[He wouldn't even let Cloud look at the painting probably, if they saw it like that. He'd just take him to Gotham instead. "That's not much better." IT'S NOT LITERALLY ON FIRE.
He shrugs a shoulder.]
Neither is Gotham. Maybe I want to see your shitty mountains.
[ yes, jason, that's why he said Depends, and that's why he throws him a Look ]
It's one mountain. Mt. Nibel. [ the naming theme is... incredible. but he stops abruptly in front of a painting that doesn't look like anything much. it's a starry night and there's a water tower there. it's hard to see much else, but it does look like two silhouettes are on there. ] ... This... should be fine.
He stops before he accidentally rolls right into Cloud, rocking back on his heels. He glances up at the painting. It's very cute. He would never say this. It's a nice painting.
The silhouettes mean nothing to him, so Cloud is fine. Imagine this is how he meets Tifa (no).]
[It's quiet, reassuring. He's standing here with Cloud, it's alright. He stands and looks at the portrait, also preparing for the shadows to draw them in.]
[ cloud doesn't answer, partially because jason asked for this, he doesn't have to continuously reassure him, and partially because they're taken in a swirling of shadows.
the sky is clear and it's night. the houses are lit but there's no one around, and cloud looks around, something bittersweet written on his face. even if it wasn't, jason can probably sense it, because they are now connected and this was a terrible idea.
cloud turns to him ]
... Want the grand tour? [ it's wry, because there's not much to tour. ]
[Oh n. The hick place is cute! Terrible. He is fond, glancing around, but then sneakily looks at Cloud to watch the bittersweet look. He is making sure Cloud is not regretting being here, okay! This was asking a lot!
Shut up.]
Yeah, I do.
[Joke or not. Give him a fucking tour. "There's only one mountain." LOOK AT THESE HILLS AND SHIT. Jason smirks slightly.]
[ to be fair. he said one mountain but it's fucking huge. he rolls his eyes and walks in-- they'd started at the entrance of the town, and if jason looks back there's a forest and probably some more fucking mountains, i don't know, i don't remember everything about this location.
the water tower is clear in the center of town, but he doesn't look at it as he points at various buildings as they walk. there's nothing but the sounds of nature around them. ]
House. House. House. General store. House. [ he's being a dick, a little, but there's also... a sense, almost like he's a little lost himself looking at these houses and not remembering who lived there. ] ... This one was Tifa's. Her dad was the mayor. [ but he says that one with certainty. ] He hated my guts.
[ flustered, and he elbows jason lightly for that joke. no!!! no fun. and of course jason says that and there's a long pause. ]
... I didn't like the other kids. Feeling was mutual, so I got into fights a lot. Most of the adults thought I was trouble. Tifa was... nice. She was the only one I could stand.
[ he's looking up towards the mountain, eyes a little unfocused as he tries to think ]
... Her mom died, when we were little... She was... upset. She thought if she crossed the mountain she could see her again. I saw her go, so I followed. She fell off and I tried to catch her, but I just fell alongside her. She went into a coma for a week. I got... scraped knees. Everyone blamed me for it.
[ there's a stray thought that tells jason the obvious: that cloud thought they were right. he doesn't say it, though, shakes his head lightly and starts walking again ]
[Oh n. His amusement dies away when Cloud starts talking. Maybe regrets asking Cloud a little because he isn’t sure he likes how close to home it hits?
He isn’t sure he likes them having similar experiences as a kid. He thinks about why he told them he didn’t like school; the bullies, fighting with other kids. He thinks about Gabby, the girl at the community center. And he thinks about the man Bruce thought he had killed when he was Robin. He opens his mouth, but isn’t sure what to say before and after Cloud moves on.
So Cloud is left with them as thoughts instead, as they slide further in sync without trying, and probably with a very similar sentiment in accepting blame where it isn’t necessary.]
this is a horrible hat, but the stray thoughts mean cloud glances over at jason. something that filters as both a bit of a surprise, regret and gratitude, all roped in one. that they've got that in common for the first two, and that Jason gets it. it's not a story cloud shares, normally.
and he does like the joke better, lips quirking up to one side ]
Hey, we had at least four beds. For all the tourists. [ it's a deadpan voice. for now cloud keeps walking, climbing a hill to get to another house. ] ... This one's mine.
[ he makes no move to show Jason the inside, though he does peer at him like he can guess he probably wants to ]
[He gets it. Just two dudes having a shit time as kids. And an even shittier time as adults.
Cloud riding the coattails of his joke makes him snort.] Yeah, all--one of them. [Him. He's the tourist. But they may have to put two of the four beds together to fit his dorito ass, so maybe this is truer than they make it out to be.
He follows Cloud up the hill to the other house. It tells him a lot and also very little. He glances at Cloud, and a slow smirk curls his lips back. Yes. He moves away from Cloud toward the house. He doesn't go in, but he stops at a window to cup his hands around his eyes while he tries to peek in.]
Glad you actually had a house.
[He says it like it's supposed to be a sarcastic envy, but the sentiment doesn't reach it. He sounds too genuine still. He's glad Cloud had a house, not a ratty and empty apartment.]
[ if the bed can fit zack it can fit jason, please
jason trying to peek in like an idiot gets a huff out of cloud, though it's easy enough to tell it's amused. ]
Yeah, well... A lot easier to keep 'em out here in the country. [ but jason sounds genuine, which is what makes cloud grab his arm to tug him in towards the door, opening it. ] It's the middle of the night. My mom was asleep. C'mon.
[ it's a nice enough house, and cloud's bedroom is apparently right next to the kitchen which is killing me. anyway, it's small and cozy! there's nothing much to see there but cloud will let jason explore. which is a mistake because there is at least one picture of fourteen year old cloud, shitty ponytail included, with his mom. making exactly that face. jason gets both blackmail and the knowledge that cloud's eyes really did use to be a darker shade of blue... wow... incredible... i wasted so much time finding links ]
He only gets to peep into the house for a few seconds before Cloud is pulling him toward the door. He goes along since he's nosy! Show him the house!
And, yes, inside he is just as nosy. He doesn't dig through anything, but he moseys around to look. He thinks it's very cute, so it's unfortunately Cloud is syncing with him, feeling his thoughts. He's endeared by this simple life and simple house, actually? Maybe there's a bit of longing too. He would have taken a boring life in the middle of the country mountains over what he had.
But he doesn't begrudge Cloud for wanting more.] Ponytail's real cute, stud. [Hehe. He is inspecting the photo of Cloud and Mom. They look alike which makes him think about how he also looked like his own mom. A bit of conflicted, almost sad feelings come through very briefly.]
[ cloud is indeed syncing with jason. it doesn't make him any better at addressing the feelings when they're clearer, but it means he walks over and nudges his arm with his own gently.
he's got his own sad, conflicted feelings looking at the picture of his mom, but he's not acknowledging them. it's just a loop of sad boys thinking about their dead moms except one was a much worse mother, and we both know which one, ]
I was trying for cool back then. [ he manages to say it in the kind of wry tone you always reserve for your middle school self. ] I'm not letting you peek into my mom's bedroom, though, so... this is pretty much it. Wasn't that much, but it wasn't bad, either.
[ his home life was never the issue is what he is trying to say. ]
[He nudges his arm back for the first nudge. They are always doing this. He puts the picture down and glances at Cloud, somewhat smiling. Then he looks all around the house with his eyes again.
He'd make a joke about whether Cloud is shielding him from seeing where he got being comfortable in the panties from, but the moment is too nice to ruin with shitty humor. So he doesn't.]
[ he can admit it. look. he was fourteen and uncool! now he is a soldier! (shakes head slowly)
also, if jason made that kind of joke about cloud's dead mom, he would have to break up with him. just. absolutely. instead he is sappy and cloud's filled with something bittersweet yet fond while staring down at the ground. ]
... C'mon. Only got like two things left to show before I can finally learn what you wanted to tell me in Nibelheim of all places.
[ takes jason's hand this time. shut up. don't look at him. ]
[ he's going, he's going, even if he's peering at jason curiously. it's not a surprise because they're in sync, but there's definitely still the undercurrent of why in there ]
... You could've just asked without an excuse.
[ he doesn't think it's a big deal to ask or show. jason's seen a lot more personal memories than this without his consent! and vice-versa. this seems benign comparatively. and not as triggering.
but he'll keep showing up, walking a little further into town until they reach a mansion off behind everything. ]
Shinra Manor. There's always been all kinds of rumors about it, but it's off-limits to anyone not Shinra personnel. This is where...
[ there's just the stray thought finisher of "where he found out" that jason will get, because cloud's looking at it a little vacantly. he's in sync with him! so jason can probably feel the conflicted confusion like there's something he's forgetting and also the gut feeling of not going in there. it's all fine. ]
... Can show you inside if you want. Only time I went in there was when I was sixteen, as a SOLDIER.
[He does not double back and point out he did ask without an excuse technically because what he has to say and this are separate things. But he doesn't want Cloud to think he's soft!! Shut up!
He didn't want to force Cloud to do it. He gets maybe sometimes things are too hard to relive.
Cloud leads, and he follows out and over toward the mansion. Ah yes. The spooky ghost mansion. It looks... exactly like the kind of mansion that'd have spooky ghost stories for kids, yeah. He frowns gently at it, listening to Cloud talk. He glances at Cloud briefly. It's the sync that helps him. He looks at the mansion, then shakes his head.]
Nah. It's fine. Gives me the heebie-jeebies. [Being in Nibelheim is enough for Cloud right now.] Show me your other thing. Why'd you have to go in?
Edited (wait i forgot my question) 2022-07-20 21:22 (UTC)
... Mission related. Sort of. We were sent back here to check out some issues with the reactor. [ he points up the mountain, a bit ] There were monsters showing up in there. It was because of a broken purification tank. But we found... other things there. Experiments.
[ he's going to keep walking back to the middle of town in silence for a bit, trying to figure out how to word it ]
... One of the doors there read Jenova. Sephiroth had been told that was his mother's name. Shinra scientists used to stay in the mansion, so Sephiroth went and looked for answers in there. He spent days in there, researching. What he found out... that's what made him snap.
[ he says it in a weird detached manner. it's fine. he's coping. SO ANYWAY THAT'S A FUN STORY FOR FRIENDS wow here they are at the water tower ]
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[ he looks both surprised and a little wary, because he's not sure what jason wants to tell him that requires being in his hometown, but. ]
... I can look, but I don't know that it's there for sure. I haven't been looking.
[ for any familiar place, really. he would rather Not. but despite his Hrm he'll start going for those portraits, leading the way ]
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I can show you Gotham as a trade.
[Wow, this suspicion. What the heck. He reaches out to bump Cloud with his elbow.]
I'm serious, though. Only if you want. If you don't want to go, don't do it.
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[ if it looks like it might be on fire anytime soon, for example. that would suck. would i do that... put trauma into this random thread...
but also yeah this kind of trade IS so suspicious, and he's looking at jason so ??? from time to time ]
... It's really not that interesting, though. [ where he grew up, he means. ]
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[He wouldn't even let Cloud look at the painting probably, if they saw it like that. He'd just take him to Gotham instead. "That's not much better." IT'S NOT LITERALLY ON FIRE.
He shrugs a shoulder.]
Neither is Gotham. Maybe I want to see your shitty mountains.
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It's one mountain. Mt. Nibel. [ the naming theme is... incredible. but he stops abruptly in front of a painting that doesn't look like anything much. it's a starry night and there's a water tower there. it's hard to see much else, but it does look like two silhouettes are on there. ] ... This... should be fine.
[ embarrassing, a little, but fine. ]
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[Wow. The naming theme.
He stops before he accidentally rolls right into Cloud, rocking back on his heels. He glances up at the painting. It's very cute. He would never say this. It's a nice painting.
The silhouettes mean nothing to him, so Cloud is fine. Imagine this is how he meets Tifa (no).]
You sure?
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[ he's just going to keep staring because this is how you get into the portraits. he has been into one so he knows this. ]
Anything after that and it's a no go.
[ because it would be on fire. ]
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[It's quiet, reassuring. He's standing here with Cloud, it's alright. He stands and looks at the portrait, also preparing for the shadows to draw them in.]
We'll do this one. It's fine.
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it's a quaint town, the older style of architecture at odds with the various ugly pipes running through the town. also the wildlife is fucking barren i forgot that. i don't know why i'm linking these to you when you've played the game.
the sky is clear and it's night. the houses are lit but there's no one around, and cloud looks around, something bittersweet written on his face. even if it wasn't, jason can probably sense it, because they are now connected and this was a terrible idea.
cloud turns to him ]
... Want the grand tour? [ it's wry, because there's not much to tour. ]
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Shut up.]
Yeah, I do.
[Joke or not. Give him a fucking tour. "There's only one mountain." LOOK AT THESE HILLS AND SHIT. Jason smirks slightly.]
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the water tower is clear in the center of town, but he doesn't look at it as he points at various buildings as they walk. there's nothing but the sounds of nature around them. ]
House. House. House. General store. House. [ he's being a dick, a little, but there's also... a sense, almost like he's a little lost himself looking at these houses and not remembering who lived there. ] ... This one was Tifa's. Her dad was the mayor. [ but he says that one with certainty. ] He hated my guts.
[ including that part. ]
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[(affectionate)
As if he wouldn’t do the exact same thing to Cloud if roles were reversed. They really are both very annoying.
He whistles low at Tifa’s house.] Your hometown girlfriend was the mayor’s daughter? Damn, blondie. [His turn to be a dick a little.
But he seems amused the mayor didn’t like Cloud.]
How come? Stand at her window throwing rocks on nights like this?
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[ flustered, and he elbows jason lightly for that joke. no!!! no fun. and of course jason says that and there's a long pause. ]
... I didn't like the other kids. Feeling was mutual, so I got into fights a lot. Most of the adults thought I was trouble. Tifa was... nice. She was the only one I could stand.
[ he's looking up towards the mountain, eyes a little unfocused as he tries to think ]
... Her mom died, when we were little... She was... upset. She thought if she crossed the mountain she could see her again. I saw her go, so I followed. She fell off and I tried to catch her, but I just fell alongside her. She went into a coma for a week. I got... scraped knees. Everyone blamed me for it.
[ there's a stray thought that tells jason the obvious: that cloud thought they were right. he doesn't say it, though, shakes his head lightly and starts walking again ]
There's the inn.
[ LET'S MOVE ON, says cloud, ]
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He isn’t sure he likes them having similar experiences as a kid. He thinks about why he told them he didn’t like school; the bullies, fighting with other kids. He thinks about Gabby, the girl at the community center. And he thinks about the man Bruce thought he had killed when he was Robin. He opens his mouth, but isn’t sure what to say before and after Cloud moves on.
So Cloud is left with them as thoughts instead, as they slide further in sync without trying, and probably with a very similar sentiment in accepting blame where it isn’t necessary.]
The inn with only two rooms in hicksville?
[Maybe Cloud would like a joke instead…?]
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this is a horrible hat, but the stray thoughts mean cloud glances over at jason. something that filters as both a bit of a surprise, regret and gratitude, all roped in one. that they've got that in common for the first two, and that Jason gets it. it's not a story cloud shares, normally.
and he does like the joke better, lips quirking up to one side ]
Hey, we had at least four beds. For all the tourists. [ it's a deadpan voice. for now cloud keeps walking, climbing a hill to get to another house. ] ... This one's mine.
[ he makes no move to show Jason the inside, though he does peer at him like he can guess he probably wants to ]
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Cloud riding the coattails of his joke makes him snort.] Yeah, all--one of them. [Him. He's the tourist. But they may have to put two of the four beds together to fit his dorito ass, so maybe this is truer than they make it out to be.
He follows Cloud up the hill to the other house. It tells him a lot and also very little. He glances at Cloud, and a slow smirk curls his lips back. Yes. He moves away from Cloud toward the house. He doesn't go in, but he stops at a window to cup his hands around his eyes while he tries to peek in.]
Glad you actually had a house.
[He says it like it's supposed to be a sarcastic envy, but the sentiment doesn't reach it. He sounds too genuine still. He's glad Cloud had a house, not a ratty and empty apartment.]
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jason trying to peek in like an idiot gets a huff out of cloud, though it's easy enough to tell it's amused. ]
Yeah, well... A lot easier to keep 'em out here in the country. [ but jason sounds genuine, which is what makes cloud grab his arm to tug him in towards the door, opening it. ] It's the middle of the night. My mom was asleep. C'mon.
[ it's a nice enough house, and cloud's bedroom is apparently right next to the kitchen which is killing me. anyway, it's small and cozy! there's nothing much to see there but cloud will let jason explore. which is a mistake because there is at least one picture of fourteen year old cloud, shitty ponytail included, with his mom. making exactly that face. jason gets both blackmail and the knowledge that cloud's eyes really did use to be a darker shade of blue... wow... incredible... i wasted so much time finding links ]
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He only gets to peep into the house for a few seconds before Cloud is pulling him toward the door. He goes along since he's nosy! Show him the house!
And, yes, inside he is just as nosy. He doesn't dig through anything, but he moseys around to look. He thinks it's very cute, so it's unfortunately Cloud is syncing with him, feeling his thoughts. He's endeared by this simple life and simple house, actually? Maybe there's a bit of longing too. He would have taken a boring life in the middle of the country mountains over what he had.
But he doesn't begrudge Cloud for wanting more.] Ponytail's real cute, stud. [Hehe. He is inspecting the photo of Cloud and Mom. They look alike which makes him think about how he also looked like his own mom. A bit of conflicted, almost sad feelings come through very briefly.]
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he's got his own sad, conflicted feelings looking at the picture of his mom, but he's not acknowledging them. it's just a loop of sad boys thinking about their dead moms except one was a much worse mother, and we both know which one, ]
I was trying for cool back then. [ he manages to say it in the kind of wry tone you always reserve for your middle school self. ] I'm not letting you peek into my mom's bedroom, though, so... this is pretty much it. Wasn't that much, but it wasn't bad, either.
[ his home life was never the issue is what he is trying to say. ]
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[He nudges his arm back for the first nudge. They are always doing this. He puts the picture down and glances at Cloud, somewhat smiling. Then he looks all around the house with his eyes again.
He'd make a joke about whether Cloud is shielding him from seeing where he got being comfortable in the panties from, but the moment is too nice to ruin with shitty humor. So he doesn't.]
I like it. It feels like a home. Safe.
[Instead, he decides to be sappy.]
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[ he can admit it. look. he was fourteen and uncool! now he is a soldier! (shakes head slowly)
also, if jason made that kind of joke about cloud's dead mom, he would have to break up with him. just. absolutely. instead he is sappy and cloud's filled with something bittersweet yet fond while staring down at the ground. ]
... C'mon. Only got like two things left to show before I can finally learn what you wanted to tell me in Nibelheim of all places.
[ takes jason's hand this time. shut up. don't look at him. ]
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He threads his hand together with Cloud's, not minding, not pointing anything out. The shared jaeger suit of thoughts is enough probably, though.]
I could have told you anywhere, but I wanted an excuse to get you to show me where you grew up.
[Tugs on the hand. Show him, show him.]
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... You could've just asked without an excuse.
[ he doesn't think it's a big deal to ask or show. jason's seen a lot more personal memories than this without his consent! and vice-versa. this seems benign comparatively. and not as triggering.
but he'll keep showing up, walking a little further into town until they reach a mansion off behind everything. ]
Shinra Manor. There's always been all kinds of rumors about it, but it's off-limits to anyone not Shinra personnel. This is where...
[ there's just the stray thought finisher of "where he found out" that jason will get, because cloud's looking at it a little vacantly. he's in sync with him! so jason can probably feel the conflicted confusion like there's something he's forgetting and also the gut feeling of not going in there. it's all fine. ]
... Can show you inside if you want. Only time I went in there was when I was sixteen, as a SOLDIER.
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He didn't want to force Cloud to do it. He gets maybe sometimes things are too hard to relive.
Cloud leads, and he follows out and over toward the mansion. Ah yes. The spooky ghost mansion. It looks... exactly like the kind of mansion that'd have spooky ghost stories for kids, yeah. He frowns gently at it, listening to Cloud talk. He glances at Cloud briefly. It's the sync that helps him. He looks at the mansion, then shakes his head.]
Nah. It's fine. Gives me the heebie-jeebies. [Being in Nibelheim is enough for Cloud right now.] Show me your other thing. Why'd you have to go in?
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[ he's going to keep walking back to the middle of town in silence for a bit, trying to figure out how to word it ]
... One of the doors there read Jenova. Sephiroth had been told that was his mother's name. Shinra scientists used to stay in the mansion, so Sephiroth went and looked for answers in there. He spent days in there, researching. What he found out... that's what made him snap.
[ he says it in a weird detached manner. it's fine. he's coping. SO ANYWAY THAT'S A FUN STORY FOR FRIENDS wow here they are at the water tower ]
C'mon. Let's climb up.
[ and not talk about more human experiments. ]
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