ohmyarceus | Test Drive Meme - January & February edition

Aerith. She's an ancient. A flower girl of sorts.

This creature can turn into that?

[He says after picking up the ditto he's failed to ditch on the side of the road and holding it out in Cloud's direction. Maybe this shapeless thing is useful for something after all.

The ditto on the other hand would really like to show off what it can do, but that's a very hard task when being held.]

Aerith....

[The name sounds familiar from talking to Zack, but until Radley is sure what's going on, he doesn't want to reveal too much. This is just weird.]

So what would she get out of doing this?

[And what even is "this"?]

"No kidding."

Geddoe still finds the place pretty strange, himself. On several levels. He just does his best to learn how to live with it anyway.

"You shoulda got some creature like Zipper when you arrived. Probably not the same kind, but something. People here like to have 'em battle each other, though they're usually... 'friendly' matches, or something."

Pokemon 101 from the guy who doesn't like talking much. Really, he's probably just trying to head off any of the typical questions so he doesn't wind up stuck having to answer them all one by one.

Sure - Ditto can transform into anything. Not a very convincing fake, because…well, you’ll see. But it copies abilities and everything, too.

[Cloud can’t help quietly snickering when Sephiroth just kinda…holds the Ditto out like an offering or something.]

Uh…you can put it down and just tell it what to do, sir.

Edited 2023-01-30 17:00 (UTC)

[This is wrong, so very wrong. Cloud, his dearest friend and boyfriend is standing next to the man who took everything away from him and being nice to him. It's like a nightmare come to life. If it wasn't for the pokeballs on his belt that he can feel he might actually think this was some twisted joke.

There is that smile too, that sly wicked grin on the face of someone he once called his best friend. That look is enough to have the hair on his arm stand up and his heart drop. Sephiroth used to smile, he used to have a rare brilliant smile that Zack had been privileged to be on the receiving end a handful of times. This was not that smile he once loved and care about.]

So much...General.

[Zack isn't as trained as Sephiroth is in hiding emotions or whatever it is he's trying to pull here. There is no hiding the pure, unbridled anger on his face as he speaks those three words. It's like he's back in Nibelheim. He can recall the flames, the heat, the pain of it all like it was merely just yesterday and not years ago. His fists clenched at his side, unmoving from his spot still in the entrance of their apartment.

Everything is telling him to just run at him and use his size and speed to knock Sephiroth out and steal Cloud away but he doesn't. Cloud's innocent here, he doesn't know what happened. He still believes Sephiroth to be a good man, a kind man. He was once, but that kind soul died and whatever is sitting on his couch right now is not the Sephiroth they both adored.]

Cloud....can I see you in the bedroom?

[Cloud was going to ask Zack if he wanted some hot cocoa too, but instead he finds himself glancing back and forth between the other two warily. Something...isn't right, here. Why is Zack so angry? And he doesn't think he's ever heard Zack call Sephiroth by his rank...not since he became a First, at least.]

Uh...

[One more questioning glance to Sephiroth, before he nods and puts his own mug down on the table.]

Y-yeah, sure.

[He moves toward the bedroom, trying not to look as nervous as he feels.]

[Don't mind this man with a bidoof hat on just walking around with his bidoof in his hands and watching the mini photoshoot.]

Heya, if you don't mind I can help you take a better photo if you want to pose or something. Me and brodoof are pros at the selfie game!

[Oh no Zack doesn't. He's not going to take this away from him. Sephiroth stands the moment Cloud heads towards the bedroom. Mostly moving to stand between Cloud and Zack. But it's in a casual way that seems rather ... nonthreatening.]

Not to worry, Cloud.

[He says while turning to face him.]

I imagine he simply fears what I might tell you of the future. Because he hasn't told you, has he? Everything that is to come.

[A slight glance given back towards Zack.]

You always dreamt of joining the ranks of SOLDIER, didn't you? Of being a hero? That's what you've always wanted.

[Go on Zack. Take him in the room and crush all his dreams. Sephiroth will even move out of the way to let him if he wants, stand off to the side in almost a taunting gesture. ]

You could say we are at opposite sides to one another. Our disagreements in views would cause her to conjure something like this.

[That's what he believes anyway.]

Where is she?

"This was all I found upon waking."

He reaches somewhere off screen and pulls a ditto into view. A shapeless blob with a face. Sephiroth considers it either to be mostly useless or a spy. Either one he doesn't particularly like.

"But do people use creatures to battle and not their own skill?"

I see.

[He allows the ditto to jump down, which is better than him just dropping it. So this thing has a mimic type ability? That's something he knows about quite well, and makes sense if this is something created by the lifestream to follow him.]

Transform into that.

[He gestures towards the one Cloud is riding on. After ditto does it's best to transform, Sephiroth sees exactly what he meant about it not being very convincing. Because that face. What is that face.]

... Okay.

[Well, that sounds ominous. He's less and less sure he wants to trust this guy.]

I haven't actually seen anyone named Aerith here, so I'm not sure where she'd be at. If you tell me what she looks like, I can keep an eye out for her.

[Cloud tells himself he probably shouldn't be laughing, but he can't help it. A light chuckle escapes him at the look on Sephiroth's face when he sees the Ditto's face, and even Hardy snorts in amusement.]

They suck at faces, but don't worry - it doesn't affect what they can do. You should be able to ride it with no problem.

"Yeah, that's one of them."

At least Geddoe's seen a wild Ditto or two before, enough to recognize it. The question earns a shrug, though.

"Something like that. Mostly they do it for fun, and good luck finding anything like a real weapon here anyway."

[He must be having a nightmare, that's the only way this can be making sense right now. His whole world seems to be falling apart at the seams. He had just started to get comfortable with Cloud, to really think they could have a good life here and now this.]

Sephiroth stop!

[His skin crawls as he looks into those catlike eyes. He heads over to Sephiroth with determination and grabs him at his jacket to pull him closer. Sephiroth is still so much taller than him but they are more equal now, Sephiroth doesn't have his powers here and Zack's been training.]

I don't know what your game is here but your issue is with me, not Cloud. He's as much a SOLDIER as I ever was and nothing you say could change that.

[His own slightly dulled mako blue eyes glare at Sephiroth's before he lets him go and turns over to look at Cloud. That look of confusion on his face pulls at Zack's heart. How does he tell him without hurting him? He wanted to tell him, has been writing different ways to tell him but nothing seemed right. Now he was forced.]

You're smart Cloud, I know you know that I'm...not the Zack you remember exactly. I'm older and things have happened that haven't happened to you yet. For me....yeah you don't get into SOLDIER but that's not a bad thing! The SOLDIER you dreamed of...the one you wanted is long gone. You don't want to be a part of it. You have more Honor and dreams then most of the ones left anyway. To me you're better then any First Class.

[Cloud looks up at Sephiroth when he moves with slightly widened eyes. So what he suspected is true - Zack really is from the future. And Sephiroth is right; whenever Cloud's tried to bring it up with Zack, he finds ways to avoid talking about it in any detail.

His jaw drops a little when Sephiroth talks about his dreams. How does the general know that? Why would he bring it up now unless...? Unless that is his future. But why would Zack hide that from him?

A quiet gasp escapes him as Zack grabs Sephiroth and his protective instincts kick in - he takes a few hurried steps toward them, hand half-outstretched, and he's not sure which of them he'd even be trying to protect if they did fight. But it doesn't quite come to that, and Cloud's brow furrows as Zack shouts at Sephiroth. What is he talking about? Why would Sephiroth have an issue with either of them?

And then Zack tells him straight up that he doesn't make SOLDIER, and Cloud barely hears the rest. He knew it. He knew he'd never have what it took. He almost let Zack convince him he had a chance, but he should have known better.

But even though his heart feels like it's in the gutter, there's more going on here, and he frowns.]

...Zack, none of that explains why you're so pissed off at Sephiroth. What's going on?

[ That hat is amazing. What Pokemon is that? She must know. She wants ten of them. ]

Oh, yeah? I'd appreciate, dude! Sometimes you just can't get those right angles on your own... And I'm gonna' have to save up to get a selfie stick again.

Aw, dude. That's sweet of you. I mean, I'm sorry if it was difficult at times but...

I'm really glad they were looked after. I assume Momi was spoiled rotten as usual, too?

[He's totally ominous. Don't trust him at all.]

You would know if you met her. She has a ... presence. But -- brown hair, green eyes. Pink dress. That is her appearance the last I saw of her.

[Alive]

I see. At least it'll serve a purpose for now.

[If it weren't for the fact that riding chocobos are a thing in their world, getting on this creature might be extra odd. For now it just looks funny because of how tall Sephiroth is.]

As I am unfamiliar with this place, I'll leave it you to direct our travels.

"Fun." He almost huffs the word like it's something foreign.

He does enjoy fighting and finds it thrilling but fun? Hardly in his vocabulary. He especially can't see it via using strange animals.

"The only weapon I require is the masamune. I do not need an animal or anything else." That is his sword and he wants it back. Somehow. It not being here is unacceptable (he'll eventually have to accept it.)

Yeah, I haven't seen anyone like that.

So ... what are you going to do? Spend a lot of time looking for her?

[Zack is so worried about what Sephiroth might tell him. His aggression, the way he grabs Sephiroth's jacket to pull him closer. It all says so much. Sephiroth doesn't seem offended by Zack's anger, nor does he do anything to get away. The look he gives instead is one that says he's still in control.

Zack's hurried explanation. Cloud's confusion. It's all too good. Yet he'd still like to continue the illusion a bit longer. Even if this is some sort of lifestream creation, it includes bait he can't really resist.

His eyes dart towards Cloud.]

He fears the truth, and you finding out about it. But not as much as he fears fate.

[On that last part his eyes flicker back to Zack, but only for a moment.]

You gain the power you've always dreamed of, Cloud. Your strength is greater than most in SOLDIER. You are the closest that exists to me. In fact, you succeed where Zack fails.

[Well. There is one thing he failed at stopping but Sephiroth isn't going to bring that up yet.]

In the end the world sees you as a hero.

[None of what he's saying is really a lie. It's parts of the truth. Important ones, the ones Cloud wants to hear. The ones Zack will have a hard time shutting down. But he excluded the bad parts -- the suffering, the pain. Those can come later after he has Cloud firmer in his grasp. At least that's the plan. Somewhere along the way after finding Cloud and now Zack he became distracted from his original goal of leaving. Obsession does that to a person.]

That just earns a slight shrug from Geddoe.

"The Pokemon's what you've got. They don't do weapons in this world apparently."

In other words, deal with it. Or not. But Geddoe has no interest in trying to soothe a stranger's feelings should he make a whole thing out of it.

Test Drive Meme - January & February edition

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Azalea town ( Hey!!)

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well hey there!!

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