You'll Always Be A Memory

[backoff]

WHO: Cloud Strife + You
WHERE: A room that's part office and part bedroom
WHAT: Calibration. Cloud has been in his own mind before to find his true self. This time it's different.
WHEN: During the event
WARNINGS: Sephiroth gets his own warning enter at your own risk (if you don't want any of scenes don't touch the black feather), cross-dressing, blood, alcohol, death, fire. (side note: you can touch the Buster Sword multiple times for different scenes if you want to avoid death scenes with it please state so)



The room is divided in a split, both rooms look simple and run down. The left side of the room is an tiny office space. A desk that doesn't have a lot clatter with a lone chair behind it. As if it was used rarely, there's an old style cord phone on the desk. A tiny vase with a yellow flower in it. A glass with red liquid partially filled on top of what would seem like bills. There's a dart board on the wall, right next to it is a calendar with scribbled notes. A window to look out of for the view of Edge.

The right side of the room is the bedroom. There's a dresser along the wall that has several objects upon it. A pair of long golden earrings carefully land on upon a folded up dress that appears to be black and blue. In the middle of the dresser is a infantryman helmet as if it was trying to be a center piece for something. Right at the edge of the dresser is a black feather threatening to topple off of it and flitter towards the ground. The object leaning on the dresser closer to the door is the Buster Sword.

There's a bed in the room under another window. This window appearing to be raining outside with dark clouds.

Cloud is leaning against the wall at the back right where the room splits down the middle. His arms are folded, his head is down as he stares at the floor. It's quiet, peaceful and boring.

Comments

[deal_me_in]

"Eh, some of them do. Can't be all business all the time. That'd wear you out." He shrugs. "Some do it better than others, of course, but I guess so long as they have fun."

Cayde holds the earrings out to see if Cloud still wants them, otherwise he'll place them back on the dresser. "Who's this Corneo guy and what's he choosing women for? No wait, what's this about a Colosseum?"

[backoff]

"Do you dance, Cayde?" Cloud doesn't need the earrings since the dress isn't around anymore. He's back to wearing that simple dark blue long sleeved turtle neck, black military pants and boots.

He places his hands on top of Cayde's while leading him carefully away from the dresser. Cloud lets go once they're a bit from it. "Don Corneo was someone that had information on Avalanche. Tifa had been determined to figure out what it is." He pauses in the story knowing that it involves someone that Cayde probably didn't even see yet.

"Aerith and I followed her to Wall Market not knowing why she was there. We did a bit of research. Corneo picks a "bride". Tifa didn't know she was going to be up against two other people. She was taking a giant risk to get something that was important to our group. Since we were there to help her out, Aerith decided to say I do it too. We later figured out that it would help Tifa out since we could get the information that was needed."

[deal_me_in]

"Me? Oh-ho no. Not my thing," Cayde says, cutting a hand through the air to emphasize the point. Maybe a happy dance now and then if he'd found some good loot but those are private moments shared with only his Ghost.

He lets himself be led away, metal brow quirked in amusement, but once his hands are free he's folding his arms again as Cloud recounts the mission, as it were. Of Tifa he'd only seen her back, and given Cloud had said she was a childhood friend, he's unsurprised at the lengths he'd go to help her. "Nice. So turned out getting prettied up was worthwhile. Avalanche is...?"

[backoff]

"It's not my thing, Cayde, but it was important." Cloud knew that he can do things he didn't want to for reasons. Sometimes there needs to be an extra push somewhere and one that made actual sense.

He made a promise to Tifa to be there for her when she was in trouble. As silly as that might seem he still holds to it. "Up until you find out how much of a creep everyone and including him truly is. Avalanche is a group of individuals that stuck up for the Planet and went against Shinra who had been hurting the Planet. I was a hired mercenary for them. In the beginning I didn't care who they were, the job had been to get inside a mako reactor and blow it up."

Cloud bites his bottom lip. "I helped them blow up Mako Reactor 1. It caused a lot of trouble. Enough trouble that Shinra decided to drop a plate on Sector 7, their home, just to turn it around to put the blame on Avalanche."

[deal_me_in]

"I understand that. I'm just glad that the things I need to throw in with don't involve having to wear a dress."

He's pretty sure a lot of his Hunters wouldn't be caught dead wearing one either. For all that he says, Cayde can see how much Cloud will do for those he cares about. It's a good thing to take note of. That's the sort of person you'd want to have your back, after all.

"Well, I hope you sure showed that Don guy." And then he frowns. "...this Shinra sounds like bad news."

[backoff]

"There was additional task prior to the dress. But I don't have to bring that up."

Cloud wasn't going to since there really was no need it. Squats? No one needed to know he had to do squats. Cloud would protect his friends and anyone that he cares about. He's strong enough to do so yet Cayde probably doesn't know he could place all the items in the room and lift the bed without breaking a sweat.

"We scared him a little before he pulled a trap door on us." He looks at at the Exo. "Shinra Electric Company. They have a lot of secrets. Those secrets weren't good ones at all. I'm sure you have questions on the eyes by now."

It's strange because back at home that's the first thing everyone notices because it's the way of life there. Mako junkie to those in the slums not knowing any better. SOLDIER to Shinra troops or anyone related to them.

[deal_me_in]

A lot of big organizations had their secrets. This Shinra thing. Clovis Bray. Maybe that's why Cayde doesn't seem terribly surprised.

"Oh, I do. I mean, glowing eyes aren't that unusual," he says, gesturing vaguely towards his own with a wink, "-but if you're not Awoken or Exo or, yeck, Hive, then there is probably a Story behind it."

He shrugs. "Of course, that's only going by things I know. May very well be something common where you're from, but with what you've said, maybe not."

[backoff]

Cloud nodded at Cayde, that made more sense why he didn't seem at all that surprised by it. If they were that common where he was from. "There is a story behind. My story starts from that first meeting with Zack."

He gives a small sad soft smile. "Don't worry. I'll try my best to not get too emotional. I normally don't. It was sudden and unexpected." Cloud gives a small frustrated pout at that.

"The Planet I'm from their SOLDIERs have it because of the mako infusion. They get enhanced abilities but only certain people can really take on the infusion." One must have a great mental will, doesn't matter if you're physically fit.

"I never made it as a SOLDIER."

[deal_me_in]

The Exo smiles wryly. "Memories have a way of doing that. Anyway, if you don't feel up to it, no one's forcing you."

They don't even have drinks to share over story swapping- not that there's much swapping going on, but it still feels weird having such serious conversations without some liquor to hide behind. Cloud continues with his story though, so it's only fair the Cayde feels he should hear him out.

"Okay, so maybe you should explain what this Mako stuff is. I'm assuming it's some kind of...power source or something? Radioactive? Is that why the eyes glow? There was a lot of stuff with Mako reactors so..."

A pause. "...you drop out of being this super-infused soldier thingy?"

[backoff]

"Mako comes the Lifestream. We make materia out of it so we can cast spells and skills and other things. In a liquid form scientist can inject it however they need. Shinra has many big secrets and use not only Mako to make some of their top tier SOLDIERs." Cloud remembers what Zack told him how SOLDIER was nothing but a den full of monsters and to stay out. He sighs knowing he would never achieve his dream and he lost so much more.

He walks over towards the bed and sits down on the edge of it. Cloud pats the space next to him offering Cayde to come along.

"You might want to sit for this one."

[deal_me_in]

"Oh, waitwaitwait- I've heard about materia! Yeah! Reeve told me about it once. And the Lifestream." So the materia's more a byproduct of some sort. It's still a lot to digest, but Cayde thinks he's got the gist of it.

He looks towards the bed and then steps over to join Cloud there for a seat.

[backoff]

"Reeve and I know each other. We come from the same world but... I think there's something different from him. You can tell me what else he might have told you. It could be helpful." Cloud's not sure what exactly. But he knows that Reeve is a bit different from the one he knows. Reeve is still his friend even if not from the same world.

He turns to face Cayde. "I'm an failed experiment by Hojo. I guess he thought Zack and I would be perfect candidates. He probably didn't know which one of us killed the greatest war hero general. No one can best him. There's more to that first memory you witnessed." Cloud puts a hand over his heart. "My story is long, painful, confusing and a lot of loss."

[deal_me_in]

Cayde nods. "He told me how materia's used to do magic- like...the knowledge of past, natural magic users, crystallized or somethin'." Which is still a weird thing to process. "And the more you use it, the stronger it gets until it makes something new." He gestures vaguely. "I'm super-paraphasing.

The admission of being a failed experiment is something of a surprise. "Failed how?" It's hard to read that metal face, but there's maybe the slightest shift of his metal brow. Yeah, he is not a fan of loss.

"Hey look. You don't have'ta explain if you'd rather not. Stories, especially past ones, ain't all impromptu dance missions and frilly dresses." He keeps going back to that but there really is no better contrast that he can think of.

[backoff]

"Yeah, it gets stronger and gives you a new one afterwards. You don't need to explain it back to me. I'm not testing you on it. At least you were paying attention." Cloud gives a small chuckle at the summary.

"I developed severe mako poisoning from the experiment, which is bad." He looks at Cayde.

Cloud quickly punches Cayde lightly in the shoulder. Will Cayde even feel it? He doesn't know, Cloud doesn't even flinch when hitting metal. "Are you trying to say that you liked seeing me dressed up?"

[deal_me_in]

"Hey, I pay attention! When I want to."

Cayde sobers right quick at that. "I mean, putting stuff like that into your system just sounds like a bad idea..." Also, keyword, 'experiment.' He thankfully manages not to voice as much. "But you seem fine? I mean, it can't be the whole glowy-eye bit that's the problem."

He scowls then, not at the punch, but at the suggestion before snorting. "Never. Let us not speak of it ever again."

[backoff]

"I ended up getting Zack's memories. I was mentally broken. That's not all, but could also be controlled." He looks at Cayde frowning a bit. Cloud know this path could end in a dark place. "One of my memories was completely replaced."

There's a small pause before he continues. "It's been two years since all of that happened. My mind got healed, I'm more strong willed in both aspects that I was meant to. So I'm not... exactly failed anymore."

He smirks a bit at him. "As long as you don't bring it up. I may have to start saying you missed the chance to put the earrings on me."

[deal_me_in]

He's not even sure how that works, but the thought is terrifying. Memories are a delicate matter. Even as casual as he's been about witnessing other people's experiences, and true as he's been entertained by some of it, Cayde's still quite mindful that these are people's pasts.

Now, having someone's memories swapped about or replaced? That thought's chilling. That might have been a shudder. Robots can't shudder, can they?

"That's just..." The Exo shakes his head. "All sorts of wrong. 'm glad you healed up though. Wouldn't put it past you." Cloud had come off as a tough one from the start.

The bottom of his optics lid in a half-squint, but there's a smirk right back. "Deal."

[backoff]

Cloud watches Cayde knowing that part alone could be unreal, unheard of it, but it's the truth. It's not strange for robots to shudder. They probably make a lot of noise while doing so.

"It wasn't exactly easy. Tifa helped me through it. Sort of like this room... but different. We were still inside my mind." He gives a shrug since it's hard to explain. Cloud kept trying to prove himself and it's something he'll continue to do.

He moves his right hand out towards Cayde. He knows how these things work.

[deal_me_in]

Cayde is not a squeaky, clanky robot, thankfully. He nods as he considers what Cloud tries to explain. "Okay..." he says as he strokes his chin. It makes more sense, being where they are now. Anything further he figures will start drifting into Warlock territory.

With Cloud extending his hand then, the Exo grins a bit, mirroring the gesture to take hold of it.

[backoff]

Cloud doesn't have a lot of energy to talk about the Lifestream. He's not sure how much Reeve really said. It can lead to a more magical and a scientific explanation. He's really great at wielding swords, combat training, Shinra security training and overall he's good at fighting. He could go over alien cells within his bloodstream another time.

He grips Cayde's hand giving it a firm shake.

[deal_me_in]

That was perfectly fine. Cayde might be surprised he even got part of what Reeve had explained about it, but then he probably gave the dumbed down version too. From his understanding someone blended up magical memories and thought it'd be a brilliant idea to juice up some soldiers with it. That's enough to explain glowing eyes to him, at least.

In any case, the two had an understanding here. Most importantly, or at least so far as Cayde's concerned, he's discovered that Cloud has a sense of humor, somewhere in there. Also a good dancer. Can't hurt to keep that little detail in case he needs to make a quick bet.

He shakes Cloud's hand, giving him a nod. "Well, this has been weird but oddly educating."

[backoff]

A dumbed down version wasn't bad in case others had been still having an issue thinking about what it is. The Lifestream is tricky since that's also included in the whole materia making. The glow of the eyes is from the mako, so it's easier to explain the Lifestream. The extra abilities would be the enhancements.

Cloud's not completely all icy or defensive. He does play hard to get but that has a lot of trust issues and other things littered for him to keep those shields up. Cayde's seen these sides but now he may get lucky and see it out there.

The young man gives a small smile as he tightens his grip harder than he had been and does not let go. "Are you sure you want to go with those words?"

[deal_me_in]

Oh, is that how he's playing it? Cayde matches that grip with a lopsided grin before hesitating as he considers what Cloud's said.

"...okay, yeah. Probably not."

A pause.

"-I'm still holding to the whole weirdness though. Not often you get to share a mind trip. ...all right, maybe I should just stop talking."

[backoff]

Cloud's used to people backing off. It's different when Cayde grips back. He's a bit surprised by at first but he ends up smirking in a cocky way. He'll continue to apply strength. Maybe he's testing how far Cayde can go.

"I can let you get away with the weirdness." He gives the Exo a jokingly kind of look. It's very brief. "Do you stop talking?"

[deal_me_in]

Does it count when you're in someone's head? Maybe they can cheat somehow. Either way, Cayde's not one to back down. He obliges Cloud by tightening his grasp, still maintaining that grin.

"Not really, no," he admits. "It's one of my many charms."