residentflorist

[ He can be leaving, a couple of rags in hand. They look like more robe cloth, although it's not the ones Daan and Aerith spent making. The rag... nasty... looks like he's been doing some cleaning. ]

...Good morning.

[ He glances back at the cabin, and then to her. ]

Lots of things to complain about, but this one, probably the least. Needs a good amount of work put into it though.

[ Holding up the rag as if to make a point. ]

[honestly fair and valid of him. why does she seem happy with a simple "good morning?" does this mean they're friends now? yay.]

Guess it's a good thing we have a little time on our hands. Want some help? It was looking pretty dusty when Ashlyn and I looked around the other day.

[ Aerith... she's so cute...

Me writing we've got eight pairs of hands and then having to delete that because it's just not true, ]

That's alright. We've got enough hands working the place as it is -- we're all mostly eager to make the place feeling livable, looks like. Too many cooks in the kitchen, almost.

Where are you staying?

[me doublechecking who else is there and Realizing.]

If you're sure. Guess that makes sense if we're here for a while. Everybody wants to try to be a little more comfortable the best we can be.

[she gestures in the vague direction of the church.]

Cloud and I are at the church. Looks like Yuffie's at the haunted house. [they got split up...it's fine. and she's sure he knows, but she thinks maybe it's fair to say:] Marina's with us, too.

[ We have 7.5 pairs of hands and four paws. ]

...I'm unsurprised that she would get the church.

I wonder if it's random, or on purpose -- you were curious about the place when we first met, I remember.

Could help clean up there instead.

Yeah? [like. she's not too unsurprised now that she has a better concept of what bibles are for but.] Karlach and I were wondering a little earlier what made each building claim each person. Or if it was "just because." But I guess...I can't say I'm unsurprised we're at the church either. It's how Cloud and I met.

[she says this with some hint of fondness and also a hint of something else that isn't quite as happy, but she brushes it off.]

It's actually pretty clean though? The water in the fountain's a little dirty and there's dust just from being here so long, but it's not as bad as some of the other places. Rat-free, at least. [this is kind of a low bar but when you grow up in the slums you kind of just deal.]

If you say so, otherwise I'll just be doing this for the entire day.

[ He shifts a little on his feet. Black ink spells out YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHY subtly over the line of his collar, snaking around his throat. ]

The church didn't have beds, did it... maybe you could borrow some hay from the barn.

[ Wrap it in a robe... could make something half-decent. ]

Well...if you're volunteering, I guess another set of hands couldn't hurt. Just to make sure we're not missing anything obvious! [she's about to say something else but uh. hm. that's...

...okay there is no universe that those are words that could mean something good, and there's a soft, equally subtle frown. she's sort of hazarded a guess that the occult and magic did something to daan's life that was Bad, but she doesn't know enough about it to even guess. so the idea of something happening to him and him apparently not having an answer doesn't feel good.

but she also figures that everybody's being put on blast and that sucks! so! let's not delve into it without permission.]

That might not be bad idea. Cloud's the tallest of all of us, and you're taller than he is. We could use you as a gauge for how much hay might be needed. We just have the pews and they're...pretty stiff.

[ The nature of the occult... unpredictable... everyone else is about to find out! ]

So... I'm a coat hanger?

[ He delivers it with the dry wittiness of a butler who knows their master well enough to crack a joke. ]

Not that that's a no, of course.

[it's fine marina is saying concerning shit elsewhere i'm so scared of what your canon's about.]

You catch on fast! [likewise, this is said with all the pep of someone who is so glad other people are matching their energy when they really, really shouldn't. but she bounds back a few steps and turns around, already moving to face the direction of the barn. however since her hands are still behind her back this gives him a nice view of a word peering out from under her bracelets: loss.]

Some fresh air might be nice after a morning of cleaning anyway. [there is nothing fresh about the barn air, but okay aerith.]

[ Loss. It's broad, affects everyone, sooner or later.

That's very fair, he thinks. There's not a single person in the world that's not experienced loss. Even if they're like flowers and sunshine.

He draws his eyesight away from her wrists and up to her. ]

I wouldn't call barn air "fresh", but it is a change of pace. An interesting one.

[ Following. ]

[it's broad, affects everyone, and for aerith in particular who has seen the word already it can apply to multiple things. it's something she's thought about since they got here, and something she's going to continue thinking on for a while.

and now with the potential sacrifice looming over their heads, there's yet another reason to fear it.

nevertheless, she's walking ahead even as she turns to look over her shoulder and make sure daan is following.]

Better than nothing. Without a lot of options here we have to come up with new ways to keep things interesting, I think. [...] I've kinda gotten used to keeping myself entertained, but it's always nice to have company anyway.

Uh-huh.

I could use the excuses. It's awfully boring here. There's only nothing but the weak wine in the refectory... what I'd give for at least variety, even if it's all dusty.

[ Casual small-talk. Isn't that nice? ]

Could use new shoes too... too much to ask for a remote camp?

Oh.

Death delivered me the medical supplies I requested, by the way. Not the most robust thing I've ever seen, but it's definitely serviceable.

Quicker than I thought.

[again, unfortunate to report that this is actually extremely positive for her. she likes talking to people even when it's the day to day chit-chat stuff and it helps her learn more to then pinpoint things about a person.]

Weak wine pairs well with bland food. Or something like that. Can't say I really drink that much, but maybe I just haven't found much I like. [not that that's surprising. there's a lot she's still learning about.]

That fast? Considering they didn't seem like they really wanted to talk to us yesterday that's a little surprising. What were they able to send over? [like. thank god but also wild.] Maybe you should try asking for alcohol next. Won't know our limits if we don't try.

If we had a selection worth talking about, I'd be glad to help you explore and find out if there's a drink to your taste.

[ He does think pairing expensive wine with what they've got at the refectory would be a massive waste but at least the wine alone would be fine. ]

It contained bandages, ointment, and a few plasters. And then there's the extra we made, of course. It could be better, but it's not too bad.

I'll keep it in mind, but I also understand fine alcohol would be a luxury right now.

I'd like that. [the chances of that happening are slim, but it's a nice thought.] Given the leeches and now having to worry about people maybe being bitten by rats, too, ointment's good to have. And it's nice to know they'll accommodate that much.

[like it's a little easier to believe that maybe they really don't want all of them dying immediately. there's a slight laugh to that.]

I think not having running water everywhere is a pretty okay trade for at least one bottle of something nice. [but again, what does she know? she's quiet then, leading them onward to the bar before she decides to go back to something casual, but maybe also a little less.] A friend of ours owned a bar back home. I'd never been when it was open, but I heard it was pretty popular.

We'll see.

[ Playing too practical of a character to ask for little funny things... so sad. I exhausted all of that last game. ]

...

Your friend mentioned that, actually. Why he can't drink -- because he promised a drink at a bar.

I presume it's the self-same one?

[well guess it's up to me now to ask for frivolous bullshit. wow we traded. but anyway her expression softens a little at that because cloud you big, dumb softie.]

That's right. Seventh Heaven. [she does not know how much cloud might've said, but she will add a little context.] ...the bar was destroyed a little while ago, along with most of Sector 7. But once it's rebuilt I'm sure business will boom again.

[ Oh, yeah. He didn't hear about that part. ]

...I'm sure it will.

People have a way of making sure the things they enjoy preservere.

[yeah she didn't think so because cloud doesn't say anything ever. useless.]

Yeah. There's a lot we still need to take care of before then, but...after that, they'll find a way to come back stronger. Tifa's strong.

Another friend of yours?

[ Sounds like they've got quite the squad. ]

Right. All together there were eight of us. Or...nine, I guess, if you count Cid. He's a pilot who was helping us travel. But it wasn't always that many. Cloud, Tifa and Barret all knew each other first.

So you came later in the equation.

[ Eight... feat your local grandpa Cid, he's got one foot in the grave. ]

How did you all meet? If you don't mind me asking.

[yeah our 32 year old grandpa.]

It's a little bit of a long story, I guess. Do you mind that?

Sure. Good thing to have while working. Quiet gets dour quick.

[ Even if work is gauging and gathering hay. ]

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