one (1) canon review desperately needed

[jokers]

Oi, I fink yer left yer motivation somewhere in th' four o'clock hour, luv.

.. But hey, 'm not complainin'. Maybe I'll see Seph again.

Comments

[animusangelus]

Seph?

[jokers]

'At's 'is name, Guv. Well, I s'pose technically it's a little longer'n that, but Seph's what I call 'im an' 'e's fine wiv that.

[animusangelus]

What is his full name?

[jokers]

[ oh man, you're going to make him pronounce it? 8'( ]

It's Sephiro-- th. Sephiroth. 'E's about th' prettiest fing you ever did see, too.

[animusangelus]

... [So he wasn't mistaken.] His looks are misleading.

[jokers]

Oh no, we en't doin' none of this. Seph's a sweet'eart. E's been good ter me in a way en't many people in the world been before.

[animusangelus]

Speaking of the world, did he mention he would like to destroy it? [...unless...] ...he's sane. [That's said more to himself than Joker.] I know him from the future and it isn't pretty.

He should stay here. With you.

[jokers]

'Course 'e's sane. Trus' me, mate, I know wot insane looks loike, an' 'e en't.

[ the last comment earns a half-smile, though, faintly bashful despite himself. ] .. Yeah, well. I s'pose we'll see 'bout it.

[animusangelus]

[He feels like laughing at that comment, but he holds himself back.]

I'm Cloud Strife. If you mention my name to him and he doesn't remember me...

That's good. [Without thinking, he touches one of the many scars Sephiroth has given him.] Good luck.

[jokers]

'Ow 'bout yer say 'ello yerself, mate? 'E's friendly. Bit stoic-like, but 'tween me an' Genesis, I fink 'e's loosened up some. Smiles more, any'ow. [ a brief chuckle. ] Fink 'e loikes red'eads, Seph does.

.. Name's Joker, by th' by.

[animusangelus]

I wouldn't know what he likes. [Despite Sephiroth being his hero (in the distant past), Cloud hadn't known all that much about him.] I wanted to become a SOLDIER like him when I was a kid.

[He nods his head in greeting.] Hey, Joker.

[jokers]

Oh, 'e loikes all sortsa' fings, but I was mostly jokin'. I fink wot we've got sorta' snuck up an' surprised bofe of us.

So are y' one, then?

[animusangelus]

[He ducks his head. This is embarrassing to talk about. But, really, Joker is such a nice guy. It's hard to hold grudges.]

Not exactly. [He's as strong as one - if that counts - and it's probably time to show Joker something. Lifting up his shirt, he reveals the vivid scars on his abdomen and shoulder.] I can fight the SOLDIERs. I fought Sephiroth. He gave me these.

[jokers]

[ .. oh no, what a cutie. is he shy? for a second or two, joker considers how best to get him to blush--

--at least until he shows him that. he freezes, violet eyes wide, before reaching out with his real hand, touching the scar disbelievingly. ] .. I don'.. get it. 'E's such a good person. What could possibly 'appen ter 'im ter.. make 'im do somefing loike this?

[animusangelus]

[Cloud is pretty damn shy, actually. About a lot of things. That's why he needs stronger presences in his life, though he keeps losing them.

He glances down at the scars, looking grim.] He is...right now. That's why I don't him to go back.

[He lowers his shirt, so Joker doesn't have to see them anymore.] Something causes him to...break. If he doesn't know about it, that's...

[This is harder to get out than he thought. Time to look away again.] Everyone deserves happiness.

[jokers]

[ he's silent for several moments, but eventually, he glances up, smiling wanly and reaching up to pat cloud's cheek gently. ] You're a good bloke yerself, Cloud luv. Not a lotta' people'd understand that 'e en't.. that person. Yet, at least. Maybe never.

[animusangelus]

[There's the beginnings of a blush under Joker's hand. He isn't used to someone being so affectionate.]

It...

I'm not a good person. [He grimaces.] I nearly told him...in the game. Zack stopped me.

[jokers]

[ he tweaks his chin, then lets his hand fall away. ]

Wot matters is it didn' 'appen, after all. Roight? So no worries. You'll figure out soon enough 'at 'e's a good person.

[animusangelus]

He's suspicious. [Maybe having Joker's presence around wouldn't be such a bad thing.] I'm keeping my distance.

[jokers]

[ he laughs. ] Now I gotta' go, jus' ter 'elp th' two of yer get along. An' maybe ter flirt wiv yer a little. Yer way too pretty ter be frownin' so much.

[animusangelus]

[Well that sure shakes him out of his mood. Cloud looks at Joker, baffled.]

... [Oh there was a time he would've agreed and maybe even showed off a little, but not now.]

Everyone says I over-think things.

[jokers]

If everyone says it, might be somefing to it, luv. [ once he and sephiroth get sorted out again, he's really going to have to talk to him about cloud. joker wants to keep him, too, now. ]

[animusangelus]

[He smirks faintly. Hard-headed doesn't even begin to cover him and he knows it.]

I guess it takes me awhile to catch on.

[jokers]

Maybe. Don' yer worry 'bout it, luv. Once yer meet me proper-loike, I'm gonna' work on you, too.

[animusangelus]

You remind of someone. [Several someones actually. And it's a good thing.] I'll greet you when you arrive.