onepassingnight | [ Report I ] Hearts and Stars

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[ Report I ] Hearts and Stars

Tseng smiled thinly as he watched the surprisingly large group gathered in one of Shin-Ra's ballrooms, he'd never realized quite how many people considered him family whether they were actually related or not. There was a smattering of brothers and sisters along with their kids, people he couldn't remember seeing but were somehow actually related to him and had come to congratulate him. Turks were there, of course, new ones who were just beginning to learn how to tie their ties and old ones who'd retired before his time.

He'd given a speech; speaking of loyalty and camaraderie, that they'd only need to call and he'd put his tie back on and be out the door for them. Once a Turk, always a Turk and he'd never abandon them or the tiny group of relatives he'd recently been informed of still having.

He knew he should talk to them, approach them and say something but he didn't know a thing about any of them these days. Family had been the company for nearly twenty years now, and while blood was thicker than water he'd shed an awful lot of it alongside the Turks.

It was awkward.

[OOC: Tseng's dreaming of his retirement party, and there's newly discovered family in attendance.]

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Tseng knelt to receive the flowers, hands careful not to smash the blooms. "Thank you." He smiled, "Are these from you?" He asked, flowers weren't common enough to be given freely and were usually a bit lackluster looking after being imported from outside Midgar's wasteland.

The girl shook her head, briefly looking over to the ballroom's windows. If one were to look out of them, there would be a flower girl standing in the street below, seemingly preoccupied hawking her blooms.

"A lady gave them to me," she answered. "She said they were a special order to celebrate." There was a brief pause as she considered before continuing; her expression growing a bit shy at saying this to a previously-unknown relative, but also amused at the memory of hearing it and how it had been said. "She also said...it's the only time you'll get them for free, and that you should make your own garden."

Aerith had never been completely comfortable with having Turks around, and even when there had been some trust established--enough for her to pass letters for a special someone on to Tseng--any interest shown for the flowers had gotten the most ridiculous, exorbitant prices quoted. While it's still a bit of a tease at Tseng, she also feels that taking care of a garden could be good for Tseng. Message delivered, the girl smiles shyly at Tseng and edges toward a teenager, likely a big sister.

Tseng had paid though, no matter how insane the price she tossed at him. Something for the coffee table at home, or in his office on occasion. He'd thought countless times of placing a few folded paper ones on one of the pews of the church, ones that wouldn't wither when brought away from the small miracle of her garden within. He'd never followed through, quietly tossing them in his wastepaper bin after making them.

"She's far better than me at keeping things alive." He commented softly, straightening upright. "Thank you for delivering them."

And though she had been startled and amazed the first time he agreed to the price... it had made her a little happy, too. Maybe he really did appreciate the flowers--or her--beyond just the possible value to Shinra and its people.

Below on the streets, Aerith turns her head up toward Shinra building, toward the windows where the lights of the ballroom can be seen. She's sure Tseng will get the flowers. How he gets more in the future, well, that's up to him. She shifts the basket on her arm and begins to walk away.

There's a quiet thought though that if he doesn't start a garden, maybe she'll send him more flowers anyway. But she'll have to do it--secretly. Very much so. Because she said that was the only time and she can't let him think she's softening. So she can't let him know it's her.

He probably would figure it out though. That's how Tseng is.

She smiles. This is how she wished it could all end.

Tseng had always believed she needed to decide on her own to come in to Shin-Ra, he'd only caved and wisked her away because of the danger the plate drop posed to her. There was a chance she'd try and save people only to get hurt herself with falling rubble or if people started rioting.

He slipped from the room and out of the building, looking for her on the streets. He wouldn't call out for her though, he didn't think he needed to because he'd known and followed her for so long. He'd find her eventually, there were things he knew he should say that were far more important than those who'd come to the party.

[ sorry for slow! ]

He'd followed her so long that she had a good knack for when she was being followed. (The knack for outrunning him hadn't quite developed with it--a good or bad thing?) This time it wasn't a chase she was leading him on, so it wasn't too long before she slipped onto a side street, standing in a relaxed manner as though she'd just stopped for a breather.

Though as he came nearer, she did comment with a slight smile: "I thought we were done with the games of tag and hide-and-seek."

[It's cool!}

Tseng returned the smile, "I wasn't aware we were playing one." He replied, slipping his hands in to his pockets. "I wanted to thank you in person."

For everything.

"For being me?" She says it cutely and just a bit cheekily--as though there were any other way she could say it. "You look happy."

"Among other things, yes." He replied, ducking his head to avoid outright grinning at her. "I... suppose I am, all things considered."

He didn't know how long it would really last, but as long as it did he'd enjoy it.

What's that, Tseng? She leans in toward him seeing him duck his head like that. He already seems a little freer... or maybe it's just her own feelings. Now that he's not with Shinra she doesn't have to worry about him having to follow orders. He's going to follow his heart.

"Where will you go from here?"

"I don't know." He replied honestly, "This isn't something that's really been done before. Veld and Valentine are the only other former Turks to actually settle in to a different life."

There was no guidebook for it, and while Veld would probably let him hang around for a while as he adjusted he didn't want to impose on him and Elfe forever either. Vincent had his own friends and problems to deal with without Tseng offloading on the cloaked man.

"That's not too important though, is it? You should make your own path, not just what Veld and...by Valentine you mean our Vincent, right?" She perks up a little, looking curious. "He settled into a new life? I'm glad to hear it."

"He's doing his own 'thing' at any rate, if he wanted to speak about it he would have mentioned it." Tseng shrugged, "What about you?"

He hadn't had the chance to decide his own path in things since he was a kid, it was something he'd have to get used to.

"I'm--" She doesn't remember. Or more exactly, she doesn't want to remember, not inside such a nice dream. "I'm fine. Filling Midgar with flowers, one at a time. Just like always~"

She spins around lightly on her feet, spreading her arms up. "It'll take a while still, but keep watching. One day this city will be green."

He'd seen it starting, on the times he ventured in to the ruins of the real Midgar. Grasses and really hardy wildflowers had begun to creep in to the cracks of the pavement.

"I believe you, it will probably look spectacular." His smile was sad, "Just stay safe alright? I won't be able to swoop down from the rafters anymore, I have a bad knee."

And they would keep creeping in--guided by a flower girl's patience and energy. After saving the world, there was no better thing than to make it healthy and beautiful.

But her arms closed back to her chest as she turned back to Tseng, frowning a little. Then her fists came onto her hips as she leaned toward him, a little scolding. "There are healers..." Though she's thinking strictly injury-related, without thinking of the possibility it has to do with his age. Tseng's always been around, he doesn't get old. "You'll take care of yourself?"

He does get old though, he's stubborn not immortal.

"I don't think even the best healer could reverse time, maybe one day though." He smiles a little though, "You know I'll do what I can, I promise."

"Ah..." She nods, tilting her head with a curious little smile. "So that's it.

"Seems like just yesterday I was yelling and running away from you. If I ran now, I bet I could beat you!"

...Well, hopefully he hadn't been expecting a wise, somber saying from her about the time passing for them. Aerith's just giggling at her mental image of "Old Man Tseng".

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[ Report I ] Hearts and Stars

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