[ open ] Life is like the igniting of a match

[makoglow]

Who: Cloud Strife + You
Status: Open
Where: Various
What: MANTA quests
Warnings: Gore? Maybe



🌩️ Caught In the Rain

[ More like caught just standing there like some idiot with two drinks in his hands. Because Cloud had been trying to avoid getting involved in all of that nonsense. But, as usual, is he allowed this? Nope. Cloud had been given the directions on what he needs to do and before he could say no, the tavern keep is just walking away. Waving and telling Cloud to have a good time. ]

At least it isn't a dress this time... [ Silver lining and all. Not that it is going to stop him from finding someone to pawn these things off on. ] Here.

[ Now one can either just take the drinks from Cloud as he had been given them... Or maybe there is another option? ]

🌩️ A Sheep in Sheep's Clothing

[ "No one knows how this happened" is what they say. Bullshit is what Cloud says. There is no way that these people don't know something. But that's another problem for another day. The first thing that he needs to do is stop sheep from being harmed...

From other sheep. ]

Still not the weirdest request to get. Let's go.

[ Of course Cloud can do it by himself. But if they do take to flying, he'd have to purely rely on magic. Another person having his back won't hurt.

At least until coming across the first sheep... Who is kind of. Really. Feasting on a bloody smear of what probably used to be another sheep. Maybe. Hard to tell. ]

🌩️ Gentle Moogle

That is not a Moogle...

[ Surely it is someone dressed up as a Moogle? That's really the only explanation because Cloud wouldn't recognize it as a Moogle if not for the pom. Do they even really get that big? ]

Augh. [ He is not even drawing his sword out for this one. ] First the mutant Tonberry and now this.

[ Surely it will be easy to chase the person away. Right? ]

🌩️ Whale Watchers

[ Cloud is standing at one of the Paladin ports that had recently been attacked. The damage isn't anything to sneeze at, but do whales even just come from out of nowhere and attack? Then again, given the odd nature of this place, maybe the whales have found a liking for flesh... Wouldn't surprise him at this rate.

First thing's first, he is looking over the damage. Inspecting it. There is a lot of debris and - ]

Honestly the place looks trashed. Literally.

[ He runs a hand over some damaged posts. ]

Maybe we should check the ships to see if there was cargo that caught their attention...

🌩️ Elemental Energy Part 2

[ Cloud hadn't had much to do with the original survey. However, this time it seems to be right up his alley. Using magic around these butterflies to that they can take readings? Easy. Cloud finds a more remote area and releases the little machine-like creature. ]

Might still need to hold back some. Maybe.

[ Two things can happen here. Maybe he is sparring with someone else. Maybe he's just practicing by himself. Either way, he starts to open things up with a Thundara! ]

Let's see how much it can take.

🌩️ 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: Seeds of Hope, All Tied Up, Trailing Dawn, and the Plot Chickens . If you want to plot something out, reach out to me at verthunder on both Discord and Plurk. ]

Comments

Gentle Moogle

[feralhumanity]

Umm...

[Nanaki has to agree, that is NOT like the moogles he is used to seeing. It doesn't even smell like a moogle. His ears lower as he looks over to Cloud.]

...maybe it's sick?

[makoglow]

....Since when does something being sick make its limbs elongated like some kind of stick?

[ He really doesn't think that this is a Moogle. ]

One thousand says it is a man in a costume.

[feralhumanity]

Well, when you put it that way...

[Nanaki flicks his tail.]

Should we try to attack, then? Or scare him?

Elemental Energy Part 2

[scooba]

[Why was Freminet out and about when he was busy moping? He didn't know but he knew Father wouldn't want him to be so upset. He had to get out of the house regardless if he wants to or not. With a heavy sigh, he looked at Cloud and the butterflies. He was doing this in hopes of making Kaveh happy as this seemed like the only way to do so without confrontation.]

...Do you need some help? I wouldn't mind either.

[makoglow]

[ Cloud pauses in his practicing, the poor ground a little scorched from where he had been casting. Freminet is a good kid, if quiet. Even Cloud thinks it is a little strange to see him out and about. ]

You sure you want to? I don't think I've seen what you can do yet.

[scooba]

Uh...okay, I'll do my best!

[With that, he looked at the butterflies before taking in deep breath in. In a moment, that's when a wall of ice appeared before them as they took a hit.]

Do you think that they need a bit more...?

a sheepy problem

[pinksidekicking]

[ Lucky for him, Nimona is here to take care of any pesky flying sheep. She walks at his side in wolf form, because it amuses her to do so. While the regular sheep are a little skittish with the wolf, the cannibalistic sheep are definitely the bigger problem to them. Especially since Nimona's acting more like a sheepdog than a wolf around the animals.

Upon seeing the first blood spilled, Nimona stretches her neck to get a good look. ]

These sheep are like piranha, there's hardly anything left of it's meal. [ Nimona sounds more awed than disgusted by the scene before them. ]

Can I keep one? Pleeeeeease?

[makoglow]

[ Cloud is pulling out his sword, ready for it to come down to slaying the creatures. Ultimately, they will need to find out what started this mess. If they don't, then it can just keep happening.

He's used to Nimona's constant changing. Not a surprise that she would pick a wolf form when dealing with sheep of all things.

And his expression turns flat at her question. ]

You already know the answer to that.

[pinksidekicking]

[ Nimona's tail lashes back and forth, ears on a swivel to make sure nothing sneaks up on them - but she doesn't look too worried. The two of them can handle this.

There's a moment where she studies his expression and then... ]

Great! I pick that one! [ A paw points at one of the further flying sheep. If he's not going to tell her a flat "no", then she'll make up an answer (and it'll be the answer she wants). ]

🐑

[starshower]

[Once they do come across it, she's rightfully taken back by the sight, the pit of her stomach twisting in pity that they were not able to make it in time for this one.]

Well. We've definitely had to deal with worse, haven't we?

[Far, far worse. She thinks... though, she supposes they're about to find out.]

Hey!

[She calls to the sheep to try and get its attention on them, but when it doesn't respond and continues to ravage its meal, Tifa throws a flame at it. It hits the wool and the fire catches, but all that does is make the sheep lift its head at them, baring its ugly, bloodied teeth.

And it gives an ungodly, gurgling BAAAAAAHH at them.]

🩸🩸🍴

[makoglow]

You can say that again.

[ Look, a sheep eating other sheep might be gross, but it isn't like it is the worst thing that they have come across. Look at the weird Tonberry and "Moogle" that have been running around.

Though he's not sure throwing a fire spell on a FLYING sheep is really a good idea? Especially since now it's staring to come at them. Great. A running fireball. Just what they needed.

And off he runs! Springing to meet the creature head on. ]

[starshower]

[She didn't think that the sheep's wool would just hold the flame!? Or maybe it would have just spontaneously combusted!? She doesn't know! But yes, now they have a very real problem on their hands. Cloud goes to meet it first as Tifa deals with the absolute shock and horror of it all. Its razor sharpened teeth—all the better to cut up its friends with—come at him, clamping down on whatever it can reach.

It's the sound of something cutting through the air overhead that snaps Tifa back. When she glances up to the source, there's nothing there...]

Keep your eyes peeled. I don't think it's alone.

[Meanwhile, she uses her speed and the fact that Cloud has its attention to whirl around to the sheep's other side, giving him the signal as she winds up her foot to toss it back at her.]

just gonna Seeds of Hope @ u

[cetra]

[ On one of her many trips off ship to check on the seeds she's planted, she spots a familiar figure on deck. Aerith beelines straight to him, coming up to nudge him with her elbow on his side. ]

You got plans today?

[ 'Cause if not, boy does she have a proposition for him. ]

[makoglow]

[ Cloud doesn't get up at an ungodly hour of the morning, unlike Tifa and Zack. But he doesn't really sleep in all that much either. So as Aerith thinks to get around to checking on her plants ( though really there is totally a space for her to do any gardening on the ship if she wants ), Cloud has taken apart his Fusion Swords and taken to cleaning them.

A task that still needs done from time to time.

He only looks up as she approaches and addresses him. And then tries not to quirk his lip in a grin. ]

Oh I don't know. My schedule looks pretty full.

[cetra]

Oh, yeah?

[ She takes in the sight before her, head tilting just the slightest. Aerith’s no weapon expert but this seems complicated. More complicated than what she’s seen him with before, anyway. ]

Does this all fit together? [ She’s completely distracted now, what is he doing. She leans forward a little, hands resting on her knees as she squints at the blades. They’re so differently shaped and it looks like pieces of a sword puzzle. ] They have to, right?

caught in the rain 🍹

[activatingcombatmode]

[Who would give up a chance at alcohol and free tacos??]

Need some help there, Cloudy?

[Never fear, Zack's here to reach out and take one of the glasses from Cloud so he's not double fisting the booze alone.]

Didn't think you'd pick a challenge like this over wearing dresses, though.

[Just kidding...!!]

[makoglow]

[ Cloud would. He absolutely 100% would if it seems like it is going to be shady. And this has the feeling of being shady.

Especially if it is "testing" something. But if he is going to be forced into whatever this is, at least he will take Zack with him. For better or worse? ]

You know... Next time there is something like that, I'm going to grab Aerith and we're going to make it happen.

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack snorts with a laugh.]

I'm sure she'd have a blast with something like this too.

[Listen, the both of them enjoy making Cloud do fun things.]

But this seems easy enough. Are we just testing drinks? I like coconut stuff.

whale watchers 🐋

[flamekthunder]

[Despite being a Corsair, Eustace has slipped into the group for this part of the investigation—or rather just kind of slipped in in general. He had been keeping to himself in looking around, hearing and finding what he could, when he notices and recognizes Cloud.

...Hmmmm.

He'll approach before speaking up.]

There's one that seemed to have been focused down the pier.

[makoglow]

[ In this case, does it matter if it is a Corsair looking into it or a Paladin? It's all the same in the end - something has to be causing the whales to do this and it benefits both to find out what.

Cloud narrows his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest. ]

Hmm. What about Nogard? Anything like this happening there?

[flamekthunder]

A fair few, enough to have higher ups concerned about what could be going on and send out their own "investigators."

[Subtle hint that there could be something going on involving the Corsairs, and he doesn't really care to withhold that information. However, given the number of people still around, he won't divulge everything he's heard and found so far right away.]

elemental energy 🦋

[phoenixdominant]

[Joshua himself is very involved in Kaveh's little butterfly project. He works diligently to collect magical and elemental information with the butterflies so that his crewmate can have effective information in various forms.

That's why he's passing by now with a set of butterflies sitting on his arm ready to be deployed. They seem to click and flap their little metallic wings when that thundara spell goes off... Who just did that just now? Certainly not Ramuh.]

My apologies for the interruption. Was that your aether just now?

[makoglow]

[ He had been about to cast another spell, gather the necessary energy the butterfly might need. Then he could just deliver it.

The sound of someone approaching him has Cloud stopping mid cast, frowning. ]

Aether?

[ Now he has heard someone call SOMETHING that, but Cloud doesn't really have context. ]

wildcard (lmk if this isn't okay)

[emet_sulk]

[ Emet-Selch ponders the schematics for the ship engine once more as he puzzles over the one that Cloud is attempting to put together for his motorbike. The two are incomparable for the most part - which may make one wonder why he bothers to reference the former. But there are certain ideas that the elder mage feels are worth trying, and having been the one to come up with the idea of the ceruleum engine himself, Emet-Selch feels confident he can at least craft a starting design. ]

The important question is what to use as the energy source, [ he muses. ]

[ It's something that he has been mulling over for days. He'll have to make a decision before they start the ship's engine. ]

perfectly fine!

[makoglow]

[ The power requirements are different. They always will be. Something for a ship might even take multiple engines to push it at a sufficient pace. Depends on if they want to use some sort of combustion engine for the ship or not.

Chances are, the power source would be - ]

Since we're going to be going over the ocean, what about some kind of crystal charged by the ocean water itself? Could probably even use it to power turbines that convert into electricity.