(Text; UN: flowergirl)

[earlylight]

So I'm supposed to...

Introduce myself? Okay! (Boy is she trying to be herself. It's difficult, but it will be worth the effort! Maybe.)

I'm Aerith Gainsborough, the flower-girl! It's going to take me awhile to work on my garden, but I'll make it beautiful. Prices will vary.

(Now onto more difficult matters...)

Have you seen anyone named Cloud? Or Tifa?

Comments

[overmatch]

[ Ah-- that... complicates things. How is-- can something like this be possible? ]

Yeah, that's me. I'm not really sure what's possible, but I have a good friend named Aerith Gainsborough. Wears a lot of pink, serious green thumb.

[ Is it possible that maybe an alternate timeline? If time loops and surges exist and-- ugh, this is a little headache inducing. ]

[earlylight]

That definitely sounds like me! But how can that be? Are you a Turk?

(They're...really her only stalkers. Leon, are you a stalker too? She has her eye on you, sir.)

[overmatch]

A Turk? No, no nothing like that.

[ Excuse you, miss thing, he's a friend here! ]

I think maybe I know you, but not literally the you that you are now. I know that sounds a little crazy right now, but do you know Cid? Yuffie? Tifa? What about Cloud?

[ ...oh shit Cloud's not gonna like this, is he? ]

[earlylight]

I'm glad you're not a Turk.

(Being around them gets tiring, you know?)

Those last two I know best. You must be telling the truth, then. I think if we were friends before, I don't see why we can't be friends again.

(Any version of Cloud is adored by her.)

[overmatch]

[ There's a part of Leon that feels almost... weird about this. He wants to say we already are friends. They practically all lived together. How many nights had he stayed up with Aerith working on projects? Braided her hair for her for bed? Made tea in the morning?

And to think the person he's talking to just doesn't have those experiences...

Sigh. Life just keeps wanting to get complicated. ]

I guess I should say "good to meet you", then?

Listen, about Cloud. He's going to be different than you think, if you've never known me.

[earlylight]

(If only she had those memories. She would be happier for it! Her past is rather sad, instead, though you wouldn't know it from how she acts. But that too is a defense. Aerith doesn't like letting her nightmares win.)

You could. Does it feel strange?

Oh so he's from that place too? I don't mind if you don't...and he doesn't. I would like to hear about your world.

[overmatch]

It is, yeah. Guess that's how it is, though.

[ No one really wants their nightmares to win, if you ask him. Don't worry, girl, he'll be your friend. No matter which way you slice it, Aerith is still Aerith.

He doesn't plan to treat her any different, and fully expects her to be an absolute gremlin. ]

I can't say how Cloud is going to feel about it. Cloud is Cloud. And we can talk about it. Radiant Garden's a beautiful place. I have some pictures.

[earlylight]

This might be easier if we see each other in person?

(Do hospitals make him queasy? If so, any meetings can be postponed. And, yes, Aerith will always be Aerith; mischief will happen.)

I won't give up on him!

Is it? I definitely want to see pictures! Am I growing anything there?

[overmatch]

Neither of us are going to give up on Cloud, don't worry.

[ Hospitals aren't his favorite place, but they also don't put him out of sorts, either. ]

And it would be easier to show you. You talked Yuffie into a picnic with the rest of us out in your finished garden. It's... one of my favorite pictures. [ Leon keeps a few of them with him at all times, to have bits of home with him. ] I've got time whenever.

[ Honestly, who doesn't have time for Aerith? ]

[earlylight]

He's lucky! He has no idea how lucky.

(But she will drive that point home somehow until he feels downright cherished!)

Did I? That sounds like me. (Nooope! Not blushing one bit over his apparent fondness for her.)

Can you come to the hospital?

sorry for the delay!

[overmatch]

He really, really doesn't. [ The things Leon and Aerith do for that guy, am I right?

Still, he finds himself frowning at the screen, worry balling in the pit of his stomach. ]

Yeah, I can do that. Are you all right?