expiationlogs | 🎆 Closed

Entry tags:

final fantasy viir: aerith gainsborough

🎆 Closed

Who: Aerith, Saito
Where: Some tavern in Aldrip, nighttime
What: Aerith witnesses firsthand the true nature of Mizuki's (supposed) father figure.
Warnings: Super vague mention of animal death (hunting) and prospect of murder. Also, some AI spoilers. Will add as necessary.

[The hunt with Mizuki was a success in all senses of the word. Although it was not in the dosage Saito would've liked, he still got to experience the sweet ecstasy each moment he drew life out of their preys. The money the duo received for their efforts was more than he'd hoped for, too. And last, but not least, he even got back at that brat for what she did to him, under the guise of an accident.

In the end, the tenderness he still feels in his shoulder and wrist paid off. With a good night's sleep, his body should be able to get rid of most of it. But before that could happen, he had unfinished business to tend to. He waited until his newly acquired hunting tool crashed in her bed, to head out of the room and leave the inn without a single concern in the back of his mind.

His streak of good luck seems to have finally taken a turn for the worse, when, after he'd already paid up and received his altered parchment, the unscrupulous merchant discloses a crucial detail that was never once brought up during negotiations.

More than the slightly elevated inflection of Saito's voice or the muffled sound of a gloved fist hitting wood, what draws the attention of those nearby is the shattering of glass. An unfortunate coincidence that resulted from the latter, as one empty shot glass fell off the table and hit the floor.]

What do you mean, it's temporary? You never said anything about that.

[It's yet due to another stroke of bad luck that the man who just cozened him manages to escape certain death. With those many eyes on him, he can't just put a bullet through the bastard's brain and then flee the scene unnoticed. Instead, he sits back down, but not without pulling a slim object from his coat, and placing it on the table; leaning forward and using his opposite elbow as if to create a defensive posture to hide the object in his hand from any prying eyes.

Tension seems to die down as the conman puts his hands up in an apologetic gesture while fumbling for words. But even the dim lighting in the interior of the tavern can't completely hide from any watchful eyes near the duo, that the object in Saito's hand is, in fact, a gun. Even if he's doing a decent job at being low profile about it.

The origin of the argument itself is also laid out on the table, entirely visible to any curious (or brave) passerby who might pay their table a little visit. At the very top of the innocent piece of paper reads the name: Kaname Date.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Although Cloud has expressed many a time since arrival a concern for Aerith being a little too quick and restless to explore, it's an important thing to get to know the area. The people. What they do. How they work as individuals and as a community. All of these pieces fit together to make the bigger picture and given that she and the others with these so-called crimes are outside variables, trying to figure out where they factor in is equally important.

Honestly, she hasn't found many answers, but people go to bars for information, which she has been none too shy about visiting at various points during the day in hopes of hearing something, anything, that might be of use. Tonight's visit carries with it the same intention. And so far, it's been relatively fruitless. A same endeavour with a same ending result.

They like to tell stories, it seems, and sing songs. That are also more stories, but somewhat coloured by alcohol, making it a little hard to always understand what they're laughing about. There's probably some inside jokes sprinkled in there as well. Or so she assumes. But they sure seem happy.

Who doesn't seem happy is the owner of one empty shot glass that's fallen off the table and onto the floor beneath their feet. Aerith's attention snaps onto the commotion, a momentary quiet falling over the tavern before it flutters into some awkward murmurs.

Maybe she should know better, but Aerith is a meddler and she's good at it. She isn't sure what's going on or what's started all of this, but she can't resist poking her nose in where it likely doesn't belong. Her approach is, however, just slightly apprehensive. Better to err on the side of caution, right?

Carefully making her way to the table in question, her green eyes rest on the parchment. She can't make out much on it just yet, nor is she inclined to be that nosy (as of this moment), but she looks between Saito and the... merchant? Looks like an Aldrip local.]

Is everything okay?

[Can we not go picking fights with the locals? Can we try to behave?]

[At Aerith's intervention, the merchant's posture relaxes visibly, shoulders dropping as he gives his potential savior a pleading look. Saito, on the other hand, regards her with a look of mild annoyance, and a quiet click of his tongue.]

... Yes, everything's fine.

[The hold on the gun in his hand relaxes, but he doesn't put it away, back into the holster where it usually rests, yet. He doesn't even bother with covering the piece of paper laid out, entirely exposed for her to read. Quite the contrary, it's an important part of his (also) temporary guise. Aside from his unchanged physical attributes, none of the data on there was real. Much less the made-up crime: Porn addiction.]

It was just a small disagreement. Nothing to worry about. [The words are followed by a dismissive gesture of his free hand.] And none of your business, if I may add.

[But despite Saito's insistence, the manner in which the merchant's gaze travels restlessly between Aerith's face and the gun under Saito's hand says otherwise.]

[There are plenty of things that may indicate otherwise, she thinks. The tone he uses with her, which seems to be about as annoyed as most people are when Aerith shoves herself somewhere that she doesn't belong. And perhaps someone with more sense of self preservation would take a step back from this situation, really analyse all of the pieces in it, and decide they'd like to live another day.

It's not that Aerith is naive. She knows she isn't and she generally knows when she's willingly getting herself into a somewhat dangerous situation. (Or unintentionally, at that.) She takes several moments to wordlessly assess both, the merchant on one side and the blond-haired young man on the other. Maybe she's taking in features, maybe she's committing the scene to memory. Who knows what she's doing. An Aerith works in mysterious ways.

It's also not hard to figure out with one is the one from Aldrip.

Leaning over and in a similarly annoying manner, she leans onto her forearms right against his parchment, an excuse to take in some of the details on who he is. Kaname Date? Porn addiction. Oh, boy. He sure doesn't look like the type who'd be hanging around Wall Market or the Honey Bee.]

Actually, it kind of is. Because you and I are in this together, right? [She asks with a smile, as if he doesn't have a gun beneath his hand.] I think we should all be playing nicely. Or as nicely as we can. I'm sure whatever this poor merchant's done isn't world-ending.

[The merchant seems to retreat in his chair more with each passing second, letting Aerith speak in his defense. She is right, what he did was not world-ending, but borderline illegal on top of plainly dishonest. Not that either man can speak about it, each for their own personal reasons.

Saito's gaze travels from the parchment now under her forearms to the smile on her face. Pretty bold move for someone who seems to be unarmed. His fingers curl around the gun's handle now, lifting it to tap impatiently against the table's wooden surface.

It's a sign he doesn't want to play nice.]

If this is your way of offering your services, I'm not interested.

[She saw his crime, so she'll probably get what he's insinuating, even if that's not her intention.]

[Whatever he might be implying is something that somewhat goes over her head. If only because she is the very last person she can imagine being one of the girls at the Honey Bee. For a moment or two, at least a few, she looks a little confused, though in the back of her mind, she probably has a better idea of what he's getting at. Fortunately, Aerith is pretty good at deliberately playing dumb and many a time that, in tandem with a silver tongue, has gotten her out of some pretty strange situations.

So instead of an immediate response, witty or not, she shifts just enough to carefully fold up his parchment and she pushes it towards him.]

I'm not sure it's a good idea to share this so openly. People were getting after me for inviting others to my room if they needed it. If they knew some of us were just sharing our information so willy-nilly, they'd have a lot to say about it.

[Not that she suspects Saito is the kind of person who actually cares. On the contrary, he has a big 'make my day' energy about him and she really doesn't want to make his day. Or see anyone else do the same thing.]

But the only business I'm in is selling flowers. And you don't seem like the kind of guy who likes flowers.

[No. That's not a euphemism.]

[Aerith's intuition would be right. People had a lot to say when the Cyclops Killer mercilessly killed their victims. Saito didn't care about it a single bit. It won't be this time that he'll care about what people will say about him, either.

In the midst of listening to this random girl giving him a sermon about keeping his information private, he doesn't notice the merchant taking advantage of his state of distraction to scramble out of his chair, in a frantic attempt to flee, scurrying towards the exit. Instinctively, Saito reacts with taking aim and firing, in hopes to hit the man's lower limbs and halt his escape — he needs the swindler alive, at least until the man does his job right.

However, his reaction is slower than the bastard's quick legs, and the shot hits the closing door instead. Just his luck. Commotion erupts again, with the more frightened looking ready to imitate the merchant's retreat, and the more fearless staring daggers at Saito, seemingly willing to haul him out of the tavern with their own hands.

Saito's displeasure now fully shifts to the young woman.]

I'm curious as to how you're going to talk your way out of this now.

[Most of it actually happens before she even gets a real chance to intervene. Even if she had the opportunity, she's not exactly sure how she would have combated that. A defence field of some kind. She's certainly capable of it, though she hasn't actually put it to the test since she's arrived. She hasn't had a reason to. She was hoping she would have a little more time before such a possibility came up.

Regardless, she's served purpose long enough that the merchant, unscrupulous though he may be, has the ability to get out unscathed. Not, of course, without a bunch of the other patrons getting caught up in the easy panic and concern that Saito's evoker has just put them all into.

When she realises that she has his attention, she's in the midst of thinking to move in an effort to calm the others down. If Cloud finds out something's going on and that she's somehow involved, he'll have plenty to say to her.]

Well, I've talked so far. Doesn't look like it's done any harm to me. I feel like talking might not be your thing, though.

[You don't say, Aerith.]

[Aerith running her mouth has just ruined Saito's chance to coerce the merchant into fixing his parchment as previously arranged. And her further sassing only aggravates his already inflamed mood. It only makes him want to wring her delicate neck to prevent any more words from coming out of her.

... On second thought, that would surely alleviate some of his pent-up stress. Though given he's the origin of the current ruckus, there is little he can do under the roof of this tavern right now, with pairs of watchful eyes still on him. Any brusque action against a fellow Chosen, and he's sure to be thrown out, if not outright lynched.

So back into his coat go both the Evolver and his parchment.]

Unlike you, I tend to be more careful with my words.

[The next moment, his hand is circling her wrist in a loose grip, making this seem more like a casual approach between acquaintances rather than an attempt at intimidation. Cue his voice also dropping a few decibels.]

And I think you could learn a lesson or two on that. But first, how about a change of scenery?

That's debatable.

[Careful with his words? Aerith's not inclined to think so. Clever, perhaps. Cunning, she'd be willing to give him that, too. She finds his hold about her wrist, though she understands well enough the unspoken implication. Aerith, who can so often seem a bit nonchalant on the outside, may very well be more observant than it seems.

What he follows up with is likely meant to be interpreted as a threat. Which she does take seriously. Her gaze drops onto the bracelet encircling her wrist and the materia slotted into it. She hasn't had to use it yet. Doesn't even know if it works accurately. But she might not have a choice.

She'd prefer to make as little a ruckus as possible for a multitude of reasons.]

I'm pretty good here, actually. But I could show you how good I am with chairs, if you want. You might not like that, though.

[It's her own warning, delivered in a gentle way. As if in many ways Aerith is more likely to deliver something gently.]

[Semantics. The point that remains is that Saito's words are a lot more measured than hers. And, also unlike hers, more often than not used to cause harm rather than good.

He cocks an eyebrow at her warning, not intimidated by it in the slightest. As it stands, he only has a reason to take her warning seriously if she can somehow "be good with a chair" using a single hand. So, fingers tighten around her wrist instead. The last few times he had to deal with feisty women, there was little point in holding back, so the grip might start to feel less than appropriate for a friendly conversation.]

I'd take back your offer if I were you. Unless you're interested in seeing whether a chair makes a better weapon than a gun. I think neither of us would like to see that, here.

[He won't add he'd love to see that under circumstances where he would be able to actually get away with shooting her, though.]

Won't you reconsider my invitation? I promise, I just want to talk some more. In private.

[He must take her seriously on some level because when his hold tightens, she understands it’s simply to make it more difficult for her to use anything to her disposal. Aerith has other tricks up her sleeve, however, though she’d not really wanted to have to use any of them. If she has to, that’s a matter entirely different, isn’t it? The last thing she needs, or anyone else needs, is to hear that one of the Chosen are at the centre of an altercation. She’s already been looked at strangely for having a bodyguard. If anyone finds out she’s involved in something like this, the same people might just start believing that she is important.

What’s more important is hiding who and what she is. Giving Cloud fewer reasons to worry about her, not additional ones.

As she’s weighing her options, she’s carefully tugging against him, testing the hold and keeping subtle tabs on what’s available to her around them.]

I think you need a better outlet. [She replies, perhaps more even than she genuinely feels that she is.] I’m good right here. If you keep holding me like this, people are gonna think you’re my boyfriend or something.

[And that they’re having a lovers’ spat or something.]

[Is she starting to run out of words here? Because that's what her excuse sounds like to him. She should know by now Saito doesn't care about what people think of him. And this will become even clearer now; as he mimics her tugging in the opposite direction, and leans in closer.

Unlike warm sweet-nothings any loving boyfriend would whisper in her ear, his tone and the words enlaced by it are snide and cold. Purposely crafted to cause discomfort.]

Is that really what you're worried about? People never stopped giving us weird looks from the moment you stuck your nose in my business. Look around you.

[True enough, while most of the patrons have returned to minding their own businesses by now, the wariest of them never completely tore their attention away from the pair. Watching him, especially — and her by association, perhaps even looking out for her safety. Who knows.]

All the more reason for us to take this outside, wouldn't you agree?

[Aerith shifts only a touch when he leans closer to her. She understands that he’s doing it to be inconspicuous. Yet she’s never been the type to give into cowardice. She could cause a spectacle, she’s sure. But that would also bring her attention as much as it would bring her very close companion the same.]

Not especially.

[Her initial response leaves her after a breath or two of thought. For her, it’s a topic to stall. Something to give her just enough of an opportunity on how to handle this without creating more of a spectacle that he’s already created.]

They probably thought that the moment I came to join you.

[As she’s looking around at his urging, she locks eyes with a patron or two, not particularly sharp or firm, but almost a means of wordlessly implying that eyes might need to be kept on this guy in question.]

I don’t think you’ll get very far if you do that. That said, if you just wanna scold me, I don’t see any reason why you don’t just do that. I’m not ashamed of it. This is definitely not the first time I’ve meddled in something.

[And it sure won’t be the last, despite the idea that sometimes meddling just causes more problems for Aerith than she should want to throw herself into.]

[Not the type to buckle under some thinly-veiled threat, is she? Perhaps Saito underestimated her cunning (some would call it stupidity) and stubbornness. In fact, each time she talks back with an excuse not to head outside as per his polite request, she reminds him more and more of the brat who's waiting for him to return to the inn. Maybe it's time to stop beating around the bush. Not that he expects her attitude to change, anyway.

But maybe he can still get her to repay his loss somehow.]

Who said anything about scolding you? Just consider yourself lucky enough to get away without a bullet in that empty but hard head of yours.

[After the most measured whisper he can manage, he releases her arm, and sits back down on the same chair he was before she interfered.]

You don't have any idea what your bad habit of meddling ruined this time, do you?

Ah, a compliment!

[In truth, Aerith's head is really anything but empty, but it's very, very important that she portray herself in a way that makes it seem precisely the way that he's interpreting her. It has saved her in more ways than one several times before. She suspects that there's probably more at play for this specific situation. If he's letting her go, he likely has his own reasons.

Who knows when she'll figure out what those are. Assuming she does at all.

When he frees her arm, she wastes no time in folding her hands together thoughtfully.]

I don't, actually. Was I supposed to ask before I started meddling? Kind of defeats the purpose of meddling. I just heard what sounded like it could be a problem and I wanted to distract away from that if I could.

[The compliment comment only earns her a deeper furrowing of his eyebrows. She really isn't taking neither him nor this situation very seriously, is she.]

Well, just so you know, your meddling created a big problem for me.

[Leaning back into the chair and crossing his legs, he gestures at the chair across him.]

Ah, don't just stand there. Have a seat so we can settle our differences your way.

[If he can't vent his anger out his preferred way outside, at least there might be something she can do...]

[No. No, she's not. Welcome to the World of Aerith, where it's easier and sometimes better to just not take things seriously. Or at least seem like things aren't being taken seriously.]

I got that impression given your reaction. That's not to say that I haven't upset people before. I definitely have.

[His invitation is not one that she's expecting and for a moment, that surprise shows in her expression. Aerith doesn't really think this is coming out of her charms working on him. In truth, she doesn't expect he's the kind of person to react to that. But after a beat of consideration, she decides to play along.

What more can possibly go wrong, after all.

So she sits across from him, leaned forward in her chair, perhaps a touch juvenile.]

So we're gonna... talk? Or have tea or something...?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

🎆 Closed

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

prepare for trouble!!

...and make it double?

to protec— I mean... never mind

no subject

no subject

no subject

never gonna give you up... ♪

♫ If too old, please feel free to drop. Sorry for the wait!

I'm never dropping unless you are uwu (also, sorry for the lateness!)

NEVER

no subject

no subject