UN: Aerith » Video

[inemeraldfaith]

[Aerith could text and maybe she ordinarily would, but given that this is her very first time making use of Etraya's network, she decides she would rather own all of her words and let them be attached to a face.

So on she pops making a peace sign with her right hand just outside the Louvre in the Jardin des Tuileries.]

Helllooooo!

I've been here for a little bit, but this is the first time I'm giving a real hello. I'm Aerith, but I might have told you my name was 'Ree' or 'Ri' or some other variation of it. I sold flowers back home and maybe I might want to do that here, too? I'm not sure yet. It's nice to meet you!

A bit ago I was one of the people who came from Pollux and had been living with the fae for a few months, if you can believe it. I haven't exactly reunited with everyone who I had met while I was there, but I'd like to if you decided to come back with everyone else.

I also wanted to say thank you to everyone who was worried about me not making my way back. As you can see, I'm in one piece and one hundred percent here!

[She opts for not making any commentary on any of the dreams she had and the various people she might have reached out to in said dreams even before they found her on Pollux. That may just have to remain another one of those unspoken secrets that Aerith seems to carry.

She moves her video to show the gardens off.]

If you like flowers, you should come visit the Louvre. They aren't mine, but the very nice man who curates the museum is letting me help take care of them! Please come by and say 'hello;' they'd like that very much!

[When the camera moves back onto her, she lifts a finger.]

With that out of the way—I'm actually looking for someone. Back on Pollux there was a very nice man named Jean-Napoleon who said he was going to show me some more gardens here. I'm officially stating that I'm hunting you down and I would like to collect on this invitation!

And of course, I'd be very thankful for anyone who can point me in his direction!

[But also, you know, please come to the gardens—and her church—and say 'hi' to the flowers.]

Comments

audio | un: stendhal

[maellum]

[She had an actual reply, really, but there's just a sputter of airy laughter! This is the best thing she's heard in a minute.]

Not Here ♥

[inemeraldfaith]

[Aerith is happy to be of service! Prepare thyself for a future of more!]

[maellum]

[Sciel is killing her, but she supposes she should eventually say what she came here to say--]

I think you're talking about my father.

[Father, big brother, guardian, whatever. You think he's haaaaandsome!!!]

[inemeraldfaith]

He has a daughter?

[She really tries to disguise this, but fails miserably. He definitely didn't look... old enough (???) to have a daughter?]

I had no idea. To be fair, we mostly talked about plants. [Okay. Let's be real here.] Welllll. I talked a lot about plants and he was very, very nice and listened to me.

Audio | un: scielcandide

[cache_coeur]

[Capital-D delighted:]

Just in case there’s more than one: what did he look like?

[maellum]

[Sciel, no, Maelle just stopped giggling now she's laughing again!!!]

[inemeraldfaith]

Is there another one??

[Aerith hasn't even considered this.]

Well. First he was this antlered beast. He was very, very grand. And then he turned into a guy. Red hair? He still had the antlers. Green eyes, I think? I'm pretty sure he's not normally a beast, though. And he probably doesn't really have antlers all the time.

[cache_coeur]

The one I know is seldom a stag, but he does make a fine one. Would you describe him as handsome? [ A beat, a laugh. ] Don’t answer that, I shouldn’t tease him.

[inemeraldfaith]

Oh, uhm. [Really? Because—] I don't mind. I thought he made a very handsome beast. And I thought he was nice to look at still when he wasn't a beast. He was very, very sweet! [She's helping.]

Do you know him? [She thinks back to Sciel's conservation efforts.] He was telling me about a friend of his who knew a lot about plants. Was he talking about you, maybe?

un; valentine (voice)

[loveandsin]

I'll come look at them when I'm taking a break from my work at the museum.

[inemeraldfaith]

[Score.]

I didn't know you did work at the museum. What kinds of things are you doing? Do you help tend to the pieces?

[loveandsin]

Yes. I met the previous curator through Cloud.

[ Cloud almost killed her in a fit of insanity. ]

We helped move some things into the museum. When she left this world, I agreed to continue assisting under Mr. Dessendre's direction. Mostly, I see to the inventory and do whatever else he requires.

[inemeraldfaith]

Oh, Renoir made mention that he'd inherited the role, but didn't say who from. [And she didn't ask. She wasn't sure if she was allowed to or if it might make him a little uncomfortable.]

What a small world. Do you like what you do? I was looking at some of the pieces when I met Renoir and I really liked it. He knows a lot about art!

Video; un: GustaveEiffel

[demainvient]

[ He'd been fiddling with the wrist joint of his metal hand, lost in the work, and he hadn't heard Maelle's snickering until it was too late.

It's almost impossible to find a place in this apartment for a private video call, so he already looks a little harried and resigned when the image flickers through. (There's always a strong chance Maelle will simply appear over his shoulder to insert herself into the conversation.)

The man in the video is no longer the red-haired fae from the forest, but his features might look familiar anyway. His hair is brown and so is his beard and mustache; his eyes are a mild human shade of mossy green. No antlers poke their way through the waves of his hair, but the warmth of his smile is still the same. Just an ordinary man. ]

Hi. I was wondering if you made it back here with us.

It's nice to meet you for real, Aerith.

[inemeraldfaith]

[He doesn't... look exactly the same as he did back on Pollux, but she doubts she does either. But he looks enough like the man she met in that clearing (well beast-into-man) that she has no reason to suspect otherwise. Taking a moment to examine his appearance, his expression, and not knowing at all what might be going on behind the scenes, she offers him a sympathetic look.

Was there a better way to do this? Maybe by going to every single person in Etraya who looks remotely like him and asking if they were 'Jean-Napoleon.']

Oh, were you worried? [She can't resist teasing him a little.] You shouldn't. I'm actually very good at talking myself out of trouble. Not... that I intentionally get into trouble.

It's nice to meet you for real, Jean-Napoleon.

[demainvient]

[ Maybe the video call was a mistake. She might have recognized his voice and agreed to meet somewhere, and maybe then he wouldn't be so conscious of how many eyes might be on this reunion while she studies him, in all probability trying to decide whether she thinks he's the same man or not.

Well, it's probably a bit disappointing, after the fae glamour. His smile is almost a quick self-conscious grimace; he hopes Maelle and Sciel aren't paying attention.

Aerith – he hadn't known her name before, either, but it's a nice one – on the other hand, is already pushing forward with that same cheery mannerism he remembers from that day in the woods, teasing him as easily as if she's known him for much longer than one chance meeting.

He chuckles, ducking his head, and has to concede. ]

A little. But you seemed like someone who could take care of herself. If you manage to get into trouble.

[ Mildly teasing in return, before he rolls his eyes, lifting his right hand in defeat. Yes, it's an absurd name. Blame Maelle. ]

And it's Gustave, actually.

audio | un: axon

[betenoir]

[The voice she hears is a mixture of bemusement and despondance.]

Ah, this is your plan? To introduce me to everybody on this network?

[inemeraldfaith]

[Aerith nearly withers, which lasts for only some moments before she can only respond with a very earnest innocence.]

It wasn't really a plan. Was I not supposed to say anything? I just thought it would be nice if people gave your art and flowers some attention. I didn't mean to upset you.

[Disappoint? She's not sure. It never occurred to her that he didn't want to be known.]

[betenoir]

You did nothing wrong, mademoiselle. Were I upset I would not respond.

[The sentence is short while his words are delivered with a mindful tone. Her opinion he is upset is avoided. Because while he is happy enough to engage, he is reticent about personal affairs.]

Besides, that art? Not a single piece is mine. I curate what is visible to the public and maintain the work. I would not consider displaying mine alongside the masters.

un: rshinra | text

[ambitiousblond]

I may take you up on your invitation sometime, the gardens do look peaceful.

[inemeraldfaith]

[That's not a voice she expects in the slightest. Curious, that. She did extend it to everyone, though. That includes him, too.]

I didn't know you liked flowers.

[But to be fair, what does she really know about him?]

I can show you around a bit, if you'd like. I'm still learning about the gardens myself, but there's a lot to look at. I think 'peaceful' is the perfect way to describe it, too.

[ambitiousblond]

I would be honored to have a personal tour.

I've gained an appreciation for nature over the last few years, though I haven't spent a lot of time in flower gardens, so it will be a new experience for me.

un: x1028

[the_infiltrator]

I'm from Pollux, too.

Why do you like flowers?

[inemeraldfaith]

[Oh, that sure is a question. Surely people have asked her that before, so why she's running a blank on where to begin is a little beyond her.]

Hm. What's not to like? They're pretty and it's like watching life grow in front of you. They can have all kinds of meanings, whether you're just growing them or giving them to others. They feel things, maybe not exactly the way they do, but they definitely have thoughts.

[If that makes any sense at all. To people back home, Aerith's words like that would probably go in one ear and out the other.]

I think there's lots of reasons to like flowers. But I know that for some people, they can be too busy to do that?

un: sandrilene; video

[threadmage]

[ Sandry is still learning how to do this so her face in the video is somewhat off-center but she thought it would only be polite to respond in kind! ]

Hello, Aerith! I'm Sandry, it's nice to meet you too. I was in Pollux too and managed to make it here, I'm glad you did as well. Is there a good time to come visit the garden? It looks beautiful!