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

[residentmerc]

[ ONLY FIVE ]

Wasn't that the whole point of fighting the Whispers? To change things?

[ fuck the timeline if it means aerith is dead in it!!!!! ]

[residentflorist]

Yeah, but...you saw how the Whispers were, Cloud. There were still some things they were trying to intervene.

[like aerith withholding the black materia so cloud couldn't have it, for instance.]

[residentmerc]

I know. I'm saying, if things change... We'll deal with it.

[ together? being? the implication? maybe in this version of events he DOESNT deliver hte black materia (looks away) ]

[residentflorist]

...if they come back because I come back, we'll fight them off again. I don't know how I'm going to explain how I came back to begin with, but maybe that doesn't matter.

[honestly she's not even sure if they'd care anymore because they'd just be happy she was back, period.]

[residentmerc]

We've had weirder happen. [ have they. well. no but: ] They'll be glad you're back. That's what matters.

[residentflorist]

[she has slowed down their movement entirely, and she's looking at him for a moment before she's stepping closer and immediately latching onto him. is it clingy girlfriend hours? kind of. it's aerith being relieved he's actually taking this so well, and also aerith being scared of the future and gripping onto the future she wants.

she's fine, probably.]

[residentmerc]

[ holds her! he is used to clingy girlfriend hours by now, but. he is aware this is not regular clingy girlfriend hours. ]

... I'm sorry.

[ what else is there to say when you fail at stopping your girlfriend from getting murdered like seven times and also she can't talk to you about shit because you have one step out of reality at all times!!! ]

[residentflorist]

Pretty sure that's supposed to be my line to you. [mumbled into his chest mostly.] ...I should have told you earlier, but with everything happening here it never felt like a good time.

[also she never planned to, but that's fine.]

Didn't I say not to blame yourself?

[residentmerc]

[ unfortunately, it's everything week, so even if he deliberately does not say it, the because you knew I'd fail? comes through anyway. ]

It shouldn't have had to be on you to tell me something the others knew already.

[ yuffie tried, he thinks, maybe. she was saying something about aerith. maybe it doesn't matter. maybe if cloud hadn't been beaten over the head with it over and over again he would've never been able to... see it. he doesn't even know. ]

[residentflorist]

[she just frowns to that.]

Hey. [hey? no?] That's not true.

[she's going to ignore the other half because cloud is thinking a thing that she does not want him lingering on.]

[residentmerc]

Isn't it?

[ HE DOES NOT KNOW HIS THOUGHTS ARE LEAKING ]

[residentflorist]

It has nothing to do with if you would fail, Cloud.

[outright addressing it AHHHH.]

[residentmerc]

[ well. he hates thoughtshare. but. ]

Then why?

[residentflorist]

I told you not to blame yourself for the same reason I wondered if you would come and save me before the first time. Because you take on the responsibility yourself, even for the things that were never your fault to begin with.

[residentmerc]

I was there and I couldn't save you.

[ he tried and maybe sephiroth cheated but ALSO ]

[residentflorist]

Cloud...[this is why she didn't want to tell him!] I don't understand how, but Sephiroth...

[hm. how do you say "sephiroth is fucking around, and also i think we broke our timeline, and i think i'm between both"? maybe just blaming sephiroth is good enough.]

[residentmerc]

[ this is not why she didn't want to tell him, but she says sephiroth's name and cloud just sighs because. yeah. yeah he fucking knows. ]

... It doesn't matter. He's not getting another shot.

[ a. fourth? shot? i dont know how to count the many times shes died here. ]

[residentflorist]

[listen. she can have multiple reasons not to tell him, they are all technically sephiroth's fault. but there's a slow nod as she continues holding onto him and trying to pour a bunch of affection into him.]

...are you mad? [that she didn't tell him sooner.]

[residentmerc]

[ at himself? sure. at her? no. he figures it's the same reason tifa didn't tell him about zack. because there's something wrong with him!!

his thoughts don't betray him this time even if his emotions do. stinky self-loathing. ]

No.

[residentflorist]

[she pulls back just a little to look up at him and try to read his expression. the vibe is absolutely there, and she hates that.]

...wanna try again?

[residentmerc]

[ frowning as he looks at her ]

... I'm not mad at you. [ trying to put all his sincerity into it like that is the issue now ]

[residentflorist]

...then? [there is...unfortunately relief that he says he's not mad at her, but also a twinge of sympathy because oh boy. she can guess, but she will ask.]

[residentmerc]

... There's no then.

[ he has decided to stew in his self-hatred sorry ]

[residentflorist]

[...she just goes quiet and continues holding onto him because if he's going to stew she's going to force him to have to pay attention to her again and talk to her eventually.]

[residentmerc]

[ well he can hold onto her and pay attention without ever having to talk about his self-loathing actually thanks!! he is soooo good at not talking ]