Chance Meeting?

[stoic_heroism]

Who: Cloud Strife, Aerith Gainsborough
Status: Semi-Open (to those in 7th Heaven)
When: 10:00AM
Where: 7th Heaven - Indoors
What: Cloud comes home after some morning deliveries, and Aerith wants to have a talk.

Comments

[revenio]

Aerith had been moving about the bar throughout the morning. It was strange to wander about the place where time still moved. In the lifestream, she had been able to see things. But change, oddly enough, wasn't very obvious to her. She could see it, but to walk through it was something else entirely. She had been in the bar before, long ago, but now it seemed so different it was like a new place. Or maybe it was just they way her body felt about its new environment. She wasn't sure which it was.

Venturing into the back, Aerith was just about to turn on her heel to leave. Her appetite wasn't very strong since her return and the kitchen didn't appeal to her much. That is, until the back door opened.

"Cloud?" She asked, freezing to the spot. Just the person she had been wanting to find, but hesitant to do so at the same time. She smiled at the blond, regardless. "... taking a break?"

[stoic_heroism]

Cloud turned to look into the kitchen at the sound of his name, at first thinking it was Tifa. He paused as he found his eyes falling on Aerith instead, his body seeming to sag for a moment before he reminded himself that he was not seeing the dead.

He pushed his fingers through his wet hair and stepped into the kitchen completely. He thought she might be a little nervous encountering him after how he had reacted the night before. He would have to patch things over despite the sudden swirling questions in his mind.

Despite that, it felt good to see her. He felt a pang of old guilt as its presence would bring a greater rememberance of her.

"Aerith," he murmured softly, glancing around the kitchen. "Just stopping in to check some messages and such. How... are you feeling?"

[revenio]

"I'm okay," Aerith replied, and though it was vague, it a mostly-true response. She felt much better than she had the day before. The worries and questions were still present in her mind, but being around her friends and seeing them again--in the flesh--was nice. More than nice, but she almost was afraid that it was too selfish a thought to speak aloud.

Staying where she was, Aerith continued, "... but I'm wondering how you are, Cloud." The past day had been crazy for her, and she could only imagine what it was like for him.

She wouldn't lie and tell him not to worry. There probably was something to worry about. She wouldn't be alive, otherwise. But she didn't want to see him hurt himself by keeping everything in.

[stoic_heroism]

Nodding his head, Cloud was pleased to hear that. He had been hoping that even the simpleness of a place to stay, meals, and being with old friends would be enough. He felt a little guilty up and leaving to get everything arranged for their stay instead of finding more out about how they were doing.

His eyes dropped to stare at the floor when she returned the question. He should have expected a return of the question. He was very aware that both Tifa and Aerith could get more from him than most usually could. He already knew he was reverting back to the old ways of hiding things.

"I'm... surprised," he murmured softly. "However, I'm dealing with it slowly. It was just... not what I was expecting." He frowned but didn't voice the other thought in his mind.