[ open ] Storms draw something out of us that calm seas don’t

[makoglow]

Who: Cloud Strife & You
Status: Open
Where: Various
What: Catch all if needed; questboard things mainly
Warnings: TBA





🌩️ Seahorse Midwife

[ Thankfully after the first time being around the seahorses with Tifa, the creatures aren't as keen to knock Cloud over. They are, by far, less rambunctious. But maybe that's because Cloud has been coming as often as he can slip away to check up on them. Maybe to feed them, but don't tell anyone if you had managed to catch him in the act.

Either way, Cloud is here today like any other. Too bad that today is going to be much different than the others. Being requested to help the seahorses give birth.

Well he is standing there with a look about him like a vacant chocobo. Excuse him what? He is supposed to what?

Please save this dumbfounded boy man. ]

🌩️ Unconventional Couture

Not happening.

[ Meaning that Cloud is standing there, with his hands across his chest. Going undercover is one thing. Cloud will gladly go undercover to deal with illegal trade and whatever. The issue here it is starting to look like a situation that he had gotten himself into years ago. Aerith had been there to help him at the time and both she and Tifa had been witnesses to the results.

It had been downright embarrassing the first time. Now they want him to what again? Dress in gowns yet again? Cloud is about ready to walk out that door instead of deal with this. Again.

In a brothel. Again. ]

🌩️ Latte Love Story

[ Cloud's already got his hands full here. There's a man in the gondola. Shouting. Clearly drunk on something but Cloud isn't really paying attention to the full story here. Rather, the blonde stands with his finger pressed firmly between his eyes. It's as if he's trying to will away a potential headache - evaluating on whether or not this is really something he wants to deal with right now.

The problem is that the man is trying to stand. And he's not steady on his feet. So that means that the boat is rocking and there's the potential for the man to just up and fall out of it. ]

Cut it out. You're going to fall and then you'll really be sorry.

🌩️ Wildcard

[ My plotting comment can be found here! If you'd like to do something with Cloud then by all means go ahead and hit me up. I'm happy to write closed starters or just go with something you feel like throwing at me. Also would be happy to do the headless pumpkin if anyone is interested. Otherwise, Cloud will be avoiding ships as much as possible. So he can be found loitering around on any of the leviathans. ]

Comments

Unconventional Couture

[pinksidekicking]

[ Someone is right there, putting her hands on his back and trying to gently nudge him further in. ]

Come on, I'll be doing it too! I can even make myself a man so that you don't stand out too much.

[ That's not's how it's supposed to work. ]

I'll be double cross-dressing!

[makoglow]

What's wrong with you just going as yourself?

[ While he appreciates the gesture, Nimona. But seriously... ]

The first time was embarrassing enough.

[ Especially since he had been picked? Like who would've known... ]

[pinksidekicking]

This is me! I turn into animals and other people.

[ Cloud said to just be all of her, and this is part of that. Man, woman, mammals and so much more, shape-shifting is freeing. Plus, she can take the attention off of him if needed. ]

You just have to act like you own it, like you don't care who's looking at you. [ pause ] I want to hear about the first time.

[ Maybe not now, but sometime soon. ]

[makoglow]

You got me there.

[ Yeah he's not going to sit there and argue. Though he's pretty sure that going in as an animal in a dress is probably not the kind of attention they want. Just saying. ]

It's not that I don't know all of that. [ How to walk. The owning it. Not caring what other people are saying. ] Just. The attention in general.

seahorses!

[starshower]

[As if sensing the very question that he is asking himself, Tifa's hand finds a comforting spot on his back where she gives him a little pat.

Granted, this is very much out of both of their usual wheelhouses... it's not as if she's ever had to help a chocobo before, but these things? At least they were somewhat docile around them, but this is... a whole different thing. A whole other story. An entirely different book.

At the very least, some of the sea horses recognize them, and whinny gently when their eyes meet Cloud's.]

We could start with the food, if you don't wanna sing.

one could say they're about to... hold those horses

[makoglow]

Pretty sure no one wants me to sing.

[ He appreciates the support, Tifa. At least the pat on the back has him breathing a sigh and metaphorically rolling his sleeves. Yeah, this is completely different than what they are used to.

At the same time, it might be nice to actually help a life instead of kinda fighting it? It makes more sense in his head and that's why he's staying there. ]

Let's start with the food then.

[ At the mention of "food," those seahorses are now making their way over. Pfft. ]

i'm still smh....

[starshower]

[Tifa lifts her hands in a plea.]

Wait... don't move. We'll bring the food to you.

[And they seem to... at least understand what her hands and her tone mean, because they all pause. She isn't sure whether or not these sea horses should be exerting themselves? But regardless, there's a feast of shrimp that some corsairs had been kind enough to set aside for feeding, and Tifa will head there to pick up a small serving, bringing back enough for both her and Cloud to share.]

Don't think this gets you out of singing later if we need it, by the way.

[A light ribbing never hurt.]

Latte Love Story

[feralhumanity]

[This man is shouting way too much, and Nanaki's ears are laying flat against his head. He is scowling at the man, his tail twitching in annoyance. He gives Cloud a flat look.]

Maybe falling in will do him some good. It might shock some sense into him.

[makoglow]

As much as he might deserve it...

[ No, Nanaki. They can't do that. Someone this drunk could end up drowning or knocking their head on the way down. And then they'd be responsible for that. ]

Let's just get to work.

[feralhumanity]

[But it would save them all! And a bath would make him smell better, right now all Nanaki can smell is booze. But he sighs, letting out an annoyed huff before rising to his paws.]

Alright, fine. How do you propose we get him out?

latte love story ☁️🐺

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack isn't all that impressed with the situation either. Here they are- who knows how high up- in a freaking gondola ride and this drunk guy is just rocking the thing back and forth every time he babbles on about his long-lost love.]

Yeah, seriously. As much as I'd love to hear more about your lady love, it's about time you settle down, man.

[He reaches out to grab the drunk man's arm before he wobbles right off the damn thing.]

[makoglow]

[ It is exhausting. Apparently this man has been a problem for a little while now. And they aren't the only ones that have had to deal with him. So why hasn't the man been banned from doing whatever it is that put him in this state from the start?

Cloud sighs and rolls his eyes. ]

You get one arm and I'll get the other.

[ That way they can both lift this man out of the gondola. ]

[activatingcombatmode]

Yeah, got it. Let's go buddy.

[They go to pick up the guy. But he starts whining and crying about how he misses his lost lady love. How the potion lets him see her face in his mind again...]

Whatever this guy drank must have been powerful if he's this bad.

unconventional couture 🐺☁️

[activatingcombatmode]

[Annnnnd Zack's reaching out to grab Cloud's shoulder before he can take off.]

Look, someone's gonna have to get in a dress for this and let's face it. You'll be way more convincing in one than me.

[If they have to go undercover he can dress up as a corsair man and be Cloud's escort! Or something!]

[makoglow]

[ Hello hand on his shoulder. ]

Zack.

[ Don't do this to him. Please be a bro and don't force him into this situation? ]

You'd fill out the top half better.

[activatingcombatmode]

[Be a bro and take the hit and dress up in the dress, bro.]

What?

[Are you referencing his big tits?]

You're probably not wrong but I doubt anyone's gonna buy my bulky build in that thing.

seahorse midwife

[flamekthunder]

[Hello vacant chocobo, this wolf is looking quite similar as he finds himself with Cloud to help with the poor seahorse who really does look like its about to burst.

...

He had just been a little curious about the seahorses how did he end up here...

Anyway, seeing Cloud just kind of standing there—]

Hey.

[Loud SNAP of his fingers in front of him with just a tiny crackle of lightning to help.]

Snap out of it.

[As clueless as Eustace is, he can at least be quick to get into "mission mode."]

[makoglow]

[ OKAY EUSTACE! There probably hadn't been a need to go that far. A simple "hey" would have shaken Cloud out of it. But all things considering... He's looking at the dog man and taking a breath.

Then stands with his arms across his chest. ]

Right. Out of everything I've done, never expected to deal with sea horses like this.

[flamekthunder]

[If he wants to be extra, he can be extra—

Eustace joins him in looking at the seahorse with a furrowed brow.]

Likewise. I've worked with farm animals, but not seahorses. And even that was a long time ago...

At the very least we can try to make it comfortable.

Seahorse Midwife

[cursedwords]

[ This kid isn't possibly the better one here is he? Maybe. Cloud looks a little shell shocked and without anything to tap on to get his attention, Toge chooses his elbow.

Tap tap.

If Cloud looks he's smiling behind his mask. He's already holding a tub of shrimp in his hands. ]

HOW DID I MISS THIS

[makoglow]

[ Look, he might have lived in the middle of nowhere as a kid. But with the reactor right there, farming isn't really... At least it's not something that Cloud really had any experience with.

And chocobos lay eggs so - ]

Huh?

[ He's looking at Toge and the shrimp. Cloud sighs, rubbing his neck and nods. ]

Thanks. Wanna help?

No worries!

[cursedwords]

Salmon. [ Toge nods enthusiastically to emphasize his answer, and he's got the shrimp in hand.

They just need to approach the seahorses. At the very least, he's not likely to be too loud and startle them that way. ]

Latte Love Story

[ricebird]

Ah! E-easy, sir, please sit down!

[Such brave, very authority, wow. But really, she is concerned for him sake, and for the gondolier who's trying to keep her own footing and resist the urge to wack the crooning lush. Cloud's bespectacled beat partner turns to him.]

Should we go over to them, or...?

[makoglow]

[ Yeah that's not going to work. The man is having a grand old time with his behavior. Talking nonsense, as far as Cloud is concerned. ]

We probably should. Can't just leave them there like that.

[ And take the guy to detox or whatever. ]

[ricebird]

[A tentative nod, before trying to straighten herself up as she walks closer to the docks.]

S-sir, this is your last warning! Please sit down, o-or we'll have to take you escort you off the boat!