(no subject)

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ Stained glass creates colorful rainbows of patterns on the wooded floor, beams of sunlight streaming in through the holes in the roof. Despite the decrepit nature, the church is fairly well kept, clean and free of most forms of debris (though there are more than a few shattered wood beams and pews scattered here and there); the one thing that stands out the most being a large flower garden in the center of the main area.

It's a healthy garden, growing lush and vibrant, almost sticking out like a sore thumb in its surroundings.

And Tifa is there, kneeling next to it, looking for weeds and other things that might keep the garden from growing.

It helps her feel like Aerith is really still there.

She comes here, sometimes, to clear her head, to take a break. It really is a peaceful place in what's left of Sector Five, a small private world for those who remember the flower girl who used to come here. Sometimes Tifa thought about taking some of the flowers home with her, decorating the bar with them..

But she always ended up feeling as though they were better off here, hidden away, where only those who came looking for them and knew they were here could find them. ]

Comments

[herlonelystar.livejournal.com]

[ Usagi's not sure when she got here -- if the dream connect had her already walking or if it had just unceremoniously dumped her at the front door step of the church. Either way, it's piqued her curiosity and she nudges the door open to peek inside.

The place looks like it's seen better days but there's something about this church that makes Usagi feel.. at peace. She likes it so she continues on forward. The main pathway towards the back of the church is cleared out, but she can't help but wonder what happened to a place like this that it could look like this. ]

Ah!

[ It's then she finally catches sight of Tifa and she pauses before she gets too close the flower garden that the older woman is currently kneeling and tending to the flowers. ] I didn't know someone was here. I'm not bothering you, am I?

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ The sudden noise startles Tifa a little -- she's not used to the peace of this place being disturbed, and she turns slowly, dusting her hands off as s he stands up.

The younger girl seems innocent enough; by now, Tifa's good at spotting a threat, and the blonde in front of her is obviously not one, so she smiles a little, shaking her head. ] Not at all. I think the flowers like it when people visit.. [ At least, that's what Aerith used to say. ]

[herlonelystar.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's a relief!

[ Knowing that she isn't disturbing the older woman, Usagi walks in a little more relaxed, still idly looking around and yet keeping distance enough to be respectful.

It isn't until she reaches the edge of the garden and kneels down to let her fingers brush against the yellow petals of the flowers. ]

These are very pretty. It's like these flowers seems to fit here.

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ There's a nod, and Tifa crouches again, close to one of the flowers. ] You think so, too? These flowers only grow here. My friend.. used to sell them.

[herlonelystar.livejournal.com]

[ There's something in the way that Tifa speaks that word that pings in the back of Usagi's brain. So instead of asking, Usagi just smiles while her hand draws back. ]

I'm sure she's glad that the flowers are being taken care of!

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Ami's just a short distance away (was she there a moment ago?), gently sprinkling some of the flowers with the water from a small watering can. She trails her arm back and forth, letting each plant receive its drink gently.

It's been a long time since she's done something like this. It brings back memories she's not sure if she wants to dwell on: a man who once loved nature and taught her about the greenery and flowers around them.

She acknowledges Tifa only after a few moments as her hand stops its movement, tipping the watering can back upright.]

Who's there?

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ Tifa looks up sharply, frowning a little. She could ask the same thing, and she tilts her head to the side, standing up from her kneeling position to look at the girl in front of her. ] I could ask you the same thing.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[How rude.]

If you learn to be polite, I'll consider answering you.

[You first, Tifa. Not particularly anticipating an answer after that start, Ami goes back to tending to the plants.]

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ Tifa knows how to read a threat.

She can't read you, and it's setting her on edge -- the last thing she wants is some stranger defiling this place (again). She slips one hand into her back pocket and leaves it there, squeezing her gloves to make sure they're there.

Her tone is a little more firm this time. ]

My name is Tifa. Why are you here?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[She makes her living being unpredictable. Ami lifts her hand holding the watering can, as if to display it as her reason for being there.]

I'm Mizuno Ami. Doctor Mizuno.

[She even allows herself the ironic, habitual polite phrase.]

Pleased to meet you.

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

[ The Doctor stumbles into the broken church, hands going up to make sure he doesn't disturb the rest of the broken down building. With a quick glance around, sure that he won't muck anything up, he stands up straight and tugs on his jacket. ]

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ The silence around Tifa is broken with the arrival of The Doctor, and Tifa stands and turns suddenly, more than a little startled. ] Who's there?!

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

Just me! Hello!

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ Blink. ] Hello.

[thatoldthatkind.livejournal.com]

Sorry about the... you know. Sill old clumsy me.

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

[ This isn't the Midgar she left, and the vision worries her. In the remains of Sector Five she almost heads for her house before remembering that Mom and Marlene left, so whatever happened to the house, no one would have gotten hurt.

So she heads to the church. Even if the wreckage makes her feel disoriented she knows her way by heart and gets there quickly enough. To see it still standing is a massive relief, and she runs in the door, eager for sanctuary, comfort.

She halts for a second when she sees the woman by the flowers before recognizing her friend and calling out, in a voice far livelier than their surroundings: ] Tifa, you're here! You're okay!

[ She half-walk, half-run over in her excitement. ]

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ That voice.

She knows that voice, the teasing lilt, the lively essence. Not wanting to turn, Tifa freezes in place, hands shaking.

There's no way. There's no way at all.

She had to calm herself, and she took a deep breath, steadying her body before she turned expecting to see no one there.

But there she is, pink dress and all, and Tifa's hands fly up to her mouth as she gasps. ] Aerith....!

my s's mysteriously vanished in that last sentence.

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

[ She stops just in front of Tifa, pink dress and all, vivid and real -- as real as it gets in a dream, anyway. But despite her initial smile, confusion and doubt sneaks over her face again and she turns her head, taking in the state of the church before looking at her friend again. ]

Mm ... Tifa, what happened? What's going on? This isn't right.

all good!!

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ Tifa's answer is to rush forward and give her friend a big, tight hug, eyes squeezed shut. She wants to make sure you're really here -- that you're not some figment of her imagination. ] Aerith... I'm so sorry...

pretend that's not Zack lol

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

[ There's a moment of confusion before Aerith hugs tightly back -- even if nothing is making sense to her, she doesn't want Tifa to be upset. ] You're sorry? There's no way you could have made this great mess!

... And, you were taking care of the flowers, weren't you? [ It registers just now, Aerith looking at the garden in confusion. The tranquility hasn't changed, the flowers haven't ... so why does that seem strange when it's obvious everything else has gone off? ] Hm ... Thank you. I'm sure they're glad for the attention.

[findmyownreason.livejournal.com]

[he steps into the church and the thick soles of his boots sound hollow against the weathered wood. He ends up here often enough in his life that there's nothing to alert him to the fact he's dreaming.

Aerith's church.

He doesn't come often. He doesn't know why he comes when he does. Just... it's his penance - for not being fast or strong enough to save her so that she could return to her flowers. It's his peace because somehow despite what the church no longer has inside it, it still echoes with the feeling of the flower girl that adopted it. It's his duty, to keep the place safe and as together as it can without disturbing it's rest. He owes her that much at least, a drop in the bucket of what he owes her. It's where he first met Aerith - and where she started her first steps toward her death - because of him. The place digs at him and soothes at the same time and he visits when he's feeling the most lost or confused because it lets him be alone without really feeling alone. He never really sees the place, each time he first steps inside it, instead absorbing what it does to his battered soul first, sight coming a far second and so he's already halfway down the length of it hearing echoes of 'don't fight here. You'll ruin the flowers!' mixed with the smell of mako and water and blood in his memories and so it takes him a long minute to realize he's not alone.

Usually he's more aware when he's not alone but this one person has never set off any internal alarms or defenses in him. His eyes still widen a little when he sees her and he feels guilty without knowing why. It doesn't stop the quiet way her name comes out.]

...Tifa...

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ She isn't expecting company, least of all Cloud, so her look is sharp at first, surprised. She softens when she sees who it is, though, and smiles, standing up to greet him. ] Cloud.

[ She wipes her hands off on a nearby towel, and steps towards him, shaking her head slightly -- his presence here has her confused, a little bit. ] What are you doing here?

[findmyownreason.livejournal.com]

[he blinks and feels guilty again without knowing why. Her question also confuses him. She knows he comes here because she knows this is where Denzel was given to them. Maybe... she's upset because he didn't call to ask if she wanted to come too this time? He had agreed that they'd go together next time. He just - he hadn't really been thinking when he'd turned Fenrir this direction on the way home. It had just been a gut feeling, a quiet tug. He hadn't had anything planned. Just... standing near the flowers and going blank inside his head for a while.

Should he have had more of a point to coming?

His chin tucks a little and his voice is low.]

I don't know.

[his blue eyes lift back to the woman in front of him.]

I just thought I should come.

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ Tifa can read him like a book, has been able to since she found him at the Midgar train station. So many years ago...

Well, not really. But it seemed like it, with everything they'd been through.

So she could tell he was feeling guilty, and that made her feel guilty in turn. She hadn't meant to make him feel bad. This was his place, after all, and she was the interloper here, right? ]

I'm sorry.. I just wasn't expecting company.. I'm glad it's you, though.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[It seemed to help all of them remember her. Marlene liked to come here with all of them, especially when it was with everyone, when they could talk and remember how special she was to everyone.

She darts around one of the broken benches, determined to search more of the church. She's been in ever nook and cranny of the place, but she feels like there's more.]