[Thread; Closed] Escort Service

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

Characters: Delita, Aerith
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Escorting Aerith to her friends
Location: Conde Petie to Lindblum
Date: January 1803
Warnings: TBD

It took Delita a while to find the item shop.  Added to the fact that he was unfamiliar with the village, he had tried to find them a ride out of the city. Unfortunately, it seemed that no airships were available in Conde Petie.  Having no desire to meet his companion without availability of a way out, he spent the afternoon asking the dwarves of any alternate routes. He would have arrived sooner if they had not shouted Rally Ho to every passerby.

Arriving in the item shop, it occurred to him that he had no idea what this Aerith even looked like. He was relieved to find the shop was filled mostly with dwarves, still he was hesitant to incorrectly identify the lady. Approaching a young lady, he quietly asked, "Aerith?"

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[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

He was happy to have safely reached Fum. If truth be told, he was weary from the unexpected turmoil with the chocobos. His face stung from the scratches, yet he would suffer in silence as he did not require charity. Instead, his attention lay to his companion, "I trust that you are uninjured? We shall rest and take our meal before departing again for Lindblum."

He looked up as they passed fields of cows. He had heard of the cow racing, but had never dared to lay eyes upon the spectacle. He was surprised at her response to his rough grab of her. The last time he has ridden with a companion, he had knocked her out before carrying her away against her will.

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

With a light frown upon her face, the flower girl noticed the slight weariness in the knight's voice. "Sorry about that..." She replied with an apologetic whisper. "I am okay, just a little surprised that the chocobos got that angry with me." While this entire ordeal has made Aerith rethink her love for chocobos, the girl couldn't fault the herd for being protective over the baby bird.

"Aw, your hurt!" Leaning her hand up so she could caress the side of Delita's face, Aerith began to hum softly. A bright cyan hued light engulfed the pair briefly once she began to cast her spell. Healing the scratches and minor wounds Delita suffered within mere seconds, a little sheepish smirk appeared upon Aerith's face as she gazed up at him.

"All better?"

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

He was shocked when Aerith touched his cheek. Not many people were ever concerned about his welfare. He had always been the expendable knight, expected to die on the battlefield.

As the warmth in his cheek faded, so did dull ache that had been present. It was instinct that brought his hand up to check his face and brush against Aerith's fingers, yet it was a stunned reaction that left him speechless for a few moments until he caught his voice with a low "Thank you."

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

A soft chuckle would be his reply once Aerith slipped off the chocobo and landed upon her feet. With a deep sigh, the girl glanced back down the road from whence they came. "I guess my chocobo isn't coming back." She commented idly without any real worry within her voice. "That's alright.” Glancing up at Delita with a little grin, Aerith made her way towards the grassy green fields.

"Hey! We could have a picnic here." She stated aloud. "It's a really pretty here amongst the flowers."

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

"You need not worry about the loss of the chocobo. We were to have left them with the herder here." Pondering the dark tunnels and gargant, he looked over his shoulder towards where Fossil Roo would be located. "I would be remiss if I did not remind you of the distance left to travel." Contrary to his words, his stomach acknowledged his impending hunger.

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

Opting to relax under the shade of a nearby tree, Aerith smiled at the knight's words. "I know, I know. We still have a long way to go." While she was certain they would reach Lindblum soon enough, a part of her didn't want this journey to end. Gaia is a beautiful world, one filled with so much color unlike the drab world she hails from; a pleasant realm in her opinion. Aerith didn't want this journey to end but all good things always come to an end.

Thinking idly about the task ahead, Aerith's thoughts began to stray. Tifa made it quite clear that her and Cloud were and item now. Heck, the pair deemed themselves as 'parents' of two young orphans now. The shock of that news didn't dim and the same could be said about the news of 'Zack' being here. The last time she seen Zack was when she was a young girl of sixteen. So many years have passed by since she last laid eyes on him and Aerith wasn't quite sure what she would say once she sees him.

“I wonder what I’ll do…” She muttered. “What will I say to him?”

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

As usual, he kept an eye on his surroundings and little passed by him unnoticed. As he saw his companion's thoughts go internal, he rummaged through their sacks finding grabbing two rather bland rations. He was about to hand over the food when he heard her muttering. He stopped his actions, lest he bring disturbance to her thoughts.

He would not pry into her inner struggles without invitation, yet he would be available as required. Instead, he serenely picked up a blade of grass as he lay back and blew upon the child's toy.

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

The sound of the whistling snapped her free from her morose thoughts and back into the reality she nearly forsook. Glancing for the source of that little tune, a smile graced Aerith's gentle features once more. "How did you do that?" She asked with a curious blink.

"It's a blade of grass!"

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

Offering his blade of grass to the inquisitive lady, he picks another blade of grass. He is careful to show the process as he proceeds to make another whistle. "'Tis a remnant left of my childhood." He dwells back upon his lost innocence as he places the blade back to his lips, offering his companion another show of his gentleness.

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

Plucking the grass leaf from the knight, Aerith pursed her lips together as she tried to mimic the same whistling tune he'd done earlier. "Pfft!" It seems she couldn't get the hang of it just yet. "A remnant of your childhood?" The healer asked once she pried the leaf away from her lips. Wondering more about Delita's words, Aerith decided to pry just a little.

"Where are you from again? A kingdom, right?"

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

Delita lifts the corners of his mouth into a hint of a smile. "'Tis not as difficult as you make it to be. If you would but lightly blow here amongst the reed, you should find yourself a musician."

Looking upon the ground, he recognized that the little lady before him was not going to let her question go unanswered. "Ivalice. 'Tis with honor that I have served my lands."

His curiosity wished to know more about the lady in question before him. "Might I also inquire as to your home?"

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

"Really?" She asked with a slightly skeptical tone as she opted to try again. Blowing gently against the leaf as she held it to her lips, a melodious whistle fluttered forth a second later. "Hey, it does work!" She said with a happy grin, one that would eventually grow dim at Delita's question. Unlike his Ivalice, her world wasn't as fanciful but it had the same problems as any other world. There were no kingdoms or great cities to mention but rather slums and small clusters of towns that existed under the haunting shadows of mako-hungry ShinRa.

"My home, well..." Toying with the blade of grass that sat in-between her elegant fingers, Aerith tried to figure out a way to answer that question. "It doesn't really have a name but it really doesn't need one. It’s a place where names really aren't that important." She smiled sadly.

"It’s a beautiful world but it’s not as beautiful as it once was." Truly, the words of an Ancient considering only her kind would know of such beauty.

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

Delita's emotions shifted across the spectrum. He had been content as he and Aerith had blown upon the reeds, but he had heard the rest of her story all to often. It seemed those pompous nobles had endeavored to injure yet another innocent soul. Would they never stop their incessant bickering and allow their lands the peace it so desperately needs?

"'Tis truthful, that many lands are not as they ought. While it seems my land has fared better than yours, I am unhappy with these travesties."

While he does not wish the lass to remain in poor spirits, he is at a loss for how to remedy the situation. "I am pleased that you were offered a respite from this pain. It need not follow you here into this world."

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

Allowing a smile to spread across her lips, Aerith gazed at Delita with such fondness. He was a little different from most people, different because of his way of speech and mannerisms but deep down those subtle differences didn't matter much to her. He reminded her slightly of Cloud, a little more reserved and knightly but the resemblance was kind of there. He was also a little like Zack but again, Delita is much more reserved than either mercenary. The knight spoke with a certain flair that almost made Aerith a tad envious that she couldn't match his fanciful prose with some of her own. However, that envy she felt was more or less mild admiration for those who claim to hail from Ivalice.

"I was unhappy too, that's why my friends and I strive to make things better for our home." She replied with a little grin. While Aerith wasn't going to give Delita the full story, the abridged version was sure to come.

"A respite from the pain, I guess you could say that." Her thoughts strayed for a minute once that grin of her became a tad impish in nature.

"To seek a reprieve beyond the chaotic tides, to seek freedom beyond the tyrannical actions of less than noble men. Tis the respite I need." Aerith let out a boisterous laugh once she finished her little monologue. "S-sorry!" For someone who played a damn convincing 'Princess Rosa' within that goofy play at the Golden Saucer, Aerith didn't do half bad mimicking Ivalice speech.

"Ah, Delita. Have you ever been to Lindblum?"

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

Delita had not been surrounded by laughter since before the untimely demise of his sister. Rather than retreat into being recluse, he absorbed the fresh aura. He oft began to wonder how this companion of his was able to retain such lightness about her.

"You have acted in nothing that requires an apology.

I have resided temporarily in Lindblum. To see flying airships and Garden was a treat unlike those seen in my native Ivalice."

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

"A garden?" Arching her brow ever so slightly, Aerith pondered what exactly the knight meant by 'garden'. "Do you mean you've seen the gardens in Lindblum or do you mean something else?" Just hearing about the airships in the grand city almost made Aerith kick on her boots again and hit the road. She was always fond of Cid's planes and airships, especially that big ship that the ex-captain been working on for years prior to her arrival at Rocket Town.

"Mhm, the more I hear about Lindblum the more I wish I was already there." Knowing she wouldn't have any time for sight-seeing once she reached the capital, Aerith decided that after Denzel was all healed up that she would drag Zack along for an airship ride.

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

"An acquaintance of mine has a 'Garden' that has been flown between the lands. Less I be remiss in my explanation, it appears more a flying city to myself."

He had seldom stayed in one place any length of time since that event. It made it easier, if he was able to remain unattached. "We shall arrive in Lindblum soon and you will be free to explore the airships that await."