Cloud Strife (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
liveandforgive) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
genessia2017-11-30 06:21 pm
liveandforgive) wrote in genessia2017-11-30 06:21 pm
001 ; action/video
Action;
[before awakening in the bay, all that the acerbic swordsman could remember were distant voices as he floated through what he thought was pure emptiness. his body was separated from his conscious state of being and... ah. that's right. he defeated Sephiroth and watched the remnant of his hatred become one with the Planet in his arms.
and then...
BANG]
.....
[opening his eyes as he leaned against the wall outside of one of the supposed 'starter' apartments, a gloved hand moved up to his chest where there should have been a gaping hole after getting shot. but there was nothing. no scars, his clothing wasn't even ripped apart from his last battle. no- instead, having woken up here and gathered his bearings and steeled his thoughts, Cloud appeared to be good as new. ...and that alarmed him. even after placing the red pendant with flecks of green in his pocket along with his other new belongings, the message from the hologram of a white-haired girl was both helpful and disturbing. he wasn't a fan of the whole kidnapee concept, even if she technically wasn't wrong.
yet...
to be honest, he wasn't sure whether to believe this was all completely real, he was dreaming and couldn't wake up, or was this what the Promised Land actually looked like when you died... but instead of letting a sense of being downtrodden take him, Cloud was already thinking of his next move. if everything that Weiss Schnee hologram said was true after all? he couldn't waste his time here. he had to get back to his family and friends somehow. they needed him. ... Cloud needed them.
his bright mako gaze turned to the front doors of the apartment, the same that he was advised to go to before 'getting a job'...and then completely ignoring them.]
Not interested.
[the last time he took up an offer to enter a new place and open the door, he got surprised by the Turks. considering everything that just happened before he woke up here, he wasn't in the mood to fight.]
--
Video;
[after fiddling with his new smartphone for a while (the technology here was incredible, much more advanced and smooth than the usual flip phones he was used to using), the recording turns on to a blond young man with spiky blond hair and surprisingly bright blue eyes. his expression, on the other hand? not as bright as the rest of him.
hey. say hello to the newest 'kidnapee' of Genessia.]
Hm... [a beat. he should have thought this through before he hit record to try and communicate with someone. what did he say? who would listen? he clears his throat before finding his voice again.] Guess I'm new here. Sorry, but I want out.
Anyone know where the exit is?
[...guess that's it? the feed ends there as he puts the phone back in his pocket. ... that was smooth. but at least it was worth a try.]
[before awakening in the bay, all that the acerbic swordsman could remember were distant voices as he floated through what he thought was pure emptiness. his body was separated from his conscious state of being and... ah. that's right. he defeated Sephiroth and watched the remnant of his hatred become one with the Planet in his arms.
and then...
BANG]
.....
[opening his eyes as he leaned against the wall outside of one of the supposed 'starter' apartments, a gloved hand moved up to his chest where there should have been a gaping hole after getting shot. but there was nothing. no scars, his clothing wasn't even ripped apart from his last battle. no- instead, having woken up here and gathered his bearings and steeled his thoughts, Cloud appeared to be good as new. ...and that alarmed him. even after placing the red pendant with flecks of green in his pocket along with his other new belongings, the message from the hologram of a white-haired girl was both helpful and disturbing. he wasn't a fan of the whole kidnapee concept, even if she technically wasn't wrong.
yet...
to be honest, he wasn't sure whether to believe this was all completely real, he was dreaming and couldn't wake up, or was this what the Promised Land actually looked like when you died... but instead of letting a sense of being downtrodden take him, Cloud was already thinking of his next move. if everything that Weiss Schnee hologram said was true after all? he couldn't waste his time here. he had to get back to his family and friends somehow. they needed him. ... Cloud needed them.
his bright mako gaze turned to the front doors of the apartment, the same that he was advised to go to before 'getting a job'...and then completely ignoring them.]
Not interested.
[the last time he took up an offer to enter a new place and open the door, he got surprised by the Turks. considering everything that just happened before he woke up here, he wasn't in the mood to fight.]
--
Video;
[after fiddling with his new smartphone for a while (the technology here was incredible, much more advanced and smooth than the usual flip phones he was used to using), the recording turns on to a blond young man with spiky blond hair and surprisingly bright blue eyes. his expression, on the other hand? not as bright as the rest of him.
hey. say hello to the newest 'kidnapee' of Genessia.]
Hm... [a beat. he should have thought this through before he hit record to try and communicate with someone. what did he say? who would listen? he clears his throat before finding his voice again.] Guess I'm new here. Sorry, but I want out.
Anyone know where the exit is?
[...guess that's it? the feed ends there as he puts the phone back in his pocket. ... that was smooth. but at least it was worth a try.]
[Video]
[She's picking up her jacket, setting the communicator down so she can put it on and fluff out her hair. Just as she reaches for the keys on the dresser, she pauses and looks back at the screen.]
...And do you have any problems riding a motorcycle? I can show up on foot too.
[Video]
[in that moment, Cloud kicks away from the wall as he heads for the same spot outside the Bay where he first came out.]
.... .....
You got a bike?
[is that Cloud's interest being piqued?]
[Video]
[She grins widely, flashing her teeth.]
The guy who built it made it so it can drive up walls, over sand, and over water. Haven't tried it out in any of those ways yet, but I'm pumped!
[Seems like that's a yes, so she pockets her keys and heads out.]
You like fried noodles?
[Video]
[if only he had Fenrir here. she'd have to wait until she showed up before he attempted to flex his own automotive muscles. Cloud's tone is challenging, but Yang is sure to answer him as his eyes widen some at her bold claims.]
Water too? Does it hover or just got that much speed?
[he's getting too ahead of himself. wait, Cloud.]
I can go for some.
[Video]
So it's settled, then! We'll get Chainese.
[She almost got it right. To her, it's Mistral cooking, but other people call it something else.]
See you soon!
[Video] -> [Action]
Definitely gonna need one if I'm here for a while.
Mm. Later. [from there, the video cuts off as he makes his way to their rendezvous point. Cloud had his doubts that his motion sickness wouldn't be triggered too badly. it was a bike, after all.]
--
[he wouldn't be difficult to spot. he stands outside, raising his left arm that no longer had a sleeve to it as he waits for the sound of an engine to reach his ears. how loud was this thing? what'd it look like? could it store weapons in it? ...ah, he was getting too far ahead of himself again. what if Yang wasn't a fighter and was just a huge motorcycle enthusiast?
he'd find out just how wrong he was very soon.before Yang's arrival, Cloud finds his gaze turning to his newly healed arm, completely free of the grotesque black infection that threatened his life and the planet itself. there against the gentle wind was the flowing pink ribbon wrapped around his bicep, and a distant voice that he thought he heard before he awoke here. his fingers trail over the ribbon, reflective of the past and how far he'd come in an attempt to forgive himself.
he'd have to come home and tell Tifa himself what his answer was. his gaze softens before steeling himself once more, patiently waiting for his ride.]
[Action]
[It isn't long at all before she pulls up to a stop in front of him, tipping the bike just enough that she can steady it with one foot.]
Need a lift?
[She reaches behind her to unfasten the second helmet, tossing it to him with a grin. Her aviators hide her eyes, but there's no mistaking that hair. Depending on how perceptive he is, he might also notice that her right hand is definitely different-looking from her left. The left has a black fingerless glove snugged over her knuckles, while the right seems more like a gauntlet of yellow and black than a glove.]
[Action]
he had questions for her. some about this place? and some about the bike. the man had his priorities straight, clearly. although when Yang tosses the helmet at him, he blinks down at it surprised. almost like it was a foreign object. Cloud was left silenced if only for a second or two. first this girl rolled up with a really cool motorcycle that could supposedly ride walls and blaze a trail over water, and now he was being advised to wear a helmet. ...did he... did he accept? he couldn't just refuse her.
when he got his own bike (if he did), he'd have to kick the helmet to the curb. for now though? that mess of spiky blond hair was getting crammed down into the helmet as he awkwardly buckled it on. it was kind of like an old military helmet...just...with a fastener on it. that was one way to look at it. it was a good thing that Cloud had decided to keep his swords fully assembled, still sheathed to the back of his waist as he approached the bike. it wasn't often that he wasn't the one at the handles. he shrugs as he straddles the bike behind her, just enough space.
at this rate, Cloud would take what he could get.]
I'm impressed.
[he spoke up over the idle purr of her motorcycle, contemplating between either leaning back and hanging on, or holding onto her. could she tell that he might not have been used to taking the second seat? Cloud eventually decides on leaning back on his hands and bracing himself.]
Thanks for the lift, Yang.
[his gaze did indeed catch a glimpse of the difference in her arms... at first it looked like two completely different gloves, but her right hand...
it probably wasn't any of his business.]
[Action]
[She lowers the shades down just far enough that he can see her wink before she pushes them back in place. Yang is patient enough, waiting for him to get settled in whatever way he likes. Doesn't seem as though he's accustomed to being the passenger. Or maybe he's just really shy around women.
And he had to meet Yang of all people.]Keep a good grip back there! I don't want to lose you on your first day.
[She pulls away from the curb nice and slow, like a good and responsible driver. She takes care of her passengers, as he's surmised by now with the helmet cramping his style. The bike is guided through the streets with practiced ease, following the flow of limited traffic, until they come to a stop in front of the Chickety China. Yang parks, waiting for Cloud to dismount before she unslings her leg and pulls off her helmet, tipping her head back to shake her hair out. The shades go back into her pocket as she smiles and gives him a 'come on' beckoning gesture.]
[The interior of the restaurant is like any other Chinese diner. Lots of red and gold, filled with the smells of deep-fried appetizers. A big well-lit aquarium is stocked with colorful little fish.]
Two, please.
[The waiter bows and leads them to a booth where Yang takes a seat across from Cloud, and both are given a menu with a slip of paper detailing the day's specials.]
Get anything you want, and as much as you want. You're staying at the free apartments for a while, right? Those units have fridges, so leftovers won't be a problem.
[Action]
Rufus.if somebody was gonna break the ice with Cloud, it may as well have been the one person who'd break it by punching it.]Don't worry 'bout me. I can ride.
[... he really, really needed his bike to properly back up his words. she takes care of him like he would have taken care of the kids. this woman... her support for others was surprising to him. granted, despite Cloud's own cool facade, he wouldn't hesitate to help or protect someone that was in trouble either. his defiant words against Sephiroth still rang clear in his mind. "There's not a thing I don't cherish!" so much had happened over the past few days before coming here... he was coming to terms with himself again, let alone being in a whole new world. he'd be sure to repay Yang in full and more somehow.
...
... ...]
P-Pffft...pffft. .......pffft. ....huffffff...
[after he survived the assault of endlessly soft, golden hair blowing in his face as he hung on from the back. note to self? get a new pair of goggle shades.
Cloud dismounts easily enough after Yang parks up in front of the restaurant. after pulling off his own helmet, a gloved hand runs up through the soft spikes of his own blond hair. ...funny how it managed to keep most of its shape and spring back up despite the fact it was oppressed by safety measures.]
......
[it's very small, but that hint of a smile appeared when she turned around and couldn't see it. geez, it was almost like her attitude was contagious. he shrugs before following her along. the inside of the diner reminded him of some places he'd seen before in Midgar when it used to still exist- or better yet, Wutai. after settling the business of bringing a giant sword into the restaurant (Cloud was able to have it lean against the wall close beside the two,) he settled down into his seat across from her.]
You sure? I can't... [do that? why not? when was the last time he ever sat down with someone and had a meal like this? as his bright blue gaze skimmed over familiar dishes and their descriptions, he was partially glad that half of his face was hidden by the menu, a hint of a frown marring his lips as guilt crept into his mind. when was the last time he ever stayed home with Tifa, Marlene and Denzel? his friends... were they alright after the blast? all the more reason to get stronger. all the more reason to find a way back to them so he could protect them again. his guilt only served to steel his resolve as he's quick to dismiss that frown. hoping that Yang didn't get a chance to see, he concedes to her and nods.]
I owe you one. [these kinds of places were usually kings of leftovers for the fridge. so when the waiter comes back around? Cloud places down an order for fried noodles with bbq pork, their special fried rice, beef & greens and deep fried shrimp. he would have ordered more, but he realized that he was going to be the only one eating these leftovers. he also underestimated just how drained he had been after the battles he'd endured back to back.]
[Action]
[She just grins as he places his order. He is one hungry dude! As for herself, she goes for the kung pao beef combo with fried rice and spring rolls, with an order of potstickers for them to share, and a lemon-lime soda. Once the orders are placed, she takes her communicator out of her pocket and places it on the table.]
All right, so you've got three modes for this thing: video, audio, and text. There's also a privacy feature in case you decide to make any of your conversations confidential...
[Yang walks him through a basic communicator tutorial, including how to mark locations on his map, setting up an inbox, and accessing the directory since he said he was looking for some of his friends. She does hope some of them are around, it would suck to have to do this on his own.]
[When she's finished, she leans back and folds her arms, giving a nod to his sword.]
So what kind of enemies do you fight with a weapon like that?
[Action]
[he's still getting her back. bright sapphire-hued eyes perk up a little when she takes her own communicator out. Cloud takes this as an opportunity to do the same thing. he supposed this was why he was here with her after all. the blond swordsman listens intently. the more information he absorbed before taking on the outside world, the better.]
Video too... It's a lot clearer than what I'm used to back home. [wait, there's a private line too? that would definitely come in handy so it's not just a catch-all social media type of thing. he wondered if there was something akin to e-mail here too. of course, he'll ask as many questions as he can of her. luckily for Yang, Cloud's not technologically inept, so practically every thing she relays to him sinks in. he'll have to check through that directory to see if anyone else is here. according to that Ted guy though...]
Mm? [oh, that giant sword of his. ...was she a fighter too?]
Whatever you wanna throw at me.
[while some would call that cocky, Cloud was both confident and just telling the truth. whereas Yang is more relaxed and leans back, rests forearms on the table as they wait for their round of food, his hands clasped together.]
On my planet, there's hundreds of different kinds of monsters. Can't be too careful when you're on the road.
[Action]
You too, huh? Sounds like our worlds might be similar.
[Their orders arrive, and Yang sits up immediately, ready to dig right in. She's pretty hungry too and doesn't mind putting the conversation on hold so she can shovel in a few spoonfuls of fried rice.]
So does everyone carry a weapon with them, or are you some kind of monster slayer extraordinaire?
[Action]
he was ready to try again. so of course, he's starting on the beef and greens combination. when Yang pops the question about what his world was like and by extension, him, he's quick to drink down some more water to clear his throat. with a satisfied sigh, he takes a brief break from stuffing his face.]
Something like that. [he muses over how to go over the details of his own world, his eyes briefly flickering over the gauntlet of a hand before continuing.] I used to be a mercenary, but I opened up a business as a delivery boy.
[said with the straightest face ever.]
[Action]
HA!
[A single guffaw just bursts right out of her as she picks up the chopsticks and snaps them apart. Carefully she situates the tools between her metal fingers and starts digging for a chunk of pork.]
[And digging. And digging. This is requiring more careful coordination than her hand can handle right now. After she drops the piece of meat she's been trying to eat for a third time, she sighs, and drops the sticks to take up the fried rice spoon instead.]
That's a pretty drastic career change. What happened there?
[Action]
...if there was even a home waiting for him, that is. while he continues to make good progress on his food, shovelling down good helpings of rice with a couple splashes of soya sauce, he eats just a little bit slower than Yang was. far from full, he takes a break when she pops the question. what made him consider change jobs?]
Hm... [how did he describe it to someone from a completely different planet? he didn't know what the world was like for her. but for him? they were fighting day by day to rebuild and make things better. Cloud still had a lot of work left to do.]
There wasn't a lot of money to be made being a mercenary anymore. [while he wasn't lying, he wasn't exactly telling her the whole truth either. he'd just leave out the part where the world was almost destroyed for now. no need to be a downer. that and as kind and trustworthy as Yang seemed, he wasn't exactly an open book that'd spill his past to just anyone.] Not a whole lot of time for fighting, and people needed help.
[with his own pair of chopsticks, Cloud takes a hearty deep fried shimp from his platter, holding it there for a moment before bringing it to his mouth.]
Plus it kept me busy.
[or rather it gave him more time to be alone with his thoughts and to figure out what he wanted to do with his life, with Tifa and the others now that they'd defeated Sephiroth. he was still trying to figure out what it was like to lead a normal life. just when he thought he had it all figured out, he was brought back in, still more fighting left to do.]
[Action]
No mercenary work? You ran out of monsters or something?
[She thought he said there were lots of them running around. Or maybe people just got more self-reliant in dealing with them. Either way, she's not questioning his story. It makes sense, and she smiles at his expressed desire to keep helping people out. Cloud seems like a pretty nice guy. Maybe it's a good thing she can't steal his food even if it's just for fun.]
[She nods at the importance of keeping busy, chasing another spoonful of rice across her plate.]
Yeah, I hear that. I do bounty hunting work here. It can be a little too easy on the schedule if you don't have to put in a lot of research to find the person you're looking for.
[Action]
I'm on the road a lot, so I end up clearing the way for most people while I work. [he almost sounded like he was pitching a sale to her, he realized. but oh well! Cloud didn't mind the work that he did.] It's dangerous to try and send stuff out to someone who might be too far away. So, [said with maybe just a little pride] I handle every delivery. I'll go anywhere.
[it was his turn to take another go at the rice. nothing like some good, hearty carbs!]
There's bounty hunting work?
[Action]
[One such person was responsible for getting Yang's robot arm to her, after all. Postal workers face a lot of danger in their line of work, with Grimm being as numerous as they are.]
[She nods at his question, chewing her food and swallowing before she answers.]
Yup. It's about the only freelancing work you can do right off the bat, most jobs want you to work for someone else a full month before you can go into business for yourself.
[She uses a napkin to wipe the sweet and sour sauce from her fingertips.]
You'll need to apply for a permit to do bounty hunting work in Nova City, but otherwise, they're pretty relaxed about letting people do their own thing. You should talk to Sun if you're interested. Maybe we can work some cases together sometime, I can show you the ropes around here while I'm at it!
[Action]
[Cloud listens intently as, while he wasn't full by any stretch of the means, he was more content with picking at his food bit by bit, more content with listening to Yang as that held precedence. after all, this was why he was here, right? gathering more information, making new allies as he tried to weigh his options and figure out where he needed to go from here.]
A full month, huh... Guess I'm no good with what I got right now anyways. [which was literally nothing but his swords and the money on his person upon arriving. sooner or later, he'd need to get a sweet ride like hers.]
Sun, huh? [he looks up in surprise from his drink when Yang proposes they work together sometime. it reminded him of being a mercenary. take a job, get the money, and bounce.] You'd do that?
[he certainly wasn't going to say no. not when he didn't know what he was getting himself into. he lightly smiles at that offer.]
Promise I won't slow you down, Yang.
[Action]
[She's making quick work of her dinner, as all RWBY characters seem prone to do.]
I've had bounties prove to be more than I can handle alone. Mercury will probably appreciate having a second person there to watch my back. So I really doubt you'd be a burden.
[She points at him with her fork before using it properly to attack her food.]
If you need a ride to anywhere else you wanted to go, let me know. I can drop you off on my bike.
no subject
Whose Mercury?
[he won't argue the point about being a burden or not anymore as he stabs an experimental mix of ginger beef and sweet & sour pork on the same fork, curious of the combination of flavors.]
I'll hold you to that until I can get myself a new bike.
[om nom.]
Wish I could show you mine.
no subject
[And Mercury told her once that he likes high places because 'he likes watching the clouds.' Her grin slowly widens.]
...I need to introduce you guys at some point, definitely.
[It's going to be so good! ...In her own head, anyway.]
We can swing by the holodecks sometime, and you can figure out a program to replicate it. Then again, if you decide to open an archway, you'll have access to it there, too. It's where I keep my own bike, Bumblebee.
[She just prefers to leave it safe and accessible, especially since her last motorcycle got freaking cut in half. Better if that happens to a bike she isn't personally attached to in some form.]
no subject
[he's looking down at his plate as he's starting to feel like anymore and his stomach would start to protest. he takes another bite before raising his gaze back up to Yang. just in time for that wide grin of hers to make its debut.]
.....sure? [shades of Yuffie, for sure. before he could ask, the conversation's shifted.]
This place sounds like it has it all... What's an archway? [he asks, though the name Bumblebee sounds like she really prides herself on her bike. now he really had to show her Fenrir, be it replicating it or...whatever these archways were. he knew about the ones that connected the cities, but,]
no subject
[Except for a few flecks of rice and smears of sauce, she's pretty much polished off her meal. It was everything she wanted.]
So depending on which city your necklace leans most heavily toward, one of the things you can do is create an archway to a replica of your world, or at least a part of it. But to do that, you have to give up something important to you. Either a possession, something you can do, a memory...anything, really, but it has to matter. The more it matters, the bigger the area you can replicate. It's not real, and neither are the people within it, but they'll look, sound, and behave exactly the same way you remember them. You can always shut down the archway and regain what you gave up for it, so it's not a permanent sacrifice.
Still...probably not something you'd want to go into recklessly.
(no subject)
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