Yadrolla System Mingle

[lacyprincess]

Who: EVERYBODY
Broadcast: Yeah, sure, I guess
Action: The Fleet and the Yadrolla System
When: 4/29 - 6/8

[Hey, hey, look, we have a new system! Let's go compete in stuff and root for sportsball teams! System info is here!

GO WAVES!]

Comments

[asphodels]

[ Aerith is, at least, listening very carefully to everything that Zack needs to do, giving her boyfriend a fond, gentle look as she nods along. She's the one that reaches out and plucks the papers from Zack's hands (she'll probably be the one taking care of him anyway, especially since she wants to) before they step outside the shop and she turns to look up at him with a bright, fond expression on her face. ]

One to go.

[ Leaning up, she draws him in for a quick, soft kiss. ]

It's beautiful, Zack.

[wingenvy]

Nah, you're beautiful. But this is pretty good, too.

[He leans in for a kiss, this smooth bastard. ...But when he pulls back he's actually looking giddy instead of pleased with himself, practically bouncing on his heels.]

You recognized them, yeah? The flowers? Did I remember them right?

[asphodels]

Zack. [ She laughs quietly, lifting her head and drawing him down to return the kiss, pushing herself up just a little to match his height. Both her boys are so tall...

Her fingers are gentle when they rest against his chest, not pushing or trying to hurt, but resting where she knows the flowers are. ]

You did. They're perfect.

[wingenvy]

[Her touch is light enough that it doesn't even sting; his body is already knitting itself together anyway.]

I'm glad. Though I guess it's a bit late at this point, huh.

[Lies, if they were wrong he'd pay for corrections. Only the best for his girl.]

[asphodels]

I would've told you before you got it done, silly.

[ She did get to see the art before it was tattooed, so she would've mentioned something that important.

For now, though, her hand trails down and finds his, fingers squeezing his. ]

I'm proud of you.

[wingenvy]

Proud?

[He glances down, head tilted.]

Isn't this kinda running away from the problem?

[He'd struggled with it for a while- the idea that covering up the scars might just be hiding from what happened, or something like that. His whole reason for doing it is purely self-interest (and vain, besides).]

[asphodels]

I don't think so.

[ Aerith turns, staring up at the sky as she thinks. ]

I think... Running away would be like... Never looking at it. Pretending it isn't there, or that it didn't happen. Ignoring it. Not showing anyone anything under your shirt. Acting like you're okay when you're not. You're not doing any of those things.

[wingenvy]

Mm... not anymore, I guess.

[He's done his fair share, especially at the start. The beach date, his unease during their first time- he's no stranger to shame about it at this point. But like this... yeah, he feels like it'll be different.]

I'd still be doing that if you weren't here, y'know.

[asphodels]

Then I'm glad I'm here.

[ Lifting her hands, she cups his cheeks, fingers brushing over his skin gently. ]

You've become so strong.

[wingenvy]

I haven't changed that much... it makes more sense to say that about you.

[She's grown leaps and bounds beyond where she started, when he first met her. She changed when he couldn't even watch it, but he's glad to see the results.

If he's changed it all, it often feels like he's changed for the worse. More cynical, more angry, more hurt. More tired. It's his own fault, though, if she doesn't know it. Not like he's really showed much but his usual smiles.]

[asphodels]

I think you've changed more than you think, Zack.

[ But she pauses, turning around to look at him, her dress fluttering around her heels. Slowly, her hands lift and they press against her stomach, gently hovering. ]

I think... We grew up.

[wingenvy]

[Ahhhh no, he doesn't like that. He doesn't like it at all. With a quick stride towards her he reaches out and takes her hands away from her stomach, lifting them to kiss both, then wraps his arms around her again, holding her close. He'll probably make a mess of his shirt from the ink but he doesn't care, he can't not hug her after that.

They all have their own scars to bear, and just because he's covering his up doesn't mean what caused them isn't painful. Same goes for her, and Cloud.]

Growing up is terrible, I don't like it, [he mumbles, his breath shaky against her hair.] But I guess part of it's... talking about your problems when you need to, right?

[Not when you want to, because god knows he never does. But.]

[asphodels]

[ Aerith is quick to lift herself up and wrap her arms around Zack, tilting herself close with a soft smile. Being around Zack always makes her feel better, but even as she cuddles up to him she's careful to make sure that she doesn't press too painfully against his tattoos, not when he's just got them.

Lifting her hand, she presses it into the back of his neck, curling around him gently and humming quietly. ]

It was easier, before, I think. [ But she shakes her head. ] But I'm glad. Growing up... It means we got to survive, just for a little bit longer.

[wingenvy]

[A little bit longer... it's heartbreaking to hear it said, but it's the truth. They both died way too young for any of this to be fair.]

I think it's worth it. This, I mean. Having this.

[Having her with him, having Cloud with them both, too. It means the world to him.]

[asphodels]

I think so as well.

[ They're gone at home, but here... Here they're okay. Whenever she wants to she can go and find Zack or Cloud and be with them, and that's amazing. ]

I'm really happy.