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[nimbuster]

Kink Konnection

CLOUD STRIFE | 21

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[nimbuster]

Cloud leans in a little closer to get a better look at Nyx's ink. "Huh. I'll say. Impressive, though. And what about the..." He holds up one hand, palm up, fingers slightly curled, and lets a bit of lightning magic spark over it for a second. "Learn that on your island, too?"

[hardbargain]

And just like that mischievous glint in Nyx's eyes dies, a hint of that haunted soldier there for a moment and shuttered away for something more neutral. It happens between one blink and the next and his smile never falters but there's something a bit more hollow about it. He takes another long draw from his beer, tipping his head back and when he looks back at Cloud the smile is nothing but the faintest upward tilt of one corner of his mouth.

"Nah... That kinda power is reserved for the Line of Kings..."

What strength you have is on loan from the king.

His gaze drops down to the table, something bitter twisting his lips into an even more lopsided smile. "'m just borrowing it."

[nimbuster]

Cloud takes another drink and watches Nyx closely over the rim of his glass as his expression changes. Huh. Touchy subject, apparently...but Cloud thinks he might get it. Maybe.

"...borrowing it. Feel like you haven't earned it for yourself?" His voice is low and his gaze has dropped into his beer. "Still just as weak as you always were, just...covering it up?" From the tone, it's pretty clear Cloud's not just guessing at something that's bothering Nyx.

[hardbargain]

Ah... a familiar sentiment it seems. Nyx sighs, shakes his head, pretends so very hard like that isn't also the truth.

"Mm-mn. It's more literal than that. All magic comes from The Crystal. The line of Lucis is the bloodline entrusted with its power by the gods. Usually, the Kingsglaive is... maybe half a dozen people they chose to share their power with. Their Shield and closest advisors." Nyx lifts a hand to scrub over his face, a sound, half sigh, half groan escapes him and he shakes his head.

"His Majesty knew we were fighting a losing battle. So- all us refugees, used to fighting and hunting and scraping our way through life. He let whoever wanted to get back at the Nifs join up, we weren't exactly a full army, more like... a few specialized task forces. Less than fifty. Sharing his power with us, all of us, oh it drained him something awful. The man aged 30 years in a decade." Then Nyx reaches up to grab his collar, tugging it down to show the crawling lines of scarring on the right side of his chest. "It took it's toll on us that used it too. Most of us-"

He stops abruptly, teeth clenched. "I thought most of us figured we were dead men walking already. What's a few years if it means paying back even a fraction of what those bastards did to our homes... Stupid, I guess." That last little bit of self-deprecation gets an eye roll and a little nod before he finishes off the first beer and immediately moves to pop the cap on the second.

[nimbuster]

Nyx pretends hard enough that Cloud finds himself regretting having said anything. Tipped his hand for no reason. Shit.

But he drinks his beer as he listens to Nyx explain. Frowns when Nyx shows him the scarring. "...not as stupid as believing the company propaganda machine's every lie your whole life until it destroys your hometown and everyone in it."