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!
➞ Invite your friends! Try out new characters! Come play with us!
➞ Have fun!

NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN YOUR TEST-DRIVE JOURNEY?
CHECK OUT ALL THE LOCATIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN:

JOHTO | KANTO | SEVII ISLANDS

Feel free to make various prompts in multiple locations!

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OTHER USEFUL LINKS:
NAVIGATION | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS

Comments

[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.]