churchflower - Tumblr blog

[churchflower]

a comprehensive list of scenarios

feel free to combine multiple prompts or add  “ + reverse ”  to switch roles !   for reference, the one sending in the prompt is the one committing the action.

1.  GUEST :  for one muse to offer the other a place to stay. 2.  STORM :  for both muses to find shelter from a severe storm. 3.  MEDIC :  for one muse to show up at the other’s doorstep injured. 4.  SURPRISE :  for one muse to come home and find the other already inside. 5.  TRIP :  for both muses to road trip or travel together. 6.  BABYSIT :  for one muse to help the other home while they’re drunk. 7.  INSOMNIA :  for one muse to find the other still awake at 3am. 8.  AMBUSH :  for both characters to come under attack by the same enemy. 9.  DANCE :  for one muse to ask the other to dance at a party. 10.  STRANDED :  for one muse to help the other who’s stranded on the road. 11.  SERVICE :  for one muse to cover the cost of something for the other. 12.  SAFEGUARD :  for one muse to save the other from being hit by a vehicle or from some other life-threatening event. 13.  DAZE :  for one muse to wake somewhere and find the other hovering over them. 14.  STOWAWAY :  for one muse to find the other hiding on the same ship. 15.  TAXI :  for both muses to share the same taxi ride. 16.  MAKEOVER :  for one muse to help the other with a new outfit or hairstyle. 17.  LIFEGUARD :  for one muse to rescue the other from drowning. 18.  DISASTER :  for both muses to work together to escape a fire, flood, or other disaster. 19.  TRANSIT :  for one muse to sit next to the other on a public transport. 20.  SPRAIN :  for one muse to carry the other after spraining their ankle. 21.  EMPLOY :  for one muse to be hired as the other’s bodyguard, tutor, assistant, etc. 22.  QUEST :  for one muse to help the other with a task in exchange for compensation. 23.  SOOTHE :  for one muse to calm the other during a panic attack. 24.  RECOVER :  for one muse to return the other’s lost belonging. 25.  UMBRELLA :  for one muse to share their umbrella with the other on a rainy day. 26.  HEAL :  for one muse to nurse the other back to health from a sickness or injury. 27.  NIGHTMARE :  for one muse to comfort the other after a nightmare. 28.  REUNION :  for one muse to run into the other again after a long time. 29.  PRIZE :  for one muse to win the other a prize at a carnival. 30.  NUDE :  for one muse to walk in on the other while they’re changing. 31.  BED :  for both muses to wake in the same bed, naked or fully clothed. 32.  TRAIL :  for one muse to notice the other has been following them. 33.  EVADE :  for one muse to pull the other into an alleyway to escape their pursuer. 34.  THIEF :  for one muse to confront the other after having something stolen by them. 35.  CAUGHT :  for one muse to walk in on the other singing / dancing. 36.  FESTIVE :  for both muses to decorate for a special occasion. 37.  PRESENT :  for one muse to give the other a  (birthday)  gift. 38.  WEARY :  for one muse to wake up after falling asleep on the other. 39.  CAPTIVE :  for one muse to hold the other against their will. 40.  SNAP :  for one muse to yell at or push the other out of frustration. 41.  SLEEPOVER :  for one muse to stay the night at the other’s place. 42.  TRESPASS :  for one muse to trespass on the other’s property. 43.  BREAK-IN :  for one muse to discover the other robbing their place. 44.  MERCY :  for both muses to come across an injured animal. 45.  UNKNOWN :  for both muses to wake and find themselves in a strange place. 46.  ACCOMPLICE :  for one muse to assist the other at the scene of a crime. 47.  ASTRAY :  for both muses to take a detour and lose their way. 48.  RELAX :  for both muses to share a hot tub or hot spring. 49.  MUSE :  for one muse to model for the other’s art project. 50.  ACCOMPANY :  for one muse to give the other an extra ticket to an event. 51.  SALVAGE :  for one muse to retrieve the other’s belongings from a thief. 52.  MEAL :  for both muses to prepare and share a meal together. 53.  CEMETERY :  for one muse to find the other at a gravestone. 54.  REFUGE :  for one muse to shelter the other from enemies. 55.  ARRANGED :  for both muses to date or marry out of convenience. 56.  FAVOR :  for one muse to owe the other a favor. 57.  VACATION :  for both muses to book the same hotel on vacation. 58.  DEFEND :  for one muse to save the other from one or multiple assailants. 59.  CATCH :  for one muse to return the other’s pet that escaped. 60.  RESTRICTED :  for both muses to sneak into someplace they’re not supposed to be.

[churchflower]

only one. somewhere she hoped Tseng's ears were burning. she had written eighty nine. there was at least one from kunsel and several drawings from some of the local kids tucked away in there. eighty nine letters were sitting somewhere in the trash or maybe worse in Tseng's office. something she would neglect to tell Kunsel later when she got upset about the letters. she knew giving them to Tseng was already a tall order. if Kunsel couldn't find Zack then what was to say Tseng could or would... she of too much faith. but she remembered that last one, she had run out of things to say. it was objectively the shortest. How are you? I wish I knew where you were. and then the turn around, about how well the flowers were selling and how that was thanks to him. giving up on him had not been easy. she had honestly thought he had forgotten about her. moved on to someone else and put the church slum rat behind him. he may look like a scraggly drowned rat now but the ladies loved him. charming and handsome. she was... well she tried to be normal. ordinary. but she was strange, different. even if he didn't make her feel like that. people always left her. how exactly did she tell someone in a letter that she couldn't take it anymore. How are you? I think you've left me behind. Kunsel made her happy and Zack made her chest ache, now with newly added guilt. "So...?" she asked inquisitively, shoving down all of it. "How are you? I wish I knew where you were." she looked up at him. "What... happened?"

Zack felt a little lost without Cloud nearby, and it was almost physically painful to let someone else manhandle him out of the church, even though it was Kunsel, a man he trusted with his own life as much as he did Cloud's. Kunsel wouldn't let anything happen to him. He told himself this a few times, but it didn't do much to quell the feeling of anxiety winding through his chest.

Cloud had been with him through this whole ordeal, from the fires in Nibelheim, to the basement under the mansion, to the road out of there. Cloud had kept him sane, had given him the strength he had needed to get out of that basement and out into the world. Cloud was the reason he had made it this far. Certainly thoughts of Aerith had kept him afloat during his darkest times, and he thought of her constantly the closer they got to Midgar. But Cloud was the reason he had come here.

And now, Cloud was being lugged away by someone else. It was just…well. It was fine. It made sense, even. Zack just didn't much care for it.

He gathered his things, just a backpack stuffed full of random things they had needed on the road and, of course, Buster. It didn't take him long, but Aerith didn't seem keen on waiting much anyway. Basket slung over her arm (and he took a moment to wonder what had happened to the flower wagon), she led him outside, chatting amicably with passersby and handing out flowers. For free. So much for his plan to fill her pockets with cash.

"I only got the one," Zack replied, smiling as she tucked a flower into his shirt. "The one you said was the last one. I knew I had to hurry back here when I got that."

[churchflower]

he didn't listen, though that was typical for her captors lately. her cheek still stung from the sudden betrayal Tseng had delivered to her. a reminder that she was still reaching her hand into a shark tank. one day those teeth would turn on her, and they did. she did her best to close her eyes. the compromised position was making her stomach do flips and that wasn't because of who he was - or at least that was what she was telling herself. Cloud was great and all but... Zack was SOLDIER. the real deal. she had only heard stories of the creatures outside of Midgar from him before. but now she had faced the dangers herself. her odds of getting out of here by force were dwindling. she watched him as if he were but a corpse shambling around. emerald eyes locked to his tasks as he set up a tent and camp. her heart conflicted. he was the enemy, a shark in a tank that she had always reached into. he had been- was supposed to be- different, and she told herself that every time he had come down to the slums to visit her. she had yet to be right, yet everything in her wanted to be. she had seen those beautiful blues in the low light before. she could stare at them for hours though she'd get embarrassed if he brought it up. deny it every second of the way, do it again the moment he let her. it was impossible for her face to droop any further, for the sadness to swell in her any larger. but when he spoke she remembered to breathe. "Best behavior, promise." she wasn't planning on running, he'd outpace her before she even got going, she had been walking across the better part of the continent and it was kicking her ass. running away sounded like a stupid plan... figuring out what was wrong with him sounded better. "Is that for both of us?"

Both of the women had reacted when they had seen his face. He didn't understand why, and he didn't really care. It worked to his advantage anyway; the martial artist had paused in her attack, and that had allowed him to get away with the target.

The target, who had also reacted when she had seen his face.

There was nothing particularly remarkable about it, as far as he knew. It was handsome but uninteresting otherwise. He had a distinguishing scar on one cheek that would probably make him identifiable, when the Soldier's normal modus operandi involved going unseen, unknown. Like the ghost he was named for. He assumed that was why his face was covered, but maybe there was another reason.

But that didn't really matter. He had the target now, tied up and across his legs, complaining that she would be sick if he didn't move her. He ignored her and kept driving.

He didn't end up going too far, however; the sun was beginning to set as it had been late in the day already when he had finally seen the target alone. He could drive all night if he needed to, but the target needed to rest if she was going to be in good condition when he got back to the city. Besides, it was going to be more than one night before they got back.

They were far off the beaten path by now, and it wasn't hard to find a good spot to camp out. He parked the bike in the shelter of a steep cliff – not so great for identifying threats, but very convenient for hiding. He wasn't worried he'd been followed. The bodyguards didn't seem subtle, and they hadn't had vehicles.

He lifted the target and set her on the ground next to the bike, hands surprisingly gentle as he moved her. He then began setting up a tent for her to sleep in, out of the elements. Easier to guard, too. Darkness was already starting to fall over the hills, but that wouldn't make a difference. He had night vision goggles if he needed them, but his senses were sharper than most people's anyway.

His eyes glowed like blue fireflies in the settling dark, lighting up his face ever so slightly. Tent now erected, he turned toward the girl.

“There's nothing out here for a good fifty miles in any direction. You going to be a good girl if I untie you, or do I have to leave you tied up?” he asked sharply. They were the first words he had spoken to her.

[churchflower]

the muzzle of the gun kept pressing and she could practically see the tension in Cloud's posture. the hand she had been holding herself up with against the kidnapper's grip left it's position to try and dissuade the blonde. another tug and she was getting pulled back toward a bike. "Hey-!" she protested as he roughly started tying the tight cord around her limps. "Ouch not so tight!" thought the protest was really met with nothing. he was trying to be quick and for good reason. "Listen this Hojo guy-" the sound of crackling lightning was what prompted her instinct to duck down. thunder usually came before lightning but in this case the combo had been in reverse. "Tifa!" she cheered as she landed a solid hit on the assailant, she'd clap her hands if she had them free. instead she opted for the obvious, "Woo-" and the hoo died in her throat. the mask came off, clattering to the ground and the joy and cheer for her rescuers fell like a landslide. she lost color in her cheeks, emerald eyes wide and they darted to Tifa. she was the only other person she had really talked to about Zack. she was the only one that even knew... she only slightly resisted the tug of her now too familiar kidnapper. "Stop-" but words wouldn't keep her from going over his lap. she stopped fighting, she couldn't anymore. not while he was right in front of her. the motorcycle was loud forced to stare at the grass speeding by. she didn't know what her next course of action was but it had to do something with trying to get Zack to remember who he was... "Hey!" she said after a bit of high speed driving. "Can you at least- sit me up I'm going to get sick."

He kept backing the target back toward the woods, gun to her head and eyes carefully tracking the area, focused mostly on the swordsman who was still standing there, looking forlorn as the Soldier hauled away his prize. He saw the man twitch, his gloved fist tightening on the hilt of his broadsword, and he anticipated the magic attack before it was even triggered. He pressed the gun closer against the target's temple and shook his head silently. The man paused, and the attack didn't come.

The Soldier backed her into the woods, until he was out of sight of the swordsman. He knew the man would likely come after him once he was fully out of sight, so he had to work quickly. He lowered the gun once they got to his bike, sliding it into its holster, where he could draw it again just as easily. Then he got to work, quickly tying her wrists behind her and her ankles together with a thick cord he had waiting for him.

This was when the swordsman made his next attack, lightning energy arcing through the air and connecting with the Soldier's metal arm, where he slotted his own materia. His materia, which gave him elemental resistances, thanks to the target's propensity for magic. The cloth hiding his metallic arm was ripped away, though, revealing the cybernetic arm beneath.

No one had told him about the bodyguard, but that didn't matter. He cast his own magic, a high level fire spell, and then got out his gun again, firing off a few warning shots at the swordsman.

He was almost taken off guard by the second assailant -- almost. She was on him before he'd had a chance to realize that the electric attack was a ploy to get the martial artist close to him. She punched him in the face, but he deflected so that she hit the mask instead, and her fist tore it right off of him, leaving him bare faced and still silent. He leveled the gun at her, but she was staring at him, at the telling scar on his left cheek, and she didn't attack again.

With the swordsman at a distance and the martial artist apparently not attacking, the Soldier was free to grab the target around the waist again and jump onto the bike, already turned on and waiting to go. Shouts echoed from behind him as he tossed the target over his legs so she was on her stomach across his lap, and he revved the engine as he tore off out of the woods.

[churchflower]

bullied him into submission, really the Aerith Gainsbrough way. but low and behold, Zack was giving in to their demands. she almost seemed relieved, a bit of relief that everyone still followed her authority despite the two of them being definitely stronger and better than her in most physical ways. she had taken their exchange to gather up her things, the flower basket that carried a snack or two as well as several blooms that had already been cut. she felt a little guilty that these flowers weren't going to get sold up top due to the interruption. she rejoined Zack's side, giving Kunsel a two fingered salute that almost seemed more awkward than the action she had thought about doing. Saying goodbye to Kunsel with anything less than a kiss on the cheek would have been a red flag had the scenario been any different. this was not the time to get spun up on her feelings of her past flame and current one standing in the same room... "See you there." she cheered after him. she waited for a few moments before she started after him. She waited for him to get his things and catch up. she didn't want to let him go too far ahead, but they didn't want to draw attention. she watched him for discomfort but started their walk behind a few paces behind. she didn't stop, per say, but she did lag behind and offer blooms to the people of the slums as they walked. it was probably better that Cloud was with Kunsel, people tended to look the other way when ShinRa employees walked through but Aerith was a local celebrity. she was only slightly ignoring her walking partner, at least only for a moment. she rejoined him when there was one last bloom. "So..." she exhaled, putting that last bloom into the russet of his suspenders. "You read any of my letters?"

Zack opened his mouth to reply to Kunsel – he was fine, the cure spells and the revive had helped him monstrously, after all, and he'd been carrying Cloud all this time – but Aerith beat him to the punch. He felt a little bit like they were ganging up on him to scold him, but he did know revives and cures could only do so much versus blood loss, and he was definitely down some blood. They were right, and Zack did want some time to talk to Aerith.

“Ah – fine, fine, all right,” he conceded, holding his hands up in defeat. “Just – be careful with him, okay? I mean, he's sturdier than he looks, but he's still – ”

Still what? Zack didn't know exactly what he wanted to say here. Cloud had been his only constant companion for the past five years. He would have died for Cloud in a heartbeat, if it had come down to that. Almost had. And yet, how could he say Cloud had been his only friend when neither Kunsel nor Aerith had given up on him?

“He feels so...fragile still,” Zack finally concluded. “He's my little buddy, right? Not used to him being out of my sight, you know? So...I trust you, but just be careful with him.”

Cloud had finished his burrito at this point and was perhaps looking a bit better in color, maybe? Might have been Zack imagining it, he supposed. Zack was tempted to give Cloud his own burrito too, because he still looked hungry, but Zack really needed something to eat too. Besides, they were going to a place where there was potentially food.

He got out his burrito and made quick work of it, swallowing it down in three bites. It felt good to have something in his stomach. Then he zipped up his hoodie again to hide the bullet holes in his shirt and pulled the hood up over his hair. There wasn't anything he could do to hide Buster, but that was just the way things were.

Kunsel was already pulling Cloud to his feet by the time Zack was finishing his burrito, and Cloud let out a little noise and made a reaching motion over to Zack. That...was a lot, actually. Zack smiled warmly at him.

“It's okay, Cloud, you can trust Kunsel,” he promised, grabbing Cloud's hand for a moment. “I trust him with my life – and with yours. Okay?”

[churchflower]

𝘝𝘊𝘛𝘓𝘈𝘕 — 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨. private and selective. low/sporadic activity. canon divergent and belligerent. devil may cry. final fantasy vii. prototype 2009. more tba. like / reblog this post if you wish to interact. check carrd for guidelines and muses.

[churchflower]

     ❝ 𝔡𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔣𝔩𝔞𝔪𝔢𝔰 , ❞

[churchflower]

@churchflower && @meteorshcts

this love is be and end all; this love will be your downfall

[churchflower]

they still are is a looming danger. "So he's safer, here right? We can hide him until we figure out what's wrong with Cloud." one step at a time. she couldn't shake this feeling of helping Zack accomplish his task was only a means to an end. the looming question of then what? then what building itself up brick by brick. she was not a planner, she had been a creature of habit for years and now she was stretching her wings in many ways. asking what was next of herself until she had walked on the upper plates. until she sold flowers. but then those habits became her day to day. so what now, Aerith? she can see Kunsel has fought these battles before. she knew Kunsel cared about Zack, but they had so much more time together. she had never really got to see them in the same capacity, but that at least was a comfort. that she had trusted the right person in her life. "Ah, ah." she scolded. she knew Zack would protest, just as Kunsel probably did. so she jingled forward, "you're stuck with me, buster." she wagged a finger, "we'll draw less attention that way. we won't lose sight of them. Promise." she tried to offer some comfort to ease Zack into a situation where he was giving something up he had been so desperate to protect. but they were in this together now. "Let us help, okay?"

she looked at Kunsel with an affirming nod. "Sounds like a plan to me. Finish the burritos. I'm just going to get my things. We can wait here a few minutes to give Kunsel a head start..." and maybe Elmyra would take her bringing three ShinRa soldiers home as a joke, a jest...

Even as he keeps his attention on Zack, Kunsel can't help but glance at Aerith as she steps closer to him again, a small amused smile lifting up a corner of his mouth at the face she pulled in an attempt to subtly pass the breakfast burrito over to him. He glances back over at Zack again when he speaks, holding the burrito in his left hand while his right kept Cloud steady, and he's tempted to take a bite because she'd already taken one, but, well, he'd feel guilty chomping down before either Zack or Cloud could eat. So he just sort of holds it awkwardly and gives Zack a small shrug as if to say 'she's not hungry'.

"They still are, from what I've heard - but they're not as willing to cause a noticeable fuss after the losses taken in the outskirts. Pair that with you being in Midgar where there's a chance that someone might recognize you, even if it's been a few years, and that can bring up questions Shinra won't want to answer… it's no guarantee that they're off your trail, just that we might have some breathing room, at least for now."

As Aerith takes her hands and pulls on his burrito holding arm to get his attention, Kunsel tilts his head towards her, a frown of agreement on his expression, missing the confused look Zack threw in their direction but not the way he started talking before yelping and laughing in exasperation - his head immediately snapping to the scene again only to see Zack pry his fingers away from Cloud's mouth.

"Let Cloud finish eating, then we go - it's a good sign he's moving around and trying to eat, even if he's trying to resort to cannibalism, considering he was basically catatonic earlier." Kunsel tries to lighten the mood, a quiet chuckle escaping him as he takes in the situation. It really didn't feel real to have Zack here… and they had so much to tell him.

But that could be saved for later, when they've all cleaned up and collected their thoughts. And speaking of Zack, Kunsel wasn't keen on letting him exert himself too much.

"As for Cloud, yeah, I can carry him - and before you say anything: Zack you need a break. You've been dragging him along for months now, and I've literally just healed you and spent a revive on you - not letting you exert yourself unless strictly necessary." And he makes sure to catch Zack's gaze here, to show he's serious and will make a fuss about it… and a vague nostalgia flutters over Kunsel's expression, softening just a bit.

It's been a while since he's been on Zack's case over his own well being, huh?

"Besides, I know the way and it'd be faster if I walked ahead - people in sector five know me well enough to not ask questions."

[churchflower]

me and you and a field of flowers

[churchflower]

“Ope, sorry.” she raised her hands up again as directed with the hard gesture of the gun. she remained rigid, vigilant as he came closer to her. for such a big dog, he was muzzled, untalkative and wearing that mask… she wasn’t sure she had seen anything like this before. it almost reminded her of Sephiroth, if not in demeanor than in stature. she felt the tingle of materia leaving her person, the Cetra in her reacted to it a little differently, but she again was only half. oof, she was in real trouble now, wasn’t she?

but what was she without her bodyguard?

her eyes lit up a certain way when Cloud came barging to her rescue. clashing swords were her queue to get her things. she shuffled through the grass to pick up a bangle, and a second before she felt him scruff her like a cat. she let out a fluster squeak, her tools leaving startled hands and clattering to the ground again. his grip around her waist was strong there was no way someone her strength and size to fight her way out. especially with a gun held to her head.

she hated to see Cloud’s guard drop like that, just because of her. it was foreboding.

“It’s okay!” she made another weak noise of struggle. They came for her last time when ShinRa took her… she had to trust they would find a way to get her back. trust they would even bother looking for her again. this would put them back on an already weak schedule. “I’m okay!” for now, but not while she was being used as bait. he wanted her alive or he would have killed her already and that had been the order.

“I’ll go… just leave them alone.” emeralds looked upward toward her masked assailant. “Please.”

It wasn't up to him to question his orders, but he had to admit there was something a little odd about this situation. The target hadn't put up a fight at all. He knew she could, knew she had strong magical aptitude, and he'd come prepared for that. But maybe she was just smart, knew she couldn't handle a trained assassin like himself.

So why had he been sent?

The mask did prevent speaking, but he made no move to discard it. Instead, he gestured with the gun – hands up further, and turn around. Once she complied, he systematically removed her weapons: the guard stick from her back and each one of her materia from her wrist armor. He kept the gun pointed at her and tossed the weapons out of her reach. Easy.

He paused. There was a sound – someone coming. He turned around just in time to see a blond man with a large broadsword running toward him and calling out the target's name. The Soldier spared a few shots for him, which were predictably deflected by the large blade, and then got out his own broadsword. That was fine by him; he was best with the sword.

The two blades clashed together, and the Soldier soon learned that the swordsman was not someone to take lightly. His technique was sloppy, and he relied too much on brute strength, but he had that strength in spades. He knew the heft of his weapon very well, and he wasn't afraid to use the slotted materia to his advantage.

The Soldier didn't have time for this. Even now, his target was attempting to gather her weapons. He dodged under the large blade and swept a leg beneath the swordsman, knocking him off his feet. Then he fired a few more bullets at the swordsman and began running after the target. He managed to grab her roughly from behind, sliding an arm around her chest and jerking her backwards so her head was against his chest. He turned so he was facing the swordsman and pressed the nozzle of the gun against her head.

The swordsman stopped, predictably. The Soldier led the target backwards, toward where he had stashed his motorbike in the trees.

“Aerith!” the swordsman called. “Damn it! Who are you?! Are you with Shinra?!”

The Soldier, of course, did not respond.

[churchflower]

Like the sky, right?

she couldn’t help but laugh, a shy breath of what it could be. he didn’t seem any different, but maybe being a fugitive didn’t change a person. it was who he was that was being chased. on the up, he didn’t seem mad and she let him pass her looking in the bag curiously, definitely a heavier morning meal but she could force some of it on Kunsel as she heard him refuse an apology. she took the burrito out of the bag, inspecting it one time over before the bag joined the pew in discarded trash. she kept walking past Zack and Cloud to Kunsel’s side, turning over the paper wrapped parcel to find a way to keep the food contained while she took a small bite of it. she made a bit of a face, not of disgust, but one of just realizing how little she wanted to eat anything. that wasn’t abnormal, she wasn’t exactly a big eater, but her diet was mostly green from the garden and whatever Elmyra could wrestle up. she offered it up silently to Kunsel, a bit of a displeased frown on her face that conveyed she didn’t really want it thus passed it to him, which was also a habit of hers. though she doesn’t want to seem ungrateful… it was just a lot to stomach.

it was a testament to Zack’s strength and endurance that he carried the dead weight of Cloud all the way here in the state that he was in.  but what choice did he have? it was leaving behind the worst feeling. she lingered close to Kunsel, hovering inside his personal space as she watched Zack try to feed him. she winced, “Okay.” she reached out with both of her hands to take Kunsel's arm, giving it a little tug. “Maybe we go to my house sooner and get him something… better to eat than burritos. like some soup…” she looked back at him. “You can carry Cloud right?”

Kunsel waves off Zack's apology, knowing there was no way either of them expected to see the other here.

"Don't worry about it - I wasn't sure what I'd find here after Aerith texted me SOS, but it wasn't you. If I'd known I would've probably grabbed something along the way."

Or freaked out and rushed down anyway. He likes to think he's fully reliant on the rational nowadays, but he still has his moments… he just had few reasons to indulge in such emotional states.

"Besides, you two look like you need it more than me."

SOLDIERs were able to run on empty for a considerable while without losing performance… but it was a double edged sword, as it had you tap directly into the mako in your system for energy - and with those with a lower mako tolerance that brought with it sickness. Here Kunsel frowns, and looks at Cloud, trying to do the math in his head - it's been almost a year now since he heard of the escape from Nibelheim. If they had been on the run for a while now, unable to properly rest and eat, well that would certainly be a good reason as to why Cloud still seemed sick even if seemed to get better on some level.

At Zack's approach Cloud seems to stir, perhaps being the only voice that he could recognize at the moment - and as Zack had said that Cloud does sometimes, he sits up straighter, head held up properly… with a slight grimace on his expression as if it took effort. Poor guy, Kunsel can't help but pat his back in pity, keeping his arm there to give the blond something to lean against. It almost looks like Cloud's going to say something… but his mouth just falls open instead, lips chapped from mild dehydration.

"… You've been carrying him with you this whole time?" It was a given, the question more rhetorical than anything, thoughts said out loud, but it does linger… and fill him with a heavy feeling in his chest. "Couldn't have been easy keeping watch for both of you on your own."

He wished he could've been there.

[churchflower]

kiss & tell — a tentative , exploratory kiss between friends @churchflower

It doesn't have to mean anything. He tells himself that, at least.

She'd asked him to, a coy demand risen out of his talks about past relationships. Kunsel was different from her sheltered living, having a handful or two of dates in the past… even if few worked out into something more substantial, and even fewer still, lasted.

He just liked the thrill of flirting, getting to know people - and kissing them, eventually.

So you must be pretty good at it, hm?

That question seemed to freeze him, as if his mind couldn't parse what she'd just asked, his complexion darkening just so with the flush of color that rose to his face, feeling unrelentingly flustered by having her of all people poke at him about it - and he tries to hide it by leaning back on his palms, making a little distance between them and shaking his head with a smile.

Guess so. Haven't had complaints so far.

And they linger in the silence of that for a little while, both stewing in a curiosity of their own - and soon he makes the mistake of glancing at her when she seems to decide on something, scooting closer to him and poking him on the chest, leaning into his space as she'd gotten used to doing by now.

Kiss me? Please? Just a little.

He hates the way his eyes glance at her lips, a self-betrayal to his resolve, and his expression scrunches up into something hard to parse, as if conflicted by the proposition… but she lingers in his space, leans on him, looks at him with those eyes, her own expression somewhat guarded, but earnest.

What a pair they made.

...If you want me to.

He feels like he should be ashamed how little time it takes to convince himself that this didn't mean anything, just two friends messing around — he's done it in the past, so why did this have to be different?

But the way his hand holds her cheek is tender, genuine in it's care and affection. He held their connection close to his heart, one of the few places where he didn't have to pretend to survive… and he's afraid he'll let this bleed through the way he leans in the rest of the distance, pressing their lips together, unable to stop a smile from presenting itself when he feels her lips fall apart in reaction, and he allows her this indulgence, a scant few seconds of sharing this kiss.

But. He pulls back.

Kunsel licks his lips by habit as he gives her a laugh, trying to shake away the feeling in his chest.

Just a little, like she said.

[churchflower]

@fourthclone continued from x

she sometimes thinks she understands them, but they’re just as confusing as regular people just on a grander scale. She had known one SOLDIER well and he was nothing like all the others. faint childhood memories of glowing eyes and a desire to fight, demonized. rumors about these first class beasts that she had heard about. they were everything ShinRa was, menacing and lethals. but Zack was nothing like ShinRa and it always confused her that he contradicted everything she knew about the creatures they called SOLDIER.             “So...?"

" Why not?” she holds out her hand, the bangles jingle, everyone else in the party would protest but she knows what fight they’re fighting. her mother had run away and it had cost her life but she had secured a weak freedom for her. she had lived compliant her whole life, it was time for a change. so why couldn’t he?  she keeps losing, maybe it’s time to change the team. what would Roche do if they gave him a chance, was he afraid to die? they should give him a chance…                   “Join us?”

[churchflower]

@meteorshcts continued from x

she really had been watching his leg all day. she couldn’t figure out what it was, she really never paid much attention to the way he walked, but something was off about their cadence today. she was ending up so much farther ahead of him, and normally she didn’t really mind. just noticed how often she was leaning over her shoulder to talk. she scuffled backwards, standing beside him now, if not a half step. she’d match his pace instead. she'd convince him to let her practice on him later. “And how did you get out of that one?”

[churchflower]

🐝  *  ―  𝑺𝑶𝑵𝑮𝑺 𝑭𝑹𝑶𝑴 𝑻𝑯𝑬 80𝑺 𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑺.

❛  i want to know what love is, i want you to show me.  ❜ ❛  don't stop believin', holding on to that feeling.  ❜ ❛  if you fall, i will catch you.  ❜ ❛  and we can build this dream together, standing strong forever, nothing's gonna stop us now.  ❜ ❛  i'll stop the world and melt with you.  ❜ ❛  some will win, some will lose.  ❜ ❛  hold me now, it's hard for me to say i'm sorry. i just want you to stay.  ❜ ❛  i'm sorry, but i'm just thinking of the right words to say.  ❜ ❛  every time you go away, you take a piece of me with you.  ❜ ❛  cause i'm your lady and you are my man.  ❜ ❛  hello, is it me you're looking for?  ❜ ❛  how can i just let you walk away, just let you leave without a trace?  ❜ ❛  don't go for second best.  ❜ ❛  don't forget me when i'm gone.  ❜ ❛  you're the best around, nothing's ever gonna keep you down.  ❜ ❛  oh, can't you see, you belong to me?  ❜ ❛  you're the meaning in my life, you're the inspiration.  ❜ ❛  life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone.  ❜ ❛  is there something i should know?  ❜ ❛  once upon a time, i was falling in love. now i'm only falling apart.  ❜ ❛  i've got the brains, you've got the looks.  ❜ ❛  welcome to your life, there's no turning back.  ❜ ❛  i'll be there for you, these five words i swear to you.  ❜ ❛  i want to break free from your lies.  ❜ ❛  i'll be gone in a day or two.  ❜ ❛  i should've walked away.  ❜ ❛  no matter what your friends might say, we'll find a way.  ❜ ❛  it's such a shame our friendship had to end.  ❜ ❛  this is the time to remember, 'cause it will not last forever.  ❜ ❛  close your eyes, give me your hand, darling.  ❜ ❛  it's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark.  ❜ ❛  it doesn't matter who's wrong or right.  ❜ ❛  who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?  ❜ ❛  you live for the fight when that's all that you've got.  ❜ ❛  don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past, you must fight just to keep them alive.  ❜ ❛  do i stand in your way or am i the best thing you've had?  ❜ ❛  i wanna dance with somebody, i wanna feel the heat with somebody.  ❜ ❛  do you wanna feel how it feels?  ❜ ❛  i don't know where you're going and i don't know why, but listen to your heart.  ❜ ❛  love's the only thing that keeps me here, you're the reason that i'm hanging on.  ❜

[churchflower]

A lot had changed, and it didn’t take long for them to explain that. she hadn’t seen Tseng on the ground in ages, after she gave him the last letter it had been the last time she had really seen him. lots of things changed after that moment. despite Kunsel’s employment, she didn’t talk about ShinRa all that much, often changing the subject if she felt it drifted a little too far into a territory that felt revealing to her. deflecting was typical of her. Kunsel didn’t need her to tell him everything, he probably liked it better that way, but if he really wanted to know he’d wait or figure it out himself. she invited his nosiness. maybe so she could be known without saying it outloud. she got to her feet, the dust in the church was settling and she tilted her head slightly to the shadows to listen. the silence of the place growing familiar. there were no monsters in the shadows right now. if there had been and they had a problem? they would have stepped in when the fighting started… or maybe they were hoping the two SOLDIERs would tear themselves apart. she only snapped back into the conversation when she heard his name. Tseng was in charge and that explained a lot. not that she ever asked him. now wasn’t the time to be hurt about a kinship that was confusing at best. it reminded her that the Turks were still… ShinRa employees. “Hey now, I implicate myself plenty, he’s not hurting.” bangles jangled as she waved off Kunsel’s look and Zack’s wince. it wasn’t true, she knew how much trouble Zack being here could bring. It gave her chills just thinking about Hojo finally finding a reason to catch her in a dog net. “Can he hear us?” she watched from behind Kunsel, shifting slightly to see  if Cloud’s gaze followed her, it didn’t. Zack moved and her eyes followed to the food he had dropped. she followed him down the way, walking alone through the pews. “I’m sorry.” her arms crossed behind her back, “I know you said… not to call anyone. I called Kunsel because he’s the only person I trust.” he was the only one that ever believed her when she thought he was still alive… he was the only one that still believed until this moment. she knew he didn’t die but being abandoned was almost worse. being wrong about that stung, this was so much worse, whatever he went through. “I’m sure mom will freak out but… maybe she won’t even recognize you. You’re so different.” she tilted her head to the side. “The eyes are a dead give away though.” she had so many questions, but where was the time. “The garden’s changed, you might need a tour now, so let's not waste time, kay?” she didn’t know how to act but by being herself.

Well, knowing Tseng was in charge was a load off of Zack's shoulders. He wasn't sure he could trust Tseng; he knew that Tseng was very dedicated to his job, and sometimes that job meant making sure the escaped samples didn't spill the beans on what had happened in Nibelheim. But Cissnei had helped him, rather than just simply not turning him in – although she had done that too. That had to mean something, right?

Kunsel's words about implicating Aerith due to Zack's actions hit a little harder than they were probably meant to. Zack winced.

“I didn't know where else to go,” he admitted. “Gongaga's already crawling with troops, obviously, and Cloud needs help. I thought maybe you could help him, Aerith.” He gave her an apologetic smile. “Options limited.”

It would be nice to go somewhere with running water, though. Zack had been bathing in ponds and rivers when he could, which wasn't ideal. It had been a long time since he'd had a proper shower, and it probably showed. Or smelled.

Kunsel went on, fussing with Cloud a little bit, testing his reflexes, sitting him up to see how well he'd stay up, and even lifting him to his feet. Cloud's eyes were open now, brightly glowing and unseeing of what was going on, but open nonetheless. It had been a while before he'd opened his eyes, and Zack was counting that as a good sign. In fact, Cloud was a lot more responsive than he had been when they had first escaped.

“Not the whole time, no,” Zack replied. “This is a more, uh, recent development. I couldn't tell you the time frame.” Things had gotten real whack for his sense of timing while in that place. “It's like he shut down to protect himself, if that makes sense.”

He didn't want to get into what had happened to them in the lab, so he continued quickly. “He's definitely better than he was. Sits up by himself sometimes. Responds to stimuli, although not...well. He talks sometimes, but I can't understand what he's saying. He eats if I feed him. I don't think he can feed himself. We've, uh, been running on empty for a little while, so he's probably hungry now. Speaking of which, I got breakfast burritos, and I'm starving.”

He pushed himself to his feet and went to retrieve the discarded bag. Hopefully, they were still warm. He had spent all his gil on this.