abstractborders | Open RP Post

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Open RP Post

There's nothing wrong with reaching for new stars and those distance horizons.

✘ Full muse list is here
✘ Tag a character's header to call them out!
✘ Include a prompt/meme prompt/starter/something for me to reply to. Any sort of prompt you want! Picture, text, etc. I'm down for anything you can come up with.
✘ Alternatively, I'm totally down for AUs as well. Post-apocalyptic, alien invasions, fantasy based--anything! Just tell me what you're interested in!
✘ This is open to everyone! Come one, come all!

Favorite Memes:
Soulmate AU + Morning After Meme + Rainy Day Meme + Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic AU + Buddy Cop AU

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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.

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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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