[log] If You Were a Flower, You'd Be a Daaamndelion [closed]

[heroproceeding]

Characters: Sad Losers
Location: Green House (Building 238)
Date: Day 164 - Afternoon
Summary: While scoping out some petals or lack thereof, shit gets real. Maybe. All aboard the nostalgia train. Unless you just like flowers. It's okay to just appreciate the existence of flowers.
Warnings: Losers being losers.

[ Building 238:

This was once a greenhouse! Well, it sort of still is--it has the glass walls and ceiling, the endless benches, and a few large pots for potting plants, but all the plants have long-since died. It makes sense, since the inside of this place is nearly as cold as it is outside. It's only a little bit better than staying outside. At least you have a great view of your surroundings!

A rough map of the entrance zone is drawn on one of the benches, along with the following warning: "An anomaly has been trapped in the bathroom in the fire station. Avoid if possible, and use caution if you have to pass through or spend the night. DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. @standardissue" The fire station (242) and the fast food place (248) are both labeled as such, with an X on 238 with the note: "You are here." ]

Comments

[heroproceeding]

[ It feels... odd the moment he'd stepped in. Like they'd walked into a warehouse in Banora. At least it feels that way until he catches the smell, earthy and much different from anywhere he's been. It reminds him of fall leaves crunching underfoot. Of the dirt that had smeared across his gloves as he'd knelt to help, despite feeling like he was the furthest from a green thumb at times.

As the others spread out to take a look around, Zack knows he ought to be paying attention to. He ought to be seeing if there's anything else to uncover around there. But try as he might to focus, he finds his attention drawn back to the pots until before he knows it, he's standing in front of one of them. A finger tracks around the lip of it, removing the layer of dust from there before he looks inside.

Nothing like before, but that would be expected. Everything's dead around there. Dead or gone. Doesn't stop him from deciding to pick it up next, feeling the weight of it. His face contorts into an almost too distant little smile. ] Sheesh... Bet she would'a been dying to have one of these...

[deus_ex_phs]

[For as long as Kunsel's known Zack, it's not hard to guess where his best friend's thoughts are. Not with that smile as he looks at those pots. Kunsel doesn't have to ask who he's talking about.

No, instead he just sets his pack on the ground and steps closer to join his friend, nostalgia and the cold encouraging him to press shoulder to shoulder.]

She probably would. As many as you'd get her.

You thinking about what to get her when we go back?

[heroproceeding]

[ There's a visible flinch of surprise as he feels his space all too suddenly invaded. Someone might have been a little deep in the good old nostalgia train. It's such a green mistake, especially if something or even- hell, someone at this point -were to be lurking around, but... Maybe it also goes to show how much he trusts them all in the end to let his guard down in that instant.

Still, it takes another couple seconds for what Kunsel actually said to register before he... maybe starts to inspect the pot a bit too closely. ] I wonder how things are coming along with her. Business has gotta be booming for her by now, right?

[deus_ex_phs]

[Zack's startled flinch is as telling as sign as any how deep in thought he was. Kunsel gives him a moment to recover, then hums thoughtfully.]

Midgar full of flowers, huh? I bet you're right. She seemed pretty determined to live up to that, when I saw her last.

[But a melancholy mood isn't really one he wants to dwell on right now, or let Zack dwell on in turn, so he smiles, nudging Zack lightly in the side.]

Bet there's flowers on Tseng's desk now.

[heroproceeding]

Midgar full of flowers. Wallet full of money. And speaking of wallets, he better not have been stiff with her if there are. You know Turks are paid better than us, right?

[ He huffs a little, but it's a little too obvious it's more for show than anything. Gently putting the pot back down, he gives it a pat. ]

But then again, knowing Aerith, she probably just gave them to him.

[deus_ex_phs]

Of course I know.

[Kunsel says that likes it's obvious.]

What, don't tell me you didn't know that.

[Zack, you're not that oblivious, are you?]

Bet she did just give it to him, though. Probably tried to get him to smile.

[heroproceeding]

GODDAMN IT AERITH

IT'S CALLED INFLATION

when you think you got to a tag, but you really just shitposted it.

[heroproceeding]

Yeah... Probably. [ But despite whatever pouting feelings would usually come from that, Zack can't help but smile a little. Because it really would be like her. And if she was doing something like that... then maybe Tseng was really doing his job. It's hard to say there. He'll probably never...

Zack slowly aims a glance Kunsel's way before it's back on the empty row which once must have housed tons of plants from the look of things. ] ...How was she anyway? Last time you saw her.

[ Did Tseng uphold his word? ]

o o p s

[deus_ex_phs]

Aerith? [He searches Zack's face, trying to get a read on his mood.] She was fine. I could tell she missed you. She wouldn't let me touch her wagon, you know. I don't know if you remember me telling you about that. Wanted you to be the one to fix it.

[heroproceeding]

Yeah... Yeah, I got your mail, Kuns.

[ He nods faintly once. Then again, just a little firmer than before as he gives the planter a little pat. ]

I read 'em all. [ His smile grows a touch. ] Probably a good thing you didn't touch it though. She can be pretty picky about her wagons, you know. [ There's a huff of a good-natured laugh just at the thought of the first one he attempted. She'd looked so sore about it. She had still used it in the end, but he'd definitely had to add some modifications to it later. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

Oh, so you read my mail but never bothered to respond. I see how it is.

[So much mock offense here. So much. Kunsel's even crossing his arms for good measure.

Only to drop it another moment later as he laughs a little at Zack's story.]

Yeah, that sounds like her. Maybe I should have just offered to build her a new one to use until you returned.

[heroproceeding]

[ DON'T GIVE HIM THAT SASS, KUNSEL.

Not that he wouldn't understand his frustration, regardless. Waiting that long without any kind of response... He'd felt it on the other side in those moments where he'd flipped open his PHS during the worst of things, fingers hovering over the keypad for all too long before he'd forced himself to stuff it back in his pocket and tried to forget about it.

Don't respond.

Keep him safely out of contact and out of the crosshairs.

But that was then- and now? Now, they're together again. Now, he's able to look at Kunsel as he crosses his arms like he's ready to give him a lecture. How he falls out of that in the next moment with a chuckle and Zack shakes his head, himself, humming at the thought... before he's raising an eyebrow pointedly. ]

And make me look bad? I see how it is. [ He can't hold that hard stare though. Not at all. Not when he's chuckling now, himself, and his eyes soften. ] Honestly? I dunno if Aerith would'a used that one either. But still... I would'a appreciated it if you had.

[ Looking out for her like that... ]

[deus_ex_phs]

[Kunsel grins a little at that, looking so much less like a SOLDIER Second Class, and so much more like just a guy, not too many years more than a teen, sharing a joke with his best friend.]

To be honest, I'm not sure I could have even built one anyway. I mean, it seems simple enough in concept, but in practice? It's not like I took a shop class.

[heroproceeding]

It's not too hard. I think you'd get it figured out in no time if you put your mind to it. [ There's Zack giving him a solid slap on the back. There's something sincere even in that stupid grin he gives a second later. ]

Maybe not one as good as mine, but you know. Close enough.

[deus_ex_phs]

[Kunsel lets the impact nudge him forward a bit, not bothering to resist the gesture for what it is. He keeps grinning, and in response just slings an arm around his friend.]

Oh? Don't tell me you took a shop class.

[Nope, not afraid to tease one bit.]

[heroproceeding]

[ He'll just be casually slinging his own arm right back around there. Hey, buddy. How's it goin'? ]

Even better. Folks showed me how! You know that's kinda what they did back home, right? It was a pretty big deal. The whole 'want you to be a tree farmer like your grandpa and their pops and so on'?

[ And then he'd peaced like a bateye outta hell to join SOLDIER. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

Ah. I should have known I didn't stand a chance against your country boy upbringing.

[Said so deadpan he might almost be serious, if Zack doesn't know him well enough to see through it for the ribbing it really is.]

[heroproceeding]

[ That isn't going to stop Zack from reaching up now to try and swat Kunsel upside the head. Nope, not at all. ]

You're just jealous. Skill like that? Would'a attracted all the ladies, after all. And you, my friend? Need all the help you can get.

[ He is so getting hit for that one. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

[He so is! One good swat deserves another, Zack!]

Excuse you! Who's had way more girlfriends than you ever had!?

[heroproceeding]

[ He'll take it! But not without really pushing his buttons! ]

Yeah, and who's had a way steadier girlfriend than all your girlfriends combined, huh!?

[deus_ex_phs]

[Wow, Zack. Way to kick a guy where it hurts.]

Still doesn't mean I have any problems with getting a girlfriend.

[Just with keeping them.]

[heroproceeding]

[ Well, he is your best friend. That does entail occasionally being a shit to the max. ]

There's a difference between getting and keeping one, mister PHS glued to his fingers.

[ Yep, he went there. He just went there. He's expecting to get hit again. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

[Maybe not hit, but definitely yelled at.]

At least I always answer when people call me! That's better than your track record, Zack Fair!

[heroproceeding]

Hey, I was a little bit busy!

[ Not all the time. And sometimes busy had involved flirting. He can't deny that. But that's still busy enough, right? And that busy only happened when he wasn't with someone! ]

Besides, I got back to you eventually! [ You know, except when he didn't. For five years. ] ...Most of the time.

[deus_ex_phs]

[Yeah, let's not talk about those five years.]

Your definition of eventually leaves something to be desired, Zack. I can think of all sorts of times you could have messaged me sooner.

[heroproceeding]

...Yeah, okay. I can think of a few, too.

[ It's hard not to talk about those five years when uh... yep. ]

But you know I usually got back to you when it mattered. [ ...Just not all the time. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

[It's the memory of the most important time when he didn't that finally gets Kunsel to soften up.]

Yeah. Yeah, you usually did. And even that last time...

Well. Here we are, so technically you got back to me that time, too. Just really, really late.

[Light as he keeps his voice, though, he can't keep out how grateful he is to have found Zack mostly safe and mostly sound and, most importantly, alive.]

[heroproceeding]

[ Really, really late. Beyond late. But that's just beating a dead horse by now, isn't it. Zack just shakes his head in the end as he takes back his arm so he can fold both, taking a few steps forward. ]

...Anyway, I was just kidding. I'm sure you'll find another girl eventually. The pickings are just slim here. That's all.

[ A pause and then he's tilting his head. ] Well- and if we get outta here, there's no guarantee you'd see each other again, too. Not unless you went with 'em or something.

[deus_ex_phs]

Yeah. [Kunsel sighs.] This isn't really the best place for romance. I know that. Can't blame a guy for wishing, though.

[Don't worry, though, Zack. He's not going to let it get him too down.]

Besides, just think about how hard it would be to get some alone time here.

[heroproceeding]

Depending on the house, yeah. Unless you're tellin' me you're pretty loud there, Kuns.

[ Is that Zack looking back at him and casually waggling his eyebrows? That just. Might. Be. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

I'm not telling you anything.

[He is going to let you use your imagination about how loud he can get there, Zack.]

And you know what I meant.

[heroproceeding]

[ Kuns, do you really want to leave things to Zack's imagination? He has a pretty vivid one, after all. Not that he's about to actually do the thing and think on that too hard.

But he is going to grin just a bit wider. ]

Oh, I know. You wouldn't wanna scare the kids. Or scar 'em. [ Not that those two haven't already been scarred by this place. And... honestly before there even. ] Then again, it's hard to get someone with you when you reek this bad in this place.

[deus_ex_phs]

[Zack, you are going to get hit!]

You're an ass. And anyone I might get with probably smells just as bad, so it's not like they'll have any room to complain. Could even make a date of it, in fact, if we find someplace to do laundry.

[heroproceeding]

[ When doesn't he get hit? Let's be real here. ]

A laundry date? Really, Kuns? "Oh, hey! Wanna wash our underwear together?"

[ That might have been his best worst Kunsel impression yet to date. ]

[deus_ex_phs]

I wouldn't phrase it like that!

[heroproceeding]

You're the one who mentioned laundry as a dating thing! I'm just making a valid point!

[ And he might be chuckling at that, too. 'cause seriously? ]

[deus_ex_phs]

Look, if we ran into a place where the hot water was limited, we can't exactly afford to be picky about how we do laundry! I'm just saying we should make the most of it!

[heroproceeding]

Whatever you say, man.

[ He's still grinning as he shakes his head. Giving the pot in front of him one last pat.. and maybe brushing it with his fingertips, he finally pulls away. Starts down the greenhouse a-ways before he pauses again. ]

Thanks, by the way. I feel a little better, you know, knowing she was in good hands.