned, the latter was going to be a difficult undertaking.

The Cetra chuckled at the thought of putting an escalator through the roof of the church, and she shook her head. "Even Reno managed to use the door," she teased. "You two just felt the need to be special."

"I can't believe you both are intimidated by something as harmless as a suit," she joked. "You're supposed to be battle-hardened warriors. And they're certainly no more torturous that the armor and metal you're used to wearing." Aerith proceeded to push them into the store, past the displays outside.

Sorry this took me so long ;-;

[1st_class_honor]

Special? Special isn’t the word most would use when referring to Zack and Cloud, especially in their methods of entrance. “Difficult” might be more fitting. “Painful”. “Idiotic” (though, that one’s more former, less latter). Anything other than “special” unless the speaker was being generous, which Aerith usually was.

“We just have more flair than Reno, that’s all.” One hand waved, brushing the whole notion away, before elbowing Cloud in the side. “Turks wish they could be as cool as us, you know.”

Torture devices. Yeah. That’s a good example. “We’re not intimidated; it’s just-I mean, what the hell is a cummerbund for? It looks like a backbrace on backwards! At least our stuff kept us safe.” He rolled his eyes but went inside. Thin socks that kept one’s feet cold. Ties of every hue and length and pattern, some pre-tied like nooses. Suits, tuxes, vests and shirts. Crap, where to start….

He looked to Aerith and shrugged. “Might as well get started. On Cloud, I mean.” Ha.

[de_faulty_hero]

Well, by that point in his life, he was getting used to doing stupid stuff. He didn't actually think that he would live to walk off after falling from the upper plate, but apparently Aerith's flower garden was just that soft. Besides, Reno would have flown a helicopter in if the hole had been big enough most likely.

"It was more a matter of circumstance for me," he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "I was falling completely expecting to not get up again." He grunted at the elbowing but shook it off easily after the initial surprise. "Well... as cool as you, if you're referring to SOLDIER versus Turks."

He said nothing as he looked at the odd suits, letting Zack voice displeasure for the both of them. He frowned, looking like this was the first time he had been in a store like this and not sure what to do. He reached out and pushed a jacket to the side and wrinkled his nose before blinking and turning an icy glare at his friend for suggesting him first. "I know where you sleep at night."