[ ...hearing that name sends a shock through him, even more than hearing what happened to himself, or seeing that collar on her neck. but he tries to shake that off, for aerith's sake if not his own. ]

...Sometimes it's as simple as being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I'm alright. [ softly. ] I'm as alive and unbroken as we can be.

[ in this strange purgatory they've found themselves in. ]

But what about you? What happened to you, Aerith-dono?