[Okay, so Cloud knows, he knows he shouldn't care. What difference does it make what Sephiroth thinks? Let him assume whatever he wants.
...that's when it occurs to Cloud that whatever he's assuming might come back to Abel in the worst way. Wouldn't be the first time Sephiroth went after other people just to torment him. And that means this is Cloud's responsibility to stop before it escalates.
He can't let it happen again. He can't.
So once again, Cloud crosses the hall to barge into Sephiroth's room unannounced if the door is unlocked, or pound on it if not.]
[Sephiroth is totally not sulking sitting on the couch with the 'cat' when Cloud barges in. Yes, still in the dark. But hey, the cat has red glowing eyes and glowing bits on the tail so it's like having a light.]
Cloud.
[He looks over, but that's all. No getting up to greet him. The cat on the other hand makes that happy 'merp' type sound having recognized who is barging in and immediately goes over to head butt Cloud on the leg while purring loudly.]
[Cloud's frown deepens. The Cloud that was here before...how did he handle Sephiroth being here? Is he the reason Sephiroth says he wants to make Cloud happy? Why?]
Surprised you gave enough of a shit to keep it.
[But this isn't why he's here. His already somewhat hard tone gets harder.]
You can spy on me all you want, I don't care, but leave other people out of it.
[As Sephiroth gets closer, Cloud's head lifts to hold his gaze in quiet defiance. It turns to startled alarm when Sephiroth summons his deadly blade. Why the hell would anyone want to give it back to him? And if he can still lift it that effortlessly, then...
But even so, Cloud will fight if he has to.
Sephiroth lifts the blade higher and Cloud falls immediately into a defensive stance, ready to evade - or try to evade, at least - an attack. What Sephiroth actually does gives Cloud some pause. Later, he'll look back on this and wonder why the hell Zack keeps his door unlocked. For right now, the confirmation that Zack does have the Buster Sword here on the ship grabs him by the heart and doesn't let go.]
...this is one of your sick mind games, isn't it. Well, I'm not falling for it.
It is not a game. As I said, it should end. Though this place --
[He gestures slightly around them.]
Generally makes that pointless, perhaps for you it'll be different. My words to you before we're not anything to deceive you. My strength and abilities have been returned for some time now if I wanted to injure you or your --
[What does he even refer to Abel as? He's trying not to think about that..]
Regardless of that, if I wanted to do something to cause you pain, I would have already done so. You know this.
[The same strange feeling of something being different about Sephiroth returns again. As much as he wants to stand his ground, he can't help feeling like Sephiroth isn't deceiving him this time. For once.
And then Sephiroth cuts himself off mid-sentence and Cloud arches a brow. What on earth was going to come after 'your' there?? And there it is again, Sephiroth insisting that he doesn't want to cause Cloud pain.
...this is the second time Cloud's found him sitting alone in the dark (albeit alone with a cat, in this case). In context, he was clearly talking about Abel, and he called Cloud just to interrogate him about why he was talking to the man earlier, in the gym, where he works.
You are important.
But perhaps I regret the pain you've endured as a result.
A sort of mind-boggling shock renders Cloud speechless for a moment.]
[He looks over at Cloud for a moment, but just a moment.]
No.
[Yes. So much so he wanted to bash Abel's face in, but didn't.]]
I am beyond human emotions.
[He hates it. He hates that he feels so much and it's harder to ignore and pretend he doesn't, especially when Cloud is involved. He's still good at acting like nothing's there but not enough so that Zack didn't figure it out.
And now Cloud --
But it doesn't matter anyway. Nothing does. He's also realized that as well]
What you do, and with who, is of no concern to me.
[At that Sephiroth stands, walking straight to where he stuck the blade into the floor and pulls it out. But instead of doing anything else, he walks away, not even looking at Cloud in the process.
He looks at the blade for a moment, briefly considering it's effectiveness against himself with it's restrictions. Not that death would really do anything here, he'd just come back and still be miserable. After a moment the blade simply vanishes into thin air.]
[What Cloud says is what gets Sephiroth to finally look over at him instead of staring off into the darkness. He won't comment on the whole sulking thing but ...]
His defensiveness says otherwise.
[Not that he thinks Cloud is lying here, but Abel was awfully defensive over Cloud to a point Sephiroth didn't like at all (but Sephiroth also has issues so)]
[But sure, Sephiroth's incapable of jealousy. Sure.
Cloud facepalms.]
Can't speak for him. But I get the feeling that's just the kind of guy he is. Protective. You busted his chops over doing his job, what'd you think he'd say?
[He's not going to comment on the rest. But seriously what was he supposed to do? Talk to Cloud about all of it like a normal person? He can't do that.]
[Is that a bad joke, or does Sephiroth really just have no sense of humor whatsoever? Wait, no, that can't be right - Cloud remembers. He remembers how subtly warm Sephiroth used to be, when they were in Nibelheim. How he'd say quietly deadpan things and then smile slightly after a moment, clearly a little pleased with himself when others got the joke.
Did Jenova and learning the truth about his origins really change him that much?...guess so.]
[Sometimes Sephiroth acts more like his old self, the one from before he learned the truth. The one who who actually cared about others. But most times it's easier to try and not care. To distance himself from everything that made him human before.
The moment he allowed himself closer to happiness here is the same moment he realized none of it is real anyway.]
Is there anything else, Cloud? What is keeping you here?
[Cloud will leave again like he did before. Sephiroth knows this, he just can't fully accept it.]
[What is keeping Cloud here? He's not really sure, himself. He thought he'd been operating under the assumption that talking to Sephiroth would accomplish nothing at all. But if that were the case, he wouldn't still be here. Maybe wouldn't have bothered coming over here in the first place.
He looks down at the cat, still demanding his attention. He crouches to pet it again, less awkwardly and more thoughtfully this time. A Sephiroth who didn't have any emotions wouldn't be keeping a pet. Pets are by nature a sentimental thing to have. Taking care of another creature, by definition.
After a moment, he stands back up and looks at Sephiroth again.]
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onlyembers
no subject
Date: 2024-06-25 04:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-25 05:00 am (UTC)-> action
Date: 2024-06-25 05:08 am (UTC)...that's when it occurs to Cloud that whatever he's assuming might come back to Abel in the worst way. Wouldn't be the first time Sephiroth went after other people just to torment him. And that means this is Cloud's responsibility to stop before it escalates.
He can't let it happen again. He can't.
So once again, Cloud crosses the hall to barge into Sephiroth's room unannounced if the door is unlocked, or pound on it if not.]
Sephiroth.
action
Date: 2024-06-25 05:13 am (UTC)totally not sulkingsitting on the couch with the 'cat' when Cloud barges in. Yes, still in the dark. But hey, the cat has red glowing eyes and glowing bits on the tail so it's like having a light.]Cloud.
[He looks over, but that's all. No getting up to greet him. The cat on the other hand makes that happy 'merp' type sound having recognized who is barging in and immediately goes over to head butt Cloud on the leg while purring loudly.]
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Date: 2024-06-25 05:38 am (UTC)[Cloud looks down at the...whatever that is. Cat? Cat-like thing? It's purring, so...cat, sure. He reaches down to pet it sort of awkwardly.]
...no idea how you ended up with a pet this friendly.
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Date: 2024-06-25 05:46 am (UTC)[He looks away for moment.]
The you that was here before liked it.
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Date: 2024-06-25 06:00 am (UTC)Surprised you gave enough of a shit to keep it.
[But this isn't why he's here. His already somewhat hard tone gets harder.]
You can spy on me all you want, I don't care, but leave other people out of it.
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Date: 2024-06-25 06:05 am (UTC)[He thought about it, but being intimidating and breaking the weight was enough. Mostly.
But anyway, Sephiroth waves off Cloud.]
I have no interest in him if that is what worries you.
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Date: 2024-06-25 06:21 am (UTC)[Never mind that he's unarmed and missing most of his strength. Doesn't matter.]
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Date: 2024-06-25 06:31 am (UTC)[He stands up and starts to move closer to Cloud. As he does the glow of light pierces the darkness and the masamune appears in his hand.]
If you fear this so much then end it.
[He raises his hand but plunges the blade into the floor in front of where Cloud stands. After that, he heads back to sit down again.]
If my blade is not fitting, Zack keeps his cabin unlocked with the weapon of his you once carried.
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Date: 2024-06-25 06:57 am (UTC)But even so, Cloud will fight if he has to.
Sephiroth lifts the blade higher and Cloud falls immediately into a defensive stance, ready to evade - or try to evade, at least - an attack. What Sephiroth actually does gives Cloud some pause. Later, he'll look back on this and wonder why the hell Zack keeps his door unlocked. For right now, the confirmation that Zack does have the Buster Sword here on the ship grabs him by the heart and doesn't let go.]
...this is one of your sick mind games, isn't it. Well, I'm not falling for it.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-25 07:09 am (UTC)[He gestures slightly around them.]
Generally makes that pointless, perhaps for you it'll be different. My words to you before we're not anything to deceive you. My strength and abilities have been returned for some time now if I wanted to injure you or your --
[What does he even refer to Abel as? He's trying not to think about that..]
Regardless of that, if I wanted to do something to cause you pain, I would have already done so. You know this.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 12:26 am (UTC)And then Sephiroth cuts himself off mid-sentence and Cloud arches a brow. What on earth was going to come after 'your' there?? And there it is again, Sephiroth insisting that he doesn't want to cause Cloud pain.
...this is the second time Cloud's found him sitting alone in the dark (albeit alone with a cat, in this case). In context, he was clearly talking about Abel, and he called Cloud just to interrogate him about why he was talking to the man earlier, in the gym, where he works.
You are important.
But perhaps I regret the pain you've endured as a result.
A sort of mind-boggling shock renders Cloud speechless for a moment.]
You...you're jealous??
no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 01:17 am (UTC)No.
[Yes. So much so he wanted to bash Abel's face in, but didn't.]]
I am beyond human emotions.
[He hates it. He hates that he feels so much and it's harder to ignore and pretend he doesn't, especially when Cloud is involved. He's still good at acting like nothing's there but not enough so that Zack didn't figure it out.
And now Cloud --
But it doesn't matter anyway. Nothing does. He's also realized that as well]
What you do, and with who, is of no concern to me.
[Which is totally why he interrogated them both.]
no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 01:37 am (UTC)Fine. Then I guess you won't care if I go ask Abel out on a date right now.
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Date: 2024-06-26 01:44 am (UTC)He looks at the blade for a moment, briefly considering it's effectiveness against himself with it's restrictions. Not that death would really do anything here, he'd just come back and still be miserable. After a moment the blade simply vanishes into thin air.]
Do as you wish.
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Date: 2024-06-26 01:55 am (UTC)You do know 'sulking' is something only people with human emotions do, right?
[He shakes his head in disbelief.]
You seriously think I'd actually do that? A guy I literally met today? He works at the gym. He was giving me weight lifting advice.
[And asking if Sephiroth was his boyfriend, but that's neither here nor there.
Also, Cloud's never asked anyone out in his life, but that's not here, there, or anywhere.]
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Date: 2024-06-26 02:08 am (UTC)His defensiveness says otherwise.
[Not that he thinks Cloud is lying here, but Abel was awfully defensive over Cloud to a point Sephiroth didn't like at all (but Sephiroth also has issues so)]
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Date: 2024-06-26 02:20 am (UTC)Cloud facepalms.]
Can't speak for him. But I get the feeling that's just the kind of guy he is. Protective. You busted his chops over doing his job, what'd you think he'd say?
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Date: 2024-06-26 02:25 am (UTC)[So you see Cloud, it's hard not to assume Abel doesn't want in your pants.]
no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 02:46 am (UTC)[This is so surreal.]
Course he refused to answer. That shit's outta line.
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Date: 2024-06-26 02:52 am (UTC)[He's not going to comment on the rest. But seriously what was he supposed to do? Talk to Cloud about all of it like a normal person? He can't do that.]
no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 03:11 am (UTC)Did Jenova and learning the truth about his origins really change him that much?...guess so.]
No shit.
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Date: 2024-06-26 03:31 am (UTC)The moment he allowed himself closer to happiness here is the same moment he realized none of it is real anyway.]
Is there anything else, Cloud? What is keeping you here?
[Cloud will leave again like he did before. Sephiroth knows this, he just can't fully accept it.]
no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 03:42 am (UTC)He looks down at the cat, still demanding his attention. He crouches to pet it again, less awkwardly and more thoughtfully this time. A Sephiroth who didn't have any emotions wouldn't be keeping a pet. Pets are by nature a sentimental thing to have. Taking care of another creature, by definition.
After a moment, he stands back up and looks at Sephiroth again.]
Why do you always have the lights off in here?
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