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[inflorescent]

[She's been spending the past few days getting to know the Gardens. It's an odd place, and there are some odd things here, but not many that are stranger to her than the building she finds herself standing before now.

It's a greatly reduced and somewhat battle scarred version of a building she knows well, and she's not sure what it's doing here in such an idyllic spot, in the midst of so many green trees and bright flowers. The earth around the structure looks like it was scorched bare at some point, but the grass is already growing there again, covering the old damages. The Vine has wound itself around the building. It doesn't look like anyone's been there in some time.

But it's not completely abandoned. There's a solitary clockwork robot, silver and spider-shaped, as large as a medium-sized dog, pacing around the perimeter of the building. It comes running up to Aerith as she approaches. She starts, fingers tightening on her rod, but it seems it only wants to greet her, so at last, though still a little wary, Aerith pets it. This appears to make it happy, or about as happy as a robot spider can seem. It circles her, remaining at her feet for the time being.

After a long time staring up at the small copy of Shinra Headquarters, Aerith turns to the Vine. It senses her intent and displays a mirror.]

Hello everyone. Is anyone out there today? If I don't know you already, my name's Aerith.

[The Gardens are such a quiet place, she's not necessarily sure of getting a reply, but it's worth trying.]

Has anyone else found anything familiar here? This building... I know it, from back home. Do you know how it came to be here?

[But that's not the only question that's been on her mind.]

And I was wondering, what were you all doing, before? Right before you came here, I mean.

Comments

[inflorescent]

Everything? That's a lot.

No, I've never heard of a God like that. I've heard of the Goddess, but I don't think she created everything. She just is.

[Not that Aerith's an expert on theology. There wasn't much religious education in the slums.]

Mm-hm, Materia. I have some with me. [She's a little surprised herself at this question, but she doesn't hesitate to answer. She displays her bangle, with its slots for Materia, all filled with what look like round glowing stones.] It's how people use magic.

[whenyoucall]

Human interpretations of Him became increasingly muddled with the passage of time. There are very few who know the truth now.

[she steps closer for a better look--perhaps a little too close, for a stranger, peering at what seems to be an elaborate piece of jewelry. But the stones set into it aren't ordinary gems, they hum with energy she can't quite identify. If anything, they feel very similar to souls...]

Magical artifacts. Such things are rare and dangerous. How did you come by them?

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I haven't heard of him at all. But I'm sure there are a lot of things I haven't heard of, and that doesn't make them any less real.

[She's not about to argue with this woman about her own father. After all, who's to say what she's saying isn't true?]

Oh, they're not rare at all. [She shakes her bangle.] You can buy them in shops. Well, some are rare, but mine aren't very. [That isn't exactly true, but she doesn't have the White Materia with her.] They're good friends of mine by now, so I don't think they'll do me any harm.

[Her Materia are all mastered, after all. Maybe it's a little odd to speak of Materia as friends, but Aerith has always been a little odd.]

[whenyoucall]

You're very reasonable, for a human. [that's probably supposed to be a compliment?] Most fear what they do not understand. [or try to shoot it.]

[either way, she's starting to think this woman must not be from Earth. Or some strange alternate universe, perhaps? That seemed more likely. There had to be a timeline out there somewhere where magic was bought and sold on such a large scale.]

[that's a more troubling thought, however, than any of her previous ones.]

They have no will of their own. They cannot consciously do anything. [she squints a little, confused.]

[inflorescent]

Why, thank you. [Aerith is genuinely flattered.] And can I ask what you are, if you're not a human? [She looks like a human.]

If I don't understand something, then I don't know enough about it to fear it, right? It could be something good, and I'd miss out on it if I were afraid.

[This makes perfect sense to her. Once, she used to be more afraid of the world, but she isn't now. Things had happened, and things had changed.]

I have been afraid of things, but only once they've given me a reason. [Like trying to hurt her or someone she cares about.]

[She looks down at her Materia. It's true that they don't really think or anything like that.] Oh, I don't know about that. There's some life in them. And they help me out when I'm in trouble. So they're a little like friends that way.

[whenyoucall]

I am an Angel of the Lord. [a statement that doesn't carry as much weight here as it does back home, certainly.]

[and that's more wisdom she's heard from a human so young in some time. She considers Aerith's words for a long moment. Friends help you when you're in trouble, yes. That touches a little close to home. And here she is, without them again. Without anyone.]

[but if she's alive, perhaps she can return. If there's anything she can return to.]

[Ah. That thought hurts. It really shouldn't, she thinks. But it does.]

My friends are...far from here. [with one of them probably dead, another lost forever.]

[inflorescent]

I've heard of angels before. They have wings, don't they?

[Castiel doesn't have wings that she can see, but she's not doubting her.

The thought of angels' wings makes her a little sad, but feeling sad makes her want to smile more. Because sometimes there's no point in being sad, and it's better to show the world a smile. Or so she thinks.

At the mention of friends, however, Aerith does sober up.]

So are mine. [She brushes her fingertips lightly against her bangle with its Materia. It's really no good to her now, if she can't use it to help them.] My real friends. I hope they'll be all right... [They were in danger when she'd had to leave them.] I wish I could be with them now.

[whenyoucall]

Yes. We do. As part of my true form they exist on a wavelength the human eye cannot perceive.

[except under special circumstances, but she doesn't see the need to mention that. If she considered it more, she could probably find a way to render them visible, but it doesn't seem important.]

My condolences. [she adds this awkwardly, her expression softening a little. Though usually it was the companions of the deceased that needed to be consoled. Everything about this situation is backwards. She hesitates for a moment, then continues--]

Even if this...Queen's hold over us is broken, it's unlikely you would be able to return to them.

[it's harsh. But practical, and that's why she feels the need to say it. She's had her own second chance, she's not deluded enough to think she'll get another. She doesn't...deserve it. That makes her look down at her feet, frown deepening.]