wingenvy | [Ahaha belated post is belated.]

Current Mood: chipper

[Ahaha belated post is belated.]

Nice to see the sun again. Man, I thought I missed the mako before, but not being able to see a thing in the dark sucked. Good thing Seph could see or we'd have bumped into each other all week.

Hey Spike, how're you and the kids holding up? Do they miss me yet? ^_~ If you need me over there as a buffer or just some company, let me know. I'll probably come around to visit soon anyway. It's cool to hang out with Seph and all but he's not exactly good for conversation.

[Private to Cloud - unhackable]

How's the Geostigma? Were you able to find some help for it?

[/Private]

So from what I've heard, people are branching out a bit and planning some fun events. I think that's awesome! May as well kick back and tell the Malnosso to stuff it now and then. Anything less would be like cooperating, right?

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I know, and I wouldn't stop you. Still, a good soldier does whatever he has to to meet his goals, right?

...I'm not a soldier, Zack.

[And Cloud stands up to go get himself a couple aspirin because all of a sudden he feels awkward.]

Can I get you anything?

You know what I meant.

[Zack sighs softly, leaning back in his seat.]

Naw, I'm alright. I've done too much thinking to be thirsty or anything.

[Wordlessly, Cloud turns and gets himself some sweet, sweet drugs and swallows them dry before flopping back on the couch.]

...I'm sorry I can't trust him like you do. It's probably upsetting.

A little, but it's not gonna break me or anything. You went through a hell of a lot more than I did, and lost more than I like to think about. Besides, you didn't know him the way I did before. I understand why you can't be the same as me.

It just...feels like a trick.

[Cloud slumps down and folds his hands over his stomach again, fiddling with the hem of his sleeve.]

I just feel like the second I turn around, he'll stab me in the back. And I have a lot more at stake now than I did a few months ago.

Listen, Cloud, I know you gotta watch out for those kids of yours. I don't blame you at all. It's... well...

[Zack scratches the back of his head, torn for a moment, then continues.]

I'll be keeping an eye on him, okay? Since I'm living there. And if you need to talk to him but it worries you too much, I can do it. Just ask. I want to help both of you.

[For some reason, this struck Cloud as funny. He displays his amusement as most humans do by laughing.]

[.... Wait, what? Zack couldn't help but feel a little indignant, though it was great to see Cloud laughing.]

Hey, what's so funny? I was serious, man!

N-nothing, really, it's just...

[Cloud reaches over and actually ruffles Zack's hair.]

I'm glad you're here.

[Zack couldn't do much besides gawk at him. He'd actually ruffled his hair...! That was his job! He had to pout a little, somewhat indignant.]

Where else would I be? Sheesh...

C'mon, don't sulk. It's a good thing you're here, isn't it?

'm not sulking. I know it's a good thing, but I still don't know why you were laughing at me.

It's just...

[Cloud shrugged, waving a hand vaguely.]

Y'know, like... "You tell him that I said this and this because I'm not speaking to him." And you would just look over at him and say exactly what I said, and then he'd give you a look and you'd translate because you can do that. I don't know, I just thought it'd be funny.

[Oh, well. Cloud's explanation makes Zack crack a grin, leaning back against the couch with his arms crossed behind his head.]

Well, when you put it that way, it is pretty damned funny.

[Cloud laughs a bit more before trailing off, unconsciously mimicking Zack's posture and smiling fondly at him.]

...what would I do without you?

[Zack's smile shifts a little, just and fond, but with a flicker of nostalgia.]

Mope a little more and laugh a little less, if I'm allowed to be egotistical, but I say you'd manage somehow.

[Somehow, talking about this kind of thing was less painful with Zack around. Zack had that effect on things.]

No, I'm pretty derranged. I think I'd construct this elaborate lie and fool myself into believing it.

[Although he is partially serious at this point.]

Hey, that was a long time ago. You've grown up, remember? You gotta learn to deal with the good and the bad, now. That's life.

Yeah, yeah, I know the song and dance. "You had Mako poisoning, you saw terrible things..."

...it doesn't make me feel any better about it. And I'm still sorry...I don't think I can stop being sorry about that.

Well, that's fine. You can be sorry about it - just don't dwell on it and let it get you down. Apology accepted, I forgive you, all that jazz. Life goes on, you know?

I don't know how to do that. I can't do that Zack, I'm wired differently.

Well then, it's a damn fine thing that I'm around to drag you out of the woes, right?

Right, right.

[Cloud punches Zack's arm lightly.]

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[Ahaha belated post is belated.]

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