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...I'm sorry. Even knowing that's how it happened, that can't have been easy to see again. [bad!]
That trial ended there. Did the next start right away?
That trial ended there. Did the next start right away?
Not immediately. I had to wait for the others to come out from their trials, we had to light a torch to heal our injuries, and then split into pairs for the remaining trials.
I'm not sure what the others went through, on theirs. Ours required us to sacrifice things on each floor. [ frowns down at a blackened hand, flexing it. ] I still can't feel anything, after that first floor. The second... I'm not sure what I gave up. I only know it was something to do with memories.
I'm not sure what the others went through, on theirs. Ours required us to sacrifice things on each floor. [ frowns down at a blackened hand, flexing it. ] I still can't feel anything, after that first floor. The second... I'm not sure what I gave up. I only know it was something to do with memories.
Makes sense. Some trials you can only face alone. [sounds similar to the trials at the temple of the ancients, but she doesn't say that. she's just registering it, listening to iwatooshi explain.]
...but what did you gain by giving that sacrifice? Was it just for the right of passage?
...but what did you gain by giving that sacrifice? Was it just for the right of passage?
[the sacred flame, huh.]
...was Rondo with you guys? [she recalls seeing a few people when she was gone, so she's wondering.]
...was Rondo with you guys? [she recalls seeing a few people when she was gone, so she's wondering.]
Fix his memories? [this is a little alarming to her for a few reasons suddenly.] What exactly does that mean? What was wrong with them?
He might've been totally unaware even if it seemed like he should have known or like you were dealing with him directly. When I spoke with Mathis, he had no idea when Anisphia first told him about what happened to us. It's strange...it's so accurate, but the people these are tied to are left oblivious.
Makes sense. I know it's something he only recently learned himself. [but...she's nodding.] That's exactly it though, yes. Everything from not being the real versions of ourselves to having our memories manipulated. All of it.
[my god. what a trial. at some point later in the evening, aerith is out and sitting alone at the fountain. likely giving cloud and yuffie a moment alone, actually, but when she sees iwatooshi she does lift a hand in a little wave.]
...wanna join me for a little while?
...wanna join me for a little while?
That's possible, too. [ shakes his head. ] Admittedly, I'm not sure how these things work, exactly. I knew it could borrow from our experiences, but... I'm familiar with history being changed, not memories.
It's like it draws the memories out of them and manipulates it, just as it draws out who we care most for to use them against us.
It's like it draws the memories out of them and manipulates it, just as it draws out who we care most for to use them against us.
You and me both. [she's just frowning at her feet for a moment.] They're all meeting right now, I expect. There's so few of them it wouldn't surprise me if they're finalizing what to do about tomorrow...especially with four people about to be unpartnered.
It would be the smart thing to do... to prepare. They know what the requirements are already.
[ he seems conflicted, though; they have their quota, but he still doesn't wish for more death. not like this. ]
At the very least, I hope the unpartnered won't suffer once the execution ends tomorrow.
[ make it quick and painless. that would be ideal. ]
[ he seems conflicted, though; they have their quota, but he still doesn't wish for more death. not like this. ]
At the very least, I hope the unpartnered won't suffer once the execution ends tomorrow.
[ make it quick and painless. that would be ideal. ]
With Pestilence being the only one left, they'll probably figure out a plan to protect her, too. She can take care of herself, but just in case. If that veil goes down...[she shakes her head.]
I hope so too though. We haven't see what happens with an unpartnered death before, but I want it to be easy on them. Like they just stop and come to us. [just drop dead easily.] Knowing this place though, we ought to prepare for the unexpected, too.
I hope so too though. We haven't see what happens with an unpartnered death before, but I want it to be easy on them. Like they just stop and come to us. [just drop dead easily.] Knowing this place though, we ought to prepare for the unexpected, too.
I should hope so... It's bad enough to have lost War-dono as it is. They won't have many combatants left on that side, though, so I hope it won't come to something like that.
[ who's to say. he is a little more concerned about tomorrow right now, though. ]
If I'm being honest, I think it would be a surprise if it were painless for them, but I still have to hope. This place has never been kind to us. [ softly, ] But I hope there won't be too many more surprises left. The people here have suffered too much already.
[ who's to say. he is a little more concerned about tomorrow right now, though. ]
If I'm being honest, I think it would be a surprise if it were painless for them, but I still have to hope. This place has never been kind to us. [ softly, ] But I hope there won't be too many more surprises left. The people here have suffered too much already.
What is history if not a collection of people's memories though, you know? [...] Sorry if that's an offensive thing to say. But you get it, right? It's...history is history because you hear about the accounts of what other people remember and have witnessed themselves. I can't say I get how any of this works either, but you're right. It draws the memories out, rearranges them, and puts them back into us to make them our own history instead.
Like we're now dealing with two timelines. Our own memories and history, and the history where we were involved with someone else.
Like we're now dealing with two timelines. Our own memories and history, and the history where we were involved with someone else.
...not really? [she sounds kind of confused because she's not sure what to feel right now other than "bad."] But it's temporary. All of it is temporary, and then the real Aerith can go back and I'll...
[hm. no. give her a second.]
...if I'm still dead, then maybe there is a different Aerith somewhere. But they might not find her for a while. [this is absolutely cyoa brain, but also aerith's own issues about being unsure if she's alive or dead at this point.]
[hm. no. give her a second.]
...if I'm still dead, then maybe there is a different Aerith somewhere. But they might not find her for a while. [this is absolutely cyoa brain, but also aerith's own issues about being unsure if she's alive or dead at this point.]
It isn't offensive. In a way, you're right about that, although... sometimes history, as it's written, is what those recording it want to be remembered. Nothing more, nothing less.
[ history is written by the victors, etc etc.
comparing it to two timelines seems to resonate with him, though. not necessarily in a good way, but it's something iwatooshi can understand. ]
As if history has branched again... [ he nods slowly. ] Yes, it is a bit like that. But those timelines are always cut off, eventually, and here, they stick with us.
[ history is written by the victors, etc etc.
comparing it to two timelines seems to resonate with him, though. not necessarily in a good way, but it's something iwatooshi can understand. ]
As if history has branched again... [ he nods slowly. ] Yes, it is a bit like that. But those timelines are always cut off, eventually, and here, they stick with us.
They're probably going over strategy for that same reason, too.
[but it is in fact out of their hands. they can only anxiously wait for the next step.]
...I want to believe it won't hurt, but I know you're right. It'll be a surprise if it really is painless. But with so many of them...maybe it'll still be fast. All at the same time, so they aren't waiting around one by one. I think that would be worse, knowing it was coming and just having to wait your turn. [she shakes her head.] We're almost out of time. There can't be that many. We have a better idea of what to expect now, it's just about going through with it.
[but it is in fact out of their hands. they can only anxiously wait for the next step.]
...I want to believe it won't hurt, but I know you're right. It'll be a surprise if it really is painless. But with so many of them...maybe it'll still be fast. All at the same time, so they aren't waiting around one by one. I think that would be worse, knowing it was coming and just having to wait your turn. [she shakes her head.] We're almost out of time. There can't be that many. We have a better idea of what to expect now, it's just about going through with it.
That may be the best we can ask for at this point... that it's quick.
[ even if it hurts. even if they suffer, at least let it be over fast. ]
...Mm. I only wish we could be there to support them, instead of having to watch from here. None of what's to come is going to be easy.
[ even if it hurts. even if they suffer, at least let it be over fast. ]
...Mm. I only wish we could be there to support them, instead of having to watch from here. None of what's to come is going to be easy.
[ "the real aerith." he doesn't like that at all, but he thinks he can understand where it's coming from, miserable as it is. the one consolation is that if this is an effect, it'll wear off in a few days, but how awful to know she'll be living with it for even that long.
the extra unfortunate thing is that he's not entirely certain how to respond in a way that won't make it worse for aerith. ]
...Perhaps. You seem very alive to me, though, and very real.
the extra unfortunate thing is that he's not entirely certain how to respond in a way that won't make it worse for aerith. ]
...Perhaps. You seem very alive to me, though, and very real.
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