[closed] gimme love when i'm gone

[powersouls]

WHO: Cloud, Aerith, and Tifa
WHERE: Around New Amsterdam
WHEN: May 26th, 2512
WHAT: HANGING OUT
NOTES OR WARNINGS: None yet!

[Things are still... a little strange. Tifa assumes they will be for a while, when they've still got no real home base of their own and everything constantly seems so on the verge of trouble.

But Aerith is back, and Tifa is determined to make up for lost time. Maybe they're all avoiding talking about the elephant in the room, but Tifa doesn't want to really broach that topic if Aerith doesn't want to, and Cloud... Well. Cloud is Cloud.

So, Tifa's come up with a list. It's very organized and well-thought out, and she's gathered Cloud and Aerith at the safehouse, all smiles and cheer.]

So, [She says, clasping her hands in front of her, almost a little clap.] I think we should all go explore, don't you? The safehouse is getting crowded, and if we're going to be stuck here...

[Well, they might as well learn the city, right?]

It'll be fun.

Comments

[emosey]

[ Cloud's mind doesn't immediately leap to 'fun' but he does agree with Tifa that it's a good suggestion.

Having spent most of their days in New Tokyo thus far, he feels at least some degree of comfortable in navigating that city, but New Amsterdam is still unfamiliar territory by and large, despite the increasing amount of time they are visiting here since the end of the simulation and Aerith's recent arrival.

More permanent living arrangements have yet to be discussed, but given their dwindling funds, it's something he and Tifa will need to talk about soon. While New Amsterdam seems to be a hotbed for activity that Cloud would deem dangerous, it's not like they are really in such a good place to turn down what is ultimately free accommodations right now. ]

Sure. Let's do it.

[cetra]

[On the other end of the spectrum, Aerith is all about some fun. Things truly have been nothing short of a hot mess, at least in her mind, so going out and Doing Things is right up her alley.

She knows she won't be able to go on like this forever - avoidance only goes so far. Becoming familiar with the area, maybe picking up a routine of some kind, figuring out the mysteries of this place - it's a pretty heavy to do list before she tries dealing with heavy emotional issues she is doing her best to cover up with smiles and chatter. ]

Sounds great to me! [She practically bounces over to Tifa, giving Cloud a completely innocent smile. ] And this is purely a fun trip, so no shops full of weapons.

[She wags a finger at him. They're gonna find neat stuff, none of that small shopkeeper with random weapons and potions deal. ]

[powersouls]

[Tifa laughs at that, leaning over slightly to whisper conspiratorially with Aerith. It's not particularly quiet, though. Poor Cloud.]

I don't think they're allowed to sell weapons in the city, so we're safe. Right, Cloud?

[emosey]

[ He looks at Aerith, then Tifa, a slight pout forming on his face. ]

Yeah, yeah. Lucky for you two.

[cetra]

[Encouraged by this familiar routine of ribbing Cloud, she offers Tifa her full attention. ]

Okay, it sounds like you're the one with the plan, where do we start?

[This time she's been trying to adjust to the many new developments in her life has taken it's toll and her curiosity has her anxious to get out and explore. ]

[powersouls]

Oh, well... I guess it depends.

[Her eyes go unfocused for a minute in that way that's so hallmark of using the implant.]

I have a list, but... Do we want to get something to eat? Go sightseeing?

[emosey]

[ Sorry, Tifa, but Cloud isn't going to offer you any reprieve when it comes to selecting an activity. But at least he won't complain about whatever her and Aerith choose.

Out loud, anyway. ]

[cetra]

[Aerith is here to help make decisions, especially when it comes to the fun stuff.]

How about we do a little sight seeing? I haven't gotten out to do a lot of that yet.

[And it's entirely possible she's gonna sneak some pictures for her Cooltalk page she's learned about. Social media isn't much of a Thing back home, not like this, so she's kinda excited about it.

Not that she's gonna say it out loud. Cloud needs to be caught off guard for that kind of thing. ]

[powersouls]

Oh, okay.

[Poor Cloud, silent as usual. Apparently, Tifa is absolutely fine making these decisions with Aerith, though, because it doesn't slow her down.]

There are all sorts of plants growing all over the city, right? Apparently some spots have become really popular, like streets and tunnels lined with all sorts of flowers.

[emosey]

[ Finally, something that he knows a little bit about. ] I've seen something like that before. The outside wall was covered in some kind of mural.

[ His eyes glaze over a moment as he accesses a map of the area, confirming with himself that he remembers about where it was, and could probably guide them there. ]

[cetra]

[She wants to see this so bad. What kind of flowers would there be? She's hoping for some more unconventional plants and such, flowers to discover.]

So, it's settled. [She loops her arm through Tifa's, giving Cloud a bright smile. He better be careful, she'll snatch his arm and then he will be stuck. It's only a matter of time] To the mural and streets of flowers!

[powersouls]

[Tifa laughs, relaxing when Aerith's arm loops through hers. This feels... normal. Nice. Like they can just pretend they're having a fun day and nothing odd is going on.]

Lead the way, Cloud.

[emosey]

[ It's nice to feel useful again in some way, even if it's only in some frivolous capacity such as this. Cloud gives a firm nod of agreement, pushing off the wall on which he's been leaning, and gestures for them follow. ]

Let's mosey.

[cetra]

[She gives Tifa a little smile at Cloud's words, rolling her eyes. If only they could all be as cool as Cloud Strife.

She keeps her arm linked with Tifa's as they follow behind, biting her lip as the jovial air around them settles. She knows she can't pretend that her death didn't happen, but when is the right time to even talk about it?

Aerith doesn't know. So she's just gonna...focus on their goal right now. ]

Are the flowers in the tunnel due to all this overgrowth you think? I wonder what's causing that, anyway, it's a little weird.

[powersouls]

[Tifa can't help but smile at Cloud's ridiculous phrasing. It's easier right now to pretend that everything is light and easy—she doesn't want to push Aerith, as much as she's worried. That wouldn't be fair to do, right?

So, flowers. They can talk about flowers.]

I don't know. I guess it's unnatural for the city, too, but everything grows like that here. Maybe you should start a garden.

[emosey]

[ Aerith hasn't really wanted to talk with him about her death since the day of her arrival, when he'd first broken the awful news. So far, Cloud has been content to let her keep avoiding the subject. Maybe that's not the healthiest choice for either one of them, but it certainly is the easiest. There are some nights when the guilt is so severe that it threatens to drown him, and other days -- like today, with the three of them on this outing together -- that he feels almost buoyant above it all. ]

I'm sure there's others who'd be interested in helping out with that kind of thing.