FFVII - Sleeping Arrangements - Faltering Dreams 1/4

[raaj]

Finally finished this scene, which is supposed to be like part 1 of 4 for the "conclusion" of Sleeping Arrangements. ...Um, considering the length of other pieces so far, that might be a bit long for an ending--mostly keep thinking of it as one overall piece because even though it's four scenes, I wanted to focus on Tifa's POV and her fears to link things together as everything goes to pieces (...last scene has her being stabbed to go to the one who didn't die, yep).

Not sure if I'm quite on target with her fears here though, I admit I've had writer's block/similar frustration on this and various other projects for so long that I just SHOVED through it tonight. Also need to go back and figure out more scenes to flesh out the overall "Sleeping Arrangements" more, figure out the other half of Gongaga too (kind of want to do a silly one in Wutai or elsewhere; Yuffie sees how they keep sharing the bed and is like "HEY, I GET A TURN /shoves on to share the bed with Aerith" with the other two women all YUFFIE THE BED IS NOT THAT BIG)

Anyway! For now, onward. Someday I will work perfectly sequentially on a project, but it helps that this does pretty much adhere to canon until Tifa is stabbed.

***

For once Tifa had a bed of her own.

Which meant, for once, she couldn't sleep, and had to conclude ruefully that Cait Sith's contacts were too good. The moment AVALANCHE had found out about the broken tram stranding them at the Gold Saucer, the cat robot had bounded off to inform the haunted hotel's employees they were staying the night. To the entirely exhausted party's fortune, there was a smaller crowd than usual--he'd been able to wheedle their way into three rooms, making it possible for everyone to have the rare treat of a separate bed.

Tifa had gotten much too used to a shared one. Usually, Aerith would be lying opposite her. With both their bodies giving off heat, they would only need one blanket to feel warm, if any at all. Two grown women on a mattress meant for two children or one adult could be a bit crowded sometimes, and Aerith would sleep in different positions--curled on her side like a child, or flat on her back with hands one over the other, oddly composed--but they always managed to fit. And she rarely ever turned her face away, making it easy for words to flow between them until the fatigue of their bodies fully caught up with their minds... making it easy for Tifa to catch glimpses of her friend's face at rest, calm and beautiful.

It was funny how traveling together could create such sudden bonds. ...No, that wasn't quite right. Their group had formed bonds traveling together, but in this particular case, for this particular feeling--it wasn't safe to say it was mutual, the impulse to invite Aerith to share a bed even though they each had their own, just to feel her warmth, her hand. To open the door to feeling something more...

Tifa sighed at herself, burying her face further in the blanket. That was flat out wrong, and not just because Yuffie was also staying in the room. Aerith liked Cloud. For that matter, she liked Cloud too. ..."Like" was a really lame way to describe it. She loved him, the boy who had so earnestly promised to become her hero. She'd kept that memory with him in her heart for so, so long... After... everything that had happened, she'd had to become her own hero, protect herself, but she'd still held stars dear in spite of living in the Midgar slums, where you were lucky to catch a glimpse of just one through a slit in the plate. There'd been other guys, guys who flirted with her and seemed alright, girls too; alcohol loosened tongues quite a bit and Tifa had heard more than one drunk confession that had given her food for thought. But even the ones she'd found attractive, or maybe simply similar to Cloud...they just hadn't compared to the power of that memory.

And Aerith--she wasn't like Cloud at all. How could she be attracted to both of them? If anything, they were polar opposites.

Though not so opposite they couldn't find anything in common between themselves. That much was obvious. Cloud had clicked so quickly with Aerith, and opened up like he hadn't with anyone else of AVALANCHE or even her up until then. Really--they'd started talking about a date when everyone was locked in jail cells! Aerith just had that light in her that Cloud seemed to soak right up, and there were moments between them where Tifa could see them creating a world of their own. A world she hadn't been invited to, and didn't know how to put a foot in. Aerith was so strong in looking to the future, and Cloud so set in moving forward, she felt like she was always two steps behind either of them, slowed by worry and indecision.

She couldn't even decide who she really wanted to be with. If she couldn't make up her mind, of course they'd leave her behind. Because, they knew, didn't they...?

If she could only make a choice--

"Aerith." The name burst out, quiet but urgent, as Tifa swung her legs out over the edge of the bed and sat up. She didn't know what she'd say next. Actually inviting her friend to share the bed wasn't a serious idea when she didn't even know if Aerith liked girls.

But when Tifa was answered with the click of the handle in the door, her next words became irrelevant. Her mouth slowly closed as she looked at Aerith's empty bed. Where was she going? ...Probably the bathroom... well, this way there was time to think about it, right? Maybe it was a bad idea to say anything to Aerith. Cloud had been her love much longer... and if something really was wrong with him, then she had to be there by his side.

Even if he didn't quite match up to her memory, either.

There was a rumble of fake thunder and a knock--not on their door, too muffled. One door to the right, though, which meant it was still one of their group's rooms. Tifa strained her ears as the door opened, but soon enough she could hear Aerith's humored giggle and relaxed. She was worrying too much. They were staying the night because the tram was broken, of course Shinra wouldn't be able to bother them tonight.

But who was Aerith visiting at this hour?

"A daa~aate!" Aerith's voice gaily sang out. "Or haven't you ever been on one?"

Tifa's breath caught, because there was only one person Aerith could possibly be asking to accompany her for a date. A lump rose in her throat.

No. No, no, no...

Cloud's voice was much milder, but it was still audible through the wall between the adjoining rooms, even if Tifa couldn't pick out the individual words. It didn't seem like an objection though, as Aerith's voice could be heard again, telling him to hurry up. This time the man's voice rose sharply--"Hey!"--but the protest was only a token one; Tifa could still hear two sets of footsteps leaving the room.

And then both rooms fell silent except for Yuffie's snoring. Tifa took her eyes from the door her friend had left through, looking flatly at the fake stone of the dungeon-themed room and trying to pick out any gaps or imperfections. To distract herself. To not think about it, how Aerith would likely...

Bit by bit, lure out the gentler Cloud.

Her hands gripped the crisply starched sheets tightly. They were going to leave her behind, because she hadn't made up her mind quickly enough.

...When had she gotten so scared of being left alone? But it didn't seem that unreasonable with everything that had happened. The little bit of home she'd scratched out for herself in Sector Seven had been buried under tons of steel, and they were all wanted by Shinra. Find Sephiroth and stop whatever his plan was--that sounded incredible, with Cloud just managing to somehow make it seem possible. Even if they pulled that off...would the group stay together? For how long? Everyone was looking for something different, and some days it seemed like they could split up just as easily and go their separate ways. Cloud most of all, in spite of past promises. Maybe Aerith could keep up with him, but...

Her head was starting to hurt a bit and she shook her head, annoyed and dismayed to find tears starting to spring up. She was being stupid, letting fear get ahead of her. Even if she didn't know what was in the future, even if they all split up and Cloud and Aerith vanished on the wind, she'd have Barret. They'd been friends for so long now, she knew she could stay with him if she needed to. There was no need to be scared. Not having a home and being unlucky in love didn't make her the fifteen-year-old who'd woken up in Midgar without anyone all over again.

"Ah." Tifa gritted her teeth and fell back against the mattress, pressing her palms to her closed eyes. Fear or grief, she didn't know what she was feeling and she didn't care, she just wanted it to go away. She blindly clutched the blanket and dragged it over her. It was night, it was late, she was tired and letting her thoughts run away; she could deal with her best friend and first (only?) love loving each other in the morning. It would look so much better; she might even forget to feel left out. She forced herself to take herself deep breaths and gradually, all too slowly, fell to sleep.

"Tifa! Tifa--I need to tell you--"

No. Aerith needed to go away before she got punched. Tifa screwed her eyes more tightly shut, not sure how long she'd been asleep but feeling like it'd been mere minutes; instead of well-rested, she felt even worse. A little on the dehydrated side, and far and away on the cranky side with Aerith being so worked up--the woman was even shaking her shoulder. Was she that excited from the date? Tifa was sure she couldn't bear to hear any of it. She turned her head further into the pillow, hoping Aerith would get the hint. She was asleep, she was too tired, not until morning. She could be happy for her friends in the morning.

The shaking stopped, but Aerith's hand stayed, and from the shifting of the mattress it seemed like the woman was only getting closer. Tifa reluctantly opened her eyes a pinch to see Aerith staring at her without any ounce of the expected joy on her normally happy face, only worry and concern. "Tifa... what's wrong?"

She blinked and felt two weak tears come loose--damn it--and Aerith was already sliding into the space she'd unthinkingly left open on the bed as she murmured, "Nothing. Bad dream..."

She tried to smile at Aerith, but Aerith frowned and drew her closer. Tifa tensed at the first touch of fingers brushing her bangs back, but the sweeping motion was gentle and calming. "'Nothing', really?"

"You know, we have our own beds tonight," Tifa pointed out. Calming fingers did not mean she was ready to be questioned on her messy feelings.

"Doesn't mean we can't share. Do you want me to get off?"

"Um..." Aerith hitched her eyebrows. "...stop that. No, you can stay. But it really wasn't anything serious. Just silly worries."

Maybe Aerith was just sharing the bed because she looked like a big baby right now, but still, her friend was here. Maybe it wasn't love, but she wouldn't be left behind. She just needed to start believing that.

"You want to talk about it?"

"...Didn't you have something to tell me?" Somewhat calmer now, Tifa could recognize Aerith hadn't actually sounded happy in waking her up. She'd just assumed the energy was out of excitement; Aerith wasn't the kind to throw herself pity parties for a date gone sour, so what else could it be?

As Tifa looked up at the brunette, this time she was sure: Aerith was upset herself. She still had yet to smile. "It can wait until morning," Aerith said, meeting Tifa's gaze. "Middle of the night, the best thing to do is sleep."

"I'm fine, Aerith. Tell me."

"...Alright. Cloud and I, we were, well--we found out who was the spy. Is," she corrected herself unhappily.

Tifa's crimson eyes had already widened and she quickly sat up in bed, half-guiltily looking over to Yuffie--still asleep in her bed, so certainly not her, for all the trickery back in Wutai. She looked at Aerith again and quietly demanded: "Who?"

"Cait Sith. He gave Tseng the Keystone. At the chocobo racing platform, the tram's still broken or at least that's what he says, Tseng was in a helicopter. ...And--Marlene--"

"--Marlene? What's she got to do with this?"

"She shouldn't," Aerith bit out, anger flashing across her expression before she shook her head. "...She was kidnapped by his operator. The demand is that Cait Sith stays with us."

No wonder Aerith hadn't changed out of her date outfit. Tifa didn't think either of them would be getting much sleep tonight.

So much for thinking Shinra couldn't touch them right now.

Comments

[raaj]

I could see that kind of confusion, but would expect that to only happen in a small section of the Japanese fanbase--any Western fan deliberately searched BC out, and most very likely because they already knew the series, and if they didn't probably gleaned quite a bit in their search.

I was about to say that I wasn't sure if tradition was pressed that much on Cloud given the oft-questioned nature of his family situation (and how popular the fanon of him being out-of-wedlock is), and then I remember Mama Strife was worrying over him facing the temptations of the city and encouraging him to hurry up and settle down with a girl who'd take care of him. So...yeah, actually, I can see him having thought at one point that people should wait until marriage, and even if he might not judge others for not waiting he's probably thinking "make the commitment, THEN..."

(Though I still laugh at humorous comments from Clouds in rp/fic thinking ironically that he had been such a loner as a kid who seemed like he would never date, his mom probably would have started "pimping him out" and taking a much more...involved role in him finding a girl to settle down with if that situation had continued much longer...)

Oh I think the talk is still going to be petrifying when it actually happens XD but Cloud voicing it like that would probably give encouragement that he might be open to this idea of a threesome. If he does love her, and not just Tifa. (I feel somewhat bad for Aerith--or whoever lays it out, but so far it's looking to be Aerith--as even though she's fairly bold just confessing to one person can be difficult; confessing to two people at once, and that you hope they love each other too/are ok with the thought of sharing/okay with two of the people involved being bi, seems absolutely petrifying. I imagine she's trying to scope some of this out beforehand and taking parts of it on faith from what she's seen of Tifa and Cloud throughout their journey and would be absolutely disappointed in them if she'd read wrong on some accounts (like if Cloud reacted badly to the idea of her loving Tifa), but still. Yeowza.) So far I like to think that when Aerith actually does lay it out, she is nervous and tells them flat-out that they are not to interrupt her until she's done because she is only saying this once!!! ...Okay she will say she loves them plenty more times if this goes at all well.

(Hojo stop being so narrow-minded! ...er maybe that's worse, I imagine him being slightly pleased she's at least fixing on the one successful clone... Hojo just needs to go away. He's creepy.)

I think I just like the idea that Cloud's reflex to Aerith bounding over to him (oh yes her affection can be enthusiastic when she wants) is to catch her/put his arms around her, even as he's going mentally keysmashing at the kiss itself. I am a fluff person. Give me fluff.

oh lol, Cait Sith 'overhearing' by the PHS always is a funny thing (which makes me think Reeve had Cait Sith mess with Cloud's PHS or maybe all of them to catch what everyone's saying... Yeah I really wouldn't put that past Reeve. Cait Sith can be very stealthy...in one way...!)

(I'm sure some are interpreting this as she was hoping that Cait would declare them incompatible so Aeris could turn to Tifa and ask if she would be the better match for Cloud. Then again, I wonder how much stock any of them would put in his predictions...)

...I'm. Pretty sure most Clotis just don't put stock into Cait Sith's predictions. But then there are all sorts of interpretations in FFVII fandom (on that note. I remember us talking once about some people blaming Tifa for not speaking up when Cloud was blamed for her accident. Guess what popped up tonight!) soooo I'm sure there's at least one person hoping Aerith's hoping to hear "Sorry Aerith, that star's going toooo...Tifa!" or even "Hmmm, how should I say this...ever thought about your compatibility with Tifa, Aerith?"

Ah, no worries, my memory goes faulty on stuff too sometimes. It's a bit silly as in the end it's just fanfic anyway, but I really do want to keep this canon up until that point to make it feel more strongly like maybe it could have gone that way, if Aerith had lived.

Cait Sith sounds scottish to me too, yeah. But it is an odd accent and a bit overdone.

Even though it's tricky because it really seems to a detached, omniscient third party perspective "please have someone else be party leader until Cloud has his head together", I think... there are also ways to have justified it. Going from how he's trusted other party members when they seemed suspicious so they want to repay that trust (Barret in Corel Prison especially comes to mind) to--for the purposes of the fic, since there's only the one incident (Cloud does not nearly kill Aerith at the City) it could be as simple as them being pressed for time from Gongaga--as soon as Cloud wakes up they know they need to find Aerith now, they can sort what's going on with Cloud once they find her since it's not like just leaving Cloud behind is at all an option any of the group would really want, except things get thrown into confusion again with Tifa nearly dying. (Kind of want to play with that too--the idea that at least some of the group would not see leaving Cloud behind as an option at all.)

...There were other things that came to mind too, except then they popped back out again. e_e my brain is being a sieve.


Yeah, thinking about the difficulty of the confession as above, I can see how the most common would be existing couples adding another partner...I think that was my experience too when I was searching around. And yes, definitely communication being important (..............which means definitely not going the CoT way on this 8|)

[sanctum_c]

...true, that point about BC might have been clutching at straws somewhat. (so who *were* these people painting Avalanche as the villains in VII, or at least claiming they were over-reacting/should have moved?)

Two good points at the same time there! Hehe. Yeah, on the one hand, Cloud's worry of traditionalism does seem a bit out of place given the questionable nature of his family (and it feels a fairly good reason why he would have been excluded back in Nibelheim) - unless he took it the other way and wanted to avoid giving rise to the situation again rather then seeing the pain that mandating that kind of traditional family could do in a community... And then yeah on the other hand, Mama Strife is really keen on an older mother-y girlfriend for him (it is actually curious that I've seen that given as Cloud/Aeris evidence before now. Which... um, well Mama Strife might have Cloud's best interests at heart, but he's not necessarily go in for that. The other-side to that is that while she isn't older then him, one anti-Cloud/Tifa argument revolves around Tifa's maternal side/her attitude to Cloud, and that's the reason she can't be with him. I don't buy into either of these arguments - the former is something I can easily see a parent telling their child in Cloud's position (Mama Strife concerned for her son), and in the latter... Um, that's just kinda weird).

Though! I am kind of amused that estimation of Cloud wanting to make a commitment before getting intimate sounds plasuible; he has no trouble with anyone else's stance, but that's his (...and one I fully expect to change rather rapidly once he's more aware of how the girls feel about him/they start kissing more often)

Haha! That's a great thoguht about Mama Strife pimping him out/taking a more involved role in finding him a girl to settle down with. And mortifying for poor Cloud as well...

There was no way I could see the three of them sitting down to talk as not being petrifying (unless the characters were switched out with extroverts with several past polyamorous relationships... and even then I can see it being nerve-wracking if you're not absolutely certain the other two are going to take to the idea). I really agree with Aeris taking the lead in bringing the subject up/being the first one to confess - just confessing to someone is nerve-wracking at the best of times, but to confess to two, and at the same time admit you're bi to someone who you're pretty sure is also bi, but there is this horrible possibility that no, they're so very hetero... Completely agree she's going to try and scope this out as much as possible before-hand/review every moment she's had with both of them mentally beforehand to try and convince herself that she isn't imagining it...

I like the idea of her laying it all out, and nervously asking them to not interrupt (I can see her being afraid if she gets interrupted it'll be too soon/if she pauses she won't be able to continue). And liking the idea of her saying she loves them a whole lot more afterward. Curious; is she just going to admit her own feelings and then hope the other two chime in, or is she going to set out the situation as she sees it; that she truly loves both Cloud and Tifa, she knows Tifa loves Cloud and she's reasonably sure that Tifa also loves her, also knows that Cloud has been crushing on Tifa since childhood and Aeris thinks/really hopes that Cloud loves her as well?

Fluff! Fluff is *wonderful*. And many other styles, but there is something to be said for warm fuzziness when everything goes right for the pairing/OT3. And Cloud's reflex/mental keyboard mashing as she kisses him sounds just right (that curious moment where his brain goes slightly out of step with "wow she's kissing me" and "wait she just kissed Tifa...")

Ah - that would make sense with Cait having tampered with the PHS like that. Or actually, given how likely the cellphone system is under Shinra control, possibly he can just patch himself into their calls directly (and activate the microphone at will...)

I didn't use to put any stock in Cait Sith's predictions... But then you told me that head-canon about Reeve thinking Cait was broken as every prediction was "North" (where is Sephiroth/where is Aeris), so I'm kind of split. But yes, so many interpretations (and ack for people blaming Tifa for that again - the unconcious for seven days bit does seem easily forgotten/overlooked). But yeah, I can see people hoping for Cait's prediction to come out a tad differently (I confess now to having warped that moment for 'A Series of Moments' again for Aeris/Tifa...) (though I like that phrasing from Cait)

Well, maybe slightly silly, but I know what you mean about adhereing to canon at least until the diverge point - and I really tried to do that too (with a few tweaks/canon-splices for the most part to shift things a little). So not to worry, I very much understand the desire to stick as closely as possible. And that will make it seem much more like an alternate possibility if you do stick to canon as much as possible. So I will continue to flag up anything that looks/feels like it might be deviated/go cross check with the script as well.

That's kind of a nice one, the group repaying Cloud with trust like that as he's trusted them in the past, despite suspicions. And yeah, I can see there simply being no time at Gongaga - they need to find Aeris right now before Sephiroth does...

Ack - I know the brain sieve feeling...

Haha! I would advise ignoring CoT altogether for any part of the relationship! But yes, to work they so desperately need to communicate... Though... even though a couple adding an additional partner like that, it still feels it would be so difficult to broach that subject, even if the couple were incredibly open with each other. Unless somehow one already knew the other felt like that and from that realised they were curious enough to try. But I can see the nerves of just bring the subject up and potentially risking things by broaching the subject (it feels so pessimistic but I can see someone's bad reaction to hearing their partner felt like that far too easily).

[raaj]

I think Mama Strife would approve of both Aerith and Tifa as slightly mother-y--but yeah, that doesn't mean Cloud has to do as she says, or that he's attracted to them for that side!

Yeah, I imagine Aerith's confession is both planned so, so much--but it's also prompted by the night to find their reason for fighting, it might be the last night they have (though I think she also has more faith that Holy will come through...but erm they still have to defeat Sephiroth, and she knows how deadly he can be). I am leaning toward the latter, but at the same time I'm also wibbling a bit on how much she's picked up that Tifa loves her/if she might still be worried she's reading too much into that even after the kiss (so while she lays out that they love each other, to make it clear she indeed loves both of them and is glad they love each other, she's really hoping that yes, they chime in on their feelings for her and want to be with her as well).

(that curious moment where his brain goes slightly out of step with "wow she's kissing me" and "wait she just kissed Tifa...")

and two plus two equals five. haha but yeah, he and Tifa are both going to be like "wow, what happened there? it was nice but.../CONFUSED" Aerith's fault for being so impulsive.

I didn't use to put any stock in Cait Sith's predictions... But then you told me that head-canon about Reeve thinking Cait was broken as every prediction was "North" (where is Sephiroth/where is Aeris), so I'm kind of split.

Haha I'm actually very tempted to use some of the Reeve/Cait Sith headcanon in this ficverse (either about Reeve finally realizing Cait's correct--or Reeve trying to approach either Cloud or Tifa about Cloud's completely buried files). But yeah, it's really the only the way I can reconcile the compilation going "he can find anything!" and at the same time, for a later timepoint in canon, "lol some of these predictions may have been made up." That the predictions at some point became so odd for Reeve that he was forced to just toss them out, not realizing that they really WERE right. (And that comment made me curious just now to make me go back and reread the temple...I was thinking for a moment you meant Aerith had asked her compatibility with Cloud, for Cait Sith to say something else. But ah, it's that she asked about the compatibility with Tifa--which makes sense for the fic!)

Yeah, I think the trust for Cloud would work for at least Barret, and that Aerith's insistence on trusting him would allay some team members (Yuffie having her crush on him and starting to like the party probably really wants to trust Aerith on this, so yeah...her and Nanaki...), Vincent can sympathize with Cloud on not having complete control, so. The big question marks are Cait Sith/Reeve and Cid...

(This is kind of terrible given the more positive turn the AU's taken, but at one point an idea for "the one who didn't die" AU was that Aerith had a sinking feeling she couldn't dissuade Cloud from continuing to the North Crater but he had to be stopped from coming into contact with Sephiroth again... so she approaches Cait Sith, who is also doubtful about Cloud, and they find a way to separate Cloud from the group. ...It involves the Turks. It was just oh Aerith even if this is supposed to be for his own good IT REALLY SUCKS, the poor guy, especially as... The "bad end" route was going to be that the group manages not only to reclaim the Black Materia and keep it without Cloud, but also destroys Sephiroth's body, with Vincent killing Hojo, all up at the North Crater. OK, this sounds all good so far... the bad part is that with Sephiroth's body destroyed, he makes the same final attack he does as in canon--attacking Cloud in a battle of wills. ...Cloud having not had his identity restored, and believing Aerith and others in the party don't trust him, has his mind completely broken and is taken over by Sephiroth's undivided will. Cue several grisly deaths and good job breaking the guy you love, Aerith. /_\ Ditched because I wasn't sure about Aerith or Reeve doing that, even if they believe at the time they're doing what's best for everyone, that's a rather old idea now, but just. Yeah. I've always seen it as easy for Reeve to be reasonably skeptical of what's going on with Cloud.)

This pretty much sums up to the usual: "I need to write more"! To figure out what is going on with Reeve/Cait Sith and Cid here...though I suppose if it gets too knotty I can always follow canon's route and just...gloss over it. (Well, and if it's just Cait Sith and Cid there's also the chance that they DO object to someone, the others shoot them down, and they're just like "gdit you guys are wrong but okay, let's go stop Sephiroth" since the majority is in Cloud's favor.)

Oh, I don't think that fear of bad reaction is pessimistic. But there's all types of people and there's a chance the couple themselves met/developed in a way that they're aware neither one subscribes to traditional relationships, which would make raising the issue easier.

[sanctum_c]

...you realise that now, I really want to see Mama Strife in an AU meeting both Tifa and Aeris and quizzing them about themselves and how they feel about Cloud, all the while Cloud is sat there feeling uncomfortable and embarassed and eventually leaves... Then Mama Strife drops the act and just talks amiably to the two girls and ultimately confesses she could never choose between them and they should both go for Cloud (having picked up an unspoken attraction between the two girls as well) (I like to think Mama Strife is pretty cool all things considered). Which... is likely AU fluff of the highest order - and trickier to arrange without a lot of canon breaks, but is so tempting...

Ah, I can see Aeris being prompted by the last night - and having a lot of faith that Holy is going to get them out of their doomed situation, and her having gone over and over and over what she's going to say (and with a whole set of back-up plans if she's misread the situation; if Holy fails she's only got one day of embarassment left, and if it does work she'll move to Wutai and take up Zen gardening or something (... I'm not totally sure where that one was going)). I like the idea of her laying out that they do love each other, and she loves both of them - really hoping, and pretty sure they'll chime in as she expects (I think she might confess her feelings first or else the two of them might think she's trying to set them up with just each other then the three of them together).

But, oh, where would they be without Aeris' impulsiveness? I do like the thought that both Cloud and Tifa are still getting their head around their respective kisses when she offers to kiss Cid and that's just confusing the situation so much/both of them are wondering how best to take her to one side and getting their specific feelings towards her off their chests - maybe figuring she seems to like them that much, while they have this desire for the other person they do realise how much they love her.

Heh - that head-canon would be nice to read in the fic, and I do like that reconciling of the Compilation like that (which given the way its written it is pretty weird that Cait was once that accurate... but then not in the original). It does seem that there is a fixation on the third Gold Saucer prediction and the Temple one for VII (and everyone forgetting the first two less then coherent ones/Cait Sith never making another prediction as far as I remember). Heh; yeah I did ponder sticking to canon with the prediction at the Temple, but that really felt an odd move on Aeris' part so that one had to give.

Interestingly, I think you have made a previous suggestion which might help with the party and trusting Cloud - you had the head-canon that possibly the other party members were out looking for Aeris when Cloud comes to in Gongaga, so while Barret and Tifa would trust Cloud, and a large number of the others, the others don't necessarily have to be there when he does come to, and they can be called to converge on the Forgotten City/arrive just in time for Tifa's injury or just before. Hmm... not sure...

No idea is terrible! And darkfic is still interesting to discuss, and possibly useful to know precisely where things will wind up if it all goes wrong... I'd agree that I can see Reeve being reasonably skeptical of Cloud like that...And both of those ideas are really interesting as an alternate ending, and while the outcome will be unpleasant, I do like that idea of Cloud having that final battle in his mind, but since his mind hasn't been repaired at Mideel he loses... If nothing else as above they serve as a this is what would happen if it isn't prevented, so you know more why the specifics of why they need to act as they're going to...

Haha - its sort of bad that you could take the canon route and gloss over things, but it is in keeping. Hoepfully you'll figure something out there (kinda brain-dead here at the mometn sorry).

Ah, yes, I can see the polyamory discussion being a lot easier if they did meet knowing neither was entirely into traditional relationships. And oh, I think I confused that point a bit before; I meant I felt pessimistic for thinking it - that the aftermath of a confession like that could be really bad if they don't feel similarly. I can imagine even people who are pretty sure they know they partner really well still get nervous broaching the subject the first time...

(but its far more fun to think of the Cloud/Tifa/Aeris scenario you're building)

[raaj]

I vote that should go in the AU where Aerith grows up with Cloud and Tifa in Nibelheim (since it's pretty bound to break canon anyway!) But yes, the thought of Mama Strife being accepting as long as it makes her baby boy happy is a nice one. Also lmfao at Cloud getting all embarrassed and walking out only to realize "oh god the three most important women in my life will all be able to get together to mortify me from now on. asdfkl."

(and with a whole set of back-up plans if she's misread the situation; if Holy fails she's only got one day of embarassment left, and if it does work she'll move to Wutai and take up Zen gardening or something (... I'm not totally sure where that one was going))

Last night I was idly thinking of either Cloud or Tifa, totally flustered and blindsided, kind of stalling and asking her what she's even thinking, how this would work and what would she have done if they'd told her this was nuts because it's sounding like that? To which she is bluntly frank and says she would be heartbroken and cry a lot but try to find a new dream but she really, really hopes they're not going to say that. The reaction is kind of 'oh please no you crying would be the worst thing, don't.' "Then consider it seriously, all right? I really do want this to work!" Not really sure where that thought was going either...haha, I don't think I'll know exactly how that scene unfolds until it's actually written out. Though I am planning that she starts by telling them she wants her future to be with both of them-- because yes for making it clear this is about the three of them, not Cloud and Tifa alone. (That said I can still easily see Cloud and Tifa getting confused about what she's trying to do given everything, and depending on what kind of tack she takes...)

And that is an interesting thought about one of them trying to take her aside beforehand--I'd been considering Cloud, being antsy about the whole thing now that he realizes, is probably causing his own wrinkles in the situation: either being nervous around the girls enough that they realize something is different, and/or trying to "solve" it somehow (which is a curious thought for him trying to take Aerith aside afterward and muddle through his thoughts to her--or even taking Tifa aside and asking her if she...well...liked kissing Aerith (because if she loves Aerith maybe he doesn't have to reject either)...and Tifa is just like "where did this question even come from and what in the world is he thinking???". ...Reminds me of when in the Zack/Cloud/Aerith rp, before they actually all figured out the ot3, both guys managed to ask Aerith if she loved the other. She was like "Ummmmmm. ...Wow, am I about to screw up our relationship being honest?" Seriously, awkward question ahoy.) Though Tifa and Cloud both wanting to take Aerith aside, but getting frustrated by little worries/bad timings/annoying teammates, is pretty cute.

Yeah, the order compilation was written in makes that seriously weird. And I'm sure with the LTD they didn't want to just go and say "Oh all his predictions were accurate!" though they could have (even if the first two are...odd. there's nothing necessarily wrong about them.) So it's just a weird situation in general.

Hm. While I wanted to keep the idea of party members looking for Aerith, I'm not sure I wanted everyone to end up so far apart. I'd have to think about it; I'm going back at the moment and trying to fill in the earlier Gongaga scene with Tifa and Aerith (it's...an odd start so far. Not sure I'm taking the right approach at all, but I'll muddle a bit further before cutting things...)

That is true, even if bad endings are too dark they help figure out why Aerith (and other characters) should, would, or wouldn't do certain things. And ooh yes, that's true; even with a nontraditional background, shaking up a relationship could easily feel uncomfortable.

[sanctum_c]

Oh, I'm going to have to start figuring that AU out now (though I'd really want to start with Mama Strife (and for ease of reference, I will probably use Dala as a reference to Scribbler. Especially as I want her to be very personable once they've scared Cloud out of the house and insist they call her by her first name. And other Mama Strife first names are thin on the ground) sitting down with the three of them to discuss the situation and then fill in the back-story after that); as that little group is far too much fun (I see this as being so *amazingly fluffy* Tifa's mother is still alive, Papa Strife is missing, but Gast and Ifalna live in the town as well... That or it can start nice enough and then Zack and Sephiroth show up on cue...)

Those are adorable responses from Aeris about what she would do if the other two had told her she's nuts (though from that phrasing, the back of her mind would be clinging onto "That's not a no. That's really not a no. That's a what if; not only a what if, but the one *other* then how she does feel"), and yeah both of them reddened and flustered. Looking forward to it when it does get written though; and I do like the opening about making it clear it's about all three of them - though even then I can see Tifa maybe with a sinking heart thinking that she's trying to withdraw as she can't possibly be confessing to her and Cloud... right? And Cloud is sort of regretful, sort of thankful that he never had to choose between them...

Ah, I like that idea of one of them taking the other to one side first like that; in fact I think I like the one where he tries to figure out if Tifa loves Aeris the most there... though the other with him taking Aeris to one side is so tempting. Or if possible both, and then Aeris declares they need to sit down, *right now* and get this situation cleared up. Hahah! Oh what a situation in that RP; being able to screw up the relationship by being honest... At least I remember that one did eventually resolve happily.

Hehe - yeah Cait Sith's first two predictions aren't necessarily wrong... we just have no idea what they mean (plus if Cait Sith did use to be prophetic, it would have been nice if he'd predicted Meteor or Sephiroth... Though I suppose it depends on how it works; can he jsut give specific answers to specific questions?)

Heh - given my preference for keeping Avalanche together as a group, I'm not totally in favour of having them so far apart - though it does offer a way to avoid a wrinkle with the party leadership... Intrigued as to how the Gongaga section is going to go...

[raaj]

Speaking of Scribbler's fic--"Triangle" updated! And it really is about Cissnei and Aerith this update. For the Aerith in Nibelheim I can see Mama Lockhart still dying for the mountain incident to occur and there being that wrinkle between the children before they finally figure things out (...hm. especially if perhaps the Faremis family moves in after it's happened, so Aerith has no clue about how Cloud was beforehand/anything possibly happened). But they do get that sorted out, and things are nice enough, and then...yeah, maybe Shinra arrives as Zack and Sephiroth...! (...I'm bad at doing only fluff, I suppose. XD)

Oh yes, Aerith is very much telling herself it's not a rejection until they flat out say "no way". If they seem at all hesitant she's still got her foot in the door...! And yeah I can see even as she's talking about all three of them having a future together Cloud and Tifa start thinking she's talking about 'as friends' since she's also talked about how perfectly they worked together in the Lifestream, and she loves how Tifa is this and this and this, and she loves Cloud's such and such qualities and they're still thinking "she's friendzoning herself and we're not sure how we feel but we should be happy she thinks we make a good couple, right?" and then she's like "whew... ...okay, I know I said not to interrupt, but you guys are taking this better than I expected. Were threesomes a thing in Nibelheim?" "What?!" "What do you mean, what?!" "(mentally reviewing the part where she was going "I love this and this about Tifa and blahblahblah about Cloud" and) ...Aerith, we thought you were saying something different the whole time." "...Um. So now that you know what I'm saying, you're not going to actually... freak out, right?"

...So, when it comes time to actually write this, I'll have to sit on my hands a few times to keep the dialogue from turning absolutely silly just because.

Haha I kind love the Cloud taking Tifa aside one most too, just for the inherent absolute awkward of it. And yes, the rp did work out well for everyone. :)

To be honest, of the Cait Sith predictions I always did love that one of the seemingly frivolous ones includes "Be careful of forgetfulness." CLOUD YOU NEEDED TO TAKE THAT ONE TO HEART.

I'd say...BC kind of plays it as both "specific answers to specific questions" and general feelings; for example, Reeve is aware the Turks were likely to need his help and attributes it to the fortune-telling, but doesn't know what they need him for. And then he can tell a specific thing like "is it down this path y/n". So he wouldn't have predicted Meteor or Sephiroth, but he might have had a general ominous feeling...? (Which he probably put down to "my company is crazy and willing to destroy 1/8 of the city to take care of some rebels and we control the world, no wonder it feels like the world's going to end. It'll probably be because of Shinra." ...Cue a few weeks down the road and he's got his head in his hands because why, whyyyyy, he wasn't even meaning to tell the future that time)

Actually I should have noted even in both versions I've done of the temple aftermath I've been having Cait Sith be skeptical of Cloud:

First version (Aerith fails to mention Sephiroth) -

His fault? No, with what Aerith was saying it was definitely still his doing, setting a sinking weight in Tifa's heart. What was this talk about nightmares for? He'd been wide awake. All it sounded like was Aerith inexplicably trying to take responsibility for getting hurt, and Cait Sith spoke the uncomfortable thought out loud: "Lass, ye can't blame yerself for--"

"You don't blame him!" It was nearly incoherent, thoroughly petulant, and tears were already showing. Any doubts Tifa had of a concussion vanished and she tried to shush her friend, who kept shouting: "You didn't hear screaming? He was screaming. Didn't you hear it? He didn't--didn't want--"

"Aerith, I'm going to heal you," Tifa told her. "Just calm down, okay? We'll work it out."

She wished she could believe herself, but it was obvious Aerith had been rattled hard by the hit...and who had delivered it. She even couldn't--or maybe didn't want to--resist the calming effect of the Restore: as soon as the spell was cast, she slumped bonelessly against Tifa's shoulder. Tifa rummaged for a handkerchief to mop up the blood, pulling back the other woman's hair to check that the bleeding there was stopped.

Second version -

"A nightmare," came the slow answer, slurred past the broken nose, the "v"s and "t"s thick. "Never knew there were such bad nightmares...ah. Sephiroth took the black materia."

"Sephiroth came back?!"

"...Took it from Cloud?" Cait Sith asked shrewdly. Aerith's head jerked up and Tifa bit out a frustrated "Cait!" Aerith was so vulnerable right now, so was Cloud; they didn't need to be questioned.

Who was she protecting more?

Aerith herself seemed set on defending Cloud as she kept her head tilted up toward the robot. "Cait, please. I know you...had to sacrifice yourself..." Her brows knit together, as if she couldn't reconcile what she was saying with who she was talking to.

"I'm the replacement, miss," Cait Sith explained, and his face had softened as much as a robot's could; he seemed about to say more, but Aerith was persisting over him:

"Please don't blame Cloud. He was screaming, in so much pain. The Planet's screaming now too."

...Aaaand both versions have me playing with Aerith hearing the "real" Cloud's struggle in his out-of-body experience, and the first one with how concussions can cause irritability and other mood issues (also it was just very tempting to have her eventually yell at someone "are you deaf?" for something only she can hear, even if I removed that specific phasing later. I AM AMUSED IN TRIVIAL WAYS.)

...So I'm pretty sure at this rate Cait's going to be kept as a skeptical figure, not because he dislikes Cloud but just, you know. It doesn't seem right. He might try talking to Tifa about the files but get shut out as a traitor/he just wants to make her doubt Cloud (...which Sephiroth will do in the future, and back at Shinra HQ Reeve's just probably going to rub his temples and wish his cover hadn't been blown because the dismissal is understandable in that light but no, something about this really is wrong, even if Aerith's right about not blaming Cloud--especially if she is, as it indicates he's not in complete control of himself). And then at the altar it's a split-second decision Tifa makes: she wants to see Aerith too, and she wants to protect Cloud and believe in him but she wants Aerith safe too and she's known all along something might not be right with Cloud, maybe there's something to the missing files Cait Sith mentioned, so she'll just go ahead of him and...make sure there's not another 'nightmare'. So she touches Cloud's arm and indicates she wants to go up first--he lets her--aaaand then Sephiroth comes swooping down.

I think my issue with the Gongaga section is I feel so shaky writing about Tifa's side of what she knows. Like, right now there's a moment where she's like "Aerith is upset, and Cloud you should just come out and say that since you're thinking it, don't beat around the bush--but don't ask her about Zack. Please don't ask about Zack." And it's like auuugh Tifa that's terrible. Hopefully understandable in the context of the whole dilemma, but still...

[sanctum_c]

Oh neat about 'Triangle' being updated (thanks for letting me know), and that sounds like it should be interesting (just need to finish off 'But that Was in...' first. Or at least read as much of it as there was. On reflection the underground bunker they hide in at first feels a bit weird as there are supposed to be other survivors there, only three deaths are mentioned, but it really feels as if its only Avalanche down there. Not that I mind, it does just feel a little odd that the other survivors were specified if never really depicted).

Ah, I like that idea of having Aeris and family move in after the mountain incident like that; actually that would then be a good point to diverge off canon thinking about it - so rather then Cloud stewing alone and getting fixated on Sephiroth he meets Aeris who calms him down, and once Tifa is up and about again is able to get them talking to each other/get the mess cleared up... so Cloud no longer runs away. And all is great, Mama Strife has her meeting with both girls a few years later... Actually kinda torn on the Shinra arrival part; it would allow for the game plot to start creeping in/hint at the game-plot depending on how long the idea winds up being - but at the same time, I kind of want the trio to be a few years older... Hmm... Well, I have other fics to worry about first so that can go on the back-burner for now (need to finish fixing '48 Exposures' and resume 'The Fire Dancer'), but I know I'm going to wind up thinking about this one/possibly just write the meeting with Mama Strife at least...

...while I can see sitting on your hands to keep the dialogue from being absolutely silly, I really did like the misunderstanding there/how well Aeris thinks it's going/versus how Tifa is perceiving the situation - and I can see how they could interpret her comments about what she loves about both of them as a preamble to something like, "And I think you both feel the same way about each other" and as you said friendzoning herself pretty amazingly. And I really do like that she thinks this has gone amazingly well all things considered and says the bit about the threesome. It is silly, but pretty adorable. Tonally it might seem slightly off with the rest of the fic sadly, but still neat to read.

I do like how you're setting the three of them up to basically assume that the other two are going to be a couple for most of the fic and that they will start trying to figure out if they should step back and let the others be happy - except for Aeris who's decided that she doesn't want to choose. And I can see Cloud being extremely flustered/awkward as he tip-toes(/stumbles heavily) around the subject of Tifa and Aeris as a couple...

Haha! Oh, I'd forgotten about that prediction. Yeah, Cloud really needed to keep hold of that one.

Ah, that does make sense for Cait Sith/Reeve's prophetic ability - and I can't help but smile once again at the prophetic ability being entirely correct in a way he never expected - and him sitting with his head in his hands frustrated that he knew something was wrong but had thought it was just Shinra being crazy... (...there does seem to be a lot of scope for darkly comic Reeve/Cait Sith stuff where his prophecy is frequently accurate, just never clear enough/soon enough to be helpful.

Torn on both of those versions of the scene; I know you were worried about Aeris not mentioning Sephiroth, but the first version I think justifies that lack of mention since Aeris doesn't realise yet she's the only one to have heard what she did; and her reaction to the concussion feels right with her addled thoughts/she's far more worried about Cloud's perception after this then trying to explain the situation. The second one emphasises Cait's suspicion more/has a nice moment of confusion about the nature of Cait Sith/the person operating it, but also that he can sympathise with her.

Cait as a skeptical figure sounds good like that, and I can see him trying to bring up the the lack of files on Cloud, and she doesn't want to hear it (and yeah, Reeve is really going to regret his cover being blown like that, as they really do need to know this stuff if Aeris is right)... and I like that way the altar scene will change; Tifa worried about another nightmare and going up ahead of Cloud...

Hmm... I can see that being an issue with that portion of Gongaga. That is indeed not great what Tifa's thinking, but I would say understandable in context (or at least I can see why she would really hope he doesn't ask her directly like that). This really is one of those moments in FFVII where some of the character's attitudes admissions or omissions are a little hard to get into the mindset of, so I can see it being tricky to get to sound right...

[raaj]

That's very true, the other survivors are so inconsequential (especially as the fic doesn't give a very optimistic view of them continuing long-term) that it's a bit surprising they're even there.

Yeah, now when I think of the AU Nibelheim myself I keep...trying to add more Shinra plot in (kind of a "wait, if Nibelheim is quietly a big deal for Shinra, isn't that the WORST place for Gast and his family to go to?" with my mind quietly trying to add in a reasoning for why Gast moved there... It's tempting now to have Cloud starting to stew, get in that phase that he idolizes Sephiroth--and then the first time he mentions it to the new girl, thinking of everyone in town she's least likely to laugh at him, she shoots it down as it being stupid to admire Sephiroth, he should just be himself. And Cloud's rather put off by this at first but she's otherwise friendly, so gradually they get to be friends, and he resolves things with Tifa... and it's years later that he realizes Aerith knows Sephiroth personally, and Sephiroth is the reason the Faremis family is not just alive but in Nibelheim: the company is keeping tabs on Gast but keeping him alive after MAJOR shit hit the fan when their child-soldier-in-training found out Hojo's plans for Gast and his family. ...Hojo is definitely not alive in this train of thought. Now that Sephiroth has been shipped out to Wutai, Gast is no longer useful to Shinra as a scientist but they know if they eliminate him they're going to risk Sephiroth's wrath and ahaha that was bad enough when he was seven. So Aerith is grateful for Sephiroth's actions considering the possible (canon) alternative course, and she feels sorry for him, but she also considers the whole fact that her family's lives have hinged on keeping him placated terrifying for what it says about Sephiroth's abilities and Shinra's nature and she's just "NOPE DON'T WANT ANY CUTE NEW FRIENDS ANYWHERE NEAR THAT".) Probably much too knotty for what you want to do. I just. My mindset is continually one of "but why is it like that?" with so many things. For a cute fic it'd be soooo much easier to have Hojo die some other way and Shinra's attentions just shift elsewhere. But I'm definitely looking forward to "48 Exposures" and "The Fire Dancer"!

I do like how you're setting the three of them up to basically assume that the other two are going to be a couple for most of the fic and that they will start trying to figure out if they should step back and let the others be happy - except for Aeris who's decided that she doesn't want to choose. And I can see Cloud being extremely flustered/awkward as he tip-toes(/stumbles heavily) around the subject of Tifa and Aeris as a couple...

Haha, I like this viewpoint of it too. Though I can't promise it's set in stone--well, Aerith and Tifa both see how the other two work as a couple, yeah. Still trying to figure out when it really clicks for Aerith "wow that is not entirely friendly love for Tifa there, is it?" And then Cloud is stumbling like a drunk around the whole thing, yes. What is love? Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more ♫ I keep returning to, in the Cloud-Aerith aspect, him worrying that it's because he was acting like Zack--or just for both of them worrying he'd screw up and hurt them in a relationship somehow (Clooouuuud). Though it probably depends on how I want to play off him getting himself back together--he could just simply decide to trust Aerith when she says yes, she loves him, as himself. And doubts can always creep in during the next part (if there is the third part, I really need to finish the first part first, haha).

I think the dark comedy--or that mix of irony against everything serious--is what really appeals to me about seeing a Reeve OG-timeline fic. Hopefully lighter bits of humor too, but it really is interesting to think about Reeve's perspective on things...

...I'm torn on both versions myself. The reason I initially didn't like the first version was because I was having trouble transitioning with everyone figuring out what to do about Cloud, but then yesterday I realized I could just cut to Gongaga after Aerith drops off against Tifa's shoulder and show Tifa going back between a sometimes-conscious Aerith and totally-checked-out-from-reality Cloud while explaining a bit what's up with each of them, and then when she's exhausted she curls up next to Aerith to sleep...waking up a bit when Aerith unexpectedly gets up from bed, but Aerith reassures her she's fine and will take care of things now, so Tifa doesn't have to worry, go back to sleep silly... (cue Cid cursing in the Gongaga jungle a few hours later over where the hell that dang flower girl could have gone off to). From there another bit with Cloud, maybe the scene with Cait Sith mixed in, and then the City of Ancients. ...And...actually I think it MIGHT have just come together in my head how both Cait Sith and Cloud's scenes can play off each other to reinforce Tifa's belief that she can't tell Cloud about what she remembers of Nibelheim while also being a little tipping point to her stopping Cloud when he wants to go up to meet Aerith--and at that point it might be a definite change to canon, rather than just an addition. But it's something I can easily see having happened in canon, too, if it just so happened for the opportunity to line up...

...I want to write! (Even if I'm not sure the scene will come out on paper as well as it seems in my head right now. I'm probably overlooking something.) I'll probably go with the first scene for now, and hopefully find another way to work in more of Cait's qualities; in the second version I felt kind of odd with Aerith's lines, in spite of (or maybe because of) her being more coherent.

And...I'm actually really glad you can see Tifa's POV being tricky to get sounding right, because I was starting to get hung up on that I was being unreasonably biased or something. But it's not like we're ever supposed to think that what she did was right--just understandable. And it is a difficult situation to be caught in.

[sanctum_c]

Oh, not to worry, that was an interesting read, and I like to figure out how things have wound up as they have too... They're interesting background ideas though so I am going to bear it in mind regardless. But heh - yeah easiest to just have Hojo killed off somewhere and Shinra give up on the whole Promised Land thing (maybe Rufus could wrest control of the company at some point... though probably still a bit of a mismatch - I can't remember how old he's supposed to be). I do like that moment of Cloud meeting Aeris and her just shooting down the Sephiroth admiration and telling Cloud to be himself... And from that that he works hard and clears things up with Tifa. And I kind of like that idea that the younger Sephiroth is the major reason why the Faremis family is still okay - but yeah I can see Aeris wanting Sephiroth wanting away from her friends - she's grateful, but woah Sephiroth is scary!

...dang, I'm thinking about this idea now... No! Other ones first...

Hmm... yeah, not sure when Aeris would realise her feelings for Tifa are stronger then maybe she previously realised like that - I kind of want to say after she saves her at the altar in the Forgotten City, but I'm wondering if she'd try to dismiss that as part of heightened emotions due to what has just happened. I suppose it could be during or after the Gold Saucer date when she sees Tifa again... Hmm... yeah its an odd one to judge really. Haha - nice song reference for Cloud there... But yeah, I can see him worrying about if Aeris' behaviour towards him is like that due to him acting like Zack (noooooo Cloud. She likes you!) - though I kind of like him simply deciding to trust Aeris; hopefully he'll get the idea at some point that she really does mean what she says...

Heh - a very mixed Reeve fic like that sounds fun; and I don't think I've read too much from Reeve's perspective - whether in canon timeline or otherwise (and to connect to the discussion of fan-games, more of him while working for Shinra could be interesting - or just seeing how he copes day-in, day-out with the less then wonderful people he's working with (...the hopefully humorous sequence where the Turks drag him out drinking))

Ah! Glad things have come together - and yeah that transition between the scenes sounds workable (especially considering how FFVII itself handled the move to Gongaga). And I like the bittersweet curling up next to Aeris, feeling her get up but being assured she'll be back... And then she's gone and everyone's looking for her. Especially good if your ideas can now reinforce why Tifa can't tell Cloud about Nibelheim - and even better if it feels like it could have happened in canon as well.

The desire to write is good! And worry not about it not coming out on paper as it does in your head (that happens to me all the time... suddenly I find events much further in coming out in conversation alarmingly sooner/conversations taking whole new unintended routes). I think you might be right about the second version of the scene as well...

Very yes about Tifa's POV. Getting it to sound right is a real balancing act; as you said - we're never meant to think it was right to lie to Cloud like that, but we are supposed to empathise with her decision to do so and how she coped with the situation as it stood, or failing that just understand why she did in a tremendously difficult situation.

[raaj]

Haha, ideas do like to crowd.

I kind of want to make Aerith's feelings for Tifa a gradually increasing thing...strangely enough part of me wants to put the actual realization at the strangest place of in the fallout of their argument, with Aerith figuring out just why it hurts so much. (...That really doesn't make it feel better, either...)

There's still other potential chapters though...trying to figure out how it might go. ...And I was about to do a "potential" outline here before realizing it was getting waaay too long, lmfao. Basically there's easy opportunities for at least seven sections and so far I'm actually only sure about doing four, (the first shared night, Gongaga, Wutai, and date night through to the altar), which seems really short now that I list them out like that soooo yeah. There will probably be other scenes added in and that might add a way to get Aerith thinking earlier on/set up to have her realize later on (tempting to do one after Cosmo Canyon where Aerith's still sad about being the last Ancient, then confesses to feeling a bit guilty--she's long wanted to eventually have a child and partly so she wouldn't be the only one, even though she knows that isn't a good reason, and that gets them talking about families and tangenting into love).

(and to connect to the discussion of fan-games, more of him while working for Shinra could be interesting - or just seeing how he copes day-in, day-out with the less then wonderful people he's working with (...the hopefully humorous sequence where the Turks drag him out drinking))

...this made me think of a fairly simple flash game--"Every Day The Same Dream". You play an office worker who every day goes to work in his cubicle and has a soulless existence both at work and at home. In the elevator of his apartment building is a lady who tells him that if he takes five steps, he will become a new person. It's very simple and almost automatic to just do the normal routine of getting him to his job... the actual game is finding the "five steps" of ways he can break the routine and do something else, even if it's simply in his dreams. That game becomes morbid (three of the steps are innocent, but one is finding a cemetery, another jumping off the office building--for every step you take the company's progress is shown to decline, and once you've done all five every other person will be absent from the surroundings--even the elevator lady--until you go back to the office roof. There the music stops and you see an employee standing on the ledge ready to jump as you did in a previous dream. All you can do is approach him until he jumps and the game itself resets) but it's kind of funny to think of a game with Reeve where doing the routine is easy and the game is to try to throw a wrench in things without getting him in too much trouble.

As for the rest of what will be the final bit of "Sleeping Arrangements"... I think it's mostly a matter of writing it, now!

[sanctum_c]

So many ideas... so many other distractions. I could do everything if I didn't have that pesky job thing.

Hmm... I do like the idea of Aeris' feelings being a gradually increasing thing; it has a kind of right feel for them to have gotten to a point where Aeris is invested, but hasn't ever stepped back to think of how she feels objectively. She's been too close for too long, and gotten so very used to physical intimacy (with the Sleeping Arrangements of the title) that she doesn't realise she feels so strongly about Tifa. ...I can see the rationale of putting the realisation at that point, and that makes sense that if hurting so much worse then she would have expected leads to her examining things more closely... and yeah its not going to help her feel better, but is going to spur her to repair the breach as fast as possible (though I'd expect Aeris to do that regardless)

Hooray for potential other chapters! The existing four don't seem too bad time-wise. They feel largely spread equidistantly across that stage of the journey/storyline. But... more sounds good to read (so I may be slightly biased). One at Cosmo Canyon like that sounds interesting - I haven't seen many fics which actually pick up on how Aeris' feelings about being the last Cetra/the possibility that she feels she should have a child to perpetuate her line (usually things get side-tracked into pre-destined sacrifice which is frustrating most of the time). And I like the idea she has always contemplated having a child - and definitely that this is not the reason she should be considering it really. And the lead into families and love sounds good (and presumably steering clear of that sort-of crackfic idea where Tifa and Aeris sit Cloud down to ask him to help one or both of them conceive a child (unlike the fempreg one where they have to admit Aeris has gotten Tifa pregnant...)).

I shall have a look for the flash-game you mentioned - though yeah, that sounds pretty morbid... BUt as a basis for Reeve, I can see that. And I like the idea of figuring out how to throw the wrench in without causing too much trouble for him.

Hooray! And good luck with writing the remainder. Always happy to read more of it.

[raaj]

I think I also just want to play around with both the kind of--alternating interpretations of Aerith, her being so knowledgeable about relationships, her being fresh-faced and innocent... she's had one more dating relationship than Cloud and Tifa. That really isn't saying much!! So it's just... easy to see her kind of worldly about relationships in one way, with Midgar exposing her to all sorts of things, and once she knows what she wants she's determined to get it... and yet at the same time being "the last Cetra" has set her far apart from others emotionally, and she pined over Zack for so long that even as she's accepting of bisexuality it never totally clicked for her that she might be bisexual until she's in deep over her best friend. And now her best friend is mad at her and oh god noooooo.

That said I will probably have to watch my characterization of Aerith a bit as I know I tend to trip off to my own extremes, lmfao. Probably inevitable when you've thought about one character long enough.

Well--that's actually a good point, that they're spread out pretty equally. It just seemed sparse to me. I'll probably just have to write out the scenes, then see what's missing/what other threads could be picked up on. ffffffffffff I never like the predestined sacrifice thing at Cosmo Canyon. If she learned she was the last Cetra and that she was going to die there I would expect her to be all "BUT I WANTED A FUTURE :(" not "I'M ALL ALONE :("; to me it just seems obvious she feels alone because all the other Cetra are dead and she's going to keep living even if it's as the last one. And...haha, yes, to get off a potential rant, yes the Cosmo Canyon will steer plenty clear of Aerith musing how to ask Cloud to help her conceive--though it might solidify Tifa's view that Aerith is never going to be looking for a relationship with another girl since Aerith really seems to want a biological child.

Hopefully I will get more of it done soon! Admittedly I kind of squandered today fiddling around with my writing program/reacquainting myself with the bells and whistles rather than writing... er, well actually I have like three different programs for text documents; xPad, textedit and Scrivener. Textedit I don't use too much, mostly for storing documents, xPad is where I tend to tuck in a lot of different little things I'm working on at the moment because it lets you switch between documents easily as they're all "open" and this is where I was originally writing out all of Sleeping Arrangements, except in one document (the number of documents in the notepad is already a silly amount)--then everything was breaking up into way too many scenes to scroll through the thing easily so I moved it all to Scrivener, which actually is designed for novel-writing projects and such (and is much too fun to play with). So. Yes. Need to stop fiddling with the bells and whistles and just write more (kind of want to go through everything and take notes/edit first though...but that's probably more of my fiddling talking, ahaha.)

[sanctum_c]

I like that idea of alternating the interpretations of Aeris; she does give that impression of being knowledgable about relationships while still being quite innocent about all kinds of things - and yep, only one more dating relationship then Cloud or Tifa. (I have this idea that Aeris might be really intrigued about relationships and what one would get up to, but has never found anyone she like she did about Zack before meeting Cloud and Tifa. So now she's entertaining new ideas). So, yeah, I can see if being really easy for her to seem wordly about relationships with living near Wall Market and Midgar in general. And I like that aspect that being the last Cetra does set her apart, and the accepting bisexuality without really considering what's happened until she's in deep and her would be girlfriend is furious (poor Aeris, but I know it will turn out for the best!)

I can see the chapters feeling a little sparse, but then at some areas there aren't as other decent way-points. Random thought that just occured as I was thinking you could do a Nibelheim set chapter... and then I realised you have that short fic about Aeris kissing Cloud while he's asleep - which as much as I remember it feels like it could fit in for a more overt indicator of Aeris liking Cloud...

Ah, not to worry, I don't like the pre-determined sacrifice ever; depressing, OOC for Aeris and just doesn't seem right in terms of saving the world. And yeah if she did learn (as several fics imply) that she was going to die, I do think she'd protest that/live more eagerly - not just say she's alone. Heh - probably best to steer clear of the Cloud helping her conceive; but that is a potentially good way to make the relationship ambiguous for a while with Tifa assuming Aeris will start looking for a way to continue the line - she may have thought/been told she was the last Cetra, but it seems like before that she was never certain. So... yeah I can see Tifa reckoning even if Aeris was interesting in a relationship with another girl, its likely not a priorty for her...

Ah - I've done that with my word processing thigns before now and just wound up fiddling. Scrivener sounds (and looks) like a very interesting program - not entirely reliable on my OS at the moment (I'm on Linux), but I don't think I have anything geared towards writing in that way... I usually use something called gedit (after abandoning it as something went wrong with the theme and it looked terrible. But I couldn't find another text editor with tabs and word counts and loads of other little things I keep using. And then I got it to look nice again so I returned). xPad sounds really handy with that part about all the documents being 'open'.

[raaj]

(I have this idea that Aeris might be really intrigued about relationships and what one would get up to, but has never found anyone she like she did about Zack before meeting Cloud and Tifa. So now she's entertaining new ideas).

Ahaha, it's just about this for me! I see Aerith as having a bit of guardedness, even as she's friendly to others, so it takes a certain kind of connection to really make her think "I want to be with this person. She thought about it and she might have looked at the end of her letters to Zack, but she didn't find anyone who left an impression like Zack had.

...It's kind of funny, but I never worried about showing that Aerith loves Cloud. I suppose it's because I was focused on Tifa's pov and she has that thought... Not sure about using the sleeping kiss at that timepoint, but I'll have to think about the two of them some more (and do have to admit I was wondering earlier if Cloud was present enough in this--as the titled sleeping arrangements are mostly Tifa and Aerith together, or they end up dominating when Cloud is present too. although it is actually planned that the scene with Cloud and Tifa are going to be them resting...not with, but by each other. so maybe something with Cloud and Aerith would be good).

I only used Linux a bit at college. Never really got the hang of it...gedit looks nice though--simple and flexible.

[sanctum_c]

I do really like that view of Aeris - that desire for a real connection to realise she really wants to be with someone (I think you articulated that much more effectively). I can really see when she reluctantly gave up hope on Zack returning that she did look and found no one, and I just like the implication that she is so keen to be around Cloud and Tifa as she does feel that connection.

Ah, good point; since so much is from Tifa's POV and she's worrying about the other two and what they feel. Hmm... debatable point about Cloud's presence; and yeah it is focusing more on the Aeris and Tifa (though I have really enjoyed all the scenes so far) - intrigued on the Cloud and Tifa resting scene though. And it would make sense to balance that with a scene of Aeris and Cloud...

Looking forward to reading it however it turns out though!

Linux is a bit of an odd thing to use regularly (at first) - and takes some getting used to. Amusingly I have Windows as well to be able to play games when they come out; it's usable possible to get them working after a while, but sometimes I'm just get too eager (especially with things like Portal 2 and BioShock Infinite where there was increasing risk of spoilers everywhere).

Oddly managed to find a version of Scrivener that runs after that as well; and I really can see the appeal - spent far too long fiddling to put the various parts of 'The Fire Dancer' into it with the notes... Looks to be a really neat way to keep multiple drafts of chapters and the life close to hand...