abstractborders | Open RP Post

This is weird.

This is really, really weird and yet all he's really doing is sitting squeezed up next to the head of the bed and the wall, curled up, head down, hugging himself.

But it's weird because it's not his bed, not his room. But anywhere else, anyone else, and Cloud feels like there'd be questions, there'd be judging and all he wanted was...

He should probably have asked first, instead of sneaking up here aside from sending a text that amounted to 'can I come by?' without actually specifying when or where. He's not even sure he'll be able to explain (even to himself), whenever, or if, his older self actually thinks to look in here.

It had been Denzel, actually, that informed Cloud that his younger self had stopped by the bar and tried to sneak upstairs. The young boy hadn't stopped him, having enough experience with the older Cloud to know that the blonde just did strange things sometimes, but he'd been quick to tell his parental figure all the same.

The older blonde had frowned softly before ruffling the kid's hair and heading upstairs.

What he finds inside his room...doesn't surprise him as much as it should. The other's body language alone speaks volumes and Cloud's expression softens just the slightest bit as he raps lightly on the doorframe to announce his presence.

"...You alright?"

It's probably very familiar body language, yes, and Cloud flinches a little just at the sound of knuckles against wood, but looks up after a moment. Opening his mouth, fully intending of at least trying to explain himself, Cloud stops there, awkwardly.

No, he's not, but what to actually say?

He's been sitting here for at least fifteen minutes and he doesn't have any more words than when he slipped in here. Licking his lips, he slowly shakes his head, meeting the familiar blue (it's still odd, when they're not in a mirror, even if there's the difference of the glow as well) before he looks away again.

"... no."

He hadn't expected a yes. Even if the other had lied Cloud would have known what it was. It was clear from the way the other was struggling with words--more than usual mind you since neither of them were very articulate--and the way he was trying to hide himself away.

Cloud didn't say anything right away and stepped into the room fully now, nudging the door shut as he went before making his way over to the bed. It sank just a bit as he sat on the edge near his counterpart, allowing himself to relax as he leaned back on his hands and glanced at the other.

"...Want to talk about it?" he asked though he had a feeling that the other probably didn't. At least not right now. That's how he, himself, would have reacted at least. And if the answer was no, he'd just go with it and at least offer company to the other.

Wanted? Not particularly. Should? Probably - that's how it usually works, after all. But the number of times he's talked about anything is... well. Low. Could? Staring at his knees, Cloud swallows. Opens his mouth again and tries, really, he does, but...

"I..." He shakes his head, bangs brushing against his arms. He can't say 'no', because it's not exactly doesn't want, but he doesn't actually want to either. Failing to find what he needs, he raises his head again, managing to, at least, give a look from under his lashes and loosen the tight curl a little.

"... accidentally burned something," he manages, nearly whispering, and it's not until he actually says that that he realises what the issue probably is, and now he's embarrassed because that sounds silly... and yet feeling worse, again.

Oh.

Well.

An understanding look spreads across the older man's face and he hesitates for a moment before he's sitting up again only to haul himself up onto the bed properly and press his back to the headboard. Once he's there he gently wraps an arm around his younger self and tugs him closer, offering him a warm embrace and silent comfort for the moment.

Forcing words out of the other after that admission wasn't something he was keen on doing. The implication is enough for him to understand exactly what was troubling the other blonde and he'd had his fair share of PTSD moments in the past. His younger self could talk when he was ready and if he didn't find the words? That was okay too.

He's not sure what he expected, going here, but not a single word being said before he's gently pulled into a hug isn't bad. In fact, it makes it so very easy to actually let himself be pulled out of his curled up pose where he was leaning against the headboard, balancing a little awkwardly.

Makes it really easy to relax and wrap his arms around the waist that's right there and this should probably be weird. Maybe it'll feel stranger later, but at the moment Cloud can just lay there and slowly let the tension disappear, staring unfocused somewhere between a pale arm and the opposite wall before he closes his eyes.

It smells of nothing more but slightly dusty cloth, soap and a faint hint of mako. Maybe the last shouldn't make anything better, but at least it doesn't make it worse, and mako doesn't smell like smoke and burning meat.

Normally Cloud's not one to be all that touchy feely with people. There are exceptions, like Tifa and the kids, but he honestly tends to just avoid it as much as he can.

This is different though. He doesn't mind this and it more than happy to just wrap the other up in a warm embrace and let him relax. Let him come down from the feelings that he'd been caught up in and let the memories fade away. Had he thought about it, he might have been wary because of the lingering smell of mako he knew to be all over him at all times but his younger self doesn't seem bothered by it so...

So he's just going to bring a hand up, fingers threading through the other's hair as he rests his chin on top of the younger blonde's head.

"You're safe here. I promise."

Really, the scent of mako around his older self isn't any more than what could nearly always be smelled on the wind growing up. It'd probably have been worse if the scent was stronger; in the reactor, it'd almost been like you were choking on it...

Briefly, he squeezes his eyes even more firmly shut at that thought, but the hand in his hair and the weight of a chin on his head slowly seeps warmth down and Cloud relaxes again.

"... it's stupid," he says quietly, a low burn of embarrassment in his gut, but he doesn't want to move either - this is just as good as any of Zack's hugs, and he's just not going to think about that. But the presence and the weight of it is... similar, and he leans in, the heartbeat reassuring. "There wasn't even any... any actual flames."

Just dirty, black smoke and a smell that had been unpleasantly familiar.

"It's not stupid." Something like this is never stupid and anyone who said it was clearly had never experienced any sort of trauma in their life. "The smell is still connected, even without flames. You can't help what is and isn't a trigger."

The older blonde draws back slightly, tipping his head down down to press their foreheads together in a soothing gesture.

"I wish I could tell you it gets easier but it..doesn't. You'll learn how to disconnect from it, though. You'll learn how to make the moments of panic less intense."

"... I guess." It comes out in a soft huff, because he can see the logic but it feels like he should. Be able to help it, that is. It should be something he should be able to do something about since it's from him this reaction is coming.

Hand tightening briefly in the cloth he's gripping, Cloud slowly shakes his head, careful enough not to dislodge the older one.

"That's... okay. It's something, at least..." And while hearing 'it gets better', might have been nice, he'd seriously have a hard time to believe it. This, while less optimistic, is far more realistic, which... is more reassuring, weirdly enough, and some tension bleeds out of him.

With the clack-click of the wheels and the rock of the cars. Small hallways, with engine drawing the passengers forward into the night.

(-places cheese wedge here-)

Edited 2016-07-03 00:33 (UTC)

There was something almost soothing about being on a train. Cloud really wouldn't have been able to put it into words had he been asked but it was honestly, next to his motorcycle, his favorite mode of transportation. It was soothing, in a way, and far more peaceful than most other means. People generally tended to just stick to themselves and there were just quiet greetings and silent nods as people moved about.

Cloud loved it.

The blonde had managed to find an empty cabin and laid claim to it, seated by the window watching everything pass by. He knew the others were milling about but he hadn't sought any of them out since they'd boarded, needing to unwind after that particularly taxing job they'd gone on to help out the Turks.

Why couldn't anything ever be easy when the Turks were involved?

A train wasn't exactly Vincent's favorite form of transport. It was tight, claustrophobic. The worst part though was the feeling of no control he had while the train moved. Even he would sustain grave injury if he attempted to disembark while it was moving.

Or, if it crashed. Then the injury would most assuredly be fatal.

He was already worn down from the job they'd taken. He knew what to expect from Turk-funded missions, at least from some years ago. Things had simply.. escalated a bit since then.

He sought out an empty cabin, wanting some level of privacy but the train was well occupied. He glances into a cabin as he passes it, not seeing anyone in it.

It was due to the angle he found very quickly as he slides the door open and steps in.

"..Cloud. I apologize, I didn't realize you were in here."

Cloud blinks and glances over towards the door when Vincent speaks, staring at him for a moment before he gives the slightest shake of his head.

"It's alright." Of all the people that he might have been bothered by, Vincent was hardly the worst. If anything, his company was much more preferable to say, certain loud mouth ninjas or talkative cat dolls. There was something almost calming about the ex-Turk's presence, something that Cloud took comfort in just like he did the train, which is why he motioned to the other seat across from himself.

"I don't mind company if you wanted to sit."

Vincent undoes his cloak, not something he did often if at all. He needed it off in the tightness of the train. For someone who slept in a coffin for far too many years he certainly felt uncomfortable in tight spaces. But perhaps that was the reason.

He lets the cloak pile onto the cabin bench before sitting down. He leans his head back, red eyes closing as he takes a moment to enjoy the quiet, outside of that clackety noise of the train.

"Did you tire of the others as well?"

They always worked well together but Vincent had some level of irritable distaste for a few members.

Volunteering for this task was more of a test for Riku. Yen Sid agreed after some discussion, Riku having offered to take it. It would be good for the boy to face his original fears. He may have conquered them in theory but now it was time to see if that was the case in practice.

It was at least.. .familiar despite the fact it was most likely a completely different area of the darkness. Not that one could tell. There were some vague shapes here and there and a periodic Heartless would approach.

Riku kept his keyblade in hand. His goal was to find Master Aqua. Her value as an asset was well needed in this coming battle.

There was also the fact he had the opportunity to spend time away from Axel while the redhead trained. Just excessively humorous to watch and laughing would be grossly unprofessional.

The darkness would be the safer option in this case.

Heartless weren't the only shapes lurking about. There were other shapes, other creatures that were similar but they had come long before the Heartless. They were born from something completely different as well and each one that caught sight of the silver haired young man alerted their creator--their parent.

The young man in question watched as Riku wandered the darkness, curiosity in his gaze that changed into intrigue the longer he watched. His form became more defined as he pulled himself out of the darkness he had been trapped in for so long and slowly he fell in step behind the other. Each step was silent as he stalked the other young man, fingers flexing, wanting for a keyblade that wasn't going to appear but it was alright. He didn't need it.

Several small flood unversed would appear in Riku's path as Vanitas stopped several paces back, head tilted as he watched his 'children' twitch and sway in place before lunging at the silver haired young man.

Those weren't normal Heartless. Riku adjusted his grip on his keyblade, turning slightly to narrow his stance. The size of a shadow, but looked nothing like them. Was it something from deeper in the darkness? Riku had never seen them when he traveled here before with Mickey.

He slashed through them as they lunged, striking two down but having to step aside of a couple others. They were faster than Shadows. Sharper and more focused in its strikes.

He'd need to take mental notes. Any changes in the darkness needed to be reported back to Yen Sid and the King.

He had been forced to turn when the Unversed struck at him and he raises his keyblade towards the new figure. Humanoid figures that could harbor some stronger intelligence than what seemed to just be a spikey Shadow would be the more important danger to focus on.

"Who are you?"

Vanitas's lips had curved into a smirk as Riku started fighting the floods, his emotions feeding the little creatures and urging them to lash out faster and more fierce than normal. It wasn't until Riku had turned and their gazes met that the floods backed off, several more appearing to replace those that had already been destroyed to form a circle around them.

"Someone that knows who you are," he mused, rolling his shoulders a bit as his fingers flexed again.

What he wouldn't do for a chance to hold a keyblade again. Careful Riku or he may just rip yours out of your hands.

"Someone that knows all about what you and your friends do."

Riku's hands would be cold and dead, and that keyblade would never let Vanitas hold it. Well, if Riku could help it. He didn't exactly want to risk it nor did he want to be cold and dead. He'd come to far to let that happen. And.. ...

Wait.

He squinted, blade lowering slightly. Was the Darkness playing tricks on him? The adrenaline was fading back, giving him a moment to focus.

"... Sora?"

Unable to help himself, Vanitas chuckles and saunters closer.

"Hey Riku." He mocks Sora's voice but there's still a deeper touch to it, a sharper edge that is nothing like the young man that Riku knows so well.

The shadows around them shift and Riku would find himself almost nose to nose with Vanitas who's gloved fingers stroke over the hilt of his keyblade.

"So nice of you to bring me a gift~"

Riku felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. No, that didn't sound right. With that face, with that voice. He needed to pick out the differences to keep himself from feeling further unnerved. This wasn't the time to be put off balance.

Though, having the other boy suddenly right in his face certainly did just that. He steps back quickly, his hand pulling the keyblade down and out. Luckily he'd put enough space between them to avoid slashing the boy.

Didn't he want to slash the other boy? No. There was just.. that one thing pulling his hand back.

"It isn't your's. Who are you? What are you?" The yellow eyes had some indication, but he didn't want to assume. It was most likely just an errant ball of emotions masquerading as some dark fear.

"You sure?" Vanitas taunted, smirking darkly as the other moved backwards and yet didn't lash out. Sharing a face with dear Sora seemed to have more perks then he realized before. "Maybe you're just a temporary owner, until the rightful one came along."

That's a fear that most keyblade wielders have, isn't it, Riku? In the depths of your mind doesn't it eat at you; make you question everything? He knows Sora went through that same thing. What about you?

A mock thoughtful sound escapes the young man as he starts to walk along the edge of the circle the floods had created, the creatures shifting whenever he passes, feeding off his emotions.

"I'm Vanitas. Though that probably doesn't mean anything to you," he drawled, rolling his eyes. "I'm Master Xehanort's apprentice."

There was a brief, dark feeling weedling its way into Riku's thoughts. What if? But Riku had been granted the title of Keyblade Master. He'd fought hard to get to where he was, and conquered the darkness. That was why he was able to walk here without fear

Well..

Mostly without fear.

Riku watches closely, trying to shake that unnerved feeling that this was Sora swallowed by Darkness. His worst nightmare, come to life.

"It doesn't." Riku at least kept his voice flat and unimpressed. He knew Master Xehanort. He also knew that they'd defeated each form of him so far and it was only a matter of time until they defeated Xehanort as well.

"It looks like you were abandoned. Were you that bad of an apprentice?" Well, that was just kind of mean.

[Y/N?]

[He should have been asleep hours ago but sleep didn't come easy for him most of the time. His brain was always going a mile a minute and he just couldn't get it to shut up. It had been especially bad since his accident but little things helped.

Like a warm mug of tea.

The engineer was curled up on the couch in the common room with a blanket and a steaming mug of tea, zoned out as he sipped at it absently and stared at the blank television. Things had been tense around base and he knew that was a large part of why he couldn't really just..stop. He couldn't let himself relax; there was just too much to do.

But, at the same time, he really wasn't sure how much more of this he could take.]

[He wasn't the only one out of bed. Jemma had been trying to make sense of the data readings at her desk in the lab, but it was proving to be an exercise in futility.

Entering the common room, she's not sure if Fitz is deep in thought about anything in particular, or if it's just another sleepless night. She retrieves the making of her own tea, pleased to at least find the kettle still warm.]

Penny for your thoughts?

[Fitz hears the soft clink of the kettle on the stove and he manages to snap out of his thoughts prior to her speaking. (Which is good considering how badly he probably would have startled.) His gaze finds her and follows her movements, his mouth opening and closing a couple times before he finally let's out a sigh.]

It just feels..never ending, you know?

[His voice is soft, way softer than he'd like but there isn't much he can do about it now. He's just worried. And maybe a little bit scared of what's to come.]

Mm.

[It doesn't much matter what 'it' might be referring to. It's been one thing after the next since... well, since they left Sci Ops, really, and whatever he means, she has to agree.]

I know what you mean.

Open RP Post

Cloud Strife || FFVII or KH flavors

I heard we wanted chocobos snuggling

BIRDSNUGGLES

A HUGE PILE OF FEATHERS

TIME FOR A NEST

an excellent idea

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Please excuse the super late

:D No worries

You're waiting for a train..oh wait, you're on it.

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Sora

Vanitas

Wang Wang

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Judy Hopps

Clint Barton || MCU

Leo Fitz

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Y!! I'm...so not caught up on the series so sticking to like..season 2ish canon wise

I am not either so you are in good company.

\o/

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Cissnei

Axel/Lea

Rocket Raccoon || 616

Bilbo Baggins

Bard the Bowman

Auron || FFX or KH flavors~

Katsuki Yuuri | Yuri!!! on Ice

Ignis Scientia | Final Fantasy XV

Noctis Lucis Caelum | Final Fantasy XV

Ardyn Izunia | Final Fantasy XV