[Cloud tries not to let it show but his cheek twitches. Of course. Even as a kid, Sephiroth's senses were razor sharp. But had he noticed Cloud because of the sound, because of smell or sight- had Cloud given himself away, or had Sephiroth felt pieces of himself (or of Jenova) nearby and just knew?
There's no way to ask that. Not without handing over way too much control.]
...I'm a friend of Zack's, [Cloud settles on finally.] I want to clarify some things with you.
[Zack was nice. A little strange, but nice, though he's pretty sure his compass on what was and wasn't odd was misaligned.
But if Cloud was a friend of his then there wasn't anything to worry about, armed or not. It does put Cloud under more scrutiny though. There was something... different, the longer he studied the blond man the more sure of it he was. What could-
... Oh. Mako, the gleam of it obvious now that he's looking.
Zack hasn't mentioned another SOLDIER being here; the uncertainty flickers back up.]
Drink? [That kind of stumbles him a little bit. It's- weird. Hearing Sephiroth talk like a normal person, so much so that Cloud stalls for a moment trying to figure out if it's some kind of riddle he's supposed to figure out.]
-no. [Move on. Don't let him sidetrack you. He's not going to, he's a kid. He doesn't know anything yet.] I want to tell you that if you...sense something weird... Something that you can...reach, or move, that isn't your own body, that you leave it alone. [There's an 'or else' in there, implied, but he's trying not to threaten. Not just yet. Or you're still afraid of him. He's not. He's not afraid of Sephiroth anymore, not for him. Just...what Sephiroth could make Cloud do to other people.]
[Apparently the dismissal of the drink is, for some reason, a visible relief.
Well probably if Cloud knew Zack he was going to see the pictures sooner or later. Better later, when Sephiroth isn't around to ask niggling, silly and pointless questions like 'what was in that' and 'why did it set fire to the table'.
It's followed up with something that doesn't make a lick of sense to the teen. It's obvious for a moment that he has absolutely no idea whatsoever what Cloud's even talking about, moving things that aren't himself? Except it's so specific, so directed as if it was something he's expected to be capable of that the slow creep of thoughtfulness really isn't a good sign.]
Is that something the Fox gives people?
[It absolutely is not.
But Cloud's introduced the idea and now he's terribly curious about it. Ordinarily things like doing his job would interfere with idle speculation, but he has no job here. No tasks to keep him focused.]
I'll do my best, of course, if you're a friend of Zack's. I don't suppose you can describe it better, so I know what to try to avoid?
[Describe it better? Motherfucker, how? Not that Cloud would if he could. The innocent curiosity puts him even further on edge; his fingers twitch at his side as his entire sword arm tenses. Is this kid actually playing innocent? No, Sephiroth was a war hero before Nibelheim...but then again, Shinra turned out to be a fucking evil entity of a corporation to begin with, and Cloud had just been a stupid little grunt. What if Sephiroth was a bastard the entire time, and he'd just never known because, like Barret always ranted about, Shinra just published the pretty and buried the bad?
No. No, it doesn't matter if he's a kid. Kids can be fucking evil, Sharon is evidence enough of that. Kids had burned her alive.]
It's pretty damn simple, [Cloud snaps, grateful at least that he's not having to look up at Sephiroth for once. Small, petty victories.] Don't go exploring with shit that isn't yours, or we're going to have a problem. Got it?
If it was that simple you'd be able to explain it better.
[And this vaguest of twitchy non-explanation wasn't it, by his frustrated frown.]
You are demanding I avoid doing something I can't do anyway- [...He can't, right?] -and it's so important you're threatening me over it but the best you can do to tell me what is 'don't do this, or else'?
[Sephiroth's willing to try, but none of this makes any sense from where he's standing, including Cloud's surely unwarranted hostility.
But the glitching, targeted pain of his elder self's active control is missing, leaving only the unwelcome grind of his presence, surely bad enough. Although it MUST be tempting now that the possibility has been raised, nothing has been attempted. Yet.
There is a moment where realization crosses his face, and then what looks like hurt, but it's gone fast. The cyborg thing again. Of course. He sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose with one hand, reaching his own conclusion, confusion and interest melting to what seems a lot like resignation.]
No. I'm sorry. You're not the first person to think ... [Damn it, he is NOT a cyborg, there are no remote control powers wired in somewhere.] Whatever stories Shinra coming up with are nonsense to scare the Rhadorans. I can only do the kind of things you can. It's strength and endurance, nothing else. I don't have any cybernetics, and they can't do that anyway.
[The more real the confusion seems, the more his hackles raise. Logic bleeds out to make room for suspicion, for the walls to come back up. Protection. He can remember his fists swinging at Aerith's terrified face, he can remember the horror in Tifa's eyes as he staggered toward Sephiroth, the Black Materia clutched in a trembling grip. Sephiroth's voice all the while like silk in his ears. Just trust him. Just obey him. Be used by him, and everything will be fine. You don't have to be you anymore, Cloud. You can just go to sleep.
Cloud reaches over his shoulder and grips the handle of the butterfly edge broadsword at his back. He lifts it, just barely, just off the magnetic clasp so it's free of restraints.]
Shut up. [His eyes feel like they're burning. Something in his nose stinks of overprocessed mako vapor.] I know exactly what you're capable of. Better than you.
[He doesn't step forward, not quite; leans, almost, his sword still at his back, but only just. A very real promise, devoid of ego, of overestimation. The snarling growl of a guard dog who can easily jump the fence, but still has not.] You stay just the way you are now...or I take your head off.
[Cloud doesn't wait for acknowledgement. Sephiroth- he twists thoughts just as easily with his words as he does his powers, through Jenova. Some snotty teenage version of him wants details? He'll get them real quick if he crosses that line and Cloud comes after him for it.
Maybe he'll get revived afterwards. And maybe Cloud will take his head off as many times as he needs to for the point to get across.
Cloud stares for a beat longer before allowing Monarch to click back onto the magnetic clasp and turning on his boot to stalk away. His shoulders itch at giving Sephiroth his back, but a part of him, a deep dark part of him wants Sephiroth to talk back, to demand answers, to chase after him and try to push his luck.
[He'd been certain he figured it out. More lies and rumors invented by his 'caretakers', the way they came up with everything else. An easy, simple explanation, no matter how annoying or upsetting it is. It fit what he knew, what he couldn't get used to but was at least resigned to. Anything to make the new SOLDIER program seem stronger, better, more dangerous - the reality of it didn't need to get involved in a good campaign of disinformation!
But this stranger isn't listening, or at least has chosen to ignore everything he's said and double down instead, and it answers nothing. It just raises more questions, ones he'd thought settled. The click of the magnetic lock and threat of a weapon that isn't ... quite pulled draws his gaze, the threat that boils down to don't do anything I don't like or else, and he ... does nothing, aside from teeth-grinding frustration.
He has no weapon himself, but that never made him defenseless before and it's an automatic calculation that follows, whether or not he could potentially fend off someone like this. No, of course not; an adult SOLDIER would reasonably outstrip him in ability, except-
Except this one seems convinced he can just.. do things to people. And even the odds that way.
It's a great setup, isn't it? And maybe Cloud does know something of his nature after all, as it is incredibly tempting to do just that, especially in the face of the unsubtle hostility. Try it out. See for himself. Prove one way or another if it's true, if he can reach something outside himself, sense something beyond the physical. I know exactly what you're capable of
Sephiroth is hard to intimidate outside of specific scenarios that mostly resemble laboratories. It isn't the threat of the enormous blade at Cloud's back that brings him up short, or the curt malevolence of being told he'll be killed if he tries anything. People can't do that kind of thing. Better than you. People couldn't, but monsters might.]
But..
[Cloud has sealed both of their fates, hasn't he? Now that his hated enemy knew the possibility existed, sooner or later, he would try it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
THAT WAS A PHONE TAG????? your power terrifies me
Date: 2024-04-25 07:10 am (UTC)There's no way to ask that. Not without handing over way too much control.]
...I'm a friend of Zack's, [Cloud settles on finally.] I want to clarify some things with you.
They get out of hand easier :<
Date: 2024-04-25 09:22 am (UTC)[Zack was nice. A little strange, but nice, though he's pretty sure his compass on what was and wasn't odd was misaligned.
But if Cloud was a friend of his then there wasn't anything to worry about, armed or not. It does put Cloud under more scrutiny though. There was something... different, the longer he studied the blond man the more sure of it he was. What could-
... Oh. Mako, the gleam of it obvious now that he's looking.
Zack hasn't mentioned another SOLDIER being here; the uncertainty flickers back up.]
Is this about the drink?
opposite problem here, my phone tags are like "he roled him eye" send
Date: 2024-04-28 07:39 pm (UTC)-no. [Move on. Don't let him sidetrack you. He's not going to, he's a kid. He doesn't know anything yet.] I want to tell you that if you...sense something weird... Something that you can...reach, or move, that isn't your own body, that you leave it alone. [There's an 'or else' in there, implied, but he's trying not to threaten. Not just yet. Or you're still afraid of him. He's not. He's not afraid of Sephiroth anymore, not for him. Just...what Sephiroth could make Cloud do to other people.]
I abuse a tiny notepad program, and it has no sense of scale.
Date: 2024-04-28 07:51 pm (UTC)Well probably if Cloud knew Zack he was going to see the pictures sooner or later. Better later, when Sephiroth isn't around to ask niggling, silly and pointless questions like 'what was in that' and 'why did it set fire to the table'.
It's followed up with something that doesn't make a lick of sense to the teen. It's obvious for a moment that he has absolutely no idea whatsoever what Cloud's even talking about, moving things that aren't himself? Except it's so specific, so directed as if it was something he's expected to be capable of that the slow creep of thoughtfulness really isn't a good sign.]
Is that something the Fox gives people?
[It absolutely is not.
But Cloud's introduced the idea and now he's terribly curious about it. Ordinarily things like doing his job would interfere with idle speculation, but he has no job here. No tasks to keep him focused.]
I'll do my best, of course, if you're a friend of Zack's. I don't suppose you can describe it better, so I know what to try to avoid?
[His acquiescence is much too quick.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-12 04:30 am (UTC)No. No, it doesn't matter if he's a kid. Kids can be fucking evil, Sharon is evidence enough of that. Kids had burned her alive.]
It's pretty damn simple, [Cloud snaps, grateful at least that he's not having to look up at Sephiroth for once. Small, petty victories.] Don't go exploring with shit that isn't yours, or we're going to have a problem. Got it?
no subject
Date: 2024-05-12 10:18 am (UTC)[And this vaguest of twitchy non-explanation wasn't it, by his frustrated frown.]
You are demanding I avoid doing something I can't do anyway- [...He can't, right?] -and it's so important you're threatening me over it but the best you can do to tell me what is 'don't do this, or else'?
[Sephiroth's willing to try, but none of this makes any sense from where he's standing, including Cloud's surely unwarranted hostility.
But the glitching, targeted pain of his elder self's active control is missing, leaving only the unwelcome grind of his presence, surely bad enough. Although it MUST be tempting now that the possibility has been raised, nothing has been attempted. Yet.
There is a moment where realization crosses his face, and then what looks like hurt, but it's gone fast. The cyborg thing again. Of course. He sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose with one hand, reaching his own conclusion, confusion and interest melting to what seems a lot like resignation.]
No. I'm sorry. You're not the first person to think ... [Damn it, he is NOT a cyborg, there are no remote control powers wired in somewhere.] Whatever stories Shinra coming up with are nonsense to scare the Rhadorans. I can only do the kind of things you can. It's strength and endurance, nothing else. I don't have any cybernetics, and they can't do that anyway.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-19 05:07 am (UTC)Cloud reaches over his shoulder and grips the handle of the butterfly edge broadsword at his back. He lifts it, just barely, just off the magnetic clasp so it's free of restraints.]
Shut up. [His eyes feel like they're burning. Something in his nose stinks of overprocessed mako vapor.] I know exactly what you're capable of. Better than you.
[He doesn't step forward, not quite; leans, almost, his sword still at his back, but only just. A very real promise, devoid of ego, of overestimation. The snarling growl of a guard dog who can easily jump the fence, but still has not.] You stay just the way you are now...or I take your head off.
[Cloud doesn't wait for acknowledgement. Sephiroth- he twists thoughts just as easily with his words as he does his powers, through Jenova. Some snotty teenage version of him wants details? He'll get them real quick if he crosses that line and Cloud comes after him for it.
Maybe he'll get revived afterwards. And maybe Cloud will take his head off as many times as he needs to for the point to get across.
Cloud stares for a beat longer before allowing Monarch to click back onto the magnetic clasp and turning on his boot to stalk away. His shoulders itch at giving Sephiroth his back, but a part of him, a deep dark part of him wants Sephiroth to talk back, to demand answers, to chase after him and try to push his luck.
Give him an excuse.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-19 10:16 am (UTC)But this stranger isn't listening, or at least has chosen to ignore everything he's said and double down instead, and it answers nothing. It just raises more questions, ones he'd thought settled. The click of the magnetic lock and threat of a weapon that isn't ... quite pulled draws his gaze, the threat that boils down to don't do anything I don't like or else, and he ... does nothing, aside from teeth-grinding frustration.
He has no weapon himself, but that never made him defenseless before and it's an automatic calculation that follows, whether or not he could potentially fend off someone like this. No, of course not; an adult SOLDIER would reasonably outstrip him in ability, except-
Except this one seems convinced he can just.. do things to people. And even the odds that way.
It's a great setup, isn't it? And maybe Cloud does know something of his nature after all, as it is incredibly tempting to do just that, especially in the face of the unsubtle hostility. Try it out. See for himself. Prove one way or another if it's true, if he can reach something outside himself, sense something beyond the physical. I know exactly what you're capable of
Sephiroth is hard to intimidate outside of specific scenarios that mostly resemble laboratories. It isn't the threat of the enormous blade at Cloud's back that brings him up short, or the curt malevolence of being told he'll be killed if he tries anything. People can't do that kind of thing. Better than you. People couldn't, but monsters might.]
But..
[Cloud has sealed both of their fates, hasn't he? Now that his hated enemy knew the possibility existed, sooner or later, he would try it.
How could he not?]
... I'll try.