Pretty much, yeah. I guess I didn't really think much about the reactors until recently. Aside from a few big missions here and there I didn't spend a lot of time in them... there are places that do okay without 'em, though- they're not huge like Midgar, but people get by. So they're not as be-all-end-all as Shinra likes to say.
Well, the world's gonna have to face that whether it's ready or not. [Y'know, since they've pretty much destroyed ShinRa and are probably gonna decommission all the reactors just to be completely safe.] Folks at Cosmo Canyon seem to get along just fine without it, so. Can't be too hard.
I'm sure somebody'll figure it out. From what you told us, the planet's pretty good at taking care of itself one way or another- it's up to people to figure out how to keep themselves alive on it for the long haul.
[he kinda did his part- Aerith and Cloud, too. Unless being here changes something for them, it's on those left behind to survive the future.]
Yup. [Cloud's honestly just kind of tired of the whole thing. Like, they all fought hard and people like Barret who have children obviously want to see the Planet continue to remain habitable, but all of them have had moments where it's gotten really difficult to care.
Either way it's time to load this shit up, and Cloud just kind of starts haphazardly wedging things into nooks and crannies first to leave as much room as possible for scraps.] Hmm...we can probably just strap the metal stuff to the outside of the shuttle, right?
Yeah, probably. If we find a tarp and a solid enough rope or chain, we could just wrap it up in the cart and attach that. Let's dump it here for now and figure the rest out once we're done.
[that stuff's boring busywork, and he's too antsy to give it much thought right now.]
Sorry to break it to you Fair, but with weapons? This fight'll be a bird of a different color. [Let's get far enough away from the shuttle so it doesn't get trashed when Cloud wipes the floor with Zack]
Excuse you, I had masters training me. Prepare to be schooled.
[of course it's as much show as it is confidence; he has no idea how good Cloud is anymore, after everything. Back in the day Zack would surely win, but now? Taking down Shinra, saving the world, killing Sephiroth? It's going to be a lot closer of a fight than it would've been years ago.
[Cloud knows he's not about to have an easy time of it...but that's part of what's going to make this so fun. And sure, another big part is that he'll be coming at this from a level Zack hasn't seen yet; maybe somewhere deep inside, he still wants to impress one of his heroes. Maybe if he can show Zack a little of how he's changed, in a good way and not the myriad awful ways, Zack will be proud of him, really honestly proud.
And that's how he throws himself forward.
-
The station is considerably more damaged when Cloud stops to take a breather, muscles sore and sweat sticking his hair to his forehead and neck, but a grin stretching across his face. Zack really is by no means a pushover, but Cloud isn't just holding his own, he's keeping Zack on his toes.
Cloud starts when the metal framework for a storefront sign clatters to the ground; one of Zack's strikes had knocked Cloud back into it so hard he'd dented the wall behind it, snapped the damn sign in half where it hung on by only a couple of bolts.] ...not bad.
As soon as Cloud speaks and pauses the fight, Zack exhales deeply and slumps back, half-staggering before he drops down into a crouch. He can't even tell how long they've been going at it, but it feels like it could have been hours.]
Not bad? Dude, you're kidding. That was awesome!! I can't even tell you how long it's been since I had a spar like that!
[And he's weary to the very bone now, but in such a good way. His blood's still boiling, rushing through his veins like mako-fueled fire, and he steadies his breath bit by bit, winding down from that spectacular high he always feels in battle. He really, really needed this.]
[The grin crawls across Cloud's face before he can stop it, heart pounding with more pride than exertion. He'd always wanted to be able to fight like this, to move like this, to be capable ever since he was a kid but it isn't until now that he can really truly appreciate it. He'd had a few moments during their journey to save the Planet to relish it, sure, but now with Zack crouched across from him and beaming up at him, he really feels like he's earned it.
He shoulders the flat of his blade, breath heavy as he looks down at Zack.] So...is it like, First Class good? [It's so stupid, honestly, because he doesn't care about ShinRa's ranking system and he doesn't care about SOLDIER anymore but there's just- He just wants to know. He wants to know if he's as good as he always hoped he'd be.]
Yeah? [THAT SOUNDED TOO VULNERABLE, you aren't some sad little teenager Cloud, toughen up, fortify] I mean, I damn well hope so. At least now I know beating him wasn't a fluke. [Cough, look away. How strange, that he fishes for compliments and then immediately tries to throw them back]
[RED] Zack, c'mon. [Looks around for- right, there, he thought Zack got him. Cloud pokes a finger into the cut in his pants, cut bleeding sluggishly as it clots.] Look, you got me, I'm pretty sure I didn't get you like that. I didn't even notice until it started to hurt just now. You probably coulda taken me apart before I even realized it.
[Zack doesn't sound especially convinced. He leans back, then does his quirky little flip to get back to his feet, though there's a slight grimace on his face as he does it. Got up too soon, owwww.]
Wanna know the second reason I was hoping we'd take a break here? Not gonna lie, it's pretty tragic.
[He turns on his heel and shows it off- a smooth, clean slice right across the back of his pants, giving him a fun but embarrassing new butt flap. At least he's not wearing chocobo underwear today?]
I'm sure the view's great but another centimeter or two and I'd be at Aerith's stripping my pants for all the wrong reasons. You got me right back!
Nah, that's Cid. [Turns Zack around to see that gash. Oof, well, at least it was just the cloth and he didn't chop your ass off? It'd be a damn shame] Let's find a jacket or something, you can tie it around your waist.
Well, obviously she won't buy it. She can catch anybody in a lie, she's a wizard like that. But she's also pretty indulgent. And she digs cuddles. It's win-win!
[come young padawan let him teach you all the awesome perks of dating Aerith]
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[he kinda did his part- Aerith and Cloud, too. Unless being here changes something for them, it's on those left behind to survive the future.]
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Either way it's time to load this shit up, and Cloud just kind of starts haphazardly wedging things into nooks and crannies first to leave as much room as possible for scraps.] Hmm...we can probably just strap the metal stuff to the outside of the shuttle, right?
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[that stuff's boring busywork, and he's too antsy to give it much thought right now.]
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cloud is likewise dtf]
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[OBVIOUSLY]
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[of course it's as much show as it is confidence; he has no idea how good Cloud is anymore, after everything. Back in the day Zack would surely win, but now? Taking down Shinra, saving the world, killing Sephiroth? It's going to be a lot closer of a fight than it would've been years ago.
And he's really excited, no matter how it goes.]
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And that's how he throws himself forward.
-
The station is considerably more damaged when Cloud stops to take a breather, muscles sore and sweat sticking his hair to his forehead and neck, but a grin stretching across his face. Zack really is by no means a pushover, but Cloud isn't just holding his own, he's keeping Zack on his toes.
Cloud starts when the metal framework for a storefront sign clatters to the ground; one of Zack's strikes had knocked Cloud back into it so hard he'd dented the wall behind it, snapped the damn sign in half where it hung on by only a couple of bolts.] ...not bad.
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As soon as Cloud speaks and pauses the fight, Zack exhales deeply and slumps back, half-staggering before he drops down into a crouch. He can't even tell how long they've been going at it, but it feels like it could have been hours.]
Not bad? Dude, you're kidding. That was awesome!! I can't even tell you how long it's been since I had a spar like that!
[And he's weary to the very bone now, but in such a good way. His blood's still boiling, rushing through his veins like mako-fueled fire, and he steadies his breath bit by bit, winding down from that spectacular high he always feels in battle. He really, really needed this.]
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He shoulders the flat of his blade, breath heavy as he looks down at Zack.] So...is it like, First Class good? [It's so stupid, honestly, because he doesn't care about ShinRa's ranking system and he doesn't care about SOLDIER anymore but there's just- He just wants to know. He wants to know if he's as good as he always hoped he'd be.]
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[less scrubby neon purple, more espionage blue. also better weapon selection. materia perks ain't bad either.]
When I say good I mean rank good. First Class Command. I haven't had a fight like that since I fought that Genesis asshole. Or Sephiroth.
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Yeah? [THAT SOUNDED TOO VULNERABLE, you aren't some sad little teenager Cloud, toughen up, fortify] I mean, I damn well hope so. At least now I know beating him wasn't a fluke. [Cough, look away. How strange, that he fishes for compliments and then immediately tries to throw them back]
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also Cloud that's actually precious and he loves it a little too much. time to encourage the shit out of that.]
Yeah, definitely no fluke. Trust me, you're amazing.
[no joking, no teasing, no playful wink-wink. Just that classic Zack honesty.]
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[Zack doesn't sound especially convinced. He leans back, then does his quirky little flip to get back to his feet, though there's a slight grimace on his face as he does it. Got up too soon, owwww.]
Wanna know the second reason I was hoping we'd take a break here? Not gonna lie, it's pretty tragic.
[He turns on his heel and shows it off- a smooth, clean slice right across the back of his pants, giving him a fun but embarrassing new butt flap. At least he's not wearing chocobo underwear today?]
I'm sure the view's great but another centimeter or two and I'd be at Aerith's stripping my pants for all the wrong reasons. You got me right back!
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[that's gross, you're gross, and he's really proud of you for that one.]
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It'd be a damn shame] Let's find a jacket or something, you can tie it around your waist.no subject
[didn't they do that in the slums like six years ago??]
How 'bout your leg, you good? We can check for a bandage while we're at it.
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Zack laughs and gives Cloud a shove to the shoulder, going to fetch his sword from where he'd let it fall.]
Think we can convince Aerith to give us some TLC? I bet we could ham it up for extra cuddles.
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[come young padawan let him teach you all the awesome perks of dating Aerith]
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