finalflight | PSL; [FLOWER, STARDUST, STEEL EXPLOSION]

[ the fact that he can't imagine her voice while she's leaning right into his personal space means he's gone way too long without that particular bother in his life. ]

Oh, I know! I haven't been found though, so I'd argue that I'm not in trouble yet.

[ yet ]

Meanwhile, it's been a month, and I haven't seen hide nor hair of you, mister.

[Maybe it’s true. Maybe he’s been too lost in the thrall of training for a looming war that even Aerith’s bright disapproval is dulled at the edges of his memory. Not that he would say so, naturally.]

You haven’t said why you’re hiding.

[They’ll loop back around to the rest. But first, explain!!!]

[ between wutai and aerith, it's still some kind of warfare, after all is said and done. ]

Maybe I don't like the tone of your text.

So my answer really depends.

Are you scolding me or offering to rescue me or both?

[The tone of his texts have been relatively non-committal and non-combative, he thinks; this is either a distinct failure on his part to parse tone at all (possible) or a misinterpretation of his attitude (not impossible, given what little he gives others to work with).

The ‘...’s return, exclusively on his side this time. Typing, typing...]

The first depends on the situation. The second, less so. I’ll rescue you if you ask.

Is that what you want?

Hmm

[ ... honestly, she should give him a bit of a break. especially when the time it took for his last response is pretty jarring.

he's usually so prompt. military manners means his responses are usually boilerplate politeness as it is, tempered in steel and quickened silver. honestly, she should be touched that he's still going through some form of effort, just for her.

but she does have a month's worth of ribbing to catch up on, so. ]

What sort of situation is that?

For the first one.

[F in chat for Sephiroth

At least he has years’ worth of knowing Aerith, being around her (even if their once-similar paths have been split, diverging in far-flung directions) long enough to see this tease for what it is.]

That’s what I’m trying to find out.

Is some poor infantryman missing their phone? Have they gone looking for the thief? That’s worth a mild scolding.

[If she’s not going to say, he’s going to lob scenarios into the wind and see what sticks.]

Mild? Really? Well, that's no fun at all.

Maybe I've been a really bad girl.

You should scold me more.

[ FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF ]

[He... what. Sephiroth's brain needs a moment to process this.

Typing, typing, again...]

So you can dig your feet in and become more defiant simply because you can? I know where this leads.

Aww, it's really sweet that you get me.

But I'm not sure that military training's doing you much good if you're backing down so quickly!

[ fighting words. ]

Is that so?

You’re being very ill-behaved Aerith. I’m disappointed. Explain why you’re hiding, and return that phone.

Is that better?

Your scolding voice just sounds like your normal voice...

[ if only disappointment could translate through text. ]

[How does she drag him into these conversations?]

Would you prefer if I used exclamation points?

[ ~*~it's a mystery~*~ ]

Maybe? I don't think you've ever used those even in face-to-face conversation...

Which one should I experience first to get the most enjoyment out of it?

Why would you want me to yell at you in person? There's no need.

[Since when have the claws of anger ever really hooked into Sephiroth? Even he can't quite remember; a machine, indeed, in those days.]

You're being especially baffling today. Tell me what you're up to.

Hmm... well, it's a side of you that I've never seen before.

And if it exists, I want to see it. I guess?

[ honestly. because to be honest, she's the one who's usually angry, and the fact that sephiroth is not... baffles her. ]

Anyway, I'm behaving myself! Kind of. I contemplated making a run for it today while they're deep cleaning the labs, but I decided not to do it.

[ ... which probably opens up a whole book of new questions, but if there's one thing that hasn't changed, it's her odd way of secrecy sometimes. at least, for anything that sephiroth doesn't already know. ]

[Perhaps the issue is that he’s not given to strong emotion, at least not on a surface level. Furor is not something he shows; joy is not displayed on his face for any to see. Sephiroth is a bit like still water — perhaps something deep exists beneath the surface, lurking nebulously, but who would be so reckless as to dive in, unknowing?

Still, Aerith always sends ripples across the surface, and maybe it’s odder still that he allows it.]

I don’t think I’ve ever been that angry with you. Whether or not it exists is debatable.

Are you sure that’s something you should be admitting to on an infantryman’s phone?

[Was that a joke, or...? Aerith...]

"That" angry?? Doesn't that mean you've ever been? Where was I??

[ hold on, fascination momentarily derailed by the fact that she's... relocating.

just in case she's really done something super dumb.

not that she'll ever admit to it. ]

If this thing's bugged, I feel like you smoked me out the moment you used my name.

You could've played along, you know.

[First question: ignored.

Last statement veiled as a request: tended to, now that it’s clearer.]

Why didn’t you run, then?

?

Why would I? I trust you.

I’m asking because I thought I was supposed to be playing along.

Or indulge you in old childhood fantasies, which might be one and the same.

Really.

[ tfw sephiroth is the better actor... too much trust, not enough fear, but more importantly - ]

Too old for hide and seek, but not old enough to outgrow the name-calling.

If you're going to call me a child, you could at least say it to my face.

That's a childish thing to say.

[ :) ]

[ :/ ]

Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. Presenting mouth for soap, sir.

I'm joking.

[Even miracles can happen.]

If you want, I'll make sure to call you childish the moment I see you again. Just remember that you requested it yourself.

Hmm...

What if I'm starting to think you deserve a scolding instead?

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