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

Entry tags:

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

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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You? Good at being the center of attention? I'm shocked.

[ He's not. Not at all, actually. Nimona seems like the type that actually thrives off of that sort of thing. But maybe if she's the one... ]

Fine. You're probably going to go anyway and will need back up.

I know, right? Totally surprising. I'm normally so quiet!

[ It's okay, Nimona picks up what he's putting down here. She beams up at him, because Cloud's exactly right. ]

There's no way I can pass up on a chance to see Corsair territory. Gotta find out what I'm missing out on here.

[ Nimona strokes her chin thoughtfully and looks around the shop. ] Now... what disguises should we wear? I can look like anyone I've ever met.

[ No need for further comment on that, right? After all... Nimona knows that she isn't. He rolls his eyes. ]

Of course you'd want to see it.

[ Now he's looking back towards the attire. Still not really pleased but - ]

What do you feel like - or maybe who?

[ A gentle punch to his arm. ]

I would have been a great Corsair.

[ Cloud's question has her stroking her chin thoughtfully. ]

Hm, posing as someone here would cause trouble. So probably someone from back home.

[ Counting on her fingers. ]

Nah, his face is too rough. His face is too punchable, that's no good either. How about...?

[ With a bit of pink magical trails, Nimona changes from a short little girl to a tall, broad man. ]

This guy? [ Yes, the voice does actually match the appearance. Both of his hands go under his chin. ]

Probably. Kind of glad you're not though.

[ Since, really, she isn't the worst company to have around? Not to mention, she's had a rough time. Not that all Corsairs are bad but it's just... Cloud isn't sure that Nimona shouldn't have some structure.

In the meantime, he's just watching her count on her fingers. Talking to herself. And then one moment she is a teenage girl - but the some man with a haircut that kind of. Hmmm. There's a word for it - ]

You'll be stuck like that all night. Are you sure?

Oh, yeah? Would you miss me? I bet you'd miss me.

[ Nudging him like that's going to get the truth out of him. Nimona has never had structure a day in her life, too much will definitely feel stifling to someone who feels alive being free.

Nimbrosius waves a hand that definitely doesn't seem like it goes with this face or body. Making a psha sound. ]

I've spent longer in different forms. This is nothing. Plus, I pulled off a perfect act and convinced someone this face knew that I was him. They spilled all their dark secrets.

Yeah, that's it. I'd miss you.

[ Is he serious? A joke? Being sarcastic? Hard to say... Especially since that grin could be interpreted several different ways.

Then she shifts shape and it's the first time he's seen it. She's talked about it but actually doing it... ]

You look like someone that would be annoying.

Aw, now I'm gonna get all shy.

[ Spoilers: she's not. But it is still very nice to hear it after... never having heard it before.

Ah, that's a little not good. ]

I mean, he is a little. He takes his job as a knight very seriously, but he's probably okay. Look at his serious face. [ Then proceeds to make said serious face. ]

Impressive, right?

Now this guy...

[ Then where one man is standing, and other is in a haze of pink magic. ]

He looks totally punchable, right?

[ Of course she's not going to get shy. Maybe a little flustered, but probably trying to hide it. Kind of like how Cloud would.

Still, Cloud listens to her explanation. "He's probably okay" meaning he's not a bad person. So he'll take that. And he has to huff in amusement when she does her impressions. Moving from one form to the next. ]

Is that what you're going for? Punchable?

[ Tapping her chin thoughtfully. ]

Thod would be one of the worst faces to use going in. People would want to punch me.

[ Thod's head shakes, and back to the prettiest guy that isn't... here. ]

I mean, I could look like anyone I've ever seen before. I just figure that if I go with someone masculine, you wouldn't stand out so much.

You know what? Just stay like that. That one is probably better for wearing a dress anyway.

[ Over all. Then again he doesn't really know. Cloud is just going to start looking for one to wear since, well... ]

Trying to draw attention to yourself to spare me? Cute.

He would look downright pretty in a dress. You have to take my picture all dressed up.

[ Nimona turns to the racks too. This is... probably the closest she'll get to a dress. ]

So what color do you think goes best with my new complexion?

[ He nods. Don't worry. Cloud will definitely be taking pictures since he figures that Nimona will be doing the same in return.

As for what color suits her - ]

What makes you think that I know?

[ Normally, Nimona would take pictures of him on the sly, but since she wants him to continue hanging out with her, will ask permission first.

She shrugs. ]

You could be a guy who knows his colors! Even if... the only color I've ever seen you wear is black. I'm not judging based on that.

[ Nimona please... ]

I like blue too.

[ THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT SHE WAS ASKING THOUGH, CLOUD. But... ]

[ IT'S NOT BUT SHE'LL RUN WITH IT. ]

Then let's find you something in blue. I'll go bright, and that'll help draw the eyes of other people, too.

[ Please do not let her pick her own dress, Cloud. It will be a monstrosity. ]

Or is it that you really just want to stand out?

[ He can see Nimona wanting to be the center of attention, after all... ]

[ She shrugs at the question. ]

I've never really been the center of attention of people that weren't trying to kill me. There's a whole institute that was formed and is dedicated to killing me. They raise everyone to believe that I shouldn't exist.

[ Yes, everyone - even the children. Nimona pulls out a dress and holds it up to Cloud with a face of scrutiny, then wrinkles nose and puts it back. ]

A whole institute? For killing one kid?

[ Man Nimona... What is your world even like? ]

[ It's a brainwashed one, that's what. For the moment, Nimona is quiet. ]

So this face I'm wearing right now? I maybe met his great-great-great-great-something grandmother a thousand years ago. Back then we were just young kids by most people's standards, her name was Gloreth. I never had any friends, always living in the wilderness trying to fit in with the other animals.

[ As she talks, Nimona goes from being Ambrosius to herself, gaze fixed on the racks. ]

I took the chance to come out of the woods when I saw her, taking on human form, and she accepted me as her new friend. I even showed her my ability to transform, which she thought was fun. Then one day, I was playing with her as a bear too close to her village. The adults saw and freaked out, they pulled her away - shoving pitchforks and torches at me. It hurt, and I kept transforming - trying to protect myself and show them that I wasn't going to hurt anyone. Trying to talk to them.

[ Any searching through the rack slows until she's just standing there. ]

People were panicking, I was panicking. They were calling me a monster, and all that fire caught the village on fire. I tried, one last time, to reach out to Gloreth. But she picked up a wooden sword and pointed it at me. "Go back to the shadows from whence you came."

After that, people hailed her as a hero. Wrote epic stories about how she defeated a mighty dragon, built their city around her statue, built walls to keep out everything they didn't understand and feared. Created the institute that teaches children that monsters are evil and have to be killed. Now, a thousand years later, here we are.

[ She looks up at Cloud with a sad smile. ]

History is written by the victors.

[ Listening to her, a lot of things suddenly make a lot more sense. Her behavior. Extremism with that behavior. What she thinks of herself as well as why she might cling to people that aren't afraid of her. Or just surprised that there are people who aren't afraid of her.

Cloud can't say that he understands everything that she has been through. A thousand years. But what he can see is that there is someone standing in front of him that is still hurt by all of that. Someone that's looking for a friend. And that's what it all is about, huh?

So he reaches out. Runs a hand through her hair. ]

Victors or those in power. [ Because Shinra has done so much cover up... ] Though I'm not sure what they're all so afraid of. You seem pretty normal to me.

[ That's when he goes right back to ruffling that pink fuzzy head. There's not a lot of soothing words that Cloud can give. He's not that sort of person. But what he can give is pretty much his support. His friendship - and it doesn't matter what Nimona is.

Because she's just. Herself. ]

How about this. If we get what we need, I'll let you go nuts.

[ Nimona blinks in surprise at the hand on her head. It feels like... it's the first time anyone has ever done that. Or maybe that's just because she poured out part of her story and Cloud isn't running for the hills.

From his words, it sounds like there's a story behind them. Maybe one day he'll share it with her. ]

Or those in power. [ That's a tale for another day, she thinks. ] People see what they want to see, here is the only place I felt like the majority of people were seeing me.

[ And not a "monster". It's hard, being the only one who can do these things in the world. Who has any sort of power at all.

Her head bobs a little at the hair ruffling, but she's not pushing the hand away. Cloud probably found her annoying at first, but Nimona was trying to be a gremlin at him. But once she stopped, he's been one of the nicest people ever to her. ]

Really? [ She's definitely perking up at that. ] Metal.

[ Honestly, there's no need for him to run for the hills. She's been honest with him and, quite frankly, his opinion isn't going to change. Nimona had been someone that had just wanted a friend and people fear what they don't understand. So they see what they want instead of what is actually there. ]

I think you're going to have more people like that from now on.

[ And one day he will share it with her too. His story, that is. The parts of it that he can remember. Even now there are bits and pieces that elude him. Things that he doesn't quite remember fully.

Another tale for another day.

Instead he grabs one of the dresses and motions for her to come along. They've got work to do.

And heavens help them when Nimona is on the loose. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

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