Final Fantasy VII and all related names and characters are property of Square.

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Displacement ~ by Amariƫ

~part four~
"in which refreshments are served"

The doorbell rang. Alice ignored it. If it's Tina, she'll let herself in eventually, the lazy creature... if it's anyone else then I don't know who they are. It rang again. And again. And again. Alice buried her nose in her book and turned up the music a bit louder, but when the rings culminated with a prolonged buzz that made her head spin, she stomped over to press the buzzer. That better not be Tina, or she'll get an earful...

Her apartment was the first at the top of the stairs, so she heard the knock in only a few seconds. Looking through the peephole, (one can't be too careful these days) she saw a tall man wearing a black coat, hat and sunglasses, so that his only distinguishing feature was a long silver ponytail. Which in itself was quite weird enough for Alice. She pondered while he knocked, then decided that her life was so boring she didn't care what happened now, and opened the door.

"Hello. Are you some kind of salesman or something? Because if you are --"

The tall man pushed past her hastily and slammed the door. Alice gasped and shrunk back, but he made no further move.

"Hey!" she said, pulling herself together. "I'll have you know that's my only door and it's nearly broken already! And what are you doing in my apartment anyway? I don't remember inviting you in!"

He sighed. "Forgive me, but I needed to get out of sight." A cold feeling crept up Alice's back. She ignored it. "I was told you could help me."

"I have no idea how I can help you, and I'd kick you out if I wasn't supremely bored. But since I am, come in and have some tea."

He looked puzzled, as far as Alice could make out with those sunglasses in the way, but seemed to take this in stride. "Certainly," he said, taking off the hat and glasses, "and perhaps I can tell you about what I wanted your help for."

Alice made tea while he attempted to stuff the coat and hat into her overcrowded coat closet. By the time she took out the cookies, he had managed to wedge the door shut, a feat which she had thought possible only for the initiate.

"Tamed the coat closet?" she said, pouring a cup for herself (drop of milk, no sugar) and one for her guest (straight, wedge of lemon). "Then come sit down and you can tell me what the heck you're doing here."

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author's notes: Tea! I love tea. Just today I had a cup of tea, but it was too hot so I burnt my tongue. To make up for it I ate a big piece of chocolate cake. Wait, am I supposed to be talking about the story? Oh, fine. I'm still undecided on whether to make this AerithxCloud or AerithxSephiroth. There's still time for anyone who wants to put in a plea for one or the other!