[Shit. Cloud just got here and it's already rapidly going downhill with Sephiroth. Not that that's anything new, but he's not going to let anyone else get hurt at Sephiroth's hands.]
It wasn't anything I can't handle. I told him to mind his own business and to leave, which he did.
[He's just going to leave out the part where he broke a weight in front of his face with his bare hand.]
He has no right to know what you do or who you talk to, or why. [His tone might be a little harder than intended, but it's not something he can stomach well. And since Cloud didn't answer the first time, he'll repeat himself.] Now, are you okay?
I'm fine. You're the one I'm worried about. He...doesn't take no for an answer. He's gonna know everything eventually anyway, it's not worth you getting hurt over.
[There's a bit of urgency in his tone that may not be quite warranted given that Abel said nothing really happened.]
[Abel is still a novice here, but watching Shaw speak to Cain when he'd been here in his place was giving him all kinds of examples of what he should be.]
I will be fine. I didn't take this position because it was safe, I did it because it was worth it, and your safety is also worth it. [Not that he doesn't think what he'd just done was stupid, but in his mind it was necessary.] Just because he will doesn't mean it isn't worth protecting. No matter if it's tomorrow or six months from now, the only time he should ever get to know why you do anything is because you let him know yourself.
[His own name had been just gifted to someone he'd intended on telling it to eventually far sooner than he wanted because of Cain, even the little things that he shared weren't his to know or tell. Cloud deserved better than he got.]
[Cloud's quiet for a moment. He could explain - tell Abel that Sephiroth knows everything about him for much more insidious reasons than a little stalking, and Cloud doesn't think he's strong enough anymore to force him out if he decides to invade his mind again. Tell him that no amount of trying to keep information from Sephiroth will help if he really wants to know. But he's not going to.]
...mm. Guess I'm not used to being in a position to need protection.
[Another pause.]
But...thanks. You feel pretty strongly about this, huh?
I'm sure you're also capable of protecting yourself, but you shouldn't have to. [Like he'd said before, Cloud's priority and responsibility should be himself.
The question gets a sigh out of him, gently biting at the scar on his lip out of habit before speaking up.] I just...Don't want to stand idly by and watch the same thing happen to someone else. I won't speak for you, but i'll definitely speak up if you need me to.
[Because no one had been there to speak up for him when he'd needed it, it's the least he can offer for Cloud.]
[Cloud frowns. Yes, he should be protecting himself, and others besides. He hates feeling helpless. Hates it maybe more than anything. But anything he says here is likely to get him another stern talking-to, so he doesn't reply to that.
Watch the same thing happen...right. Abel said his ex acted like he owned him. It's certainly a sentiment Cloud understands. He just doesn't like being on this side of it.]
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.]
[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.
[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.
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 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.
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.
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.]
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.
[Oh, he'll always worry about you Cloud, you're a friend already, and he's perhaps a little attached already seeing as their situations seemed rather similar. Not exactly, but it definitely was a kind of mirror, just one of those strange ones that stretched and warped you until most things were tweaked in ways you didn't expect.]
I'll try not to, just take good care of yourself and then I'll have no reason to. Though on that note, I should let you go. Let me know if you need anything, alright? I'm usually available and I don't mind a call.
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onlyembers
[audio]
Date: 2024-06-25 05:31 am (UTC)Don't apologize. What happened?
Re: [audio]
Date: 2024-06-25 05:41 am (UTC)[He's just going to leave out the part where he broke a weight in front of his face with his bare hand.]
He has no right to know what you do or who you talk to, or why. [His tone might be a little harder than intended, but it's not something he can stomach well. And since Cloud didn't answer the first time, he'll repeat himself.] Now, are you okay?
no subject
Date: 2024-06-25 05:52 am (UTC)I'm fine. You're the one I'm worried about. He...doesn't take no for an answer. He's gonna know everything eventually anyway, it's not worth you getting hurt over.
[There's a bit of urgency in his tone that may not be quite warranted given that Abel said nothing really happened.]
no subject
Date: 2024-06-25 06:02 am (UTC)I will be fine. I didn't take this position because it was safe, I did it because it was worth it, and your safety is also worth it. [Not that he doesn't think what he'd just done was stupid, but in his mind it was necessary.] Just because he will doesn't mean it isn't worth protecting. No matter if it's tomorrow or six months from now, the only time he should ever get to know why you do anything is because you let him know yourself.
[His own name had been just gifted to someone he'd intended on telling it to eventually far sooner than he wanted because of Cain, even the little things that he shared weren't his to know or tell. Cloud deserved better than he got.]
no subject
Date: 2024-06-25 06:36 am (UTC)...mm. Guess I'm not used to being in a position to need protection.
[Another pause.]
But...thanks. You feel pretty strongly about this, huh?
no subject
Date: 2024-06-25 06:50 am (UTC)The question gets a sigh out of him, gently biting at the scar on his lip out of habit before speaking up.] I just...Don't want to stand idly by and watch the same thing happen to someone else. I won't speak for you, but i'll definitely speak up if you need me to.
[Because no one had been there to speak up for him when he'd needed it, it's the least he can offer for Cloud.]
no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 02:13 am (UTC)Watch the same thing happen...right. Abel said his ex acted like he owned him. It's certainly a sentiment Cloud understands. He just doesn't like being on this side of it.]
Well...I appreciate it.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-27 02:12 pm (UTC)[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.]
no subject
Date: 2024-06-29 04:20 am (UTC)Right. Sorry you had to go through whatever happened with your ex. You're a good guy, Abel.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-29 05:12 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-06 06:37 am (UTC)He shrugs slightly.]
Difficult maybe, but you're a warden. Seems to me like you do more than just 'try.'
no subject
Date: 2024-07-06 06:45 am (UTC)[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.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-09 11:20 pm (UTC)[In more ways than one. Of course, he arguably still is that much of an ass, but hey - that's why he's the inmate and Abel's the warden.]
no subject
Date: 2024-07-09 11:28 pm (UTC)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 subject
Date: 2024-07-09 11:39 pm (UTC)[Which he probably doesn't, if he's thinking bitchy thoughts about them anyway.]
no subject
Date: 2024-07-09 11:56 pm (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-10 07:34 am (UTC)[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.]
no subject
Date: 2024-07-11 02:53 am (UTC)[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.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-16 10:08 pm (UTC)[To be fair, when he was in the barracks, he did tend to keep his head down and didn't really have any friends among the troopers. But close enough.]
no subject
Date: 2024-07-17 02:25 pm (UTC)I'll try not to, just take good care of yourself and then I'll have no reason to. Though on that note, I should let you go. Let me know if you need anything, alright? I'm usually available and I don't mind a call.