A Letter to Home

[theheroics]

Sender: Zack Fair
To: All
Subject: No Subject (Backdated to the first week)

[ Words that begin to appear in the journals are written slowly, as if with intent. The handwriting is... coherent at best at this slower pace, but every word is coming in gradually and seemingly with more frustration.

Guess who thinks this is just a plain ol' journal to use? ]

Dear Aeir
What's up!?
Hello! Hey th———

Hey Aerith.
Hope things are going well?? good for you

[ UGH ]

Sorry it's taken so long for me to write back... I know youve been waiting a long time
I can't call right now but soon, okay?
how are the flowers? you swimming in gil yet?
Theirs theres lots of weird stuff going on that I'll explain when I get back.
So... yeah. See you soon
Regard [ No that was SO STUPID ]
bye

[ The words at the bottom of the page are suddenly cut out, as if completely disregarded or tossed away.

But seconds later another one appears: ]

Hello!

[ Nope that one is gone, too. ]

Comments

[judicialassistant]

Um... [ She hesitates for a little while longer. It really does sound more ridiculous every time she thinks about it. ] Because I was a woman.

We were forbidden, you see, unless we were the ones on trial.

...For what it is worth, it is something we were looking to change about our legal system... eventually.

[theheroics]

[ His mouth hands opened slightly at her words before his face molds into pure disbelief. ]

Oh, c'mon! Exactly what kind of stone age did you come from? That's really messed up.

[ He huffs but at least manages to calm down following her first response. ]

Well... good. I bet you could've run circles around them, anyway!

[judicialassistant]

[ She's actually invigorated by his apparent protest. There's an awkward chuckle, and a blush might be forming at her cheeks. She's still not certain whether she's earned that praise, especially considering how long it's been since she's even practiced law or assisted a lawyer, but...

She'll take it. ]

The 19th century, actually... Meiji era, in Tokyo, Japan. Have you ever heard of such a place?

[theheroics]

[ He's... never heard of many of those words, so he says with full confidence: ]

Nope!

[ Yup. Always elegant. ]

But sounds like it was a long time ago... people just show up from any weird time here, don't they? Man, that's still gunna take a lot to get use to.

[judicialassistant]

[ Very elegant! But Susato isn't surprised. She seems a little amused. ]

You will, in time. It has been fascinating to learn about all the different cultures and lifestyles here, and the technology that is to come!

[ She grins.

The chit-chat remains lighthearted, lifting their spirits, and before they know it, they arrive at the Harvest. ]

[theheroics]

[ Lighthearted indeed. It nice how easy it was to carry on a conversation with Susato, and he was grateful for the distraction that initially brought the two of them together.

When they finally arrival at the Harvest, Zack can't help but allow his jaw to drop in the slightest at the scenery around him. Compared to Midgar, this place was crazy! ]

Wow... she must've loved it here. [ He breathes while taking in the surroundings, a bright yet weary smile dancing across his lips. ] This is a really nice place you've got!

[judicialassistant]

Why, thank you... [ Susato really hopes she did. Her reaction was not unlike Zack's, one of wonder and amazement. It makes her smile, though ultimately, she doesn't know if it helped or hurt that it was closed and empty when Aerith first saw it.

There's a karaoke stage, and there are vines strung about decoratively with little yellow fruits that look like various phases of the moon hanging about. There may be the remnants of materials to build shelves, but otherwise, all is very tidy as you'd expect from a professional restaurant. Some paper cranes adorned with the number 1 remain from them celebrating their first anniversary.

On the wall behind the counter, there's March's menu. There is also a door with a sign that says "To the Garden." The sound of light waterfalls comes from beyond. ]

You're free to have a look around while I cook you a meal. Walking through the garden is rather scenic and popular...

I sometimes read in there.

[theheroics]

Yeah, thanks. I'll do that. [ He confirms with a nod after having to peel his eyes away from all the decorations. It wasn't often he was never in something so elegant looking, and it was honestly quite beautiful.

The sounds of the waterfall are what catch his attention the most, so finally taking a step further into the room he'll head in that direction, giving a hand wave of thanks.

It doesn't take long for him to pass through and inside the garden area just outside, and the sight was breathtaking. Sure he had seen many a different sights traveling, but none so scenery as this. The peacefulness, along with the plants felt very reminiscent of... that place. The view stunned him to silence, and Zack stood at its entryway for a good moment soaking up the view. ]

Wow...

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato will leave him to explore, smiling at his initial reaction already. As he goes further in, Zack will eventually come across a remembrance area filled with star-shaped stepping stones, one of them with Aerith's name.

It doesn't take long for Susato to catch up to him, though, this time with a notebook in hand. ]

Ah, I meant to ask you what you'd like to eat!

[theheroics]

[ He doesn't quite notice Susato's presence at first, as keen as his SOLDIER senses were, rather they were drawn to a rather peculiar spot near the back of the garden. It was the sight of the remembrance area that pushed his attention further towards it and as his eyes lightly scanned over the different stars that were present, he could truly feel the sense of calmness this area offered. It almost felt as if he had entered a completely different area, one not of this world at all. There was a silence that fell over him, along with the stillness of the area, but he took in a breath to study the words written along the stars.

The names listed were not familiar to him... yet one particular name stuck out like a sore thumb, causing the air in his lungs to leave him.

Aerith Gainsborough.

"To those who have left Songerein, but are not forgotten.”

...

With his back facing Susato the man buried his hands in his face, shoulders arching with tension. He's speechless, aside from the rough patches of air he tries to grasp at as he inhales and exhales, and no sooner does his knees begin to give out that the man bends down with legs pressed against his chest. ]

Aerith... I'm so sorry...

[judicialassistant]

Zack...

[ The cheerful demeanor leaves her quickly. After a momentary pause where she is just stunned by the way this powerful man drops to his knees, and she whispers his name without thought. In the end, however, she takes a step back, not wanting to interrupt what she perceives as a private moment. Her hand with the notebook lowers; she feels weaker, somehow, but she remains silent.

It didn't occur to her than she should have maybe warned, or told him about this. ]

[theheroics]

[ It takes him a few moments to recover- to sit in the space and breathe through his emotions- but once he arrives on the other side and opens his eyes... it's the sight of the garden that he is welcomed back to. He's grateful she enjoyed her time here and that she was among friends and the flowers she loved.

Although they may not be together at the same time... maybe there was a reason he was brought here, too. To know that he was only a few steps behind her, and that she was doing okay, somehow put some of his fears to rest.

That's right. He was only a few steps behind... but that doesn't mean that on the way to her that he wasn't going to enjoy the ride.

He wants to see what she experienced here; to feel and smell and find the happiness she must have had to know that so many people cared for her when she left. ]

Aaahhh... she was always one to play hard-to-get. Figured she'd tried to get back at me for making her wait. [ Zack laughs, musing out loud before finally rolling on the front of his feet and standing back to his full height.

He'll turn his head over his shoulder to see Susato and a sheepish blush will prickle against his cheeks when he notices her expression. ]

I'm okay. I'm promise.

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato allows him to speak and let out his emotions in whatever way he's learned how. Perhaps she still doesn't understand the weight of the relationship they had, but she can certainly respect it. The promise lingers in the air for a moment, but she knows better than to agree so readily. The smile does return to her face, however, seeing what she perceives as embarrassment. ]

Even if you aren't—it's alright.

[ You will be. But the promise on her end is a silent one. ]

Perhaps I can make you a dish that reminds you of her.

[theheroics]

[ It's alright... not to be alright? Those words weren't spoken often, and coming from someone he just met shouldn't carry as much weight as it currently did. He felt those words though, along with the sincerity in her voice, and it caused him to smile.

With everything still so fresh on his mind, it was hard not to feel okay... but perhaps that was alright. Maybe not right now, but one day, hopefully when he sees her again, it will be. Until then he had to hold on to the fact that she was loved and cared for here... and that her warmth effected the people here, too.

So with a nod he'll begin to walk back towards her, feeling a little lighter in his footsteps. ]

Yeah... I'd actually like that a lot.

🎀

[judicialassistant]

[ Hmmm...

Of all the things she can say, nothing feels "right," so for now, she just nods. A number of questions cross her mind, like: what kind of food did they like to eat together? Or maybe, what food reminds him of home? After a while though, she still hasn't asked any of those, and nods her head in the direction of the kitchen. ]

Follow me.

[ It's not something she usually does with patrons, but perhaps just this once, since it's not busy, she'll allow him to be a part of the process. Zack will get a peek at how she works, what goes on behind the scenes a bit, and he'll get to meet the animals, of which they've amassed something of a collection.

And he'll get a good meal out of it, too. One that hopefully entices him to come back. ]