Test Drive Meme - January & February edition

[indigo_league]

➞ Post with a character you wish to test drive in this game's setting.
➞ Tag other people's starters and thread out shenanigans!
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Comments

[nimbuster]

[A moment later, Cloud walks in from the kitchen carrying two mugs of hot cocoa and hands one of them to Sephiroth. He turns to Zack and beams, proud of himself and too focused on trying to make Sephiroth feel at home to notice what Zack brought with him.]

Hey, Zack! I found the general in Cherrygrove. Or, uh, he found me, I guess. He's got a Ditto, so it just copied Hardy and we rode back here. He said he wanted to talk to you in person. He just arrived not long ago--right, sir?

[sefirot]

[Being given a mug of hot cocoa by Cloud is not something Sephiroth ever expected to be doing. But neither is ... anything that's happened so far. Even after the trip here he's still trying to wrap his head around it all.]

That's exactly right, Cloud. Good job.

[But at least dealing with Cloud is easy. Almost too easy. Zack on the other hand --]

When I heard you were here as well, I just couldn't stay away. After all, we have so much to discuss. Isn't that right, Zack?

[The small twitch at the edge at the corner of his lips probably tells Zack everything he needs to know. It's almost a dare for him to say something -- to crush poor Cloud's dreams right here. Sephiroth hasn't done that yet, so he's wondering if Zack will. Either way is fine, but he can't say he doesn't enjoy having Cloud willingly go along with anything he says.]

[1stclasspuppy]

[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?

[nimbuster]

[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.]

[sefirot]

[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. ]

[1stclasspuppy]

[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.

[nimbuster]

[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?

[sefirot]

[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.]

[1stclasspuppy]

[Sephiroth is right. He is afraid, he's terrified. So much of this world that he once thought might be a happy ending for him has been anything but. He's lost friends, he's been reminded of home in the worst way and now here is Sephiroth, the man he once thought was his friend back in the flesh and trying to turn Cloud against him. Zack freezes up for a moment, unsure of what to do. It's as if all his confidence leaves him in that moment.]

Cloud I...

[What can he even say to that? He doesn't know if Cloud succeeded in anything, he doesn't know if Cloud got away to safety. The last he remembers was Angeal's outstretched hand and as he reached for it he was pulled here into this new world and suddenly had a creepy pokemon that could talk to him and no one else could hear it.]

You did succeed where I failed but then....Hojo and ShinRa...Cloud, I didn't want to tell you everything. I didn't want to see that pain on your face again. You're innocent of everything. I was selfish, I wanted to keep you that way. I wanted to just have some time with you without the heartache and pain. I wanted to keep your smile in my heart.

[A pause as he looks from Cloud to Sephiroth, pulling Cloud closer to himself.]

I'll tell you everything I remember, even if it hurts you if that's what you need. I should have done this sooner, maybe then he wouldn't be standing in our place.

[nimbuster]

[Fear? Cloud didn't think Zack feared anything, least of all truth - Zack couldn't lie if he tried. Or at least, that's what Cloud's always thought.

But then Sephiroth is telling him something else. Something that seems, on the surface, to contradict what Zack said - but it doesn't quite. The closest that exists to Sephiroth? That sounds crazy. And...

You succeed where Zack fails. The world sees you as a hero.

Cloud stares at the general. How could he succeed at something Zack failed to do? Zack is everything Cloud isn't - confident, friendly, optimistic, strong, skilled, likeable... What could he have possibly failed at that Cloud managed instead?

He turns when Zack starts to respond, and his heart sinks to see the expression on Zack's face. His brow furrows as he listens. Heartache and pain. It occurs to Cloud then that he's been so busy trying to prove that he's worth Zack's time that he's never told him anything much about his life. His history. Why he doesn't have any other friends.

Zack tries to pull him closer, but Cloud takes a step away from his hand - not away from him, but he refuses to be treated like a child when something this serious is going on. He strangely seems more confident and calm right now than Zack does.]

Zack, hold up. You do remember I'm in the army, right? I'm not 'innocent.' And yeah, it sounds like whatever it is that happens in the future is awful, but it's not like my life's been all sunshine and roses, either. I'm not some delicate kid you have to protect all the time.

[Cloud turns to Sephiroth.]

General, would you mind giving us some time to talk alone? I can give you a call later, if you want.

[sefirot]

[This is where it ends. He thinks to himself. Well, where this game ends anyway. He gives Cloud the smallest hint of a smile when he turns to him. So little Cloud knows, so much he needs to learn. He'll let them talk for now. Either way he's sure it'll end up the same.

Cloud will eventually come back to him. He can't help himself. Zack too will follow. Sephiroth is pretty sure of that. But he's also pretty sure he's going to win each time too and we all know what happens there.

He offers a mild gesture towards the two of them, before turning slightly towards the door.]

Of course. But I hope you still hold onto what I told you before.

[When they were stuck together. Which is still a weird thing that happened. Too weird.

He'll head out to leave the two of them alone, but he stops right before the door.]

Oh, and Cloud --

[He looks directly at him.]

Don't keep me waiting.

[And with that he gives Zack one last look before going to leave.]