[Aerith does not sit down when she gets in there, so she will still be standing when Cloud enters. There's a look from him to Zack and a nervous tug on her dress.]
I'm sorry. [She's wanted to say that for a while, so it kind of jumps out on its own and then she has to figure out what to follow it with. "I didn't mean to leave like that"? Except she tried to.] I...uhm... [It's probably obvious from how she winds a finger around one curl that she's already unsure of what to say.] I don't know.
[Zack looks up at that, nodding with a frown.] You said you were gonna wait and see. You promised. What the hell happened, Aerith? Why didn't you say anything!?
[She winces at Zack's tone.] I know. I was planning to when I went to see it. I just wanted to look because I was worried. And then, well, I decided I should go. [She pulls a slight face at herself for saying this because really, like that wasn't obvious from her warking for two days straight.] And I...I didn't tell anyone, because...
[...she's had days to think about this and she still can't come up with a reason that seems good enough to her to justify up and leaving without a goodbye to Cloud or Zack. They deserve an answer, but she doesn't have one, despite trying to recall it. She hadn't wanted to just leave without a word.]
I think--probably--I mean--I don't know what happened. [She wants to cover her face as soon as she says it because it sounds so flimsy.]
[The wincing and the stammering serves as a flame retardant and Cloud cools down just a little. Not enough to shut up for fear of hurting her, but enough to take the bite out of his tone.]
Did you think we'd do something to stop you? [Ignoring the fact that he'd seriously suggested they lock her in her room.]
I can't really say I wouldn't have tried. [Zack pushes himself to his feet, stepping away and crossing his arms. This whole issue is really discomforting.]
...No, that wasn't it. I thought about that a few times, but I figured if I explained myself, it'd be all right. [Even if she had been afraid of that possibility, she could have at least said something through the journals, too close to the portal for anyone to catch her in time. ...They would have been upset over that, too, but that wasn't as bad as saying nothing at all in her mind.]
...You don't get it at all, Aerith. [The worst of it is he doesn't know how to get her to understand. Anything they might say, she should already know.] You don't have to go back! You don't have to do anything!
[Zack's words throw Aerith for a loop, because she didn't think they'd be arguing about this. But really, this cuts to the heart of the matter.] I can't do nothing. I couldn't just forget about everyone back home.
[Cloud clams up at that; he's a bit conflicted on that point. On one hand, Aerith not going back means the death of Gaia. Tifa, Denzel, Marlene, everybody.
But going back means he'll never see her, speak with her again. And that's also become unacceptable.]
[Zack's not conflicted at all, so like hell he's going to stand for this.]
There's nothing happening back home! The whole world's standing still! Why the hell can't you just let things be until we find a way to go back together, with our memories intact!? Do you want to die?
No! No, don't be ridiculous! I wanted to wait. The only reason I thought about going was because that letter talked about us breaking apart and--[There's a wave of a hand here that signifies nothing but frustration, but after taking a breath Aerith calms down, even if her hands still rest on her hips.] I was worried about what would happen if I got sent back and didn't know how to summon Holy, or couldn't do it, or...
...I let myself get scared, I guess. Mm. [A sigh, and she gestures up at the previously-broken roof.] I don't remember exactly what I was thinking when I decided. That's the best explanation I have. [She's just going to sit down on the couch now.] I'm sorry I didn't talk to both of you about it.
[Cloud's...well, not content, but just going to let the two of them argue it out. He can see Aerith's point -much as he disagrees with it- but he knows he can't just up and tell her to never go back, like Zack can. He's the odd man out in that he's the only one who lives, but who has the right to complain about that?
No, there really isn't anything he's justified in saying, but the more they argue the more the anger just bleeds out and leaves him feeling worn and hurt. If she wanted to go, fine. She always chooses the hard path, but takes the easy way out when it comes to saying goodbye.]
[Zack just turns away, cursing under his breath. He hates problems that can't just be dealt with by fighting or sparring or arguing a little- problems that are too complicated to deal with by some simple method. This was a clash of opinions that isn't going away anytime soon.]
I wouldn't want to live in a world that couldn't survive without killing you. It's wrong.
[She purses her lips, not answering right away. She doesn't want to die, or possibly risk everyone else's lives; she doesn't really want to argue anymore, or make them more upset. She doesn't like knowing she's the one responsible for Cloud looking so hurt, or seeing Zack face away from her.
...She's not used to feeling this guilty, and it bothers her. She wants to make things better, but...] How do I fix this...?
[What Zack says hits hard, and it feels as if the distance between he and Zack and Aerith has become a little greater. He clamps his mouth shut against saying anything though, and after a moment of silence Aerith mumbles her question.
Cloud looks away, and his arms get a little tighter, almost as if he's hugging himself rather than folding his arms. He just knows he wants to be anywhere other than this room now, but he can't leave.]
...We'll figure something out. [It's all he can really think to say, because nothing else is coming. He's said what he had to say, and there's little sense in repeating himself just to yell at her, even if he is...
...what, angry? Betrayed? Upset beyond words? Yeah, there really was nothing else to say right now. Not when they had no answers.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[Voice]
[Action] brb aerith driving fenrir on your flowers
[Action] cloud you bastard, show some respect
[Action] :|;;;
I'm sorry. [She's wanted to say that for a while, so it kind of jumps out on its own and then she has to figure out what to follow it with. "I didn't mean to leave like that"? Except she tried to.] I...uhm... [It's probably obvious from how she winds a finger around one curl that she's already unsure of what to say.] I don't know.
[Action]
[Funny, he'd thought he was through being angry. Looks like that isn't the case after all.]
[Action]
[Action]
[...she's had days to think about this and she still can't come up with a reason that seems good enough to her to justify up and leaving without a goodbye to Cloud or Zack. They deserve an answer, but she doesn't have one, despite trying to recall it. She hadn't wanted to just leave without a word.]
I think--probably--I mean--I don't know what happened. [She wants to cover her face as soon as she says it because it sounds so flimsy.]
[Action]
Did you think we'd do something to stop you? [Ignoring the fact that he'd seriously suggested they lock her in her room.]
[Action]
[Action]
[Action]
[Action]
[Action]
[Action]
But going back means he'll never see her, speak with her again. And that's also become unacceptable.]
[Action]
There's nothing happening back home! The whole world's standing still! Why the hell can't you just let things be until we find a way to go back together, with our memories intact!? Do you want to die?
[Action]
...I let myself get scared, I guess. Mm. [A sigh, and she gestures up at the previously-broken roof.] I don't remember exactly what I was thinking when I decided. That's the best explanation I have. [She's just going to sit down on the couch now.] I'm sorry I didn't talk to both of you about it.
[Action]
No, there really isn't anything he's justified in saying, but the more they argue the more the anger just bleeds out and leaves him feeling worn and hurt. If she wanted to go, fine. She always chooses the hard path, but takes the easy way out when it comes to saying goodbye.]
You should be.
[Action]
I wouldn't want to live in a world that couldn't survive without killing you. It's wrong.
[Action]
...She's not used to feeling this guilty, and it bothers her. She wants to make things better, but...] How do I fix this...?
[Action]
Cloud looks away, and his arms get a little tighter, almost as if he's hugging himself rather than folding his arms. He just knows he wants to be anywhere other than this room now, but he can't leave.]
...I'm sorry.
[Action]
...what, angry? Betrayed? Upset beyond words? Yeah, there really was nothing else to say right now. Not when they had no answers.]
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