escordvi | [ Open ] I've been trying to fit in the pieces

Who: Cloud Strife + You
Status: Open
Where: Various
What: MANTA quests
Warnings: Include any content warnings

🌩️ Sipping on Seaweed

[ Cloud isn't really the sort of person to sit around and drink tea. Standing before the sign on the teashop with his hands on his hips, Cloud is already making a face just thinking about it. But it seems like a simple enough task?

Not to mention if it actually tastes good - Yeah probably don't get his hopes up. ]

Yeah, might as well get it over with.

[ Once inside, Cloud will be seated at a table. 5 different teas set in front of him. And he looks like he is dreading it. ]

🌩️ Maid Day Mayday

[ There really is only one explanation for this - getting bullied by local women. That's exactly how he ends up around the Naughtilust and eventually back on Eltrut in maid attire minus the accessories. At the very least Cloud doesn't look too put out. Or he seems to be walking around oddly well practiced and at ease with all of this.

Until he turns and glares at anyone staring too long. ]

My eyes are up here. Keep staring and you won't have yours much longer.

[ Feel free to catching around either Naughtilust trying to fend off people from getting a closer look or on Eltrut. ]

🌩️ Ethereal Everblooms

[ Standing guard here feels like being at the church in Sector 5 all over again. Watching the flowers struggle and fight just to survive brings back a feeling of nostalgia. Cloud had been feeling some kind of way lately and being here helps. Sort of. It's like a balm, of sorts. Soothing in a way he can't really describe to a great many a person.

If you're not here for the flowers, Cloud can be found watching them from the edge of where the field starts. He doesn't dare step closer.

To anyone that is caught trying to dig up the area of pick the flowers? Expect to be met with a blade being held at the neck. ]

🌩️ Serenity Illuminated

Why am I holding the lantern?

[ Can he not be trusted with the actual catching of fireflies? Or is he subtly complaining about being here at all? This feels like something that Aerith would have him out doing. Or Marlene with Denzel awkwardly in tow.

They'd probably like doing something like this a lot. Too bad there's nowhere around Edge that they could do this. ]

How many do we even need?

[ And the people that are conducting the research... They know that fireflies tend to die quickly, right? ]

🌩️ Everybody's Grudge

[ When Cloud had heard the description, he had immediately thought "Tonberry." At least that's what it had sounded like to him. But he had dismissed it because there's no chance in something like that existing here, right?

Right? ]

Uh... That is a Tonberry, right?

[ Because seeing a giant Tonberry-like creature is not what he had anticipated. ]

What the actual hell...

🌩️ Wildcard

[ This is your freespace area. Don't like any of the prompts above but want to thread with Cloud? Hit me with anything. Additional ones I am interested in are: Healing Potion Field Testing, Life in Colour, Crab Curry. If you want to plot something out, reach out to me at verthunder on both Discord and Plurk. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Awh, but you have such beautiful legs!

( a near immediate response, followed by a little laugh. she really does mean that. this guy has great legs and definitely something to look at in this little outfit of his. this seems like something someone would get forced to wore for losing a bet.

was that what happened?

poor guy.

karlach smiles down at him, trying to cheer him up from the imagined scenario she's imposed on him. )

And a surprising amount of confidence in those heels!

[ Cloud is very much flustered at the comment. He's fine wearing this sort of thing. That isn't an issue here at all. But someone bringing attention to it? Complementing him? His eyes kin of look everywhere but Karlach for the moment. ]

Rocking it, got it. Can we not?

[ Can we not bring attention to it? At all? ]

Don't be so bashful. It takes a lot of skill to make it work.

( further reassurance, but she says it firmly as if she thinks he really needs to hear it. never fear, blondie, karlach is here to cheerlead for you in your time of need.

she continues with: )

I can't walk in heels for shit. How long did it take you to get used to them?

( sorry, cloud. )

[ Okay she... Is just taking this in stride. That... That can work for Cloud. Honestly and truly. Give him a moment to catch his breath and soothe his frayed nerves. ]

I didn't have very long to get it right. Only a little bit of practice since we had to go undercover.

[ Definitely not talking about this moment. So that means he has worn heels before? ]

Undercover? Are you some kind of guard?

( but did guards really need to wear heels to go undercover? karlach's interest couldn't be more piqued. )

Or like for for-hire type?

( mercenary. )

[ There's a sigh. Cloud rubs the back of his neck. Okay okay. Talking isn't so bad. At least it isn't calling his looks to attention. ]

Kind of a merc for a little while.

[ A very short while and technically he only had been hired specifically by Tifa. But hey... ]

Friend of mine was sort of taken somewhere. Dressing up was the only way to get into where she was.

( wow. she can't NOT ask about that. )

What? Was she dragged into a brothel or something?

Actually... That's pretty close. My friend was trying to get some answers out of a crime lord. He was known to pick women to spend the night with. Thought she was kidnapped so -

[ He and another friend had also infiltrated. They had thought it was a rescue mission. ]

Whoa, I was just kidding. What kind of people are your friends?

( because they sound great. she'd love to meet them. and hear way, way more about this situation. )

You were the most gorgeous out of the group though, right?

[ That gets a little "heh" out of him. Just what kind of people are they... ]

We're... Pretty diverse. But we're all not the kind of people that can just sit back and do nothing.

[ But then Karlach has to say that he had to been the most gorgeous one. He chokes for a moment, cheeks and ears turning pink as he puts his hands on his hips. Looks away so he doesn't have to look her in the eye.

Corneo thought so! But Cloud - ]

"Gorgeous" is pretty objective, you know.

Yeah, yeah, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that.

( and karlach is the one currently beholding and her eye is telling her that he absolutely was. not only is he obviously a very handsome guy, but she finds his embarrassment to be really charming. she doesn't think she's ever known a guy like this. )

But I think I would still put all on my coin on you if it were a bet.

( then she's moving on. )

I'm Karlach. We should be friends.

[ At that, Cloud gives a small snort. It's a laugh, don't be fooled. Seeing someone with the presence that Karlach has ( and somehow he is reminded of a cross between Zack and Tifa ) quoting an old adage like that is just. Somehow funny.

He's kind of between flattered and flustered about it, ears and cheeks still holding onto that color and warmth. Cloud isn't going to tell her that he, well, had been chosen. Probably would only solidify the idea in her mind and well. Aerith and Tifa had both been stunning at that time too.

But since she moves on, Cloud will too. Gratefully at that! ]

Cloud. Are you the kind of person that immediately decides if someone is going to be your friend?

What gave me away?

( there's a little laugh behind the joking question. )

I feel like I can usually tell within the first few minutes if we'll get along or not.

( and cloud has already told her plenty about himself. he'll get his hands dirty, he cares for his friends, and he's got nice legs. they'll get along just fine, she's sure of it. )

This outfit doesn't hurt either. ( before he can protest— ) I'm only teasing, I'm only teasing!

( smilesmilesmile. )

Say, you the kind of guy who likes a hard drink?

Honestly you remind me a lot of a friend of mine.

[ Because that's the truth. Hopefully Karlach doesn't mind the fact that she does. She must have a sixth sense when it comes to character because Cloud? Cloud isn't sure that he could just immediately be friends with everyone he comes across. No desire to really. However, he knows better than to argue in this case.

With Karlach's personality? Pretty much already decided - especially with the teasing that merits a groan and an eyeroll.]

Gonna ignore that comment if you offer to buy me a hard drink.

[ Open ] I've been trying to fit in the pieces

make that maid dress work, boy🌩️

u///u

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject