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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Feb 3, 2008 14:58:22 GMT
In the one place left in Midgar where flowers grew naturally, Aerith could be seen knelt down before them, humming softly to the beautiful flowers. Her long hair was tied back as usual, although it fell over one of her shoulders whenever she leaned too far forward. Carefully, she pulled out a weed that was trying to completely overpower on of the many small flowers that had yet to fully bloom.
As the young woman continued working, she started to gently preen the almost completely grown flowers; removing any dead leaves or flower petals that had yet to fall on their own. This was a practiced gesture, a routine that she practiced and enforced daily. When the flowers were matured to the correct point, she went to the various different Midgar Sectors to sell them. Sometimes though...she couldn't help but wish her life was a little more interesting and eventful.
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Post by /Ash\ on Feb 3, 2008 15:13:20 GMT
Soft breathing could be heard from outside, though it was too quiet for anyone to notice - slow and shallow as cyan eyes, snake-like in all reality, glanced round finally looking up at the well looked after church. A sigh emitted from pale lips, hand reaching out to push the door open. Hearing a slight creak coming from it, the female walked in, steps even and straight as she walked forward along the wooden flooring.
'That must be the cetra girl.' The 17 year old thought, catching sight of Aerith tending to the flowers. She had been sent here to watch over her for a while. Usually that would be the Turk's job, but she had no missions today and Sephiroth was taking charge of everything as usual. To be quite blunt about it - she was bored. So she took a few more steps forward, heels clicking until finally she halted a few feet away.
The SOLDIER didn't look too menacing at the moment, despite the odd eyes which should have been mako blue. Hers were a lot like Sephiroth's though no-one had ever questioned why - Gaia was a strange place after all. And her nodachi sword was safetly attached to a hook on her back. No, she was just here to see that nothing would happen to the Ancient - she was the last of her kind afterall.
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Feb 3, 2008 15:33:02 GMT
Aerith looked up when she heard footsteps, wondering if it might be someone coming to look to buy some of her flowers. When she saw the woman approaching, she decided that was most likely not the case. She didn't seem the type to come to a church just to buy some flowers. Lowering her head, she continued her work, her hands skillfully picking one of the pale pink flowers that she had previously been caring for.
Holding it up to her face, she closed her eyes as she breathed in it's pleasant aroma. Smiling softly, she opened her eyes and looked back at the stranger. "Don't you think flowers are so magical?" she asked, her voice as soft and angelic as ever. "They are just so beautiful; especially in Midgar."
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Post by /Ash\ on Feb 3, 2008 15:41:39 GMT
Ash watched closely as the girl pluched the flower from the rather odd patch of them ... It was rare to see flowers growing in Midgar, much less in the slums. Though it did give a rather strange sense of ... hope, really. She narrowed her eyes, cyan orbs observing the pale petals - it certainly was beautiful though she would most likely never admit such a thing. Emotions did not come easily to her, and even less so actually admitting that she did find flowers rather magical.
"It's a rare sight ... To see flowers in Midgar. I haven't ever seen them anywhere else." The SOLDIER admitted, folding her arms across her chest. Pale fingers tapped her arms as a small sigh escaped her lips once more. This Cetra girl was more friendly than most already and Ashley wondered why that would be ... Did she know that Shin-Ra was watching her every move? She wouldn't be surprised if she did - some of the Turks seemed to not know the meaning of 'subtlety'.
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Feb 3, 2008 15:51:57 GMT
The flower girl let out a soft musical laugh, before sighing. "Yes...my mother said that flowers don't grow in Midgar." Her expression became soft as she stared at the flower that was still held delicately between two slender fingers. "And yet here they are...growing naturally." She raised her gaze up once more to meet that of the SOLDIER.
She knew that she was being watched, but she still didn't really know by who. One of the men had revealed himself to her briefly, before running away. It was all a little confusing; why would anyone want to watch her anyway? "I believe that one day all of Midgar will be able to grow flowers once more. This is only...a taste of what's to come."
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Post by /Ash\ on Feb 3, 2008 16:03:37 GMT
"... As long as the plate still hangs over Midgar, there probably won't be any anywhere else." Ashley stated matter-of-factly. With the plate and the reactor, it was only a fact that flowers would not grow until both were removed. But who would ever think of doing that? Besides, the ones in the church were somewhat of a miracle - the fact that they were about the only ones growing in Midgar, made them all the more special.
"Maybe it's something to do with you..." She mused, closing her eyes briefly as she breathed in the scents from the petals. It really was rather ... nice. Being a SOLDIER, she really didn't get much chance to relax and appreciate the wonders of Gaia ... But now that she was, she couldn't put words to the feelings. Sephiroth and the others would no doubt make fun of her if they knew she actually liked flowers. "Why the flowers are growing, I mean."
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Feb 3, 2008 16:13:43 GMT
"Hmm...but perhaps one day their wish will be granted...maybe then they will be able to truly spread happiness," Aerith murmured. Slowly, she gracefully stood up, brushing a bit of dirt off of her long pink dress. It seemed as though whenever she came here she always had to wash her clothes afterward. But then, she knew that was to be expected. After all, when she knelt down in the dirt, the only possible outcome would be to get dirt on her clothes.
She didn't even mind that much in all honesty. Smiling, she walked around part of the flower bed, going to another side of it before bending down among the flowers again. "Oh no...the flowers were growing here long before I discovered this place." Looking up, she stared at the marvelous Church. It wasn't as wonderful as it probably was when Midgar was still free, but at least it was still pleasant. "This is one of the few remaining buildings from old Midgar after all. It's understandable that flowers can grow here..."
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Post by /Ash\ on Feb 3, 2008 16:28:09 GMT
Ashley nodded slowly, watching the girl with her snake-like eyes. She guessed they were probably about the same age, but so different in just so many ways - it was a little strange in a way and yet probably better for her; if she had to watch over a girl who was eactly the same as her, it would be rather tiresome. She would probably not utter a word of speech either, but as it is she was speaking just fine for the time being.
"I'm sorry. I haven't even told who I am." The SOLDIER uttered sincerely, holding out a hand to Aerith for her to shake. It had just occured to her that her manners seemed to have disappeared, and while she may have seemed somewhat cold and distant, she really was a polite teenager at times. "I'm Ashley-Raine. SOLDIER, 1st Class." She said softly, her right eye flickering red for a second and then going back to it's natural cyan gleam.
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Feb 3, 2008 16:37:36 GMT
Aerith looked from Ashley to the hand that was offered to her, before smiling. Standing up, she wiped her hand on her dress, before moving hers to connect with the SOLDIER's. So she was ShinRa. That was interesting; but not entirely surprising. Nowadays so many people were becoming SOLDIER's, or at least other forms of the ShinRa warriors.
"Pleased to meet you Ashley. My name is Aerith Gainsborough, flower girl." She was a bit ashamed of her title when it was compared to Ashley's, but only a little. She liked being a flower girl; no fighting involved, and she was able to make people happy with the flowers she helped grow.
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Post by /Ash\ on Feb 3, 2008 16:54:47 GMT
"Good to meet you too, Aerith." The girl said, offering the tiniest of smiles to the flower girl. To be honest, she rather thought that Aerith had a nice job and that there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. She made people happy, and that was so much more than Ash could ever hope to do. And for that, she didn't mind one bit that she was in the brunette's presence. There was just something so very interesting about her.
"I hope I'm not keeping you from anything either, I'll try to stay out of your way." She added, pulling her hand back and crossing her arms once more as her long silvery blue hair settled over her shoulder. Tilting her head, she truly looked rather apologetic. But it was true, she would be perfectly happy keeping out of Aerith's way if she was busy. Her mission was to simply watch her anyway.
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Feb 3, 2008 17:02:43 GMT
"No, you aren't. Actually, it gets a little lonely here by myself day after day." Aerith admitted with a small smile. Looking down at the flowers, she thought that it was true. The flowers were wonderful company, but ever so often she would like a bit more... human contact. Sure, she saw people everyday in the different Sectors, but that was different. She never really talked with them, since they only bought flowers and then left.
Her mother was different as well. Talking with someone as often and as long as she did with her mother wasn't the same. Aerith wanted to meet and get to know new people; people who she hadn't known her entire life.
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Post by /Ash\ on Feb 3, 2008 17:18:45 GMT
"I can imagine." Ashley spoke softly, nodding her pale head as she spoke. She too got very lonely and actually avoided contact with others, whenever possible. Ever since her personal trainer was killed, and she lost her best friends on the same day, she was never the same again. She always spoke very little too, and sometimes even completely ignored the great General - which was very odd. She had been his biggest fan.
"But it seems you enjoy the company of these flowers anyway ..." She added, gazing down at the pale petals just a few feet from her. She only looked briefly though, for a moment later she looked back up at Aerith, eyes narrowed as in thought.
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Feb 3, 2008 17:32:10 GMT
"Yes, I do..." Aerith said softly, looking down at the flowers lovingly. "I'm the only one who comes to care for them... I've been doing it for so many years...I guess you could say that the flowers here are my friends," she admitted with a soft laugh. Maybe they were her friends. Well, she didn't really have any human ones, and she did love the flowers.
She didn't see anything wrong with that. Anyway... sometimes she could swear that the flowers reacted to her voice and emotions, as well as her singing to them. It could just be her imagination, but she wasn't sure. Looking at Ashley, she tilted her head to the side. The girl seemed to be upset about something. Bending down, she picked a few flowers carefully, before offering them to the SOLDIER. "Flowers can tell when you're unhappy. That's why they are such a good gift. They have the power to cheer people right up."
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Post by /Ash\ on Feb 3, 2008 17:40:32 GMT
Ashley let out a light chuckle, it being hardly noticeable, when Aerith spoke of the flowers being her friends. It was an odd thought ... Someone speaking to them as if they were human. Yet at the same time it could be called 'sweet' or something like that - Ash didn't really have the same mindset of most other 17 year old girls. What might be sweet to her, could very well be monstrous to someone else.
But as the flowers were offered to her. she stared for a few moments before gently taking them. Gazing at the perfect petals surrounding their center's. Maybe they really did understand people's feelings, no matter how hard that might be to comprehend. "Thankyou, Aerith. You are a really kind person - even to a complete stranger."
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Feb 3, 2008 17:53:01 GMT
Aerith laughed softly, shaking her head a little. She had heard that before, but she had also heard that she really shouldn't trust anyone she just meets so fully. On both accounts, the only answer she could give was that it was her way. That was just the kind of person she was; trusting and kind.
"Thank you Ashley... but I don't know if I can take credit for being kind. After all, it is just who I am," she said truthfully, tucking her hair behind her ear as she did so. This is nice she thought. Being able to talk with someone her own age.
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