Columbine [Vincent]

[Aerith]

Tender Loving Care
[Timeline Note: July 15th]

It had taken some serious convincing, but Aerith had managed to keep Clive from becoming the target of the others' weapons. She had also managed to find him suitable living space that didn't involve him staying at her house, much to the relief of her friends. And now, he was doing his part to help in their restoration efforts. It had only been a few days, but the blood-smell around him had begun to noticeably fade.

The sun had already passed its zenith and was on its downward course, but sunset was still a few hours away. That gave her plenty of time to do a little tending of her flowers. Her garden was growing in both the size of the individual flowers and their overall numbers. She was considering starting a few other gardens elsewhere in town. The pleasant scent might inspire the workers on to even greater efforts.

The soil was drier than usual, so she stood to her feet and went into her house to retrieve her watering can. As the water from the sink ran into the container for a few moments, Aerith straightened a few things up. Then, she shut the water off and tugged the can, now heavy with water, back outside. Humming to herself, she began slowly pouring the liquid ever so gently between the flowers to ensure the soil absorbed as much as possible.

[Vincent Valentine]

Unnecessary.
--

Vincent had been having a peaceful afternoon indoors, enjoying two of his favorite things: a glass of wine and a book. Notice the past tense 'had been'. Over the past month or so, the others had began to worry about him. He hadn't seen the light of day in who knows how long and it wasn't helping to dispel the vampire myth at all. If he did go outdoors, he left at the very break of dawn before the sun had even begun to rise, he stayed inside a dark, damp cave most of the day and didn't return until well after the sun had set. And so it was for this reason that his book had been stripped from his hand, his wine taken away from him and he was shoved out the front door into the summer afternoon without any kind of warning or preparation.

He was okay with this. He wasn't going to be angry with his friends for forcing fresh air and sunshine on him. They were just trying to help.

But Cid really didn't need to finish his wine for him.

Vincent sighed, shook his head and started walking. His first instinct was to head to the Crystal Fissure but he came across a flower garden on his way. He decided to stop and noticed Aerith working nearby. He watched her for a moment or two before finally deciding to speak, hoping he didn't startle the young woman by popping up out of nowhere.

"Is this your garden?[/color]"

[Aerith]

A Welcome Surprise

Aerith noticed a shadow fall across a section of her garden and waited until the person attached to it spoke before turning to look. A friendly smile crossed her face, and she straightened up, brushing dirt from the skirt of her dress. "Oh, hello. You're much quieter than the others, especially Yuffie." She laughed softly. It wasn't all that difficult to be quieter than Yuffie. She had a tendency to go against her self-proclaimed ninja title and announce her presence long before she actually arrived on the scene.

"I haven't seen you around in a long while. People are starting to think you aren't human," she teased. "And yes, this is my garden. I've been trying to keep it a secret from everyone, but... it's starting to get so big now. Not that that's a bad thing at all." In fact, that knowledge made her quiet happy.

After emptying the rest of the water from the can, she stepped outside the garden and stood next to Vincent. "Hold on a moment," she told him, then went inside her house to set down the watering can and also give her hands a good scrubbing. When she exited, he was still standing there, much to her delight.

"It's not often I get to talk to you. I usually see Leon and Yuffie. And Cloud, a little." She couldn't keep all of the worry out of her voice, but she quickly changed the subject. "What brings you out here?"

[Vincent Valentine]

Again with the inhuman thing?
--

He listened intently while Aerith talked. Though he was slightly curious as to why the woman wanted to keep her garden a secret, he didn't ask quite yet. He chose instead to wait until he was addressed directly, and that came when she asked what brought him out to the garden. There were many answers to that question. He could have answered "Yuffie and Cid kicked me out" or lied and told her he was curious about the garden itself. But he decided to go with the truth, which was so much easier than a lie and required less effort on his part. "I was going to the Crystal Fissure.[/color]"

That was the only explanation he thought was needed. His attentions turned elsewhere, to the plants themselves. He still had no clue why Aerith would want to keep it a secret, it really was a lovely garden. The flowers were obviously very well taken care of in Aerith's capable hands, and it was no surprise at all that it was growing larger. Most living things thrived in Aerith's care, and flowers weren't the only thing included.

One particular flower caught his eye, and he found himself walking past Aerith to examine it. Just minutes before, actually, he had been reading a book about botany- the study of plants. It just so happened that this particular flower was one he recognized from the book. A red columbine flower.

[Aerith]

A Flower Shared is Happiness Spread

Vincent, like Cloud, was very withdrawn and only used the bare minimum of words necessary to keep up a conversation. And in Cloud's case, sometimes a series of grunts was supposed to be enough for Aerith to understand what Cloud was thinking. She suspected Leon was the same way. Perhaps men all communicated in a secret code made up of grunts that they thought women wouldn't be able to understand.

She noticed Vincent take a special interest in one of her vibrant red columbine flowers. Those were a new addition to the garden, serving as a splash of brightness among all the soft whites, yellows, and pinks. Eventually, she hoped to have all sorts of colors represented here and elsewhere, truly returning this world to the Radiant Garden it had once been.

"Do you like that one?" She approached the flower, knelt down, and plucked it from the earth. Immediately, she retrieved a seed for another red columbine and tucked it lovingly into the now-empty space. She filled in the hole, patted the dirt down gently, and stood once more. "You can have it, if you'd like." With a smile, she extended the flower toward Vincent. "And if you were on your way to the Crystal Fissure, I can give you some company. I would love a walk."

[Vincent Valentine]

You people and your silly rituals.
--

Vincent, the man that he was, had never really understood the ritual of giving flowers away as gifts. Flowers died. Who wants a dead plant as a gift? He didn't understand why males always tried to impress the females by giving them dead plants (and chocolates, why give ladies chocolates when all they did was complain about how fat they were and go on diets?). It wasn't a matter of him being locked away for years and years and not knowing the social customs of the day, and it wasn't a matter of him just being anti-social in the first place. He had never understood, even as a boy, why flowers were so important.

Still, to be polite, he took the flower from Aerith's hand and stared at it for a few seconds, only bringing his eyes away from it when she asked to join him on his walk. Well, it couldn't hurt. The first person he had ever allowed into that blocked off part of his life was Yuffie. And if he could handle Yuffie being there, certainly Aerith wouldn't be a bother.

"Fine,[/color]" he said. It wasn't a huffy, bratty fine... it was more like just the end of "that would be fine". With that, he turned to leave the garden.

[Aerith]

Change of Scenery
--------

Aerith almost giggled, but she managed to stifle it. The look of mild confusion on Vincent's face was that kind of awkwardness Aerith found cute. But she certainly wasn't going to tell him that. It might wound his male pride or something to that effect. Men didn't want to be told they were cute. Too girly of a term. They preferred more masculine descriptors such as handsome, strong, and chiseled like a god. Or at least, Aerith assumed that's what they preferred. She might have to try that last one on Cloud at some point just to see what sort of reaction she would get.

Vincent offered a very short agreement to her suggestion before walking away. Aerith smiled and trailed after him, eager to see the Crystal Fissure again. Despite the terrible shape the rest of the world was in, the fissure was one place that was still stunningly beautiful. While they walked, she attempted to fill the silence. "I know you like spending time at the Crystal Fissure, but I don't know why. Is it just because it's so isolated?"

[Vincent Valentine]

A flower for the grave.
--

Aerith followed, just like Vincent knew she would. Things were going great until she started asking questions. He knew she was just trying to be friendly. She was a very personable person, she liked to get to know people and he understood that. Still... it made him slightly uncomfortable especially since he didn't have much of an answer for her. So rather than come up with some lie, some quaint little explanation that would wrap things up all nice with a pretty bow, he just stayed silent. He didn't want to simply agree with her, because he didn't feel that would be the truth either.

Along the way, Vincent seriously thought about why he liked spending time up there. He thought maybe now he was doing out of force of habit, but there was some kind of draw. Perhaps Aerith was right. The isolation gave him time to think. Time to dwell. Did he honestly believe that keeping himself isolated from his friends was his atonement? Hadn't he vowed just weeks before to do whatever it took to protect them? Why, then, did he keep returning to the Crystal Fissure, to his past and to Lucrecia? Because. For so long, this had been what he had to do, in his mind. He didn't have to do it anymore. There was still work to be done in the town, and his attachment to the Fissure had already caused him to miss out on a chance to protect his friends and the town once before.

This would be his last visit. He would make sure Aerith held him to his word. Finally, he answered her question."I don't like spending time in the Crystal Fissure,[/color]" he told her. And then: "I need you to do something for me.[/color]"

[Aerith]

Curious Request
--------

She didn't receive an answer to her question for a long time, and she wasn't going to press the matter. Some people were more private than others, and they deserved the respect of someone who wasn't going to pry into their personal lives. Sometimes, just having someone who didn't talk, someone who was just there, could be more than enough.

They walked farther along in silence, and Aerith took the opportunity to observe the goings-on of the town. It was about the same as ever. Nothing much of interest to note. And she decided she would wait for Vincent to offer conversation before she tried to start one again.

At last, he did speak, answering her question from before. He actually didn't like spending time in the Crystal Fissure, after all. But he still didn't give an explanation as to why he spent so much time there. She would have asked him about this, but he quickly added a request.

"Yes? What is it?" She tilted her head curiously.

[Vincent Valentine]

A flower for the grave of what was.
--

He wasn't sure how to word his request. He sighed heavily, hating having to put himself out there like this. "This is my last visit to the Crystal Fissure. Hold me to it.[/color]"

That was all he said. They made it to the Crystal Fissure shortly after and Vincent found himself hesitating at the entrance. He heard Aerith come to a stop behind him but still didn't walk in. He wasn't sure how he felt about all this. Part of him wanted to put off his going inside as long as possible so that his leaving the fissure would be put off as well. That was a cowardly thing to do. He knew this needed to be done and nothing good would come from sitting around and continuing to dwell on his past. That didn't mean it didn't kind of make him sad.

He walked inside, blinking as he let his eyes grow used to the sudden darkness. Outside had been so bright. He wasn't used to the shift, just darkness and then the light blue glow of the crystals. He looked down at the flower in his hand, and it was as vibrant of a red as it had been outside.

[Aerith]

Wonders of the World
--------

Aerith resisted the urge to ask the reflexive "Why?" that rose to her lips. She had a feeling that an explanation would be offered in due course, on Vincent's own time. For now, she gave him a nod. "I can do that."

They had at last reached the Crystal Fissure, and she followed Vincent inside. The light was considerably dimmer in here, but the natural beauty surrounding them more than made up for it. What little sunlight reached here caught in the blue crystals and refracted into tiny glowing arcs that framed every curve and corner and crack. Even if this place had sufficient soil in which to plant flowers, Aerith wasn't sure if she would alter nature's face here. It was already so breathtaking.

Without saying a word, she found a spot to sit down--the same spot where she had been sitting when she had first met Ava. Waiting for Vincent to speak again, she placed her hands on her knees and observed the play of the light against the walls.

[Vincent Valentine]

...I wonder if I should worry about how much I know about flowers?
--

Vincent took a minute to let the natural beauty sink in, looking around at all the crystals. He saw his own distorted reflection in the many facets of the crystals, and Aerith's near his own. Then he looked down at the flower in his hand. Why had he been drawn to this flower? He turned it over in his hand, realizing it was already begin to wilt.

He thought back to the book he had been reading at the house- a botany book, but it also told about the meanings attributed to many of the flowers. A daisy for innocence, an iris for hope, sunflower for longevity. Not all the flowers had positive meanings; a yellow rose for jealousy, a buttercup for ingratitude.

What flowers would he choose, if he were making a bouquet to symbolize his own life? Hyacinth for the destruction and abandonment of love. Perhaps a Bachelor's Button for solitude, and a cowslip for his pensive nature? He chuckled a little at the last one. But he knew what would be the centerpiece.

A red columbine, for foolishness.

He dropped the flower at the base of a crystal, like dropping a rose into a grave.

[Aerith]

Breaking the Silence
--------

Aerith watched Vincent silently brood. There was no telling what was going on inside that head of his. Vincent was the hardest of the RGRC members to read, and Aerith did not even want to hazard a guess as to what he was thinking. The only thing she knew for certain was that he was staring down at the wilting columbine in his hand. Did it have some significance for him of which she was not aware?

He let it drop. It floated down to the ground, copies of it mirrored in all the crystal. When it stopped falling, a heavy silence hung in the air as both Vincent and Aerith only seemed interested in studying the splash of red at the crystal's base. After several long minutes, Aerith finally decided that she would have to be the one to initiate any conversation.

"There's something significant about this place for you, isn't there?"

[Vincent Valentine]

Time to leave.
--

Vincent was stony silent for only a moment more, and then he answered her. "Yes. There is. It reminds me of... somewhere else.[/color]"

He looked up at the crystals, and at his own reflection. "Someone else.[/color]"

Whether he was talking about Lucrecia or himself was unclear. He had been a different person back then, almost like a completely different person. He looked down at the flower. Yes, a completely different person.

But that was in the past. He had a new life and to take full advantage of that, he was going to have to let go of his old one. He decided to vocalize this to Aerith. She was trustworthy, and perhaps she would understand. "That was a long time ago,[/color]" he said, looking up and at Aerith. "We're done here. Let's go home.[/color]"

He left the flower on the ground and began to walk out, knowing Aerith would follow behind him; and if they ran into any trouble along the way, he would protect her just like he would any of his friends.

[Aerith]

An Invitation
--------

She had been right in assuming the significance of this place for Vincent. Of course, his affirmative answers were still quite vague. But what Aerith could gather told her that he was reminded of his past here. Specifically, there was someone in his past this place made him remember. These must have been painful memories. He wanted to leave them behind and never come here again.

No other mention was made of the thoughts that currently swam about inside his head. He simply announced they were finished and turned to head back up the path toward home. She knew that tone well, thanks to Cloud. It was not mean in any way, of course, but it was a signal that nothing else needed to be said on the current topic.

Aerith decided to leave well enough alone and rose to follow him out of the fissure. She paused to look at the flower at the crystal's base, and then she walked quickly to catch up to Vincent.

Upon reaching his side, she looked up at him with a gentle smile. "When we get back to the Borough, would you like to come to my house for something to eat?"