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Gee, wonder why.
[It's from the damn Shinra building, Sephiroth shouldn't like it, either.
He finally does take his leave without any further commentary. The cat, the carving, the cabin...it all makes Cloud uneasy. He decides to stop thinking about it.
For now, anyway.]
[It's from the damn Shinra building, Sephiroth shouldn't like it, either.
He finally does take his leave without any further commentary. The cat, the carving, the cabin...it all makes Cloud uneasy. He decides to stop thinking about it.
For now, anyway.]
Well, let's start with defining goals.
You're worried about Sephiroth messing with other people because of you. Do you want him interacting with you at all, or do you want space?
You're worried about Sephiroth messing with other people because of you. Do you want him interacting with you at all, or do you want space?
It'll be good for me too, so don't worry about it. Besides, it's easier to stand up for someone else than it is to do it for yourself. Exercising that so it gets easier isn't a chore and neither are you.
[Like giving himself permission to say all the things he hadn't said for himself and should have when it was happening. It's not entirely selfless of him Cloud, don't feel too bad.]
[Like giving himself permission to say all the things he hadn't said for himself and should have when it was happening. It's not entirely selfless of him Cloud, don't feel too bad.]
[That sure is a question. It's tempting to say he wants space, that he just wants to be rid of having to deal with Sephiroth at all. But it's unrealistic in more ways than one. For one thing, he's loath to put Yunlan in the position of trying (and inevitably failing) to enforce that. For another, Cloud knows it's always just a matter of time before the reunion brings him face-to-face with Sephiroth again no matter how much he tries to avoid him. And for a third...
...well, he still has some thinking to do on the Sephiroth Problem. Hard to say whether he'll truly want that space when he gets to wherever that road might lead. He shakes his head.]
Interacting with me's fine.
...well, he still has some thinking to do on the Sephiroth Problem. Hard to say whether he'll truly want that space when he gets to wherever that road might lead. He shakes his head.]
Interacting with me's fine.
Okay.
I don't want to put you on the spot feeling like you have to manage him, so I want to say, if you get worried about how he interacts with anyone else, tag me in, all right?
But I also don't want to make you feel like you can't deal with him yourself if and only if you want to.
So, how about: I'll let you handle how he interacts with you and vice versa, but if there's something that's really bugging you, you can call me about that, too, and I can butt in.
I don't want to put you on the spot feeling like you have to manage him, so I want to say, if you get worried about how he interacts with anyone else, tag me in, all right?
But I also don't want to make you feel like you can't deal with him yourself if and only if you want to.
So, how about: I'll let you handle how he interacts with you and vice versa, but if there's something that's really bugging you, you can call me about that, too, and I can butt in.
Good. And also, Cloud?
Sorry about the many and diverse shitty things about this ship, but welcome back to the Barge.
Sorry about the many and diverse shitty things about this ship, but welcome back to the Barge.
[And neither are you. Been a while since Cloud hasn't felt like a burden to everyone around him. But if Abel says he wants to help, Cloud's not gonna stop him.]
Right. Sorry you had to go through whatever happened with your ex. You're a good guy, Abel.
Right. Sorry you had to go through whatever happened with your ex. You're a good guy, Abel.
[Abel tries not to frown at the comment. Not all of it had been bad, just...the fact that it hadn't been real. And how much of an asshole Cain had been. And the fact that he'd permanently scarred his face just so people wouldn't talk to him. Just, things.]
You just missed him actually, he and I traded places during the Flood. I'm glad you didn't get the chance to meet him, he's not good at polite conversation.
[The compliment makes him smile though, appreciating it.] Thank you, I try to be. It can be difficult sometimes, though.
You just missed him actually, he and I traded places during the Flood. I'm glad you didn't get the chance to meet him, he's not good at polite conversation.
[The compliment makes him smile though, appreciating it.] Thank you, I try to be. It can be difficult sometimes, though.
Neither am I. [Good at polite conversation, that is. Or most conversation, really. But Cloud says it in a tone that suggests if he did meet Cain, he wouldn't worry about being 'polite' to him in the least.
He shrugs slightly.]
Difficult maybe, but you're a warden. Seems to me like you do more than just 'try.'
He shrugs slightly.]
Difficult maybe, but you're a warden. Seems to me like you do more than just 'try.'
[He seemed to be doing just fine now.] I have my off days. Didn't act very warden-like when I first got here. In fact I would say my adjustment period was rather embarrassing with how much of an ass I was.
[It was still circling around to bite him in the ass, the importance of first impressions and his first three days on board.] But thank you. I'm still finding my footing. Takes a bit, but I think I might almost be there. It'd been two months so that's long enough to learn to keep my head above the water.
[It was still circling around to bite him in the ass, the importance of first impressions and his first three days on board.] But thank you. I'm still finding my footing. Takes a bit, but I think I might almost be there. It'd been two months so that's long enough to learn to keep my head above the water.
I'll tell you a secret, Cloud. [He smiles, just a little.] I might still be, but I learned to keep my mouth shut.
No one likes bitchy except you when you're talking to yourself and can say all the things you'd like to say outloud but really shouldnt.
No one likes bitchy except you when you're talking to yourself and can say all the things you'd like to say outloud but really shouldnt.
I suppose, though there is definitely enough tension on board to try and not start fights.
I'm used to talk just being talk, you get into a real fight back home, you get sent to the brig. It doesn't work like that here, but there is still usually some kind of punishment.
Best to avoid it If you don't care what they think, you shouldn't care enough about what they might say to get into a fight anyway.
I'm used to talk just being talk, you get into a real fight back home, you get sent to the brig. It doesn't work like that here, but there is still usually some kind of punishment.
Best to avoid it If you don't care what they think, you shouldn't care enough about what they might say to get into a fight anyway.
Fights for their own sake are one thing. Playing nice just to make people like me? Not my style.
[Not that Cloud's afraid of a fight, anyway. Or punishment, for that matter. If someone pisses him off enough or makes themselves a danger to others, he'll throw a punch regardless of whether he's 'supposed' to or not. But he doesn't go around picking them, either, so there's that at least.]
[Not that Cloud's afraid of a fight, anyway. Or punishment, for that matter. If someone pisses him off enough or makes themselves a danger to others, he'll throw a punch regardless of whether he's 'supposed' to or not. But he doesn't go around picking them, either, so there's that at least.]
To keep the peace rather. There are plenty of people who don't like me, I might try to fix it myself, but you don't have to.
[He shrugs, unsure if they're getting anywhere with this anyways.] Regardless, just something to keep in mind. It's incredibly easy to ruffle feathers on this boat, it feels rather small after a while and it's hard to avoid people you dislike without just hiding in your room. [He's been dancing around Jacob and it still feels awkward when they pass each other in the hall or can just see him seated across the room during meals.] You'll do what you'll do though I imagine. I just hope you're careful.
[He shrugs, unsure if they're getting anywhere with this anyways.] Regardless, just something to keep in mind. It's incredibly easy to ruffle feathers on this boat, it feels rather small after a while and it's hard to avoid people you dislike without just hiding in your room. [He's been dancing around Jacob and it still feels awkward when they pass each other in the hall or can just see him seated across the room during meals.] You'll do what you'll do though I imagine. I just hope you're careful.
[Allen still isn't quite sure what to do with temporary pairings in general, but he hasn't heard 'Cloud' on the list before. If the man (?) is new, then his responsibilities seem more straightforward.]
Hello, I'm Allen Walker.
I wondered if you'd like to meet?
Hello, I'm Allen Walker.
I wondered if you'd like to meet?
[Right. The guy he got temporarily paired with. Cloud barely knows what to expect from a permanent warden, let alone a temporary one. Sharing everything that's wrong with him with a stranger who is only responsible for him for a few weeks? No thanks. But at least he has someone to go to when he runs into limitations and barriers, that's something.]
Sure. Where'd you have in mind?
Sure. Where'd you have in mind?
I thought the library. There are rooms there you can talk in.
[He doesn't necessarily think it's likely that they'll talk about anything that needs real privacy, but there's no reason not use it since it's available.]
[He doesn't necessarily think it's likely that they'll talk about anything that needs real privacy, but there's no reason not use it since it's available.]
Works for me. I'm right down the hall, anyway. Be there in five.
[Cloud hangs up without any of the usually expected social niceties, but it's not you, Allen, he's just like this.
Sure enough, in five minutes he's in the library, idly examining a shelf of books with arms folded and leaning against a wall. 5'8", blond, dressed in black, and slightly glowing, vivid blue eyes with an unnaturally green corona around the pupils. He's not a man who fidgets - he's still as he waits.]
[Cloud hangs up without any of the usually expected social niceties, but it's not you, Allen, he's just like this.
Sure enough, in five minutes he's in the library, idly examining a shelf of books with arms folded and leaning against a wall. 5'8", blond, dressed in black, and slightly glowing, vivid blue eyes with an unnaturally green corona around the pupils. He's not a man who fidgets - he's still as he waits.]
[Allen is used to people with even fewer social niceties, so he isn't bothered that Cloud just hangs up. He could've hung up without agreeing to meet. Allen doesn't have to look around when he enters the library, as Timcanpy gives his shoulder a slight nudge.
Allen's also 5'8", though he has the look of a teenager who hasn't yet grown into his adult height. He has white hair and silver-grey eyes, but it's the scar that cuts across his eye and down the left side of his face that's particularly memorable. He's dressed in black too, though his uniform has red trims. He lifts his hand, smiling.]
Hello.
Allen's also 5'8", though he has the look of a teenager who hasn't yet grown into his adult height. He has white hair and silver-grey eyes, but it's the scar that cuts across his eye and down the left side of his face that's particularly memorable. He's dressed in black too, though his uniform has red trims. He lifts his hand, smiling.]
Hello.
[Cloud turns at the greeting and takes a moment to take in this...kid? He looks young, but so did Hanna and that was deceptive, so Cloud's not going to jump to any conclusions just yet. Strange scar, what looks like some kind of uniform. Interesting.
He gestures with his chin a little by way of a greeting response.]
Allen, I take it?
He gestures with his chin a little by way of a greeting response.]
Allen, I take it?
Yes, it's nice to meet you in person, Cloud [there's a faint hesitation there, not from the name but at the level of informality].
There's a room on the left? [The golem - proves not to just be a gold ball on Allen's shoulder, as Timcanpy spreads his wings to lead the way.]
There's a room on the left? [The golem - proves not to just be a gold ball on Allen's shoulder, as Timcanpy spreads his wings to lead the way.]
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