colorofthesky | IC Contact for noctiumrp

(continued from here)

[ Three years into the future gives him something to work with, but it's still very hard for him to wrap his mind around the fact that things could be this off. He'll probably have better luck getting some answers out of Vincent if Cloud is this far in the past--

His thought trails off, and his mind goes blank for a second when Cloud asks him where they met up. He stares for a moment, not really sure how answer. Then- ]

We, uh...met up in Midgar. [ pause pause ] Around the time Vincent's from, I guess?

[ Which isn't UNTRUE, it's just...not the whole truth. Because he doesn't think Cloud can handle it right now, and he isn't ready to deal with this himself. ]

Sephiroth is gone now, but he's been...kind of like a cockroach, you know?

[ Aaaaand changing the subject now!! ]

So! What's there to do around here?

Edited 2021-03-15 01:47 (UTC)

[cloud nods, figuring that all this makes perfect sense. that he's from a time around when vincent ails from—but there's a strange thought, that zack calls sephiroth is like a cockroach, and that he is gone now...?]

[he frowns lightly, then awkwardly stands here, crossing his arms after a moment.]

Someone's supposed to give you a tour of the place. [cloud hasn't checked in, so he figures someone else must have been assigned to zack.] You get a place to stay in, and check everything else out on your own time.

[that, right?]

[ The Sephiroth shit is complicated, and he doesn't want to talk about it anymore, okay? Okay.

Moving on... ]

Right...the tour. [ pause ] So, uh...is anyone else here from Gaia?

[cloud thinks that maybe he should offer to guide zack? he may not know him, but it sure sounded like the dark-haired man did. with a tilt of his head, cloud mirrors the other's movements thoughtfully.]

There's a number of us.

Tifa, Aerith, Red, Vincent. [from their group; cloud assumes zack would know them.] There's Sephiroth and Reno, too.

[...]

Different timelines, though. Sephiroth is five years into the past. You heard about his mission in Nibelheim? Just got there, far as he knows.

[ It may be better if Cloud doesn't offer to guide him since Zack is still trying to grapple with this timeline bullshit and the best way to handle it. The truth will come out one way or another, and he wants to be ahead of that curve, especially since it seems like so many of them are here --

At the mention of Sephiroth, his thoughts screech to a halt again.

five years into the past

his mission in Nibelheim

Zack stares at Cloud for a moment, and it's...a real effort to school his expression. ]

...yeah, I've heard of it. [ Which is all he thinks he should say about it, at the moment. ] He really doesn't know anything past that?

I had my doubts.

[how easy to talk about this. cloud can't put it into words—can't, really, understand the overwhelming sentiment of easiness that comes with this man's presence, and is equally unable to realize it.]

[he shakes his head after a pause.] —but he really doesn't.

[this brings up a question though.]

What's he done to you?

[ It feels like another punch to the gut, honestly. Cloud's lack of recognition is hard enough to grapple with, but hearing that Sephiroth is here from before the fiery nightmare than engulfed Nibelheim is a hard pill to swallow.

He's going to need time and space to unpack all of this, to figure out what he's supposed to do. For now, though, he has to focus on this conversation and just...get through it as best he can.

The question doesn't make him blanch, but something in his expression shutters. ]

Long story. [ A story he doesn't think is appropriate to get into right now. ] But he's hurt...a lot of people I care about.

No shit.

[for all that zack is having a hard time working through the seams of what is unraveling before him, cloud is taking it all in stride; he acts like there's nothing wrong, like this kind of story should be the common denominator in all those he meets who claim to know him—especially from some time in the future.]

[that, and, his personality really contrasts against the quieter, more reserved cloud zack may have remembered from before.]

Looks like thinking about it isn't so great on you. [damn, cloud.] You alright?

[ignoring every single damn cue here.]

[ Cloud, you're killing him here. He lets out a sigh, though, and tries to pull himself together a bit better. ]

Yeah...I'm good.

[ He's not good. But fake it 'til you make it, right? ]

Just...trying to figure out how to react if I run into him, I guess.

[ pause pause ]

How did it go for you?

[ He's trying to picture it, and the only thing he can think is it was probably a disaster. ]

[this guy sounds like he's going through a whole range of emotions right now, while cloud serves as nothing but a blank canvas that fails to remember or place the name—or the face—anywhere in his memory. perhaps it's the bravado born of a place of displacement, but cloud takes one, two steps forward and puts a hand on zack's shoulder (yes, reaching up and all; how tall is this guy?)]

Don't worry about that. [cloud's the hero, after all.] I'm keeping an eye out on him.

[...and pulls back after an awkward one, two pat.]

You won't have to worry about him.

[hilariously, all this while, cloud has been masterfully avoiding eye contact and letting his eyes land on anywhere concrete; on anywhere with a familiar outline, of sword or otherwise.]

[ There sure are a lot of emotions right now, and frankly, Zack is not at all reassured by Cloud's insistence he has things under control. Maybe it's the fact that he isn't making eye contract, or perhaps it's the fact that Zack knows he isn't right in the head. Right now, he's just thankful that the Sephiroth here is apparently sane. Otherwise, they'd all be in a heap of trouble.

Zack puffs out a soft breath at that and...attempts a smile. Yeah. ]

Right... Well, I appreciate the heads up, anyway.

[ Not a lie! It is a good thing to know. ]

I guess I'll worry about the weird gems in us instead, then.

[reassured that he's done right by this man, cloud nods and looks pretty pleased with himself. the attempt at a smile he considers a win—a genuine smile to reflect just how capable cloud was of taking up the lead and doing right by others.]

[how easy it is to barely look at the sun at all.]

It's not too bad once you get used to it.

[overflowing with confidence.]

You wanna tag along?

[it seems right to offer.]

The weird gems or being in another world?

[ Important questions, you know. He seems a little surprised at the offer, but that smile of his warms a bit despite himself. ]

I mean, if you don't mind the company...

[ He's not going to insist, and though part of him thinks he really should put some space between them so he can sort through all of this, the truth is, he really has missed his friend... ]

[both? cloud feels like the question isn't meant to be answered (he might be assuming wrong), but there's something about the way cloud catches a glimpse of a smile that grows more reassured that makes him forget about answering at all.]

I've been asked to come here and help out, anyway. Might as well just show you around and save myself more bureaucratic trouble.

[he offers his hand, palm up, as if expecting something.]

[basically, give him whatever they gave you re: money and address, but wouldn't it be funny if it were interpreted differently?]

[the good thing about a new location opening up was the fact that new jobs were suddenly available, and there was a high demand for workers outside of the payroll to do jobs that the hired hand wouldn't want to do, or any other more official agencies would cost so much more than what a couple of hunks with the strength of bulls could do. cloud has enough connections with the native gems to be directed in one such direction.]

[the job? carry a crate of flowers, honey, and other merchandise from the train station to the store that has purchased the items. cloud, for his part, is more than happy to put down three boxes filled with flowers and herbs and seeds (medicinal junk?) on the floor inside the local apothecary, run by an elderly couple who likely give away their wares for less than what it should actually be worth; they could definitely do with a hand.]

[besides, having medicine provided at an affordable price and paid forward willingly is better than whatever cash cloud could make from things; he thinks of his friends, from back home, and the people he's met here and thinks that it's a great idea.]

[he's in a good mood, it seems, setting the boxes down putting him beside another man with familiar jet-black hair and similar eyes to his own. it's casual, gentle, shy almost, the way cloud drops an easygoing—]

Hey, Zack.

[—without even seeming to notice that he's done so, opening up the box on the top to grab at the containers for easier organizing.]

Edited 2021-04-13 01:42 (UTC)

[ Picking up odd jobs seems to be the way to go, especially with so much going on. Zack, for his part though, is still taking in all the sights, sounds, and smells and figuring out just where he wants to throw himself. Everything is so colorful and vibrant in this new world, and he still isn't quite used to it.

Indeed, he just so happens to be checking out the apothecary (maybe this is a place Aerith would like?) when Cloud moseys on up. It's the shock of blond hair that registers first, and he fumbles for something to say, anything, when Cloud stuns him with the simplest of greetings.

Hey, Zack.

Zack gapes at him for a second (it sounds so much like the Cloud he used to know, when they both worked for Shinra), but he shakes it off quickly. ]

...ah, hey there! [ Smooth, Zack, real smooth. ] Looks like you already found something to do.

[cloud doesn't see anything particularly strange about the way zack reacts, setting down jars instead on the shelf like he had been previously instructed. it's easy enough menial work.]

Yeah.

[grabbing at another jar, his eyes never cross the invisible line which is drawn between them.]

It's not the best paid job, but knowing the owners might come in handy later.

[whenever an apothecary's help might be needed, that is. for now, at least, holding a conversation seems simple enough; standard enough.]

[ It's not text on purpose. And it's not voice, on purpose. Ideally these things are done in person but for the sake of things, well... video is the next best thing.

Lark is calm, but there's a faint crease in his brow, a slight tightness at his mouth. It's a concerned expression from a man who very rarely feels this sort of concern. ]

I just want to apologize.

I can't claim I understand what your thoughts are exactly on the matter but it obviously cut you deeply and the least I could have done was switch the conversation with Sephiroth to private, or in person. I will be more mindful in the future.

Edited 2021-10-05 13:49 (UTC)

[Crisp, pleasant and serious:]

Salute, Zack.

I am putting your inmate in Zero for a time while wardens discuss what to do about his solicitation of substances for the purposes of using them to control others.

When we have resolved this, I will release him.

IC Contact for noctiumrp

TDM | Cloud

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start of april event!

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