poly_chromatic | Wings [Two]

Entry tags:

final fantasy vii - zack fair

Wings [Two] - Video/Action

[Zack is walking around the City. He found himself a suitable apartment (~~finally~~) and now he's just enjoying the fresh air. Every once in awhile, he will pause and watch the new (?) residents, unable to hide his curiosity.]

I guess they were right. The numbers have swelled. [He stops at a cross-walk, tilting his head.] If anyone named Cloud shows up, give me a shout out, alright?

[He's still worried about that particular ~~Chocobo~~soldier.]

I've got some loose ends I'd like to tie up while I'm - [alive] here.

[OOC: Fourth-Wall me, bbs. No duplicates, though. ♥]

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[Have a slightly tired sounding girl talking to you, dear. That's cool, right?]

You just arrived, didn't you? The City does this every so often. It's hit-or-miss whether people from your home will show. That being said, whoever this Cloud is...that's a cool name, actually...I hope they show. The occasional familiar face is helpful.

Edited (html r not my frand) 2012-11-04 04:18 (UTC)

[Are you trying to make him worry?]

So someone opens the gates and whoever shows up, shows up? [Weird, but...yeah. Helpful.] I do too. If I saw he was okay -

[It'd help. A lot.]

Have you seen anyone from home?

[ Speaking of that, there's a girl watching you, wondering if she's dreaming before she moves, one hand reaching to touch your back almost tentatively.]

....Zack?

[Now there's a voice he never counted on hearing again. Zack turns slowly and smiles down at her.]

Aerith... [Time to look a ~~lot~~little awkward.] I didn't think I'd see you again.

...It really is you.

[ She was completely still for a moment before her hands rose, curling in the fabric of his shirt.]

This isn't...I was just walking in the city, and then I ended up here, and you...

I felt you die...

How are you here?

[His expression falls and he pulls her into a tight hug.]

I know... I did...

But I'm alive, I promise. Believe me, I checked.

I...don't know. I'm taking it one step at a time.

[Cloud knows that head of hair, even from across the street and he stops, frozen in place and stares.

It can't be, because if he was here that meant that Cloud was... because this wasn't Edge or anywhere else on Gaia.]

...Zack?

[His hand drifts to one of the hilts at his back as his head whirls. It's been years since Zack was alive, long enough that Cloud had begun to let go of the guilt.]

[Seeing Aerith had been a shock, but this -

Zack turns and...well...beams. Cloud looks healthy - that wasn't something he was sure would happen - and he's carrying his sword.

Could a Puppy be any prouder?]

It's me.

[Healthy is a bit subjective, Zack, because Cloud's gone a bit pale at that grin. In a 'about to pass out' sort of way with confusion and fear warring for control.

He's also got a bit more than one sword, but that's a stealthy sort of thing that's neither here nor there.]

You're--

[Supposed to be dead.]

[Uh oh. He definitely doesn't like the look of Cloud's skin. Pausing, he tilts his head and frowns faintly.]

Cloud? [Approaching might be a bad idea, but if Cloud falls - Well, he won't have a choice.]

Alive and well? [He tries to smile again, holding up his hands.] It's this place. It healed me somehow.

[There's a frown as he breaks eye contact and shakes his head for a moment.]

Sorry it's just... I didn't expect to see you.

[At all, and Cloud's busy deciding whether or not to tell Zack that he's really dead and has been for four years now or about the mess that things became.

He doesn't want to lie to Zack of all people but...]

This isn't anywhere on Gaia I've ever seen.

[Diversionary tactics are go until he figures this one out.]

It'd be weird if you did expect me. [He scratches the back of his neck, still looking worried.] I thought I was dead too. I guess I had accepted it but -

[Uh oh. Cloud is changing the subject. That can't be good.]

No, it's called the City. [Not very original. At all.] I haven't gotten used to it yet.

Want a tour?

You'd be surprised.

[Sephiroth certainly didn't have the common decency to stay dead no matter how many times Cloud killed him. Not to mention Hojo's recent bid at it.]

Just the City? [Wow. At least they'd been slightly more original in naming Edge.]

Sure.

[He sighs and steps closer.] I'm not here to haunt you or anything. I know it must've been hard on you.

[Why is this so awkward? All he wants to do is hug the other soldier and make it all better somehow.

But that's pretty childish, isn't it?]

Yeah. What it lacks in its name it more than makes up for in its curses. [He jerks his head to the sidewalk.]

Follow me.

You're not the one I worry about showing up, Zack.

[Because there's that whole 'yeah I thought I was you for nearly a year and got Aerith killed in my fit of insanity and nearly accidentally the planet' thing hanging between them on this side. Thought a hug wouldn't be too bad.]

Curses? Like Yuffie goes on about.

[He follows along, clinking a bit between the contents of his pockets and the swords.]

Don't worry. He's not here. [Though he had been. Would he come back during one of these "visitor weekends"?

Damn.]

If I see him, I won't let him get away. You can bet on that. [He nods solemnly before chuckling a bit.]

You're carrying more than my sword.

Sephiroth doesn't seem to have the decency to stay dead anyway.

[Seriously.

And this, this is an angry-ish look.]

Zack. Don't. Just run if he shows up. No matter what he's saying just run, it's not him anymore no matter what he looks like or what he says. He'll just kill you.

[He's really serious.]

I had to adapt to be able to keep up with him, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve.

He's...not right. [In a seriously chilling way. It makes Zack's stomach turn if he thinks about it too much.]

I'm not going to just leave you to - [He comes to a halt, frowning at the look Cloud is giving him.] Together we should be more than a match for him.

[Right?]

Adapt? [He can't help but falter.] We should talk. [Shifting their path, he heads towards his apartment instead.]

Edited 2012-11-06 03:06 (UTC)

[You don't even know the half of it Zack.]

No. You need to get people out of the area, I've taken him out twice now since... before.

[Nibelheim.]

It's been four years since I last saw you alive, Zack. A lot's changed back on Gaia.

[He's just going to leave out whatever he isn't asked about, it'll be easier that way. Probably.]

[Then fill him in.]

Twice? [His brow furrows and his eyes darken.] Why does he keep coming back?

[He really does his best not to flinch.]

Tell me about it. [Quickening his steps, he rounds a corner and climbs up a flight of stairs.]

I need to know.

Jenova.

[It's the simplest explanation.]

You'll have to be a little more specific.

[He's following behind, footsteps falling in to time with Zack's because it's easy to do it.

Cloud seriously hopes you have a couch and snacks, this is a long story.]

[Zack grimaces at the answer and opens the door leading to his living room. There is indeed a couch and a kitchen that adjoins to the living room. Let's hope Zack has gone shopping.]

Make yourself comfortable and I'll try to be a little more specific. [He grabs drinks for them before taking a seat himself.]

What happened after - well - I died?

[Cloud leans his sword against the back of the couch before sitting with a sigh.]

After you died?

[It doesn't take that long to remember back that far, as it's where his memories actually begin to make complete sense and aren't just what he's been told by others.]

I made it to Midgar and met up with Tifa, she was working at a bar called Seventh Heaven but... the people she was with didn't exactly trust me. I looked like SOLDIER and they... didn't much like ShinRa but she vouched for me and things were alright until some people started blowing up reactors.

[Best not to mention that it was him blowing up reactors... or the part where he had to sneak in to Don Corneo's place.]

Things got crazy and ShinRa dropped the Sector Seven plate to try and stop the people blowing up the reactors, Tifa and I had to break in to rescue Aerith from Hojo after that and while we were there Sephiroth killed the President.

We ran and... it got really complicated but we got a group together and figured out that Sephiroth was after the Black Materia. He was going to call down Meteor to destroy the planet and...

[He nearly killed Aerith.]

We won though, but only barely. Holy had to be called to stop Meteor but... life went on even though ShinRa fell. Reeve's in charge actually, and he's doing a good job of it.

[Not mentioning the parts where he screwed up and Aerith died.]

Sephiroth came back not long after though and I killed him again.

[He falls quiet as he tries to figure out how to explain Vincent and Deepground because even he's not really sure what the hell happened there other than Hojo being insane and Lucretia's memories being downloaded in to an ageless pre-teen.]

[It only takes a moment for Zack to realize how uncomfortable it is to sit with a Buster Sword on his back. He deftly sets it to the side and opens the bottle. While Cloud talks, he takes a sip or two, his expression conflicted.]

Seems like I missed a lot. [He leans back and closes his eyes. It's a lot to digest - especially considering he is still trying to get used to the City...and his death.]

Is she alright? Aerith, I mean. [Swallowing roughly, he turns his head and gazes fixedly at Cloud. Now that he's settled he can see that Cloud has...aged. Matured. Time has passed for him - just like he said.

Something clenches in Zack's chest.]

She was my girlfriend, you know. [Sort of.] Actually... We never decided on that. But I wanted her to be.

[Then he had left. He had been destined to never see her again.]

She shouldn't have been involved in all of it. I don't care if she's half-Cetra or whatever.

[Leaning forward, his expression softens.]

I wanted to protect her and I wanted to protect you. You're another one that got dragged into the mix. [He runs a hand through his hair.] I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you, Cloud. I always cared about you and I always will.

If Sephiroth turns up, I'm not running away. I know he's not the same man I once knew; once looked up to.

You've done enough on your own.

[He nods.]

I know. Tseng had letters for you... and I know she was a Cetra, she's the one who called Holy.

[He blinks, because he'd never asked to be protected... or at least doesn't remember asking anyway.]

Zack, it's not your fault. You... did more than a lot of people did to help and now I'm the one doing the protecting.

[It's non-negotiable right now.]

He's not even human... he's a monster who just looks like him. Sephiroth died in that reactor Zack, anything afterwards has just been all the hatred he and Jenova ever felt towards humanity and the planet.

Letters? [This is the first time he's hearing about them.] From her?

[His eyes widen.] Cloud, you -

She was a Cetra? [Had she died too?

Getting up, he begins to pace. It's better than sitting still - not that pacing means he's any less helpless.]

I'm a SOLDIER. I'm strong. I should've been able to do something!

[He clenches his hands into fists.]

All the more reason to hit him with everything we've got.

[A shrug.]

Even after trying to outdrink me, Reno isn't that specific.

[The reset was conjecture really.

He sighs, watching Zack pace.]

You were a bit too dead to do anything, and I wasn't much use at the time either. It just happened too fast to react.

[He's really trying not to sound like Cid and tell Zack to sit down and finish his drink so he just ducks his head as best he can to wait this out.]

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Wings [Two] - Video/Action

audio:

audio:

no subject

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ohhi [action]

heyyou [action]

'Sup? [action]

Awesome stuff. [action]

I know right? [action]

totally. [action]

Ruining Cloud's day is a fun pastime after all. [action]

But Zack loves Cloud. ;-; [action]

Cloud likes Zack too, it's just been a while dudebro. [action]

Pull it together, Chocobo. [action]

He's used to seeing you when he's dead/dying... [action]

That needs to be fixed. [action]

I'm working on it as we speak 8D [action]

Omgomg. :3 [action]

Just need to rewrite a 3rd person sample 8D 8D [action]

I am so excited! ;w; [action]

I am too, hopefully yays will happen. [action]

I'm sure there will be yays. <3 [action]

Indeed, hopefully awesome wakeup emails. [action]

/crosses fingers [action]

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