002 ; accidental audio

[liveandforgive]

[as Cloud contemplates where to work and live, what little he had left of his money was used on the cheapest food possible. Angela healing him in an act of good will meant he wasn't paying for any hospital bills. lord only knew how much those could cost in gil depending on where you went.

he returns to his little temporary room in the Genessia Commons after spending the majority of his day out and about, crossing over between Nova City and Fayren to get a better lay of the land. there were two other cities to explore soon on his list. his first week here wasn't exactly the smoothest, but hearing about what was happening to everyone else (and observing across the network the unanimous "oh my god that's not how I really am I'm so sorry" amongst the abducted today), Cloud was far from the only one. generally he kept his head bowed and soldiered on as best as he could.

and yet...he couldn't help but feel out of his element. between letting that girl who went missing leave when things were getting dangerous, letting his guard down enough to get a decent beating, and that anonymous message from someone who questioned their ability to protect those they cared about. that last part stirred him especially. flipping through his communicator one more time, his thumb accidentally slips over the face button that starts recording audio,]

--

Audio;

[the feed is quiet at first coming from 'Cloud Strife', before a small huff can be heard. he tosses his device onto the bed where it bounces once, catching a voice.]

What do I got left...?

[it's clear that he's talking to himself, his voice picked up and the sound of something being opened (a fridge?). ...]

Eh. Maybe later. [fridge door closes, followed by the sound of running water as he gets something to drink. a minute passes in near silence before the sound of something joining the bed can be heard, Cloud laying down none the wiser to his device being on.]

Hoo boy. At this rate I'm gonna hafta put some nails in a bat. 'Til I can afford new weapons...if I can even get any. [a beat] Take up martial arts...get a gun. [...no way was he touching guns again if he could help it. he had experience with them, but he'd MUCH prefer swords again.] Mm. Scratch that...

[he rolls onto his back in bed, tiredly staring up at the ceiling.]

Time stops... But...what am I going back to?

[the feed seems to continue on for a while yet, but when it's clear that there'd be no further sound, it idles out and submits]

Comments

[Video - Locked]

[solar_flare]

[Well. At least this saves her the trouble of making a big public apology that might only serve to embarrass the both of them. She feels awful about what happened, and the reminder about how she pretty much left him defenseless just deepens that guilt even further.]

You don't need new weapons. I'm bringing your swords back. And the money. Plus interest.

[Self-consciously she pulls her hair over her shoulder, awkwardly brushing a hand over it as she looks down for a few moments.]

I'm really...really sorry. I don't know why that happened to me. My memories changed for that whole week, and it just...I don't know...made me really mean, it looks like. I don't want to make excuses, but I also want you to know, that's not even close to how I usually am.

I'm sorry, Cloud. That's a really lousy thing to happen to someone who's brand new to this place. Can I make it up to you?

[Video - Locked] 1/2

[liveandforgive]

[the sudden voice catches Cloud completely by surprise. he thought he had it shut off somewhere on the bed where he threw it. but the sudden re-emergence of a familiar voice gets him rolling upright on his bed. the video catches the blond darting his head back and forth looking for it. but this wasn't the same voice that belittled and battered him... the other problem was that it also wasn't the same voice of a bright and sunny dragon either.

"I'm bringing your swords back. And the money. Plus interest."

all that Cloud sees as he finally finds the phone is an awkward, guilt-ridden girl. that may not have been how she usually was, but neither was this. sitting upright with his back resting against the back of his bed, he didn't say a single word, his initial surprise slowly shifting into a more neutral expression. his eyes certainly held much more life to them this time, mako-infused blues intent on her as he heard her out.]

. . .

[it wasn't her fault. he had to stop himself from saying anything. his silence was his respect for her. admittedly, Cloud by his own force of will, intended to accept that this world had changed her and the people in it. and who knew if he would ever see them the same way again? after all, he had to live and find work, get prepared for the day he made his choice, make a decision to fight and find a way back home. that still mattered to him, even if it meant losing the people he had no control over losing. those same people that knew absolutely nothing about him, yet gave him all the help in the world... all he could do is not give up, and keep trying.

he could be mad at Yang, but what good would that do when he knew it wasn't her fault? he could use her as a venting point to how messed up this world seemed to be at times, and blame Genessia and whatever kind of manipulation was at work. he could relate to how he understood what it was like to have his memories messed with. he could cut to the chase and tell her to bring back his swords so he could get back to fighting. he could do or say so many things, but,]

[Video - Locked] 2/2

[liveandforgive]

Oh, good.

[it's small, enough so that he doesn't even realize he's doing it- his usual calm tone carrying a faint cadence of relief with matching smile.]

You're still here.

[Video - Locked]

[solar_flare]

[Yang's brow flickers, before shifting to different levels. His response isn't quite what she expected. He's forgiving her? Just like that. Even though she beat him and left him in a mangled heap, waltzing off with everything he held dear, he's not even mad.]

[He was just worried about her, all this time.]

[That weight is still on her shoulders, but it's significantly lessened now that she knows he hasn't been embittered by this, despite having every right to hold a grudge or act mistrustful toward her and anyone else that's crossed his path.]

Ha...! Yup. I'm still here.

[She smiles crookedly.]

But you still haven't answered my question. How am I making this up to you?

[Video - Locked]

[liveandforgive]

[if Cloud kept asking for forgiveness every time something that was out of his control happened, instead of forgiving himself... well, he'd probably have reacted to Yang a lot more awkwardly. he could think about how he was more focused on leaving all he wanted to, but that would imply that he didn't care at all. so long as he was here, he'd help whoever he could. that included the perplexed Yang.

when she smiled back, he felt a slight weight lifting off his own shoulders too, relaxing more. just...ignore the part about him investing in a nailbat, would you?]

Huh?

[the former mercenary in him would have taken money. but that wasn't him literally. but this was Cloud.]

I mean... You're giving me my stuff back. [not to mention she gave him free food and more than a helping hand.] I'm fine with that.

video.

[beamsmagicalgirls]

The nails and bat sounds barbaric.

[His way of saying, 'hey, you're live'.]

video.

[liveandforgive]

[dated before Yang reached out to him, Cloud flips in bed when the voice reaches his ears. that wasn't supposed to happen.]

Wha..??

[he picks it up from the sheets of the bed, raising it up to see the cool, straight to the point guy he'd met earlier. 17, right...?]

Sorry. Not sure how I made this thing start recording. A nail bat? Nah, don't worry about it.

Re: video.

[beamsmagicalgirls]

[17 probably still had the same shirt on, but this time Cloud could see it shredded in some places such as the front, and maybe part of his sleeve. He was getting to it, eventually.

He gave a calm shrug.]

Never heard of something recording and posting on their own.

[Mental note to self: Keep phone away and off.]

video.

[liveandforgive]

[..... that definitely doesn't slip past Cloud, who can see the rips.]

No, no. That's not it, I don't...think? Hang on.

[he checks it and realizes,]

Musta slipped my thumb over the wrong thing and let it keep going across the room.

Audio - Private

[clevermind]

Cloud?

[Belle's voice is soft and as fragile as a dove. This week has been trying and worrying but she's trying her best to reach out to those she's met in the city and make sure that they're alright.

Events like this happen more often than Belle is comfortable with and she wishes there is more that she can do.]

Are you alright?

If you need some help, perhaps there is something I can do?

[Belle has very little money but she's been in the city for some time and knows a few people who might have access to what Cloud needs.] Even if it's only a bit of company.

Audio - Private

[liveandforgive]

Huh?

[reaching around for his device, the sound of a familiar voice reaches his ears. was that...]

Belle?

[that was her name, right? she was technically the first person he'd met here before he got picked up by Yang. he even had that map she'd given him pinned to the fridge in his temporary living space. he really hadn't planned on her hearing any of that. or anyone for that matter. just the simplest of musings of a tired man who wouldn't give up.]

Y-Yeah. I'm fine. Didn't realize this was on... [he tries to recover as best as he can, his voice even and cool even when he's a little embarrassed.]

I just went all over Nova City and Fayren, so I'm feeling kinda beat.

[and short on money. but he's not about to burden anyone with that. not when he could get a job soon and pick up the pieces. but considering everything that was happening around him, he hadn't heard from her this entire time. so he wondered..]

What about you? You alright?

Audio - Private

[clevermind]

Yes. It's me.

[She doesn't know if he's forgotten her but her voice rings clearly through the phones in confirmation anyway. She doesn't think she's the sort of person to be easily remembered.]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. [Belle gives him time, hoping that her reply isn't too much of an inconvenience.] That's a lot of ground to cover in one day.

[Belle looks down at her feet before looking back at the screen.]

I'm just fine. I was more worried about you.

Audio - Private

[liveandforgive]

[he definitely wouldn't forget someone like her. he hadn't even checked the text source, recognizing her almost immediately. he had to admit, with more time on his hands, Cloud was able to remember more faces and voices. especially ones like her who had helped him mere hours after he'd only just arrived.]

No, it's fine. Was just talking to myself. [when she comments on the distance he'd gone in that time, the blond was quick to come up with a good response. maybe he really was tired, even after Angela had healed him up prior.] I'm used to it. I've travelled around the world. ...not in one day, I mean. But... [now he's just trying to talk himself out of making her worry.] ... I walk a lot.

Glad to hear nothing happened to you while things were getting crazy.

Audio;

[heroes_never_die]

[Angela was quiet for a moment, as if wondering if she should say something. Finally...]

Is everything okay, Cloud?

Audio;

[liveandforgive]

?!

[geez! that caught him by surprise as Angela's voice comes from somewhere on his bed. he nearly forgot about his communicator when his head whipped around the room. but when he realized he had a line to Angela on the line of his communicator...]

Oh...

[well, that was embarrassing. this was twice that he'd accidentally shown more to this person than he intended to. ...he wondered how easy it was to fool doctors. probably very damn difficult. but he technically was okay!]

Mostly. Guess I'm just getting anxious about figuring out a way back home.

[it wasn't a lie, but he wasn't going to tell anyone about his own shortcomings. she'd known that he got mugged, after all. but he never mentioned the name of who was the one that attacked him. at the time, he wasn't sure what it was... maybe he was stubborn and wanted to protect them still. if they even still existed, that is.]

Actually thought I was just talking to myself. DIdn't mean to hit record.

Audio;

[heroes_never_die]

I guess I can understand that feeling. There's... a possible upraising in my world soon and tensions are high, so I... really need to be there, but... [Shaking her head.] There's nothing we can do as of right now.

[Honestly, she wasn't going to probe on about who took his weapons since it was none of her business if he didn't want to tell her. All she cared about was that he was safe and sound. But she couldn't help the small chuckle from escaping her lips.]

It does take a bit to get used to these phones, so I'm sure it happens to a bunch of people besides yourself.

[Video]

[bigbadrose]

Why do you need a weapon?

[Video]

[liveandforgive]

[gah! he was recording? ... crap. he hoped that Grievous guy didn't catch wind of this. he already initially set the guy off and got a 'stern warning' as it were. now he sounded like a punk.]

To defend myself. [and pick fights whenever he needed to?] Not much of a swordsman without a sword.

[Video]

[bigbadrose]

What from?

Swordsman, truly? Is that a common thing in your-- where you're from?

Text

[chocobosnap]

I lucked out because Noct is here, so my gun is working fine.

Do you need help getting a weapon? I could give you the money. I make more than I'm using right now.

[And he can't even show his face with such an offer? Nope, still too nervous.]

Text

[liveandforgive]

[Prompto again, huh? he hears his device vibrate on the bed, signalling the message. when Cloud reads it, he realizes he's accidentally left it on. this guy must have heard everything. ... at least via text he could take his time in answering.]

Nice to catch a break.

[he's making more than what he's using?]

That's called saving, Prompto. Keep it. I'll be alright.

Text

[chocobosnap]

I know, but I'd hate for you to feel unsettled without being armed. Honestly, if I didn't have a way to defend myself, I don't know what I'd do.

It's really lucky, because it could be dangerous unarmed.

[ Audio ]

[mortal_son]

Hey. Dunno if you meant to say all that.

... What kinda weapon d'you usually use?

[ Audio ]

[liveandforgive]

To myself.

[welp. it happened already. might as well own up to it.]

Swords, mostly. Guess I'll take anything I can swing with a handle to it.

[he's not lying, but he's definitely not describing his specific styles too well. ...granted Cloud's taken everything from Buster Swords to nodachi-style katanas to...well, a bat with nails in it. that was a weird one.]

[ Audio ]

[mortal_son]

Hmm. Swords.

[ There's a thoughtful pause. ]

Didja take a look at Fayren, yet? They've got stuff like blacksmiths, there. It's where I was gonna go to find an axe.