expiationnet | [Video] Continuing to help out

[Zack's pretty decent with tech since he needed so much of it for his previous job, so the charms are fairly easy for him to get used to. He just hasn't had much use of it since his arrival.

However, his conversation with Cloud hasn't left his mind so he wants to share it with the others.]

Uh, so, my name's Zack Fair. Before I got here, I was part of an organization that did a lot of fighting and protecting. It's been sort of peaceful here, but I know there're monster attacks that happen outside of town and a few of them have gotten pretty close from time to time.

And, well, some people weren't so helpful during our food shortage and the trading trip with the people of Rumpitur. If we want to keep good relations with the native people of Aldrip in particular and Expiation as a whole, we should probably be more involved in trying to keep the peace. I'm not the best person to run something like that, but I'm all for helping if someone else could. Guess it just depends on how many others are interested in helping out with this.

[He rubs at the back of his head, feeling a bit self-conscious as the charm continues to film him.]

I dunno. It was just a thought. If you're up for something like this, let me know. We can talk.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm not surprised to hear at all that you want to do this here. You didn't consider doing something different?

[She guesses it would be easier to do what he's familiar with, but...]

Is there anything I can do to help out? I'm sure Cloud would be willing to help too, if you haven't talked with him already.

[He can't help but smile as he sees her face and hears her voice. He's still having a time getting used to that again after being separated for so long.]

I'm not sure that I'm skilled enough to do anything else. Maybe farming? I haven't done that since I was 14, so can't guarantee I'd be any good. Guess I'll just have to stick to what I know, right?

I already talked to Cloud. He was the first one to reply, oddly enough. As for what you can do, I don't know. You can do whatever you want, Aerith. I'll support it.

Well, I don't think it's about what you know. I think you should be chasing down something that you've never had. Something you want.

[But it might not be that simple for him. Zack wanted to be a part of Soldier, she thinks, even if she doesn't fully understand why that is.]

I think as long as you're happy, that's all I care about. Just do what makes you happy. As for me, I was asking what I could do to help you out. Because this isn't really about me, right...?

All I can remember wanting was to be a hero and a part of SOLDIER. Well, [a pause] and to grant those wishes you had.

As for what makes me happy, I'll have to think about it. Lots of things have changed, so I guess I should probably take some stock in what's going forward, right? But, you know, I still really like talking to you, so if you continue that, I'm sure we can figure out what I can do. Together.

[It's still somewhat about you. Duh.]

[Ah yes. Her wishes. In some ways, he feels so much like the Zack she knew in her younger years. Eager to make her happy. Maybe she deserves that after trying so hard to make everyone else around her the same way.

Or maybe… that’s all been influenced by him.]

I didn’t know you thought I wouldn’t want to talk with you. [She responds teasingly, unable to picture a moment or a situation in which she wouldn’t care to.] Of course I intend to continue that. Whatever you’re looking for here, I want to help you find it, Zack.

[Wanting Aerith happy has never changed for him. It's all he's really wanted since meeting her that fateful day in the Sector Five slums. So, his desires are still twined around her, since his feelings haven't changed in all this time.

He's still not absolutely sure about hers. It's the only thing that's kept him from being more forward in trying to rekindle their relationship.]

I figured I could count on you to help me. You haven't changed that much, despite the years. We can talk about that later. When I have a better idea about my own wants.

[Oh. If only he knew...]

I think you have time to figure out what that is. [And if she's honest, as much as she tries not to think about it, it's unlikely they'll always stay here. But... maybe she can find a way to save him? If she could, she'd want to, of course.] Right now, we have a lot of lost time to make up for. I hope you're ready to pay up. I've been collecting interest for quite a while.

[Honestly, he's looking forward to knowing how the years have actually shaped her. He's pretty much the same as the day he went to Nibelheim.

Which, is not quite true, but it's true enough. He's managed to mature over the years, but he hasn't let it make him angry or cruel.]

Maybe, but I'm not going to let things slip away like last time.

[He doesn't have any time left on Gaia, so he's going to take advantage of what he has here. Especially since Aerith is right here, with him.]

I never expected anything less. Write 'em down and we'll work on them one-by-one, no matter how many more wishes you have.

[She could argue it. Zack didn't let things slip away. It wasn't, she suspects, fully within his control. Even back then, it seems like she understood well enough that things didn't need to be and couldn't be all about her. Or at least, she might have been more understanding where perhaps others in her situation might not have been.]

I think it's better if we're a little spontaneous, don't you? I don't need to write them down. This isn't a to-do list. It's not like we're going shopping. It's less about the what, and more about the whom. Don't care what we're doing. Just that we get this time to be together.

[He might not have let things slip away, but he sure as hell didn't fight back when things went to crap with SOLDIER. He never pushed back against Sephiroth and Lazard. He probably could have left, if it had occurred to him, but it just never did.

He knew he was lucky with Aerith being so understanding back then. Cissnei made it very obvious that she wouldn't have been as much as Aerith was if she was seeing him.]

Alright. I'll defer to you. We'll just do a bunch of things and spend time together. Sounds better to me that way.

Hm... Defer?

[She has to think on that. She isn't sure that's what she wants.]

I don't know about that. If you say things like that where someone else can hear, people really are going to think I'm a princess or something. I want us to stand on equal ground. No deferring. If you need some convincing, I'm pretty good at nagging! Still.

[In fact, she's probably better at it now.]

[Video] Continuing to help out

Video

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject