[cloud counters easily enough, this kind of back-and-forth something he's quite familiar at this point in his life. the nudge of the wing is expected, too, and it only just about manages to slightly tip him to the side a bit. that much is, too, a familiar action. it's food from the asian restaurant today; sushi, vegetable tempura, sashimi, and some extras like nasi goreng and pork belly bao. sephiroth's appetite is all over the place—and he also doesn't know how to distinguish cheap salmon from expensive one.]
[a fact cloud will continue to keep from him as he crumples up the receipt and shoves it into a pocket.]
[setting everything out on the counter and handing out spoon and chopsticks, cloud grabs a bao and starts eating, going around the counter to find a drink to go with dinner.]
Mrs. Lambert says you were out by the park again. Were you having fun terrorizing the neighborhood kids? [he flicks his gaze up at sephiroth with something of an amused expression. he presents him with two choices: cider or beer.] You're lucky they think you're a super fun and super cool guy.
[And as long as Cloud continues to keep it a secret, Sephiroth will probably never know the difference. Until the summoning mishap, consuming food hadn't been something he did anymore. Now? He wonders how he ever did without.
He supposes he has Cloud to thank for that.
Taking the cider he moves to take a seat, because while he could stand and look imposing while eating, it wasn't really practical.]
Children are highly naive. Little do they know the truth, but I have no reason to end their existence ...
[There is a small pause before he continues]
And their ignorance is amusing. Much as is yours most of the time.
[cloud can't help but snort, shaking his head in bemusement as he lets sephiroth have the cider. beer for him, it is. sephiroth has always had something of a more refined palate for certain food stuff. even the mention of his ignorance—something he's done before—is not enough to make cloud feel necessarily bad about anything. it just really is... the normal.]
And as long as we got some positive feelings in that dried up heart of yours, I think I'd rather be ignorant for a while longer.
[tilting his head back, he pushes the rest of the bao into his mouth before it falls apart. he follows it with some beer after twisting the cap off.]
You can have the sashimi. I know that's your favorite. [speaking of ignorance... haha..] Any other exciting things happened while I was gone?
[It did not matter if Cloud was going to offer him the sashimi or not, Sephiroth fully intended to take it. The summoning ritual that currently bound them together had no say over what food he swiped against the other's wishes.
With that said, he definitely digs in, only looking back up at the question. Pondering for a moment, he shrugs.]
Someone came to your door hoping to sell some sort of product. I told him if he came around again, I would repeatedly stab him until he was no longer breathing. He left shortly after.
[The way Sephiroth delivers his story is told in a completely even almost monotone fashion. Like it was an everyday thing and no big deal.
Sorry Cloud if your place gets blacklisted later.]
That's usually what happens when you stab someone repeatedly.
[a one-shouldered shrug to go with his words, and cloud's grabbing a fork to stab right into the vegetable tempura. imagery is everything.]
You've got to tone it down with the threats. People are going to start thinking that you're actually insane.
[sephiroth sounds insane pretty much all the time, but cloud has managed to have some pretty decent conversations with him despite the cryptic nature of most veins of thought. he munches on a fried carrot before setting his sights on an onion.]
I don't need the cops asking questions. [...he struggles with the stringy bit of the onion, setting it down on the cardboard top of the box it came in, and once he's gathered some sense of expression-integrity (he's trying to look serious), he points his fork at sephiroth.] The marriage license makes it less suspicious that you're here, but you don't have an ID. [he got a fake one from his friend's friend, some jessie rasberry he's seen around in his usual haunts. minimal questions were asked.] Explaining that you came from some unknown dimension in time and space and that you're actually an angel won't really make things easier for either of us.
[as much as sephiroth is self-sufficient, cloud thinks as he gets back to finishing off the fried onion, there's the likelihood that if it were found out what he is, he'll be taken in as a subject of experimentation. for whatever reason, cloud does not want that to happen.]
[Sephiroth watches Cloud eat with mild fascination as he goes on with his little ... lecture? ... tangent? Whatever one wants to call it. If only he knew the truth of it all. Angel. Sure, they can continue to go with that.
Sephiroth would prefer the term god, but why make it overly complicated?
He almost interrupts the mini lecture to say that he hadn't actually stabbed the person in question. Only threatened. But ultimately decides to keep that thought to himself and let Cloud continue on and merely takes a sip of his cider.]
Very little of what you say ever does, Cloud.
[Which isn't really the truth. They have a bond, a connection ... it's not something he can really walk away from, nor does he really want to, but that also doesn't mean he has to take anything Cloud says to heart.]
But if it bothers you that much, I'll be certain to sign you up to the next person who wishes to sell you a subscription to Cat Lovers Daily.
[See, he at least partly paid attention. And that was meant in sarcasm, but it was hard to tell without any inflection in his voice.]
[the lack of inflection or the lack of... well, everything, could bother other people. for cloud? it's just how things have been. this is the most conversational sephiroth has been in years, seemingly unable to communicate before by normal human means. so while a lot is lacking in the monotone voice and the rather blasé expressions, he can see it.]
[it's there, if barely.]
[which is why he snorts into his bottle and nearly pushes beer out through his nose.]
To hell with cats. [he rubs at his nose with the back of his hand, holding the bottle still.] But if someone comes around with a chocobo subscription, sign me up.
[and he's grinning, because it would really be something so mundane.]
[finally, cloud sets the bottle down on the counter and steps around it. he's still wearing his security guard uniform—fancy, he knows—and so he pats down his front before giving a dismissive wave over his shoulder as he heads down the hall.]
[He'd still keep eating, regardless! He also makes a mental note to sign Cloud up for everything stupid he comes across. Who needs physical torment when he can go about this other ways?
As he finishes eating, he moves towards the couch and plopping him down. His single wing disappears as he does so mostly because it'd get in the way while sitting there. (Plus he only really needs to make it appear anymore to bother Cloud)
Picking up the remote he flips through the various TV channels. Of course there is nothing good on. He pauses briefly on what appears to be a televised rendition of the play Loveless and for a moment he almost looks lost in thought before continuing on.
They can just watch the news. See what stupidity the rest of humanity is up to. Sometimes its surprising they haven't destroyed the planet all together.
If Sephiroth himself were not at least partially connected to it, he might do it himself.]
[it wouldn't, cloud knows, but what's important is that he was the first to say that it wouldn't matter—and not sephiroth rubbing it all over his face. it's the small victories of pride, really. cloud doesn't take long to change, but he definitely takes a quick shower to get rid of the day's grime, pulling up sweatpants and a tank top as per usual. the television humming in the background lets him know that sephiroth has moved on from eating, and that's when he walks back out towards the living room area.]
You done?
[is what he asks as he walks past the couch and back towards the kitchen. the sashimi is gone, but everything else is kind of there. cloud decides to do some cleaning up and stash things in the fridge (eating bits and pieces as he does), thinking that sushi for breakfast actually sounds pretty good.]
[once done (he's not a total slob, thank you), he heads back towards the tv area and stands behind the couch, observing the news with a skeptical look.]
You know it's all bought by the rich, right? The sponsors and what stories they run.
[fearmongering, most of it. keeping their attention away from the important stuff that's screwing the poor man.]
[cloud's attention diverts easily enough to the strands of silver cascading over the couch and sephiroth's shoulders, and in no time at all he's collecting the hair and brushing it back, running his fingers through it to untangle whatever's not in place.]
Throughout time, knowledge has always been controlled by those in power. Ultimately history is written by the victors, the rich, and the powerful. If you don't agree with it, and wish for change, you'll have to do something about it. Sitting idly by and complaining won't make a difference.
[And out of perhaps stubbornness, he'll keep it on the news and completely ignore the Netflix comment. Besides, he's watched most of what's on there all the times Cloud is out working.
Especially since Cloud has pretty much banished him from showing up at his place of employment. Apparently pestering him while on the job is not allowed. So he has to entertain himself in other ways ... so far he has found Netflix and tormenting the neighborhood kids.
Has he really fallen to this low point in his life? Is this what he has become?
Those are his thoughts as Cloud messes with his hair, he does not mind as his hair is amazing and all should bask in its glory. And it seems to keep Cloud occupied for some reason. Double win.]
[filling his head with garbage, what a nice way to spend his time.]
[cloud can only snort and shake his head at the mini-lecture he gets for his efforts. a different cloud might have argued this point or even done more against the status quo, but that was a different life. nowadays, cloud is a security guard with pretty terrible pay and barely managing to make ends meet.]
[he continues as he was, brushing sephiroth's hair and moving on to braiding it into a loose braid.]
And you got powers beyond those I can imagine, so why don't you do something about it?
[grappling with strands of hair, he moves his fingers deftly through. he sets it over the other's shoulder once he's done, grinning and leaning down to see if he can witness a shift in sephiroth's expression.]
Is that what you want? I suppose I could bring end to this world. That would certainly solve any issues with those on top.
[Is he serious? It is really hard to tell. He might be actively thinking about it though. Would anyone be able to stop him? At this point, Cloud certainly couldn't.
It would be so easy so ...
His thoughts shift back to the present, distracted by Cloud's actions. A quick glance down at his hair and then up at the younger man.]
I would not quit your current profession at this time.
[There MIGHT be a very, very tiny twitch to the corner of his lips. But that's all he was going to give. But it's something at least, right?]
[as most chatter that sephiroth upholds about his ability to bring the world to its knees, cloud ignores it with a rather indifferent sense. he has no reason to believe sephiroth is actually dangerous, because it's been a few years now and he's not kept any of those promises about destroying the world. the most he does is terrorize children nowadays, and even then, cloud thinks he's getting some kind enjoyment out of their attention.]
Hey, dream big.
[he'll take the words with a grain of salt, more satisfied with how pleased sephiroth looks otherwise.]
[cloud goes around and sits himself down against the arm of the couch, his feet annoyingly pressing against sephiroth's thigh. suppose they'll be watching the news. he puts cheek to the palm of his hand.]
[after a moment:] —you've been in Gaia before, right? What's your favorite place in it? [his eyes on the screen] Can't imagine you ever only stayed in Midgar exclusively.
[Oh Cloud, you have no idea just how dangerous Sephiroth can be. Just because right now the situation is different doesn't mean he couldn't slaughter an entire town of people.
He briefly considers grabbing Clouds leg and pushing him backwards off the couch, but the question is enough to give him pause.
Thinking about it while leaning back further into his seat, he only glances back to Cloud after deciding on an answer]
Nibelheim. You could say that is where my life began as it is now.
[that's enough to get cloud to sit up and look over at sephiroth, squinting in suspicion.]
Seriously? My family's from there.
[there's some... uncertainty in his statement, like it doesn't sit right with him. but it's not enough for cloud to want to traverse into what it all means. not at this point anyway. he's more interested in what sephiroth is saying.]
Is there where you became... an angel, or whatever?
[now that they're onto this topic, and sephiroth feels open to talk about himself, cloud thinks he wants to take his chances and see how much he can get out of it.]
[Eventually some of this was going to come up. Cloud would grow more curious, but what would happen if he learned the whole truth?]
It is where I learned the truth and where I died. But beyond that, it is a place where a special bond began. Memories I will always cherish and would be loath to lose.
[His glance shifts back towards Cloud after looking towards the TV for a brief moment.]
Do you ever dream you were something else than what you are now?
You're asking me that like it's supposed to mean something. Again.
[cloud adds as much with restrained exasperation in his voice.]
[he is used to sephiroth being cryptic when he speaks—and he's definitely done plenty of that. cloud drags his hand over the length of his own arm as he sits up a little better, frowning as he tries to really make some sense of what sephiroth is saying.]
...
One time I dreamed I was a lizard. [emphatically] Green and climbing walls and all that.
[Sometimes Cloud, sometimes he may enjoy your company, though he will fully admit it.
But sometimes. Sometimes strangling Cloud seems like a very good idea.
This may perhaps be one of those times.
The only warning the younger man gets is a deadpan glance before Sephiroth grabs the foot that is resting against him and simply flings Cloud backwards off the couch.
And then like nothing happened at all, he'll go back to watching the news.]
[sephiroth is very strong and intimidating, and although cloud sometimes forgets this reality, it's times like this that he is so pointedly reminded of it.]
[he falls onto the floor with an almost hilarious, choked out aughhgh sort of sound.]
[and then there's silence.]
[cloud picks himself up after a few seconds and leans into the couch, by sephiroth, and wraps his arms around the man's collar. he's a little annoyed by that, sure, but it keeps their faux relationship spicy, maybe.]
Hey, seriously? It was a joke!
[not a great one, it seems. cloud's more serious answer would have been about the fact that there are certain things that he tries not to remember, dreams he hovers between skepticism and a genuine sense of wonder when he remembers them. they're like flashes, recurring at times, and it's all too convoluted for him to remember them.]
I was gonna give you an answer proper, but I guess not anymore!
[If nothing else, he does have Cloud's full attention this time around. He gives the blonde another look and lets out a breath that could be accurately described as a sigh.]
It would be in your best interest to tell me. Dreams hold secrets and sometimes truths hidden beyond the randomness of the mind. There is perhaps something there that is important. But if you won't tell me, then I cannot help you understand.
[Or maybe it is better Cloud doesn't know. But if there's a possibility ... Well, that's a bridge they can cross when they get there.]
[and cloud throws sephiroth an odd look in return. he isn't quite as helpful or as gentle about the things that he says, except when it comes to "wanting to help cloud understand." it was strange at first, when sephiroth would hover over him, wing spread, asking him all sorts of existential questions. now? it's still strange, but there's an edge of resignation, almost like he's got to build up the patience and wait for the answer he desires.]
[cloud pulls himself away from the couch, and sephiroth, and straightens his back, going around it and over to the tv—where he switches it off with the button at the top edge of the screen. his hand lingers there, as does his gaze, before he drags it over to the wall in front of him—where bookshelves are stacked, books he hasn't really bothered to read but seemed a wise purchase at the time, years ago.]
I do have a recurring dream.
It's... [explaining dreams is so stupid. he hates when other people do it. and yet here he is, doing the same.] It's really saturated. Very green? [he turns to look at sephiroth] The color is like that of your eyes. [that eerie aquamarine glow] It's like liquid, but not? I just float in it.
[he frowns]
Do you mean those kinds of dreams?
[it's as stupid as the one about the lizard, far as he's concerned.]
[Sephiroth would be more annoyed at the TV being shut off if not for having Cloud's full focus and attention. His eyes were locked onto the blonde, watching him as he moved and spoke.
The corner of his lips curl into a small smile at the description. Ah, now that is interesting. That gives him something to work with.
And as far as Sephiroth is concerned, it is not stupid at all. Oh no, it is far very important.]
You dream of the lifestream.
[Instead of being fully cryptic about it, he'll actually explain ... a little.]
The force which connects all life on the planet. Those born come from it and those who die return.
['lifestream' is such an archaic term, but he supposed that if someone is allowed to be archaic—it would be sephiroth. the man claims to have existed for a long time, and knows things from the past in a way cloud doesn't want to think too much about.]
[but he shrugs, and turns to face sephiroth, arms crossed.]
But, alright. Let's say that is the lifestream and not me getting lost in your eyes, or something. [how nice. he's immediately aware that was a terrible joke, so just shrugs as if to say 'just ignore it.'] What would that mean? That I'm remembering a past life? Yeah right.
[Wow Cloud that is a bad joke. So much so that Sephiroth quirks a brow, though he does not feel the need to comment on it. Good to know you that you enjoy them though, he'll have to stare at you more.
Anyway.
Sephiroth stands up to approach Cloud though they were not that far of a distance to begin with. Resisting the urge to sigh at the blonde's lack of understanding, he'll just have to keep pushing. If Cloud is having dreams, he might fully remember one day.
So they might as well start down that path before it comes out in a terrible way.]
Why not? What is wrong with having lived a life before? How is it any more impossible than I, myself, standing before you?
[A small pause as though he's considering if his next words are going to be a good idea or if it's too soon ...]
If we knew each other in the past, would that make a difference?
[cloud's shoulders straighten as sephiroth approaches, but his arms are still crossed, looking up at the man.]
A difference? I dunno. It'd make for a crazy coincidence.
[he does have a point, though. reincarnation is as possible as cloud casually uttering some incantation and summoning an angel from the abyss of who-knows-where. magic is prevalent in this world, even if it's in many ways mechanical—magitek—or otherwise attempted to be created through science than to really have it bloom for a natural resource.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[cloud counters easily enough, this kind of back-and-forth something he's quite familiar at this point in his life. the nudge of the wing is expected, too, and it only just about manages to slightly tip him to the side a bit. that much is, too, a familiar action. it's food from the asian restaurant today; sushi, vegetable tempura, sashimi, and some extras like nasi goreng and pork belly bao. sephiroth's appetite is all over the place—and he also doesn't know how to distinguish cheap salmon from expensive one.]
[a fact cloud will continue to keep from him as he crumples up the receipt and shoves it into a pocket.]
[setting everything out on the counter and handing out spoon and chopsticks, cloud grabs a bao and starts eating, going around the counter to find a drink to go with dinner.]
Mrs. Lambert says you were out by the park again. Were you having fun terrorizing the neighborhood kids? [he flicks his gaze up at sephiroth with something of an amused expression. he presents him with two choices: cider or beer.] You're lucky they think you're a super fun and super cool guy.
[amazingly]
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He supposes he has Cloud to thank for that.
Taking the cider he moves to take a seat, because while he could stand and look imposing while eating, it wasn't really practical.]
Children are highly naive. Little do they know the truth, but I have no reason to end their existence ...
[There is a small pause before he continues]
And their ignorance is amusing. Much as is yours most of the time.
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[cloud can't help but snort, shaking his head in bemusement as he lets sephiroth have the cider. beer for him, it is. sephiroth has always had something of a more refined palate for certain food stuff. even the mention of his ignorance—something he's done before—is not enough to make cloud feel necessarily bad about anything. it just really is... the normal.]
And as long as we got some positive feelings in that dried up heart of yours, I think I'd rather be ignorant for a while longer.
[tilting his head back, he pushes the rest of the bao into his mouth before it falls apart. he follows it with some beer after twisting the cap off.]
You can have the sashimi. I know that's your favorite. [speaking of ignorance... haha..] Any other exciting things happened while I was gone?
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With that said, he definitely digs in, only looking back up at the question. Pondering for a moment, he shrugs.]
Someone came to your door hoping to sell some sort of product. I told him if he came around again, I would repeatedly stab him until he was no longer breathing. He left shortly after.
[The way Sephiroth delivers his story is told in a completely even almost monotone fashion. Like it was an everyday thing and no big deal.
Sorry Cloud if your place gets blacklisted later.]
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[a one-shouldered shrug to go with his words, and cloud's grabbing a fork to stab right into the vegetable tempura. imagery is everything.]
You've got to tone it down with the threats. People are going to start thinking that you're actually insane.
[sephiroth sounds insane pretty much all the time, but cloud has managed to have some pretty decent conversations with him despite the cryptic nature of most veins of thought. he munches on a fried carrot before setting his sights on an onion.]
I don't need the cops asking questions. [...he struggles with the stringy bit of the onion, setting it down on the cardboard top of the box it came in, and once he's gathered some sense of expression-integrity (he's trying to look serious), he points his fork at sephiroth.] The marriage license makes it less suspicious that you're here, but you don't have an ID. [he got a fake one from his friend's friend, some jessie rasberry he's seen around in his usual haunts. minimal questions were asked.] Explaining that you came from some unknown dimension in time and space and that you're actually an angel won't really make things easier for either of us.
[as much as sephiroth is self-sufficient, cloud thinks as he gets back to finishing off the fried onion, there's the likelihood that if it were found out what he is, he'll be taken in as a subject of experimentation. for whatever reason, cloud does not want that to happen.]
[he sighs, and takes another swig of the beer.]
Is anything I'm saying even sticking with you?
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Sephiroth would prefer the term god, but why make it overly complicated?
He almost interrupts the mini lecture to say that he hadn't actually stabbed the person in question. Only threatened. But ultimately decides to keep that thought to himself and let Cloud continue on and merely takes a sip of his cider.]
Very little of what you say ever does, Cloud.
[Which isn't really the truth. They have a bond, a connection ... it's not something he can really walk away from, nor does he really want to, but that also doesn't mean he has to take anything Cloud says to heart.]
But if it bothers you that much, I'll be certain to sign you up to the next person who wishes to sell you a subscription to Cat Lovers Daily.
[See, he at least partly paid attention. And that was meant in sarcasm, but it was hard to tell without any inflection in his voice.]
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[it's there, if barely.]
[which is why he snorts into his bottle and nearly pushes beer out through his nose.]
To hell with cats. [he rubs at his nose with the back of his hand, holding the bottle still.] But if someone comes around with a chocobo subscription, sign me up.
[and he's grinning, because it would really be something so mundane.]
[finally, cloud sets the bottle down on the counter and steps around it. he's still wearing his security guard uniform—fancy, he knows—and so he pats down his front before giving a dismissive wave over his shoulder as he heads down the hall.]
I'm gonna get changed. Keep eating, I won't mind.
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[He'd still keep eating, regardless! He also makes a mental note to sign Cloud up for everything stupid he comes across. Who needs physical torment when he can go about this other ways?
As he finishes eating, he moves towards the couch and plopping him down. His single wing disappears as he does so mostly because it'd get in the way while sitting there. (Plus he only really needs to make it appear anymore to bother Cloud)
Picking up the remote he flips through the various TV channels. Of course there is nothing good on. He pauses briefly on what appears to be a televised rendition of the play Loveless and for a moment he almost looks lost in thought before continuing on.
They can just watch the news. See what stupidity the rest of humanity is up to. Sometimes its surprising they haven't destroyed the planet all together.
If Sephiroth himself were not at least partially connected to it, he might do it himself.]
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You done?
[is what he asks as he walks past the couch and back towards the kitchen. the sashimi is gone, but everything else is kind of there. cloud decides to do some cleaning up and stash things in the fridge (eating bits and pieces as he does), thinking that sushi for breakfast actually sounds pretty good.]
[once done (he's not a total slob, thank you), he heads back towards the tv area and stands behind the couch, observing the news with a skeptical look.]
You know it's all bought by the rich, right? The sponsors and what stories they run.
[fearmongering, most of it. keeping their attention away from the important stuff that's screwing the poor man.]
[cloud's attention diverts easily enough to the strands of silver cascading over the couch and sephiroth's shoulders, and in no time at all he's collecting the hair and brushing it back, running his fingers through it to untangle whatever's not in place.]
We do have Netflix.
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[And out of perhaps stubbornness, he'll keep it on the news and completely ignore the Netflix comment. Besides, he's watched most of what's on there all the times Cloud is out working.
Especially since Cloud has pretty much banished him from showing up at his place of employment. Apparently pestering him while on the job is not allowed. So he has to entertain himself in other ways ... so far he has found Netflix and tormenting the neighborhood kids.
Has he really fallen to this low point in his life? Is this what he has become?
Those are his thoughts as Cloud messes with his hair, he does not mind as his hair is amazing and all should bask in its glory. And it seems to keep Cloud occupied for some reason. Double win.]
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[cloud can only snort and shake his head at the mini-lecture he gets for his efforts. a different cloud might have argued this point or even done more against the status quo, but that was a different life. nowadays, cloud is a security guard with pretty terrible pay and barely managing to make ends meet.]
[he continues as he was, brushing sephiroth's hair and moving on to braiding it into a loose braid.]
And you got powers beyond those I can imagine, so why don't you do something about it?
[grappling with strands of hair, he moves his fingers deftly through. he sets it over the other's shoulder once he's done, grinning and leaning down to see if he can witness a shift in sephiroth's expression.]
What's the verdict? Getting better at it, huh.
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[Is he serious? It is really hard to tell. He might be actively thinking about it though. Would anyone be able to stop him? At this point, Cloud certainly couldn't.
It would be so easy so ...
His thoughts shift back to the present, distracted by Cloud's actions. A quick glance down at his hair and then up at the younger man.]
I would not quit your current profession at this time.
[There MIGHT be a very, very tiny twitch to the corner of his lips. But that's all he was going to give. But it's something at least, right?]
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Hey, dream big.
[he'll take the words with a grain of salt, more satisfied with how pleased sephiroth looks otherwise.]
[cloud goes around and sits himself down against the arm of the couch, his feet annoyingly pressing against sephiroth's thigh. suppose they'll be watching the news. he puts cheek to the palm of his hand.]
[after a moment:] —you've been in Gaia before, right? What's your favorite place in it? [his eyes on the screen] Can't imagine you ever only stayed in Midgar exclusively.
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He briefly considers grabbing Clouds leg and pushing him backwards off the couch, but the question is enough to give him pause.
Thinking about it while leaning back further into his seat, he only glances back to Cloud after deciding on an answer]
Nibelheim. You could say that is where my life began as it is now.
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Seriously? My family's from there.
[there's some... uncertainty in his statement, like it doesn't sit right with him. but it's not enough for cloud to want to traverse into what it all means. not at this point anyway. he's more interested in what sephiroth is saying.]
Is there where you became... an angel, or whatever?
[now that they're onto this topic, and sephiroth feels open to talk about himself, cloud thinks he wants to take his chances and see how much he can get out of it.]
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It is where I learned the truth and where I died. But beyond that, it is a place where a special bond began. Memories I will always cherish and would be loath to lose.
[His glance shifts back towards Cloud after looking towards the TV for a brief moment.]
Do you ever dream you were something else than what you are now?
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[cloud adds as much with restrained exasperation in his voice.]
[he is used to sephiroth being cryptic when he speaks—and he's definitely done plenty of that. cloud drags his hand over the length of his own arm as he sits up a little better, frowning as he tries to really make some sense of what sephiroth is saying.]
...
One time I dreamed I was a lizard. [emphatically] Green and climbing walls and all that.
[this is not what sephiroth is asking for]
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But sometimes. Sometimes strangling Cloud seems like a very good idea.
This may perhaps be one of those times.
The only warning the younger man gets is a deadpan glance before Sephiroth grabs the foot that is resting against him and simply flings Cloud backwards off the couch.
And then like nothing happened at all, he'll go back to watching the news.]
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[he falls onto the floor with an almost hilarious, choked out aughhgh sort of sound.]
[and then there's silence.]
[cloud picks himself up after a few seconds and leans into the couch, by sephiroth, and wraps his arms around the man's collar. he's a little annoyed by that, sure, but it keeps their faux relationship spicy, maybe.]
Hey, seriously? It was a joke!
[not a great one, it seems. cloud's more serious answer would have been about the fact that there are certain things that he tries not to remember, dreams he hovers between skepticism and a genuine sense of wonder when he remembers them. they're like flashes, recurring at times, and it's all too convoluted for him to remember them.]
I was gonna give you an answer proper, but I guess not anymore!
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It would be in your best interest to tell me. Dreams hold secrets and sometimes truths hidden beyond the randomness of the mind. There is perhaps something there that is important. But if you won't tell me, then I cannot help you understand.
[Or maybe it is better Cloud doesn't know. But if there's a possibility ... Well, that's a bridge they can cross when they get there.]
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[cloud pulls himself away from the couch, and sephiroth, and straightens his back, going around it and over to the tv—where he switches it off with the button at the top edge of the screen. his hand lingers there, as does his gaze, before he drags it over to the wall in front of him—where bookshelves are stacked, books he hasn't really bothered to read but seemed a wise purchase at the time, years ago.]
I do have a recurring dream.
It's... [explaining dreams is so stupid. he hates when other people do it. and yet here he is, doing the same.] It's really saturated. Very green? [he turns to look at sephiroth] The color is like that of your eyes. [that eerie aquamarine glow] It's like liquid, but not? I just float in it.
[he frowns]
Do you mean those kinds of dreams?
[it's as stupid as the one about the lizard, far as he's concerned.]
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The corner of his lips curl into a small smile at the description. Ah, now that is interesting. That gives him something to work with.
And as far as Sephiroth is concerned, it is not stupid at all. Oh no, it is far very important.]
You dream of the lifestream.
[Instead of being fully cryptic about it, he'll actually explain ... a little.]
The force which connects all life on the planet. Those born come from it and those who die return.
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That's not what people call it anymore.
['lifestream' is such an archaic term, but he supposed that if someone is allowed to be archaic—it would be sephiroth. the man claims to have existed for a long time, and knows things from the past in a way cloud doesn't want to think too much about.]
[but he shrugs, and turns to face sephiroth, arms crossed.]
But, alright. Let's say that is the lifestream and not me getting lost in your eyes, or something. [how nice. he's immediately aware that was a terrible joke, so just shrugs as if to say 'just ignore it.'] What would that mean? That I'm remembering a past life? Yeah right.
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Anyway.
Sephiroth stands up to approach Cloud though they were not that far of a distance to begin with. Resisting the urge to sigh at the blonde's lack of understanding, he'll just have to keep pushing. If Cloud is having dreams, he might fully remember one day.
So they might as well start down that path before it comes out in a terrible way.]
Why not? What is wrong with having lived a life before? How is it any more impossible than I, myself, standing before you?
[A small pause as though he's considering if his next words are going to be a good idea or if it's too soon ...]
If we knew each other in the past, would that make a difference?
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A difference? I dunno. It'd make for a crazy coincidence.
[he does have a point, though. reincarnation is as possible as cloud casually uttering some incantation and summoning an angel from the abyss of who-knows-where. magic is prevalent in this world, even if it's in many ways mechanical—magitek—or otherwise attempted to be created through science than to really have it bloom for a natural resource.]
[but it does bring forth the question...]
You're saying we knew each other before?
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