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'Dite's Decadent Delights, Thursday

The store was in perfect shape. Everything in it's place. Every corner of every box lined up with every other box. Everything was clean; as if dust would dare to settle in this store - ha! Even Hercules' litter box was clean (after a magical cleansing that took ten seconds, and even then the goddess held her nose).

This meant 'Dite was . . . bored. Never a good thing.

Instead of rearranging the store (again) or plotting something (again) or even calling Max (again) she had decided she needed something to do with her extra time. A hobby, Zeus save the island.

To this end there was a box with a picture of a ship leaning against the register, and a bunch of small wooden sticks were spread all over the counter, along with glue and stickers and string. Most of it was glued together, including 'Dite's right pinky and ring finger.

"Stupid, stupid directions -- of COURSE they were written by a mor-- Herc, NO!"

And now everything was glued to Hercules as well.

By the time anyone came into the store, the whole mess had been chucked into the trash and Aphrodite was reading a book -- on hobbies.

(OOC: Post and store open!)

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Of course Drake couldn't go without saying goodbye to 'Dite. "Hello, gorgeous," he said cheerfully, strolling into the store.

'Dite felt her heart clench. Her smile was a little softer, her voice a little more gentle.

"Hello, Handsome." She came out from behind the counter and reached for a hug.

"You know I wasn't going to leave without desperately throwing myself at you one last time," Drake said with a wink, engulfing her in a hug.

She tightened her arms around him, her smile fading a little. "I could take you to Olympus," she whispered, "Death would never find you there."

"I made a deal," Drake said seriously. "I can't back out of it. And it's been worth it, every minute."

"I know." She kissed his cheek. "I thought you'd say that, but I had to offer." 'Dite let her hands rest on his shoulders. "I'm sorry I didn't go to your wake. I should have but --" a shrug. "I just couldn't. I'm so sorry, Drake."

"No worries," Drake said easily. "I know that kind of thing isn't everybody's cup of tea. That's why I came by here today. I was hoping I was going to find you here."

He touched his fingertips to her cheek. "Don't be sad. I've had a great year. I got to dance with Death and kiss the goddess of Love. Not many people can claim that."

'Dite licked her lips and glanced down before looking up at him through her eyelashes. "Would it be wrong to offer more than a kiss from the goddess of love? In honor of your last day?"

"Who am I to refuse a beautiful lady?" Drake said with a grin. More seriously, he added, "I'd be truly honored."

"No, Drake, the honor is mine." She leaned closer to offer a kiss, whispering just before she did. "Give me a few minutes and then come up to the office, okay?"

"Your wish is my command," Drake said, making a sweeping bow when 'Dite had stepped back from him.

With a wink, 'Dite took the stairs to the second floor, sending a smile back down to him before entering. A few zaps later and her office now resembled a part of her temple; there was candlelight, a gently steaming bathtub, and a bed.

When 'Dite used her power to close the front door and turn the store sign to closed, Drake got the message and came upstairs. She smiled as he appeared in the doorway, and invited him in with an elegant wave of her hand.

---

Sometime later, 'Dite led the way down the stairs. Without a word, she turned and waited for him at the bottom.

Drake danced down the stairs. When he got to the bottom, he swept 'Dite into his arms, spun around, and bent her back. "You're beautiful," he murmured, giving her a kiss before standing back up right. "You are love."

'Dite laughed, putting her arms around his neck and kissing him once more. "And you are a prince."

Pulling back, she let her gaze linger over his features, searching for some doubt, some hesitation. She found none, and sighed. "You have more courage than I do, Drake."

"It doesn't take courage to want to know love," Drake said, touching a hand to her hair. "And that's what this was all about."

"No, but sometimes it takes courage to simply stand back and accept your fate." She sighed, her hands resting again on his shoulders. "Even I've fought against what was declared inevitable. And yet, you go to yours with a smile, willing to accept the bargain you made." Aphrodite smiled. "Perhaps, even after all this time, there's one more lesson for me to learn, because part of me wants you to fight." But she shook her head. "I won't ask, though."

"Knowing that it was only a year made everything that much sweeter," Drake said. "And I'm honored I got to know you." He bent over her hand and gave it a kiss.

On impulse Aphrodite placed a hand over Drake's heart and opened her powers, letting him feel not only her love for him, but the all the emotion being sent his way. She waited for just a moment more before gently and carefully closing it off. Then she hugged him and stepped back.

"Now, go. Before I spirit you to Olympus anyway."

Drake closed his eyes, soaking in the love. He sighed happily and opened them again. "Thank you," he said.

He snapped his fingers and conjured up a red red rose and pressed it into 'Dite's hand. "Farewell," he said. He snapped his fingers so that the door to the store opened up, took a few backwards steps, then turned and slid out the door.

'Dite stood still for several moments before turning and sitting on the bottom step. Her gaze remained fixed on the rose in her hand, her face sad. Eventually Hercules made his way to her and sat next to her. She petted him absent-mindedly.

It was a long time before she was able to open the store again.

Cloud would have liked to see the glue mess, just because.

"Hello", said as he entered. "Am I interrupting...your reading?" It was never bad to be careful.

It was a slightly more solemn Aphrodite that greeted him.

"Hi, Cloud. No, it's fine. I'm just doing some research." She put the book down and lifted an eyebrow. "What can I do for you?"

He would need to work on his timing, then.

"You offered yourself to listen", started, and also realized that it sound a little too much like a warning. "And I appreciate that. If you really want to go through this"--as he wasn't sure if he wanted--"then this is the right moment; I might regret it later, but that would be...well, later."

Well. This was certainly interesting, Aphrodite considered. In honor of one friend leaving, maybe she could make another.

The oft used chairs from the counseling room appeared, and 'Dite motioned toward them.

"I hope you won't regret it, and yes, I really want to go through this." 'Dite settled herself in one chair and leaned back, regarding him with a smile. "Let's talk, then."

Cloud sat quietly, and took a deep breath. Nope, he still felt like talking. Damn. "In order for you to understand...this, I need to explain some things. Things that I can't just go saying around in the island. So before I actually say do something stupid and hurt someone, I would like to know where are we at." Which pretty much meant, what did 'Dite knew of his world and the people from there. Maybe he didn't need to explain anything else.

"I come from Gaia, as well as both Zack and Reno, and also Rosalind, Elena, and at least someone else", so far he hadn't really stalked on the Turks. "Zack is from my past, and Reno from my future. The others, I can't tell for sure." Now this was when it always turned more complicated. "While Reno obviously knows things of me and my world I don't, I can't know them; it's too dangerous. The same applies to the things Zack doesn't know." It was a very ironic situation, to be trapped between what already happened and couldn't be helped and what will happen, and apparently couldn't be helped anyway.

"Just...let me know if you are already aware of what's of Gaia. I know firsthand how stressful is to interact with people when you know things anyone shouldn't." He was mildly paranoiac by then, but it was well worth it.

'Dite bit her lip and thought about that. "I know Elena -- not well, but we've had a couple of conversations. She mentioned Gaia, I believe. I think I've seen Zack, though we've never talked. Haven't met any of the others." She folded her hands in her lap. "As for knowing things that you can't tell someone . . . I have the ability to walk through time. I don't like going to the future, and I certainly haven't done so since I've been on the island, but . . . there's a young student on the island who's from my world. I knew her thousands of years ago. I know when she'll lose her best friend, what she'll do after that, and when she'll die. I know the agony she'll face in between. And I can't tell her any of it, though by the end of her life we'll be good friends." She tilted her head. "I think I understand that kind of situation, Cloud.

Cloud would have said 'Oh, perfect!', but it wasn't really perfect, so he was just going to nod. "Okay then." Much classier than so yeah.

"Starting from the beginning then. At the age of twelve, I set off my town to join Shinra which is a company that pretty much ruled the world." Yes, it sounded about right. "It possessed great military prowess, and many of their high-ranking soldiers were seen as heroes, and served of inspiration to the new generation that wanted to be part of Shinra; I wasn't too different. On the time between the moment I left and the first time I met Zack, about five years had passed...and I was a very regular person." He left implied that he had done all that a regular person was expected to do.

"Zack and I had a couple of run-ins, in which we made friends; he was older than me, and in a way he taught me a good deal of things in that time." He was deviating from the subject... "What matters is that things went really wrong in one mission. I should have died; I still don't know how I managed to fight back and actually survive...but I did. What follows is about four years of hell." And he remembered everything. "I was a lab rat, to put it simply. But things happened and I managed to escape, although not by myself." And if he had been any stronger...he could have saved Zack; he knew that.

"After that I had to put myself together, and it know that this sounds really stupid, save the world. When I couldn't even save myself." He chuckled a little, and then looked back at the woman. "I did it, I did both, somehow. But after that all that was left were the scars of the battle, and there was so much work to do..." And he had ran from there, he knew.

He was going to let that part sink in now.

Images of two women, one dark and dangerous, the other sunny light-hearted, rose in 'Dite's mind. She had to push the memory away, not wanting to see the darkened spirit of her friend.

"Have you talked to anyone about the torture? What happened?" Her voice was quiet and she was suddenly offering him a warm cup of tea.

Cloud got a hold of the cup of tea with firm hands. He wasn't going to go all shaky on 'Dite. "I can't talk about it with anyone in Fandom", said as he gave her a sad smile. "Because it's a crucial part that connects the past and the future, and everything in between. Nobody should have to live with that." And yet he did. "In short, the intention was to create what you could call super-soldiers; stronger, more resistant, more adaptive, and more obedient. My memories of that time aren't clear, but there is a common denominator; excruciating pain. That's how I got these eyes", said as he pointed to the apparently glowing green-and-blue irises. "They are called Mako Eyes (http://tankr.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/cloudeyes.jpg), and people in Gaia believe they are a bad omen...they are probably right." And he didn't wish to know more about it anyway.

"As I said, I escaped, and eventually managed to put my mind in one piece...but before that other things had happened. I lost...someone." Now he felt his hands weakening, but he took a sip of the tea and calmed himself. "I don't know if it was love, or devotion, or adoration, but she...she could touch my soul, see in the darkest corners of my heart, and still take me for what I was. She died too early to know if there was something similar to a future with her, and after that..." Cloud sighed, his stare fixed on the tea. "I guess that after that my interest just died."

'Dite nodded. She'd heard similar stories from many other people. "It can be hard when you lose someone, whether you know there's a future there or not. And to lose someone who can touch your soul . . . that can be even worse."

She drank from her own tea cup, then leaned forward a little. "Did you lose her before or after they tried to turn you into this super soldier?" Hesitating for just a moment, she took a breath. "And . . . is that how you lost her? Did they torture her as well?"

"No, it was way after. And the man that killed her was once my inspiration to join Shinra. He was the allegedly perfect soldier, a flawless result of the experiments done on me, but way more intensive."

He sipped a little more of his tea before talking again. "She died when she was about to do the world saving all by herself. And even after he killed her she kept on trying. And I thought, what's the point then? Maybe a happy family life isn't for me. Maybe I should be happy to be alive and have friends alive." Maybe that was why he didn't want to return with Tifa, because he couldn't be the person she needed. Or Marlene.

"It sounds like she was an awesome person. I'm glad you got to know her, and have that kind of love in your life, even if you had to lose it." 'Dite leaned back, concentrating on the cup in her hand.

"She must have known that what she was doing was dangerous. Why do you think she kept trying?"

There was a point to her question, though it might take her a minute to get to it.

Cloud flashed a small smile. "You just couldn't argue with her. So stubborn, so driven...she always tried to do the right thing, selflessly and with a smile on her face. Even if she put herself on risk." Aerith was that a lot more.

"Always tried to do the right thing." 'Dite bit her lip. "And saving the world was the right thing because . . . ?"

It was probably a poorly phrased question, but it was important.

There was a moment of silence as Cloud gave a surprised look at 'Dite. "Because nobody else would. Because it was our home, because it didn't deserved to be killed slowly. Because she had always loved Gaia, and if she hadn't found us, she would have done it anyway." It was hard to explain for him; if he had to do it all again, he would. Even if it meant losing Zack again...

That was an interesting answer. 'Dite had to think about that. She cocked her head. "So she loved the planet. But which do you think she loved more, the planet or the people on it?"

Cloud smiled; it was an actual smile this time. "It's more complicated than that. There is a thing called The Lifestream in Gaia. It's...the River of Souls, of everything that was, is, and will be on that planet. It's also called Mako by most people, and Shinra harvested it for their benefit. By killing the Lifestream they were killing themselves. A-" No, he wouldn't say her name.

"...She loved it all as one. There wasn't a single thing she didn't cherish."

'Dite nodded. "I . . . think I understand that." It was different for her, of course, but the idea of connection, that everything was part of something that made the world a whole, that she had come to understand, even if only by instinct.

"So, if she loved this Lifestream, this . . . River of Souls -- and you're a part of this River . . . wouldn't you say that means she loved you, too?"

Cloud nodded, as if he were accepting her reasoning. "She loved me the same way she loved the flowers she sold, and the children she took care of, and even the ones that hunted her." And Sephirtoh, he knew Aerith's love knew no boundaries in that sense. "And for that I am grateful...but she was no regular woman. What I felt for her...it could have been closer to adoration. To love someone that stood atop others." He somewhat felt better though.

"You are actually pretty good a this", added with a smirk.

That made 'Dite smile slightly. "Lots of practice." And a very long life. Luckily, she'd lived long enough to want to learn how to do this.

"She sounds extraordinary. I'm glad you had someone like that in your life." She bit her lip before asking her next question. "Do you think she'd want you to be happy, Cloud?"

Cloud shrugged. "I've asked myself that every day since the day she died. And you are right. But I..." How to put the feelings into words? It wasn't that simple.

"I don't think anyone would want me anymore. Anyway. And I don't think I could allow myself to...you know." He blushed a little, against his will. "Love someone. I'm not sure I can, even." It just felt weird and out of place.

"When you say you're not sure you can, are you talking love -- or sex?" With a tiny zap she warmed her tea cup. "Because you can have one without the other." She raised her cup. "And I still see a great deal of love inside you."

"I don't want one without the other. If I could...I would want to love someone again, some day. Nothing too fancy, nothing too great. Just...love." It was corny as hell, but it was true. It dawned on him; it was actually true.

Huh.

"Do you think someone should know right away if someone else is...the right one or something along those lines?"

She laughed at that. "Oh, sweetheart, if that was true, what would people need me for?" 'Dite winked.

"The truth is, the best part of any relationship is the exploration. Is it possible? Can I fall for this person? Getting to know someone well enough to answer those questions, well," she shrugged, "that's a big part of how people fall in love, Cloud."

She sipped again. "I think it's good that you want both love and sex. They're best when they go together, but -- don't be afraid to explore each of them on their own, either. Sometimes you only know what feels right after you've had something that feels wrong." Her head tilted. "And sometimes? Just feeling something is a good way to start."

Cloud remembered his tea, and emptied it. Cold, but good. Refreshing.

"I think I would get stuck in the questioning part. But...it's a good advice. Least I could do is try." Or try to try, really. He couldn't think of anyone in the island he would like to have sex with, though. And he had thought about it; Cloud was a man, after all.

The he blinked, hard. "Did you say I have, eh, potential for that sort of thing?"

"You mean the potential to love someone? Oh, absolutely!" 'Dite nodded. "You might think you don't, and it might be buried a bit, but it's absolutely there, Cloud. Believe me." She smiled and winked. "It's definitely there."

"Good, now I need to find someone who has the potential to love me back." Irony, it worked when he was feeling a bit miserable. And hopeful.

"I believe you, though. And this conversation surpassed all my expectations."

"I think," she said with a smile, "that this is Fandom, and you will find that the people of Fandom have a great capacity to love." She winked. "And I have no doubt that someone here is just waiting for someone like you."

"And thank you. I'm glad you came in to talk today. You're always welcome here, Cloud. Always."

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'Dite's Decadent Delights, Thursday

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NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!

Re: NFB from here on, plz!