Cloud

[residentflorist]

code

Lilium
Derived from Latin lilia, which may have come from a corrupted
pronunciation of a word from an extinct Eastern Mediterranean language
Humility, devotion, restored innocence after death

"Lovers used to give these when they were reunited."

Comments

[residentflorist]

People are freaking out. Even if they aren't showing it all the same way. [...] There's a lot of kids here, too.

[and that definitely makes her unhappy, actually. they already have their own teenager to take care of, but there are so many of them.]

[residentmerc]

You know what I mean. [ they aren't freaking out... as much as they could be if they were normal. but yeah, kids. he looks away ] At least none of them are that young.

[ if you can join the army at thirteen it means it's fine they are sooo old ]

[residentflorist]

[she looks at him because right, yeah, maybe she shouldn't be using him as a gauge for what's normal.]

There's also Pickles. [WHY IS THE DOG HERE.]

[residentmerc]

... Yeah. I thought maybe he was like Red, but...

[ but pickles didn't speak??? (he might now. he wouldn't know.) ]

[residentflorist]

Just a normal dog from what I can tell. But he arrived alone. [did. she ask? it's more likely than you think.

they are at the cabin though and she's stepping inside.]

...this place doesn't seem so bad. Maybe we should think about staying here tonight?

[residentmerc]

[ he actually can't judge because. he asked the dog if he had an owner so he just nods. ]

... Yeah. Probably better than staying in the church again.

[ which was perhaps a mistake but boy are we going to keep making it ]

[residentflorist]

[cloud and aerith get to pay the price for our mistakes yeah.]

Could get a little crowded if other people have the same idea...but guess that just means we'll have to share, won't we? [hehe. but she approaches one of the bedrooms, knocking softly just to make sure nobody's in there before opening the door.] I'll be right back.

[residentmerc]

I guess.

[ oh. he looks a little ! like he FORGOT before he turns around so his back is facing the door, arms crossed ]

... I'll be here... [ he feels stupid saying it. good job. ]

[residentflorist]

[he is stupid for saying it but also. maybe it helps because sometimes cloud does sort of start doing things on his own that he should not be. aerith does not get to complain because she consciously wanders off without warning. but she shuts the door with a soft click and she's taking a few moments to get redressed and re-organized. it's the rustling of cloth and kicking off the flats, and she's fixing her dress and lacing up her boots before picking up the robe, shoes, and flower crown.

she opens the door again not long after, hair still down and flower crown looped over her arm. yes she's keeping it, thank you. she does not know yet that it's a gift from the cult.]

Much better.

[residentmerc]

[ he's 5 so knowing aerith is changing is a little embarrassing, but he waits patiently until she's done. and then he stares, because the last time he saw her with her hair down, she was...

fine. she was fine, and it's fine, and everything is fine. :) ]

You're not braiding it?

[residentflorist]

[you big baby. but yeah, perhaps it was a little mean of her to do that. and yet...]

No, I will. But I didn't want to keep you waiting. [that's really it. even if cloud was just outside the door, she sort of gets the feeling he'd get a little anxious if she was out of sight for too long.]

[residentmerc]

I don't mind.

[ waiting for you is the implication because he wouldn't say it. also he has nothing to be anxious about she was fine? she was so fine. he looks away after a second ]

Guess I should change, too.

[residentflorist]

[okay maybe aerith herself is a little anxious because cloud is very much not fine but that's okay. he's fine Now. she gets the implication and she knows cloud would never vocalize it because he'd rather die than say nice things, but she does steps to the side to give him more space to enter the room.]

My turn to keep watch then. [shoo. she can braid her hair really quick while she waits, at least.]

[residentmerc]

... Sure.

[ he does NOT put his foot in his mouth and say it's not the same, but it is a near thing. despite the fact that i think his outfit is stupid it does not take him that long to put it on, and it is even less long before he steps back out. all soldier-y again :) yay

he is holding the flower crown for her to take. why did he never remove it. exactly for this purpose ]

... Here. Not a whole lot of them around here otherwise.

[residentflorist]

[oh good, he's learning. very proud of him. by the time he comes back she has, in fact, braided her hair and her ribbon is tied in it again. she's leaning against the wall, rocking back and forth on her heels a little, but when he holds out the crown she immediately looks a little happier. she will take it and gently hook it over her arm with the other. safety crowns.]

I know people didn't like them much, but they're still nice to have when everything else looks this dark. Maybe some of these can be saved and replanted somewhere. [sometimes you like nature and light and colors and this place is depressing as fuck.] Thank you.

[residentmerc]

... It's sort of like the slums. Maybe you'll be able to help them grow here, too.

[ he never got rid of it because he knows she care for flowers, even if he doesn't have the same sentiment about it. he doesn't think plants will help this place get less terrible! but if she wants to try maybe she could manage it, because she's aerith. ]

Probably people just didn't like being forced into them.

[residentflorist]

Yeah, maybe. [that part she's not entirely sure of given where they are, but...she is still cetra. even without the connection to the planet here, maybe that means something. maybe her monstersona that they find out about the next day will have flower gleam and glow powers. who knows.

but it's also just the idea of having something to occupy her for a little while. hopefully they won't be here for long, but just in case...they won't make the place less terrible, but they can't make it worse either.]

Can't say I don't understand that. I'm still not sure why we were changed into those robes anyway.

[residentmerc]

[ TELL ME WHAT YOUR POWER DOES YOU WHORE ]

... Yeah. Especially if they were just going to give our stuff back the next day.

[ what's the point? it is actually bothering him that they do not know (sacrifices) ]

[residentflorist]

[nyeh!]

Feels like they went through more effort to do that than they did to just leave us alone. Unless it was to steal things...

[their. materia.]

[residentmerc]

... If it was, we'll get it back.

[ their MATERIA!!! ]

[residentflorist]

[we will get back all of it but the black materia actually!!]

Yeah. [she'll have to believe that for now.] ...as long as Yuffie doesn't get to it first.

[they have to joke about this.]

[residentmerc]

[ nooo his black materia :( it's his :( aeriiith ]

She'll probably sniff it out like a bloodhound before we can grab it.

[ what is she, red ]

[residentflorist]

[no!!]

She's probably already on the hunt as we speak. [both of you shut up.]

[residentmerc]

At least we'll hear about it if any show up.

[ because she will be yelling it so loud ... ]

[residentflorist]

[that's their yuffie...]

Maybe we should let her. It might be better for her to have something to keep her busy, even if it's unlikely we'll find anything here.