Welcome to Adventu, your final fantasy rp haven. adventu focuses on both canon and original characters from different worlds and timelines that have all been pulled to the world of zephon: a familiar final fantasy-styled land where all adventurers will fight, explore, and make new personal connections.
at adventu, we believe that colorful story and plots far outweigh the need for a battle system. rp should be about the writing, the fun, and the creativity. you will see that the only system on our site is the encouragement to create amazing adventures with other members. welcome to adventu... how will you arrive?
year 5, quarter 3
Welcome one and all to our beautiful new skin! This marks the visual era of Adventu 4.0, our 4th and by far best design we've had. 3.0 suited our needs for a very long time, but as things are evolving around the site (and all for the better thanks to all of you), it was time for a new, sleek change. The Resource Site celebrity Pharaoh Leep was the amazing mastermind behind this with minor collaborations from your resident moogle. It's one-of-a-kind and suited specifically for Adventu. Click the image for a super easy new skin guide for a visual tour!
Final Fantasy Adventu is a roleplaying forum inspired by the Final Fantasy series. Images on the site are edited by KUPO of FF:A with all source material belonging to their respective artists (i.e. Square Enix, Pixiv Fantasia, etc). The board lyrics are from the Final Fantasy song "Otherworld" composed by Nobuo Uematsu and arranged by The Black Mages II.
The current skin was made by Pharaoh Leap of Pixel Perfect. Outside of that, individual posts and characters belong to their creators, and we claim no ownership to what which is not ours. Thank you for stopping by.
[attr="class","ayab-lyrics"]be as you've always been
[attr="class","ayab-tagged"]for @vincent
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[attr="class","ayab-text"] Maybe someday? Aerith felt her lips curl into a another pout as she stared up and Vincent with pleading eyes. "Are you sure? Just think about how wonderful you'd look with a flower crown, Vincent! Please?" she asked as she batted her eyes for good measure. All of this was in good fun and she would never force Vincent if he truly was opposed to the idea. But that did not mean she could not persuade him to allow her, though! His hair was just so long and pretty that it would be a shame if she could not braid it! Perhaps some roses? The red hue would go great with his eyes, but she could always try tulips as well. Then again, if she did braid his hair then she should go with flowers with a related meaning to Vincent himself! [break][break]
His answer did not surprise her entirely. Vincent's past was still in large part a mystery to her, but she knew enough to realize that there were traumas he would prefer to move on from. "There's nothing wrong with that, Vincent. If you're happy here then you should stay." What else could she possibly say to that? All she wished for was for her friend to be happy and content. This world provided him with both of those so there was no need for him to go back. Aerith wished she had the same clarity of mind to decide such a thing for herself. Gently, she set aside her empty glass as she folded her hands upon her lap. No, the answer was not a simple one for her in the least when it concerned her home world. [break][break]
For a few moments, Aerith sat in silence as she attempted to gather the right words to say. "Everyone dies eventually, Vincent. There's no escaping that," she said quietly. "I wish I could say that I'm happy here and can stay, but I'd be lying. I am happy here, but I feel like a part of me is missing." A soft sigh as she glanced up at him with a wan smile. "There's no lifestream here. I can't hear anything or feel it in this world. Back home, I always had that familiarity with me. I can't even hear my mother's voice anymore. I spent so long denying who I was that I feel so lost without that part of me here." [break][break]
There was so much on her mind that she felt the need to let it out. Aerith knew she kept more of her worries to herself than she should, and she felt more comfortable admitting it to Vicent. Cloud and Tifa were two of the closest people in her heart, but she had no desire to worry them at all. No, the two of them had enough to worry about without her adding her own insecurities upon their shoulders. "And I miss my other mother, too. All I did was leave her with Marlene to look after without even saying goodbye. I don't want to live my life with regrets and I know I made the decisions I felt were best at the time, but I think I would go back home if only so I could tell my mother goodbye."
[attr="class","vvoverlap"]Too much hope is the opposite of despair.
[attr="class","vvbody"]Aerith was clearly still very much interested in the idea of braiding his hair. With flowers, in fact. Vincent didn’t laugh much, not anymore. He was known as the dour one of the group back in Gaia, the one who rarely even cracked a smile. But there was something unique about Aerith, about seeing her again and experiencing her enthusiasm again. And it brought forth a good-natured laugh from Vincent Valentine. The sound was nearly alien. “I suppose if it would make you that happy,” he conceded. Because of course he’d give in if it would make the girl genuinely happy again. How could he deny her? Not after what he knew happened. [break][break]
But while Vincent laughing was shocking, Aerith turning to sadness was equally shocking. When he asked if she’d prefer to stay in Zephon or return to Gaia she grew uncharacteristically serious. He should have known she’d feel the loss of the lifestream on an integral level. She was inexorably tied to the force that flowed through the planet as a Cetra. He nodded slowly in response. “I was never able to truly understand the lifestream, not in the way you do,” he said softly. “But I think I can understand how it feels like a part of you is missing.” In a way it was similar to that strange hollow loss he still felt after Chaos had left him. Not the same, but similar. [break][break]
Vincent listened intently as Aerith bared more of her heart to him. He felt oddly touched that she’d feel comfortably enough sharing her troubles with him. He hadn’t really known her adoptive mother, but he could feel the love she felt for her. She must have been a good woman for Aerith to feel so strongly for her. His jaw clenched as he realized what might have happened to her, what could have been if she was in Midgar. Did she die to the plate dropping? Or was it not until Meteorfall? Or maybe she was still alive, never knowing what happened to her daughter. His heart twisted at the thought. [break][break]
“I understand,” he replied earnestly. “Closure is important. Goodbyes are oftentimes more important than meetings. It is easier for me here in Zephon because I was able to make my goodbyes and find closure. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for you, not having had those moments.” [break][break]
He looked over at her. “If it helps, I’m still glad you’re here.” Then he smiled again. “If braiding my hair would cheer you up, please go ahead.”
[break]
[attr="class","vvinfo"]Permission granted for hair braiding! <33 / Aerith Gainsborough
[attr="class","ayab-lyrics"]be as you've always been
[attr="class","ayab-tagged"]for @vincent
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[attr="class","ayab-text"] The sound of laughter from Vincent Valentine from all people could be considered a novelty. It was not a sound she could recall hearing even if she did remember him smiling a handful of times. The sound was rich and deep and warmed her heart immensely. Yes, this was a sound she wished her friend would indulge in as much as he felt the need to. Aerith could see how much good Zephon had done for him, and she knew that she would rather see him happy here than return to Gaia with regrets and unfulfilled wishes. How could she be selfish and wish for anything else? "It makes me happy to hear you laugh. I'm so glad you're at peace here, Vincent. It suits you so well." [break][break]
No, she did not think anyone could feel the lifestream as she had been able to. It was a further reminder that she was the last of her kind and most likely her bloodline would end with her. Had it not in another time, anyway? The Planet would go on with or without the guidance of the Cetra. Life always found a way to continue on in some capacity after all. "You do?" she asked with a curious glint. There was still so much she did not know about Vincent's past, but she believed him when he said he could sympathize with her. Oh, she could remember when she had learned more about her people in Cosmo Canyon and how alone she had felt. In some ways, she still felt alone. [break][break]
"I know my mother knows how much I love her. All I can hope is that my feelings reach her somehow." Her smile was somewhat pained as she looked to Vincent, but Aerith never did enjoy lingering too much upon sadness. Happiness was a choice one could make and it was one she preferred to choose above most others. Soon enough her sadness melted away as her smile became more chipper with just a hint of mischievousness. Vincent's presence brightened her mood as well as the fact he had agreed to allow her to braid his hair. The ebony tresses were just so long and most women would be envious of such beautiful strands. How could they not? [break][break]
"Yellow daffodils. They symbolize new beginnings and even the beginnings of a new friendship. Of course, you've been my friend since we met, but why not the renewal of our friendship on Zephon? But more than one bloom, of course! Daffodils should always be placed together!" Her smile was bright as she suddenly stood and clapped her hands together. Now they needed to find a nearby stall that sold such flowers! Aerith could find another flower with a similar meaning, but she now had her heart set upon daffodils for Vincent if Zephon held such similar flowers.
[attr="class","vvoverlap"]Too much hope is the opposite of despair.
[attr="class","vvbody"]Vincent shrugged slightly when Aerith curiously asked about his mention of feeling like a part of him was lost forever. How to explain? His friends had never really known about Chaos. Not entirely. “I shared my body with a primordial entity called Chaos for some time. It was created eons ago from tainted lifestream energy,” he attempted. “It’s what allowed me to shapeshift. Before coming to Zephon, I found myself free of its grasp. Overall, this has been good. I’ve been myself again in ways I haven’t since I was a young man. But it still feels odd some days. Like a piece of me I’d grown so used to isn’t there anymore.” He hoped that made some sort of sense to her. At least, as much sense as such a tale could make. [break][break]
“I’m sure they have reached her somehow,” he murmured in response to his friends words about her mother. “I think we’re more connected than we know to those we’ve lost or left behind.” But the mood between them quickly shifted again, as Aerith’s normal mischievousness glint returned to her eyes. He caught her gaze on his hair and knew that she was already planning what braids she wanted to do. He was going to regret this, wasn’t he? [break][break]
Oh no. Apparently the flowers hadn’t just been a joke. He let Aerith pontificate about daffodils and their meanings. Well, at least they sounded appropriate. This certainly was the time for new beginnings all around. Resigned to his flowery fate, Vincent followed Aerith to nearby stalls in the market as she hunted for yellow daffodils to braid into his hair. He grumbled at her, giving a complaint here and there. But he knew she knew he was joking, the mirthful glint in his red gaze enough to tell her that. He couldn’t let her off without at least some complaining though.
[break]
[attr="class","vvinfo"]Aerith Gainsborough Let the flower-braiding commence!!
[attr="class","ayab-lyrics"]be as you've always been
[attr="class","ayab-tagged"]for @vincent
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[attr="class","ayab-text"] Aerith did recall that Vincent had harbored a being known as Chaos. In her mind's eye, she could recall his transformation into the fearsome being when the situation had called for it. He had been more powerful than in his human form, but she had not feared him after that initial first reaction. A primordial being created from tainted lifestream? It had her wonder if the Cetra had ever come across Chaos in the distant past, but it was not something she was ever likely to truly know. "I'm glad that you feel more like the you from your past. It can't have been easy being separated from Chaos, but you seem to be doing well. I can only hope I adjust over time without feeling or hearing the lifestream." [break][break]
His words were a comfort and ones she would hold closely in her heart. Aerith needed to believe that Elmyra knew how much she had loved and appreciated all that the woman had done for her. Not many could easily adopt a girl they had met on the streets and love them so unconditionally. She truly hoped she could do the same if such a situation ever happened to her. But such thoughts could be mused over another time. Now was the time for mischief and braiding! Her emerald eyes glinted as she eagerly began to scour the stalls for daffodils to purchase and weave. Vincent had no choice but to accept his floral fate and allow her these silly whims! [break][break]
The grumbles and complaints were ignored with giggles and diabolical smiles as she nearly rubbed her hands together in sheer glee. Instead, she found herself with an armful of flowers as she lead him towards an empty bench to place her prizes upon. Humming happily, Aerith combed her fingers through the thick mass of ebony locks. Oh, it really was not fair that his hair was so luxurious! Did he even realize his hair was any girl's dream? Huffing to herself, Aerith deftly began to braid his hair once she had gotten the tangles out. "You don't realize how much a girl would kill for hair like yours, Vincent! Mine is pretty long, but yours is just so much softer and the color is so wonderful! If you're ever in need of a career, you could definitely be a model for shampoo and conditioner." [break][break]
Giggling to herself, she plaited his hair with practiced ease before she moved to the flowers to begin weaving a flower crown for him. Oh, if only Cloud would allow her to do this! But the man would only run the moment she mentioned flower crowns and braiding. "You're really happy here, right?" she asked softly. "We might not be able to see each other as often as we did back home, so I want to make sure you're really at peace here." He had said as much earlier, but perhaps she just wanted the reassurance for her own peace of mind.
Vincent hoped Aerith would adapt to life without the lifestream here in Zephon. He knew it would be hard for someone who had been so connected. But perhaps there was another similar force here, something yet to be tapped into. Surely this planet had something keeping it alive. If anyone could figure that one, it would certainly be Aerith. [break][break]
Eventually, flowers had been procured. Too many flowers, to Vincent’s mind, but his protests were ignored and laughed at. Oh well. He resigned himself to his fate as Aerith combed through his long black hair. Honestly, it felt kind of nice. He hadn’t exactly experienced a whole lot of human contact recently. Sometimes he forgot how nice it was. She started to go on about how beautiful his hair was as she braided. Vincent let out a soft chuckle in response. “Why do you think I’ve kept it this long?” Back when he’d been a Turk, he’d kept his hair short and basic. But he liked the long style far better. For a while during his slumber in stasis it had gotten crazy, tangled, and out of hand. But recently he’d made the effort to keep it looking nice. Vincent cared about his appearance more than he generally let on or cared to admit. [break][break]
Aerith’s voice was soft when she asked if he was truly happy here in Zephon. He was silent for a long moment, letting her braid his hair as he formulated an answer. “I am,” he finally said in a soft voice. “It’s a combination of things, of being free from Chaos, of finding closure, of seeing a new life ahead of me. But I am truly happy here in a way I haven’t been since I was very young. I feel like a new man here. It’s… odd. And unexpected. But the peace I feel here is real.” If someone gave him the choice to return to Gaia or stay here, he knew which he’d choose. It wasn’t even close to a hard decision. There was nothing Vincent could think of that would make him desire to return to Gaia. [break][break]
“And you? I know it’s hard away from the lifestream, but are you at peace here as well?”
[attr="class","ayab-lyrics"]be as you've always been
[attr="class","ayab-tagged"]for @vincent
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[attr="class","ayab-text"] An unladylike snort escaped her at his rather proud, rhetorical question. Aerith was quite pleased to see Vincent taking care of himself properly now, though. There were no more tattered cloaks of red nor tangled snarls in his hair. This world had truly allowed him to blossom, no? It was as clear as day to her that life had continued onward for him and she wished with all of her heart that he continued to walk forward on this path of his. Her friends all deserved the best life could give them and the happiness that went with such changes. "You're going to make every girl that sees you jealous. And with this flower crown, you look fit to be a princess~!" Her eyes were bright as she laughed merrily at her own, silly quip. [break][break]
But the laughter faded as a more contemplative expression settled upon her features. What was it like to be free? Aerith believed she had tasted freedom when she had met Cloud and had left the confines of Midgar. She had been able to see and witness so many parts of Gaia that she would never have been able to otherwise. No, Shinra would have kept her close and under their thumb until they had what they wanted from her. And even then, she had felt tied down by the heritage and bloodline of her mother. Aerith had only come to appreciate her unique ties to the planet when she had been able to learn more about herself at Cosmo Canyon. [break][break]
"You're free to do as you like, you know. Make new friends, travel the world, and maybe fall in love," she added with a soft smile. "Live your life the way you finally want to, Vincent. I'll be cheering for you the entire time, too!" Soon enough, she had finished plaiting his hair and weaving the daffodils through his ebony tresses. Aerith admired her handiwork with a proud smile as she clapped her hands together excitedly. "There! All finished and you look prettier for it!" [break][break]
Was she at peace? Aerith hummed to herself thoughtfully as she leaned forward to rest her forehead against Vincent's back. Perhaps she just enjoyed being close to her friend again, or she was in search of some comfort for herself. "I'd like to be. I believe I could be with some more time. I just find it hard to feel settled. I have Cloud and Tifa with me, which means so much. I know I might make things look easy, but sometimes I can be the biggest quitter. I ran away from a lot of things and pretended that everything was fine. I thought I'd finally gotten things right when we all journeyed together. And then...I woke up here and learned that I died. It's a lot to take in and I'm still trying to find a purpose for myself here, but I know I'll find one eventually. I just need to keep moving forward, right?"
Aerith proclaimed that he would look fit to be a princess once she finished with his flower crown. His mouth quirked up in a smirk. “I can’t say that’s something I ever dreamed of being.” She laughed as she worked and he didn’t care how ridiculous he ended up looking. It was worth it, just to hear that musical laugh again. [break][break]
Their conversation turned softer and more contemplative as he spoke of freedom and peace, of finding a new life for himself here in Zephon. Aerith commented that he had the chance to live his life exactly as he wanted now, even to fall in love. The thought brought him up short and his spine straightened. Could he? Was that in the cards for him here as well? Vincent hadn’t loved anyone, not like that, in decades. Not since before everything happened. Not since Lucrecia, under their tree outside Shinra manor. Had that even been real? He’d been so young, so immature. Maybe it was just infatuation or lust, something baser than love. Because really, there’s no way she could have loved him. She used him, he knew that now. But perhaps here in Zephon, Vincent could try again. [break][break]
“Maybe,” he agreed softly. “Anything’s possible here, I suppose.” Then Aerith finished with the hair project and clapped admiringly. He had no idea what it looked like, just felt the strange sensation of the breeze on his bare neck. He brushed one hand over his head and felt soft petals. Apparently, it looked beautiful. He’d just have to take her word for it. [break][break]
As he turned the questions towards her, he felt her rest her forehead against his back. For the briefest moment he stiffened, still unused to human contact. But then he slowly relaxed, enjoying the comforting feeling. This was Aerith, one of his most trusted friends. He loved her, in a way. Much like a sibling, he assumed, though he’d never had any of his own. It felt nice to be close to someone. [break][break]
“I’m sure you will, Aerith,” he responded softly after she finished speaking. “You say you can be a quitter, but I also know you to be one of the most driven people I’ve ever met. I’m certain you’ll find your way here. You’ve already found so many of us from before. Perhaps it will become more clear if we’re all able to reunite. Maybe we can find our purpose together.” He paused and thought for a moment. “And I think you’ll make new friends here too. It seems easy for you to do. Maybe you’ll fall in love as well.” He let out a low chuckle. “Maybe we’ll all find some sort of cliched happy ending.” If someone had mentioned a happy ending to him just a year ago, he wouldn’t have believed them. But now, it seemed more than possible.
[attr="class","ayab-lyrics"]be as you've always been
[attr="class","ayab-tagged"]for @vincent
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[attr="class","ayab-text"] "If you want something enough, then you owe it to yourself to reach for it. Be selfish, Vincent, and be happy." Her lips curled into a soft smile at his soft, doubting words. There was surely someone out there that would love her friend for all of his worth: the good and the bad. For all of the traumas he had endured and overcome and for all the good he would continue to do here because he wanted to better himself. Her green eyes were warm and vibrant as she ran an affectionate hand through his braided hair in an almost maternal fashion. There was still such a melancholy air to her friend that she hoped would ease completely away with more time. [break][break]
She closed her eyes as she allowed herself to soak in the comfort Vincent was offering to her. This was not something she indulged in often since she always tried to offer comfort to everyone else. Aerith disliked burdening her friends with her own worries and woes. Most of the time she had kept her true thoughts and feelings to herself--and it had been with a costly price. Her stubborn nature had lead to her future death, but she had made her choice knowing that it could happen. She had had no desire to burden her friends further when Cloud had needed help and praying for Holy was something she could have done, anyway. Would she still make the same choice? [break][break]
Most likely. If her death had meant her friends could live, then she would gladly make that choice twice over in a heartbeat. "That a nice way of saying I'm too stubborn for my own good," she teased with a soft laugh. A soft exhale escaped her as she nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder. Her eyes were half-lidded as she continued to allow herself this closeness to one of her dear friends. It was not as if she had lacked affection when she was younger, but she had always felt the urge to reach out and simply keep those dear to her close. Whether with a hug or simply pushing them about as she often did to Cloud. [break][break]
A snort of laughter escaped her at the mention of falling in love. Her love life had been complicated enough with Zack, and it still was complicated with her current feelings for someone else. "Hah! My love life is better left unsaid. I'd make a mess of those kinds of things, anyway. But I'm more than happy to make new friends! There are plenty of people here to meet." But she supposed she had waxed her poetics and her woes long enough, and Vincent had been kind enough to endure her whims. "I think I'll stay here for awhile so we can catch up more, Vincent. But, thank you, for your words and kindness. I'll definitely remember them and try my best, and so should you!"
’Be selfish.’ It was somewhat jarring to hear Aerith tell him those words, to spin an often negative thought into positive. But she always had a way with wise advice, with making the world seem brighter and life more authentic. He didn’t really know how to be selfish and live for himself. Well, maybe he did in some ways, but he hadn’t exactly approached it in a healthy manner. Retreating to a coffin for years on end probably fell under the category of selfish but it wasn’t exactly what Aerith meant. Even if he felt pain and loss, even if there was sadness… life had its happy moments as well, its bright spots. One day--hopefully soon--he’d figure out how to reach for that happiness.
She teased him gently, claiming he was saying she was too stubborn for her own good. Vincent started to argue but then she laughed and nuzzled against his shoulder. He let out a snort of laughter in response, realizing she wasn’t being serious. Maybe she was stubborn, but that wasn’t always a bad thing. Just like being selfish and pursuing your own happiness.
He let himself relax there with her for a peaceful moment, enjoying the comfort of a friend. Contented silence stretched between them for a while before they spoke again. Aerith joked about her mess of a love life and Vincent didn’t question her. That was her business after all. “I’ll try my best to be more selfish,” he promised with a small smirk. “I’m glad you’ll be staying here for a while, it is so good to see you again. And when you return to Sonora, would you pass on a word to Cloud for me? I would like to see him again.”
