Mourning Again - Open mainly to Cloud [ Midgar - Morning ]

[cetrasoul]

It had been a long week for Aerith Gainsborough. She was so skilled at wearing a smile and dancing around the subject of her father's disappearance. It seemed to flawless, so easy, even when, deep inside, she was breaking. The strain of her father's death, and... and something else entirely. She would feel faint from time to time, exhausted when

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[heartofstrife]

After a mediocre breakfast in the mess hall, Cloud slipped through the ambling SOLDIERS and cadets back to his room. He'd finally finished that stupid remedial magicks class, thank god, and it had left him with his mornings free until just before lunch. At least until his CO realized that he was available. It wasn't that he was goofing off, though. Since Sora vanished, he'd been left to do all the repairs to the training grounds himself, as well as the remedial class. Funny, he thought, it was such a sudden thing. Not that he didn't sort of understand. It still had left him stuck with all the work. At least now it was all done.

When he got back to his room, Cloud slipped into his uniform jacket and picked up a book from his desk. Educational Speaking or How to Teach for Dummies it was called. He'd borrowed it out of the library to help him with talking to the class that he'd been told to teach. He'd kept it, reading a little every evening, but now that he was done with the class, he never had to look at it again, thank god

[heartofstrife]

Decision after decision. It seemed overwhelming to Cloud all the choices that came with making a da--going out to dinner. He frowned a little, trying to think, glad that she was being so patient. Is it even proper of me to get her address? Oh god, do I even have anything clean to wear? Come to think of it, maybe he should meet her here at the library. "I...I can, um, how about if meet you here? Um...what time...?"

[cetrasoul]

Well, there was an idea. He was bright, even though they might have to work on his speaking skills at some point. The thought was merely a passing joke, Aerith assuming he would open up to her more over time.

"That'll work just fine. I get off around five. Is that early enough?" The flower girl grinned, that familiar twinkle in her bright, green eyes. "But you really don't need to be so nervous. Is this going to be your first date?"

[heartofstrife]

The color reappeared on Cloud's face, much to his dismay. He supposed it was obvious that he didn't associate with girls very much. And the light in her eyes made him think that, despite the kindness, he was going to be made fun of. Like most girls did.

But then again, at least she had asked up front, before she'd gotten any illusions of him being suave and debonair. That was Zack's field. He braced himself and nodded, still blushing red, and staring down at his feet. He wouldn't blame her if she decided not to stay with him, but at least he would be honest about things.