001 - New Journey

[backoff]

WHO: Cloud Strife + You!
WHERE: Anywhere, will be around the hotel more and ship area for a bit
WHAT: Arrival, Intro
WHEN: Current
WARNINGS: Geostigma talks is happening in a thread. There's nothing else really happening so I'll update as needed.



A: Hollow Ships

[ Cloud has only ever seen one rocket before and seen space for a short period of time. After being here for a while, he wanted to go exploring towards the spaceships. Cid would have gotten a kick out of them and probably would want to know everything about it. Cloud's curiosity was mostly to venture out, look at them, maybe learn something. He's quiet as he stays outside of the ships, silently looking over the shape and make of them. ]

Shinra would have a field day with this.

[ It's a small side comment, particularly stated at no one. Cloud could be surprised by anyone willing to listen in to his private side conversations with himself out loud. He goes up to one of the doors and places a gloved hand upon it. However, the door doesn't respond nor does it open. He tilts his head to the side while lifting an eyebrow. Interesting. ]

How do you get in?

B: Network

[ When the feed comes on, Cloud's eyes are downward. He doesn't seem all that happy about recording. It's easier and quicker and harder to not hit send. ]

My name is Cloud Strife. How can someone find spare parts for a motorcycle if they ever need them?

[ A question that may be relevant. He pauses a little as his eyebrows knit towards the center. Cloud has to continue to make connections even here. So, he's going to also offer in the help he's been used to doing back home. ]

Does anyone need or want someone to make deliveries?

C: Wildcard

[ Want to do something not listed? Go for it! He'll be hanging around the hotel. Maybe you can catch him around on his motorcycle since he will be driving slowly with it at first. PM me if you want to hash out or discuss anything. ]

Comments

[deal_me_in]

This thing looks like it can eat rocks for breakfast.

[He gives an almost pleading look, flicking a meaningful glance between Cloud and the motorcycle. He's been good can he touch it now]

So kind of like here then. Maybe. Back home it's not so much the planet as just the city we live in that we've been rebuilding. I think it's been going pretty well though. It's nothing like this, at least.

[His excitement ticks down a couple notches as Cloud sits on the bike, an obvious power move if ever there was one. He folds his arms, rocking back on his feet some.]

Oh, do I ever. How fast does this baby go?

[backoff]

[ Cloud does take note on how good Cayde's been at keeping his hands to himself with the motorcycle. One the power move was to also make sure that if Cayde touched anything on accident, Cloud could stop it. ]

You can go ahead to touch but I'm staying seated for safety reasons.

[ There's a thoughtful look as he recalls forth how fast exactly. ]

At least two hundred and fifty miles per hour. [ Cloud's fights on this bike while going fast. Adrenaline junkie, maybe? ]

[deal_me_in]

[He claps his gloved hands together, then ever so gently sets one on the rear mufflers. Exhaust pipes? Rocket thrusters? He has no idea but they are amazing. It doesn't take long before he starts pawing at the rest of the bike, moving around it to inspect each curve and massive wheel.

At Cloud's answer to speed, he straightens abruptly, emitting a whistle.]

Can I ride it?

[backoff]

[ He watches Cayde for a moment before ignoring him to shift on bike. Cloud felt a bit more at ease where he's sitting now. At the whistle he turns his head to look at the Exo with a small smirk.

Cloud gestures with the tilt of his head while glancing behind him a little. ]

You want a ride. You get on behind me. [ It wouldn't be the first time he had passengers. But he doesn't quite trust others to ride it themselves. He might not even let that happen if he can help it. ]

[deal_me_in]

[Unsurprising, not being allowed to take the bike for a spin himself. He'd probably be the same with his Sparrow. But Cloud is still generously offering a ride, and he sure isn't going to pas that up.]

Woo! Let's do it!

[Cayde wastes no time in moving to swing up behind Cloud.]

[backoff]

[ Cloud can have regrets later for letting a very excitable Exo ride behind him. ]

You might want to hold on to something.

[ He kicks up the stand with the heel of his boot while placing them immediately in their places. The throttles are not where one might think they are. He starts revving the engine. Cayde will notice he isn't using the handlebars for that but his boots. Cloud doesn't grab the handlebars just yet as he moves the bike to go forward slowly.

He makes the bike go in a straight line at first before turning. He continues to not grab the handlebars though. The turning Cayde might notice is done in the hips. Cloud finally ducks down to grab the handles and starts speeding up the bike even more. If anything, he's going around in circles of the ships. They still aren't going full speed since Cloud is giving it a good feel before he does. ]

[deal_me_in]

Hold onto- oh, right. Um...

[Golly but where does one hang on? At least behind Cloud he can brace against the curved back of the seat, and for a while he figures he's good there, watching as they start to move along.

He's completely baffled as to how Cloud turns the vehicle- why anyone's made a thing that you didn't steer the usual way is anyone's guess, but he's still considering the practicalities of it when they begin to finally speed up.]

[backoff]

[ He turns his head to the side while looking back at Cayde. The baffled look amuses him slightly. He shouts up at the Exo. ] Hip-turning, I can dual-wield swords this way. You should really hang on now! I don't hurt easily!

[ Cloud's not joking. He can take a nice fall from very far up and land in some nice flowers by crashing through a roof. There's many other things he can handle. He's revving the engine more as he starts to really climb the speed up. ]

[deal_me_in]

Ohhhh- wait what?! You do sword fights on this thing?

[There's that excitement again, not that it's really dwindled any since they'd come to see the bike.

The warning however is heeded, if not the growl of the engines as they begin to pick up speed. Cayde all at once slips his arms around Cloud's torso. Somehow the idea of bracing against those huge exhaust pipes doesn't seem like a good idea.]

-don't tell Tony, he might get jealous.

[backoff]

Duh.

[ He's a sword fighter. It's what he said. Cloud anticipates maybe like a quick hip grab. But the full on curling of the torso hadn't been done in a long while. When? It was late at night going to the top of the plate. A back warmer. He sighs a little while speeding up a bit more. ]

Who? And why? You're more than welcome to fall off my bike. I'm not stopping you.

[deal_me_in]

Friend of mine. Honestly, he gets some weird ideas. Actually it might be fun to see how he reacts if you did tell him.

[If Cloud's steering with his hips that would make for a weird place to grab, at least in Cayde's head. It'd be like they were dancing a conga line or something. Just be glad he hasn't thought that maybe he can help steer that way.]

I don't wanna fall off! We just started!

[backoff]

A friend of yours? No, no one needs to know about this.

[ Let's not talk about dancing in front of Cloud. If that's your thing, that's fine. He is glad that Cayde hasn't decided to troll them and end up crashing the bike somehow. ]

We did and we're about to go even faster.

[ Cloud does in fact boosts it to go as fast as it can go. It doesn't bother Cloud at all on how fast they're going. He's enjoying every second of it. ]

[deal_me_in]

Why not?

[Trolling would be fun, but that'd just mean a shorter ride! And potentially less of a chance to have another! Anyway, there's plenty of time to test Cloud's humor later.]

Well don't just say so!

[Really, who's Cayde to complain about speed? It's just a good thing that he's not the one driving because who knows what shape them or the bike might end up. ...or it could turn out that he's actually better handling smaller vehicles than, say...tanks.]

[backoff]

I need to be sure I can replicate the fuel right.

[ Cayde's thought process isn't wrong.

Cloud ends up going max speed around in that long circle around the ships. He does that circle at least three more times. But he does eventually start to slow down and comes to a stop enough for Cayde to maybe adjust from the rush. He puts a foot down on the ground as they idle for a moment. ]

[deal_me_in]

...good point.

-WEEEEEEEEE!!!

[Well, someone's enjoying themselves. He is laughing as they slow to a halt.]

We could've been back and forth around the city several times over maybe! I wonder what we'd find if we just drove in a straight line out there.

[backoff]

It would've drawn a lot of attention too. [ He's not about that. Cloud shakes his head at the laughing but at least Cayde slowed down in his talking a bit. ]

Fuel, remember? I want to explore, but I don't have protection if I come across any danger.

[deal_me_in]

You'd have a line for motorcycle rides and yeah, yeah, fuel problem.

[He's still hanging on, by the way. Maybe he's expecting another circuit.]

I guess these are valid concerns. Outside of some light-shy bugs, I'm not sure what all else is out there that might have it out for us. Haven't gotten around to going out that far yet.

[backoff]

You're not a complete idiot. [ He was wondering if he had to say it for Cayde. It would be a problem. He wouldn't mind offering rides it's the fuel that would be an issue. ]

Light-shy bugs? [ Cloud shrugs, maybe Cayde might get a ride into the city or to his bar. ] I guess it's something to think about.

[deal_me_in]

I try.

[It wouldn't be as fun as speeding around, but hey!]

They're big bugs. Get real gooey too. I think I got rid of most of 'em though.

Well, once you figure out your fuel, give me a call and we'll go do some recon or something! It'll be fun.

[backoff]

If they show up again I guess we know who to blame. [ It's a small tease but also truthful. Cloud gives a nod to the next sentence. ]

I'll hold you to that. Are you ready to go home or... [ He looks down at the gauge. It should be fine for a few more laps plus he doesn't have to drive it all the time. ] a few more laps?

[deal_me_in]

[He opens his mouth, then shuts it again. Yeah, time to switch subjects!]

Ooh! Again, again!

[Really Cayde, how old are you.]

[backoff]

[ Yes, how old are you really Cayde? Cloud is quick to start back up again with the laps. He goes a lot faster this time versus a more gradual speed. At least he can have some fun while also testing it out a bit with someone on it. The weight isn't too bad and the roads out here are familiar with some terrain he's used to driving on. He'll need to map out the cliffs and mountain areas. That'll be for another time though. ]

[deal_me_in]

[Nothing wrong with having a little fun, and the way he sees it, this place has been sorely lacking for it. Cayde lets out another whoop as they go for a few more laps. At least one of them is watching the fuel, and thankfully he's the one driving.]