🌸 two | i drank every scar that i could.

[everblooms]

Who ⬤ aerith + various
What ⬤ closed starters for may, finally...
When ⬤ through out may!
Where ⬤ many places. many faces. many traces
Content Warnings ⬤ n/a, i'll update if i need to.

x please contact me if you'd like a personalized starter! you can hit me up through PM or on plurk @ hagclub. my ooc plotting comment is here, too. ❤

Comments

➡ CLOUD.

[everblooms]

[ By nightfall, the streets of Jigoku are wrapped in a dense sense of debauchery and anxiety. Almost assuredly, each fight that breaks out is influenced by the mounting tensions between Shuten and Tamamo. Cloud is lucky— both because he has a tour guide and because he's not got to worried about the storm slamming into him, here. Aerith leads him through Tamamo's territory with familiarity, offering little "hello"s and "how about later"s to those who recognize her. She takes a moment out to introduce him to a few of her most notable contacts— many own restaurants, others are workers within Mizukume that have been helpful, and fewer yet are seemingly just people. Merely youkai she's come to know on the streets, who have nothing to offer but pleasantries. If you need anything, as always, Cloud is a big help. She's a great saleswoman, still. ]

...So, the most active part of the district is probably the brothels. They're not that much different from the Honeybee Inn, but they deal with a... different kind of massage. Sometimes.

[ She's explaining as they walk, gesturing to one of the bigger facilities in Tamamo: it looks like a bar from the outside, but within, they both know what's going on. After all, the sign makes no bones about itself. He's probably gotten the spiel about Tenkohime already, but that's all fluff on their way to her real destination. Her apartment complex is far north of the entrance, and she's insisted she needs a bodyguard on her way home, now. They both know this is a ploy. She wants him inside her apartment, for reasons she hasn't explained yet.

In the middle of recounting a short tale about delivering a bouquet of alcohol to the brothel, where the owner had kicked her out until she could confirm that Aerith was not mic'd up—

Someone shoves their ass in their faces.

Okay, it's more polite to say someone shoves their face in their's. Unfortunately, the shirime's blinking eye rolls around in the pucker between two round, bouncy cheeks. ]

—Ah!

[ Aerith hops back immediately, a crying falling out of her mouth without her realizing. And she tries, in vain, to cover her eyes from the sight. Truly, it's... ]

Uh, sorry, what... Exactly are you... mumbling?

[ Maybe Cloud can make it out? A5...? ]

[identitycrisiscore]

[Truly, he's been thankful for the tour Aerith has been giving him - he's starting to learn the city better now, but it's safe to say he was pretty lost to start. Thankfully with some time and some helpful tips he's learning.]

[It's also nostalgic in a way he wouldn't vocalize - Aerith's guided tour through the territory does a lot to remind Cloud of their first walk through Sector 5 - especially as Aerith introduces various contacts, people she's been helping, and other ways that make the city feel like it's normal beyond the ongoing conflicts springing up all over.]

[He plays the bodyguard role immaculately - even without his trusty sword, he cuts enough of a figure that no one would question him. He's admittedly more than a little curious why Aerith is trying to get him to her apartment in the city, but-]

[Well, 'but' is the operative word there, isn't it?]

Ugh! [Cloud is startled just as bad as Aerith, but he doesn't shield his face, merely taking a step back and grimacing at the... display. Truthfully, his stomach for these kinds of things isn't amazing, but the yokai here have been... friendly enough, so far. Even if this is already ending up one of his least-favorite encounters.]

[Aerith clearly is having a hard time stomaching it too, so its mumbling isn't very loud. With a look at Aerith, and a weary thousand-yard-stare of knowing exactly what this looks like, he crouches down to hear the shirime a bit better.]

A...5? [It takes him a minute, that could mean anything, but once he pieces together the fact that it wants whatever A5 is, he comes to a conclusion-]

A... vending machine code? [The shirime sort of... bounces, in a way that probably is meant to articulate a nod, but likely just looks - well. It's not important what it looks. The fact is that he's deduced that much with a minimum of interaction.] Okay, what vending machine-

[But, before Cloud can get more from the Shirime, it's just muttering about A5 again and again.]

Uh... o...kay then... I guess... [He... stands to his feet, brushing himself off quietly.] I guess it wants us to get something out of a vending machine?

[Truly, one of the more... strange requests, even for them.]

[everblooms]

[ This is the worst outing they've had together since saving the world, and at least that had a positive outcome. Aerith watches with a mixture of humor and horror as Cloud buddies up to the shirime, closing the distance with all the excitement of a sinking fish. ]

Vending machine...? [ Silence falls between the three of them as Aerith gathers recollections in her mind, plucking them out with careful consideration. A vending machine... ]

Alright, I guess? Come to think of it, in the brothel, there's... come with me. Hey, you'll stay here, right? [ The shirime, delighted, hops up and down, a wheezing, suspicious sort of noise escaping it. Is it ... laughing? Aerith makes a face before crossing the street quickly, without care for traffic. Honk all you want, but that brothel is about to get two new guests. ]

There's a new face working in here. I heard she knows a lot of the gossip around town. Might be worth it? Anything to get that guy from being so... loud.

[identitycrisiscore]

H-hey! Hold on!

[Of course Cloud was going to come with, but that means the cars simply honk louder as he has to chase after Aerith en route to the brothel. Truthfully, he'd take most options to get away from the shirime, given its, well, appearance, the wheezing noise rattling in Cloud's mind as he crosses the street alongside Aerith.]

[It doesn't take him too long to catch up after that as she explains.] A new face? You think this person has some idea of the vending machine that... guy is looking for?

[There is, you know, a small bit of embarrassment he's hiding at going to a brothel of all places. But they made it through Wall Market, it's probably not going to be nearly as bad as that...]

[everblooms]

[ Arriving in Tamamo had been less of a culture shock for her, with Wall Market's ostentatious, rambunctious nature fresh on her heels. Cloud hides his embarrassment as well as Aerith wears her comfort in entering a brothel. She waits for him to cross as angry drivers shout at them for jaywalking, disregarding it as little more than white noise. Then, hands laced in front of her, she cocks her head up at the place. It's a big, traditional looking building, with eastern looking awnings and a golden sign. ]

Here we are. Jack In The Fox. Not very subtle, huh? [ With a shrug, she moves forward to the doors. ] She might, or she might not. But so what? You start somewhere.

[ Turning back to him, she raises her brows. Though Aerith's hands are on the doors, she doesn't open them. A sweet smell oozes from within— no doubt, it's probably drugs. ] Ready?

[identitycrisiscore]

[It takes a moment for Cloud to look up at the sign as Aerith introduces him. He produces that oft-cited little 'Huh.' of equal parts bewilderment and understanding that so often punctuates their conversations. She's right, it's not subtle. At all. Even the Honeybee Inn had at least a bit more subtlety about their... services. In some ways it was a good thing Sutoku had scooped Cloud up instead - this would have been a lot for him to take in right away.]

I- [He was going to reply to Aerith regarding it being a place to start, but she, and the obvious smell coming out of the brothel, catch him off guard. He stops for just a moment, deer in the headlights, as it kind of hits him, then and there, that Aerith is cheerfully walking him into a brothel of all places. It takes a moment for him to recalibrate.]

Y...yeah. Let's go. [He's suddenly, perhaps, a bit more nervous than he was a moment ago. Who could say why?]

[everblooms]

[ There's a tangible pause in how Aerith stares up at him. She mulls over his reaction, picking up just enough to think something is off. He says let's go, but something seems to be holding him back. ]

Cloud?

[ Maybe she's gotten used to the way Tamamo operates. While brothels are one form of entertainment in this district, and they've technically been inside the Honeybee Inn together, it had been a wholly different affair. A massage parlor is one thing, she knows; this is another. ]

You look pretty spooked. You can take a break and wait for me here, if you want.

[ Really, she's in and out of establishments like this often enough alone— if he finds it disagreeable, she's capable of handling it by herself. ]

➡ SEPHIROTH.

[everblooms]

[ It takes a lot of networking to get anything done in Tamamo. She's hardly surprised when the newest threat to normalcy in Jigoku comes rolling through the distract, making it way down streets loudly and ostentatiously. Aerith is nothing but agreeable, so tasked with entertaining people, she finds it in her to make herself useful in the streets of Shuten, where a number of members of Tamamo make their way to her for healing of minor wounds. Cuts, scrapes— headaches, too, they all dissipate under her watchful eye and magic.

The Celestials she's leading around are a trio, each of them dressed luxuriously and intricately. They nearly drop jewels as they walk, looking out into the world like they own it. For all intents and purposes, it seems, they do.

She speaks with them, then, asking of things like the Haniwa. They have little interest in it, and shove a small youkai, cobbled together out of dust and hair at her. It complains of nausea, and Aerith rids them of it. She brings up the Wastelands— nothing, still. Opening her mouth again, they yawn pre-emptively, looking away from her into the streets, again.

This time, she follows their gaze, and her eyes fall on— ]

...Sephiroth? [ Right, he's been claimed by Toraguma. It's nothing, she tries to tell herself, and Aerith further tries to turn back to the Celestials. There's a problem, however: it's too late. She knows he's there, and all she can think is how much did he hear? What about see? ]

[sefirot]

[Well, well. What's this? The flower girl attempting to chat up the Celestials, how interesting. He assumed she wandered to this area to help others, but that might not be the case. Either way, he's not about to just let her pass on by.

Though in all honesty, were it any other person he might have done just that -- unless they were doing something threatening towards Shuten. Unfortunately he is still bound by those rules as long as he's here. Something he still doesn't care for, but at least this time he has more of an excuse to approach her. Other than the sole purpose of harassment.

So as soon as she turns away, he approaches. And much like he does to Cloud he makes it a point to come up behind her. Looming.]

What are you up to?

[everblooms]

[ Sephiroth's presence is like an electric shock to her body. He speaks, and she feels it in her spine, jumping. ]

Are you always going to do that?

[ Flustered despite herself, she still turns to meet him. Even as he towers over her, Aerith puts her knuckles to her hips and tilts her head, lips puckered as if to hold in a quip or two. ]

It's really obvious, right? I am asking them about the haniwa... [ The black market had been a short topic of conversation, too, but nothing of great discussion. Still, she makes no mention of it. Perhaps it is both an attempt at secrecy and to protect him; who knows what Sephiroth would do? To himself and to others? ]

Is this your first time meeting them?

[ The Celestials seem to regard Sepiroth with as much interest as they do Aerith. In other words: None. ]

[sefirot]

[Do what, Aerith? Startle her? Sephiroth tilts his head to side slightly in question, but makes no further comment about it. The reaction is good enough.

As she continues he gives a look towards the Celestials, though it's almost as dismissive as the way they looked at him.]

I have not bothered with an introduction, but I have seen them from a distance since their arrival.

[Which brings him back to what she said a moment ago ...]

Have you learned anything? About those objects?

➡ BAROK.

[everblooms]

[ In the daytime, she works in gardens across Tamamo. Private ones, where she gets paid just enough to get by. Aerith is considering doing what Kim's done, and taking up a slot over at 7-11, but for now, she's happy to get by doing what she likes. Easier yet, however, is the sheer amount of connections she makes wherever she goes. A ramen vendor might mention a shop owner to her, who might mention an officer of the law to her, who might mention a higher ranking official, who might mention that one of the lost souls, a man, has recently enjoyed a promotion. Prodding him more would give her even more information. Nosy as she is, she can't believe that Barok's neglected to tell her the good news. Worst yet, no one gossiped about it with her!

By the time Barok leaves one of Enma's official buildings in the evening— perhaps on his way to get dinner, or to take a walk, or to make his way to his next stop for work, a familiar sight will greet him. Aerith, in her red jacket and pink dress, stands with her back to the door, watching crowds move through the streets. They've cleaned up nicely, though damage exists in some of the buildings, still. Holes, missing bricks, half-ruined billboards; life goes on, under the neon lights of Jigoku.

The sound of the doors closing behind him catches her attention, and she looks over her shoulder to spot him. ] Ah, so he finally shows, does he?

[ Immediately, a smile lights up her face. She's paler than usual, lack of sleep tugging at the corners of her eyes, but her smile. It's the same as always: chipper and hopeful.

Marching on over to him, he'll see that she's carrying a wicker basket with a square of fine, silken fabric over it. His initials have been embroidered into it, and as Aerith raises the basket to his eye level (a feat that requires standing on her toes!), he'll spy a bottle beneath the handkerchief. ]

A little birdie tweeted to me about your promotion. So, I called in a favor. You seem like a wine guy. Or a handkerchief guy!

[ Either works.

If he cares to look, he'll see she has indeed come with a gift. Beneath the square of silk is a fine pinot noir. There's nothing else in the basket, but she hopes she pinned him well. The sommelier had nearly kicked her out after all her questions! ]

[dehallow]

[ Though he knows that he has taken his first real step towards being able to make a true change in this city, it does not feel like much of a promotion to van Zieks. He has lived a lifetime of being destined for the courts, hailing from an old and esteemed family in the London gentry, and here he is nobody much. All influence, he has to fight for. All respect needs to be earned from the ground up. It results in mind-numbing days of paperwork and then the occasional trial during which he has to convince some Sutoku lawyer that no, this pickpocketing cannot be done away by claiming temporary insanity... He is glad to be doing it, but it is exhausting in a different way that patrolling had been.

So once today's work is done, he was going to head straight home and.... oh. That's...

For a moment, he just stands stunned as Aerith appears before him like an angel, carrying the most hallowed of liquids-- ]

... Miss Aerith.

[ Not the wittiest greeting, but he is finding his voice again as he accepts the basket so Aerith can stop standing on tippy-toes. ]

I think everyone who knew me in my homeland would call 'seems like a wine person' to be quite the drastic understatement.

[ When he lifts the handkerchief, the ever-present furrow of his brows softens. ]

... you have understood me exactly right.

[everblooms]

[ It's a prideful little smile she wears now, rolling back onto her heels. She had, in truth, been nervous. They are acquainted, and she trusts him, and has hedged a number of bets upon him, but Barok isn't a close friend. Maybe he will be, she thinks, finding him a touch more approachable with that softness in the edges of his features. ]

Really? Great! [ It's the goth thing, she thinks, but people in government positions always seem to enjoy gifts of alcohol. They seem especially appropriate in Hell. Hands clasped behind her back, she stares up at him for a moment too long. Perhaps it's the lack of sleep— certainly, that might be the surface level explanation. In truth, however, she's thinking, planning... how to broach a specific topic. ]

So... since you're a higher ranking government official again, you probably need a bodyguard, right? I'll do it for free for the night! Where to, boss?

[ This is partially an excuse to tag along. He's not a fool; she's sure he'll find her out. Still, it's much more fun to think of it like that. ]

[dehallow]

[ On the one hand, this does cause a smirk to pass his lips for a moment. On the other hand, it is a rather sardonic one. The position he holds now is hardly worthy of being described as 'higher ranking' and he cannot imagine himself to be in half the amount of danger now than he was in for his whole life in London. ]

I have weathered more assassination attempts than I care to keep count of, but just for today, I will allow myself to be put at ease by your company.

[ It is clear that this is a social call after all and he is not disinclined to spend some time together after she went so far out of her way for him. Aerith reminds him a little of what a grown-up Iris might be like, and in a strange way that makes her presence a rather easy one to accept in his life. ]

I was just heading home - I do not feel my apartment is in any state to host guests, on account of being a run-down little hole, but you are invited either way.

[everblooms]

[ His assessment of the Iris-to-Aerith pipeline is likely not too far off, in truth. They'd be a duo to energize the masses, at least. ]

Maybe by your standards. [ It's a chipper quip, her tone lilting in the same way a bird's song might. She gives a familiar little pat on the arm, again, and lets Van Zieks lead the way. ] You'll probably make your way up to those standards again sooner than later. [ It's an encouraging statement, not meant to deride, even if the comment might have been a snip coming from someone else. Enma's full of towering and intimidating buildings, but they cast nearly no shadows. The streets are lit up for all to see. Somehow, that seems fitting for the territory run by the man who decides the law.

If he says he will be put at ease by her company, then she'll make it so. Aerith talks about a number of things; she makes mention of common workplace happenstances. It seems like she knows far too many people (and it isn't uncommon for someone to incline their head toward her in a curt greeting at they walk, too— but then, Van Zieks would know that Aerith has a way of wiggling her way into your business no matter what.

It isn't until they come t cross paths with a clay figurine, resting on wooden railing of a bridge, that she breaks away from him. Retrieving it, Aerith stares down at the little thing in her hand for a moment; already, she can feel the energy oozing from it. This little thing practical bleeds anxiety and negativity.

She closes her hand over it.

...And pockets it. In front of him. Ahem. ]

Where was I? Oh, yeah— Cloud agreed to use the forklift to pick up trash. It wasn't locked up. Pretty lucky!

[dehallow]

[ Van Zieks has absolutely no idea who over half of the people Aerith mentions are, but he is content enough to just listen to her going on about them anyway. One could make up a pragmatic reason for it and insist that it's because it gives him an impression of the community or something, but the reality is that he hasn't had a great many social outings in the last decade and is grateful when someone else provides the topics of conversation.

He merely provides short commentary and a great amount of raised eyebrows to her stories, allowing them a rather peaceful walk for most of the way.

Most of it. ]

Did you really think I would let you get away with that?

[ Sorry to the forklift story, but he's stopping in his tracks in front of her, holding out his hand for the little statue. ]

We have to hand them over to the Department for safekeeping. I can take it first thing next morning.

[everblooms]

[ She wonders if he half expects her response. ]

No can do, Barok. [ Gesturing, Aerith shakes her head before continuing. Over all, even if she's saying she refuses, she's still wearing friendliness well. ] This is how I'm going to research them.

[ With a cant of her head, she closes the distance again. A pallor has settled into her skin, but she seems unwilling to budge, still. ]

Besides, I don't think you should hold onto it that long.

➡ EMILY.

[everblooms]

[ Tamamo doesn't actually have the best deals for clothing, but if you know where to look, you can generally get something done quickly. While Aerith thinks to herself that a visit to the tailor might yield better results, she's not too sure if it'll be ready in time for the beach party. As such, she's dragged Emily from the clinic, out into neutral territory, into a dinky looking shop with a focus on "vintage" aesthetics. There's summer collection is largely... not Aerith's style, but she's almost sure something will stick out to Emily here.

The rack she's sifting through is full of bikinis, which Aerith thinks suits Emily quite nicely, all things considered. What she raises up to the older woman's body is a pastel blue number that ties at the side, and frill lining it's hemming. With a cant of her head, she makes a face. ]

Hmm, nope. Frills aren't really you, are they?

[medicative]

They're rather sweet, though...

[she's gone and tried to select out one piece swimsuits on the more subdued side. they're going to be body conscious, but she doesn't know about going for two pieces just yet. she's trying to keep an open mind - her one requirement to Aerith is that it not be something with a high back, since she'll need to fit her wings through it. beyond that, she's letting the younger woman have her fun.]

[everblooms]

[ She does stick to these requests, of course. She's not about to try and convince Emily of anything different, but...

She holds it up again, and tilts her head. ]

Really? Go try it on. You do look good in blue!

[medicative]

If you're certain...

[setting her far more conservative choices aside, she takes the blue swimsuit and goes to the changing rooms.

it...doesn't look bad in her opinion. perhaps not something to stick with, she's unsure, but she pauses in the mirror, gazing at the scars on her side. they've faded a little with time, but they're still obviously there...

really she's just not come out of the room yet , Aerith might have to check on her.]

[everblooms]

[ Emily is lucky, truthfully, that Aerith is too short to peek over the door. Instead, she'll see Aerith's booted feet standing at the door following a gentle rap upon it. It's been a few minutes, and Aerith cannot imagine it takes that long to get into a bikini. Hm. ]

Emily? Are you decent? Can I come in and see?

[ She isn't too lucky, though— if there's one person to directly state what she wants, it's the woman on the other side. ]

[medicative]

Oh, yes. You can.

[unlocking the door, she opens it so that Aerith can come in and give her opinion on it. maybe the frills aren't right for her, or maybe not the color. she'll leave it to Aerith's discretion - but she also knows those scars are right there.]

[everblooms]

[ When the door opens, Aerith eagerly comes in, face lit up with a brilliant level of excitement. The scars are the first thing she sees— raised and highlighted, the blossom across Emily's side in a way that reminds her of old, forgotten bouts of anger. They had once been deep set gashes, she thinks, a terrible wound likely all inflicted at once. She hums in a thoughtful sort of way. They must be at least partially why Emily's more set on a one piece, but the truth is that a bikini with a low back accentuates her figure well. The dip of her hips, the shape of her legs like long, willowy branches, scorched at the ends. The wings, too, even if that's something she's used to. ]

You look so pretty! [ It's a sincere remark, and as Aerith settles in closer to direct her to the mirror, she adjusts one of Emily's shoulder straps, just to make sure it doesn't come tumbling down with the movement. In the mirror is the reflection of two women, one younger and beaming without abandon. ]

I like the cut on your body. Maybe no frills. They look hard to swim in! Hmm... Are you set on a one piece?