Reunited?{thread;open}

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

Characters: Aerith Gainsborough & OPEN
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: After the end of a long whimsical journey, the flower girl finds herself hesitating to press onward because she fears the truth.
Location: Lindblum - Financial District
Date: January 30, 1804
Warnings: PG-13


With every step she took literally, Aerith figuratively took two steps back. The anxiety she felt within her heart was a crushing one, the emotions she felt swirling so high that she could barely think. Those melancholy emerald eyes would ignore Lindblum’s majestic beauty today as the girl made her way past the plaza's stairs. Trying her best not to allow her thoughts to stray, Aerith couldn't help but wonder if it was wise to part ways with the knight who escorted her here. Delita's presence was sorely missed now as she marched through this city alone. It was bitterly cold in Lindblum, colder than it was in the gentle Fields of Fum. Wrapped in a cloak she paid for within the village of Condo Petie, Aerith thought to send a message to Tifa in the form of three brief words.

"I am here." She smiled wanly as she recorded her voice upon the sky phone. "The Financial District, I'll meet you there." Cutting the device off, the girl hid the phone back within her pouch. Strolling idly past a nearby lamppost, Aerith came to a full stop once her eyes gazed up at the sky. Dressed in a crimson hued cloak, it probably wouldn't take long for anyone to spot her.

Comments

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Denzel blinked up at Tifa, yet made no other attempt to move. Everything hurt. Every movement was an effort. He was just so tired. He wanted to close his eyes and sleep forever.

At Tifa's question, the boy looked at her in question. "Who?"

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

"Aerith." Tifa smiled. "Aerith's going to cure you. Pretty soon, you'll be right as rain."

She brushed back the hair from his forehead, checking for the black stain that was a symptom of Geostigma. Time was running out for Denzel, she could tell. But Aerith was so close...

Please make it, she thought.

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

Lowering her eyes towards the pale cobblestone streets, Aerith could have kicked herself for taking so long to reach here. She honestly had no idea it would take this many days to get to Lindblum despite how hastily her and Delita traveled. Without the knight’s help, she would have been doomed but Aerith felt horrible either way. At least now, she could make up for her carelessness and take care of Denzel’s illness before it became too late. Geostigma was something she never heard of before, a disease that she never heard of until now. However, despite that truth she was certain that her healing touch could be of some help.

“Oh, he is?” Noticing that slightly bitter tone, Aerith chose not to think of it since she honestly needed to keep a clear mind. She didn’t want to be distracted from the task ahead of her, no matter how much anxiety she felt.

Walking up the stairs to Lindblum’s grand castle, the realization began to dawn on her finally that this was a completely foreign world. Walking down the long red-carpeted corridors, Aerith nodded her head sheepishly at the hawkish guards nearby. They were being watched with utmost scrutiny all the way towards the lift that leads to the royal chambers above.

“Lead the way.” She said with a somewhat happy cheer once they stepped off the elevator. “I’m ready.” It was time to get this little show on the road.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Cloud took Aerith into the room that Denzel was in, instantly resting a gloved hand against Tifa's shoulder once he was at her side. "How is he?" His voice shook just enough to prove how upset he was but there was no hint of emotion on his face.

Except in his eyes, were a sparkle of worry glimmered.

"Aerith's here, she can help now..."

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

"Very sick," Tifa murmured in reply.

She looked up at Aerith, relief obvious in her face. "Aerith... You're finally here. Please, can you help him?"

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Denzel had tried so hard to react to Tifa's words the way his mind wanted him to. He wanted to jump for joy. He was truly going to be cured and everything was going to be okay! All he could manage though was the slightest of smiles.

By the time Cloud and Aerith entered, he was pretty much unable to move. He could barely even pick out their voices. Everything was a blur, it hurt to even open his eyes. The mark on his forehead began to weep, the black ooze rolling down his face, his body breaking out into a shivering mess.

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

If the look upon Cloud's face didn't give away the severity of his son's illness, then the frightful gaze within Tifa's eyes did. She never seen her look so worried, not even when they went up against Shinra or Sephiroth did the former bar hostess ever look this upset. Aerith truly hoped she could heal that boy because if she couldn't, Aerith would have a tough time looking either of them eye to eye.

"I'll do my best." She said with a faint smile before turning her attention to the sickly child. Denzel was no more than eight or nine years old, a little boy plagued with something so awful that made Aerith's skin crawl. The black ooze that spews forth from his pores made her cringe in mild fear but without hesitating much, Aerith took her place beside Denzel's bed. Reaching out her hand to touch his forehead, the Cetra figured it would take more than a simple healing spell to save the boy.

"I hope the Regent has good insurance." A mild warning in the form of a cleverly disguised joke as she wondered if she should tap in to the power of the materia that her mother left behind.

Glancing at the worried parents, Aerith offered the pair a confident smile. “I can handle it, don’t worry.”