OOC: Twenty Truths meme
My apologies for spamming f-lists, I started writing this before the meme went up on the ooc comm, but felt it was too long to post there. I'm sorry~! Don't hurt me~!
1. Aerith has never had formal schooling.
Raised in the slums after her mother escaped the Shin-Ra labs, Aerith was entirely home-taught. Elmyra made sure to teach her the basics, enough for her to live off of, and once Aerith learned how to read, she took care of the rest on her own. Most of what she knows she's picked up over the years from one place or another. You learn quite a lot on the streets if you listen carefully.
2. She learned to fight from an old man she helped.
When she was young, there was an old man traveling through the slums. Aerith helped him with errands because she knew the locals, and in turn he taught her to defend herself. He was the one who left her with her first staff. He told her to be careful and that the skills might come in handy some day.
3. She could disappear in the slums faster than anything.
When the Turks were sent to look for Aerith, she always managed to escape somehow. This is because most of the slums would hide her, or go out of their way to confuse the trail while Aerith ran for cover. It was a sort of payback for all the good things Aerith would do for people. In return for the hope and small happiness she gave them, they would do what they could to protect her. It also helped that Aerith was extremely good at running and finding places to hide. The slums were full of them if you knew where to look.
4. While in life, Aerith could speak a little Cetra.
Her mother taught her the most basic of prayers for safety and protection, as well as small blessings while they were in captivity. Aerith was raised speaking both the common tongue and the Cetra language when Ifalna was trying to keep the guards from understanding them, to offer them a little privacy. Aerith never learned to read the written language, at least, not until after her death when she received the knowledge of the Lifestream, but then it was a moot point anyway.
5. She can 'read' souls.
The ability to hear the Lifestream granted her an ability to sense the spirits of those around her. If she listened hard enough, she could find out things about them. If someone was upset, if they were hurt, the quality of their character. If Aerith seems as though she can read minds, it's only because she could feel the shift of emotions. She never prodded hard enough to sift through memories until she had to bring Cloud back from the Lifestream. Without the aid of the voices of the Lifestream, she has to concentrate, and reach out with her own soul to touch others. It's the equivalent of a psychic touch, as if reading a little bit of braille. It's difficult, and she doesn't like invading people's privacy, but that doesn't mean she won't pick up on it if someone's lying or has a sudden emotional shift.
6. The fiasco at Don Corneo's place was rather funny.
How often can you say you convinced your friend to cross-dress in order to save someone? Aerith was rather surprised at how easily Cloud accepted the task, but the look on his face when she handed him the slinky lingerie and he realized he had to actually put them on was priceless. She also really enjoyed doing his makeup for him, and had to admit after it was all over that he looked really pretty in that dress. Blue's a very good color for Cloud.
She still holds it as one of her fondest memories, that rescue mission was really exciting.
7. Before leaving Midgar, Aerith had never seen the stars.
Living under the plate meant that the air was smoggy, and the sky was almost entirely blotted out. What could be seen of the sky at night was washed out from light pollution. The first few nights out on their adventure was a wonderful experience for Aerith, and she'd never felt so alive as when she first stepped out onto the rolling plains to see nothing but blue sky and green earth. She almost broke down and cried at how beautiful it was.
8. She'd never had friends until Zack and Cloud.
This isn't to say Aerith didn't get along with people. She did, she was pleasant to everyone she met, and worked to brighten up the days of those around her. But everyone tends to fend for themselves in the slums, and as a young girl, Aerith was afraid of other people. That they might turn her in because she was different. It took Zack falling through her roof for her to begin coming out of her shell, and Cloud to really help her blossom. She will always be thankful for having met them, as they are the two most precious people in her heart.
9. She's scared of medical facilities.
While she knows that doctors are there to help you, the only time Aerith was ever near medical equipment was in the Shin-Ra lab. Needles terrify her, oxygen masks make her panic, and if someone tries to strap her down to a table she will probably break down and cry. Once out of the labs, she was a surprisingly healthy child, partially due to her Cetra genetics. She never got sick, and any injuries she sustained were always minor. She's been very careful to take good care of herself, because the last place she wants to be is under the knife again. Because something in her always murmurs that she could never know if she finds another Hojo.
10. She was not scared of Sephiroth.
Worried about what he could do? Yes. Afraid for the safety of the Planet? Of course. But Aerith was never scared of Sephiroth. The Lifestream whispered encouragement, the last of the Cetra magi spoke of prophecies, and Holy pulsed, dormant, waiting for her to call on it in the hour of greatest need. After seeing the writings on the temple walls, Aerith knew in her heart what she would have to do. What nearly broke her was knowing what she would leave behind, but she did what was necessary because she knew what she would save. She just wasn't expecting Sephiroth to get the drop on her like that...
11. Love is a gift, use it wisely.
Aerith loved everyone in her own way, whether it was through kindness or friendship, or something akin to a sisterly bond. But with Zack and Cloud...something changed. With Zack it was a fluttering sensation that filled her to the brim, a warmth that flooded her and made her look forward to seeing him again. She would wait for him, ignoring the advances of others if there were any, caught in the wings of her first love and blissfully unaware of how fragile it could be. Feeling him return to the Lifestream wounded her in a way she hadn't expected. When Cloud arrived, she found herself drawn to him. There was something about him that she couldn't place. An emptiness that needed filling, a brokeness that needed mending. He mirrored Zack in ways that were achingly familiar, and yet there was something lying beneath the shroud. She wanted to be with him and understand him, to lift away the mask that disguised his heart. To be able to reach out and touch him, not just Zack's shadow. Leaving him behind was one of the hardest things she ever did, but to be able to see his true self after all and watch him survive and regain a chance at true happiness...that was worth the price she paid.
12. Despite her teasing, Aerith knows very little about intimacy.
On the streets of the slums, you can hear just about anything. Aerith has overheard so many dirty stories she could probably write a book, but when your boyfriend goes off on a mission and you never see him again, it doesn't leave much room for doing anything risque. Aerith and Zack didn't get much further than hand-holding or the occasional kiss, and while Aerith knows the basic mechanics of how babies are made, that's about all she knows. Aerith doesn't see how this is a problem, though. It's not like she's missing anything, right?
13. Aerith taught herself how to cook.
Once when Aerith was young, Elmyra got sick. In order to help out around the house, Aerith took on many chores that Elmyra would do so that her adopted mother could rest. One of these things was cooking. Pulling out the cookbooks, Aerith sat down and got to work, asking Elmyra questions when she was confused and taking heed of corrections. It wasn't long before Aerith started really taking interest in cooking, and started growing a broader range of herbs to use in their little garden. She never could fix anything really fancy, but that was only because she worked with what they could get. Cooking was very relaxing, if intensive.
14. Aerith always called Nanaki by his true name.
After being stuck together when Hojo decided to crossbreed the last of the Cosmo Canyon tribe with the last of the Cetra, Aerith and Nanaki formed a fast bond. Both of them were the last of their peoples, and on really quiet nights, they would sit together and take in the world around them. Often simply sitting on a hillside, watching the stars, listening to the sounds of the Planet around them. After spending so much time alone in her heart, having someone she could share the simple joys of the earth with was a blessing. There were some things she could share with Red XIII that she couldn't with the others. They just simply wouldn't understand. But that was fine.
15. Aerith was the one to stop the others the first time Vincent transformed.
The first time the dark aura formed and Vincent became a beast was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. When the Galian beast turned from the corpses of the monsters it had defeated, Aerith convinced the others to lower their weapons. Knowing very little about what he could do in that form, but sensing he had little control over its actions, Aerith had talked to the creature. Speaking in the old language until it had calmed from its blood rage, she held its head in her arms and stroked its mane, standing between its horns and lulling the animal to sleep. When Vincent transformed back, Aerith made sure that he was uninjured before inquiring about the nature of his transformations.
16. The beach fascinates her.
Having never seen it before in her life, Aerith finds the ocean enthralling, and if they hadn't been in a rush to get where they needed to go, she would've been happy to spend hours just watching the waves.
17. She thinks Cid's accent is funny.
For all his angry snarling and standoffish behaviour, Aerith knows Cid's a good person inside. So he's a bit snarly sometimes, that's okay. She finds his accent charming, and when he really starts to huff, she has to hold in her giggles. There's just something about his drawl that amuses her terribly, but not in a bad way.
18. She wishes she could see snow again.
The effect was rather ruined when she first passed through Icicle Village. She wants to actually enjoy snow, and spend time in it with her friends. Snowball fights sound like a lot of fun.
19. Seeing how Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz behave hurts her.
But only because their blind conviction hurts them and others around them. She wants them to be safe and happy as much as anyone else. She brought each of them safely to the Promised Land personally because of this. Though their bodies are those of adults, the childlike facets of their personalities bring out her maternal instincts, and she can't seem to help this.
20. She's never sure what to do about fortunes.
Whenever she gets her fortune told, it's always a bad fortune. Aerith's never been sure why, but it does make her a little sad. She's hoping to get a good one, someday.
1. Aerith has never had formal schooling.
Raised in the slums after her mother escaped the Shin-Ra labs, Aerith was entirely home-taught. Elmyra made sure to teach her the basics, enough for her to live off of, and once Aerith learned how to read, she took care of the rest on her own. Most of what she knows she's picked up over the years from one place or another. You learn quite a lot on the streets if you listen carefully.
2. She learned to fight from an old man she helped.
When she was young, there was an old man traveling through the slums. Aerith helped him with errands because she knew the locals, and in turn he taught her to defend herself. He was the one who left her with her first staff. He told her to be careful and that the skills might come in handy some day.
3. She could disappear in the slums faster than anything.
When the Turks were sent to look for Aerith, she always managed to escape somehow. This is because most of the slums would hide her, or go out of their way to confuse the trail while Aerith ran for cover. It was a sort of payback for all the good things Aerith would do for people. In return for the hope and small happiness she gave them, they would do what they could to protect her. It also helped that Aerith was extremely good at running and finding places to hide. The slums were full of them if you knew where to look.
4. While in life, Aerith could speak a little Cetra.
Her mother taught her the most basic of prayers for safety and protection, as well as small blessings while they were in captivity. Aerith was raised speaking both the common tongue and the Cetra language when Ifalna was trying to keep the guards from understanding them, to offer them a little privacy. Aerith never learned to read the written language, at least, not until after her death when she received the knowledge of the Lifestream, but then it was a moot point anyway.
5. She can 'read' souls.
The ability to hear the Lifestream granted her an ability to sense the spirits of those around her. If she listened hard enough, she could find out things about them. If someone was upset, if they were hurt, the quality of their character. If Aerith seems as though she can read minds, it's only because she could feel the shift of emotions. She never prodded hard enough to sift through memories until she had to bring Cloud back from the Lifestream. Without the aid of the voices of the Lifestream, she has to concentrate, and reach out with her own soul to touch others. It's the equivalent of a psychic touch, as if reading a little bit of braille. It's difficult, and she doesn't like invading people's privacy, but that doesn't mean she won't pick up on it if someone's lying or has a sudden emotional shift.
6. The fiasco at Don Corneo's place was rather funny.
How often can you say you convinced your friend to cross-dress in order to save someone? Aerith was rather surprised at how easily Cloud accepted the task, but the look on his face when she handed him the slinky lingerie and he realized he had to actually put them on was priceless. She also really enjoyed doing his makeup for him, and had to admit after it was all over that he looked really pretty in that dress. Blue's a very good color for Cloud.
She still holds it as one of her fondest memories, that rescue mission was really exciting.
7. Before leaving Midgar, Aerith had never seen the stars.
Living under the plate meant that the air was smoggy, and the sky was almost entirely blotted out. What could be seen of the sky at night was washed out from light pollution. The first few nights out on their adventure was a wonderful experience for Aerith, and she'd never felt so alive as when she first stepped out onto the rolling plains to see nothing but blue sky and green earth. She almost broke down and cried at how beautiful it was.
8. She'd never had friends until Zack and Cloud.
This isn't to say Aerith didn't get along with people. She did, she was pleasant to everyone she met, and worked to brighten up the days of those around her. But everyone tends to fend for themselves in the slums, and as a young girl, Aerith was afraid of other people. That they might turn her in because she was different. It took Zack falling through her roof for her to begin coming out of her shell, and Cloud to really help her blossom. She will always be thankful for having met them, as they are the two most precious people in her heart.
9. She's scared of medical facilities.
While she knows that doctors are there to help you, the only time Aerith was ever near medical equipment was in the Shin-Ra lab. Needles terrify her, oxygen masks make her panic, and if someone tries to strap her down to a table she will probably break down and cry. Once out of the labs, she was a surprisingly healthy child, partially due to her Cetra genetics. She never got sick, and any injuries she sustained were always minor. She's been very careful to take good care of herself, because the last place she wants to be is under the knife again. Because something in her always murmurs that she could never know if she finds another Hojo.
10. She was not scared of Sephiroth.
Worried about what he could do? Yes. Afraid for the safety of the Planet? Of course. But Aerith was never scared of Sephiroth. The Lifestream whispered encouragement, the last of the Cetra magi spoke of prophecies, and Holy pulsed, dormant, waiting for her to call on it in the hour of greatest need. After seeing the writings on the temple walls, Aerith knew in her heart what she would have to do. What nearly broke her was knowing what she would leave behind, but she did what was necessary because she knew what she would save. She just wasn't expecting Sephiroth to get the drop on her like that...
11. Love is a gift, use it wisely.
Aerith loved everyone in her own way, whether it was through kindness or friendship, or something akin to a sisterly bond. But with Zack and Cloud...something changed. With Zack it was a fluttering sensation that filled her to the brim, a warmth that flooded her and made her look forward to seeing him again. She would wait for him, ignoring the advances of others if there were any, caught in the wings of her first love and blissfully unaware of how fragile it could be. Feeling him return to the Lifestream wounded her in a way she hadn't expected. When Cloud arrived, she found herself drawn to him. There was something about him that she couldn't place. An emptiness that needed filling, a brokeness that needed mending. He mirrored Zack in ways that were achingly familiar, and yet there was something lying beneath the shroud. She wanted to be with him and understand him, to lift away the mask that disguised his heart. To be able to reach out and touch him, not just Zack's shadow. Leaving him behind was one of the hardest things she ever did, but to be able to see his true self after all and watch him survive and regain a chance at true happiness...that was worth the price she paid.
12. Despite her teasing, Aerith knows very little about intimacy.
On the streets of the slums, you can hear just about anything. Aerith has overheard so many dirty stories she could probably write a book, but when your boyfriend goes off on a mission and you never see him again, it doesn't leave much room for doing anything risque. Aerith and Zack didn't get much further than hand-holding or the occasional kiss, and while Aerith knows the basic mechanics of how babies are made, that's about all she knows. Aerith doesn't see how this is a problem, though. It's not like she's missing anything, right?
13. Aerith taught herself how to cook.
Once when Aerith was young, Elmyra got sick. In order to help out around the house, Aerith took on many chores that Elmyra would do so that her adopted mother could rest. One of these things was cooking. Pulling out the cookbooks, Aerith sat down and got to work, asking Elmyra questions when she was confused and taking heed of corrections. It wasn't long before Aerith started really taking interest in cooking, and started growing a broader range of herbs to use in their little garden. She never could fix anything really fancy, but that was only because she worked with what they could get. Cooking was very relaxing, if intensive.
14. Aerith always called Nanaki by his true name.
After being stuck together when Hojo decided to crossbreed the last of the Cosmo Canyon tribe with the last of the Cetra, Aerith and Nanaki formed a fast bond. Both of them were the last of their peoples, and on really quiet nights, they would sit together and take in the world around them. Often simply sitting on a hillside, watching the stars, listening to the sounds of the Planet around them. After spending so much time alone in her heart, having someone she could share the simple joys of the earth with was a blessing. There were some things she could share with Red XIII that she couldn't with the others. They just simply wouldn't understand. But that was fine.
15. Aerith was the one to stop the others the first time Vincent transformed.
The first time the dark aura formed and Vincent became a beast was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. When the Galian beast turned from the corpses of the monsters it had defeated, Aerith convinced the others to lower their weapons. Knowing very little about what he could do in that form, but sensing he had little control over its actions, Aerith had talked to the creature. Speaking in the old language until it had calmed from its blood rage, she held its head in her arms and stroked its mane, standing between its horns and lulling the animal to sleep. When Vincent transformed back, Aerith made sure that he was uninjured before inquiring about the nature of his transformations.
16. The beach fascinates her.
Having never seen it before in her life, Aerith finds the ocean enthralling, and if they hadn't been in a rush to get where they needed to go, she would've been happy to spend hours just watching the waves.
17. She thinks Cid's accent is funny.
For all his angry snarling and standoffish behaviour, Aerith knows Cid's a good person inside. So he's a bit snarly sometimes, that's okay. She finds his accent charming, and when he really starts to huff, she has to hold in her giggles. There's just something about his drawl that amuses her terribly, but not in a bad way.
18. She wishes she could see snow again.
The effect was rather ruined when she first passed through Icicle Village. She wants to actually enjoy snow, and spend time in it with her friends. Snowball fights sound like a lot of fun.
19. Seeing how Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz behave hurts her.
But only because their blind conviction hurts them and others around them. She wants them to be safe and happy as much as anyone else. She brought each of them safely to the Promised Land personally because of this. Though their bodies are those of adults, the childlike facets of their personalities bring out her maternal instincts, and she can't seem to help this.
20. She's never sure what to do about fortunes.
Whenever she gets her fortune told, it's always a bad fortune. Aerith's never been sure why, but it does make her a little sad. She's hoping to get a good one, someday.