#pulchralilium

[soulcluster]

@pulchralilium / aerith

A woman in a pink dress selling flowers in Mideel.

There had been no other thought in his mind since hearing of the rumor. The men who talked about her couldn't give him a name or anything more than a description of her appearance, but it was enough for Cloud to up and leave Edge without warning.

Returning from the northern crater and seeing the lifestream surge up onto the surface made him think he, like the planet, could start anew, for her sake if nothing else. Yet he hadn't been able to keep that hope. Day by day, the yearning in his heart grew, weeds growing in the spaces of his heart where he hoped for flowers.

Now that long lost feeling of hope re-gripped him. It could just be a wild rumor, a coincidence, he didn't know, but he wouldn't rest until he knew.

It took several days for Cloud to arrive in Mideel. The little village was still recovering after being attacked by Ultimate Weapon, but they were thriving. Homes and stores had popped up from the shambles and what had started as a few survivors was now a small village. He hoped she was among them.

Cloud had barely slept on his way here but he pushed forward, eyes scanning the threadbare crowd with hope. She would stand out among them, he could almost see her now, just as she had been when they met in Sector 8.

it was the sound of her voice he heard first, and for a moment he wondered if he was hallucinating. But the he turned and he saw her, as alive and smiling as she had been before he found her on the altar. Before...

Cloud stared openly, rooted to the spot and his breath caught in his throat. He wasn't...hallucinating, right? If he was...he hoped it continued...

[hisreunion]

HEAT

I LOVE YOU PROMPTS (N.S.F.W VERSION)

[  HEAT  ] →  while engaged in a passionate argument with one another, sender, in the heat of the moment, blurts out “i love you!” to the receiver. (think of like, that glorious trope where people have a huge argument and then suddenly sb drops the mic with “because i’m in love with you!” and silences the other person. u know the trope!)

Cloud wanted to stay but he couldn't. He went quiet when she said she loved him and his resolve waned in the passing seconds... but not enough for his mind to be changed. "I'm sick, Aerith. I don't want you or the baby getting this." Geostigma, the scientists were calling it. Fortunately, the effects weren't coming in full swing for him. No debilitating weakness yet. Only the terrible headaches and blackened skin.

Part of him dreaded the possibility of experiencing hallucinations and seizures like others were reported to have; Sephiroth had tormented him enough through those means. The last thing he wanted was to be around their daughter if more of these symptoms kicked in. Geostigma's severity varied from person to person but he did not want to risk his family becoming sick, too.

Cloud stepped closer to Aerith, being mindful to turn the left side of his body away from making contact, and gently brushed his right hand through the soft tufts of blonde hair on the baby's head.

She stared at him—small fingers clutching reflexively onto the front of her mother's dress—and put on a toothy smile that made his heart ache. At over a year old and looking more like Aerith as she grew, this child was the light of his life. His hope for the future. But the time of peace was over... until a cure was found. Cloud would look for it himself if he had to. "I'll stay at the church," he told Aerith. His eyes were still on the baby who had stuffed a fist into her mouth.

It made the ex-merc crack a smile despite the seriousness of their conversation.

"Just for a while. Because I don't know if this will get worse for me."

He leaned in to kiss their daughter on the forehead and then Aerith as well. "I'll keep my phone on, okay?" Cloud felt helpless... And it was difficult to cope with. His voice wavered slightly as he said, "I love you both—more than anything." And it would hurt to be away from them.

[brokeniisms]

@pulchralilium asked: “ here, i got you some flowers. some of my favorites. ”

❝ Ahh, I see. The basket looks pretty full. Thanks... ❞ Cloud took the basket of flowers, it was filled to the brim. He was pretty surprised. The fresh scent of them was calming. He tickled the petals and enjoyed the texture of them. She matched colors perfectly. Lots of yellows, oranges, and reds. There was one pink right in the middle, it stuck out amongst them all. Cloud pulled it out to have a closer look.

❝ I can see why you picked this one. Pink always draws you in yeah? ❞ A small smile as he attached the flower to his suspenders. ❝ So are we planting today? Or were you going to give me the full tour? ❞

[hiislegacy]

[continued from Here]

Cloud already felt like he had been way too bold with that move, almost in disbelief at himself for trying something like that. Yet, when she hadn't reacted in any judging, or bad kind of way, it felt empowering to have gone through with it. Always, she was encouraging to him, and her little smarty comments only spurred him on.

"That one was free. You'll need to earn it for another..." A half-smirk appeared on his face, pleased with himself, but also was ready to immediately apologize if he had gone too far with his little joke.

@pulchralilium

[strifeblade]

❝ so do you believe it . . . that the promised land actually exists ? that we simply don't just wander this life stream endlessly ? I've been thinkin' about it ever since we found out that's what ShinRa's after. maybe it's real. ❞ @pulchralilium -> starter call.

[lupumiucundis]

❛ i thought you’d like some company. ❜ @pulchralilium

╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝

Cloud always seemed prone to wondering off away from the group as they settled down for the night. He just needed some fresh air after all the fighting and planning. Sure, it wasn't too strenuous physically on him, but mentally it all was beginning to take its toll. The headaches were getting worse with each passing day. The visions that flickered through his mind were foreign but yet so familiar. It was nauseating. He pulled his knees against his chest, his arms wrapping around them to hold them his place before he gently rested his chin upon them. The moon illuminated the land around them giving him brief glances of the wildlife that called the land their home.

Hearing Aerith's soft voice, he look up at her before giving her a small smile and turning to face the valley in front of him. "Yeah..." He answered softly, patting the spot next to him. "Sorry for leaving you all alone.." He said, eyes glancing towards his friend once again.

[myristicisms]

@pulchralilium | Aerith says;;

“  don’t feel bad for not knowing—  i was trying not to bother anyone.  you didn’t know because i didn’t let you. ”

Guilt tensed his typically easy-going and loose posture, Junon had certainly been an eventful and informative vacation-turned-mission and Zack himself had some questions. Questions he did not want to ask given how invasive it felt to know what he'd learned, Aerith was an ancient, and he was none the wiser, not until Cissnei had to practically hit him upside the head during what was supposed to be a relaxing beach stay.

In truth, if Zack could go back in time and cover his ears, refused to have heard the secret then perhaps he wouldn't be staring at the brunette apologetically, wouldn't have blurted out ' I know you're an ancient now! Sorry to have snooped! ' like a complete dolt before he could even think about wrapping his arms around her in his typical form of greeting her. Smooth Fair, what a way to greet someone you haven't seen in a while, her steady voice was soothing at the very least, the reassurance that he hadn't committed a crime by unintentionally prying into something he'd had no business in managed to make him relax a little bit.

That, however, didn't exactly soothe the weight sat upon his shoulders, demanding he offer a better apology at the very least. “ Still though! I know it's not like I went out of my way to ask but... I feel like if you wanted me to know then you would've told me, y'know? And now I know and it wasn't because you told me and I just... I feel bad, like I did something invasive. ” Sheepish, he feels utterly embarrassed for getting so flustered over something so simple.

“ Honestly though... I'm just glad you're not mad at me, I think that's what made me feel the worst about finding out from the Turks. ” And then he smiles, perhaps not as excited and wide as he'd like it to be but it's there and it's what he has to offer Aerith, alongside his arms opening wide to welcome her into his usual embrace.

[virtuallghosts]

@pulchralilium enviou uma ask:

"I’m sorry, for everything that you’ve gone through" To Cloud

Cloud's gaze seemed lost, he tried his best not to think about Sephiroth, but that foreboding thought always found a way to hit him. — Don't worry about me, I already know how to handle it. — No, no he doesn't.