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Who: Aerith and anyone!
Status: Open
Where: Eltrut, Kudzu Island, maybe other places
What: First month of settling in, Kudzu Island things, etc
Warnings: N/A

I. Eltrut - Settling In

Aerith was still getting used to the new world. She had traveled to the dragon's isle and a few other places within the month, but she was still getting her feet beneath her so to speak. The traveling was more like a distraction than actually taking the time to figure out what she was going to do here.

She wandered around the main city for a day, making a trip to the MANTA Center and the RAY Trade Center to check them out. These were useful places she knew she would be getting familiar with as she spent time here. She also stopped by Under Her Wing to see what sort of potions were typical around here. She had helped out the snakefolk back on Ocard so she was already learning about the plants and potions of this world but she could always check for new things to discover!

What really stuck in her mind though was what she might want to do. Did she want to start her own business? Continue being a flower peddler like back home? She could find a spot to garden and bring in flowers to the cities to sell. Or did she want to try something new? She could spend more time traveling to new places, meeting new people and plants and animals. She could be an explorer that discovered ancient ruins or uncovered lost treasure. If she truly wanted to be a paladin she could be a defender of the people, wielding her magic for truth and justice. There were so many options now that she was just...here.

While she thought about that, she headed towards the more rural areas of Eltrut. She wanted to stop by Cosmo Conservatory. She'd heard one of her friends from home could be found there. And she wanted to visit the animals there, too. Volunteering there sounded like a great way to make new friends, animals and people alike.

II. Kudzu Island - A Helping Hand

She couldn't resist the call for help. Aerith found her way to Kudzu Island and began the search for clues. Which led to getting sidetracked by other tasks to handle. The kudzu was a little annoying but the locals had found ways to make use of it after harvesting its best pieces so Aerith did her best to cut useful parts out for keeping. She also spent time listening and learning from the locals about their way of life and how they cooked or used the kudzu in other fashions as well.

While she was out and about she stopped often to rescue the local animals out of the vines and a few times needed help getting herself untangled after helping out a critter. When she found other people caught up in the vines she'd call out in warning to let them know she was approaching.

"Hello! It looks like you could use a hand. I'll have you out in a jiffy!"

Or find her doing other things while on Kudzu Island.

III. Manta Quests and Wildcard!

[[If you would like me to create a starter for anything else, let me know! I'm up for just about anything. As for quests, I am most interested in the following: A Rumour of a Mad Monster, Every Day I’m Brusselin’, Whale Did It Go, Hop to it!, A Bug's Life and any of the Kudzu special quests. I know I'm a bit late this month (it's been a busy one for me) but I'd love to still do things and I may just use this post for any of next month's things, too. If you would like to discuss anything you can send a PM to this journal. You can also find me at "aisuyoukai" on all the usual platforms, but please send me a PM to let me know who you are before hitting me up elsewhere. Thank you!]]

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Vincent had not expected to see Aerith, of all people, on a restocking run. Not that he'd been in Eltrut recently. His time as of late had been spent at sea, chasing this rumour and that- in the attempt of finding something- anything- partaining to the location of Red and Cloud.

It would have taken a lot for him to wander from today's tasks of resupply and procuring passage to another one of the surrounding leviathans. But this was a lot.

To him, Aerith was more memory than physical presence- but just a glimpse had been enough to have him stop in his tracks. Enough to make him place back the ammunition he'd been in the process of purchasing, and enough to make him follow her path through the markets.

...At a distance, of course.
After all, he had no idea if she'd even know who he was.

Aerith went about her business oblivious to her dark and shady trail. She was quite content looking around the shops of Eltrut's main city hub. She didn't have much money at the moment but window shopping never hurt anyone. And maybe one day she'd be able to get more than a few meager supplies.

However, the feeling of being watched from afar wasn't altogether unfamiliar to Aerith. She was very used to it in fact. All those years of being under surveillance by the Turks meant she was a little paranoid underneath all the cheerful greetings and friendly smiles. She never really knew when they would show interest in her and most of the time she never spotted them in her life, but she always knew that Shinra's interest in her never fully waned. She felt that feeling now.

It caused her to look around a few times, but she told herself she was just feeling a little anxious being in a new place all alone. She should have stayed close to someone she met or asked Zack if he were free. Chalking it up to loneliness, Aerith pushed down the feeling and began to make her way towards the outskirts of the city. She wanted to head out before it got to late and search for Cosmo Conservatory. Currently not knowing Nanaki's fate, she wanted to surprise him by going to meet him--hoping, at least, he would be there when she dropped by.

Oblivious to his greater presence or not, the fact that Aerith had looked around with some uncertainty was not lost upon him. It spoke to a time before the short period he had been acquainted with her. Of a life spent on a short leash, tethered deep within a sectioned off, numbered, polluted scrapheap underneath Midgar- constantly watched.

He should have backed off. While it had been a (startlingly) great number of years since Vincent had worked for his previous employer, Instinct was something that never faded. That instinct told him that his target was wary. That further persuit would be pointless.

...But Aerith wasn't a target. Anything but. "Acquaintance of a short period" or not, posthumous understanding and gratitude for her or not, she was important. So he continues to persue while keeping her at the absolute edge of his vision- only speaking when he became certain that she appeared to be leaving the city.

"Aerith."

A simple statement. Just her name.
... Whether she'd recognize him or not.

She spun around to spot who had called her name and when her eyes lit upon Vincent there was recognition in them. Her expression softened and she even took a small step towards him. Then she interlaced her hands behind her back and peered up at him.

"Vincent." She smiled. "You're here, too. It's good to see you."

"...Hm. Likewise."

Now recognition was a surprise. Ever a man of little words, perhaps a brief flash of surprise in his eyes would have betrayed his impassive demeanour. That, as well as the fact his arms suddenly crossed about his torso- as if for a moment, he was unsure if he was conversing with a ghost.

No. Not a ghost. The rifts cared nothing for time. And if the woman before him really were an appirition, she'd have found someone far more fitting to haunt. Some silence followed. Then...

"Have you seen Tifa yet?"

Aerith continued to smile serenely at him as she let him process. She felt a little bit like a ghost herself some days so she would understand the sentiment. She got a small feeling of it now and waited it out.

Vincent didn't disappoint. Ever the stoic one, continuing forward in a very practical manner. Aerith followed along.

She nodded affirmative. "Mm-hm. We ran into each other a little while ago. I think-" She paused, uncertain if Vincent really wanted to hear what she had to say. Then pushed forward for herself if nothing else. "I think everyone else has already had plenty of time to adjust and gotten used to this place. But... well, I've only just arrived and I've still got to figure it out. What about you?"

Perhaps the only thing that allowed him to be so practical about it was more recently, he seemed to have developed a habit of talking to ghosts. Not that it's worth bringing up. It's neither here nor there. Vincent's gaze flits between Aerith and the wide open space that designates the end of the town, and finally, his arms unhook from around himself.

So. Tifa let her slip away. Or maybe not. He couldn't say he knew even half of what an escape artist Aerith happened to be- he'd never met Elmyra for a start, nor even bothered to hear any stories from present day Turks. Even when Reno was in this world. But recalling what happened between the Temple of the Ancients and Gongaga and the masterful disappearing act Aerith had performed there, he had suspicion of what might have happened here. So. To answer her question...

"...Things begin to make sense. You learn to understand. Then it changes."

Take what happened to Red and Cloud recently. Shinra Retirement Special or not- he was once a Turk. Both of them being arrested, how it came out of left field, with no prior chatter or rumour... He didn't like it. He really didn't like it.

"I'm not going to tell you outside is dangerous." He's not Cloud, for a start. "But given the recent changes, you may wish to stay with the others on the ship."

She could do as she pleased, of course. But it wouldn't do to not warn her.

Aerith nodded. She supposed that was the way of things. And perhaps this place was more chaotic than even events back home, ever shifting and changing. Confusing. But hopefully exciting. And not destructive.

She would learn and find her own way. One way or another.

"Maybe," she agreed almost coyly. And then continued with a counter. "But... I kind of wanted to see Nanaki's place. You know, the conservatory?" She pointed down the path.

(The thing about the Cosmo Conservatory is most of the people who work there have been kidnapped, or arrested on false charges, or run off to go rescue other people in those situations.

The poachers and traffickers from the auctions have been busy getting revenge on ...basically anyone who had moved against them that they could track down.

It's a bad situation, and Chris would close the Conservatory down if they could. Unfortunately for them, just because they're one of the few people left doesn't mean they've been left in charge.

And so, the most exhausted and cranky of strangers will eventually show up to greet her in a place that might seem eerily empty of anything other than animals. Sorry Aerith.)

Hey.

[It was a little disappointing to reach the Conservatory and not be able to find anyone at first. Then it became disconcerting. It was rather eerie to discover the place practically devoid of any caretakers. It didn't feel normal and that worried her more than the lack of people.

She immediately wanted to help the animals. They were in sight and needed appropriate care. But she was also worried about the missing staff. If none of them were here now, where were they? Was something wrong? It felt like something was wrong.

She was startled when Chris spoke up because she hadn't realized someone actually was here. She turned to him and smiled weakly, hand on heart in a calming manner.]

Hi. Um, is it normally so quiet around here?

(The animals, at least, have been getting fed, though there's definitely discontent over so many of the caretakers and other friendly faces being suddenly gone.)

I don't think this place could operate this understaffed for very long. (So that'd be a no.)

A lot of poachers got busted recently. People who helped catch them are suddenly being charged and arrested for whatever crimes the cops can come up with or just "mysteriously disappearing".

Really? Doesn't doesn't seem very fair.

[It was an understatement. It was the poachers that were in the wrong! Right? So why were other people suffering for their fate now? Sounded like a dirty system.

Which was really familiar to her. Just like home sweet home.]

Does anyone know what's happening to the ones that disappear? I- [She stopped and looked around again. Her voice took a sharpness to it, one of sudden and considerable concern.] Do you know where Nanaki is?

(They snort.) Is anything ever fair?

(Not in their experience. If fair were even remotely a thing, they wouldn't exist.)

...That's Red, right? (They look thoughtful.) I know Turo was in a jail on Elah, but I'm not sure about Red. You probably don't know them, but Sherlock's gone too... and I can't tell where Hawks is because he's been avoiding me. (They sound distinctly annoyed about the last bit.)

No, but that doesn't make it right.

[She said with an almost pouting frown. Then her expression cleared and she nodded.]

He's gone by that, yeah. Unmistakable with his bright red fur. [Aerith shook her head.] That's not good. That's a lot of people missing... and it's all related to this poacher's feud?

There's more than that, but I don't actually know everyone. I'm just here to watch over things while everyone else tries to find ways to get them back.

(Though if Hawks has managed to get captured too, they'll probably have to go bail him out themself. He doesn't have any other friends.)

There's trafficking involved too. Cops are scrambling to catch those responsible, and Turo and I are both pretty sure that there are higher ups profiting off of the business who set them on us as a distraction.

(They're looking increasingly sour over the whole thing.) You're friends with Red, then?

[It just kept sounding worse and worse. What did she walk in on? But she was here now and her friends were in danger. She couldn't just sit idly by!]

Mmhm. Nanaki and I are from the same world. He's a very dear friend of mine. If there's anything I can do to help...

[She meant with the conservatory for now but she definitely wanted to do more than that when it came down to it.]

What are you good at? I've been caring for the animals and monitoring for suspicious activity and Faulkner's been helping with feeding them and caring for the gardens...

(And well, as part of that monitoring they're gonna try to take a more focused look at her mind--not a deep dive for her most personal secrets but just to check her intentions for anything suspicious--so ...telepathy permissions?)

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