Old (ish) Muse...

[standing_alone]

So here we are again. Will this lead to anything or...? I'd like to see everyone again. Its been awhile since I've contacted any of them.

[He scratches the back of his neck, sighing.]

You know I'm a sucker when it comes to friends. I want to make sure they're alright if...nothing else. Then we can move on. Together.

How does that sound, Mun?

Comments

[anonfantry]

[ He considers this, briefly, before shaking his head. ]

Your mun'll probably do that enough, if you stick around.

[standing_alone]

Don't go easy on me. If what they say about these games is true...

I'll need to toughen up. [He winks.]

[anonfantry]

Probably.

[ NOT GONNA REFUTE IT just gonna look innocent. ]

[standing_alone]

[So very tempted to swing his sword, but -

Cloud's a friend and he might hurt him accidentally.]

You're not giving me a break.

[anonfantry]

[ Shrug. And this is as close to grinning as he can get. ]

Cutting you slack won't help you get tougher.

[standing_alone]

[Well damn. He does have a point there.

So Zack salutes him, looking as serious as he can manage.]

What's my next mission?

[anonfantry]

[ Of course. Cloud always has a point.

It's just not always good or reasonable, so people tend to tune him out. ]

Mission? [ He probably does considerably better in the suddenly looking serious department, given that it is entirely within his nature. ] Oh, um. Well... I guess you should find a safe game to go to.

Or a way to get all of us out of here.

[ Nope, not cutting him any slack. ]

[standing_alone]

[The weight Cloud is giving him would be enough to stagger entire casts.

But Zack is a SOLDIER. If there's a will, there's a way.]

Researching the games seems important. Would you suggest doing that first? [Know thy enemy after all.]

[anonfantry]

Yeah. That's probably the best place to start.

[ Because it'll be easier than FREEING THE MUSES but he won't say that, because he doesn't want Zack to take it as a personal challenge.

Any more than he already has, anyway. ]

[standing_alone]

Consider it done. [Another salute before he ruffles Cloud's hair again.] I thought I wouldn't see you again, you know.

[anonfantry]

[ He ducks again, but doesn't bother with the shoving, this time - just reaches up and promptly attempts to set his hair back to rights. ] Why'd you think that? You could always just call if you wanted to talk or something.

[standing_alone]

[Good luck with that.]

It's a little more complicated than that.

[anonfantry]

[ It looks awesome okay shut-up. ]

Because we're all... Kind of scattered all over the place?

[standing_alone]

No. [The word is soft - almost inaudible.] Complicated never stopped me.

[anonfantry]

Then what does it matter? [ Who's the gloomy one, now!? ] I... Have faith in you. So you should, too.

[standing_alone]

[Believe it or not, those words strengthen him. Especially coming from Cloud.]

I have faith in you too. We'll figure it out.

[anonfantry]

Sure. No problem, right?

[standing_alone]

Not for us!