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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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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.

Of course.

Are the Malnosso really bringing more people here? I haven't been here long enough to notice a trend.

Ah, yeah. New people usually come in for the first half of every month. It's been like that for a long time, now.

[The clinging has loosened a bit, and her hand starts to rub up and down his back lightly, almost absentmindedly.] I knew about the first half of the month part--just not that the numbers were going up. Wonder why...

I don't know. Maybe whatever's bringing them in is getting more ambitious or something.

Ambition...[A sigh. Ambition likes to cause trouble.] At least it gives time to breathe between experiments.

Yeah, the break is definitely nice.

[A pause. Thinking, thinking...]

Hey, Aerith?

[Hand stops rubbing.] Hm?

Why... [Come on, come on, ask it.] Why'd you turn into Hojo?

...I hate him. [She wrings her hands, wondering what to say, and then states abruptly:] I grew up under his administration. In the labs in Shinra Headquarters. ...Mom--Ifalna, not Elmyra--fled with me when I was seven.

You- [What, what. What. He's never heard about this before. He's so flabbergasted by it all that when he finally manages to stumble out a question, it's not even about the serious issue, but rather the only thing he's able to come to terms with while still avoiding the brainbreak.] Y-you had another mom?

[Aerith nods, reaching up to her hair to untie the pink ribbon so she can get Holy. She holds the white materia for Zack to see.] Holy was a keepsake from her. Elmyra's not an Ancient.

[Zack leans in to study it, though he doesn't reach out. Something like that seems too important for him to just take it.]

That's... materia? And your real mom was Ifalna, an Ancient...

It's a lot to find out, huh? [She will refrain from telling you about how this little white orb is responsible for the planet still being intact. ...unless you ask, of course.] I never was a normal girl. [Much as she'd wanted to be.]

[He would if he knew to ask about it.] Actually... I did know you were an Ancient.

Back then, you mean?

Yeah. Before Nibelheim. Remember when I went to Costa del Sol, after Angeal died? ["After I killed him" but nevermind that.] Cissnei told me.

...I didn't want to be one. ButI couldn't have helped everyone if I wasn't, so...it's not so bad.

You saved the world, right? Or... you will, I guess. It's not because you're an Ancient, though - just like Cloud didn't save people because he was a SOLDIER, or as strong as one, anyway. It's because you're you.

[...That gets Zack a full, genuine smile, and a kiss on the cheek.]

Right. I'm going to do it because I want to, and I can. And...it'll be good. [Ignoring what crazy!Cloud said about it "not being worth it".]