(no subject)

[pink-aerith.livejournal.com]

Who: Aerith Gainsborough [OPEN to all characters~ <3]
What: Selling her flowers.
Where: At one of the alleyways in Edge.
When: Early Evening.
Rating: PG-13 [Just to be on the safe side]



Selling her precious flowers is the only thing she can do to survive in the cold streets of Edge. Aerith Gainsborough loves flowers and she always dreamed of spreading them, so the world would be more beautiful. The whole idea of selling them was suggested from someone very special to her. Before she died, Aerith would sell her flowers every single day, so she could help her mother. After all, the two women lived alone and had no one to support them, so it was necessary to work in order to bring food on the table and pay the bills, as well.

In the past, Aerith was always told to sell her body to gain more money, but she never let those suggestions cross her mind. Maybe once or twice she has, but it was always dimissed. It's not like anyone would pay for someone like her since she didn't have a figure to show off, but she wasn't ashamed of it either. Selling her body would be the very last resort if her flower business didn't succeed.

"Here? It's only worth a gil," offered the flower girl with a gentle smile on her lips, but the lady that she offered it to just shook her head and walked off. Aerith looked down on the ground and gave a sigh because busness was a bit slow today. Seems like the world doesn't need her flowers anymore....or at least, she thought so.

"No! I shouldn't think like that!" thought to herself outloud before she noticed another person cross her path and she quickly gave that person a flower. Happily he accepted her flower, so the bright smile returned to her lips.

If one person accepted her flower, then others will accept them, too. Happily the flower girl continued to wait for another person to cross her path.

Comments

[frozenlightning.livejournal.com]

She and Zack had been all over the place, recently, but it was time to stop for a rest. Besides, as much as she loved Zack and enjoyed his company, Lightning needed time alone. Her personality clashed with his sometimes and it was difficult to constantly be around anyone. She was just a bit of a lone wolf and needed space sometimes. So, she'd decided some shopping would do well and the teenager headed along into the streets of Edge.

Despite how the atmosphere and air was, Lightning was quite scantily clad. She wore a black mini-skirt with a lacy over-skirt, a white corset-top that had a hood attached, her gloves, boots, pouch and straps... as well as that burgundy cape she had. It was always something for her to wear very little but just enough. Of course her sword was on her hip.

As she walked, Lightning noted a girl. She looked painfully familiar and it was hard not to stare at her to remember where she'd seen her. So, making her way over to the cart with the flowers in, she gave the slightest of smiles, her green eyes settling on her.

"How much?"

[pink-aerith.livejournal.com]

The flower girl continued to sell her flowers with a cheerful smile on her face. Sometimes she would use her charms to extort a few of her customers, but she couldn't live on just one gil per flower. Nope, she couldn't.

Looking around her surroundings for a couple of more minutes, she began to notice that the number of potential customers was getting less and less. Aerith looked at the sky because she had a feeling that it was getting darker now.

"Maybe I should get going...." muttered to herself with the cheerful exterior of hers. Edge was still a new city to her even if it resembled a lot like the slums of Midgar, but she couldn't let her guard down. Before she was about to push her flower cart back to the church, a new voice caught her attention, so Aerith turned to the young women in front of her.

"A single flower is worth a girl, but a bouquet is worth around 5 or 10 gil. It depends on the type of flower bouquet that you choose."

Giving the young women a bright smile, she asked,

"Pick the one you like most~"

[frozenlightning.livejournal.com]

It was eerie how familiar that voice was. Almost like she heard it every day, but that was impossible. Right? Scrunching her nose slightly, she looked the girl over before looking at the flowers. She'd never admit it, due to being in generally masculine environments since the age of thirteen, but she loved flowers. And plants. And animals. Probably because she loved Pulse so much.

The Binah could do with some flowers. It'd make that big ol' airship even more homey. So, chewing her lip for a moment, Lightning picked out three different kinds. "Could you do three bouquets?" She was polite enough, right?

Lightning's eyes set on the woman's face again and she frowned just slightly. Gods, she looked familiar...

[pink-aerith.livejournal.com]

Aerith carefully looked at the young women with the smile never once leaving her face because she didn't want to lose a potential sale. But she couldn't help notice that the young women looked a bit "uncomfortable" about something, but before she could ask her, the young women spoke. Carefully listening to her voice, Aerith couldn't help giggle lightly because it was weird to see a masculine type women have such a sweet voice.

Actually the voice sounded familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on who she sounds like. But it was very very familiar.

Happily nodding her head, Aerith said, "Mmmmm, I can if you desire it, miss~" The young women couldn't help lightly tease the young women especially one as serious as her. It's been a while since Aerith last teased anyone really. Secretly, she was starting to miss it.

Turning to the flower bouquets, Aerith picked different flowers, so the young women wouldn't get bored of one. The flower girl had a keen eye on what type of flowers best suited for others. It was either a cetra/ancient ability or she knew how to read people.

"Here you go~ It'll be 15 gil, please?" responded Aerith with a kind smile on her lips. Noticing the look on the young women's face, Aerith tilted her head curiously and asked, "Is something wrong?"

The flower girl couldn't help worry about her.

[frozenlightning.livejournal.com]

As Aerith worked on the flowers, Lightning watched her work. It was quite obvious the woman had a gift for knowing what flowers worked well together and the teen even smiled just a little. She didn't mind the teasing. In fact, it was almost welcomed. Showed how much she'd changed since becoming a sky pirate. Not that they'd done much pirating recently. They tended to get lazy sometimes.

I guess having no schedule does that...

When she was asked for gil, the girl's gaze had been rather intimidating, as she tried hard to figure out where she'd seen this girl before. She was so familiar and the voice was even more familiar but she... Just. Couldn't. Think.

"Something... wrong? No, I... you just look familiar... and sound even more familiar." It sounded almost like a damn pick-up line. At least in her head. Too much time around Zack, really. Fishing in the pouch on her thigh, Lightning drew out a gil pouch and handed Aerith 10 gil, an unconscious mistake, almost to make her linger here a bit longer.

[pink-aerith.livejournal.com]

When Lightening explained about being familiar, the flower girl tilted her head curiously, for she's never seen this teen before. Well, she just met her today, and she hasn't left Midgar or Edge, either. Maybe she saw her in one of her travels before she died the first time. Hearing Lightening's response made Aerith giggle lightly because her response sounded so....pick-upish.

"My? Are you flirting with me, miss~" continued to teased Aerith with a devious smile on her lips. Aerith just couldn't help keep teasing this women because she looked really pretty with a smile on her lips even if it was small. After Lightening gave Aerith the gil, she gave her the flower bouquets, but she started to count each girl that was in her hand. Just to make sure she didn't give her extra. To her surprise, the young women gave her less than the asking price, so she innocently looked at her and pointed out, "You're missing five gil."

Usually shop-owners would have been annoyed by it, but Aerith didn't mind. Actually, she had a feeling that she didn't do it unpurpose, either. So she gave her the same bright smile while watching her carefully.

[frozenlightning.livejournal.com]

"Flirting?" So, it really did sound like a pick-up... Almost cursing out loud at it, she couldn't hide the fact she was blushing. She didn't deal well with people. Lightning brushed it off as best she could; smiling slightly, Lightning fished for another 5 gil, handing it over. "Sorry, I guess I wasn't paying attention."

Lightning held the bouquets close, watching Aerith uneasily. She was so familiar. "Are you sure we haven't met before? It's just... your voice is..." and then she stopped. It was another damn pick-up line!! Really, how was she supposed to seem serious when everything she said sounded like a pick-up line?!?! Huffing childishly at herself, Lightning took a deep breath before continuing.

"I expect this sounds like yet another pick-up line and, while you're very pretty, I have a boyfriend, so I'm seriously not trying to hit on you but... you look familiar and your voice is really, really familar." Lightning covered her eyes with her hand, sighing heavily. "I sound like a lunatic..." she mumbled. This was why she didn't talk to people!!

[pink-aerith.livejournal.com]

Aerith continued to giggle at Lightening's reaction because she couldn't help find it a bit cute. Then again, the reaction on her face looked pretty similar to Cloud, so maybe that's the reason behind her finding it cute. When Lightening gave her the last 5 gil, the flower girl gave her smile while softly shaking her free hand side to side, "Don't worry about it." The flower girl wasn't bothered or irritated by the simple mistake, for no one should get over small things like that. Or at least, Aerith thought so.

Putting away the gil into one of the red jacket's poket, Aerith turned to Lightening when she heard her next question, but she couldn't help giggle at how the question was sounding. The flower girl knew that Lightening wasn't really flirting with her, but she couldn't help have some fun with her. It's been a while since Aerith has ever teased anyone. How long has it been since she came back to life? Far to long would have been the answer.

Listening to Lightening's every word, Aerith shook her her head and said, "Don't worry about it. I was just teasing you, silly~" Then tilting her head a bit, she answered her earlier question, "I'm sorry, but I've never seen you before. Maybe you have me confused for someone else?" Then hearing about her having a boyfriend, Aerith couldn't help give her a fake smile since her mind started to wonder about a certain one that she had a few years ago that just dissapeared from her life. "It must be nice to have a boyfriend....especially one that really loves you...." Aerith turned from Lightening and began to pretend that she was couting her flowers, but she was trying to cry or break down in front of her. Whenever she thought about that man, Aerith would cry about it a bit, for it felt like yesterday that he fell from the sky at her church.

Realizing her limit, Aerith turned to the young women with her gaze on the ground, "I'm sure your boyfriend is waiting for you, so....I better be going. I hope you enjoy the flowers." And with that she turned to her flower wagon and began to push it, but.....a wheel broke off. Forcing her to stop moving. "Oh no," said Aerith with her sadden eyes on the wheel, "This was the last wagon that he build for me....." The flower girl wanted to fix it, but she didn't know anything about fixing things, so she began to wonder how she's going to take the flowers back to the church.

[frozenlightning.livejournal.com]

So, maybe she really was imagining things but she still carried a weight of unrest at how familiar this girl was. Sure, she'd said they'd never met but, hey, stranger things happened. "Hmm... I probably did mistake you. I'm not from... around here so I guess faces and names kind of blend after a while." Lightning shrugged, brushing back her strawberry blonde locks. "Yeah, well, I'm still not used to the whole 'boyfriend' thing but... I know he loves me." At her own words, Lightning's faint smile would seem far brighter than any other smile she'd attempted so far and the mere fact that her gaze found her boots was proof enough she felt the same.

Really, the teen didn't understand why she was speaking so much. It wasn't like her to talk to anyone, let alone admit things she had to complete strangers. It just... felt like she could talk to Aerith. Not that she even knew her name. Even that probably wouldn't prod her memory to the picture of the girl Zack had loved. Of course, Lightning knew he still loved Aerith, even if he never said it. You didn't just stop loving someone, even if you fell in love with someone new.

Mumbling words of thanks for the flowers, Lightning turned and took a step, only for the sound of breaking wood to come from behind her. Soon followed by Aerith's saddened voice. Turning around, Lightning scrunched her nose at the sight of the broken wheel. "...hmph." Resting her bouquets on the top of the wagon, she grabbed the wheel and put it in the wagon too, before crouching behind the wagon and grasping underneath, grunting as she lifted the back end. "You pull, I'll carry."

It was something she wouldn't have done normally but she felt like she had to. Aside from how this girl poked at her memory, she'd acted like a total goob and kind of wanted to prove she wasn't entirely self-absorbed and insane.

[pink-aerith.livejournal.com]

"Could be, but to be honest....your voice. It sounds very familiar; unfortunatly, I can't put my finger on it," answered Aerith with a thinkative expression on her face. Listening to the fact that Lightening's boyfriend loved her made Aerith feel both happy for her, but a little sad, as well. All Aerith could think about is if the boyfriend would one day grow bored of her and run off for another girl, but she dimissed the thought. Not everyone goes through what she has especially Aerith. No one can understand the things that she has gone through, but she wouldn't trade her life for anything.

"I'm glad that your boyfriend is treating you well, but....you'll get used to it. It takes a while to get used to the idea of someone caring about you more than just a friend." responded Aerith with a bright smile on her lips. Or at least, the brighest smile that she can give without showing her true feelings.

Aerith continued to inspect the wagon with sadness easily seen in her eyes because it was the last thing that proved that she didn't dream up her old memories. Actually the flower girl shouldn't be surprise about the wagon breaking now, for it has been over ten years. It was going to break eventually, but....Aerith never wanted it to break. Noticing that Lightening was walking over to the wagon, Aerith rose up and said, "You don't have to do anything....I'll just find-" Aerith couldn't finish her sentence because Lightening was all ready holding up the wagon.

I don't have any other choice...might as well let her help....

And with that in though, Aerith nodded her head and said, "All right....thank you for helping me...."

Soon Aerith began to pull the wagon towards the direction of the church, but she hoped that Lightening could hold on long enough.

"If you need a break just tell me, okay?"

[frozenlightning.livejournal.com]

The teen gave a firm nod and, although her arms were already aching from the weight of the wagon, she'd manage. Heck, she'd carried Snow Villers off a battlefield. She could manage a wagon filled with flowers. Teeth gritted, the young girl walked along behind Aerith, making no sounds of discomfort. However, with the ability to control her own gravity - hence the reason she could battle in flight - the young teen displaced most of the weight of the wagon away from her arms.

Certainly she could've complained about it being too heavy for her, and though Zack would've easily lifted it because of the Mako that flowed through his body, Lightning was no dainty damsel in distress. If anything, the role she was currently playing was the knight in shining armour alongside Aerith's damsel in distress. Not that Aerith really was much of one, as far as she could tell. This girl was feisty. Possible almost as feisty as her. Probably more, considering how reserved she normally was.

"You... nghh..." she hoisted the wagon up a little, "you said this was the last wagon he built for you. Your boyfriend?" She could tell there was an underlying sadness in this woman and, even though she honestly didn't care about most people, she sort of felt as though she had to make sure this person was okay.

[pink-aerith.livejournal.com]

Pulling the wagon with all her strength, Aerith tried her best to move the flower wagon to the direction of her church as fast as she could. Internally Aerith began to pray to the planet to keep the fiends away from them because the moment someone steps out of Edge, then the fiends attack. Most of the fiends in the area are weak especially if Aerith is able to defend herself against them. She was certain that Lightening can handle herself better, but she didn't want the fiends to attack or the wagon might get destroyed at the process and that is something she didn't want to happen. Aerith loved her flower wagon because it was the last of her precious memories.

Exitting the safety of the city and walking through the path between Edge and the church, Aerith continued to pull the wagon until Lightening's question caught her off-guard which she stopped pulling. Normally Aerith had no problem talking about him to the people that knew him, but recently it's become harder and harder to talk about him without crying or just staring off elsewhere. Aerith looked down on the ground with a small frown on her lips, so she simply nodded her head and explained, "....my boyfriend made three flower wagons for me, so I could sell my flowers....but I should really say my ex-boyfriend.....he just dissapeared from my life....I haven't heard from him for years...." Grabbing the wagon, Aerith continue to pull the wagon towards the church, but she couldn't help give a weak laugh and say, "I'm sorry about the trouble, miss. I know that I should just throw this to the trash instead of taking it home, but....you should know. It's hard to get rid of precious things that have special memories of the one you love most, right?"

Putting the wagon down, Aerith gave a small sight and looked at the direction of the church. They were almost there, but she was a little tired. Turning to the young women, she said happily, "Let's take a mini break, hm?"

[frozenlightning.livejournal.com]

Admittedly, Lightning welcomed the break and gave a slight nod, lowering the back end of the wagon. She swept her bangs from her eyes and rolled her shoulders, loosening to aching feeling from having carried the wagon so far. "Hn, yeah, I get it. Wanting to keep hold of something you treasure, because it reminds you of him." She didn't tell Zack but she kept his old Bangle, in her pouch, since he didn't need it. He had that new one and he had his own magic now, so she kept that to remind herself of him. As well as that letter of his...

"I kept hold of a letter from my ex for a good few months... until my best friend found out and I gave it to him. It was a horrible letter anyway," she muttered, closing her eyes with a shake of her head. After a moment to shrug away the thoughts of Genesis, Lightning's eyes settled on Aerith. "So, why'd he leave? Did he even say?" The teen leaned against the wagon, crossing her arms as she looked over to the church. She wasn't a religious person, if anything she disliked religion, but that church really was quite pretty, even from the outside in a place like this.

Slipping her hand in her pouch, she withdrew a different letter, the first she'd thought of. It was in very good condition and it spoke of Zack's affection for her, but she wouldn't show Aerith. She simply smiled at the way her name was written on the envelope - Lightnin' - and slid it away, reaching for what she'd intended to get. A small canister with Serpantwyne from Rabanastre in it. She took a sip before offering it to Aerith.

[pink-aerith.livejournal.com]

Aerith looked at the young women and nodded her head with a weak smile, "That's right....the wagons, wearing this pink dress, and the pink ribbon that he bought me." Aerith began to fiddle with her ribbon with a weak smile on her lips because it was the first gift that anyone other than her adopted mother has ever given her. Aerith promised him never to take it off and she's been keeping that promise for years now even when he broke his promise to her.

Looking at the young women, Aerith listened to her story about the ex-boyfriend, but she couldn't help give a sigh. "...at least....you were able to let him go....I still love him even after all these years. I don't think I'll ever get over him." explained Aerith with her gaze on her boots. When Lightening asked about the boyfriend, Aerith's eyes began to lightly burn and she felt an unwelcome warmth around her cheeks. Clearing her throat, Aerith simply said, "I don't know what happened. He left on a mission to Nibelheim and I never heard back from him." Sadly looking at Lightening with a fake smile, she explained, "I think...he found another women....and left with her. I must have bored him....after all...he was a lady's man....that man loved women...." Biting her bottom lip, Aerith turned away from Lighening, so she wouldn't notice that she was still deeply hurt about it.

Turning to Lightening with a small smile, she politely shook her head and said, "No, thank you. I'm fine..." Grabbing the wagon again, Aerith gave her an apologetic look, "I'm sorry, but we need to get going. The flowers want me to tend to them before I go to sleep." And without thinking Aerith began to pull the wagon with all her strength, but it was painful. The flower wagon was too heavy by herself, but she kept pulling, so the pain of her hands could distract her from thinking about him.

[frozenlightning.livejournal.com]

"Hey... hey, wait..." She grabbed the backend, lifting it up with a grunt and gritting her teeth. It was pulling at her shoulders since she'd had to grab it without preparing herself, but she wouldn't complain. She figured this girl was really hurt by whatever guy had left her and while it was probably the same conclusion she'd have come to if Zack just left without a word for years, she kind of felt the need to console Aerith. "Y'know, he might not have left you. He could've died on his mission or something..." really her words could've done more damage than good, but it was also another option.

Once they made it into that church, lifting the wagon through the door, Lightning's eyes scanned the church. The majority of the roof was gone, there was a huge hole in the ground where flowers grew and the place seemed very run down... but it was still so pretty inside. Lowering the wagon in place, Lightning winced as she rubbed at her shoulder.

"Hey... look... if he did leave you for another girl, then it's his loss. You're a very nice girl and... well, if he died, then I'm sure he loved you." Lightning then found herself wanting to give the girl a hug. Mostly because she reminded her of someone. Heh... Vanille. Yeah, that annoying brat of a girl who seemed to work her way into your heart. She loved that girl like a sister, much like she loved Snow as a brother.

[pink-aerith.livejournal.com]

Aerith continued to pull the wagon more and more even when her hands were injured, but she didn't care at this point. The flower girl's body heals whenever she obtains an injury because of her Cetra blood. Her linage keeps her alive from all physical injuries unless it was an instant death type injury, then she's doomed. At least, she is able to die like any normal human, but she knew that she couldn't die any time soon.....there was a reason the planet brought her back. She doesn't know what it is, but she'll know soon.

Hearing Lightening's words about him being dead, Aerith shook her head and said, "N-No...he couldn't have died....I senced him a few monthes before I was killed....he was in trouble, but he was still alive...." Aerith still remembered that day because it was the first time that she ever saw rain. Rain fell from the sky on the day that she senced Zack....but that was the first and last time. It was impossible that he would have died because Zack was unstoppable and unbeatable - or at least in her mind he is.

Thankfully the two reached the church and even placed the wagon inside along with the other two broken down wagons. Letting go of the wagon, Aerith hands had deep cut and it was still hurting, but she welcomed the feeling. Turning her gaze to the young women, Aerith gave a weak smile and said, "Thank you, miss....but....it's best you don't try to make me feel better. I all ready know the truth....he never once loved me....I was just another girl for him. Nothing more." Turning to the wagon, Aerith took another flower bouquet and offered it to her, "Here. It's a thank you gift for helping me."

Tilting her head, Aerith couldn't help ask, "What is your name, miss? I would be happy to thank you properly."

[frozenlightning.livejournal.com]

The young girl took the bouquet, along with the three she'd bought, and held them close. "Um... Lightning." It was an odd name but she'd soon leave it at that than explain it. She settled the flowers on a nearby seat and moved towards the wagons. "...you want I could fix them? It should be pretty easy, really..." She wasn't sure why, but she wanted to prolong this meeting. Probably because she was getting the chance to speak to another girl who didn't want her dead. As far as she knew, of course.

She rested a hand on her hip, looking at the other woman for a brief second before returning her gaze to the wagons. They were pretty broken down and beaten but with a little time, she could easily get them in working order and looking pretty good, but she wouldn't be able to get them back to their original state.

[pink-aerith.livejournal.com]

"It's nice to meet you, Miss. Lightening. I'm Aerith" responded Aerith with a sweet smile on her lips. Tilting her head, she happily said, "Thank you for helping me, Miss. Lightening." Slowly she turned to the wagons with a small frown slowly appearing on her lips because she didn't know what she will do with them. Without the wagons, she won't be able to sell as many flowers as before. But when Lightening offer to fix the wagons, Aerith shook her head and said, "I appreciate the offer, but no thank you. I'll continue to wait for him, so he could fix the wagons for me."

Optimistic or just stupid? Aerith wouldn't be able to answer if one asked that question. The flower girl had a feeling that her Cetra side must be the reason for her not being able to move on. Then again, she didn't know anything about the ways Cetra mate, act, or even behave since there was no other Cetra to help her. Unfortunatly, for being the last of her kind, Aerith always felt lonely even when she was with other people. Only one person might that feeling leave....actually he was the only one that made her feel normal, but he wasn't by her side anymore.

[frozenlightning.livejournal.com]

At her name, Lightning's eyes snapped up and hit Aerith's face hard. Aerith. Now she remembered where she seemed so familiar from. Zack's ex... but that wasn't possible. Aerith was dead and if she wasn't Zack would've been with Aerith and not her. There must've been millions of Aeriths in Gaia. Not just this single one. So, the teen lowered her head and soon nodded when she said they could be fixed by the man she waited on. Lightning didn't expect him to just show up to fix her wagons but that was Aerith's choice. "Right."

Now, if Aerith had mentioned feeling alone, she could've easily drew parrallel to her. She had grown up feeling alone, having abilities that no one else had. Being an l'Cie was her curse, until she found Snow, and realised it was a gift. Lightning knew, though, how it felt to be all alone in the world, no one to guide you in the ways of your kind. No one to tell you just what you were doing that was so wrong that it was okay for the other kids to beat the Hell out of you.

With a nod, she offered the woman a smile, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "I'll see you around. Thanks for the flowers." With that, she scooped them up, intent on heading home to Zack.

[pink-aerith.livejournal.com]

Looking at her wagons a little longer before she heard Lightening's farewell which made Aerith give her a final smile. "You're welcome and thank you for the help." The flower girl softly waved her hand (which was all ready healed) with the smile remaining on her lips. But then an idea came into her head, so she said, "Hey, Lightening? Say hi to your boyfriend for me and tell him if he breaks your heart than I'll curse him~"

Aerith couldn't help tease a little by her words, then again, she was a bit serious. The planet granted many of Aerith's wishes, so it could be possible that the flower girl had such an ability. You never know, right?

Turning to her flowers, Aerith began to tend to each one of them while humming a small tune, but the tears began to escape her bright emerald eyes.

....don't worry, planet. I'm all right....I just feel a little sad....