#florist aerith

[setoangel01-fanfiction]

When the Sky Met the Earth

Fandom: Final Fantasy VII

Pairing: Zack Fair x Aerith Gainsborough (Zerith)

Rated: T

Story Summary: Zerith Flower Shop AU. Aerith quietly sells flowers in her tiny shop located in Midgar when the new tall, dark and devastatingly handsome delivery driver catches her eye - and steals her heart in the process.

.....

Setting: Takes place in Midgar but Shinra is merely an energy company so there was never SOLDIER nor Hojo to ruin everything. Yet not all is well because with the pollution still plentiful in Midgar, any plant life within the city struggles to thrive.

Characters: Aerith, hiding her Cetra heritage from the world yet wanting to use her powers for good in some way, opens the only flower shop in Midgar. It became a way to survive and also fill the dreary Midgar and its people's lives with a little bit of color and a touch of happiness. Yet because of what she is, she's still rather shy and hesitant to branch out, and other than her customers, doesn't know much of the world outside of the city.

Zack is a delivery driver from Gongaga. With no SOLDIER or other options available to him, Zack is naturally restless. Never being able to stay still in the stifling quiet of his tiny hometown, Zack was determined to travel by any means necessary. Which he fulfilled by accidentally making a business out of delivering people's special orders of Gongaga's Famous Imports of Mushrooms and various plants all across the world.

...This is the story of how they met.

...........

Damn, he was hot… No! Gorgeous!

That's all Aerith could really focus on regarding the delivery guy stepping into her shop.

Tall, dark and handsome would be all the other adjectives she could also associate with him. The captivating stranger delivering her soil and new batch of potted plants she ordered special from Gongaga stood easily over six feet tall, statuesque and incredibly athletic. Framed with thick broad shoulders and a nice rich tan that showcased a life spent out in the sunshine. Arms lined with impressive sinewy muscles, that would probably feel amazing to be wrapped in, all thick broad angles accentuated by a sleeveless wool turtleneck and loose cargo pants that did wonders for his already incredible figure.

Yet nothing could compare to his gorgeous face.

Sexy dimples framing a bright white smile and the prettiest pair of exquisite blue eyes she had ever seen. All this untamed beauty could only be finished off with the wildest yet adorable thick black hair spiked back to better show off his features with a single stubborn strand of ebony resting against his forehead. Even the cross shaped scar on his jaw merely added to his appeal…

Aerith was already in love and she didn't even know his name.

Yet what better way than to introduce herself first to get it?

...............

Damn, she was pretty… No! Beautiful!

That's all Zack could really focus on towards the florist when walking into her quaint shop.

Standing at least a head shorter than himself and paired with a gorgeous hourglass figure. Petite and lithe in the tapered waist cinched by her white apron but generous in the flared feminine curves of her shapely hips and modest breasts. All curves and softness he wanted to press against himself were hugged perfectly by the flowy pink dress that looked amazing contrasted against flawless milky skin. Hair made of bountiful russet curls flecked with hints of cinnamon in every other strand and held back in a pink bandana and lively ponytail that trailed down past her waist.

She couldn't be more his type if she tried.

Yet somehow she was when he became immediately enthralled in her enchanting face for the first time. Beautiful, dainty and heart shaped framed by two twisted ringlet bangs, accentuated by the cutest little button nose sprinkled with light freckles, softest looking cupid's bow pink lips and the most ethereal pair of green eyes he'd ever seen in his damn life. She was so heavenly, he could have sworn he'd died and was greeted into the gates of paradise by the most beautiful angel ever created by Gaia's hands…

Zack was already in love and he didn't even know her name.

Yet what better way than to introduce himself first to get it?

...................

"Hello, I'm Aerith."

"Heya! I'm Zack."

"…"

"…"

They'd spoken out at the exact same time.

Zack was the first to break the silence with a chuckle and embarrassed smile which Aerith followed shortly after with a breathy giggle behind a dainty hand.

"Heh. Let's try that again, shall we?…" he theatrically cleared his throat before offering her his hand, "Hi there! The name's Zack," the dark-haired man introduced himself. The easy confidence and charisma he exuded his entire life seemed to falter under the attention of the suffocating beauty in front of him. Never had he felt more shy or tongue tied than gazing into meadow green eyes that reminded him so much of the lush green pastures of his hometown nestled right in the irises of this city girl.

Aerith hoped the heat of the day concealed how her cheeks had burned, flushed scarlet under his attentive expression and those astounding sapphire eyes. While Aerith had met countless people from all walks of life in her time running the only flower shop in Midgar, she could easily determine that she had never met anyone like him before. So many people who lived in this city were worn and weary or so enslaved within their own lives and personal bubble, that they barely acknowledged her existence. Yet this man's sunny demeanor and hypnotic gaze that held the beauty of a cloudless sky in his iris never faltered his attention away from her.

"Hello Zack. My name is Aerith." Aerith placed her much smaller hand in his outstretched palm and was instantly struck by the gentleness of his grip, hands so large and warm even through the soft leather of his gloves.

Aerith… A beautiful name for an equally beautiful woman.

Melodic voice caressing his ears like honey and silk and the way she said his name like a breathy exhale? Zack was smitten. The sensation of her pressing her hand into his own, he registered just how petite in every aspect she was yet he felt the deceptive strength in her fingers, the bits of dirt clinging to her fingertips and under her practical short nails. She was fucking perfect. Zack hoped she couldn't hear the way his heart pounded frantically against his sternum.

"Nice to meet you, Aerith," he spoke her name like a benediction and never had she heard her name spoken like something to be treasured. She hoped he'd blame the heat of her shop to be responsible for the ample redness filling her cheeks. Wanting to make a good impression, she gripped his hand firmly, shaking it slightly and her heart skipped a beat at the deepening dimple in his cheek as his smile broadened further.

Realizing he still had a hold of her hand after their elongated greeting, Zack finally came back to his body. Desperately hoping he didn't freak her out or think he was some lecherous creep! The last thing he wanted to do was to offend her.

Feeling cowed at his own behavior and like he finally broke out of some kind of spell, Zack put his hands back on his hips (the place her hand had touched his own still tingled), put his customer service voice back on and asked, "I assume I have the right place. The order form said Gainsborough and I had you down for 10 bags of dark planting soil and some Gongaga bred flowers, correct?"

Aerith curled her hands together over her chest as if in prayer when Zack suddenly pulled back from their handshake (the place his hand was wrapped around her own was pleasantly warm). Finally acknowledging his statement and realizing that he was there for business, she flushed. Hoping he didn't notice how unprofessional and strange her behavior had been thus far, she quickly affirmed, "Yep, Aerith Gainsborough! That's me."

Zack nodded, "Perfect! I'll unload the soil bags last, but right now, I have a few fragile potted plants in the truck bed that should be attended to first. I'll grab those right away, but once I get back in, do ya mind showing me where I should put them?"

Looking away from his bewitching eyes and trying to act more natural (normal was best, right?), Aerith nodded. "Of course."

"Great! Be right back!" he left as quickly as he came and it was like he took all the oxygen in the room with him.

.................

The bell above the door still ringing, Aerith stared at the place he vacated and held back the tingle that echoed along her spine from the comforting warmth he left behind.

Aerith's strange connection to plants and life itself as the last Cetra, a heritage she valiantly hid her entire life, suddenly had rang to life around him unlike anything she'd ever experienced beforehand. It was akin to a burst of pure radiant sunlight through the dark clouds overhead. Like the Planet itself was ringing its approval; as if the echoes of the lifestream itself was pulling his very essence to her and vice versa. Akin to a puzzle piece that slipped in to complete some incomplete part of her soul, when she hadn't even been aware anything had been missing, until he clicked perfectly into place.

Never in her life had she felt such an instant connection to anyone.

Rather isolated her entire life, friendly and approachable certainly, but never letting anyone in too close to see the real her she valiantly sequestered away. The girl that always knew when someone she'd known, even in passing, had died the moment it transpired, the hushed whispers she spoke to the Planet or digging her strangely glowing fingers into dead soil only to watch as new plant-life emerged from their lush new depths.

She was different…Always had been.

A freak, an anomaly - the last of her kind the world forgot ever existed.

Yet even if her mind was warring against her desires to bring this stranger in any closer, her heart wanted nothing more than to find out more about him…and hoping he saw something about her that was worth knowing too.

.......................

As soon as Zack rushed back to his pick-up truck, he took a much needed moment to lean against the vehicle as if all the air had left his lungs in one fell swoop.

The heat of the metal from recent use of the engine not even phasing him; solely focused on calming the frantic pounding of his heart. Never in his damn life had he felt such an instant attraction to anyone. Doing this job and being born a naturally social butterfly, he'd met countless people on his travels, yet absolutely no one on the entire Planet had ever instantly drawn him into their orbit like this girl he barely spoken a dozen words to had. It was akin to a moth to a flame; inevitable. The severe need to be close to her even if it made no logical sense.

Meeting her was like he was seeing colors for the first time or experiencing his first sunrise after a seemingly endless winter.

Zack had always shone too brightly, been a little too friendly and overzealous most of the time due to his excitable nature and never being able to stay still. Yet as many friends he'd acquired over the years traveling Gaia, he felt rather lonely. Traveling to and from the ends of the Planet on business, never finding a true sense of home other than the brief stints he was in Gongaga. While he'd had a few romantic relationships prior, they never lasted long. Every woman he'd either dated or even had a brief fling with had never felt right. The women, while physically beautiful, were shallow and superficial, yet try as he might, he could never connect with any of them on more than a baser level that only went skin deep.

Even in a world filled with people - many he considered friends - he felt so utterly alone sometimes.

Yet the moment he waltzed into the quaint little flower shop ready for merely another boring day at work delivering Gongagan goods - it instead flipped his entire world upside down. And now, all he could see when he blinked was the comforting warmth of her ethereal green eyes, her sweet smile and this inexplicable pull he felt towards her…she felt like coming home in the best way possible.

Feeling chagrined, Zack only hoped he hadn't come on too strong for her tastes. Perhaps he could merely start by getting to know her better…and hoped she felt the same persistent need to connect to him too.

"C'mon, Zack…You can do it," he hyped himself up under his breath. The Gongaga native shifted into a determined stance and gathered the plant he needed from the front seat.

....................

Aerith was keeping her mind occupied with organizing a few stray bits and bobs behind the counter when Zack walked back in the shop. His smile was gentle and bright like a few scattered rays of sunlight that warmed her skin. His presence filling her chest like a fresh breeze on a stifling hot day, the hum of the Planet hovering around him in acceptance and excitement that had her heart skip a beat when his smile grew as his gaze settled into her own.

"Here we are," he announced. His azure gaze flicking down to the potted plant encased in a thick plastic tub and held in steady, gentle hands.

It was only that glance that tore her eyes away from his attractive face. Blushing, Aerith ignored the pounding of her heart to meet him in the center of the store, stopping next to the buckets of freshly cut roses she'd cultivated that morning.

"Ooh, which ones are these?" Aerith asked.

Zack flushed at the warmth she exuded when she closed the distance between them. The way the sunlight was filtering through the windows and catching on the amber and reds scattered in her brunette hair, giving her a halo effect like the angel she appeared to be.

Realizing she asked him a question, he quickly answered, "These are the Gongagan Lilies. It's best to transfer them while they're only sprouts so they can survive the long trips I make. When they're stronger, they can easily be transferred into deeper soil."

Aerith peered down into the tub, her fingers gently resting on its edge and purposefully brushing against his hands still holding it. The tiny green sprouts appeared healthy and full of life, she sensed their presence and knew they had been well taken care of - maybe even a bit spoiled in their previous environment. Feeling their pleased murmurs, Aerith smiled.

Zack flushed at her innocuous touch and the up-curve of her pretty pink lips as she looked down at the plants. Feeling a tad hot under the collar and his perpetual need to fill the sudden silence, he continued, "I, uh, gave them a little water before I left port this morning but it was a long drive here so they probably can go with a bit more soon. And as long as you water them regularly and leave them where they'll get plenty of sunshine, they should grow just fine!"

Lifting her eyes from the plants, she meet Zack's sweet gaze and smile that put the sun to shame. "Thank you so much. I've only seen these particular lilies in books before! I always thought they were absolutely beautiful and wanted the opportunity to grow some myself. I really hope they'll be happy and thrive here."

Feeling brave, Zack gently nudged her hand with his own still clenched around the pot. "Under your green thumb, I'm sure they will! I've delivered a bunch of stuff to Midgar but never flowers before. I've never even known that plants can actually grow here until I seen your shop! You must be one hell of an amazing gardener!"

Aerith flushed under his overwhelming praise, hands finally leaving the gravitational pull of his presence to brush down the small bits of soil on her apron in order to give her hands something to do to abate this endless nervous energy filling her chest.

"Thanks," she muttered sweetly.

Zack swallowed the lump in his throat at her bashful smile. He prayed this instant attraction wasn't one sided and her body was giving him the right cues to tell him she probably was interested but he'd never want to push anything.

Play it cool, Zack, just play it cool…

"You're welcome. So, uh…where did ya want me to put this down?"

The florist jumped at the question, eyes leaving the safety of the toes of her practical brown boots to peer towards a sunny alcove at the back of the shop. "Right over here would be perfect. Follow me!"

Zack did so. Keeping a professional distance, but with her back turned, he did allow his eyes to roam over the swaying of her gorgeous wavy hair and even the gait she walked as if treading on air. She was magnificent. The scent of flowers and plant life was apparent in the shop, but amidst it all, he caught the scent of her hair as she stopped in front of him and fuck, she smelt so damn good. Floral, fresh and full of life was the only description he could give it.

"Here we are!" Aerith announced, bringing Zack back down to Gaia amidst his place lost atop the clouds. Dainty hand was gesturing towards a shelf filled with tubs filled with colorful flowers of various shapes and sizes. Right in the center was just enough room for the new addition.

Aerith watched as he gingerly set the planter down, feeling flush as his body brushed beside her to do so. It was only now that she truly registered how incredibly tall he was. The addicting warmth of his skin combined with the scent of woodsy sandalwood cologne, the freshness of rich dark soil he carried with the slight tinge of clean sweat and motor oil only made him that much more real and alluring.

Biting her lip, Aerith reached for the watering can nearby and while she gently gave the plants the perfect amount of water they required, Zack's eyes never left her.

Hypnotized and lost in the way the sun glistened along her milky skin, the droplets of water that scattered bits of light over her. Yet it was the smile she guided towards the tiny sprouts that took Zack's breath away. A smile so tender and loving curving the edges of her mouth, nurturing and full of care for the smallest of life. And in a world filled with shallow people who could care less, she was like a beacon of pure light in a cold dreary world…

Yet when her curious eyes met his own and she caught him staring at her like a love sick puppy, he panicked.

"I'll uh, let you finish up here. I'll go get the rest of the stuff. Be right back!" he said suddenly, and when he left again, he took all the air away from her lungs this time.

...................

Bags of soil lined neatly in the storage room and the other plants she ordered all scattered in various areas of the shop. Aerith couldn't wait to see all of them in full bloom! All the Gongagan plants she'd researched were gorgeous and to have some in her shop!? it was like a dream come true…but she felt melancholy because she felt like the time with Zack was coming to an abrupt end.

And since she caught him staring at her watering the plants, he'd been almost standoffish.

She wondered if she did something wrong…

"I think that's everything." Zack announced, brushing his hands of any loose dirt after placing the final pouches of bulbs she ordered atop the counter.

Zack pursed his lips, glancing forlornly at her back where she stood in the alcove still peering at the Gongagan Lily sprouts. Every rational thought inside of his head kept telling him he was being strange, that this sudden attraction came from the mere lack of substantial contact with the opposite sex for the past few months…yet his heart told him otherwise. This inexplicable pull he'd felt upon meeting her was getting more insistent and as his time with her was nearing its end, it was now a frantic thump of protest against his sternum.

The florist glanced at him over her shoulder. A smile that was brighter than a summer day in Gongaga etched onto her mouth as she looked at him in a way Zack knew he didn't deserve.

"I can't thank you enough, Zack!" she exclaimed, her voice like a balm, a sweet melody to his aching heart. "When the vendor told me someone actually delivered fresh Gongaga Mushrooms, I didn't believe it… I'm glad I was wrong."

Zack swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat at the naked tenderness in her eyes. She was so beautiful it made his chest positively throb. While Zack wasn't a believer in fate, why did this feel like it? Like he known her his entire life?

"Yeah, me too," the unfiltered words came out of nowhere and he almost slapped a hand over his mouth when her beautiful laugh suddenly filled the air around him in infectious joy.

Zack couldn't help but join her.

Aerith bit down on another giggle about to leave her lips. The last Cetra peered around at her shop and knew she had no right to keep him here any longer than she already had. Hating that feeling as if this moment and this connection she had was coming to an end because of her own stubborn shyness, Aerith forced herself to approach him. She peered up at his questioning expression, smile sweet as she reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a generous wad of gil.

"Thank you so much, Zack! I really appreciate everything," She offered him the bills and while he was normally happy to accept tips, it didn't feel right taking absolutely anything from her…

Instead, he felt the want and need to build her a house with a field full of every flower on Gaia to surround it, only to see how it would make her smile… His heart throbbed painfully in his chest.

Zack's eyes left the green of the offered gil and lifted to meet the much more brilliant verdant shade of her irises.

"No, I can't accept that." he honestly stated with a shake of his head, gently pressing the money back towards her chest.

A conflicted look flashed across her expression as she slipped the gil back into her apron pocket. She huffed cutely with a pursed pout on her already tempting mouth, "You've done so much work and drove so far to deliver these! I need to offer you something!"

Yet all Zack could focus on was the fact that Aerith's smile was like the sun. Meadow green eyes sparkling with life and cheeks flushed a beautiful cherry hue as she gazed back up at him from her modest height. How the actual hell could he walk out of here without even trying? The worst she could say is no, right?

Using every bit of charisma Aerith had seemingly sucked out of him, Zack put his hands on his hips, a wide smile on his face as he looked at her and asked, "...How about one date?" Zack asked, the words seemingly coming from nowhere and yet felt so familiar on his tongue.

As if he'd asked her this same question before…

Aerith's eyes widened but never left his as those four simple words left his mouth. There was a flash of something substantial behind her eyes, as if in recognition or remembrance she clung to with both hands.

Yet before he could focus on that, it was gone, and instead, her smile widened.

For some reason, hearing him simply asking her out, she felt like crying and laughing at the same time. Although she'd never even experienced her first one, she already desired to kiss him until both their lips were swollen. It was so strange, those words, as if he'd asked her this question before, as if this very moment had already happened, that in some other life, she'd already experienced his lips on hers - as if them meeting today was simply meant to be.

The Planet hummed happily in her chest, combined with the warmth in her cheeks and the smile pulling at her lips.

Like something so wonderful had just occurred - like her life was about to change for the better.

And it was all because she met Zack.

So, Aerith smiled and replied, "Yes. I'd love to."

[dangoulains-devotion]

🐺🌸

[c-is-for-circinate]

I need to tell tumblr more about my random side quests into various fandoms and also the story bunnies that attack me there but will never manage to become full fics.

Like: Garret Hawke, the Mad Apostate King Somewhat Irritated Apostate Viscount of Kirkwall, inevitable accidental end of a time-travel fix-it, while Fenris and Isabella try to convince him to come back to bed and not let the city destroy him this time while Bethany and Carver exchange conspiracy theories about since when can our older brother sail.

Or: a flower girl from Midgar's slums meets a local florist two years early, but falling swiftly in love is interrupted by the reveal that Tifa might've been the last person to seen Zack Fair alive -- and Aerith might be the only one who knows he isn't dead. Now there's nothing for it but to embark on a rescue road-trip with a handful of teenage girls they pick up along the way while Tifa tries to stifle the jealousy of following the girl she's in love with on a quest to save her boyfriend, and Aerith is just trying to keep her hands to herself until she can end things with Zack formally because more just doesn't seem appropriate.

Or, hell, even: Steve and Robin are the fourth-most-sought-after wedding planners in the greater Muncie area, and they've got the on-call drug dealer to prove it (Robin made Eddie get business cards). It'll be put to the test when Chrissy Cunningham walks into their office sandwiched between her mother and her fiance, perfect smile nailed on her face, and only excuses herself to go throw up in the bathroom once.

They're fun stories! they're good stories! It would be fun to share. I should share more. It's tumblr, people will like it if I share.

[aerith-week]

Proud to announce AERITH WEEK 2024! We can't wait to celebrate our girl again with you this year from February 7th-14th! We’re so excited to share this year’s prompts with you.

Day 1 (February 7th) - Happy Birthday Aerith! Alternate Prompt: Ifalna/Elmyra (Maternal Relationship) Day 2 (February 8th) - Florist > The language of flowers Alternate Prompt: Zack/Cloud (The SOLDIER Boy) Day 3 (February 9th) - Cherished > Favorite thing about Aerith Alternate Prompt: Tifa/Yuffie (Girl Squad) Day 4 (February 10th) - Future > Moment/Wishes for FFVII Rebirth Alternate Prompt: Barret/Marlene (The Wallace Family) Day 5 (February 11th) - Fashionista > Favorite outfit/accessories Alternate Prompt: Nanaki/Cait Sith (Wisdom & Fortune) Day 6 (February 12th) - Magic Girl > Fighting technique / Cetra ability Alternate Prompt: Vincent/Cid (New Allies) Day 7 (February 13th) - Special Guest > Favorite Cameo Alternate Prompt: Sephiroth/The Turks (Shinra personnel tracking her down) Day 8 (February 14th) - Happy Valentine’s Day! Alternate Prompt: any relationship/free choice

We will be checking our mentions @aerith-week and hashtags #aerithweek and #aerithweek2024. You can also find us on twitter! You can review our rules and guidelines here. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

[babiepupp]

⋆୨୧˚“Love and Flowers” ˚୨୧⋆

Caregiver Aerith and regressor Cloud! ❤︎︎

˚ʚɞ˚

What a perfect day to pick flowers! The sun was shining its warmth down onto the grass, the rain from earlier on leaving the plants with shining dew, and there was the hint of a rainbow peeking its way out of the formerly gray clouds.

“Come along, little chocobo! We don’t want to keep big sis Tifa waiting!” Aerith trilled as she skipped down the worn cobblestone, gesturing for the ex-SOLDIER to follow her. It had been her turn to babysit, and she wanted the blonde to get some more fresh air- it would be good for him!

She flashed her signature smile at Cloud, watching as he trundled down the path, a slightly sour look on his face.

“..Coming..” he grumbled, after a particular fussy morning (and a nightmare of a diaper change), he wasn’t in the best of moods.. to put it lightly.

He adjusted his worn gloves, holding onto his basket as he breathed in the scent of the flora, scoffing to himself as he knelt down besides a patch of roses.

It had been Aerith’s idea to come pick flowers, she had stated that Seventh Heaven needed a bit more colour, and the flowers would surely make a nice touch.

Aerith stifled a giggle, amused by the image of the battle-worn soldier, picking flowers for his friend. She resisted the urge to pinch his cheeks. Despite the fact that Cloud was always rather grumpy, even when small- her and Tifa loved their baby brother endlessly.

She knelt down beside him, humming a small tune as she reached for some daffodils, an idea forming in her head.

“Ooh! We could theme this bouquet after us! Red roses to represent yours truly, white lily’s to represent Tifa, and yellow daffodils for you! That way, no one’s left out.” She grinned, giving Cloud a playful poke on the cheek, earning a small scowl.

“Whatever’s fine. It’s up to you.” He shrugged.

“Lighten up a little, sweetheart. Tifa’ll be concerned if you come back all moody.” Aerith retorted, putting down her basket and grinning, tickling the soldier to try and earn a grin.

Cloud tried to keep a stony expression, squirming slightly- but it only took a couple of moments for him to burst into laughter, dropping his basket as he squirmed, trying to bat the florist away from him.

“Enough, Aerith!” He shouted between fits of chuckles, not missing the smug grin that formed on Aerith’s face as she leant back.

“There we go! You look so much cuter when smiling, Cloud.” She smiled, before noticing cloud’s knocked over basket, the flowers spilled out onto the cobblestone.

“Uh oh.. let’s get these flowers back into the basket before something happens.” She started, hurrying to put the flowers neatly back into the basket.

“And don’t trample them!” she warned as Cloud stood up, his boots dangerously close to a nearby rose.

Cloud chuckled, raising his hands in surrender as he took a step back out in caution.

“I won’t, I won’t..” he murmured. He nodded in thanks as Aerith handed his basket back to him, holding onto her hand happily.

“Now, let’s go show Tifa!” He chirped, beginning to drag Aerith away with surprising strength.

“—Ack! Cloud, you’re going to pull my arm out of its socket!”

What had started off as a tough day, had soon become something rather enjoyable.

Hopefully the nice weather would last! ❤︎︎

[snowbanshee]

Zack: Hiii!!! My name is Zack. Some people say I have ADHD but I don't really think, oh, is that a squirrel? Wait, no. Looked like a squirrel from this angle. Speaking of squirrels, you're NOT gonna believe what happened to me yesterday. I was on a walk with my girlfriend Aerith, she is a florist in the slums, which is crazy when you think about it, because the slums get so little sunlight. Do you think people will invent something like an artificial sun, but many times smaller, so it shines light but doesn't kill you?

Sephiroth: H...hi.

[deadbydad]

Imagine:

Ballerina and Florist! Aerith x Punk! Cloud but he's the soft shy punk

@kpoplovermjm , @dansantcaparet

[fearlessmonk]

Closed Starter for @sacredflorist

Something magical seemed to always happen when the florist spoke of difficult topics. Maybe it was her tone, the way she carried herself in conversation, Tifa couldn't quite put her finger on it. It was as if the the lifestream would react to her words.

Tifa took a slow breath, giving a nod. Aerith always had a way of looking at things with her spark of positivity. "You're right," the monk replied with a warm smile. "It really doesn't make things any easier to let go, even when they're gone."

[corpulentcarbs]

Dumb idea but: Fem!Cloud not being able to convey how she feels about each of her other female members being as fat as they are.

Bar maiden Tifa, Local florist Aerith, and the dorky “ninja” Yuffie

[hellfiremaniac]

A Broken Bond -- Sefikura Soulmate AU

Going to preface this by saying that this was written as a joke because I had a random thought and shared it with some friends that encouraged it, so not everything in it will be accurate to the games. Also based this off of the FFVII Remake because I hadn’t played Crisis Core at the time that this was written.

Oh, and this is angst. No fluff to be found. Good luck!

-------------------------------------

"We'll meet again, Cloud. I'll keep coming back -- as long as you are who you are."

The words on his wrist stung terribly, waking him from his latest dream with a hiss of pain. His right hand gripped the words that he hated so much, the last words someone's soulmate would say to them before they died.

He used to wonder who his soulmate would be. Part of him hoped he'd never find out -- but that hope was destroyed when he killed his supposed soulmate with his own two hands.

It had to have been some cruel trick the universe was playing on him, deciding that the rest of his life wasn't a nightmare enough.

His hallucinations of the man had been growing stronger lately, as had his nightmares that featured him. He couldn't remember the last time he had a good night's rest, let alone managing to go a day without hearing the voice of the man he hated so much.

Try as he did, he could never escape his reality, the truth of his soulmate's identity; for his destined was Sephiroth, the one-winged angel that had destroyed his hometown.

Nobody else knew. Nobody had managed to figure it out, not even Tifa. The thought gave him a sense of relief, knowing that he didn't have to directly lie to his best friend. He had managed to form a fragile sense of comradery with the members of Avalanche, and with a local florist named Aerith, and he didn't want this secret destroying that.

---------------

Unfortunately for him, all good things in his life came to an end sooner or later. And this time it happened to come when he infiltrated the Shinra building to save Aerith.

He saw his soulmate in his nightmares. He saw him when he was awake, but the figure always faded quickly, and nobody else acknowledged those hallucinations.

So then, why were his friends able to see the man now?

Sephiroth, standing at the end of the metal pathway they were on. Smirking at him, like always.

His breath caught in his throat, his feet moving forward without him consciously making the decision to do so.

"Is it..." he hesitated, a burning sensation in his chest making the words difficult to say. "Is it really you?"

The man before him reacted with a simple smile and a slight, almost unnoticeable nod of his head.

The burning grew worse with the confirmation. He vaguely knew what it was, having heard stories when he was younger about the pain of a broken soulmate bond. Something in him knew the undeniable truth, and it wanted him to suffer for rejecting it.

Sephiroth picked up on this, reaching out a hand to him. "Don't deny me."

Cloud felt a scream bubble up in his throat, gripping his buster sword in both hands and lunging at the man he hated -- the man the universe said he was supposed to love -- with every ounce of disgust he felt for the man.

Sephiroth easily blocked the blow. Cloud was standing close enough that he could see the vibrant turquoise colour that the mako had turned all SOLDIERs eyes too, except this was deeper. Prettier, in a way. He wanted to hit himself for even thinking the word.

A gentle wind, an exhaled breath, hit his face, pushing his hair back slightly. It smelled like peppermint.

"Embrace me," the man before him whispered, the look of adoration on his face only feeding Cloud's anger.

He jumped back, moving in for another blow but failing as Sephiroth destroyed the path beneath his feet, watching with satisfaction as the younger SOLDIER fell into the darkness.

-----------------

When he came to, he couldn't help but feel like his heart had been torn from his chest -- the same feeling he experienced after he had killed Sephiroth.

But his soulmate was back. Against all odds he was somehow alive. And Cloud wanted nothing more than to put an end to him once more.

So then, why did the thought of harming him cause such an ache in his chest? Why did his hands hesitate to strike a blow before? Why did he feel so hollow?

He couldn't figure out an answer, sitting numbly until his limbs finally decided to co-operate. He couldn't be alone for too long -- he had to find the others.

Barret was as easy to locate as always, his battle cries leading Cloud right to him, though it was Red XIII that he had first located.

The rush of battles that followed passed by in a blur. His heart was aching terribly, a feeling that he thought he left behind long ago. He didn't even notice the concerned looks Aerith was giving him, nor had he noticed her gasp when she saw him near Sephiroth earlier.

For Aerith was an Ancient, and Ancients knew when soulmates were near each other. It was how she knew that Tifa was her own soulmate -- not that she had told the other girl yet. She was too worried about how the information would be received.

But for Cloud to be Sephiroth's soulmate? She never would've guessed it if she hadn't felt their connection light up the air around her in the other room. It was unfathomable, but it was also undeniable. She wondered if the others had noticed the loving looks their enemy was giving the mercenary, but it seemed that neither Tifa nor Barret had.

Red, however, was keeping a closer eye on the mercenary now, and Aerith felt that he knew. When she connected with Red, she gave him some of her knowledge. Evidently, that was enough for him to recognise the bond that they had witnessed before.

She felt guilty as she watched her silent friend keep moving, keep protecting them, knowing where their path was leading.

Knowing that she'd have to watch the pair be broken apart once more.

----------------

Cloud didn't like how Aerith kept looking at him. He could feel her eyes on the back of his head, but he tried to ignore it, along with the sense that she knew. She had no way of knowing. Unless being an Ancient somehow let her know.

He couldn't help but look back at her, being met by the sad gaze she had rested on him since they reunited after the confrontation with Sephiroth.

"What?" He knew his voice was blunt. He knew it was always like that. He figured he was too far gone for it to ever be normal again.

"Are you okay?" Her words struck him like a knife to the chest as his breath abandoned him. She knew.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, you do." Normally, this was endearing, the way that she wouldn't let him dodge her questions.

Now, he just found it infuriating.

"It's none of your business." He tried to keep walking, to catch up to the others, but she grabbed his arm.

"Cloud, it's okay to hurt. Broken bonds are painful, especially when they break twice."

He completely froze, unsure how to proceed now that she had acknowledged that she knew. Was the world spinning, or was he? It didn't take long before the headaches came, always accompanying the thoughts of his soulmate.

"I don't..." he didn't have the strength to keep denying it to her, as pathetic as that fact made him feel. Aerith reached out to clasp her other hand in his, helping to ground him when his mind tried to slip away, when he started seeing black feathers hit the ground.

"It's okay to be scared. I don't know what I'd do if I had to hurt Tifa, even if it was to save others."

Cloud's mouth opened as he processed that information. Yes, Aerith now knew his secret, but she had offered up a similar one in return. Tifa and Aerith are soulmates.

He wanted to be happy for them, to be happy that two of his closest friends were destined for each other. But he couldn't help the resentment that crept into his chest.

Why do they get a happy life together? Why was Cloud's soulmate bond doomed to fail from the moment he discovered it?

That thought wasn't entirely true. He had felt something for the man he used to admire long before he discovered their bond, but he had always written it off as some childish infatuation with his hero. He never thought that the older SOLDIER's smiles had a hidden meaning to them... not until his dying breaths, when he smiled that wretched smile that has been burnt into Cloud's mind ever since, and uttered the words that were permanently placed on his left wrist.

He felt a part of him die that day. The small part that had loved the hero he used to admire -- the part that had once hopelessly waited for a soulmate that he could confide in.

Sephiroth was nothing to him, he had told himself repeatedly since that day. The day his heart shriveled up and died alongside the man that destiny said he was meant to be with.

What a cruel twist of fate.

"You can talk to me about it, Cloud. I won't judge you for what destiny decided for you." She smiled at him in a way that would've convinced him in normal circumstances.

But this wasn't normal, and there was no way that he could even begin to unravel the threads of his soulmate bond to another person. Just the thought of it seemed wrong. He'd hidden it for so long that his head throbbed when he thought about how she knew now.

"Aerith? Cloud? You guys coming?" Tifa called back, smiling gently at them as she saw Aerith's enthusiastic nod. Cloud watched her run to catch up to others, trailing along behind her, and saw the pure joy on Tifa's face when Aerith grabbed her hand to walk with her.

He knew she didn't intend it in a malicious way, but the gesture felt like salt on the wound of his recent encounter with Sephiroth. He wished he could just shake it off, forget about it until they were away from Shinra, but he couldn't get the visual of his eyes out of his head.

He took his left wrist in his right hand, glaring down at the metal band that he knew covered the words. Part of him longed to see them. He scoffed, dropping his wrist and raising his head to keep looking ahead as his little group continued on their quest to find a way out of the Shinra building.

-------------------

Everything passed by quickly enough that he had almost forgotten about his recent encounter with the man he wished he would never see again.

That was, until Aerith looked directly at him during her speech on their destiny. "We have to take down Sephiroth. I know that we can do it if we work together." She offered him a small smile while he was internally torn apart.

It didn't hurt this much to kill him the first time. Why did it hurt so much now?

He couldn't focus on it, his vision blurring as his logical want to kill Sephiroth battled the pull of the soulmate bond. But he found himself nodding, putting his hand together with the others, and walking straight into Destiny's Crossroads.

It felt like he had been plunged into a tub of ice-cold water and then sent through an inferno of fire, but he soon found himself standing in a warped version of the normal world. It was like the road before them had been destroyed and sent flying through the sky, unlike anything he had ever seen before.

He was separated from the others, and fought his way back to them, feeling a sense of relief as he saw that they were all unharmed.

Together, they took down the Whisperer Harbinger, destroying the destiny that had been ordained for them. But they barely had a moment to celebrate before the sky turned into a swirling purple vortex, and Cloud's heart dropped to his stomach as he saw the silhoutte of Sephiroth through it all.

It hurt worse when his figure was properly revealed, and when he lunged at him in another attempt to kill him. He had fought many people in his life, more often recently, but no injury he had gotten during those fights compared to the raging fire that boiled his blood more with every clash of his sword against Masamune.

He was the one to place the final blow upon his soulmate's skin, but the pain he felt suddenly disappeared as the grey-haired man smirked at him. Then reality warped, and he fell through the sky and suddenly woke up on a blackened rock surrounded by nothing but space.

He tried to sit up, but his headaches flared once more. He gripped his head with his right hand, closing his eyes and hoping the pain would fade. It didn't, not until he felt a gentle grip on his wrist. His pain seemed to evaporate and he slowly opened his eyes, expecting to see Tifa or Aerith.

He jolted backwards as he instead saw Sephiroth, with another stupid look on his face -- a look as if Cloud was the only thing that mattered in the world. He smiled.

"Careful now. That which lies ahead does not yet exist." Cloud's head was swimming, a mixture of hatred and rage and a terrible feeling of content that he despised so much all mixing together and confusing him further. Sephiroth let go of his wrist, gesturing to the colourful explosions scattered throughout the darkness of space that surrounded them. "Our world will become part of it... one day. But I... will not end." He looked at Cloud, his bright eyes full of so much meaning. "Nor will I have you end."

Cloud looked around, not fully comprehending what he was seeing. "This is...?"

"The edge of creation," Sephiroth responded. He stood from his crouch, reaching his hand out to the still confused man. "Cloud, lend me your strength. Let us defy destiny... together." The words were spoken in almost a whisper, and Cloud almost reached out to him. He stopped his hand midway, anger flaring at the movement that he hadn't allowed.

"Never." He made himself utter, believing the word and yet doubting it at the same time.

Sephiroth just kept smiling, though it felt hollower than before. "Not yet." He looked around. "Seven seconds till the end. Enough time for you, perhaps. But what will you do with it? Let's see."

Sephiroth vanished in the blind of an eye. Cloud dropped onto his knees as his body felt like it was lit ablaze, trying desperately to fight it off. Then everything turned white, and his thoughts fizzled down to nothing.

-----------------

This time, he woke up in a familiar field that had a view of Midgar off in the distance, although he couldn't quite place why it was familiar to him. Barret, Tifa, Aerith, and Red were all waiting for him to wake up.

He stood with them, looking out at the city they had all called home for so long. Not him. He hadn't known a home for a long time.

"So, what now?" Tifa's question broke the silence that had fallen across the group, and Cloud grabbed hold of his left wrist once more.

"Sephiroth..." Aerith looked concerned as he muttered the name, but he quickly raised his head once more. "Long as he's still out there, I..."

Barret cut him off, his face scrunched up in confusion. "I thought you beat him."

"We can! We will." Aerith promised, smiling at Cloud to show her support.

"Count me in!" Tifa announced, grabbing hold of Aerith's hand once more. Barret and Red followed suit with similar declarations, and Cloud almost smiled before the rain began to fall on them. They set off towards a world away from Midgar, from Shinra.

Towards a world where they'd be hunting his soulmate down, ensuring that he stayed dead this time. He could almost hear his voice, echoing through his brain. It made him more determined than ever to put a stop to him.

"We'll meet again, Cloud." Like a promise whispered on the wind.

[protemporescitor]

A small tribute to Clerith on this special occasion. Many happy returns to our local florist!

Synopsis: Aerith and her newly-minted bodyguard have a heart-to-heart during which Cloud does, in fact, get a say in all this.

[exturk]

HIT WITH A CHAIR????? | NEVER ACCEPTING!!!

@sacredflorist asked: Aerith is ready, a chair in her hands. She can't believe she's about to hit her friend, but sometimes, this is the best way to take care of others. "Cissnei. You leave or you don't leave. It's this simple. And you should know which option is the best one for you. Like... come on! What he's doing is just real manipulation!" And she did it: she hits Cissnei with that chair, not too strongly, but hopefully it's enough to help her see the truth. / sorry i had to hfdghdf 😂

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

    DID   AERITH   REALLY   HIT   HER   WITH   A   CHAIR?   ".....Ow.....   w-why....   would   you   do   that???"   and   she   was   yelling   at   her   too.   So   much   for   the   DAINTY   FLORIST.

    "Ugh   .....   thanks   for   the   advice?   But   I've   got   the   situation   handled   ...."   her   head   was   still   spinning,   that   wasn't   the   worst   hit   she   has   ever   taken   but   it   wasn't   pleasant   ....

    "Rufus   isn't   going   to   get   his   way   ....   -"

[nyxfaei]

ACTUALLY HERES THE AU SO FAR-

it’s mostly focusing on the ORG XIII characters and it’s just sort of a very rough idea right now. I’ll definitely be expanding more in the future

-partially Centers on luxord, a reporter with a gambling addiction, who is investigating a small town in probably the pacific northwest that is down for a long string of children going missing dating back for years- and also recently children showing up

-luxord is staying at a lodge run by ansem the old- lexaeus, xaldin, and zexion work different jobs there. Vexen is using the facilities for his various environmental research there.. Which he is very private about.

-Xaldin eventually begrudgingly offers luxord a place at his home because he has an extra room and staying so many days in the lodge is starting to add up and the company he works for wasn’t counting on this taking so long

-Marley runs a florist place- Something that luxord is investigating is missing people’s which involves strelitzia. Marly has been torn up about this and has been looking for answers for years now

-xion similarly appeared under mysterious circumstances as a kid. Nobody knows where she came from and even she cant remember. She was found by xigbar in the middle of the woods and she currently lives with him.

-xigbar is also an anomaly. He just rode into town one day out of the blue and settled into a cabin on the outskirts of it. Noone really knows what he does for a living and noone knows how he lost his eye. He’ll just make up a new story every time if you ask him.

-xigbar will regularly sit outside his house at night with a radio, a cold one, and a gun. He wont tell anyone why. Whenever xion asks he just ruffles her hair and goes “dont worry about it poppet”

- zexion also showed up much in the same way as xion years before. He was adopted by vexen and has grown quite adjusted

- Namine is Ansem the olds kid but no one really knows who her mom is and she’s always been a bit strange. She’s super friendly though but just odd. She seems to be able to draw pictures that predict things. Her and xion get along instantly

-Demyx is a local musician that does a lot of folk music but also isn’t afraid to branch out but he’s also just sort of weird. He showed up in town a few years ago as a traveling musician but just stuck around

-larxene is the town mechanic because I think that would be very hot of her. Marluxias bestie and her shop is right next to his. She was also a friend of strelitzia and is also looking for answers

-OMX is mayor. Eraqus is his husband and runs the welcome center which is also a cafe- Aqua and terra and ven work at it

-Baldr was an ex classmate of theirs back in the day. He’s blamed for the disappearance of many of their classmates since he seemed to get more violent after his sister died. Idk if he’s locked up, dead or if he disappeared

But the disappearance of the missing classmates is seen as a huge mark on the towns past

-Xemnas and Ansem SOD are OMX's kids and they’re also rikuss uncles. riku lives with ansem SOD since his mother passed away. YMX is his older brother who lives alone

-Saix works as the town reporter and is often accompanying luxord on his investigations- somewhat to his annoyance because he prefers working alone.

-xemnas runs the town newspaper

-axel also works for the paper but unlike saix he stays in the building and works as an editor… though he will sometimes come with saix

-saix and axel live together along with roxas. Roxas is axels little brother and also good friends with namine and xion.

-roxas is cousins with ven jdhkjfhkhf

-ven and vanitas are twins

-Ansem SOD works as a teacher at the local school

-Yen Sid is the principal

-the KH kids sort of hang out together in a big friendgroup since theyre very weary about someone going missing

-I wanna say the main FF7 characters (zack, cloud, tifa, aerith, etc) work at a bar and lounge lmao. I’m not gonna do too much placement of the FF characters because I don’t know too much about them but they DO live there

-idk who the sherif and cops are… i love the kingdom hearts characters too much for that. Its probably some disney or FF characters. Maybe one can be sephiroth LMAO

-Cid is an electrician in town

-The town also has some Disney characters but they don’t play too much of a role. Like the evil stepmother and her girls are like the rich family in town. Merlin and the fairy godmother are the sweet old couple in town and Cinderella is their daughter, etc

-dusks and heartless are local legends. A lot of people say they see them around at nightfall. Theres a lot of discussion on if theyre real or not

-eraqus is a huge believer in the paranormal. Hes convinced that theres a prevalent evil/darkness in the woods

-there is something very off about Xigbar and the mountain that they live on

-The town is called twilight town and is located on a mountain known as Mount Hearts

[sacredflorist]

"I .. I think you're a... cute friend!" and then she placed a mushroom inside the Florist's basket.

".....and I appreciate our friendship .... so ... yeah!!! That's ... all I wanted to say. Okay.... BYE..."

And now she is speed walking away.

Unprompted Ask | Always Accepting | @exturk

Aerith offers Cissnei a warm smile. Cissnei is so mysterious, but the flower girl still believes someday she'll manage to read through her properly. Because they have naturally become real good friends. At least, that's how Aerith sees their relationship, and hopefully, Cissnei agrees. She's nice to her now... But then she walks away already, really too quickly, which makes Aerith blinks in confusion.

"Hey Cissnei! Wait!" And she quickly starts walking after her, maybe even running a bit to make sure she actually reaches the other. She grabs her arm to stop her and smiles again. "I appreciate our friendship, too! Don't be shy with me! And... thank for the mushroom!" She chuckles a bit and lets go of the other. "Where are you going ? Maybe we could do something together! Have a little girl talk! Or anything else, really!"

[starshcwer]

( you and i underneath the mistletoe | @onegil )

❛ i love the decorations, teef ! ❜ green optics shift throughout the bar in awe, hands collecting together across her chest, resemblance of a prayer. ❛ but this one's my favourite ! ❜ striding in the direction of the entrance, the local florist stands beneath the evergreen with ivory florets. while elmyra used to place the plastic decoration above her head each year and kiss the cetra's cheek --- aerith had yet to experience a true mistletoe kiss. ❛ kisser's choice ! ❜ her index finger shifts from the apple of her cheek, to the pout of her bottom lip. 🎄

decorating the bar was a must, now that she could afford to do so. she'd spared no expense, knowing that a comforting holiday atmosphere would do many people good–––– herself included. she'd even managed to find a collection of christmas songs for the jukebox, & they added to the festive mood as tifa finished hanging the ornaments on the tree ( made of plastic, unfortunately, but at least she'd be able to reuse it for the next year! ), her final task to ensure her vision came together.

the sound of the door opening drew tifa's gaze away from the festive baubles, & she maneuvered around the tree & set the box of ornaments aside just in time to watch aerith take in the bar's decorations for the first time. it took all of her strength not to wring her hands together as she waited for her approval–––– or her disapproval, though tifa did her best not to imagine that. she knew, fully well, that if there was something aerith didn't like, she would do her best to fix it. as much as it was for the patrons who stepped through her doors, it was for aerith, most of all

a rush of a sigh left her when aerith's opinion was finally shared, followed closely by a series of elated giggles. her own hands clasped together. ❛ you do? oh, i'm so glad! ❜

hesitation didn't even cross her mind, & she left the tree behind to follow the flower girl to examine her favorite decoration, only to pause once the mistletoe was in view. heat built up in her cheeks, & she didn't have to look at herself in the mirror to know that she was flushed.

❛ i didn't put that there! ❜

she moved to stand under it, hands on her hips as she studied the sprig hanging from the entranceway. she was already considering the culprits–––– jessie was her prime suspect–––– & didn't notice she was in prime position for aerith to execute her plan.

tifa's jaw dropped slightly, fighting the impulse to decline. she wanted to kiss aerith, there was certainly no doubt about it, & she certainly didn't seem to mind. it was tradition, & there was no saying when she might get another chance. her hands rose & fell again, a fumbling moment as she considered her approach, & she sent aerith an apologetic smile while the blush on her cheeks spread.

finally, her hand cupped aerith's cheek, & she closed the already minimal distance between them to press a gentle kiss to her lips. she lingered there, & when she did separate it was slow & reluctant. her teeth caught her own bottom lip as she allowed her hand to fall back to her side, but there was no hiding her smile.

❛ was that okay? ❜

[riotseas]

cont. from here | @phantasiiae

It's easy to talk to Aerith. She was as funny as she was sweet, a real charmer if Zack could put his two cents in. The florist kept him on his toes—catching him off guard more often than not and it felt good. It was almost freeing in a way, a nice break from the rough and tumble of SOLDIER life.

Though, this is the first time their quietly brewing tension has escalated into something more, something that crosses the line they've been toeing for weeks.

His mouth parts instinctively when he realizes where Aerith's gaze has dropped. Zack watches, heart leaping into his throat as she begins inching closer and he follows in suit. It'd be hard to fight, even if he wanted to—but he wants this so bad, he wants her bad.

The world had been nothing but the two of them for only a matter of seconds, but the gentle embrace of the trance she'd set for him was so strong he didn't notice his phone was ringing until she pulled away.

Zack stutters, making a noise of distress and confusion before he fishes his phone from his pocket. He hasn't looked away from Aerith yet—doesn't want to—and guilt pangs in his chest when he sees her small frown. Then she goes and adds a ' Please? '.

He was truly and officially whipped for this girl.

The ringing is insistent, vibrating in his palm with an annoying fervor. He knows he should answer it, that's part of the job he signed up for, but there's been little for him to indulge in since joining. If he's grown tired of it, is that really his fault? He doesn't think so.

Throwing all caution to the wind, Zack slides the switch down on the side of his phone and chucks it behind him. He doesn't hear where it lands, and cares even less if it survived. All that matters is him and Aerith and that they were busy—

❝ Can I kiss you ? ❞