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I'm talking to him and Abel about it already.
The negative lifestream is filled with those who died in despair. So much that their negative emotions makes it so they don't join with the lifestream proper, instead their essence joins the other. Geostigma expedited this process. Had it not been stopped, it would have turned the entire lifestream black.
[Though Cloud hadn't yet asked, now he gets to know that even Geostigma gets solved in the end. Sephiroth figures it's something he'd ultimately want to know.
His eyes stay on Cloud as he edges closer to the carving. Oh. Right. That.]
I believe it is the emblem you wear.
[There you go, Cloud. That's something of a joke.]
[Though Cloud hadn't yet asked, now he gets to know that even Geostigma gets solved in the end. Sephiroth figures it's something he'd ultimately want to know.
His eyes stay on Cloud as he edges closer to the carving. Oh. Right. That.]
I believe it is the emblem you wear.
[There you go, Cloud. That's something of a joke.]
[Cloud exhales quietly in frustration, closing his eyes for a moment.]
I figured. I just...it's my fault. I have to help.
[If he doesn't, then he's just dumping things on other people to deal with again. Or maybe it's just that he literally can't just...do nothing. The thought of it makes him feel antsy. Even when he left Seventh Heaven, he had a task. A job. He was going to find a cure for Denzel. He was going to help people. Pull his weight. He failed, but...it kept him going.]
I figured. I just...it's my fault. I have to help.
[If he doesn't, then he's just dumping things on other people to deal with again. Or maybe it's just that he literally can't just...do nothing. The thought of it makes him feel antsy. Even when he left Seventh Heaven, he had a task. A job. He was going to find a cure for Denzel. He was going to help people. Pull his weight. He failed, but...it kept him going.]
Sephiroth freaking out Abel by being himself is not your fault, Cloud.
But, quick check: what are you planning to do?
But, quick check: what are you planning to do?
What?
[Since when has that been a thing? Cloud would have thought at least that Nanaki or Bugenhagen would have known about this, but he's never heard of it before. Maybe it was a new development. Maybe--]
You created it, didn't you. The black lifestream. That was your doing.
[A pause.]
What do you mean, geostigma was stopped?
[Sephiroth's answer to his other question earns him the flattest, most unimpressed look Cloud can muster.]
Yeah. Thanks. I noticed. Why is it here?
[Since when has that been a thing? Cloud would have thought at least that Nanaki or Bugenhagen would have known about this, but he's never heard of it before. Maybe it was a new development. Maybe--]
You created it, didn't you. The black lifestream. That was your doing.
[A pause.]
What do you mean, geostigma was stopped?
[Sephiroth's answer to his other question earns him the flattest, most unimpressed look Cloud can muster.]
Yeah. Thanks. I noticed. Why is it here?
Jenova being in the lifestream created it. I helped it spread. The waters in the church --
[Cloud knows what Church]
Being connected to the lifestream itself, the power there made it go dormant.
[That was her doing. He knew she was trying to foil his plans from within the lifestream from the start.]
As for that ...
[He moves closer to where Cloud is standing, though not directly beside him, more like behind still a bit of a distance away.]
Consider it a reminder from when you left the first time.
[Cloud knows what Church]
Being connected to the lifestream itself, the power there made it go dormant.
[That was her doing. He knew she was trying to foil his plans from within the lifestream from the start.]
As for that ...
[He moves closer to where Cloud is standing, though not directly beside him, more like behind still a bit of a distance away.]
Consider it a reminder from when you left the first time.
Okay. [If his plan sounds too silly to himself to say out loud, then it probably was one he shouldn't try out.]
I'm not saying this to discourage you from doing anything. I just want to workshop it first. Collaborate. Right?
I'm not saying this to discourage you from doing anything. I just want to workshop it first. Collaborate. Right?
Close enough.
[He snaps the words, but then he falls silent. The church. Aerith...cured it from the Lifestream, somehow. Or will cure it. And...according to Sephiroth, Cloud does live to see it. The sudden burst of hope that erupts in his heart takes him by surprise. But he has to get out of here first. Has to earn it. He looks down at his palm, and then his hand clenches into a fist briefly before he drops it back to his side. He's going to earn it. Somehow.
Cloud doesn't glance over his shoulder, but he hears Sephiroth getting closer. He expects...well, honestly, he has no idea what to expect from the answer. So when it comes, he's weirdly less surprised than he could have been. Everything he's been learning so far seems to be adding up to a conclusion he doesn't really want to face head-on.]
...whatever. I'm outta here.
[For now, anyway. Something else he doesn't want to face head-on. He turns and starts walking back toward the door.]
[He snaps the words, but then he falls silent. The church. Aerith...cured it from the Lifestream, somehow. Or will cure it. And...according to Sephiroth, Cloud does live to see it. The sudden burst of hope that erupts in his heart takes him by surprise. But he has to get out of here first. Has to earn it. He looks down at his palm, and then his hand clenches into a fist briefly before he drops it back to his side. He's going to earn it. Somehow.
Cloud doesn't glance over his shoulder, but he hears Sephiroth getting closer. He expects...well, honestly, he has no idea what to expect from the answer. So when it comes, he's weirdly less surprised than he could have been. Everything he's been learning so far seems to be adding up to a conclusion he doesn't really want to face head-on.]
...whatever. I'm outta here.
[For now, anyway. Something else he doesn't want to face head-on. He turns and starts walking back toward the door.]
[Cloud pauses, but only for a second. He can't let whatever's going on with Sephiroth muddle his mind again. Can't let him in. Can't hesitate. Not with Sephiroth.
...apparently Sephiroth's cat is a different story, though, because it sits directly between Cloud and the door, looking like it's trying to look adorable. Cloud does stop just in front of it with a hand on his hip and looks down, perplexed.]
What? Don't got any food for you or anything. Come on, scram.
...apparently Sephiroth's cat is a different story, though, because it sits directly between Cloud and the door, looking like it's trying to look adorable. Cloud does stop just in front of it with a hand on his hip and looks down, perplexed.]
What? Don't got any food for you or anything. Come on, scram.
[The cat, having learned from before, is going to use it's most pitiful sounding meow in response to Cloud saying to scram. Just sitting there trying to look adorable and sounding sad all at the same time.
And speaking of sad and adorable, Sephiroth is going to walk up by now.]
You can take it if you want. The cat.
[He gestures towards it.]
And speaking of sad and adorable, Sephiroth is going to walk up by now.]
You can take it if you want. The cat.
[He gestures towards it.]
[Oh, come on, that's not even fair. Cloud gives the cat a Look, but he's still acting like it's some kind of barrier, as if he couldn't just...step over it.
Then it's Sephiroth who's getting a Look, but this one is more suspicious than anything.]
What? Why would I take your cat? Or...whatever this thing is.
Then it's Sephiroth who's getting a Look, but this one is more suspicious than anything.]
What? Why would I take your cat? Or...whatever this thing is.
You mean you never gave it one.
[A name pops into Cloud's head, but he's not about to offer to name Sephiroth's cat. That'd be just as bad as actually taking it with him.
The thought has him looking down at the animal again.]
You gonna get out of my way, or what?
[A name pops into Cloud's head, but he's not about to offer to name Sephiroth's cat. That'd be just as bad as actually taking it with him.
The thought has him looking down at the animal again.]
You gonna get out of my way, or what?
Then perhaps you should do so.
[He says as though he read Cloud's mind. He didn't. He can't at the moment. It's just the next logical thought since Cloud asked if it had a name, it doesn't, so he can give it one.
The cat, being a cat, proceeds to do the cat thing of not getting up or moving but laying down, still completely in the way.]
[He says as though he read Cloud's mind. He didn't. He can't at the moment. It's just the next logical thought since Cloud asked if it had a name, it doesn't, so he can give it one.
The cat, being a cat, proceeds to do the cat thing of not getting up or moving but laying down, still completely in the way.]
[Cloud's tone is stern and a little irritated when he says,]
Not naming your cat.
[And then there it goes, making itself comfortable. Cloud sighs and finally does just step around it, moving once again toward the door. Then, without turning around,]
Your place sucks.
Not naming your cat.
[And then there it goes, making itself comfortable. Cloud sighs and finally does just step around it, moving once again toward the door. Then, without turning around,]
Your place sucks.
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