Don Corneo's Mansion

Aerith ran in a panic through Wall Market, shoulders brushing dozens of strangers, hearing a sizeable fraction of them react to the view she suddenly offered them. She didn't know where she was going, just that she didn't want to stop running for a moment.

There was nowhere to hide. Every building she passed was jam-packed with people, and they looked out through open doors as a wailing naked flower girl ran by them.

No matter where Aerith turned, there were more people there, all of them looking right back at her.

Eventually she finally saw a place that seemed devoid of Wall Market's normal denizens. She didn't think, she just ran for it, wanting to get as far from the lustful eyes and wandering hands of the district.

She only realized after she'd crouched down behind the statue of a dragon that she knew where she was. Don Corneo's Mansion. The garish building was behind her, the statue she hid behind just one of many decorations. No wonder the area was so quiet. No one wanted to be near here unless they had to be.

It still offered her privacy. Aerith's face was still red, and she crouched, clinging onto the statue's plinth as she tried to work out what she could possibly do next. The Turks couldn't stay around forever, but she had no idea how she was meant to get back to Madam M.

The doors opened behind her. Aerith jumped. She tried to turn around, and lost her balance, falling over and exposing herself to the man that walked out. She recognised him as Leslie.

He looked down at her. Aerith wriggled, moving her arms to try to cover herself. She giggled nervously. He stared.

"You really do want to get in huh?" he said. "Alright, come on then, if you really want to."

"What?" Aerith said.

"Bridal candidate, right? I heard you'd been approved," Leslie said. "Most people wear a dress, but I guess you're saving time."

Aerith stared at him for a moment. It was true, she'd wanted to get into the mansion, and had come face to face with him before, but this wasn't what she'd had planned. Madam M had procured a wonderful dress for her. She just wasn't wearing it.

She did want to get in. She just hadn't thought getting naked would do it.

"Change your mind?" Leslie said. "Smart choice. I'd get out of here if I were you, you and your friend."

"Wait!" Aerith said.

She pushed herself back up to her feet, awkwardly standing there. She tried to keep by the statue. She still hesitated.

"Well?" Leslie said. "Coming in, or doing the smart thing?"