Cloud Strife (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
liveandforgive) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
isleofavalon2021-08-17 07:51 pm
liveandforgive) wrote in isleofavalon2021-08-17 07:51 pm
凶 • fate beneath another sky
🧙 WHO: Cloud & Sephiroth
⚔️️ WHAT: An unexpected encounter. Will it escalate?!
🕒 WHEN: August 17th • Late Afternoon
🗺️ WHERE: Downtown Camelot
⚠️ WARNINGS: None
...... Mm. It went well.
... ....
Nope. Got it right in here.
[ Device in one hand and a bag full of miscellaneous goodies in the other, he gives a sparing glance inside as he's on his phone. It was another day of running errands in town, having spent most of his time in this world out on the outskirts on the farm. For the past while now, Cloud has been learning more about the various businesses that have cropped up in this realm; in due time? He may very well give up on the "odds and ends" line of work and try to revitalize his old delivery business. First was Gaia, then there was the unexpected success he found on Prismatica, working generally throughout Lunatia and then expanding to Amegahara... Here? He has no motorcycle, treks most places by foot, and has been adjusting to a whole new set of skills in the absence of his original strength.
Today was an interesting one! And he plans on telling Weiss all about it when he gets home. Speaking of which... ]
Yeah. [ He smiles to himself, gaze set to the clear skies ahead as he waits to cross the street. ] I'll seeya at home.
[ Hanging up with a content huff, he puts his device back in his pocket, readjusting his grip on the heavier bag. He's still got some time. So... ]
— — —
[ Seated alone on a nearby bench, his hands are folded in front of his face as he leans into them, lost in his own thoughts once more as he reminisces of his time spent here. He'd just celebrated his 26th birthday here... Three birthdays... It hasn't quite been three years since he was gone, but it's been some time since he actually saw his home. The last time he caught a glimpse of it was in an illusory world crafted for others to see. Even that trip was cut short before he had the time to truly take them back to see where he lived. And he wasn't just talking of Nibelheim, either. That was a shell of its former self...
No. To him, home was where his family was. It didn't matter to him now if it was in Edge, Kalm, Rocket Town, Wutai...hell, even in his time off the planet. It wasn't complete, and he still misses his old family photo left behind. But even Lunatia became a home to him, full of people he cared deeply about. Some of them came here, and those he knew from Gaia were coming and going all the same. Despite the fact that Cloud was still here, he'd resigned himself to a more subdued life until he figured out where they were going in this realm. ]
...
[ What was it? Fear of losing someone special all over again? He's happy here. But thinking of what he's left behind all the same, looking at the back of his hand out of reminisce, he ultimately sighs. ]
[ Suddenly—?! ]
?!
[ Jostled out of his thoughts by the commotion of some ravens fighting over what appears to be some shiny trinket (a coin?), they take off into the sky as they caw. The roughhousing saw some feathers coming loose, the blond's blue gaze widening some as one of the black feathers comes floating down. When he blinks next...it's in his hand as he near-listlessly stares down at it. Speaking of reminisce... ]
...
[ A starlit sky, moons beating down on crystalline sands of a distant planet, a bonfire keeping attendants warm. He remembers the meeting like it was yesterday. The day his heart sank to his feet and his spine felt as delicate as glass. Every step he took around the man was like walking on eggshells. And he cracks them every time, begging not to get cut. For the better part of a year, he'd gotten to know the man he once respected and looked up to. It was both a delicate situation and...looking back, a very sad one. Because there was no changing fate now that it'd been decided. He would return to his world and timeline, having defeated Sephiroth time and time again...
Yet that very same man would come to his aid, again and again, without truly knowing the reason why there was some distance. It wasn't about getting close. It never was. But— ]
Hmph,
[ He huffs through his nose, getting to his feet as he takes his eyes off the feather, idly tossing it away to lazily float to the ground.
Right. Better get going. ]
⚔️️ WHAT: An unexpected encounter. Will it escalate?!
🕒 WHEN: August 17th • Late Afternoon
🗺️ WHERE: Downtown Camelot
⚠️ WARNINGS: None
...... Mm. It went well.
... ....
Nope. Got it right in here.
[ Device in one hand and a bag full of miscellaneous goodies in the other, he gives a sparing glance inside as he's on his phone. It was another day of running errands in town, having spent most of his time in this world out on the outskirts on the farm. For the past while now, Cloud has been learning more about the various businesses that have cropped up in this realm; in due time? He may very well give up on the "odds and ends" line of work and try to revitalize his old delivery business. First was Gaia, then there was the unexpected success he found on Prismatica, working generally throughout Lunatia and then expanding to Amegahara... Here? He has no motorcycle, treks most places by foot, and has been adjusting to a whole new set of skills in the absence of his original strength.
Today was an interesting one! And he plans on telling Weiss all about it when he gets home. Speaking of which... ]
Yeah. [ He smiles to himself, gaze set to the clear skies ahead as he waits to cross the street. ] I'll seeya at home.
[ Hanging up with a content huff, he puts his device back in his pocket, readjusting his grip on the heavier bag. He's still got some time. So... ]
[ Seated alone on a nearby bench, his hands are folded in front of his face as he leans into them, lost in his own thoughts once more as he reminisces of his time spent here. He'd just celebrated his 26th birthday here... Three birthdays... It hasn't quite been three years since he was gone, but it's been some time since he actually saw his home. The last time he caught a glimpse of it was in an illusory world crafted for others to see. Even that trip was cut short before he had the time to truly take them back to see where he lived. And he wasn't just talking of Nibelheim, either. That was a shell of its former self...
No. To him, home was where his family was. It didn't matter to him now if it was in Edge, Kalm, Rocket Town, Wutai...hell, even in his time off the planet. It wasn't complete, and he still misses his old family photo left behind. But even Lunatia became a home to him, full of people he cared deeply about. Some of them came here, and those he knew from Gaia were coming and going all the same. Despite the fact that Cloud was still here, he'd resigned himself to a more subdued life until he figured out where they were going in this realm. ]
...
[ What was it? Fear of losing someone special all over again? He's happy here. But thinking of what he's left behind all the same, looking at the back of his hand out of reminisce, he ultimately sighs. ]
[ Suddenly—?! ]
?!
[ Jostled out of his thoughts by the commotion of some ravens fighting over what appears to be some shiny trinket (a coin?), they take off into the sky as they caw. The roughhousing saw some feathers coming loose, the blond's blue gaze widening some as one of the black feathers comes floating down. When he blinks next...it's in his hand as he near-listlessly stares down at it. Speaking of reminisce... ]
...
[ A starlit sky, moons beating down on crystalline sands of a distant planet, a bonfire keeping attendants warm. He remembers the meeting like it was yesterday. The day his heart sank to his feet and his spine felt as delicate as glass. Every step he took around the man was like walking on eggshells. And he cracks them every time, begging not to get cut. For the better part of a year, he'd gotten to know the man he once respected and looked up to. It was both a delicate situation and...looking back, a very sad one. Because there was no changing fate now that it'd been decided. He would return to his world and timeline, having defeated Sephiroth time and time again...
Yet that very same man would come to his aid, again and again, without truly knowing the reason why there was some distance. It wasn't about getting close. It never was. But— ]
Hmph,
[ He huffs through his nose, getting to his feet as he takes his eyes off the feather, idly tossing it away to lazily float to the ground.
Right. Better get going. ]
no subject
It's for those who would threaten the balance of restoring everything they all hold dear. So he listens. Intently he listens as he the maddened Ex-SOLDIER clashes with his words. He wants to speak up when the man claims he fell for Shinra's propaganda; he couldn't be farther from the truth... And maybe if the time came to converse again (or should this meeting steer that direction), he'll have the chance to clear things. For now, he stares the man down. ]
...
[ His gaze flickers. Dare it be described as faltering as Sephiroth calls him out on his reason for concealing the truth. This time, it's the blond's turn for twitching fingers, and a firmed jaw as he clenches the side of his mouth behind sealed lips. In all truths...justified as he was? It was also a terrible thing to do to the man who'd been left lost for so many years of his life. ]
You're right. ... About everything.
[ A younger Cloud would have told him to shut up. Or pulled his sword and threatened him. But that didn't make the blond's words any less difficult to say. ]
But you forgot something important. [ Zack may not be here anymore, but even stars apart, the memories, hopes and dreams all fuel him. ] It's not about how SOLDIER began.
[ Built upon lies and controlling those beneath Shinra's heel. ]
It's about what it became. The good that I...we... [ He glares up at the man, resolute. ] —you fought for.
[ And he's not talking about missions headed by Shinra. Cloud may not know about Sephiroth's attempts to protect his former friends, but everything Zack fought for, and sacrificed to protect what was left to cherish to his final breath... The legacy Cloud inherited in the wake of one man's death. SOLDIER became a symbol of pride in the power to protect. Not the power to suppress. Before the tension between the two can build towards that familiar boiling point, he sighs and shakes his head. Not quite defeated, but... ]
Whether I told you the truth or not...it doesn't change what you've already done. What you'll go on to do.
[ And yet...here they are. But Cloud's stubbornly sticking to his guns and the promises that he's made to those he cares about. He refuses to go home just so he can forget what he's obtained from afar. ]
no subject
Perhaps a combination of things.
Still, he scoffs as though Cloud has returned to saying nonsense. He meets the glare with a rather dismissive one. There's a lot hidden under his gaze, a lot of thoughts that drift back and both. Under normal circumstances they wouldn't be having this conversation. But then again, under normal circumstances a lot things would be going differently.]
Someone [Who?] once asked me why I fight.
[Maybe? It feels as though someone asked him that. A long time ago. He can't recall who or if it even happened at all. The words came out in an attempt to refute Cloud, but suddenly stop because nothing else exists around the empty void that once housed those memories.
He can dismiss the words, but he can't prove them wrong. He can't give an answer contradicting Cloud's reasoning why he fought for SOLDIER (did he ever have an answer?) The more he searches the more he's met with black emptiness. Before those memories were meaningless to who he is now. And while that may still be true --
There's no lifestream, no ability to see into other people's memories for any bit of information. He only has himself and the black void of who he used to be.
For a moment, he brings a hand to his head in a gesture almost reminiscent of when he first discovered what was inside the Nibelheim reactor. But he shakes his head, dismissing whatever thoughts he was mentally trying to grab ahold of.]
It is ironic how you choose to believe in some things but not others. Holding so tight onto an idealistic view of SOLDIER, yet making no effort to try and change destiny to make your beliefs a reality. I think --
[He shifts to lock his gaze onto Cloud again.]
No matter where you are, fear cripples you. And it always will.
no subject
He still has a promise to keep to Weiss. That at the end of this journey they're on, between this world, others, and their own, that they would find a way back to each other. And yet, deeply rooted in his heart... There's doubt.
Fear.
And it's Sephiroth bringing light to that very word that ruins any chance of some futile hopes to reach him. He's reminded, oh-so-harshly, that this was his enemy. An enemy on the same side for now, but inevitably destined to clash. His fist clenches, finally showing a crumble in his composure. ]
........
[ But...he refuses. He bites his tongue. He exhales and closes his eyes, the first to break from their staredown as he begins walking again. And should he feel Sephiroth's presence... ]
So what're you doing downtown?
[ Yup. He's changing the subject. ]
no subject
The subject change is actually what kept Sephiroth from continuing on about how much Cloud is afraid. The question is random enough to be jarring, and Sephiroth has roughly the same ability to hold a regular normal casual conversation as a house plant. So it kind of catches him off guard. For Cloud's sake this is probably for the best.]
... Observing the city.
[There's no smugness in his response. It is the simplest answer to give without saying that he was also kind of lost in his own thoughts before running into Cloud. He briefly considers bringing back up what they were discussing before (minus the part about himself) but that'd risk the conversation going back to places he doesn't want to go. Things were so much nicer when he could just taunt Cloud with mind control.]
The people do not know me here, so they do not notice. It makes them easy to watch. Humans are the same here as they are on Gaia.
[He could follow this up with a remark about how that's why they all need to die, but he won't. Cloud already knows his feelings so it can be implied without him even saying it all.]
no subject
[ Good answer. It's piqued his interest and curiosity, if only fleeting as he decides (against his better judgment, to hear him out. He'll converse or keep his silence while he can, until he can finally shake him. The last thing he needs is for his worst enemy to know where he lives. That not only puts their landlady in danger, but Weiss too. She wasn't defenseless, but...the less weakness Cloud shows? The better. Even now, he's still thinking despite letting the man in- if only a smidgeon after everything he's been through. ]
I don't know. [ A beat. ] Kinda hard to miss someone like you.
[ He's not that amicable to poke about his hair. It's as light of a remark as Sephiroth would receive, strange as this encounter has been. ]
no subject
Still, it is probably for the best to keep Sephiroth in the dark. Even if he didn't make any real aggressive move towards those Cloud cares about, Sephiroth would still use it as a button to push. Because that's what he does, especially in regards to Cloud. He hones in on weakness. This encounter has been ... different. So he hasn't done it as much as normal.
He kind of huffs at the remark, but otherwise doesn't look offended.]
No doubt others should take note of greatness when they see it. But there are many here who hold usual appearances. Yourself included.