middaeg | tell me all your troubles [closed]

Entry tags:

tell me all your troubles [closed]

Who: Zack Fair & Aerith Gainsborough
When: A couple of weeks after the kidnappings resolved (early Mareuer/March)
Where: Aerith's cottage, then the Coven
What: A long overdue bonding ceremony
Warnings: Possible references back to the kidnapping event

[ During Zack's recovery process, he's been in close contact with Aerith, sometimes in person but also by Watch. Cloud's made it difficult for him to go much of anywhere, given that his protective turnskin instincts have more or less demanded that Zack stay in bed, or at the very least stay home to rest, but it's finally been long enough that he's being let off the leash.

Which means that they need to take care of something that they talked about soon after Aerith arrived, but never found the time to make happen until now. The Bonding ceremony.

Really, it's his bad. As the one who's been here longer, he should have taken the lead, but things kept coming up (Tifa's situation, not to mention the whole kidnapping thing) and so here they are, having waited way too long yet again. He'll have to make up for that now.

To that end, he's dressed up a little nicer than he might have otherwise, making use of his newly-tailored clothes that allow for his lion's tail to come through seamlessly. Somehow he's way more nervous this time around than when he'd done this with Cloud, but that probably makes sense. This is Aerith, and so there's an undertone here that hadn't been there with Cloud. It feels more serious, more binding, and he doesn't want to screw it up.

Did he write down any vows? No, but he's been thinking about them and is willing to go off the cuff. It'll be more genuine that way, and he thinks Aerith will appreciate that too.

He makes it to the front door of her cottage and knocks a few times, then calls out for good measure. ]

Aerith? You ready?

[ It does feel a little like picking her up for a date. He shifts his weight from leg to leg, then starts whistling to himself as he waits. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( it's been hard not to be the one pinned to zack's side during his recovery, the only solace being her frequent visits and their communications over their watches, but she trusts cloud, and perhaps, scarily, even more than that, she trusts zack. if something more had happened--something more than the rescue she'd engineered to get him back, something more than his injuries, something more than just the usual recovery of someone's health after such a harrowing time--then zack, of all people, would have been the first to tell her. so she spends most of her time aggressively practicing her magic, determination and a bit of leftover potion keeping her more balanced than tifa, in the absence of a bond; she doesn't want anyone worrying about her, not when it feels like so many of those that she cares about have been struggling so much in the wake of everything happening, lately, and so she keeps going, keeps working, keeps living.

it's only when she's sure that zack is well enough that she agrees to finally go through with the bonding ceremony; and that, in and of itself, takes a bit of pointed questioning to reassure that it's really alright for him to be out and about. it feels like it's come so quickly, despite it being something they talked about so close to her arrival--and why hasn't she taken any time to prepare? why hasn't she written it all down? it makes her nervous, giddy in some strange way, like they're doing more than just agreeing to something for the help and convenience of the rules of a strange city. it feels more serious, when it's them: more serious than she would feel with tifa or even cloud. she has a new dress for the occasion, something soft and white and clean, kept away from all of her work in the gardens at the front of the cottage--and she's tying up the ribbon, his ribbon, into her hair when he knocks. )

Co~ming! ( she says--then realizes she's probably too far away for him to hear her. she goes skidding down the stairs, jumping off the last two, and tucks her feet into her boots before she draws the door open and smiles at him, immediately stepping into the doorway to reach for his face with her hands. )

How are you feeling? Are you dizzy? Does anything hurt? I'll carry you the whole way, Zack Fair, don't doubt me.

( teasing, as much as it is firm--but she drops her hands and smiles at him, steps a bit closer so that she can reach to close the door behind her after taking her long cloak off the nearby coat rack. )

You know the way, right?

[ Zack isn't able to make out Aerith's initial reply, but he does hear the thump of her reaching the bottom of the stairs, and doesn't make any effort to hide his smile. Clearly she's excited, and maybe she's also nervous, but at least they're in it together.

It's that smile that Aerith's hands will find as she immediately reaches out for his face, and Zack accepts all of her concern and the battery of questions without faltering much. He more or less expected this, and Cloud's the one who's been overbearing, if in a different way. At least now he's being fussed over by someone else; he appreciates the change of scenery. ]

I'm good, I'm good! Do you think Cloud would have let me out of his sight if I wasn't?

[ That seems to close and shut the issue for him, and once Aerith shuts the door behind her, he leads them back down the path in the direction of the Coven. He sets a good pace, as if to make a point of how he's totally fine now and completely recovered. ]

'Course I do. Kind of an important place to know how to get to!

[ So if she doesn't know, she'll learn now. Zack glances over as they walk, taking in her dress. It reminds him of the one she used to favor when they first met. ]

You look nice.

( honestly, cloud's been even harsher than she has, in terms of letting zack do anything--so she knows she can trust that he's good enough to make the journey. it's not like it's a hike, either, or anything particularly arduous, but still. something about the whole thing just reminded her of--of before, of him disappearing, of all the letters she bid to tseng and the sinking realization that he would never really be coming back. and in the midst of plotting and ordering and organizing zack's return, sure, it had been easy to forget about.

but he'll have to forgive her if she tucks in a little tight, against his side, winds her arm in to link their elbows together, glances up at him just as he's glancing down at her. he seems to be admiring the dress: to which she beams a grin up at him, nodding. )

Do you like it? ( she uses her free hand to grab for the skirt of it and fan it out as they walk, showing off. ) I thought it would be nice to... well I'm supposed to look nice, right? You don't want to get Bonded to some hag.

( that makes her laugh, as they walk, bringing her free hand up now to squeeze his arm. ) You look good, too. A perfect gentleman. I couldn't ask for someone nicer.

[ There's absolutely no protest when Aerith tucks herself in against his side and links their arms. This bit of normalcy is the exact thing Zack needs after that harrowing experience of being taken by the Evergreen Circle, and then the aftermath of recovering from his infection. There had been a lot of difficult conversations wrapped up in that too, so being with Aerith (who it's always been effortless to be around) is like a breath of fresh air.

Even better that they're finally getting Bonded. It'll set him at ease to know that they'll have that link which allows them to know if the other is ever in trouble in the event something like this happens again. ]

Hag? [ Zack laughs in disbelief. ] Nothing you could do or wear could make you seem like a hag.

[ Her words are something of a balm, too. Zack looks a lot better now than he did when he first got out of that place. The color has returned to his face, rather than looking pale and exhausted. He's also taken care to wear a scarf to cover up any of the worst scarring around his throat. ]

Sounds like we're both in good company, then. After we're done with the ceremony, I say we go get a nice meal somewhere. What do you think?

A meal sounds perfect! Your treat, right?

( a small part of it is teasing--but the truth is, she hasn't amassed that much currency in this place yet. she's helped out where she could and earned some here and there, but she's always been used to living like this: so it hasn't really felt any different than normal. plus, with tifa there, it's more comforting to share the load. so she grins up at him and gives him another squeeze; his arm feels like it always did, too full of muscle in the good, exciting sort of way. )

I've been mostly cooking at home, so it might be nice to have something made for me instead... Oh, you'll come over later this week, right? I have something I want to try making you.

( she keeps their pace just brisk enough that zack won't be able to tell that she's somewhat slowing it, slightly, by the weight she puts in against his side. she doesn't want him to push himself too hard just yet, when he's definitely the type to do it; that's why talking helps too, to distract him. cloud may have his overt ways of taking care of zack--she has her sneaky ways, too.

the walk isn't too far, at least, and the place is familiar, but she still defaults to letting zack lead them up to it, rather than dashing on ahead of him. she imagines they must look so silly: like they're going together to be betrothed at a church, or something; the thought makes her smile. )

Well, can't escape now. Your last chance~

[ Zack can't quite stifle a sigh, if only because he's not sure how well he's been doing with cunes given that he's been out of commission for basically two months. Granted, a single meal out isn't going to break the bank or anything, but it does reinforce that he needs to get back to picking up jobs sooner rather than later, even if they're mainly ones within the safety of the city. ]

Wait, really? Well, of course I'll come over.

[ Tempted as he is to ask what it is, he'd rather be surprised by this home-cooked meal, so he leaves it at that. Anything that Aerith makes for him is going to be good just because it comes from her, and also because he assumes she's got a lot of experience. It was just her and her mom before, so he suspects she did a lot of cooking to help out around the house.

Unlike him, who's more or less a hopeless case in the kitchen.

He doesn't mind the slower pace, even if he suspects there is a reason for it. If Aerith wants to take their time, even if it's for his sake, he doesn't have it in him to argue. Besides, even with their more leisurely walk, they make it to the Coven in good time. ]

Yeah yeah yeah. [ He shakes his head at her joke, then lifts his arm up to cinch it around her shoulders instead, bringing her close enough that he can lightly knock their skulls together. ] You sure you're not the one who wants to cut and run? You keep bringing it up...

[ With that, he does finally speed up to lead them to the Coven's main entrance. This is something that they arranged ahead of time, so there should be employees ready to receive them and then take them through the ceremony. ]

You're right, I've absolutely decided to run.

( she laughs, pretending to squirm out of his hold, but the most that she can do is get her fists in against his side, pounding at it gently. even though they're nearly to the door, she does give a pointed, playful glance behind them, like she's ready to bolt. but there's absolutely no real part of her that would ever leave him: not like this, ready to engage in a ceremony that she's not sure she understands, not like before, either, with him so sick and injured from everything that happened. her face practically screams determination: but her lips are curled into a pleased smile, and she marches with him up to the main entrance.

it's there, though, that she falters slightly. they've arranged it ahead of time, of course, so there's not much of a problem, but as they're welcomed inside, she realizes that she doesn't really know what she's supposed to do. she just figured they might say a bunch of sweet nothings, kiss, link hands, or something like that--but maybe there is really much more ceremony to it.

pointed, she wraps one of her arms around zack's back, hand at his waist, as she presses herself against him, following in to where they'll have the actual ceremony take place, she whispers at him playfully as they walk. )

Are there rules here for this? Like I can't laugh, or something like that? Are we allowed to kiss? Is it blasphemy?

[ When Aerith makes as if she's trying to escape Zack's hold, he's quick to release her, as if calling her bluff. Naturally, she doesn't actually run. Despite the fact that both of them are anxious about this to some extent, the truth is that they've also been looking forward to it, and it's long overdue by now. While it's difficult to put into words what a Bond really means, Zack doesn't think there's any question as to whether he or Aerith should forge one. So, here they are.

The way in which they're greeted is professional and practiced. This is, after all, a common and everyday occurrence for people, and the Witches here are used to performing the ceremony as part of their Coven duties. They see it as nothing strange or out of the ordinary, and if anything, one of the Witches appears to be charmed about their nervous energy.

Zack shrugs with one shoulder, the one that hasn't currently been claimed by Aerith. ] Basically you stand across from each other, holding hands, and recite your vows. Then the Witch overseeing it does a spell that links our 'magical signatures' together. [ Whatever that means. ] And that's it. Not sure about the kissing. Forgot to give it a try with Cloud...

[ Zack manages to keep a straight face for only a few seconds after he makes the joking comment before he glances to her with a grin and winks. Somewhere, Cloud is probably mortified, but it's fine.

Once they give their names and confirm the time of their appointment, they're led into a small waiting room to sit while the ceremony room is made ready for them. ]

( other girls would probably be mortified at the thought of their boyfriend kissing one of his friends--but for her, it's one of the funniest things she can think of, her face immediately lighting up with glee; she tries to muffle her laughter, swallowing it down, and she gives zack a gentle squeeze in at his waist. )

Kiss him next time you see him. Say you're making up for lost time, or something.

( yes, cloud is probably cringing somewhere, but still, it's all done out of love--and it's something interesting to think about, anyway. with zack's bond to cloud, and cloud's bond to tifa, there's a whole trail of her friends she can follow, and it puts her at ease to know that they're all linked, sort of, in their own ways even here. polite, she falls quiet when they confirm their names and the appointment, and in the waiting room, she sinks down into a seat, smoothing out the lap of her dress. )

...I think I'll kiss you. If that's okay with you. ( she looks at him with her bright eyes, smiling, and it's obvious she's probably going to do it even if it embarrasses him. then again, she doesn't think it will: they fit together so well for a reason, after all. ) Our 'magical signatures' and our 'mouth signatures' will link together.

( but her head whips around when they announce that the room is ready, and she shifts up onto her feet, sticking out a hand for zack to take. ) Let's go, hero.

Hmm... On the forehead when he's in wolf form, maybe.

[ Cloud won't remember that, but it's probably for the best. Despite Zack's penchant for teasing him and giving him a hard time, he doesn't want to embarrass him into complete oblivion either. It's also nice to see that he can get away with silly comments like that and Aerith doesn't take it the wrong way. She knows full-well just how fun it is to fluster Cloud Strife, doesn't she?

It's charming that Aerith thinks she needs to ask for permission to kiss him. One of Zack's eyebrows ticks up and he nods firmly. ]

You don't really need to ask, but... yeah, link away.

[ Neither of them are that concerned about kissing with witnesses, it seems. That sort of thing has to be typical for Bonding ceremonies anyway, and if that's not the case? They'll find out pretty soon. Speaking of which, looks like it's time to go, so Zack jumps up to his feet and immediately takes Aerith's hand as they step inside.

The room is fairly small but well-kept, the lighting somewhat dim yet warm thanks to candles set up all around the area. A Witch awaits them, offering a bright smile in greeting. She quickly runs them through how it will work, then gestures for them to take their spots at the center of the room and face each other.

Zack takes Aerith's other hand, their arms forming a loop between them. Now the nervousness sets in, a jumping sensation in his stomach that he's quick to stamp out. ]

Vows now. Ladies first?

( it's somehow cozier than she expects--which is silly, to imagine that they might find themselves in some grand hall, echoing with all these promises of bonds and magic, shivering in the cold of feeling watched or waited on. it's those memories she has of her youth, maybe, triggered by her own wild imagination; what she finds, when they work into the room together, is something warm and dark, lit with candles and a friendly-looking witch who explains everything to them calmly, as though she can't tell at all that they might be nervous.

she listens, pointedly, and much better than she had upon first arriving in this place. her eyes are turned in the witch's direction, nodding faintly, and she doesn't even interrupt, or add in any playful quips; she's taking this seriously, now, the way she would take the cries of the planet seriously, the way she would take the whispers of the lifestream seriously. wordless, she moves when zack moves, takes her spot at the center of the room and turns to look up at him, their hands joined to create the loop between them.

of course he would volunteer her first--but she just smiles at him, warmly, and nods. )

...For a long time, I thought I would never see your face again.

( it's hard to look at him, as she says it; irony, she thinks, as she casts her gaze down, her chin ducking. )

I was afraid, I thought I had done something wrong, and though I knew...what had happened, I didn't want to believe it. My head and my heart and my body told me all these things I didn't want to hear, and then as time went on, I thought... 'he's really gone, I'll never see him again, I won't hear him laugh or joke or tell me I'm pretty'... The last one is important, of course. ( a quick smile, and then it fades. ) And then when I woke up here, and you were here... I thought that maybe this was a kindness, from fate or from the planet or from whatever might control all this, that I could touch you, and hear you, and have you near me again.

I don't have to tell you how I feel, because I know you know, but I've never loved another person the way that I love you.

( a small breath, that shakes her shoulders, before she squares them to look back up at him again. )

So, my vows might be simple, but they're this: in this place, I will protect you, I will do anything I can for you, and I won't let you ever feel for a moment that you could be forgotten or without love. I'll share anything I have with you. I'll let my magic balance you, just like you've always balanced me. And I vow to keep this Bond strong and healthy, so that it never breaks.

...It can't break, right? ( a soft, quiet laugh, before she shakes her head. ) Okay. Your turn.

[ The room and its soft lighting, as private as it can be even with a Witch standing at the periphery, is meant to set the mood. It helps to put both of them at ease so that they can say what needs to be said to make this all official, and Zack wonders if there might be some subtle enchantment here that's meant to help them relax.

It doesn't really matter, because as soon as Aerith opens her mouth to recite her vows, he's drawn in, entranced by what she has to say, hanging on each word because he knows this will only happen once, and he doesn't want to miss a moment of it.

More than anything, this is a chance for them to be open and honest with each other. Not that they aren't always, but sometimes it's difficult to take what you're feeling and actually put it into words out of the blue. Here, they're being told to do just that, to take everything buried deep inside and let it out.

At first, Aerith doesn't say anything that Zack doesn't already know, but hearing it like this and trying to imagine what she must have gone through, that slow realization that he was gone forever sinking into her bones — it's almost enough to break his heart. Her joking comment draws the briefest of laughs out of him, but then he focuses in again.

Maybe this is a gift from some higher power, something neither of them could hope to understand. He doesn't know how it happened. But, as soon as Aerith says the words I've never loved another person the way that I love you, his heart starts to race a steady beat against his ribcage.

The question of whether Bonds can break he can answer later. He doesn't want to ruin the moment, not with talk like that. So instead, he mirrors her laugh and struggles to figure out where to start.

He wants to lift one hand up, to caress her face, but he knows they need to remain linked for now. So he just squeezes her hands a little bit tighter before he speaks. ]

I never got the chance to tell you before, did I? How much I loved you, I mean. We were so young, and it felt like it should wait... you know, for the right moment. But then that moment never got to come, and I can't tell you how many times I regretted it.

Not anymore, though. We have another chance, and I'm not gonna waste it. [ His expression sets into something determined, almost somber, as he stares into her eyes. ] I'll tell you I love you as often as I want. Anything I want to do with you, I'm gonna make sure we do it. I never want to feel like there was another missed opportunity between us. When I realized you were here, and you wanted to pick things up where they left off, even with all the time that had passed, I don't think I've ever been happier.

[ He smiles then, something soft and full and hopeful in the candlelight. ]

So, I guess my vows are this: to spend as much time with you as possible, to never put something off because there's a better time for it, to be there for you whenever I can, and to make sure there are never any regrets between us.

( it's harder, she realizes, as she stands there, with her fingers so tight in zack's hands she thinks she might break his knuckles--it's harder to sit there and listen to what he says, rather than to say anything herself, because she wants to jump in and reassure him at every turn. that it's okay, that he never told her these things--that it's okay, that he couldn't come back, that he couldn't fulfill all her wishes, that he couldn't read all the things she wrote. it's not okay that he--that what happened to him happened, but she could never blame him for it. even in her most despondent, her most frustrated, she could never be angry with him; it was never his fault.

so she presses her lips together, watching him, nodding her chin, faintly; her hair bobs with the movement, and it's sweet in a way that makes her want to cry, the sort of tears that are a mixture of happiness, sadness, relief, desire, everything all mixed into one. she's smiling, though, even as her eyes glimmer, smiling and giving his hands a firm, reassuring squeeze. )

I like that. We'll never put anything off again, okay? ( for his sake. for her sake. and for the fact that beyond this place, they may not have any more chances. ) No regrets. Not even your morning breath.

( she winks at him, but the sound of the witch in the room, clearing her throat, means that she jumps a little, sets her shoulders like she's a student that's just been caught goofing off in class, and resumes her solemn expression. she's still smiling, though, just at the edge of her lips; with their vows complete, it's time for the actual bonding part of the ceremony to begin, and despite the fact that she has no regrets about doing this, well--it's still unfamiliar, and she's a little nervous. she doesn't let go of zack's hands, though, watching him with a playful wrinkle of her nose, like she's waiting for it to hurt, somehow. )

[ Zack scoffs, eyes briefly shutting at that remark about his morning breath. She just had to get that one in there, but he doesn't mind, not after they both had to bare their souls to each other. That being said, it's set the stage well for what comes next, and while Zack may still be reeling from everything that Aerith said and he echoed in turn, he's ready for their Bond to be finalized.

The witch steps closer and nods, looking between each of them before she makes a few motions with his hands and murmurs words under her breath. There isn't anything visual that happens beyond the witch's casting, but Zack can still feel it, much as he did with Cloud. There's a tugging sensation from somewhere deep in his chest, like the fabric of what makes him him has been brought to attention. His own grip tightens around Aerith's hands as their Bond is forged, their souls knit together.

It doesn't hurt and doesn't feel like much of anything, at least not in the immediate moment. They'll be able to register the effects soon enough, but right now they're both so tuned into the moment that there's not much difference in how each of them are feeling or experiencing the ceremony.

That being said, Aerith may eventually feel Zack's relief and deep-seated sense of being content, sliding across their new connection. She's always been tuned into him, much like she'd been tuned into the rest of the Planet, but this is on a different level.

The witch announces that she's finished, and Zack nods to her in thanks before slowly letting his hands fall to his sides. He sends Aerith an easy smile. ]

See? That wasn't so bad, right?

( the nerves are still there, laced through her breath, but for the most part, it doesn't feel like anything at all: in fact, it's almost curious how similar it feels to lacing herself with the planet, to opening up her heart to something more than just what's in front of her. she can feel herself, as always, distinct and firm, but there's something more there, something that seems to get stitched up inside of her, melded together; it's warm and pleasant and determined, strong and brave and a little cheeky, and even before the ritual seems complete, she's smiling. she never imagined that they could be closer--except in some key ways that she's maybe thought about, on more than one occasion--but this feels right, like it's meant to happen this way.

there's no resistance, because there's never any, when it comes to her: not with the planet, not with those that she loves, and not with zack. never with zack. her hands squeeze his, once, and then she lets hers fall away just as he drops his arms to his sides. he's right: it's not so bad at all. )

You mean you didn't feel all that? I thought I was going to die.

( cheekily, she's teasing him--but her smile tells him that she's definitely lying. )

No, it's...Nice. I like this place. It feels...comfortable.

( or maybe it's just zack that feels comfortable. either way, she's closing the space between them, where their hands used to be, bringing her palms up to rest on his shoulders. she looks up at him for a moment, waiting, and then clears her throat: the cue is obvious, right? if not, well--she smiles at him, and then, with a breath, closes her eyes, expectant. kiss the bond-bride, zack fair. )

[ The teasing is expected by this point, and while Zack may roll his eyes at Aerith, he's smiling at the same time. If he didn't find her own cheeky nature charming, they certainly wouldn't have made it this far.

She says she likes "this place," but isn't too specific about what she means. Is she referring to the room they're in, or to the Bond? It's possible that she's feeling it more keenly than he is, seeing how it's her first one. That, and Aerith's always a bit more sensitive to these sorts of things compared to other people. It wouldn't surprise Zack if the Bonds were more intense for her.

Either way, she says it's comfortable, and that's really all he needs to know. ]

I'm glad.

[ Though soon enough, she leans in for a kiss. ] Wait — I thought you said you were gonna kiss me? [ It's only fair that he teases her too, and while he could let that sit for a few more seconds, there's no need to actually upset her. Moving suddenly, he dips his head down as one arm loops around to press in against the spot between her shoulder blades.

He's not going to get too intense when someone's watching, but it isn't just a quick peck either. He presses their mouths against each other, holding it for a few seconds. Unsurprisingly, it's all a little more intense than it would be without the Bond, a thrilling sensation running through him and heating up his cheeks.

Well, he's pretty sure that means she liked it. ]

( somehow she knew he would say that--knew it, but did it anyway, and there's no complaint except for the faint wrinkle of her nose. of course she would have just outright kissed him, too, but this is more romantic, isn't it? his hands move, and one of his arms loops around to press against her back, and there's a flutter of excitement at the realization that he's actually going to do it. this isn't just her imagination, or her woeful memory trying to make her think of things that might just make her sad; this is zack, dipping his head down, and zack's mouth that closes over hers, in a kiss that nearly makes her sigh.

it's not just a peck, there and gone again, but something she can savor, even for just a short moment. her arms wind up around his neck, fingers dipping into his hair, and though she knows they shouldn't linger, she can't help but hang on just a bit too long, her weight pushed up on her toes and then flattened back down again. )

You're blushing. ( she says, matter-of-fact, as they draw back, but she's blushing, too, and it must be because of all that energy running between them, caught guiltily in the bond. ) Come on.

( her arms go loose, hands that squeeze at his shoulders in encouragement before she lets her fingers walk down the length of his arms to his wrists, and then, over the back of his hands, before she takes them both in her grip. )

At least it worked, right? Now you can read my thoughts?

( that is not how it works at all--she's teasing him, though, as she tugs him towards the door, bowing her head in polite thanks to the witch still overseeing them. )

[ Those fingers in his hair also brush against his feathers (which are now as much a part of his mane as anything else) and they're sensitive enough that it makes his toes curl. Not in a bad way, really, and it does leave him with some ideas for another time. Maybe. If they get that far...

That might have something to do with his blush too, though he doesn't say anything about it right now. There'll be plenty of opportunities for Aerith to learn the specifics of his new body, assuming that's something she wants.

Which is a trend that only continues when she grabs for his hands. His skin is nowhere near as smooth as it used to be, with his hands resembling talons more and more. Then again, he usually wears gloves, so maybe the difference won't be so jarring.

When she tugs him, he goes along without protest, humming to himself as if giving her question a great deal of thought. ]

Depends. Are you thinking about going to grab something to eat now that we've made everything official?

[ Because that's definitely what he's thinking about, at any rate. ]

( her nose wrinkles at him, playful, but really, when is zack fair not thinking with his stomach? it's sort of refreshing that he's still the same person he was; it's refreshing that even in this place, she doesn't feel like she has to adjust or change too much, no matter how they might be different. after all, she'd seen some of his changes that first day of her arrival: and had thought relatively little of them. they're just a part of who he is now, like the taloned hands she grasps at, pulling and tugging him along like he really needs the encouragement. )

Let's try something different, then, like a food we've never had before.

( thoughtfully, as she helps wind their way back through the building--now that the weight of the impending bond is over with, and the uncertainty, it feels much easier to take them back towards the door, more comfortable and honestly, feeling lighter. )

Or! Let's go to the bakery and get dessert...

( maybe zack thinks with his stomach a little, but she definitely thinks with her sweet tooth... smiling despite it, she bumps the door open with her hip to walk with him back outside. )

Just nothing that'll stain my dress, otherwise you're going to have to give me your shirt to wear over it.

[ A food they've never had before? Zack's sure they could find something that fit the bill, especially in the Harbor District. Neither of them grew up near the ocean with seafood easily available, so there would likely be something there that might catch their interest. His two animal sides, the eagle and the lion, mean that when it comes to thinking about food, he almost always defaults to meat.

Dessert, on the other hand? He's lost a lot of his sweet tooth, but he's not about to say that and ruin Aerith's idea. If she wants something sweet, he'll go out of his way to make sure that he finds it. ]

You know, I think I have an idea. [ He punctuates that by squeezing her hand as they walk. A couple wandering the streets holding hands, is it too cheesy? Will people look strangely at Aerith because she's bonded with a chimera now? Zack just isn't going to think about any of that too hard. Aerith obviously doesn't care. ]

There's this really good pizza place, and they've got dessert pizzas too. I'm sure they'll have something you like there. What do you say?

[ Not even waiting for her to respond, he begins to lead them in that direction as soon as they're free of the Coven. ]

Pizza! ( it's a laugh, but not one that's negative: it's more that she's excited at the idea, and when zack starts to lead them, she's happy to follow. she's not sure she can say that she's ever had a dessert pizza before, so she's happy to try something new. )

Alright, it's a date, then. Pizza adventure!

( --never mind that they're clearly already on their way. she keeps a good hold on zack's hand, not wanting to be left behind, but she also finds that she lags a good step or two behind his confident, comfortable stride anyway, mostly because she's looking around at everything as they go. curiosity tends to get the best of her, no matter where they are, and though she's been in the city for at least a good few months, there are still so many things to see that it's always interesting to go out and go walking.

the thought strikes her, then, twisting her head to look up at zack instead, to watch his profile for a moment and then smile, like she can't help it-- )

So how did you find this place? Someone introduce it to you, or did you go looking for all the different pizza places here?

( she doesn't know much about zack's time here, before her, so it would be nice to learn a little. )

[ Pizza adventure! It does make sense, given how popular pizza is in Midgar specifically. Yet Zack doesn't think any of the places he used to frequent there had this much variety, so Aefenglom's got the upper hand there.

Any time that Zack feels Aerith lagging behind a little, he makes sure to slow his own pace, not wanting it to feel like he's yanking her along. He's also aware that his legs are a lot longer than hers, and he doesn't want to give the impression that they're rushing. There's no reason for that, not right now. ]

It was when I was still really new to this place. One of the other Mirrorbound told me about it, so I guess she heard of it from someone.

[ Zack just barely holds back on his sigh. It's been a long while since Ann was last here, but he knows that it's probably for the best when people get to return home. ]

I was supervising her after she tried out this potion that some goblins were selling, since we weren't sure if it was a scam or something. Nothing bad happened, she was just really hungry and ordered way too many pizzas. I took some of the leftovers back for Cloud and...

[ He trails off. Cloud and you, he could say, but he's not sure Aerith wants to be reminded that she was here once before. He knows how weird that is to hear about, having gone through it plenty of times himself. ]

Oh~ She. ( it's really just to tease: she has complete trust in zack, doesn't even mind that he's the type to flirt because she's exactly the same. it's just fun to try to fluster him a little, as much as she can manage. ) I'm glad that she was okay, though, that sounds like a lot...

( and leave it to zack to be kind enough to do something like that: it makes her proud, in a sense, and relieved, in another. he's just that type of person, helpful and kind and always looking out for those around him; plus it's a relief to know that he hasn't changed at all, that he's still the same type of person to help anyone that he comes across. part of her wants to ask if the girl is still there, if they're friends, if he could introduce them...

but the way that he trails off means that she's tilting her head at him, curiously, until it clicks into place. ah, right. )

Cloud and... Me? ( she offers him a warm smile. ) It's okay. I'm sorry that I don't have those memories anymore, but... Well. If you tell me about enough of them, at least I can remember them like that, right?

( gently, she squeezes his hand in reassurance. ) I'm guessing I liked the pizza then, otherwise you wouldn't take me there...!

[ Of course Aerith is able to guess at why he'd cut off, and Zack imagines that they don't even need their newly-minted Bond for that. He shakes his head almost immediately when she apologizes. ]

You don't need to be sorry. You didn't have any say in what happened, and it was the same for me. When I first got here, I had a bunch of people coming up to me saying we knew each other...

[ Not all of them are even here anymore, and it's odd to think that one of them might come back without their memories, to just continue the cycle over and over. Zack frowns at that thought, finding that it leaves him with an uneasy weight on his chest.

Aerith's right, though, and as her hand squeezes his, he looks up and meets her eyes, mustering up a smile. ]

Yeah! I bet you'll like it even more when it's fresh out of the oven, too.

[ They just have to make new memories, that's all. Just like what he'd talked about in his vows. And so with that, Zack picks up his pace, eager to do just that. ]

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