escordvi | Will You All Come With Me?

[ Cloud's still pretty "useless" as far as being able to be of great assistance to anyone goes. His arm is still in a sling as his collarbone continues to heal. At least the crystal is gone as are most of the other injuries. So only this one remains and it's definitely the most annoying one as far as Cloud is concerned...

Easier tasks like this? He's capable of doing them just fine. But right now he's baby shrimp wrangling. Not catching them to eat them. More like quarantine until the trash can be cleaned out. ]

I heard that shrimp are kind of like bottom feeders, but I didn't think they'd eat things like glass too.

Yeah, maybe they're just too little to know any better. Poor little guys.

[Over yonder is one Zack Fair, his pants folded up to his knees as he crouches over the water to fish through the water with his hands. He's carefully picking and pulling out bites of garbage and crap as they go.]

But you just take it easy, Cloud. Don't strain yourself, I've got most of this.

[Cloud can help keep the baby shrimps from getting in the way!! Gently.]

You just have a soft spot for anything smaller than you, don't you?

[ Cloud, to his credit, only partially bristles at being called out. Yes, he knows he needs to keep it light on the work for a while. All of his friends and family - because really, is there a difference at this point - are concerned. That's all.

He's using a small net to scoop up the babies that are starting to crowd Zack. ]

I'm just moving a net around.

What can I say? I'm a big brother shark.

[Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo.

Meanwhile, he continues to fish up some garbage with his hands, pulling it out of the sand and into the floating basket he's got for the trash.]

I didn't think there would be this much trash in the low tide like this, though.

[ Cloud just gives Zack the flattest look. Do NOT bring up that little song. Ever. ]

Less shark and more wolf.

[ He dumps more baby shrimpies into the container. ]

I didn't think there'd be this much trash period. You'd think with all of the magic they'd just poof it away or something.

[Zack looks up with a wolfish grin.]

How about a wolf-shark? ... Or is it shark-wolf?

[He'll be fine with being labelled as both.]

But yeah, you'd think. I guess even pirates can be bad about littering and polluting.

Don't say shark-wolf. You'll give the idea to Nimona and then she'll transform into one. Won't get that image out of my head.

[ Cloud draws a bit closer to Zack. Starts to pick up small bits of trash to toss into the bucket. ]

Some of this might be from the wrecks too. The currents might just be bringing all that in now.

[Zack snorts. Imagining Nimona turning herself into an actual shark-wolf is actually pretty funny.

When Cloud draws closer, Zack reaches out to pat his shoulder carefully.]

Yeah, I wouldn't doubt that. Must have gotten so bad that these little shrimps couldn't grow. It's hard growing up surrounded by trash.

[ Actually, it is pretty funny. But Cloud isn't going to admit that to Zack or to Nimona herself.

Thankfully, his collarbone is well on the mend. ]

Pfft. Are you saying that's why I'm so short? Because I grew up around trash?

[ He's teasing. They both grew up in Shinra. There's partial truth to it. ]

[Zack snorts.]

Hey, you said it. I was just going to stay you're short because you didn't eat enough of your brussel sprouts.

[...]

Anyway, how are you feeling ?

Never had them.

[ Veggies can kind of be hard to get in colder regions, Zack.

Cloud doesn't pause as he cleans up some glass shards. Though he sees more shrimp and goes to get them with his net. ]

I'm fine. Glad to not be a rock anymore.

[Meanwhile, Zack continues to scoop up glass shards as well. He takes a second to stretch after another scoop. It sure is hot out here even while they're standing in the water...]

Yeah, I'm glad about that too. Seeing you attached to that wall was... something else.

[It scared the hell out of Zack, actually. It reminded him of too many days locked up in a lab and watching Cloud sleep. He shakes his shoulders to free himself of the thought.]

Tifa and the others were pretty worried about you. [And so was Zack.]

[ Hearing that also has Cloud standing up. He still is pouring the little baby shrimpies in the little cage he's created to keep them safe. It doesn't... Surprise him that Zack says that. In fact, Cloud can kind of imagine the sort of flashback that Zack might had. ]

Sorry. Didn't mean to make you relive some things.

[ Cloud means that, of course. It's... Not something he wants to relive either. ]

I didn't think they'd jump me like that. Maybe I should've.

No, it's not your fault.

[He shakes his head and then readjusted the basket they've got. The little shrimpies are swimming around happily and not eating glass in it so all's well so far.]

Those guys could have jumped anyone with what they had on them.

[Zack recalls magic inhibitors. And shock lances. Like what the hell.]

Just turns out I still don't like the idea of my best friend being held hostage against his will.

Maybe, but I should have anticipated it. Eustace and I caused a lot of damage...

[ But yeah. Once he had been in their grasp, it was done. Cloud couldn't use magic. Couldn't do anything once they had broken his collarbone and roughed him up. ]

If it were you I probably would've wrecked the place. So I get it.

[Zack nods.]

Well, I did my fair share of wrecking, that's for sure.

[Because Zack also broke out Miriam on the same trip. And he kind of did some lethal damage there.]

I was lucky to have Tifa with me to get you out.

I don't remember much of it. Whatever drug they were using, we need to find out what it was.

[ Because he doesn't like the idea of it floating around out there. ]

I don't think this is the best time to take pictures of me, Nims.

[ You know... Because he kind of genuinely looks like a wreck. Literally. True, he looks better now than what he had just a week or so ago, but the fact remains he's not feeling the pictures.

Yet Cloud is still out here. Still entertaining the shapeshifting girl's wants and needs. ]

This is the perfect time to take pictures of us, dad. We can just take them from the neck up if it'll make you feel better.

[ Her chaotic gremlin side thinks they could get some hilarious pictures while he's still a bit injured, but Nimona doesn't want him to hurt himself for them either. Mostly it just... feels important to have pictures of them together.

Nimona pulls out some sunglasses and silly masks. ]

I even got these for us.

The neck up? Don't you think that's a little too close to my face?

[ It'd be like invading his personal space. A close up that no one really wants.

Though he won't deny that having pictures... Wouldn't be - ]

No.

[ Not wearing anything silly! ]

Nah, I just gotta frame it right!

[ Only Nimona would be invading his space, and that already happens.

For a second it looks like he's about to agree... and then the masks come out and she laughs at his quick turnaround. ]

No masks! Just the sunglasses. We'll look cool.

[ "Frame it right?" Nimona, is that a picture joke? Or did she do that one without even really thinking about it?

He gives her a look. A suspicious look. ]

Only sunglasses...

[ It was not an intentional picture joke, but she will play it off as being one if pointed out.

She holds up two fingers - like it's a symbol of promise. ]

Only I will make silly faces and make you look cool next to me!

[ Nimona drags over a stool and places it next to Cloud, stepping up on it. Holding out the sunglasses to him. ]

[ Once more, Cloud doesn't think that he is getting out of this. It's not like he has a problem with his picture being taken, necessarily. More like... Hmmm.

Being made out to be silly?

He sighs. Nods. Takes the sunglasses. ]

All right...

[ Nope, no getting out of this! Nimona is starting a family photo album and he has to be in it! It wouldn't be complete if he wasn't.

She takes out a pair of larger sunglasses, then turns into a shark to put them on. ]

Ready? Give me your best smile!

I can still use magic.

[ Cloud's had it. It's too much at this point. He's been out of commission for too long. The investigation into the monastery? It doesn't mean that anyone is going to have to fight, right? Even then, Cloud doesn't need to use his sword ( but he still can! ) but he's an adept magic-user as well.

Karlach just so happened to catch him. He doesn't mean to be a hissy cat. But also... ]

( while karlach would like to be sensitive and overall gentle about cloud's general condition, she still cannot help but laugh as he stumbles. he almost feels weightless when his back lands against her gloved palm. )

Oh yeah? Are you as good as Zack at it?

( she asks, tone chipper. )

[ Cloud looks over his shoulder. Squints at Karlach. ]

I'm better at it than he is.

[ He has a better magic stat. ]

( that makes her laugh. )

I'd have to see that for myself. But let's just hope there's not a fight waiting for us ahead.

( it kind of sounds like there are just squatters out in the monastery, which karlach imagines to be easy enough to handle. )

Yeah? Well if something does turn into a fight, that's almost all I got right now.

[ Yeah, here's the thing though. Just because it seems quiet enough... Doesn't mean that it IS. ]

Will You All Come With Me?

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🔥⛪

oh no did an angel fall into her arms

imagine holding a cloud

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