open post.

[sheme]

𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓

tifa lockhart FINAL FANTASY VII

yuffie kisaragi FINAL FANTASY VII

lightning farron FINAL FANTASY XIII

𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐲

( 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 )

→ Refer to the list above for active muses. Others on my muselist are available as well, but I cannot promise that they (or the other ones listed above) will be sustainable.
→ Put who you would like in the subject line & leave a starter! Feel free to come up with a scenario, or not. We can wing it, too.
→ Can be informal/formal/texting/cross-canon, whatever! Picture prompts (shipping and gen) can also be left and I'll whip up something from that.
→ AUs are super cool. However, I am not fond of modern AUs (coffee shop/high school/university, etc.)
→ Brackets preferred.
→ I love shippy stuff, but please check shipping prefs for characters if you'd like to go that route!
→ Some meme prompts listed below. (click to expand!)

RANDOM SCENARIO MEME

ACTION.
1. Zombies → It's the zombie apocalypse, lock and load!
2. Bar brawl → You had one too many drinks, said something wrong, and now you're being asked to take it outside.
3. Chase → You're caught in a high speed chase.
4. Gun fight → You're caught in a big shoot-out.
5. Fight with a friend → You're fighting with a friend, all out.
6. Interrogation → You're being interrogated for some offense you've done.
7. Aliens → Aliens are attacking and you're not going to take your probe laying down!
8. Final battle → This is it. The battle that will end all the fighting for you. Will you win? Will you get that peace you want?
9. Training → You're not actually fighting, just training for the inevitable.
10. No hope → You know this fight has no hope. It's not going to end well for anyone involved, but you can't turn away.
11. Sneaking in → You're stealing a diamond or sneaking in to kick some bad guy butt, but whatever it is, you have to practice stealth.
12. Blue wire → You're faced with a bomb that needs to be disarmed.
13. Fight for honour → You've been disgraced or someone you care about has, so it's time to fight for honour.
14. Showdown → Time for a cowboy-style showdown. Whoever draws the fastest wins.
15. War → You're caught in the middle of a war here. Remember to keep your chin up and keeping fighting.
16. Apocalypse → The apocalypse finally happened and now you're left to scavenge and fight for whatever is left.
17. Sabotage → It's time to sabotage someone's plan! How is entirely up to you. Do you set up a bomb in their toilet? Do you double cross them at the last minute?
18. Big damn hero → You know you have to handle this one alone, so that means disarming or knocking unconscious the person who wants to join you.
19. Fight club → You know the rules... you're in an underground fighting ring and you're fighting with all you've got.
20. Threaten → You've just been sent here to rough them up a little, threaten them into behaving.

ANGST.
1. Injury / illness → Your character has become injured or ill! To what extent is the mun's choice.
2. Last moments → You character has been gravely injured and this is their last chance to say their last words.
3. Depression → Your character is depressed, what actions they take is up to the mun.
4. Betrayed → You character has been betrayed by the other. How do they react?
5. Tortured → Your character is being tortured and needs rescuing or at least a sympathetic ear to help him through it.
6. Jealousy → Your character is feeling jealous and must deal with it, how will they do it?
7. Breakup! → This relationship has gone as far as it can, it's time to breakup.
8. Broken → For whatever reason, the character is broken, mentally or or physically.
9. Fight → You can't even be in the same room as your friend or lover without arguing anymore.
10. Lost → You lost the biggest fight of your life and now all you can do is try to pick up the pieces.
11. Worst nightmare → Whatever you fear the most is now real or maybe you're just trapped in a dream together, but whatever it is, it feels too real.
12. Addicted → You're addicted to something, alcohol, drugs, sex, whatever. It's destroying your life and you can't do anything to stop it.
13. Hurt you → You're being forced to hurt someone you love either by betraying them or even being forced to shout things you don't mean. It's for their own good in the end though.
14. Separation → You were forced to leave this person for their own safety and while you've been miserable without them, you really didn't mean to run into them again... maybe it was by accident or you were watching them from afar this whole time.
15. Becoming a monster → You are slowly changing, becoming a monster: vampire, zombie, demon, something you can't recover from and no-one can help you.
16. Frozen → You are entirely helpless, frozen, to stop some kind of disaster.
17. Prison → You were very bad and now it's time to pay the price by turning yourself in or maybe the law just finally caught up to you.
18. Fear → You're not sure why, but you are suddenly terrified and you can't deal with it. You need help.
19. Hated → You are now hated by the person you loved the most.
20. Down and out → You're living on the streets, you've hit rock bottom, and you don't know what to do.

FLUFF.
1. Cuddling → For whatever reason, characters feel like being close and cuddling.
2. Pillow talk → After the main event, characters are up for some pillow talk.
3. Celebration → Anniversary or some other big event is taking place and characters want to celebrate!
4. Love confession → Someone has finally decided to confess their love and today is the day!
5. Appreciation → You feel the need to show appreciation for that person closest to you, even if it's just a pat on the back.
6. Apologies → You made a mistake and now it's time to make it up in some way you know the other can't refuse!
7. Get back together → Why did you break up again exactly? Whatever the reason, it was a huge mistake and you both know you can work through it.
8. Date night → You've planned for a wonderful night together and you can't wait to get it started.
9. Family → You've either found out you're pregnant or you've already got that addition to your family.
10. Marriage → You're just about to get hitched or maybe you're enjoying your honeymoon. Maybe you've been together for years now! Whatever the case, it's time for that next big step.
11. Meeting again → It's time for that happy reunion finally!
12. Love at first sight → For whatever reason, you are now insanely in love with the first person you set eyes on.
13. Flirtation → You can't resist to do a little bit of harmless flirtation all of a sudden.
14. In the snow → Look outside! It's a winter wonderland, so why not go out and play in it?
15. Engagement → You've planned it all out and now it's time to finally pop the question.
16. Friendly games → You've set up the game station or board games for a friendly competition!
17. Gift → Time to give that special someone a gift just because.
18. Recovery → You're taking care of someone who's just recovered from some illness or injury.
19. Healing → Time to help mend that someone who's been through hell and back.
20. Better than ever → You've finally got everything you've ever wanted here. What is your ideal life and who does it include?

GEN.
1. Nice meeting you → It's your first time meeting this person! You bumped into each other on the street, in a bar, at work... whatever!
2. Drinks → You're out for drinks! Or just chilling at home with some beers. Wherever!
3. Lost → You're lost and you kind of need help finding your way to where you're going. A little help with directions?
4. Costume party → You're at a costume party, both of you are wearing masks. Do you keep the anonymity or take it off and see whose company you've been enjoying?
5. Wrong number → Oops, actually you didn't mean to call that person...
6. Drunk → You're already drunk! Drunk dialing, stumbling into someone, showing up unexpected... what type of drunk are you anyway? Aggressive, loving, happy? How does the other react?
7. Old friends → you haven't seen this person in a long time!
8. Rivals → you're suddenly rivals! Or maybe you have been all along...
9. Problems → you've got a problem with each other, just got in a huge fight, whatever. Try to work it out!
10. What are your intentions... → This person? They're dating a close friend, family member, etc. You need to find out if they're going to hurt them! Or you need to discuss your friend/family's dating choice.
11. I saw you → you saw the other person doing something bad and you need to confront them about it.
12. Sorry but no → the other person has feelings that you just don't share. They don't necessarily have to be romantic... maybe you just don't agree with their sudden desire to quit their job and start a business making tiny, fuzzy teddy bears.
13. My hero → you need to tell this person how much they mean to you. They've been your best friend or your role model your whole life and they need to know.
14. Enabler → you're enabling the other (or each other) to do something bad, really bad. Addiction, stealing, killing, or just any other self-destructive behavior.
15. Cooking → Time for an impromptu cooking lesson!
16. Oh, sure, I remember you... → It's that awkward moment when someone comes up and seems to know you, but you have no idea who they even are!
17. Rescue! → One of you was in trouble, but you came to the rescue!
18. Boss → One of you works under the other. Is your relationship good? Are you scheming things? Or do you hate each other?
19. Perfect crime → You and the other person have just pulled off the perfect crime... or you're planning to! What are you doing? The heist of the century, an assassination?
20. Movies → movie night! Maybe it's a sleepover. Whichever the case, it's time to eat a lot and have fun.

SOULMATE MEME

TYPE OF AU
1. tats, your character has a tattoo of the first words the love of their life will say to them
2. familiars, your character has an animal tattoo representing their soul mate on them
3. glow, the first time your character sees their soul mate, their chests glow!
4. world in color, life is literally black and white, until you see your soul mate for the first time
5. choose your own

SITUATION
1. first meeting, you've never met this person before.
2. childhood mates, you've always known this person -- but on one particular birthday, everything changes.
3. together, you've been in a relationship for awhile now! happily wed or not, you decide.
4. not together, you've known you're soul mates for a long time, and yet have avoided a relationship.
5. choose your own

CAUGHT IN THE RAIN

i WHERE:
001 PLAYGROUND - Well, you can try to hide under the slide or maybe in the jungle gym... at least you're some place fun?
002 PARK - Always happens, caught outside trying to take advantage of the weather... and it ends up pulling a fast one on you.
003 STORE FRONT - Better hope they have an awning you can take advantage of
004 THE BEACH - Not exactly the best place to be during a rainstorm, however it is possible to get caught in a sudden storm
005 WILD CARD - Anyway you want it

ii HOW:
001 TREE - Not the best cover, but it'll have to do, stay close to the roots and you won't get too wet.
002 UMBRELLA - Most conventional... Kinda boring. But it works.
003 NEWSPAPER - Not permanent, but it'll have to do. Good luck
004 BAG - Well... y'gotta do what you gotta do.
005 NONE - You know what. You're a rebel. You don't need cover. Screw convention
006 WILD CARD - that's the way you need it

iii WHY:
001 REJECTED - Welp. Rejection sucks. And no one will see you crying in the rain.
002 WAITING - For the bus? For someone else? For some revelation? What are you waiting for.
003 MELANCHOLY - Sometimes the best place to feel a bit down is out in the rain.
004 HAPPINESS - Is everything going your way? Are you singing a refrain while walking down the lane? Just singin. Singin' in the rain.
005 ANGER - WELL YOU KNOW WHAT. SCREW YOU TOO RAIN.
006 WILD CARD - Anyway you want it.

INSOMNIA

01 • FEAR. Maybe you're hearing strange, indeterminable noises; maybe there's a severe storm happening outside; maybe you watched a scary movie before bed? Whatever the reason, you're terrified and it's keeping you awake. You just want to wake someone else up so they can protect you from the monster in your closet.
02 • HUNGER. Your stomach is growling and it just won't stop. Or perhaps your throat is so dry you could cough up a tumbleweed? Well, you've gone to the kitchen to remedy this and hey, that was a pan that just dropped on the floor. It was loud enough to wake the dead! Oops.
03 • PAIN. Your body is completely worn out, be it from exercise, battle, sickness, or what have you. Either way you're in enough pain to keep you from sleeping, so maybe someone else has a home remedy or something, or can at least help you take your mind off of it.
04 • SOLITUDE. For some reason, your bed just feels so empty at the moment. You're feeling terribly lonely and really just want someone to keep you company for a while. Maybe it'd be easier to fall asleep if you're with them...
05 • DISCOMFORT. Your room is an oven. Either that or a freezer. Or maybe this bed is just really uncomfortable? Who knows why you can't get to sleep, it feels like it could be anything. Why even bother trying? Maybe someone else can preoccupy you until you feel tired enough to ignore your discomfort.
06 • PENSIVE. Something's on your mind, and no matter how hard you try to focus elsewhere, it's just not going to work. Your body may be tired, but your mind is incredibly busy and it's virtually impossible to get to sleep. Surely, talking it out with someone else will help?
07 • SADNESS. Something terrible has happened that day, perhaps; or you could just be severely depressed. Either way you're trying your hardest not to cry yourself to sleep, and it's not working at all. Better find a way to get it out of your system somehow; you need a shoulder to cry on.
08 • ANGER. You are just... fuming. Who knows why - that annoying dog is barking again, or maybe the people next door are getting busy and keeping you awake. Whatever the reason for your ire is, you'd better put an end to it so you can get some damn rest already! Go wake up a friend so you can complain to them.
09 • RESTLESS. You're far too energetic to sleep right now. Maybe you're just trying to do so out of necessity - you have to be up early tomorrow! But you just don't think you'll be able to fall asleep for a while now, so why waste the time trying to sleep when you could be doing something else? Namely bothering someone else - you're totally jealous because they're getting more sleep than you.
10 • WILDCARD. Choose one of the options above, or make up your own scenario.

CITY AT NIGHT

— scenario prompts

1) WORKING.
You're still caught up at the office or wherever it is you're holed up. It's getting late, but there's work to be done.

2) RELAXING.
You're warm and comfortable someplace indoors, whether it's in a cozy nook of a café or maybe just in your own apartment. There's no other place you really need to be, is there?

3) MEET-UP/DATE.
Is there someone you're seeing for dinner? A date? Maybe you're going bar-hopping together with some friends, or your attendance is expected at some special event. Alternatively, there's someone you're meeting with to make a deal of some kind, whether it's perfectly legitimate or something that might invite trouble with local enforcement.

4) OUT FOR A WALK.
Sometimes, it's nice to get out for some fresh air—or, well, as fresh as it gets with all the air pollution around you. The park's not too far away; it might be nice and quiet at this hour, if you don't run into any...

5) TROUBLE.
It's getting late and it's dark outside, but someone has been tailing you for a while. Walking faster only makes them speed up; they're doggedly persistent. What to do now? Is there a busy street you can turn on to for help? Or maybe it's time to confront your pursuer... On the flip side, you're the one tracking someone. For what reason? Well, only you would know, right?

6) OTHER.
Anything else you can think of!

— setting prompts

A) STREETS/ALLEYS.
Are you visiting a busy district teeming with people? Or are you out on a quieter street? It can be dark out there, especially if you turn onto a smaller one without many streetlamps. Watch your step. Some of the alleyways might make good shortcuts if you're trying to get somewhere fast, but there's also trouble to be found sometimes. Don't get cornered anywhere, and especially don't get too curious if you see something suspicious in one of the dumpsters...

B) IN TRANSIT.
You're between locations right now, just trying to get on with your evening. You have some options, like public transportation: the bus, the train, the subway. Alternatively, you're a fancier kind of person: you've got your own car that you're driving, or better yet, you have a chauffeur and a private car. Or, you know, you're just taking a taxi or using a ride-share app. There are also transitional spaces like parking lots or garages.

C) DINING.
Some cities are melting pots of different cultures; you're bound to find countless spots at which to eat. There are small cafés if you want a quick bite, or fancier restaurants where you can wine and dine. You could support a small family business by dropping by at a local hole in the wall—sometimes the most authentic spots with the best food are nondescript locations. Or if you're really trying to impress, go for some famous Michelin three-star.

D) NIGHT LIFE.
Bars, clubs, lounges—all of it's fair game. Remember to drink responsibly—or don't, if you're looking to really forget about your troubles for a while. Just know that you'll only have yourself to blame for that raging hangover in the morning.

E) CORPORATE BUILDING.
In a larger city, major corporations might be headquartered in the glittering skyscrapers that line the most expensive districts. There are all kinds of businesses—banks, law firms, finance companies, tech groups, to state just a few. Some places might keep their lights on pretty late at night for the white-collar workers burning the midnight oil; others, perhaps not. Do you fit somewhere in this equation? Or if you're here for something more exciting, there's always corporate espionage...

F) SHOPS.
A lot of shops could be closed by now, but maybe it's that final hour before that mall or outlet you wanted to visit locks their doors for the evening. Time for some last-second shopping! Snatch up that deal before it's gone, or be sure to buy a gift for your date before it's too late!

G) HOME.
You're at home, wherever that is—an apartment, a condo, a house somewhere, or maybe something more extravagant. Real estate can get expensive in the city, especially in popular locations. Do you have a tiny apartment that covers all your basic needs? Or something much nicer, like the type of penthouse people usually only see in movies, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows?

H) CITY SQUARE.
Some city squares are hubs of activity, filled with street performers, pop-up stores, or food stalls. There's a lot you could do, especially when it's nighttime and the little lights strung around the place look so pretty.

I) ABANDONED SPACE.
Every city has its fair share of abandoned warehouses or other buildings that are slated for demolition. Sometimes they attract certain types of crowds that would make your average person think twice before confronting. A lot of places are off-limits, but every so often, the no-trespassing sign is more of a suggestion than a real threat, right?

J) OTHER.
Anything else you can think of!

FAKE DATING

home for the holidays ⇢ You need to prove to your parents that you do so have a significant other. Just until they're gone.
no singles need apply ⇢ The place is perfect, but the landlady will only rent it to a nice, respectable couple.
it's not safe for a woman alone ⇢ One of you is vulnerable in this big, bad world without a partner to protect you.
public relations ⇢ There's only one way to stop these pesky rumors: start your own.
undercover mission ⇢ They'll never suspect a couple of lovey-dovey honeymooners of... whatever it is you're actually up to.
marriage of convenience ⇢ It's good for both your families. Or your finances. Or your hetero street cred. Whatever: might as well make the best of it.
well that escalated quickly ⇢ It's common knowledge that you're together, except you're the last to know. Is it worth correcting people?

OTHER MEME IDEAS

→ Picture prompts
→ Body heat
→ Seasonal prompts
→ Mistletoe/Pocky meme
→ Gen/Midnight/Shipping texts
→ Nursed back to health
→ Trapped in an elevator
→ Bodyguard/Protector shipping
→ Intimate bathing
→ IDK JUST COME AT ME

Comments

😏

[smokesinspace]

So what's this bullshit I've been hearin' about you marryin' some wolfman? Changed your preferences from that chocobo head?

bad road trip time!

[mooglesatdawn]

[Finding your way through a monster's lair is never easy. Unfortunately, it's the best way to get from point A to point B right now, because of an inconvenient rockslide.

So here they are, hoping that this narrow tunnel will see them through to the other side. Krile's got her magic staff out, all ready to blast anything that leaps out at them. It smells like birds--eagles, or vultures, or something equally unlikely to enjoy intruders, but hopefully they're out hunting.]

We've gotta be careful going through here, okay? No treasure-hunting.

Tifa - Text - Some Kind of Girl Sleepover Date Thing

[inemeraldfaith]

helloooooo
what are you doing? if you're not busy, i want to borrow you if that's okay. i promise i'll make it worth your while!

(◕▿◕✿)

Yuffie - In the Snow?

[hamnation]

[The snow has come down heavily and has only recently started to die down. Most battles between good and evil are put on hold for inclement weather. But there's other kinds of adventures that can thrive in this environment, with this amount of snow...

Gundam Tanaka stands in the snow, garbed in a dark Moogle Cloak over his usual attire, and wearing his usual long scarf on top of it. He's hard at work shifting through the snow and making various structures. Right now, he's just finished sculpting some snow into the shape of a giant hamster.

But there's someone else in the area too. Without looking directly at her, he smirks confidently while addressing her with booming bravado.]

Well, well. If it isn't the Bringer of Hell's Flame herself! Tell me, have you come to lend your aid to the construction of my fortress of nightmares?

it's been 84 years... since i said i would do this i'm so sorry sfkjh

[ruinga]

If the hands of time do not touch Valhalla's shores, then how is it that Lightning has found herself here, in this new place, on an entirely different world? It's a question she asks herself again and again as she hides, acquainting herself with the goings-on and the people. No fear of l'Cie greets her here, no Seers or Cocoon or Gran Pulse. No Academia or New Bodhum. Not even Serah. Just a flash when she arrives, a man in all black with long white hair and a long sword who calls her "outsider." He doesn't stick around long enough for her to find out what else he'll say, but the message is clear: she is unwelcome.

And so she makes her way towards a town and then a city and then another city. The more she learns, the less she understands, and though she has traded her warrior's armor for something more appropriate for this world, she feels as though she stands out like a sore thumb. Like Fang and Vanille once did on Cocoon. Her friends. Her family. None of them are here with her. She knows it deep down, but she won't stop fighting to find them, to find a way back.

To home or Valhalla... either way, her place is not here.

Still, simply wishing never did anything and so she slips herself into society. By providence or happenstance, she's in Junon when the so-called rebels are brought in and the more she hears of the "public execution," the more she suspects this is all just a ruse. Something stinks about this whole thing. Deciding she'd rather throw her money in with rebels than executioners, she bides her time, mapping out the entire building from the outside into the main chambers, the executioner's chambers, and even out to the cannons. She'll need every advantage if she's going to have even a hope of saving them. Whether it's luck or something she doesn't have time to think about, one of those nasty Weapons decides to slam into Junon right about then. In the ensuing chaos, Lightning manages to break one of them out of his chains.

"Go!" she yells, slipping back into the crowd as she heads for the chamber the other one is being held in. The man's confused and distrustful expression follows her, but she ignores it, concentrating on where she needs to be. With the Weapon still making a scene, she has an easier time getting close than she might have thought, but smashing her way inside proves more difficult. Lightning gives it her all, calling upon all the strength she has in her entire body to try to break the lock.

It isn't her strength that finally does it, but the crack in the seal is more than enough for her. Ripping a hole big enough to slide through, she inhales deeply and ducks inside. Unsure of how to break the woman out immediately, Lightning instead bolts for the crack she can see in the opposite wall, pulling and pushing at it until an opening wide enough for a person to slip through forms. Most importantly, she can see sky beyond it and that means an escape route, as well as fresh clean air to breathe. Turning back to see how the woman is doing with her binds, she nods her head at the crack in the wall.

"That's our exit. Can you stand?"

If she needs help, Lightning is more than willing to offer a hand. They don't have much time and it would be a real shame to lose someone in the middle of all this.

for lightning!

[mercedis]

[ There's a puddle of water in one of his boots--as he walks, he can feel the way it squashes out the sides, the way his sock, inside of it, flattens out like a sponge with every step. It distracts him from the rest of it; his armor feels limp, weighted down against him, his shoulders are all wrong and his shirt sticks to his stomach, the pleated material wrenching and twitching with each haggard breath. It's been raining for quite some time, now, and the lights of the city ahead of him, Midgar, blur out in the downpour, making it hard for him to find his footing in the dirt and the grass and stone that litters the path outside of it, leading to one of the side gates. He doesn't know why he's outside of the city, doesn't know why he feels like he's soaked to the bone already: he doesn't know why his feet keep working him forward, or why the weight of the sword at his back feels particularly heavy. Hasn't he always had it?

And hasn't he, always, been here? Hasn't it been his idea to come here, to try to find work here, after defecting from Shinra? That's right, that's what makes sense: he had come here after what happened with Sephiroth, had come here to hide away, to become a mercenary, to escape the corruption and the pain and the story of it all. That had been the plan all along. That's right: he had traveled alone, had worked his way across the continent alone, and here he stands, feet away from redemption. It all makes sense.

The blood on his gloves, smeared on his face, spattered on his shirt: it's from killing monster on the way here. The sword feels funny because it's weighted by the rain. It's not abnormal. Everything is fine.

So he trudges on. His hair, drowned in the downpour, sticks to the sides of his face, smears into his eyes, and he lifts one glove, shaky, to try to brush it out of them; it doesn't do much, and that annoys him. More than that, the closer that he gets to the side gate, the more he feels like he's being watched, in a way, and it isn't from the city. He had expected something like that: that perhaps the mako reactors would have watchmen on top of them, ready and waiting to call in reinforcements, but it isn't that at all. It's coming from his back, after all.

One hand lifts, feels for the handle of the buster sword, strapped to his back, and grips it tight--it feels strange, like he's never used it before, but he chalks it up to nerves. ]

...Back off. [ --is what he says, gruff, and feels his head start to swim; has he always sounded this distraught, this terrified? He tries again. ] I mean it. Don't get in my way.

also for lightning, pic prompts!

[reeler]

( 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 )

for yuffie.

[vengefuls]

Ny pphone bberok

[ Eloquent. ]

in memory comes hope of the future

[cryscere]

[ the cold of the cave has been her only companion for so long. vincent visited... a few times, but he always left in the end, as he should. her eyes remain closed, to prevent herself from reaching out, letting go of her guilt. it's too hard, too frightening. the jenova cells in her are still active. what if she becomes like him...? it would be too much, after everything she had been a part of, all the horrors she knew sephiroth would commit.

is this what she deserves? an eternity of guilt, living alone in this cold, damp cave where it had all begun...

yes.]

No, [ another voice whispers, as though in her ear, despite no real person being in the cave with her. ] No. It's been long enough. Don't you think you can let go?

[ lucrecia would shake her head if she weren't encased in crystal. sure, vincent survived because of her actions, but he never would have been put in that position if not for her. it was all her fault. ]

You blame yourself for too much, [ the voice continues, soft and calm, full of wisdom and life. lucrecia's eyes twitch, the idea of looking out into the cave to find the voice straining a face that hasn't seen use in years. ]

That's it, [ the voice continues with a gentle laugh like a warm waterfall cresting over her. ] Keep trying. No one blames you. Come. Back to Midgar. It's time to go home.

[ her face contorts at the idea of "home," a place where she would be welcome. does such a place exist anymore? can it ever again?

something in those thoughts triggers the change, gently touching the crystal encasing her. it isn't enough to banish the jenova cells or heal what will eventually become geostigma if left untreated, but between that and the kind, caring voice, cradling her mind like a friend she's never known, the crystal cracks. long, jagged pieces flake off, the physical manifestation of traitorous hope that sliced through her for the first time since she had originally come to this cave. within moments, she finds herself falling, caught on her hands and knees on the cave floor. the clothes she once wore are in tatters, barely enough to call clothes at all, and she feels incredibly weak, jenova cells or no. ]

What...? [ the singular word is choked out and she coughs air into lungs that haven't seen use in years. everything is so bright, the sun reflecting into the bowels of the cave, the wind near howling to her ears, her throat scratchy from disuse. ]

That's it. [ the voice sounds more distant now, like the person has stepped outside and is calling for her to follow. ] Come on now. There's a friend I want you to meet in Costa del Sol. It's a small hike, but... I think you can do it. But you have to hurry, okay? It gets cold when the sun goes down.

Cold...? [ forcing her eyes open, lucrecia finally takes a look around the cave. as she thought, there's no one inside and as she pushes herself to her feet and begins the arduous climb outside, she discovers that there's no one out here, either. ] Who...?

Who am I? [ the voice echoes her thoughts almost playfully. ] Why don't you ask my friend?

[ that's the last she hears of that voice and though her frame of mind hasn't entirely changed, the crystal encasing her has chipped away. part of her wants to go back to it, to see if another will grow in its place. the mako in this land is still rich. surely more will grow easily. but she's already outside, already trying to find an answer or ten. maybe...

no, she shouldn't. but she can't stay. if vincent returns to find her free... she can't be seen by him, can't give him that kind of hope when she's still locked in despair. so where... costa del sol. that's what the voice said. a gentle breeze tickles her, pushing at her back as if to guide her along a path by the side of the lake. she can't swim the way she is, but surely there has to be some way...?

whatever this wind guide is, it helps her find a path through, keeps her going when she wants nothing more than to collapse, finds her a chocobo that's been lost, and somehow as the sun's edge touches the horizon, she finds herself riding into a... resort town? this is the last thing she expected to find and given how muddled her senses are, she can't even say how many days have passed since she left the cave. but the chocobo has been a pleasant companion in the absence of that voice and the wind, nudging her when she collapses and continuing on as much as possible. it takes her to the inn, where she finds its true owner, who is so happy to have the bird back that he pays for a night's stay for her and new clothes.

lucrecia is too exhausted to protest.

so the night comes and goes as she sleeps off her reawakening and journey, and when the morning dawns, she finds herself at a loss. how is she to find this "friend" and should she even try? she only makes it to the lobby before hopelessness grips her again and she collapses into a chair, burying her head in her hands. why did she leave her sanctuary? why is she here? what could this "friend" possibly even give her? ]

Why did you bring me here? [ she whispers, her voice still hoarse. only time will heal her at this point... time... or the compassion she never gave herself. ]