escordvi | [ open ] Life is like the igniting of a match

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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Missing?

[ Cloud frowns. What could be missing here? Now he doesn't start to put two and tow together until -

Plip. Plip.

A few raindrops start to hit the ground. ]

[He grins and points up.]

We gotta be in the rain.

[ Yeah after those first few drops, he is looking up. A few hit him right in the middle of his forehead. Cloud blinks and sighs. ]

I swear this place does thing like this to just laugh at us. What are the chances?

It is pretty funny. But hey, a little rain never hurt anyone. Right?

[That's why Zack is stepping backwards out into the rain now as it starts to patter down. Little droplets splashing down on his face, shoulders and hair.]

Come on! Get out here.

Speak for yourself. I'll melt since I'm just that sweet.

[ Zack believes that, right? Riiiiiight?

Cloud hasn't moved quite yet. Sweeten the deal a little Zack. ]

[Zack raises an eyebrow.]

A cotton candy Cloud, huh? [He laughs.] How am I supposed to enjoy this drink without my best friend to sweeten the deal?

[ It takes a second, but the teasing does hit him. And when it does, there's that familiar wide-eyed look Cloud wears when flustered. A slight pink on his cheeks when embarrassed. ]

C-cotton candy cl -

[ He huffs. Looks away and then just. Gives into Zack's request. Grumbling as he walks into the droplets falling from the sky, Cloud takes another drink just to occupy himself. ]

[Got him!! No matter the universe, Zack will always think Cloud is cute af.]

Haha, that's the spirit!

[He smiles big and holds up the glass of piña colada that he has stolen into the rain. It's not raining particularly hard. Just a pretty tame late summer drizzle. A pretty great way to wrap up summer, honestly.]

Here. Cheers.

[ If it's only a light drizzle, then does it really count as rain? At least Cloud is out there with Zack and he's not actually annoyed. Zack makes it easy to just. Do some of these things. to be more open and to do more than he would unprompted.

He gives a little snort as Zack does his "cheers" and takes another drink. When he does, he feels something light and bubbly in his chest. ]

So? How does it rate?

[Zack takes a good sip of the drink as well and he feels that tingle across his tongue. It's kind of like drinking some poprocks.]

Huh, it does taste better. Like there's some zazz to it. Still delicious and coconut-y. I'd say ... eight out of ten.

Some zazz. What is that, exactly, Zack?

[ But he is loosening up a little bit. Not because of any alcoholic content. But just... Well. From drinking it in the rain? ]

Zazz. Zazz! You know, something ... sparkly. But not sparkling. More like... Zesty. Zazz!

[Wtf is Zack talking about? He laughs,]

Drink up!

[And Zack drinks more of his. Because it's making him feel pretty happy.]

[ Cloud has no idea what Zack is saying either. Instead he almost chokes on his drink. Almost chokes because, somehow, the blonde is laughing too.

Actually laughing. ]

[Hearing that laugh makes Zack drink his drink down and grin widely.

It's good to hear him laugh.]

Not bad, hey?

Maybe. Or maybe it's just you being ridiculous.

[ It's.... Probably both, isn't it? Zack makes him just. Smile. ]

[Zack slides an arm around his shoulders and pats.]

Maybe a little of both.

[~~he'll die for that smile~~]

[ He still takes a few drinks and leans against his friend a bit. At the moment, Cloud is reminded that he really does... Miss Zack's presence in his life. ]

We need to do this more.

[If he gets his way, he's hoping to be in Cloud's life as much as he can be for now. He wants to appreciate this time he has with his best friend.]

I couldn't agree more. Feels great, doesn't it.

[He pats Cloud's shoulder fondly.]

The best kind of peace.

[ Cloud wants the same thing: for Zack to be in his life. To make up for the time that they never had. For however long it takes for them to find this relic. For once, though? Cloud is in no rush. While they are here, Cloud has his first and best friend.

The relief that he feels is... ]

It does. Just glad you're around to enjoy it.

[ After a beat: ]

With me. With all of us.

[ So let them enjoy their silly drinks in the rain. The boys deserve some peace. ]

[ open ] Life is like the igniting of a match

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