"I'm kinda sad that we didn't get to see the view from the clock tower for very long. It was really pretty, though, wasn't it?" Aerith says this as she falls into step next to Cloud, a smile on her face. She feels so rejuvenated, being out in nature like this. The crunch of the grass beneath her feet, the warmth of the sun on her face...it certainly beats the dreariness of Midgar. She always said that she didn't like the sky, but the Cetra within her yearns for it, embraces it. It's not so bad after all, especially not with all of her friends with her.

He let Aerith take hold of his arm, keeping his gaze forward as she spoke.

"We're going after Sephiroth," he reminded her. And Sephiroth was...he just knew where he was. Call it a SOLDIER's hunch.

I was wanting to spend more time with you. Cloud averted his eyes. She had called it a date before, but he couldn't bring himself to ask about why she had. He wasn't...good at any of this, but that didn't mean he didn't enjoy spending time with her.

"How come? Curious?" Facing him, her eyebrow raised suggestively. It was easier to tease Cloud to distract him, and while she wanted to answer his question it was somewhere buried in her memories. Locked away. She could peer at them, but they felt....fuzzy.

because my friends muses need therapy. will they get it? absolutely not. 

AVOIDING THE TERRIFYING ORDEAL OF BEING KNOWN:  

“  yeah i’m pissed off but i’d rather not talk about it.  that’s why you’re the one i came to.  ”

“  i’m not looking for a friend.  i’m looking for someone just as angry as i am.  ”

“  i’m not good at caring about people’s shit on purpose.  ”

“  i’m not gonna ask if ‘you’re okay’ cause that’s fuckin’ annoying.  you wanna get the hell out of here and do something?  ”  

 “  i don’t wanna talk about it. you got a beer?  ”  

“  upset?  why would i be upset?  ”

“  so you wanna go find something to break?  ”  

“  hey you want me to kill that guy for you?  ”

“  i just need to get this shit done.  and i trust you to help me do that.  ”  

“  you’re hot.  and i’m bored.  ”  

“  can we just have some meaningless sex we can both pretend didn’t happen tomorrow morning?  ”

“  i can think of at least a dozen people that need killing.  or a light beating.  will that cheer you up?  ”

“  i’ve a got job and i think you’d be the perfect fit.  so you in?  ”

“  yeah i don’t do the whole crying thing.  give me something to stab and i’ll be good in a day or two.  ”

“  i banged it out and now i feel great.  next question.  ”

“  if i think about it,  i get angry.  and i don’t know where that anger stops.  so i’d rather not start at all.  ”

VARIOUS SENTENCES WITH ABSOLUTELY NO DEPTH U COWARDS: 

“  if you’re gonna stay here you can’t be sober so either take the fruity beer or the shitty wine or let me be vibe in peace.  ”

“  how much insect essence do you think are in every square inch of chocolate? like just how many cockroach guts have i consumed with my hershey’s? ” 

“  you should’ve seen the look on their face.  it’s been so long since i’ve made someone that fuckin’ angry it was great.  ” 

“  i have this neighbor who keeps playing driver’s license at 10 a.m. every morning and i’m starting to question if it’s a sixteen year old getting over a breakup or a 36 year old trying to reclaim their childhood. at this point the mystery is the only thing keeping me going.  ”

“  do i trust you?  absolutely not.  next question.  ”

“  if i don’t get a nap in the next hour i’ll probably murder someone.  ”

“  you’re getting that look in your eyes like you’re about to ask me what’s wrong so i’m gonna save us both the awkwardness of finding an excuse to leave and just go now.  ”

“  i’m here to raid your fridge cause my date went really bad and all i’ve had is lukewarm water and breadsticks.  ”

“  i’m making a fake tinder profile to see how gullible guys are, wanna help?  ”   

“  hey i got something for you look!  ”   *holds up middle finger* 

U MIGHT GET PUNCHED: 

“  why are you really here?  ”

“  i’m not leaving until you tell me what the fuck is going on.  ”

“  you can’t solve every problem with your fists.  ”  

“  i’m not here to talk about me.  what the hell is going on with you?  ”

“  you think i don’t notice but i do.  i can tell something’s wrong.  ”   

“  i can see beneath your smile.  ”

“  why won’t you just tell me the truth?  ”

“  what are you hiding? and don’t you dare try to lie to me. ”

“  what the hell did you do?  ”

"You were selling flowers," he answered. He couldn't forget that meeting if he tried. Besides the oddity of it, Aerith had initially struck him for some reason.

As his steps slowed, her eyes briefly flickered to the posters. Beautiful still images of the actors. Cloud moves them along just as quickly, but her eyebrow arched. "Are you okay?" She asks softly, nearly turning to look again before they reached the doors.

Cloud nodded toward the auditorium that laid at the end of a hallway lined with posters. "Let's pick out seats for next time then. The best view in the house." She'd been looking forward to coming here so he didn't want it to be a complete bust. This time, it was Cloud who started forward, taking her with him.

However, his gait slowed as they passed a particular poster, her familiar face frozen in time. Jessie. No one here would know that she died when the plate fell, that she fought to her dying breath to save sector 7. It felt surreal to see her re-surface again here of all places, amid the glitz and glam of the Gold Saucer. She no doubt would have enjoyed this place.

Although he hadn't been strictly interested in seeing the play, even he was a little upset that they'd missed the showings.

It was hard to determine with him sometimes, if it was a simple friendly gesture or if more laid behind it. The fact Cloud had not moved yet leaned towards the possibility he was actually flirting with her.

If he was honest, he couldn't remember a time when he was like this with anyone, but something about Aerith made it feel easy. Like letting his guard down wasn't the monumental task he'd always made it out to be in his mind.

"I'll have my work cut out for me then. You're not the type to accept any old date, are you?" His tone suggested he was speaking seriously, but there was an underlying note of mirth and a glance at her that said he was only being playful.

The end of the walkway came and deposited them in the Event Square. Cloud kept a hand on her arm lest she lose her balance from exiting the tunnel. "Looks like we're here."