colorofthesky | IC Contact for lastvoyages

Just you.

[Nothing else mattered. There weren't any problems anymore. He was here, she was here- who cared if they were on a ship in space?

She almost felt light headed from giddiness. All the more reason to keep a hold of him and not let go.]

[ Zack laughs a little at that. ]

Oh no. Not me. I'm way too stinky right now to be an angel.

[ ...yeah, he's been cleaning all day. Sorry about that, Aerith. He gives her another squeeze, though. ]

Man...I just can't believe you're here. This is... [ ah, what is a good word for this??? He can't think of one, just- ] I've really missed you.

Edited 2024-08-02 20:57 (UTC)

That's okay. You can just be the biggest, best...stinkest angel.

[She chuckles, squeezing him back. She'll drag him to her room or his, and they can clean him right up.

But she wiggles a hand up to cup his cheek.]

I missed you too.

[Painfully so.]

Did you...ever get my letters?

[ Another sunny laugh. ]

I mean, I could, but...I should probably clean up so I don't stink?

[ His room is right down the hall so he should do that sooner rather than later.

The question, though, and the hand on his face...his smile doesn't disappear, necessarily, but his expression does soften and become...more somber. Because it tells him two things -- first of all, that they're from different points in time. And secondly...she doesn't know what actually happened to him. Which means...he has a lot of explaining to do.

He's seen this kind of thing before with Cloud so it's not so much of a surprise that he can't handle it. It just means they have some things to work through. In the end, it'll all be okay.

He takes a deep breath. ]

...I got the last one you sent. It was...how I found out how long it'd been.

[ A beat. ]

Do you...wanna talk more in my cabin? It's just down the hall.

[ Because this is...not a good talk to have in the open. ]

Good idea.

[She laughs. Zack being stinky doesn't bother her, but he'd feel better if he was cleaned up. Worked for her! Plus, she'd get to hang out in his room and play with Zeke while he cleaned up. Win-win for Aerith.

But that somber expression...ah. Well. It's going to be a bad one isn't it. Gently, she strokes his cheek, before letting her hand drop. ]

Yeah, let's...talk about it there. After you get cleaned up?

[Because whatever they talk about, it's going to be bad enough. He shouldn't be physically uncomfortable on top of it.

The fact he got the last letter...and he hadn't known how long...that tipped it off. It would be okay, eventually.

But it might hurt in the process.]

[ Zack looks down at himself with a bit of a sheepish grin. ]

Yeah. Sorry, I'm kind of gross.

[ That's what cleaning all day does to you!! He gestures down the hall and starts walking. ]

It's just there. And uh...I have a dog. Just so you know.

It's okay. In fact- if you need help with cleaning? Let me know.

[She's not looking after anyone currently, just the Greenhouse. So she has time to spare!

And she'd also just want to spend time with Zack.

Aerith walks with him, but she's already smiling.]

Let me guess: your dog likes people.

[So, she's going to get jumped on.]

What's their name?

You sure? You'll get stinky like me.

[ That's definitely not a 'no', though. He's...really missed her. And would like to spend extra time with her, even if it's on the clock. ]

And yeah, he does. His name is Zeke. A friend of mine who isn't here anymore gave him to me.

[ Zack walks up to his cabin, pushes open the door, and sure enough, a big, black lab comes bounding up to greet both of them. ]

Oi! Sit!

[ Zeke's butt plops on the ground, but his tail is wagging vigorously as he makes a soft 'awuurrrr' at Aerith. Clearly, he very much wants to say hello. ]

Edited 2024-08-13 01:43 (UTC)

That doesn't matter. We'll be stinky together.

[She's really missed him too. He's here. Yes, they're in space, far from home, but what does it matter?

They'll be all right now. This is better then any deal she may have taken with the Admiral.

But hearing the dog was a gift from a friend- one no longer here- was a sharp reminder of how much he's been through. Here, alone.

If only she came sooner.

But no time for guilt. There's Zeke, bouncing like an excited chocobo, until he sits. Good boy. ]

Well hi Zeke.

[And she squats down to offer her hands to sniff. She's absolutely going to be bowled over but she doesn't care.]

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