Catch-All

[cultivatingdisaster]

⌛ Who: Prompto Argentum, Aerith Gainsborough, Duo Maxwell, Xie Lian, Rude and you, maybe?
⌛ What: Shenanigans. Permanent catch-all.
⌛ When: Anytime.
⌛ Where: All over.
⌛ Warnings: R. Language.



✽ Xie Lian

• Cooking With Xie Lian


• Busking Adventures


• Event: Trial of the Soul


• Event: Waterpark Waves

✽ Prompto Argentum

• Chocochicks!


• Travelling Cameraman


• Event: Trial of the Soul


• Event: Waterpark Waves

✽ Rude

• Event: Trial of the Soul


• Event: Waterpark Waves

✽ Duo Maxwell

• Lovers Tiff [Closed to Wufei]


• Event: Trial of the Soul


• I Can Explain! [Closed To Wufei]

✽ Aerith Gainsborough

• Rock Garden


• Event: Trial of the Soul


• Event: Waterpark Waves


• Gems In The Making [Closed to Maglor]

[WILDCARD] Have another idea? Want to plot something out? Catch me on JustAnotherUsername | Theo#4816 ]

CHARACTER INBOXES:
✦ Xie Lian Inbox
✦ Duo Maxwell Inbox
✦ Aerith Gainsborough Inbox
✦ Rude Inbox
✦ Prompto Argentum Inbox

Comments

[ancientflower]

You'd think that, wouldn't you?

[Aerith replied a little enigmatically.

The truth was, it wasn't a first for her at all. Maybe the memory of her in Clouds mind would suggest as much, but not the Aerith that was standing beside him. That Aerith had never shied away from adventure since she had left the slums. And now that her memories were back she knew there were even more adventures than even the ones she had experienced in Nippon.]

Don't worry about me, Cloud! Lets do this! [And she started walking, tugging at Cloud to get him moving with her. She was eager to start!]

[sultanofsquat]

Mm?

[ He turns to her, pace slowing as he can't help watching her. He knew she was confident, but there was something...different. Different from the flower girl who puffed her cheeks when he teased her for being too slow running across the rooftops. It's...fuzzy, but it feels like he's experienced this before. Watched her go on ahead while he just watched her go. There's no tears this time however, not when Aerith is quick to bring her bodyguard back on track with a tug as he's jostled out of his thoughts. With a more focused nod and a furrow of his brow, he squeezes her hand back as he moves to keep in stride with her. ]

You been doing alright out here?

[ The volcanic activity only made the region even steamier. Call it a kneejerk reaction, because she's grown up in the slums and handled herself just fine, but he did have to pull up a certain "princess who doesn't need to be coddled" after a ladder broke.

Or was it about Nippon in general... ]

[ancientflower]

Out here in this strange part of the world? Or in Nippon in general?

[Aerith had to ask for the clarification because, well, why not? The answer was going to be the same for the most part! She had been thriving in her own way! She'd been focusing more on her home than anything else, however. Hoping to create something that reminded her of her home back in Midgar, or as close to it as possible.]

Or do you mean something else, Cloud?

I've been doing really good though! It's all a big adventure, isn't it?

[And she was bound and determined to get as much out of it as she could!]

[sultanofsquat]

[ "Or do you mean something else, Cloud?" ]

Guess all of the above? A lot's happened in a few months.

Feels pretty lax compared to what we're up against back home. [ A beat and a light shrug of his off shoulder, reminding himself to gently squeeze her hand to keep the protection up. ] Not that I'm complaining.

[ancientflower]

Well lets see? Nothing much has changed since the last time we met, really. But I'm doing well.

[Aerith laughed lightly and gave his hand a little squeeze back. Even if the protection fell, she would do her best to keep Cloud safe. Though... maybe, for old times sake, she could let him be her bodyguard? Just this once.]

It depends on what you're doing, Cloud. But you're right in it's very different from back home. We're out in the open for example!

[sultanofsquat]

S'all I could ask for.

[ Is that she was doing well. For how close he was with Zack and how close he'd gotten to her over the course of a few days back home, there really was no hiding that he cared about her more than just for "bodyguard" work. He'd taken her advice to heart, in more ways than one. ]

Yeah, [ he huffs, not quite a laugh, even when his expression lifts a little. ] Way out in the open. Hard to believe we're getting paid to hike.

[ancientflower]

I'm fine getting paid to do this! I used to do it all the time!

[At least, as much as could be. And nothing nearly as hot and spicy as volcanoes. Well, not really. It was complicated. But she had managed to keep herself in shape despite everything and had found she had really enjoyed doing things like this.

Especially when she was able to do them with a friend.]

Just think of it as a casual walk through a perfectly innocent forest. Nothing will jump out and get us. We'll be safe as long as we stick together!

[sultanofsquat]

Fair enough. [ A beat. ] The Slums ain't no joke.

[ "Just think of it as a casual walk through a perfectly innocent forest." ]

Yup.

[ "Nothing will jump out and get us." ]

Not a chance.

[ "We'll be safe as long as we stick together!" ]

[ CRASH!! Suddenly Daikabuto through the trees, thick ones snapping like twigs under the sheer weight of this big fella's stomps as it marches straight overtop the couple. It's so big that it doesn't even know they're underneath it as it carries on busting through the other side of the path, and off into the vast woods. ]

...

[ Startled? Yes. Scared? No. Holding Aerith's hand hella tight right now? Probably. ]

[ancientflower]

[Startled? Yes. Scared? Oh heck no! Aerith held back her laughter but there was no holding back the look of awe on her face as she watched that giant beetle step over them like they were just a couple of ants.

It reminded her of some of the creatures that had appeared in Havenwell. Though this guy was just making his way through the forest, not bothering them at all. Probably because he hadn't even noticed them. And it was fine if it stayed that way.

Aerith grinned and looked over at Cloud to give his hand a reassuring little squeeze.]

What do they feed these things? They're huge!

[She stage whispered at him, not wanting to call attention to themselves by speaking any louder.]

[sultanofsquat]

[ Cloud, by contrast, is far more stern-faced in the presence of this behemoth of a bug. ...better this than an actual behemoth. But any part of him that felt on edge wanes slightly thanks to her squeezing his hand to anchor him. He didn't need the same level of care and attention he did when his mind was on the fritz again in the slums, but...as he looks down to her hand in his, it's a familiar feeling. He even let her keep holding him then. ]

At that size? Prolly the trees its stomping through.

[ He even works with her, stage whispering back as he holds his ground with her. And once it seems like the coast is clear and it wasn't interested in the two whatsoever, Cloud looses a breath he didn't realize he was holding again before he starts walking forward, gentler in the way he tugs Aerith's hand. ]

You okay?

[ancientflower]

At that size it could use the trees as tooth picks!

[If it had teeth. Did giant bugs have them? Did bugs in general have them? Aerith didn't really know but didn't think so.

Aerith did need that tug though, because she'd been standing and watching after where the giant bug had wandered off to. The tug got her walking and laughing as she did.]

I'm fine! It didn't attack us so I'd call that a win!

[sultanofsquat]

[ He sighs lighter at the mental image, intent on keeping their journey going whilst keeping a sharp focus on the path ahead. ...but that focus wanes, if only a little, in the company of the flower girl. In the same way she'd softened him up for a high five before. ]

Small blessings...

[ancientflower]

Where's your sense of adventure, Cloud?

[She had to laugh at him then and wondered if he was being so cautious because of her or something else? It was a little sweet but a little frustrating too. But Aerith wasn't going to push, she'd go at Cloud's pace and let him play at being her bodyguard again. For old times sake at least.]

Phew... It's so hot here... I don't think I'll ever get used to this. I'll be glad when we get to go home!

[sultanofsquat]

I got it! [ His sense of adventure, that is. But there's always a catch. Mr. "Involved in Dangerous Things". Definitely a far cry from the day they met and he told her to keep her distance. ] It's just we're on a dangerous one.

[ Because while Aerith's slumgirl tough, chances were he'd never really grow out of that instinctive want to protect her. ]

Much as I can handle it, I'm already missing the AC in the stores. [ The only blessing in having belts covering his nips if he got too cold. sdfakjh Speaking of adjusting to the heat, let alone adapting to their style. ] The Oni give you a hard time, too?

[ancientflower]

[She laughed, so very amused, but she wasn't going to say more.

As for the Oni. She huffed.]

If one more pats me on the head and treats me like a puppy learning a new trick, I'm going to kick them where it hurts!

[sultanofsquat]

[ If she requested permission to "kill" this time? Cloud might have just given her the good ol' "Granted". ]

They lowkey talked down to you too, huh. Gets a little old hearing them snark about my sword.

[ancientflower]

They did it to you as well? Well that makes me feel somewhat better.

[She wasn't to the point of wanting to kill anyone. But she had been holding back on slapping a few for their audacity!]

I won't lie I'll be happy when I can return home. I don't fee we're very welcome at all here.

[sultanofsquat]

Well forget 'em. You're welcome right here.

[ancientflower]

[Aerith looked up at Cloud in surprise, the surprise quickly turned to a wide, bright smile.]

I am, aren't I? Well good! Then they're forgotten!