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]
God, that's just. [Cloud kicks at the sign as he passes by it on his way over to Zack.] I still don't get how this is working. How are we not at each other's throats over her?
Um, because we're full grown-ass adults and she's not a piece of meat?
[There's a click as his sword returns to its sheath, following the habitual flourish; he's tried to shake it up a bit, move a little differently, since Cloud can be self-conscious about the whole copycat stuff, but, well. Old habits.]
I dunno. Maybe it would be harder if we didn't all get along, but I like her, and I like you, and I like that we're all happy. So I'm okay with it.
Hey. [Cloud jogs over to catch up, peering at Zack past his shoulder.] I don't mean anythin' by it. Just thinking aloud, right? I'm glad it's working out, I just never expected it to.
[The smile is back, casual and bright but with a touch of uncertainty; he's not angry, dancing around the drama with habitual ease.]
I played up the confidence back when it went down- I was probably just as nervous as you were about whether it would even work. But it was the only way I could think of for all of us to get out on top.
I get nervous plenty! You just forgot about it, that's all.
[there wasn't too much to forget, admittedly - he'd tried to stay strong because Cloud had been so much more deeply affected by what was going on, from Nibelheim onwards - but for good or ill he's always been painfully honest.]
You said it yourself, right? She's not meat. [Nudges again before rocking away.] And Aerith's always been larger than life, in spirit anyhow; she probably needs two boyfriends.
[she has enough love in her for the whole world. he'd be a very foolish man to expect her to love only him for her entire life.]
It feels... kind of like a dream come true, cheesy as that sounds. When I... on that cliff, y'know... I was thinking, man, it'd be nice if they found each other.
[Bites back the automatic mental flinch he has at the mention of the cliffs. Zack never brings it up; if Cloud lets him see any weakness, he might not talk about it again.
Their bootfalls are solid and echo through the hallways as they look for a clothing store, as Cloud wonders what to say to that. The silence stretches on long enough to be uncomfortable, Cloud chewing on the inside of his cheek.] ...she mentioned you to me. When we first met. I was telling her I was in First-Class, and she asked me if I knew you.
She did, huh... makes sense. It'd been more than five years by that point, with no word on what happened. On record we both died in Nibelheim, but... well, either nobody bothered to tell her or she knew it was a lie because she hadn't felt it yet.
[yet another reason to be pissed at Tseng, regardless- he must've known they were in Nibelheim the entire time and just stood by, letting it happen.]
[He starts fishing through a couple of racks, tugging up a couple of shirts and stretching the arms out before setting them aside again. If he's gonna steal clothes it might as well be something that can actually be worn after the fact.]
So what'd you tell her? About First Class, I mean.
[Yeah actually this might be a good place to get some emergency duds. Cloud'll poke around a little too...also for the excuse to not look at Zack as they talk about this.] I was vague about it, I think. I didn't actually know much, after all; she just wanted to know if I knew a lot of other people in First Class, but we didn't talk about it long.
We... [Urgh.] We saw your parents in Gongaga, though. They asked about you too.
[the variety here ain't bad- plenty of stuff built for aliens, but some human-shaped gear as well, of varying quality and function. Forget emergency, now he just wants a few new outfits, considering how stingy his wardrobe is. He holds a shirt up, giving the sleeves a little stretch... hmm, might just fit.
Shopping at least is a welcome distraction from... yeah.]
They were alive, didn't seem unhealthy. ...seemed tired though. [Worried. With that reactor explosion, most of Gongaga seemed beaten down and exhausted, but Cloud's not sure if Zack knows about that and he doesn't think he can get into it right now.]
That's not too unusual for folks in Gongaga. The whole town grew up tired. I think half of why I left was because it felt like I was soaking up all their energy. Glad they're okay, though.
[His tone is playful, if relieved. He'd heard it from Cissnei, but he trusts Cloud more than he'd ever trust a Turk, even one who he'd once called a friend.]
You probably don't remember, but we were there for a day or so- back when we were escaping. It was closer than Midgar, and I was hoping we'd be safe... place was crawling with Turks, though.
[Yeah Zack's right, that's a big ol' blank spot.] Makes sense; Turks do like to get ahead of people. [Zack's lucky they didn't get caught there, though...how lucky he is considering the end result is up for debate.
-anyway,] Hey, here, try this. [Holds a sweatshirt up to Zack's chest, checking the size.]
[luck always runs out, one way or another. maybe Gongaga is where it started- that's certainly where it started to go wrong, escape-wise. they'd unknowingly left too many loose ends in Nibelheim.
Shaking his head to dispel all of that nonsense, he straightens up so the shirt lays flat against his chest.]
You been sizing me up, huh?
[It comes hand in hand with a cheeky grin. He accepts the shirt gladly, though, twisting it around to try it on.]
Apparently I don't need to. [What with him smacking you around earlier, BY YOUR OWN ADMISSION. They're now far enough removed from the actual fight that he can boast about it as if he has a healthy self-esteem after all.
Hopefully that sweater fits so Zack can tie it around his waist and get some more use out of it, but...y'know now that Cloud's here he's gonna get a few clothes of his own. It's cold in space and while he probably won't die from being chilly, it'd be nice not to shiver. Some of these hoodies are damn soft anyway.] Maybe we should get Aerith a present while we're here...
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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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[There's a click as his sword returns to its sheath, following the habitual flourish; he's tried to shake it up a bit, move a little differently, since Cloud can be self-conscious about the whole copycat stuff, but, well. Old habits.]
I dunno. Maybe it would be harder if we didn't all get along, but I like her, and I like you, and I like that we're all happy. So I'm okay with it.
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[The smile is back, casual and bright but with a touch of uncertainty; he's not angry, dancing around the drama with habitual ease.]
I played up the confidence back when it went down- I was probably just as nervous as you were about whether it would even work. But it was the only way I could think of for all of us to get out on top.
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[there wasn't too much to forget, admittedly - he'd tried to stay strong because Cloud had been so much more deeply affected by what was going on, from Nibelheim onwards - but for good or ill he's always been painfully honest.]
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[she has enough love in her for the whole world. he'd be a very foolish man to expect her to love only him for her entire life.]
It feels... kind of like a dream come true, cheesy as that sounds. When I... on that cliff, y'know... I was thinking, man, it'd be nice if they found each other.
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Their bootfalls are solid and echo through the hallways as they look for a clothing store, as Cloud wonders what to say to that. The silence stretches on long enough to be uncomfortable, Cloud chewing on the inside of his cheek.] ...she mentioned you to me. When we first met. I was telling her I was in First-Class, and she asked me if I knew you.
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[yet another reason to be pissed at Tseng, regardless- he must've known they were in Nibelheim the entire time and just stood by, letting it happen.]
You didn't know, though, right? Who I was.
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[He starts fishing through a couple of racks, tugging up a couple of shirts and stretching the arms out before setting them aside again. If he's gonna steal clothes it might as well be something that can actually be worn after the fact.]
So what'd you tell her? About First Class, I mean.
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We... [Urgh.] We saw your parents in Gongaga, though. They asked about you too.
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Shopping at least is a welcome distraction from... yeah.]
You did, huh. Were they doing okay?
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[His tone is playful, if relieved. He'd heard it from Cissnei, but he trusts Cloud more than he'd ever trust a Turk, even one who he'd once called a friend.]
You probably don't remember, but we were there for a day or so- back when we were escaping. It was closer than Midgar, and I was hoping we'd be safe... place was crawling with Turks, though.
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-anyway,] Hey, here, try this. [Holds a sweatshirt up to Zack's chest, checking the size.]
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Shaking his head to dispel all of that nonsense, he straightens up so the shirt lays flat against his chest.]
You been sizing me up, huh?
[It comes hand in hand with a cheeky grin. He accepts the shirt gladly, though, twisting it around to try it on.]
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Hopefully that sweater fits so Zack can tie it around his waist and get some more use out of it, but...y'know now that Cloud's here he's gonna get a few clothes of his own. It's cold in space and while he probably won't die from being chilly, it'd be nice not to shiver. Some of these hoodies are damn soft anyway.] Maybe we should get Aerith a present while we're here...
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