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[well. what a pleasant morning. after finding out that they may very well all be officially doomed, aerith decides to break away from the group at large and goes back to a place she's been finding herself returning to frequently as of late. she pushes open the doors of the church, letting them close silently behind her before she looks up and realizes she isn't alone.
she remembers some of the things that have been said, and she remembers mathis's first response when he arrived. so she eases into the approach, a small smile on her face as she steps forward.]
Not a bad place to hide out for some peace, is it?
she remembers some of the things that have been said, and she remembers mathis's first response when he arrived. so she eases into the approach, a small smile on her face as she steps forward.]
Not a bad place to hide out for some peace, is it?
Y-yes... it always feels quiet here.
[he's in one of the pews, knees pulled up to his chest to curl in on himself.
clearly he is SO fine after all of that!!]
[he's in one of the pews, knees pulled up to his chest to curl in on himself.
clearly he is SO fine after all of that!!]
That is the nice thing about churches. Seems like no matter where you go, they're always a little quiet even when everything else seems pretty scary. [she'll go ahead and walk on, approaching the pew before she just has a seat next to him. she doesn't crowd him, but enough that she's at a good distance to talk to him.]
How are you feeling, Mathis? [tell her how completely fine you are.]
How are you feeling, Mathis? [tell her how completely fine you are.]
I'm all right-! Just... thinking about the things they said.
[you know, like how they're all supposed to be sacrificed! yay!]
[you know, like how they're all supposed to be sacrificed! yay!]
They did give us a lot to consider, didn't they. [lightly. man she's also right there, there is a lot happening and she isn't exactly happy about it. but that's not what this is about.]
...have you talked to Lucas about it yet?
...have you talked to Lucas about it yet?
Y-yes, I... spoke with him already... and I had a conversation with a couple of them, when they were there.
[he's been working through it, it's just that. whew. it's kind of all rough!]
[he's been working through it, it's just that. whew. it's kind of all rough!]
Which ones did you get to talk to? [it's rough! nobody is having an easy time dealing with "by the way you have a monstersona and you're going to be sacrificed for a god." but she thinks at least prompting him to talk it out might help him with working through it.]
F-famine and Pestilence... the first was a little intimidating, b-but then the second one wanted to... talk about books, later.
[they're going to get bothered about stories so much sorry to that mod.]
[they're going to get bothered about stories so much sorry to that mod.]
Some of the others made it seem as though Pestilence was more open to talking to us. It might be nice for both of you to talk again. [good. go make friends.]
I only got to talk to Death and War, but I hope to be able to reach the others tomorrow or the next day. I still have things I'd like to ask.
I only got to talk to Death and War, but I hope to be able to reach the others tomorrow or the next day. I still have things I'd like to ask.
What were you thinking about asking them...?
[his head tilts, a little curiously.]
[his head tilts, a little curiously.]
Oh, just a few things about home. [there's a soft smile.] We left without warning, you know? It'd be nice to know if there's any way to know what's happening while we're here before we get back.
[because she is absolutely not going to sit here and wait to be sacrificed for something like this, thanks!]
[because she is absolutely not going to sit here and wait to be sacrificed for something like this, thanks!]
I-I didn't think about that-!
[oh no
come to think of it, what... is happening? he was a little bit unconscious then...]
[oh no
come to think of it, what... is happening? he was a little bit unconscious then...]
[mathis why were you unconscious.]
There's been a lot to think about right now. I have a feeling we're all going to think of more questions over the next couple of days, but that's the big one. And even if they don't know for some reason...that's still better than not asking at all.
There's been a lot to think about right now. I have a feeling we're all going to think of more questions over the next couple of days, but that's the big one. And even if they don't know for some reason...that's still better than not asking at all.
[this is when i realize aerith permanently has short sleeves and wears skirts so this is going to be a fun week. but for now she doesn't seem to notice anything off, standing in the middle of the church with her hands on her hips and assessing the area. their other new roomies are out (and she probably sent cloud out on some errands), but she offers mathis a smile.]
Well! This probably isn't so bad once we get settled in. [PROBABLY? just don't touch the cursed bible when it inevitably returns.] Wanna help me check the cushions? Some of them might not be in great shape for sleeping.
Well! This probably isn't so bad once we get settled in. [PROBABLY? just don't touch the cursed bible when it inevitably returns.] Wanna help me check the cushions? Some of them might not be in great shape for sleeping.
O-okay...
[he definitely slept here already because he's glued to lucas at night, so he probably hasn't... actually left the church yet, or realized there are any words on his skin.]
It can't be... that bad. I was able to sleep last night.
[when he comes over to join her, it's a little clearer that he has something written over his exposed collarbones thanks to that off-the-shoulder fashion. fake, it says.]
[he definitely slept here already because he's glued to lucas at night, so he probably hasn't... actually left the church yet, or realized there are any words on his skin.]
It can't be... that bad. I was able to sleep last night.
[when he comes over to join her, it's a little clearer that he has something written over his exposed collarbones thanks to that off-the-shoulder fashion. fake, it says.]
[yeah clerith has also slept at the church before and that's part of why she's saying it, though debatable if they were there last night. the other part is really that she's hoping to give him a little task to put him at ease.
things that do not put her at ease: seeing that word. it doesn't change her expression much, though her eyes soften just slightly.]
You get used to the bells, right? [she will open the chest though where the cloths and cushions are stored, carefully kneeling down to peek inside. the bracelets on her arms shift enough to reveal the word "loss" as she looks through.] Cloud and I were here a few times, too.
things that do not put her at ease: seeing that word. it doesn't change her expression much, though her eyes soften just slightly.]
You get used to the bells, right? [she will open the chest though where the cloths and cushions are stored, carefully kneeling down to peek inside. the bracelets on her arms shift enough to reveal the word "loss" as she looks through.] Cloud and I were here a few times, too.
Yes... i-it's a little loud, though. I'm not used to so much noise, when th-the mansion was always quiet...
[he's truly out of his element. this is a little rich boy, unfortunately.
but he's still determined to help, kneeling next to her.]
[he's truly out of his element. this is a little rich boy, unfortunately.
but he's still determined to help, kneeling next to her.]
[we can begin to sort. she will take out a few cloths to set between them first before grabbing a few cushions and offering one to him. quality inspection! but, more importantly...
...listen, to be honest, lucas did mention a little about mathis to her and there were some things said that resonated with her just a bit. maybe it's that understanding that makes her want to continue trying to help him settle some more.]
Did you ever get to leave your mansion very often?
...listen, to be honest, lucas did mention a little about mathis to her and there were some things said that resonated with her just a bit. maybe it's that understanding that makes her want to continue trying to help him settle some more.]
Did you ever get to leave your mansion very often?
...no. I... I stayed inside it for most of my life, s-so I'm still not very used to being around so many people...
[he's Extreme levels of shut-in. mathis is so relieved the church is quieter than it could be.
the cushions are accepted, while he prods them to test their squishiness.]
[he's Extreme levels of shut-in. mathis is so relieved the church is quieter than it could be.
the cushions are accepted, while he prods them to test their squishiness.]
[well that makes some sense. she's curious why, exactly, he has been shut away his whole life, but perhaps that's something he'll just have to feel comfortable sharing on his own someday.
instead, she's investigating her own cushions and she decides perhaps it's okay to tell him something about herself.]
I was inside for a lot of my life, too. I didn't have any friends growing up, and I was about your age when I started to go outside more and meeting other people. [it's a slight embellishment, because by nature of being where she was she did know a few people she saw regularly but even then she'd been older. but there's a little smile.] There's a church where flowers grow. It's the only place where they can, but one day someone gave me the idea that maybe I should start selling them. So that's what I did.
instead, she's investigating her own cushions and she decides perhaps it's okay to tell him something about herself.]
I was inside for a lot of my life, too. I didn't have any friends growing up, and I was about your age when I started to go outside more and meeting other people. [it's a slight embellishment, because by nature of being where she was she did know a few people she saw regularly but even then she'd been older. but there's a little smile.] There's a church where flowers grow. It's the only place where they can, but one day someone gave me the idea that maybe I should start selling them. So that's what I did.
Edited 2024-06-12 01:32 (UTC)
The only place...? I-it sounds a little dreary, if there were only flowers in that one church...
[he's listening attentively to her, though, head slightly tilted.]
Is selling them how you met people?
[he's listening attentively to her, though, head slightly tilted.]
Is selling them how you met people?
Mmhm. It's one of the only places in the whole sector that the sunlight can reach. [the slums are not great! but they were home and she's not about to explain this to a very sheltered teenager when she has a different point to the story.]
It's definitely how I met more people. I knew a few who were always on the main street, shopkeepers and people like that. But when I started selling the flowers, I started gaining customers. And after a while, I started going to sell them to other sectors. There aren't many flowers in Midgar at all, so they were...a luxury item, I guess you could say. [midgar full of flowers, wallet full of money.]
...he didn't remember right away, at first, but the first time I met Cloud was when I was selling some of my flowers.
It's definitely how I met more people. I knew a few who were always on the main street, shopkeepers and people like that. But when I started selling the flowers, I started gaining customers. And after a while, I started going to sell them to other sectors. There aren't many flowers in Midgar at all, so they were...a luxury item, I guess you could say. [midgar full of flowers, wallet full of money.]
...he didn't remember right away, at first, but the first time I met Cloud was when I was selling some of my flowers.
You did-?
[perking up a little, immediately more interested. yes girl tell him about your friend!!]
I wondered... how the two of you knew each other. You didn't become friends until later on...?
[perking up a little, immediately more interested. yes girl tell him about your friend!!]
I wondered... how the two of you knew each other. You didn't become friends until later on...?
[yaaaay she was on the right track of telling him about this specific instance.]
Nope. We only met a little while ago. [she doesn't give and exact timeline, but the implication is that it really was like. maybe a few months. we don't know do not ask me.] The first time we met while I was selling flowers, but the second time he fell through the roof of the church. We've been together since then.
Nope. We only met a little while ago. [she doesn't give and exact timeline, but the implication is that it really was like. maybe a few months. we don't know do not ask me.] The first time we met while I was selling flowers, but the second time he fell through the roof of the church. We've been together since then.
H-hehe...
[he tries to stifle a giggle, hand over his mouth, but it happens regardless.]
I wouldn't have expected something like that to happen to him.
[he tries to stifle a giggle, hand over his mouth, but it happens regardless.]
I wouldn't have expected something like that to happen to him.
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