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Loopholes. [ dipping his head in agreement. ] No, it's important that history remains as it's recorded, even to Mikazuki-dono. But "death" in history doesn't necessarily mean losing their lives entirely. It could mean continuing on to live a new life, and leaving the old behind.
[ like our former masters. ]
As I've said before, it's more fluid than most humans know. It can work, but it can be as dangerous as changing history itself if not done carefully.
[ like our former masters. ]
As I've said before, it's more fluid than most humans know. It can work, but it can be as dangerous as changing history itself if not done carefully.
[she appears to be in deep thought about this. but it is saturday in this thread so no thoughtshare, however it's probably obvious in her expression he's said something that hits her a little.]
Then those things he said must have also felt a little jarring to you. [...] I can understand why to some it would be so tempting to change it when it's right there. Just like I can understand why it's so important to preserve things as they are.
Then those things he said must have also felt a little jarring to you. [...] I can understand why to some it would be so tempting to change it when it's right there. Just like I can understand why it's so important to preserve things as they are.
Mm... [ how to describe it. ] Feeling my heart pound, hearing the hammering of the forge, being blinded by light when I first opened my eyes... It was all incredibly jarring, and took some time to adjust to, but I'm grateful to experience it nonetheless.
[ although, sometimes, i wish... ]
I think it does matter, though. Even if there's something to accomplish before you can do anything else, why shouldn't you think about what comes after? If you don't, you'll be lost when the time finally comes.
[ although, sometimes, i wish... ]
I think it does matter, though. Even if there's something to accomplish before you can do anything else, why shouldn't you think about what comes after? If you don't, you'll be lost when the time finally comes.
Mikazuki-dono is the one who taught me that history doesn't have to be as straightforward as it seems... so yes, it was, a little bit.
[ there is more that he could say on history or the desire to change things for the better. he'd felt it, too, after all - the utter joy that imanotsurugi felt at seeing his master alive and well, the desperate wish to see them keep living instead of meeting the tragic ends assigned to them by history. even iwatooshi would have loved, so much, to see his former master live out his life happily and safely, but that simply wasn't their mission.
but, something else has been weight on his mind. ]
"We are with the spider-lilies for only a moment, and then we watch them wither away."
[ echoing the first words he'd spoken to them all that day before turning to face her properly. a little afraid of the answer, but iwatooshi can't keep ignoring something like this. ]
He didn't mean our fates in this village, did he, Aerith-dono?
[ there is more that he could say on history or the desire to change things for the better. he'd felt it, too, after all - the utter joy that imanotsurugi felt at seeing his master alive and well, the desperate wish to see them keep living instead of meeting the tragic ends assigned to them by history. even iwatooshi would have loved, so much, to see his former master live out his life happily and safely, but that simply wasn't their mission.
but, something else has been weight on his mind. ]
"We are with the spider-lilies for only a moment, and then we watch them wither away."
[ echoing the first words he'd spoken to them all that day before turning to face her properly. a little afraid of the answer, but iwatooshi can't keep ignoring something like this. ]
He didn't mean our fates in this village, did he, Aerith-dono?
[she doesn't have a polite way to say "i don't know if there's an after for me" but she understands his point.]
True enough. Maybe...being here will help me rethink about it and figure out exactly what I want after that. There's time now. We haven't had a lot of time lately to just think about life after stopping th meteor. Guess I'm still getting used to things slowing down.
[but more importantly...]
...what is it that you wish for?
True enough. Maybe...being here will help me rethink about it and figure out exactly what I want after that. There's time now. We haven't had a lot of time lately to just think about life after stopping th meteor. Guess I'm still getting used to things slowing down.
[but more importantly...]
...what is it that you wish for?
Feels like just another attempt to mess with our heads and make us forget who we are. [more attempts to hurt people, she means, and it frustrates the hell out of her every single time. isn't it already bad enough they're dead (or whtever this state of existence is?) why do they have to keep suffering in other ways?
she's about to say something else regarding mikazuki, but iwatooshi beats her to it. and...she should have known that would be the question. she doesn't respond immediately, but the way her gaze drops slightly for a few moments probably says enough.]
...I suppose not, no. Not if a man like that would know history and how things played out.
she's about to say something else regarding mikazuki, but iwatooshi beats her to it. and...she should have known that would be the question. she doesn't respond immediately, but the way her gaze drops slightly for a few moments probably says enough.]
...I suppose not, no. Not if a man like that would know history and how things played out.
[ glances at their saturday conversation and hums. ]
Well, we've still got a bit longer here, it seems. There should be plenty of time for you to think about it, and maybe Cloud-dono will have some ideas, too.
[ about that wish, though. throws a little something in for spice as iwatooshi frowns, eyes downturned. ]
...It was easier when we were only tools. So sometimes I still catch myself thinking that it would be better to go back to that time when I didn't have to feel anything.
Well, we've still got a bit longer here, it seems. There should be plenty of time for you to think about it, and maybe Cloud-dono will have some ideas, too.
[ about that wish, though. throws a little something in for spice as iwatooshi frowns, eyes downturned. ]
...It was easier when we were only tools. So sometimes I still catch myself thinking that it would be better to go back to that time when I didn't have to feel anything.
It very well could be. Plenty of things in these places have done just that, so why not what we've seen, too?
[ aerith's answer isn't so surprising, now that he's had time to think on what they've seen, and yet his heart still sinks. as if to give her a moment of respectful privacy, knowing what he's asked of her and the weight it holds, iwatooshi turns his eyes away. ]
I don't know how he knows the things he does, but Mikazuki-dono always seems to have the answers.
[ even an illusion, even for something he should have no right knowing. ]
If it's true, then how - how were you first brought here? [ alive enough to breathe, to laugh, to die again. ] Was your history truly changed?
[ aerith's answer isn't so surprising, now that he's had time to think on what they've seen, and yet his heart still sinks. as if to give her a moment of respectful privacy, knowing what he's asked of her and the weight it holds, iwatooshi turns his eyes away. ]
I don't know how he knows the things he does, but Mikazuki-dono always seems to have the answers.
[ even an illusion, even for something he should have no right knowing. ]
If it's true, then how - how were you first brought here? [ alive enough to breathe, to laugh, to die again. ] Was your history truly changed?
Maybe. I'm letting Cloud decide on some other things. [i.e. she's not asking him about bringing her back because cloud doesn't know she's dead. it's fine.
anyway, memory...hi peanut. aerith registers this though and her lips turn downward into a soft frown.]
...emotions are complicated even for humans sometimes. It's another one of those things some people take for granted, but there are so many that people don't always understand. At the same time...if you couldn't feel anything at all, wouldn't you miss out on all of the times you felt happiness? Love for your comrades? Joy from having a place to call home? There's good and bad in everything, but I think even the worst things are worth it. If only to make the good things that much better.
anyway, memory...hi peanut. aerith registers this though and her lips turn downward into a soft frown.]
...emotions are complicated even for humans sometimes. It's another one of those things some people take for granted, but there are so many that people don't always understand. At the same time...if you couldn't feel anything at all, wouldn't you miss out on all of the times you felt happiness? Love for your comrades? Joy from having a place to call home? There's good and bad in everything, but I think even the worst things are worth it. If only to make the good things that much better.
[there's a soft noise of agreement to the first part. "why not", indeed.]
...age, maybe? When you guys have seen as much as you have, you probably learn how to read between the lines and just know. [she appreciates the privacy, but at the same time she sort of knew this was coming eventually. she couldn't exactly hide it forever, as much as she wanted to try.]
I'm not sure of that myself. I've never been able to really find an answer. [...] It's true that Sephiroth...[...mm. well. never mind, she kind of diverts from that to focus on the main problem.] It was recent. Barely a day or two before we came here. And usually when people die, they return to the lifestream. It's where I should have gone, but...I hadn't yet. So maybe that's why?
[she's currently caught in between and to be honest the longer she's here the longer it's freaked her out, and it's also given her time to think "no, i don't want to go yet." being here has been wonderful for meeting new people and spending more time with the people she loves, but worse for thinking about her own fate and what has to be done to stop sephiroth.]
...age, maybe? When you guys have seen as much as you have, you probably learn how to read between the lines and just know. [she appreciates the privacy, but at the same time she sort of knew this was coming eventually. she couldn't exactly hide it forever, as much as she wanted to try.]
I'm not sure of that myself. I've never been able to really find an answer. [...] It's true that Sephiroth...[...mm. well. never mind, she kind of diverts from that to focus on the main problem.] It was recent. Barely a day or two before we came here. And usually when people die, they return to the lifestream. It's where I should have gone, but...I hadn't yet. So maybe that's why?
[she's currently caught in between and to be honest the longer she's here the longer it's freaked her out, and it's also given her time to think "no, i don't want to go yet." being here has been wonderful for meeting new people and spending more time with the people she loves, but worse for thinking about her own fate and what has to be done to stop sephiroth.]
Hah... I wouldn't say that, necessarily, but it's true that he's better at such things than I am.
[ mikazuki thinks of things that would never occur to him in hundreds of more years. ]
So you were still at the crossroads, just as we are now. [ how interesting. but, on another important note... ] Does Cloud-dono know?
[ iwatooshi assumes he does, judging from his reaction to aerith being hurt... but he wants to make sure, to know if he should avoid mentioning it before aerith is ready. ]
[ mikazuki thinks of things that would never occur to him in hundreds of more years. ]
So you were still at the crossroads, just as we are now. [ how interesting. but, on another important note... ] Does Cloud-dono know?
[ iwatooshi assumes he does, judging from his reaction to aerith being hurt... but he wants to make sure, to know if he should avoid mentioning it before aerith is ready. ]
You'd know him better than me. [lil shrug.] But that's right. I don't think I realized how much of a crossroads it was...everyone else acknowledged I was gone, but.
[this kinda ties in to the other question and she slowly shakes her head.]
I don't think his mind's accepted what happened. [a burst of rainbow in a blue and marble room, at the altar, a sword raised above her and laying in cloud's arms.] He doesn't seem to know, and even at home he can still see me.
[so that's been. fun and confusing, a little.]
[this kinda ties in to the other question and she slowly shakes her head.]
I don't think his mind's accepted what happened. [a burst of rainbow in a blue and marble room, at the altar, a sword raised above her and laying in cloud's arms.] He doesn't seem to know, and even at home he can still see me.
[so that's been. fun and confusing, a little.]
Sharing the burden isn't a bad idea. You two seem to lean on each quite a bit.
[ makes him a little extra worried for yuffie, being out there on her own. there are others who care about her, for certain, but even then... ]
...It isn't something I'm proud of, Aerith-dono. [ softly. ] I do cherish every moment of joy that I've experienced since being summoned - and there are many of them to even try to count. I wouldn't trade a single one away. It's just that is difficult sometimes, and it quickly becomes overwhelming in those moments, and I don't know what to do.
[ a heavy sigh. ]
But you're right, of course. There's good and bad in everything, and it all happens for a reason.
[ "this is because that is." ]
[ makes him a little extra worried for yuffie, being out there on her own. there are others who care about her, for certain, but even then... ]
...It isn't something I'm proud of, Aerith-dono. [ softly. ] I do cherish every moment of joy that I've experienced since being summoned - and there are many of them to even try to count. I wouldn't trade a single one away. It's just that is difficult sometimes, and it quickly becomes overwhelming in those moments, and I don't know what to do.
[ a heavy sigh. ]
But you're right, of course. There's good and bad in everything, and it all happens for a reason.
[ "this is because that is." ]
It sounds disorienting. But perhaps comforting, in a way, to be able to reach even one of them, still.
[ he kind of felt that way going on their last mission - knowing that his former master was already dead to history, but seeing him alive, receiving his praise...
he and aerith seem to have so much in common in such strange ways. ]
I'll be careful not to bring it up with him. [ it's not his business, anyway. ] But... I worry how difficult it will be on him, when he learns. Even seeing you injured seemed to be a lot for him.
[ he kind of felt that way going on their last mission - knowing that his former master was already dead to history, but seeing him alive, receiving his praise...
he and aerith seem to have so much in common in such strange ways. ]
I'll be careful not to bring it up with him. [ it's not his business, anyway. ] But... I worry how difficult it will be on him, when he learns. Even seeing you injured seemed to be a lot for him.
We're a team. I think all of us have become pretty reliant. [and by all of us she means everyone from home. she's worried about yuffie, too, for that reason. she still feels awful that they both left together and can't reach her.
anyway, she looks at iwatooshi for a moment before offering both of her hands. paws? hold paws?]
Everything happening for a reason doesn't always mean we understand the reason, or even that we have to like the reason. Fear, anger, worry...those are all things that can cause inaction. Or even just indecision of what the best action is. But I think you've already made a good step in even admitting that.
anyway, she looks at iwatooshi for a moment before offering both of her hands. paws? hold paws?]
Everything happening for a reason doesn't always mean we understand the reason, or even that we have to like the reason. Fear, anger, worry...those are all things that can cause inaction. Or even just indecision of what the best action is. But I think you've already made a good step in even admitting that.
Yes and no. [she can be honest about that much, because...] I do worry that it's just doing him more harm to be able to see me when nobody else can. And I don't know how to tell him. Yuffie tried to mention it once since we've been here, I think, and it didn't really go well.
[so they've been careful about cloud's soup brain.]
I would appreciate it if you did keep it from him, yes. [seeing her injured really just triggered more of his issues and she knows that, but she does not think he's mentally ready to hear the truth yet either. not to mention a few other factors.] I'll have to tell him eventually. But I don't know if it can be yet.
[so they've been careful about cloud's soup brain.]
I would appreciate it if you did keep it from him, yes. [seeing her injured really just triggered more of his issues and she knows that, but she does not think he's mentally ready to hear the truth yet either. not to mention a few other factors.] I'll have to tell him eventually. But I don't know if it can be yet.
Then Yuffie-dono must be feeling very troubled without you both.
[ it breaks his heart to think about. poor girl... she reminds him a bit of imanotsurugi, so he can't help but worry, even knowing she doesn't want to be taken care of like a child.
there's a blip of a question mark above his head before he takes her hands as requested. ]
And sometimes they can cause action when they shouldn't. I know. [ he nods. ] It's just one of the many sufferings of being human... having a heart. You're all remarkably strong to withstand it the way that you do.
[ it breaks his heart to think about. poor girl... she reminds him a bit of imanotsurugi, so he can't help but worry, even knowing she doesn't want to be taken care of like a child.
there's a blip of a question mark above his head before he takes her hands as requested. ]
And sometimes they can cause action when they shouldn't. I know. [ he nods. ] It's just one of the many sufferings of being human... having a heart. You're all remarkably strong to withstand it the way that you do.
[ well, he's clearly not that happy about it, but he nods anyway. aerith would know best, in this situation. ]
I understand. I don't want to lie, but I won't say what isn't mine to say.
...You're very young to experience the things you have, Aerith-dono. I'm sorry that fate's chosen this path for you.
I understand. I don't want to lie, but I won't say what isn't mine to say.
...You're very young to experience the things you have, Aerith-dono. I'm sorry that fate's chosen this path for you.
Yeah. She won't say she's struggling if anybody asks her except to maybe us. [and it makes her a little feral because she never wanted to be that person to leave a friend behind again. (not that she could've stopped it the first time...)
but hands! it's really that she wanted them to hold and let them swing a little. friendly reminder that iwatooshi has a body and they're both still kind of alive, somehow.]
Years and years of practice, but they do call it heartbreak for a reason. [...] Have you been overwhelmed here? A lot of things have happened.
[this is slightly rhetorical because she can sort of guess a few things that might have thrown him for a loop.]
but hands! it's really that she wanted them to hold and let them swing a little. friendly reminder that iwatooshi has a body and they're both still kind of alive, somehow.]
Years and years of practice, but they do call it heartbreak for a reason. [...] Have you been overwhelmed here? A lot of things have happened.
[this is slightly rhetorical because she can sort of guess a few things that might have thrown him for a loop.]
[she's quiet again.]
...it's alright. I always knew my life was never going to be normal because of who I am, so it's about doing what I can with what's ahead of me. I know that. [it's just hard when she's so desperate to protect her friends.]
...it's alright. I always knew my life was never going to be normal because of who I am, so it's about doing what I can with what's ahead of me. I know that. [it's just hard when she's so desperate to protect her friends.]
[we're probably still at jamba juice cleaning up the leftovers from trial, and aerith's mostly radiating calm if not a little shellshocked while throwing out some trash.]
It's hard to say if this was a better or worse outcome. [and they weren't even close to catching kate again...]
It's hard to say if this was a better or worse outcome. [and they weren't even close to catching kate again...]
[ he'll gladly help. a distraction is good, though there's still a heavy haze of emotion around him. ]
The practical one, I think. With no leads on Kate-dono, and Karlach-dono having a partner, they didn't have much choice unless they wanted to risk losing more of their number.
[ but i'm worried about her suffering like this. ]
The practical one, I think. With no leads on Kate-dono, and Karlach-dono having a partner, they didn't have much choice unless they wanted to risk losing more of their number.
[ but i'm worried about her suffering like this. ]
Yeah. And now it's about finding out what to do with Karlach and another week of Kate going unnoticed. [...] I know Cloud tried to tell Yuffie that Kate was the other half of the chimera. And I mentioned it in my letter to Kate myself. But both of them got blocked out somehow. I wonder if there's another way we can write it out to nudge them in the right direction to help her.
They'll want to use a method where they can keep her there, like Camille-dono. And that would be ideal, but I hope they don't become too attached to it, if it can't work.
[ rondo-dono warned them it may not... ]
Mm. I tried to give Ashlyn-dono a hint, too, but I don't know if she understood, or if it made it through at all. Part of my message to Kate-dono was blocked, as well, but... she knows that we know her situation. It seems we just can't be too direct about it.
[ there's like a combination of
and 
happening around him right now. the tragedy of it all. ]
[ rondo-dono warned them it may not... ]
Mm. I tried to give Ashlyn-dono a hint, too, but I don't know if she understood, or if it made it through at all. Part of my message to Kate-dono was blocked, as well, but... she knows that we know her situation. It seems we just can't be too direct about it.
[ there's like a combination of
and happening around him right now. the tragedy of it all. ]As much as I want to believe that's an option, it feels questionable we'd get that lucky twice. Especially if the idea is to keep the cult from noticing. [which is what's even more frustrating.]
I kinda got the hint Kate knew we knew in her response back to me. Maybe...if we write it in some kind of code? Instead of using her name directly, calling her Shadows or something.
I kinda got the hint Kate knew we knew in her response back to me. Maybe...if we write it in some kind of code? Instead of using her name directly, calling her Shadows or something.
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