[ She catches a laugh in her throat, as if this is all pushing her to the edge of a cliff and she's about to dive full into the madness of it all. Maybe she is, because Aerith considers what Claude asks: Did they share a lifetime beyond this one? Maybe, she muses to no one but herself, and if they did, she'd like to think they were friends. Instead of letting the laugh free, she has to turn her head again to look at him, smiling in a way that crinkles the corners of her eyes without offering any real consolation. ]
I was scared of him... I had never seen something like that. But I knew that he came to say goodbye to someone he really, really loved, and I had to tell her as soon as possible. [ A ghost, then, and she truly believes herself crazy now. She's glad he's prompted her, rather than offering the information herself. It feels a little less crazy to tango in this manner. ] I think that person was... my mom? [ But she could not find any recollection of that man as her father. Not one bit. Then again, Aerith wouldn't have ever recognized either of her parents; not before now, at least. ]
Was that your only one? [ Terseness decorates her question like bullet holes in a door. This was a point she had wanted to bring up but there is no natural way to ask if one has had other hallucinations. ]
Your mom? [ Claude's brow furrows as he tries to put the pieces together. Aerith's vision had been so much smaller, he thinks, more intimate, more steeped in mixed emotions so unlike Claude's own vision of terror and defeat. He idly rubs the palms of his hands together as he thinks, expression as sharp as it ever is. He may be able to play the brainless hedonist around others, but Aerith already knows him better than that; there's no reason to disguise his true thought patterns in front of her. ]
That's interesting. That makes it feel realer, doesn't it? What I saw -- I could make it up, I suppose. Everyone's scared of that sort of thing. But I don't think you'd be able to think of coming up with something like that. That's not a bad trip, it's...
[ Memory. ]
That was my only one. [ He pauses, then amends: ] My first one, if I'm catching what you're putting down. What else did you see?
[ A fleeting smile finds her lips as he speak. A suspicion goes confirmed in Aerith's mind, one that lingers despite the lack of welcome she offers it. ] Oh, you know. The usual.
[ She's not going to shut down on him, but muses silently to herself about the burden she places on his shoulders by giving unto Clade the series of hallucinations that flitted into her mind with all the naturalness of a bird flapping it's wings. So she keeps her arm in his, thoughtfully, slow and easy steps turning into swings of her legs as she ponders. Then, imagining there's no reason to not give him what he wants, as she always does, she nods. ]
You're right. It's not a bad trip. Because I... don't do drugs. [ Her voice turns sweetly thick, like she's told a horrible joke. Then, she lifts her gaze back to Claude's, only to offer up information in a straightforward turn. ] Here's the thing. I also... remembered a church. And a man falling through the room. Not to mention, Cloud and I? We kind of had a moment. So nope! No way it's a bad trip, if we can share them. I mean, you ever see the same thing as someone you're tripping with, Claude?
You guys had a moment? Has that man finally swept you off your feet? Gods, you should see the look on his face while you're performing sometimes. Absolutely pathetic.
[ He says it with all of the fondness and affection in the world; he's rooting for these two dumb kids, in absence of his ability to worm his way in there as a third. Which would be unwise for any number of reasons, largely that the two of them likely deserve better than a fellow like him.
He forces himself to lower his thick brows, though a smile still twists at his mouth. ]
Sorry, sorry. We were discussing more important matters, weren't we? [ Still, that twinkle returned to his eye. If there's one thing about Claude, it's that he's an incorrigible busybody, though he truly wants the best for them. He squeezes her arm. ]
I've never shared a trip, no. So. You and Cloud, you guys shared the same memory? What were you doing in it?
[ A number of complexities that emerged over a realization that sharing hallucinations is fully possible would be undone if it had just been smooching. Aerith angles her elbow then, with this thought in her mind, just to prod Claude in the side with a smile, the curl of her lips both challenging and teasing. ] Not that kind of moment, silly billy. You'd be the first to know if it did, anyway.
[ Much like how she insists on knowing what Claude is up to. Or who, rather. ] Well, anyway...
Cloud? He was dancing in our memory. And I was watching him. Shoe was on the other foot for a moment. And to be honest, I bet you'd be looking at him like that if you'd seen it yourself. Talk about busting a move.
[ So, no. She doesn't think her and Claude have the memory in common, but... ] So you now you can talk to him about it, too, now. Makes things a little easier, doesn't it?
Wait, Cloud was the one dancing? Now I wish I shared visions with you guys. That sounds like a sight to behold.
[ And maybe a little less... lonely. To have had a past life with another, or to have another in your, what, premonitions? Means that at least you'll have someone else by your side. Claude's own vision is still haunting him, the stricken looks of students rushing past that he couldn't recognize, the blond kid beside him that he felt like he should know, but didn't. ]
But... thanks for letting me know, Aerith. If you want to tell Cloud I saw something too, you can. But just Cloud. I don't think my reputation would survive the hit of having visions on top of everything else.
Oh, you bet he was. If it makes you feel any better, he really got down on the dancefloor right after. It was that night at the pub, when there was that arm wrestling contest in the back that everyone someone managed to lose...
[ A flicker of wonderment is laced through her tone, as if somehow she's truly impressed by that feat. Between them, arm in arm, Aerith lets her gaze wander up, past the gray cobblestone and into the open, clear sky. It's always a perfect day in Aldrip— as the thought floats to the forefront of her mind, she raises her hand again, placing it higher upon Claude's bicep. How strange, to not once have a memory of rain, or any upset at all, really. ]
Speaking of... you doing alright, Claude? Lately, I've been thinking... I should be checking on you more often.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
expiationmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
expiationlogs2024-03-09 08:37 am
no subject
I was scared of him... I had never seen something like that. But I knew that he came to say goodbye to someone he really, really loved, and I had to tell her as soon as possible. [ A ghost, then, and she truly believes herself crazy now. She's glad he's prompted her, rather than offering the information herself. It feels a little less crazy to tango in this manner. ] I think that person was... my mom? [ But she could not find any recollection of that man as her father. Not one bit. Then again, Aerith wouldn't have ever recognized either of her parents; not before now, at least. ]
Was that your only one? [ Terseness decorates her question like bullet holes in a door. This was a point she had wanted to bring up but there is no natural way to ask if one has had other hallucinations. ]
no subject
That's interesting. That makes it feel realer, doesn't it? What I saw -- I could make it up, I suppose. Everyone's scared of that sort of thing. But I don't think you'd be able to think of coming up with something like that. That's not a bad trip, it's...
[ Memory. ]
That was my only one. [ He pauses, then amends: ] My first one, if I'm catching what you're putting down. What else did you see?
no subject
[ She's not going to shut down on him, but muses silently to herself about the burden she places on his shoulders by giving unto Clade the series of hallucinations that flitted into her mind with all the naturalness of a bird flapping it's wings. So she keeps her arm in his, thoughtfully, slow and easy steps turning into swings of her legs as she ponders. Then, imagining there's no reason to not give him what he wants, as she always does, she nods. ]
You're right. It's not a bad trip. Because I... don't do drugs. [ Her voice turns sweetly thick, like she's told a horrible joke. Then, she lifts her gaze back to Claude's, only to offer up information in a straightforward turn. ] Here's the thing. I also... remembered a church. And a man falling through the room. Not to mention, Cloud and I? We kind of had a moment. So nope! No way it's a bad trip, if we can share them. I mean, you ever see the same thing as someone you're tripping with, Claude?
no subject
[ He says it with all of the fondness and affection in the world; he's rooting for these two dumb kids, in absence of his ability to worm his way in there as a third. Which would be unwise for any number of reasons, largely that the two of them likely deserve better than a fellow like him.
He forces himself to lower his thick brows, though a smile still twists at his mouth. ]
Sorry, sorry. We were discussing more important matters, weren't we? [ Still, that twinkle returned to his eye. If there's one thing about Claude, it's that he's an incorrigible busybody, though he truly wants the best for them. He squeezes her arm. ]
I've never shared a trip, no. So. You and Cloud, you guys shared the same memory? What were you doing in it?
[ Smooching? It'd better be smooching. ]
no subject
[ Much like how she insists on knowing what Claude is up to. Or who, rather. ] Well, anyway...
Cloud? He was dancing in our memory. And I was watching him. Shoe was on the other foot for a moment. And to be honest, I bet you'd be looking at him like that if you'd seen it yourself. Talk about busting a move.
[ So, no. She doesn't think her and Claude have the memory in common, but... ] So you now you can talk to him about it, too, now. Makes things a little easier, doesn't it?
no subject
[ And maybe a little less... lonely. To have had a past life with another, or to have another in your, what, premonitions? Means that at least you'll have someone else by your side. Claude's own vision is still haunting him, the stricken looks of students rushing past that he couldn't recognize, the blond kid beside him that he felt like he should know, but didn't. ]
But... thanks for letting me know, Aerith. If you want to tell Cloud I saw something too, you can. But just Cloud. I don't think my reputation would survive the hit of having visions on top of everything else.
no subject
[ A flicker of wonderment is laced through her tone, as if somehow she's truly impressed by that feat. Between them, arm in arm, Aerith lets her gaze wander up, past the gray cobblestone and into the open, clear sky. It's always a perfect day in Aldrip— as the thought floats to the forefront of her mind, she raises her hand again, placing it higher upon Claude's bicep. How strange, to not once have a memory of rain, or any upset at all, really. ]
Speaking of... you doing alright, Claude? Lately, I've been thinking... I should be checking on you more often.