[Cloud's quiet a moment, not entirely sure how to feel about that. There's a part of him that wants to say it's only because Sephiroth spent so much time messing with his head that he's just Sephiroth's favorite toy to play with, but he knows that's not fair. Or at least, it's not entirely fair.
Then Angeal's asking him the question he really didn't want anyone to ask him, which Angeal can probably tell by the way he looks vaguely like he suddenly doesn't want to be here and he averts his gaze.]
[So what was it about the Littlest SOLDIER? Was it truly as simple as Cloud was the first one to hand Sephiroth his teeth, gift-wrapped in Fuck You paper with a nice Die Now bow? It can't be, that'd be ridiculous.
And yet for someone who'd never been defeated on his own terms..
Angeal raises a hand though; this isn't alright but he also wouldn't exert too much pressure. It's not his relationship to figure out.]
He's my friend, even if he doesn't remember me. You're the protégé of my protégé, and maybe you could be a friend too; I am going to worry about it. I kind of have to. ...But I'm not here to try to push you into something you're not interested in. Sounds to me you've gotten a rough enough deal as it is.
[Angeal certainly seems to live up to his reputation for honor, Cloud'll give him that. He's not surprised to find that the man Zack looks up to so much is a kind one.
He just wishes he didn't have to find this out by discussing embarrassing personal shit.]
...how'd you hear about this, anyway? He say something?
[That sure is an evasion, and Angeal ... doesn't protest. This was not likely the sort of chat someone wanted from a near complete stranger. He can't help but be invested though, partly because he worries about his friend and partly ... well, now he worried about Cloud too.
There's a reason he doesn't look the twenty five he really is. Too much worrying.]
He spoke highly of you, in terms I don't really associate with casual interest.
[For Sephiroth, it was nearly an expression of undying devotion. And as much as he wants Sephiroth to have some precious relationship like that.. ... Saying the man could be overwhelming was a vast understatement.]
I know I'm a stranger to you, but I'd like to help. In either direction. If he's something you'd like, I might know a trick or two to really get his attention. If you don't ... then as his friend it's my duty to make sure he doesn't make a complete ass of himself while relearning what 'no' means.
[Cloud can't help wondering what exactly those terms were - did Angeal get the 'I want us to be together for eternity' speech? - but he's not going to ask.
His tone is wry when he responds:]
Think I have plenty of his attention already.
[A pause, as he comes to terms with the fact that he sort of implied leaning in the first direction. Well...he doesn't want Angeal to think Sephiroth is trying to force anything. He's very specifically not doing that, which Cloud really appreciates; in fact, he keep trying to chase Cloud off. It's Cloud who keeps insisting otherwise. So...he's gotta say something to Angeal along those lines.
But he's not ready to examine his feelings on Sephiroth right this minute. Because if he does, and he realizes those feelings are closer to what Sephiroth's expressed to him than not, he'll have to figure out how to justify that when Sephiroth has ruined and taken so many lives. How could he live with himself if he felt something like that for the guy who murdered Aerith? Second chances are one thing, but wouldn't his friends be horrified if it was more than that? How would he explain it to Aerith? To Vincent? To Zack, who was there when Sephiroth murdered everyone in Nibelheim?
...on the other hand, Angeal is none of those people. If Cloud's going to give an answer to anyone, pretty much the only safe options are Yunlan and Angeal.]
You're not a stranger. You're my mentor's mentor, remember?
[And the guy who first wielded the Buster Sword. The guy Zack spoke so highly of all the time.]
I...hm. Dunno exactly how I feel about it. But...not saying 'no.' Not like he's been pushy or anything, anyway. That's what I mean by, don't worry about it. Trust me, I know what it's like when Sephiroth's really intent on getting his way. This ain't it.
[He's seen Sephiroth being pushy too, though about very different things.
But it's not 'no'. It isn't 'I want him to stay away', and it also isn't 'yes I'm totally here for this', and Angeal remains quiet for a minute, puzzling things out. He'd been told what happens, more or less, in very broad terms. He knows Sephiroth's here for a reason. And maybe he never would have been if his only two friends hadn't abandoned him.
It isn't the deaths of family and friends and town that come to mind first when Angeal thinks of Sephiroth.]
But I also don't want you to think it's an obligation, given ... this ship, and our goals of improvement.
[Of redemption. Love could be a very powerful tool for that kind of thing, but Cloud's here to change his own life, that was as important as Sephiroth's.]
[Cloud blinks. Obligation?...oh. That's not too far off from what Yunlan was telling him a while back, is it? Except Yunlan was talking about keeping people safe from Sephiroth, not...this. He shakes his head.]
I don't. If I didn't want to spend time with him, I wouldn't, period. It's just...complicated.
[He pauses for a moment, thinking.]
He was already a different person from the guy who tried to kill everyone on the planet by the time I got here. Just...took me a little while to see it. Been trying to get to know him as he is now, that's all.
[And maybe making out with him a little, but there's no reason Angeal needs to know that.]
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[Cloud's quiet a moment, not entirely sure how to feel about that. There's a part of him that wants to say it's only because Sephiroth spent so much time messing with his head that he's just Sephiroth's favorite toy to play with, but he knows that's not fair. Or at least, it's not entirely fair.
Then Angeal's asking him the question he really didn't want anyone to ask him, which Angeal can probably tell by the way he looks vaguely like he suddenly doesn't want to be here and he averts his gaze.]
It's...fine. Don't worry about it.
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[So what was it about the Littlest SOLDIER? Was it truly as simple as Cloud was the first one to hand Sephiroth his teeth, gift-wrapped in Fuck You paper with a nice Die Now bow? It can't be, that'd be ridiculous.
And yet for someone who'd never been defeated on his own terms..
Angeal raises a hand though; this isn't alright but he also wouldn't exert too much pressure. It's not his relationship to figure out.]
He's my friend, even if he doesn't remember me. You're the protégé of my protégé, and maybe you could be a friend too; I am going to worry about it. I kind of have to. ...But I'm not here to try to push you into something you're not interested in. Sounds to me you've gotten a rough enough deal as it is.
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He just wishes he didn't have to find this out by discussing embarrassing personal shit.]
...how'd you hear about this, anyway? He say something?
[That sure is not an answer to the question.]
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There's a reason he doesn't look the twenty five he really is. Too much worrying.]
He spoke highly of you, in terms I don't really associate with casual interest.
[For Sephiroth, it was nearly an expression of undying devotion. And as much as he wants Sephiroth to have some precious relationship like that.. ... Saying the man could be overwhelming was a vast understatement.]
I know I'm a stranger to you, but I'd like to help. In either direction. If he's something you'd like, I might know a trick or two to really get his attention. If you don't ... then as his friend it's my duty to make sure he doesn't make a complete ass of himself while relearning what 'no' means.
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His tone is wry when he responds:]
Think I have plenty of his attention already.
[A pause, as he comes to terms with the fact that he sort of implied leaning in the first direction. Well...he doesn't want Angeal to think Sephiroth is trying to force anything. He's very specifically not doing that, which Cloud really appreciates; in fact, he keep trying to chase Cloud off. It's Cloud who keeps insisting otherwise. So...he's gotta say something to Angeal along those lines.
But he's not ready to examine his feelings on Sephiroth right this minute. Because if he does, and he realizes those feelings are closer to what Sephiroth's expressed to him than not, he'll have to figure out how to justify that when Sephiroth has ruined and taken so many lives. How could he live with himself if he felt something like that for the guy who murdered Aerith? Second chances are one thing, but wouldn't his friends be horrified if it was more than that? How would he explain it to Aerith? To Vincent? To Zack, who was there when Sephiroth murdered everyone in Nibelheim?
...on the other hand, Angeal is none of those people. If Cloud's going to give an answer to anyone, pretty much the only safe options are Yunlan and Angeal.]
You're not a stranger. You're my mentor's mentor, remember?
[And the guy who first wielded the Buster Sword. The guy Zack spoke so highly of all the time.]
I...hm. Dunno exactly how I feel about it. But...not saying 'no.' Not like he's been pushy or anything, anyway. That's what I mean by, don't worry about it. Trust me, I know what it's like when Sephiroth's really intent on getting his way. This ain't it.
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[He's seen Sephiroth being pushy too, though about very different things.
But it's not 'no'. It isn't 'I want him to stay away', and it also isn't 'yes I'm totally here for this', and Angeal remains quiet for a minute, puzzling things out. He'd been told what happens, more or less, in very broad terms. He knows Sephiroth's here for a reason. And maybe he never would have been if his only two friends hadn't abandoned him.
It isn't the deaths of family and friends and town that come to mind first when Angeal thinks of Sephiroth.]
But I also don't want you to think it's an obligation, given ... this ship, and our goals of improvement.
[Of redemption. Love could be a very powerful tool for that kind of thing, but Cloud's here to change his own life, that was as important as Sephiroth's.]
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I don't. If I didn't want to spend time with him, I wouldn't, period. It's just...complicated.
[He pauses for a moment, thinking.]
He was already a different person from the guy who tried to kill everyone on the planet by the time I got here. Just...took me a little while to see it. Been trying to get to know him as he is now, that's all.
[And maybe making out with him a little, but there's no reason Angeal needs to know that.]