[open] waste time with a masterpiece, don't waste time with a masterpiece

[activatingcombatmode]

Who: Zack Fair & You
Status: Open
Where: Where these threads happen.
What: A catch-all log for closed threads for February! Includes a few Manta Board prompts as well. If you would like something specific please let me know.
Warnings: Tba.


[🐺 a. the edge of sleep: closed to crewmates & planned cr]

[Ever wonder what it's like to drown? It's a story of opposites. There’s peace in the water. Like it’s holding you. Whispering low tones to let it in. And every problem in the world will fade away... But then there's this thing. In your head. And it's raging. Lighting every nerve with madness. You have to fight. To survive. And all the while the question is before you. Have you had enough?

Zack can't breathe. He can't concentrate. All he can feel is the water cradling him like a vice and the strange invisable fingers around his throat that are both there and not there. He's drowning... He has to fight to breathe and swim. He has to fight to wake up.

This time he does manage to wake up. It's with a painful jolt, his body screaming in pain as he winces awake. His lungs gasping and his muscles screaming. The black mark on his hand pulsates with dirty murkiness, threatening to slide up his arm.

There can be a few places to find Zack when he wakes up. Either in his cabin aboard his crew's ship or on deck where he's failed to keep himself awake and has fallen asleep in a chair or even leaning against the wooden railing. Or at the worst passed out in some random storage room on the ship.]

[🐺 b. part of their world]

[When he's not suffering sleep deprivation Zack does manage to get some work done. Life goes on and he’s well enough during the day to go about his daily life. That means that Zack is getting back to work. And that means taking pictures of...]

Mermaids? Great, the last time I dealt with mermaids they wanted to drag me under the water.

[He sighs. But he clicks through his shellphone for the camera function and then nods.]

Let's just hope the mermaids we find today are a little less touchy-feely.

[🐺 c. wildcard]

[got something else? feel free to put that down here or find me at michrure for some extra plotting.]

Comments

[activatingcombatmode]

[At that worried action Zack can only smile and reach out to pat Cloud on the shoulder.]

Yeah. Rem was able to pull me out of it once before it got bad. But you don't have to worry, Cloud. G'raha's got a lead too. I'll figure this out.

[He's honestly worried that he'll pass on the curse to Cloud or Tifa or the others and he just can't let that happen either.]

[makoglow]

When you friend isn't here, I feel like someone needs to be watching you.

[ He drops his hands to his thighs. Grips the fabric tight. ]

I can't lose someone again.

[activatingcombatmode]

[He glances at Cloud and watches him for a moment. He realizes that he'd gotten so used to being the one taking care of everyone that maybe it would be okay to let Cloud watch out for him too.]

Hey. Come here.

[He's going to pull Cloud into a hug.]

[makoglow]

[ Wow Zack please... Pulling him into a hug? Cloud wants to fight it. Just a little?

But then arms go around Zack. Cloud hadn't realized just how much this should shake him. ]

[activatingcombatmode]

[No need to fight it, Zack hugs him firmly and close. And he doesn't let go.]

Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere.

[He doesn't know how much Cloud remembers of that day under the rain but... He doesn't want to do that to Cloud again. Ever again.]

[makoglow]

[ Stupid guy, really. Zack's never been one to just let go. That's part of the whole problem, isn't it? The man wouldn't leave him even to save himself. ]

Promise me that, Zack.

[activatingcombatmode]

[He squeeze Cloud again, as if to prove they're both here and he means what he says.]

I promise.

[If he has a say in his own death this time, he will have it. And that means saying no thanks.]

[makoglow]

[ He rests his head on Zack's shoulder. Really, this should be about Zack, not him. ]

I'll punch you so hard if you break it.

[activatingcombatmode]

[Even if it's about Zack, he's happiest when his people are secure. So, it's still about him.]

I'll give you every right to do that. Okay?

[He ruffles up Cloud's hair.]

[makoglow]

[ There's just a nod. Zack should be able to feel it, right? But then Cloud pushes back a bit and huffs. ]

This was supposed to be about you, idiot.

[activatingcombatmode]

[That has Zack smirking slightly.]

Who said it isn't?

[Because being alive is for him too, so there's that.]

I know you can take care of yourself, but that doesn't mean I don't want to be around.

[makoglow]

It's... It's not that I don't think I can. It's just you've done enough. People should return the favor, starting with me.

[ That's all he means ]

[activatingcombatmode]

[His expression softens again.]

You don't owe me anything, Cloud.

[makoglow]

Sure I don't, Mister Hero. Let's talk about how you hauled my ass around for months.

[ Literally owes you everything, Zack ]

[activatingcombatmode]

[He shrugs...!!! He did it once he would do it again!]

Sure, we can talk about that. How you don't owe me for that, either. I watched out for you because you're my friend. It's not a scoreboard.

[How could he have possibly not helped Cloud back then? It's not even a thought in his brain. He helped Cloud, he helped him survive. That's all there is too it. He's got Cloud's back. No matter what.]

[makoglow]

I know it's not. Not what I meant, I just...

[ He takes a deep breath. Runs a hand through his hair. ]

Just feel like I owe it to you. Because you're my friend and watched out for me. So I want to do the same thing.