proudsoldier | Wherein our hero finds the city. Or it finds him.

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Current Location: the Old Church

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Wherein our hero finds the city. Or it finds him.

[is sprawled out on one of the pews in the church, turning his head to one side and groaning before blinking his eyes open and slowly trying to sit up, one hand pressed to his head] I've really gotta stop entering buildings through the roof . . .

[blinks again and frowns, studying the church interior] Hang on a sec. This isn't Aeris' church . . . [carefully stands up and looks around, hands on his hips and starting to look warier by the second]

Where am I?

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[Nodding, she looks up at him] Midar was, yes.

Sounds like it, then. [folds his arms, this is going to take a lot of getting used to] Man, if it's bigger than my Template, no wonder people can't get out.

((Zack doesn't know about the second level yet, so we can haz warp? :D))

Ah, that's not exactly why people can't get out. There's some sort of barrier around the city that drops people back within its limits if they get too close to the edge. No one's sure why.

Take my hand, I want to show you a shortcut.

((OOC: Yosh~!))

Think it might be some kind of magic? [Takes her hand, lol has no idea what he's in for.]

I think so. Okay, hold on-- [And she warps, setting them down lightly on the sidewalk in front of her new home.] --and we're here! You can get a proper map at city hall if you need one. Also, Nanaki's here, I don't think he's your Nanaki, but...

He's not from my world. In his world, something happened while he was in the lab with me. I mean, his Aerith. Somehow Hojo used the power of the Cetra to change Nanaki, he's not used to his new body yet, and he's a bit shy around people he doesn't know. He's also still getting used to human behaviour and manners, so if he's doing something a little strange, it's because he doesn't know any better. He gets a little embarrassed about it when he gets mixed up.

[IS STILL JUST A LITTLE DISORIENTED FROM THAT give him a second]

Whoa whoa whoa, hold on a minute! How did you do that? And Nana-- [face hardens as what she said catches up with him. It is not a very nice face. It is quite possibly the face Hojo saw right before he fought Zack for the first and last time.] Hojo did what?

[Aerith looks at the ground, the information she'd gleaned from Nanaki had nearly made her cry when she'd first heard it, and even now it was still an open wound. Her grip on his hand tightens, and she can't look at him.]

I...I don't know what he did. Nanaki said he was drugged, the other Aerith probably was too so that neither of them could fight back. They wouldn't breed with each other like Hojo had wanted, so he fixed it so that they would be more compatible. Somehow he found a way to use Aerith's powers, and when Nanaki woke up, he was almost completely human. His body couldn't handle that sort of dramatic change, he was dying when I found him in the church, his internal organs were failing from the stress. He was so scared, Zack. So scared... [She wipes her eyes, trying to calm down. Nanaki was fine now, while he was here there was nothing Hojo could do to hurt him. her voice is quieter when she speaks again.]

Thankfully I managed to stabilize him with my magic, I've been taking care of him while he's adjusting. Please try not to sound angry when you're around him, he might think you're angry at him.

[starts feeling a little more sick with every word, starting from 'drugged' onwards. He kind of wants to break out with a string of profanity in German, but Aerith is crying and probably doesn't need his anger right now, so he locks his teeth on it and settles for a simple, but very emphatic:]

That bastard.

[pulls her into a tight hug, gently rubbing her back in an attempt to comfort.] I promise. Jeez, he must be-- [has no words for it. Just . . . no words. "Terrified" doesn't even begin to cover what Nanaki must feel like.] I promise.

[and here his voice goes low and hard]

If Hojo ever shows up here, I'll kill him again.

[And she of all people should know that that's not the kind of thing Zack says lightly.]

[Aerith welcomes the hug, although the flower basket makes it awkward for her to return it. But her hug is just as fierce as his.]

I think...you might not be the only one.

[She's quiet for a long time, her thoughts muddled and confusing, but a little flutter of fear worked through them.]

Zack, what if he does show up here? I don't...I don't want to have to see him ever again. I'm terrified of the labs, of what he was planning on doing with me. Or of what the other Hojo almost did to the other Aeriths. There's a younger Aerith here, she...she never escaped from the labs. I don't want anyone to have to suffer anymore, I don't.

I'll stop him. [says it firmly] He won't get anywhere near you or the other Aerith. Or Cloud, or Nanaki, or anyone else.

He won't have any armies to hide behind here. I'll take him out the second he sets foot in this city. [he is grim and deadly serious about this. Cups her cheeks in his hands and runs his thumbs over them, much as she did to him earlier.]

You won't have to see him.

Zack...

[She doesn't know what to say, but his touch is soothing and it helps her focus on the now and not the what ifs. Her eyes fall shut and she breathes deeply, she would worry about it if it happened. Fussing about it now would only lead to unnecessary anxiety.]

[Really wants to kiss her right now, has actually been wanting to since he saw her, but is unsure enough about the situation to wonder whether it's a good idea. Finally compromises by kissing her on the forehead.]

I promise.

[She blinks up at him at the kiss, he made her feel so confused inside, she wasn't sure what to do.]

Please be careful, Zack. I don't want any of you hurt. Not anymore.

[Not quite sure what kind of reaction he was expecting, but he can't help but feel slightly disappointed. Hides it with a reassuring and cocky smile.]

You don't have to worry about me. I can handle anything that comes my way~

[Possibly flexing a bicep in demonstration~ |D]

[Oh Zack, you're making her laugh. You're such a goofball. The laughter is an easy way to mask the slight color on her cheeks, though.]

I'm sure you can, Zack.

[Laughing is just as good, though! He hates seeing her sad.]

So just trust me. I'll take care of everything.

Okay. [She hugs him, resting her head against his shoulder.]

[strokes her hair as he looks up at the house with undisguised curiousity. Nice digs.]

So . . . how exactly did you get us here?

[A small sigh escapes her at the way he touches her hair, and she looks up at him] They call it the second level, apparently it's something computer-based, and allows you to transport yourself anywhere in the city if you know where you're going. I'm not sure how it works exactly, you might want to find someone who's better with computers to explain it...

But you can use it, right? How do you do that? Is there a code or something?

[She looks so confused now] Um, I'm not sure. I just focus on doing it, and it happens...

[frowns thoughtfully]

You just concentrate?

[brow furrows in thought . . . and voop, suddenly the two of them are several feet closer to the door. He grins rather like a kid with a new toy.]

Now that is cool.

[She nods] Yes, I think that's how it--

[She's clinging to his shirt because that was unexpected and warn her next time~! ;; 0 ;;]

--works. Mm, I think you've gotten the hang of it already.

[Looking eagerly at the door now, wants to see what it's like inside. Highly suspects there will be flowers.]

Can I come in?

Of course. [She smiles, but then tries to glare up at him. It doesn't work very well since she's grinning.]

No, you can't come in. Boys aren't allowed.

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