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That time again, huh...

Hey, does anybody know what the housing situation's like? I haven't counted the number of empty houses or checked out the apartments... should we be worried about having enough room for everyone? We've been getting a lot of New Feathers every month lately.

Oh, and... hey, Aerith, can I talk to you about something?

[Edit - Private to Cloud]

We need to talk, too.

[Edit 2 - Private to John - somewhat hackable :|]

Hey, doctor. You're monitoring this, right? Let's talk.

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Just hanging around in the backyard. You want to come out and meet me here, or talk somewhere more private?

How about in my room? [That. Should be private, right? Cloud probably thinks it's an unused room as soon as the door's shut. And she's not sure how he'd react to see a strange girl in Zack's bedroom if he walked in.]

Sure thing, I'll be there in a minute.

[And here he comes!]

Hey, Zack. Close the door, okay? [She's just relaxing on the couch in there, journal and another book left on a side table. Her room is awesome for having a couch 'k.]

[Oh right, that couch they replaced with the monstrosity in the living room. He's a bit puzzled, but he closes the door and goes to sit beside her.] ...What's going on?

[She's pretty sure she knows what he's asking about, since it's hard to subtly avoid someone who lives in the same house as you.] ...You must not've talked to Cloud about me. [Can she lean on your shoulder? She's not enjoying this death penalty business at all.]

[She totally can. She'll even get the added bonus of an arm around her. He can tell she's unhappy.] No, I haven't... but you've both been acting weird. Did you guys have a fight? [Which is hard to imagine, but these things do happen.]

Hehe, I wish. [Fighting would be much more straightforward.] ...His memory's getting worse. [She turns her face in towards him, murmuring:] Ask him if he knows a girl named "Aerith" sometime.

[....ffffffffff what.] He forgot you!?

...Mhm. [Not crying. Not crying. Feeling miserable, though.]

He thought I'd barged into the house and told me to get out...I got him to talk about it, but he hasn't remembered anything yet. [And, in fact, he seems to forget anything she told him as soon as she's out of sight.]

... His Death Penalty's getting really out of hand. [The other things he'd forgotten weren't so bad. This? Unacceptable.] He needs to see that John guy now.

[Aerith's already thought about John, but he operated on Zack and gave him mako poisoning. This time he'd be treating Cloud's mind, and any complications might--but then, with how the Death Penalty was progressing, could anything John do be worse than Cloud forgetting everything and everyone he'd known?

Put a question like that to a scientist and they might look for the answer.

She doesn't give voice to that thought, or any other misgivings she has at the moment. Just sticks to Zack's side.]

[Zack doesn't want to trust a scientist any more than she does, or Cloud for that matter. But what else can they do? No one in the village has been able to help him, and it's not right for Cloud to forget about her. Not now, and not like this.]

He needs help, Aerith. And we can't give it to him, as much as we want to. I know it's dangerous, but... he did help me. And other people, too. I think it'll be okay.

[All the while, he's just going to hold her.]

Because it suits him. [A pause, and then she shakes her head.] I know you're right. Cloud needs help, and John's the only option. I just...I can't trust him...but it's the only way. [She's reaching her arms around him, clinging with her grasp.]

[Hugtime. He's worried about you, Aerith.] We don't have to trust him. We just need to give him one chance, I guess.

[That one chance is Cloud.

Don't say that. Zack already knows.]

What's the point of those penalties anyway...to punish people for dying? As if they did it on purpose...it's just so pointlessly cruel. Like Shinra.

...Yeah... it is pointless. But we don't understand most of what goes on in this place, so we're kind of stuck just going with the flow, huh? I know it's rough. [He pauses, then lifts a hand to brush through her hair.] I'm sorry...

...I know. That's just how this place runs. That's how it always is.

It's all right. [She tries to smile a bit now as he's brushing her hair.] I'll be all right. Maybe not now, but later.

We'll make it right, no matter what. Okay? [Forehead-kiss. He wants a real smile ;o;] I promise, we'll get this all cleared up.

And Cloud will be okay. [Trying for that. ...She manages to come close, all considered.]

Yeah. He'll definitely be okay. And you guys will be fine, just like before.

[She nods.]

I've just been avoiding him so I wouldn't upset him. I should've told you sooner.

It's alright. It's probably not easy to talk about, huh.

I kept thinking if I tried hard enough, he'd remember. Even though I know that's not how it works.

It can't be for long. I'm sure he'll be back to himself before you know it.