[oh, hello, magical talk to the hand assist girl. Today's door prize is scowls. So, so many scowls for you. Even if he feels vaguely guilty for giving them.]
And why does he have this feeling down deep in his gut that the girl in front of him is somehow going to get him in trouble - almost as if she's done something like that before -
Miss Cloud
urgh.
Arms crossing over his chest at you surprisingly unsurprisingly feisty guardian angel assist.]
[ She would never ever ever get him into trouble...that she couldn't get him out of, anyway. She's always ready with an (impromptu) back up plan if there's ever a need! ]
Okay, fine. Bonding! It helps you grow close to people.
[ And he definitely always needs more friends in her opinion. ]
Can't say you aren't someone's friend if you're snuggling together, can you?
But no. No. He doesn't do cuddles. Especially not with strangers.
especially considering the majority of his memories only involve getting physically close to someone when they're trying to kill each other. He doesn't even stand close to teammates that he actually likes.
Narrowed eyes mean he's going for the gold medal in Stubborn.]
I don't need to snuggle to make friends. [and a sideways look. Because he knows. He knows it like he knows he's breathing, even if he doesn't remember - ] We're friends.
[It's because scowling and being belligerent is the obvious way to go! Who wouldn't want that to be in charge of their dangerous quests and life goals?
This - feels like another trap however. That's far too cheerful a smile. He doesn't really need his memories to know he's in over his head and he's still not sure how it happened. Just that it feel awfully familiar -
[ Only the best leaders are the stubborn ones. And she would never trap him...into something too dangerous. There's nothing Cloud can't handle, she has complete and utter faith in his ability to put up with silliness with only the smallest grumble on his part. ]
Oh, you know. Rescue mission to save Tifa from Don Corneo. [ Her smile probably indicates it was an interesting trip. ] At the end of the day, we won, and that's all that matters, right?
[ There is always more to the story, but she would prefer to just have him relive the memories by putting on that purple dress taking a stroll in Wall Market himself one day. ]
He doesn't even want to know where that bubble of thought came from. Just - it makes him feel like squirming uncomfortably. And doing squats. So back to scowls.
[train station. broken church. golden shiny wire of hope?
a head shake. None of it makes sense but it doesn't feel - it doesn't feel threatening the way so many of the fragments that pop into his mind without warning usually do. So he doesn't automatically deny everything.]
[ Remembering anything is a good start in her eyes, and he gets bonus points for remembering her flowers. Now she can at least be sure he won't be stomping all over them with his clunky boots (they are so clunky, okay?) ]
[why does he feel like he's just been punched in the gut? Flickers of we're friends, right? and backwater name and that's what we're gonna be, Cloud - none of it makes sense and his head, his chest -
it hurts.
There's only one response when he's feeling off balance and threatened. Narrow blue eyes and a:]
Cloud. [The name is said commandingly, yet there is an edge of tenderness under the hard-shelled exterior. Zack forgoes his earlier misgivings and buries a hand into Cloud's hair, tugging him forward.]
[He should have dodged that hand. Jerked away. He's been fighting too long, too many cycles, to be easy prey. But - he freezes instead, eyes going wide and for just a second, he's sixteen. A sixteen he doesn't remember anymore but -
the tug throws him off balance. It's what he tells himself. But he's got no excuse for the way his forehead impacts against the other man's chest and doesn't immediately rebound. For a moment, a flicker through his mind, everything's going to be okay. He's safe. Someone's got this. His hands come up - to push away, to catch at -
and clench in midair before dropping to his sides. He doesn't lift his head though.]
No. [regret. And somewhere under that - apology?] I don't.
[that would be Cloud's eyes shifting to the side.]
I'm not fighting on anyone's side right now. [getting killed trying to kill a god does that. he's not sure he's going to recycle for the next war at all, much less which side he would end up on if he did. Not - that he'd exactly call the side he was fighting for 'good'.]
They remind us we don't have a reason to fight. They remind us -
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[ She can only imagine the pain he would feel having to set his sword down in order to cuddle up with someone. So silly. ]
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...
I don't snuggle.
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And why not? There are plenty of benefits to snuggling!
[ Maybe even some healthy ones, but she's no expert. ]
Unless you think you're too good for it.
[ Don't be a cuddle snob, Cloud, that isn't cute. ]
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...
what if he catches cooties?
And why does he have this feeling down deep in his gut that the girl in front of him is somehow going to get him in trouble - almost as if she's done something like that before -
Miss Cloud
urgh.
Arms crossing over his chest at you surprisingly unsurprisingly feisty
guardian angelassist.]Name one. Benefit.
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Okay, fine. Bonding! It helps you grow close to people.
[ And he definitely always needs more friends in her opinion. ]
Can't say you aren't someone's friend if you're snuggling together, can you?
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[okay, she's got a point.
But no. No. He doesn't do cuddles. Especially not with strangers.
especially considering the majority of his memories only involve getting physically close to someone when they're trying to kill each other. He doesn't even stand close to teammates that he actually likes.
Narrowed eyes mean he's going for the gold medal in Stubborn.]
I don't need to snuggle to make friends. [and a sideways look. Because he knows. He knows it like he knows he's breathing, even if he doesn't remember - ] We're friends.
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[Playful Tifa is playful. There's a little charm in the way she says it.]
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Yeah. I don't snuggle strangers.
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[ It's one of those video game protaganist mysteries nobody's been able to solve, but that isn't the point. She gives him a bright smile, nodding. ]
We are! We go on all kinds of adventures, too. Like that one time in Wall Market.
[ She'll just leave it at that. If he doesn't remember, well, it's a story she's more than happy to tell. ]
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This - feels like another trap however. That's far too cheerful a smile. He doesn't really need his memories to know he's in over his head and he's still not sure how it happened. Just that it feel awfully familiar -
he's going to regret this, isn't he?]
What - one time?
[at band camp?]no subject
Oh, you know. Rescue mission to save Tifa from Don Corneo. [ Her smile probably indicates it was an interesting trip. ] At the end of the day, we won, and that's all that matters, right?
[ There is always more to the story, but she would prefer to just have him relive the memories by
putting on that purple dresstaking a stroll in Wall Market himself one day. ]no subject
He doesn't even want to know where that bubble of thought came from. Just - it makes him feel like squirming uncomfortably. And doing squats. So back to scowls.
Rescue mission. Tifa. we won.]
Yeah.
...
That's -
home.
Right?
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That's right! Home. Wall Market's located in Midgar, actually. Do you remember anything about Midgar?
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a head shake. None of it makes sense but it doesn't feel - it doesn't feel threatening the way so many of the fragments that pop into his mind without warning usually do. So he doesn't automatically deny everything.]
I'm - not supposed to step on the flowers.
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[ Remembering anything is a good start in her eyes, and he gets bonus points for remembering her flowers. Now she can at least be sure he won't be stomping all over them with his clunky boots (they are so clunky, okay?) ]
You really don't remember everything, do you?
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Memories distract us from fighting. Make us - not want to. I only remember bits. Only as long as my side keeps winning.
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[why does he feel like he's just been punched in the gut? Flickers of we're friends, right? and backwater name and that's what we're gonna be, Cloud - none of it makes sense and his head, his chest -
it hurts.
There's only one response when he's feeling off balance and threatened. Narrow blue eyes and a:]
What do you want?
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It's better to get to the bottom of this - one way or another. Frowning, he straightens his stance and gazes at Cloud sharply.]
Can't I come to see my friend?
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Smile.
Except-
my honor, my dreams... they're yours now
It's not heavy. It's... a memento.
I couldn't save you
It's hard to breathe. He won't look weak. Vulnerable.]
I don't know you.
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You know me.
you always catch me on the way out the door lol
the tug throws him off balance. It's what he tells himself. But he's got no excuse for the way his forehead impacts against the other man's chest and doesn't immediately rebound. For a moment, a flicker through his mind, everything's going to be okay. He's safe. Someone's got this. His hands come up - to push away, to catch at -
and clench in midair before dropping to his sides. He doesn't lift his head though.]
No. [regret. And somewhere under that - apology?] I don't.
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Which side is that? I should hope it's the side of good.
[ This is where she plants her hands on her hips, because seriously. Fight the good fight! ]
I happen to think memories give us strength in order to fight our battles better. How are they distracting?
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I'm not fighting on anyone's side right now. [getting killed trying to kill a god does that. he's not sure he's going to recycle for the next war at all, much less which side he would end up on if he did. Not - that he'd exactly call the side he was fighting for 'good'.]
They remind us we don't have a reason to fight. They remind us -
[I want to go home]