avalononline | [video] - un: pinkmemory

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[video] - un: pinkmemory

[This ought to come as no surprise, really. Aerith spends a decent amount of her free time in the flower shop and usually if she appears on Avalon's network, it's there. That's precisely where she is on today's little impromptu Camelot interruption.

Resting on her forearm against front desk counter, she wears a smile, though it's a bit lighter than she normally gives.]

It's been a while since I said anything on here and I realised I should probably fix that. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Aerith. I run a little flower shop here in the business district of the town. I was in the middle of putting a nice little patio setup outside for people who come by, but it's getting a bit colder, so I think that's going to have to be put on hold until it warms up again.

[Taking a pause to sip from the cup of tea at her side, she sets it down before she continues.]

I know I've said this before, but if any of you have flowers or seeds from your home, for whatever reason that you would, if you bring them to me, I'll try to grow you something. I'm also really interested in trying to crossbreed some flowers, especially from anything that might be capable of surviving the colder weather. If you've already purchased flowers from me and you're having trouble with them, you can pay me a visit any time and I'll fix them up for you.

[After a moment's consideration, she sinks down a bit, shifting to settle her chin in the palm of her hand.]

And you know, with the weather getting colder, it's easy to get sick. Make sure you're taking care of yourselves. I don't normally offer this, but I have some healing magic, so if you find yourself not feeling well, I might be able to help you out there. I'm not a doctor or anything, but I like to think I know marginally what I'm doing. At worst, I can make you a nice pot of tea.

[That seems to be all she has to say because not long after, she turns off her video and audio feed.]

[Private to Tifa - Text]
Hey, can I ask you to do a favour for me?

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I didn't know you were capable of conversation. It's not as if Zack or Cloud ever told me what their conversations with you were like.

I don't imagine that is something you ever asked.

You're right. I didn't. All I knew about you was that you seemed cold. Before seeing you here, meeting you here for the first time face-to-face, I didn't know entirely what to expect. I still don't.

[It is some shocking honesty from her. She doesn't doubt that events as of recent have made her reassess what she can be honest about. And with whom. Knowing what little she does, what little she suspects, it feels as if should she give him an inch, he will simply take it all.]

I know what the stories say. I know what the reputation is. I know the impact you had on Zack. But none of these bring me closer to whoever you are.

The SOLDIER spoken of in stories -- the one Shinra used for propaganda -- the hero Zack admired --

Died inside a basement at Nibelhiem.

[Though without Jenova or the lifestream, he can't still say he's the same person who walked out of that basement either.]

That which you see before you is who I am. Those wishing to know more, just need to ask.

[She simply listens. It's about all she can do given the circumstance. Nibelheim. She knows the name. Yet she finds herself with so many questions and is transparently unsure of where she ought to begin.

He invites the curiosity. She isn't sure she wants to give him that satisfaction, yet without a doubt, somewhere inside all of that suspicion and wariness resides inquisitive behaviour.]

Does that mean you're not Sephiroth at all?

[A reflection, perhaps, of a man who once lived, but no longer does. She could believe this. Zack never told her the details, but she seems to understand that those in Soldier have a tendency to suffer.

Perhaps so too did Sephiroth at a point.]

[There's something in her words that strikes a nerve. Though his expression never changes, his eyes narrow just a bit. Cloud said something before. How he met the real Sephiroth in another world. The hero existing from a time prior to that fateful mission. The hero everyone admired.

After a moment he scoffs, dismissing those thoughts and her words all together.]

No. I am Sephiroth. This is who truly exists. The one who died was born of lies. Lies. Deceit. Betrayal by those human parasites you so desperately wish to protect.

['The one who died.'

She suspects that if Sephiroth of that time and the one of the now is the same, that the man didn't die. His beliefs did. But that's a very presumptuous conjecture for her to make. She is wise enough to know to keep it to herself.]

But you were once human, weren't you? So you should know that humanity isn't perfect. That doesn't mean they don't deserve to be protected. It means they deserve to learn from their mistakes.

[After all, she's human in part, at least. And she isn't perfect either.]

I was never human. A truth long kept hidden from me. Those who believe otherwise still cling to foolish lies. Humans are parasites. Taking. Building weapons far beyond their capability of understanding. They don't deserve protection. Not from the planet. Not from anyone.

You too should despise them. When my mother first came to the planet, the humans hid leaving your people to be destroyed.

[...If he's not human, which doesn't really surprise her to hear, what is he? She only knows rumours of what Soldier has had going on behind the scenes. Although she has to wonder if this kind of venue is really the appropriate place to be discussing it. More so when he makes mention of her own people and Aerith has kept what she is a closely-guarded secret.

On the other hand, she's not an important person in Camelot. There's very little reason for people to go through her records. She is, as one would say, not particularly suspicious.]

They were afraid. Humanity is allowed to feel fear. You expect too much out of them. Things that aren't feasible. I see their mistakes. I see their ignorance, but not all of humanity is like that. I've also seen kindness. And humans have been kind to me.

[Cloud. Tifa. The others. Even the Turks on occasion.]

I can't condemn an entire people based on the actions of a group, or even a few groups. That isn't right.

You cannot condemn them, though the planet itself would not hesitate to wipe them out if they continue to drain life from it. I thought you spoke for the planet, Aerith. Am I wrong?

[He still isn't sure what all she knows. After their previous conversation, he got that she didn't understand her own death. That in itself is a curious thing. If true he could give her more -- give her a taste of the future, but would that be telling too much?

He'd like more certainty before he moves onto that. Before getting to a point dangling tidbits of information might be amusing.]

[He quiets her. A little too startlingly easy.

"I thought you spoke for the planet."

That's right. He knows more than she does and he has no idea that she's not yet experienced death at his hands. There's something about what he says, however, that sticks with her, and she suspects it will for quite some time. Speaks for the planet. Isn't that a bit presumptuous? She can hear them. She can feel them, those who have returned. But to say she's their... representative? Advocate, perhaps.

Aerith studies him warily, the subtle knitting of her brow as she considers how to respond.]

I have my own thoughts, too. I'm more than just a what. If humanity can atone, give back what it's taken, then shouldn't it be allowed to do that?

[She words herself carefully, a knot of anxiety rising. Aerith clears her throat.]

Don't you think this is a bit open to be debating this here?

My -- are you suggesting a private meeting?

[Maybe he will pay her a visit. To both continue this conversation and rile her up at possibility of him seeking her out. Not to mention the worry it'll certainly cause others. He's aware this conversation isn't private and there's already been one who's decided to jump in.]

I'm suggesting that you're inviting questions, which is likely intentional on your part.

[If she says 'yes' to him, he'll know something's up. But undoubtedly, he has information that could be practical. A direct approach with him, regarding this, isn't a wise idea.

She will need to find a different way. A way that does not provoke his suspicion. At least, not more than she already has if she can help it.]

I'd also appreciate it if you stopped goading otherworlders.

[She can't use Balthier's name directly. Or won't, because that seems dangerous in some fashion. And she can't make it seem as if there's more to it. It's all a precarious balance, one she isn't sure she knows how to handle immediately.]

Are you concerned about the otherworlder and what he might think were we to meet to alone and intimately? He's rather brazen at the moment, I wonder what would happen were I to pay a visit.

But then again, I imagine parts of you are deeply curious. There's so much more you want, isn't there?

[Information that is. And honestly. He wants to know more too. He knows she's hiding thing.]

I know what you want him to think and he's smarter than you're giving him credit for. Whatever you think you're trying to trap him in, it isn't going to happen, so I'd like it if you stopped wasting his time.

[And she doesn't like whatever implication is in his wordage either. Being alone with Sephiroth is potentially dangerous. It wouldn't matter the reason for it.]

What would you know about what I want? You don't know anything about me of substance.

I believe he has something called free will. I am not keeping him captive in our conversation. He is free to walk away at any time.

And you --

You want to know more. There's answers you're looking for, aren't there? Ones that are just outside of your grasp ...

A little difficult for him to do when you are deliberately goading him. Even I can see what you are doing and the only reason I am not interjecting between the two of you is because he doesn't need me to, but you do evidently.

If I agree to meet with you—privately, intimately if you want to call it that— [There is nothing intimate about this.] —will you leave him be? And we'll see just where our curiosities lie. Assuming either of us really has any.

[And she does. He's hit it right on the head. There's plenty she doesn't know and she suspects he does.]

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[video] - un: pinkmemory

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