Cloud Strife

Just to let everyone know, recently my motivation for some of my threads has been low, because of A medical condition affecting my energy levels. I've also recently recovered from covid. Still dealing with some after effects. I've been playing a little ESO (Elder Scrolls Online) as well.

Replies will be slow for awhile until further notice.

Cloud emits an embarrassed groan," No wipe it from your mind." What is with the women in his life liking to tease him? He isn't adorable, he's a man! It's probably because of his damn emasculate face. He still has it even though it isn't as bad as it used to be.

"Tell those Patrons you're taken now if you don't want them continuing to try. I'll teach anyone that wants to use you like that a lesson. There's more to women than getting laid." He does get it though, sex is a great way to relieve stress and if you don't want to bother with the serious relationship stuff hooking up is the way to do it, but it just isn't him. He just isn't that interested in sex. Unless of course he actually has romantic feelings and even then, he'd only do it because he loves that person.

Tifa could never wipe that blush from her mind. Not even if she tried. She really did care about Cloud and the fact she flustered him like that, was probably something she'd keep in the filing cabinet of her memory for a while. Still though she only snickers one more time before moving onto his other words.

"Well I'll just tell them my tough boyfriend will come in here with his big sword and beat them up if they try and make passes at me." Tifa teases with a tilt of her head as she begins to turn around towards her shelf of different liquors and concoctions. She really was proud of her ability to make and mix drinks. It got her very far and her place was the only "good" bar in all of Sector 7 or so her patrons also insisted. They probably only mostly liked it because of how beautiful she was. A beautiful woman to pour them a drink was all they really wanted.

" I have no respect for men that just think of woman as objects. I don't give a shit what they think of me."

" If your goal is to get me flustered again, batting your eyes at me isn't going to do it. I don't mind some harmless friendly flirty teasing from you, but stuff like batting your eyes at me is too much, I don't really like it. " That kind of technique just grates on his nerves. It's been used on him so many times by strangers trying to seduce him. It does nothing for him like it does a lot of other men. Naturally he knows Tifa means nothing by it, her intentions aren't seduction oriented, but still. Better to tell her he doesn't like it, than to let it keep carrying on.

It hen dawns on him that he's holding her a little too closely and that he should set her down.

He sets her down , awkwardly avoiding eye contact.

" well I suppose they say break a leg to actors and actresses before they go on stage to perform. Supposed to be good luck or some bullshit like that. Maybe you get someone to say that before you climb a ladder next time." It's bad joke and he knows it, but he doesn't care. Anything to forget about the awkwardness he feels.

Sure to anyone else that joke probably would've fallen flat. Flatter than flat really. But in that moment, Tifa was more than amused by his attempts and that was really enough for her. She felt a giggle leave her lips as he awkwardly sets her back down. Shame, she was almost getting use to being held like that. The same way she imagined him saving her when they were kids. Tifa only tucks a lock of hair behind her ear and braces her palms behind her back, leaning forward and teasingly tilting her head at Cloud.

"Or you could have just asked me to get up there. At least I have faster reflexes and won't hurt myself if I fell off. " which is a slimmer chance to begin with.

Not that he's disregarding Tifa's own training , Soldiers just have inhuman reflexes and he rather be up there patching a hole or leak than her doing it. Especially if no one is there to catch her if she falls.

He picks up the wood he assumes she was using to patch the roof up.

Cloud's cheeks heat up at her teasing, he shouldn't have said that. Well, it's not like it's untrue, but still. Isn't it a little weird to say that about your female Friend ? She better not think he's some kind of closet perv.

" Yeah, sure, if you're okay with that. I couldn't care less if she thinks we're dating or whatever either, so tell her whatever you like. I just want her to stop trying to get me to hook up with her. I'm not into that."

He looks away, trying to will hi cheeks to cool down and stop blushing. She probably think's he's weird now.

"Hey I get it. I'm not exactly into that hook-up culture myself that's seemingly popped up. Lots of my patrons try and get me---into that sort of thing. They try and think buying me some drinks will get me to sleep with them. Sad to say, I got a tolerance that always beats theirs out always." Tifa was incredibly proud of her durability when it came to making drinks and also drinking them herself. But she also knew her own personal limits as well. She would never push herself past it. Not for some guy that was for sure. But of course his blushing face isn't lost on her either. The way he keeps trying to hide his expression.

"You are incredibly adorable you know that?" Tifa teases him gently and reach out with a single fingertip to poke gently at his blushing cheek. "Absolutely adorable. I never thought in a million years I'd ever fluster you like that. I'm gonna have to really remember this." Tifa always had an incredibly soft spot for Cloud, softer than anyone she ever knew.

Cloud emits an embarrassed groan," No wipe it from your mind." What is with the women in his life liking to tease him? He isn't adorable, he's a man! It's probably because of his damn emasculate face. He still has it even though it isn't as bad as it used to be.

"Tell those Patrons you're taken now if you don't want them continuing to try. I'll teach anyone that wants to use you like that a lesson. There's more to women than getting laid." He does get it though, sex is a great way to relieve stress and if you don't want to bother with the serious relationship stuff hooking up is the way to do it, but it just isn't him. He just isn't that interested in sex. Unless of course he actually has romantic feelings and even then, he'd only do it because he loves that person.

Once Zack is back, he snorts at his comment about getting fake hammered. As if soldiers like them could get hammered that easily to begin with. It would take a hell of a lot of Alcohol to get even remotely tipsy. Not that they're allowed to get drunk when they could be called on any given moment.

Their ranks were sadly dwindling. Friends become enemies---

--- among other things.

As if a Soldiers life wasn't already difficult enough on its own without such drama sullying the rest.

He nods, why not sometimes you can find neat places to go doing it it this way.

"Yeah, I've been spending a lot of time preparing for it. There's no room to make any mistakes on this one. " Of course there still is a chance mistakes could be made, no one is that perfect but he wants to reduce the chances of mistakes as much as possible.

He snorts, " if appearance actually mattered for me, to be attracted to someone, you're prettier. I have to have a connection with someone and even then there's no guarantee I'm going to be interested. Gender has nothing to do with it either. Maybe I'll just tell her I'm gay , because I'm not interested isn't working."

worth a shot, though whether she believes him or not is anyones guess.

Sure she heard most of his explanation. But of course her brain couldn't help but latch onto "your prettier" and a devious smile spread on those features as a palm rested underneath her chin and she batted her eyes at Cloud. "You really think so?" She teased tilting her head at him, as raven locks caressed along her temples and jawline. "I'm so glad to hear I'm prettier than Jessie. I'll have to tell her you said so. I bet that'll work than anything you could tell her, she'll just grow bitter towards me instead and we can call it a day hmmm?"

Cloud's cheeks heat up at her teasing, he shouldn't have said that. Well, it's not like it's untrue, but still. Isn't it a little weird to say that about your female Friend ? She better not think he's some kind of closet perv.

" Yeah, sure, if you're okay with that. I couldn't care less if she thinks we're dating or whatever either, so tell her whatever you like. I just want her to stop trying to get me to hook up with her. I'm not into that."

He looks away, trying to will hi cheeks to cool down and stop blushing. She probably think's he's weird now.

“ Tifa,  I’m not the kind of person that can just ‘relax’. The only person that could ever get me to do anything close to relaxation is gone. He’d just drag me along to do stuff with him and  I let him, because he was my superior before we became friends and he was so damn puppy-like, it was hard to tell him no. ” If anyone else tried, he wouldn’t let them.  “With him gone, I can never truly relax, because I can’t trust people enough. This is as relaxed as I’m going to get, because you’re the only other person I trust to an extent.” Sitting here  talking to her is the closest thing to relaxation, despite him still being on alert for anything that might happen, especially with  all these strangers around.  Though if they were alone,  he probably wouldn’t be able to relax any more than he currently is.  Not because he doesn’t trust her, but simply because  there is  unresolved  things between them that was left hanging when he left.  Back then,  he was naive to think he could  leave to become  stronger and more of a man to protect her. He’d failed her with that accident on the mountain.  It really hit him hard that he came out of it more unscathed than she did and even harder when her father blamed him for it and banned him from going near her. Her friends didn’t even  step in to tell him that  he’d actually saved her from getting killed, which he honestly wasn’t surprised, they didn’t even like him, no one did, except for Tifa.   They were always leaving him out.

 If anything,  he’s even less deserving  of her now, even though he is now strong enough. He comes with even more baggage. 

“Cloud…”

Her eyes widened – Cloud never said this much to her in one sitting before. And what he said…it was so raw and painful. It was clear he lost someone dearly that he worked with and it made her heart sink. It seemed the pain ShinRa caused ran deep for a lot of people.

Tifa missed the farmboy she knew all those years ago. Sure, Cloud was quiet and pensive back then, too, but he didn’t carry the weight on his shoulders that he did now. He was a soldier still, even if he was more on the run now. Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she looked down at her hands, thinking.

" I could use the help finding somewhere to stay. I'm not the best at talking to strangers. But since you're busy running this place, a nice hot meal while I wait for you to finish would be good."

He changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on the negative stuff. Life goes on, time doesn't stop for anyone. Honestly he's glad to have run into Tifa, even with the stuff of the past being unresolved, she's familiar. A small Comfort, because at least he's not completely surrounded by strangers.

While debating,  it became more and more apparent that Zack is waking up. He would wait. He wanted to be the first person  he saw when he opens his eyes. 

He wasn’t going to  miss this for a second.   Hope  grew, the more vocal Zack became and then silence. Cloud’s hope almost  shattered until Zack is vocal again, then  he’s opening his eyes a turning his head to him and  talking to him as if he hadn’t  been out of commission for 6 months.

“Zack…” The overwhelming emotions of seeing  him awake, relief being on the forefront right now.  But then the worry, anger at himself  and sadness of missing his smiles that lit up his days  hit him like a  train.  Before he could think about what he was doing,  he has his arms wrapped around his best friend in a tight embrace, holding back  the urge to cry , not realising he’s  squeezing Zack too tight.  He hadn’t cried since he thought Zack was dead. He wasn’t going to  cry now, he doesn’t  cry. He wasn’t  the same as back then. 

He couldn’t help but wonder if this was a vivid dream and if it were,  he didn’t want to wake up,  not to a reality  that had him  losing hope.

     While the months felt like mere moments to the incapacitated former SOLDIER, he knew better. He was aware every sound he’d heard, every touch he’d felt, all of it had been happening for such a long time. It had felt like a dream.

     Just as he was about to sit up, he felt himself quickly pinned by the body of the blond, catching him off guard and eliciting an “Oop!” sound from his throat. He chuckled, returning the embrace, but his chuckles faded into choking giggles.

"Barret's too much of a clutz with that metal arm of his to pour a drink for anyone. And Jessie? She's pretty to look at, sure. But she doesn't know how to mix drinks the same way I do." Tifa laughs as she mentions her "hook-up" attempts. A hand comes over her lips and she's trying really hard not to giggle. "And I love watching you turn her down every time. She'll get the hint one of these days. I could even say something to her, but as a fellow woman---she might just think I'm trying to steal her man." But really it wasn't anything like that. Cloud was no one's but Tifa did have an incredible soft spot for him.

He snorts, " if appearance actually mattered for me, to be attracted to someone, you're prettier. I have to have a connection with someone and even then there's no guarantee I'm going to be interested. Gender has nothing to do with it either. Maybe I'll just tell her I'm gay , because I'm not interested isn't working."

worth a shot, though whether she believes him or not is anyones guess.

"..." It was almost like the day he saw her fall off the Clift of the mountain. That day, he had only just prevented her death by slowing down her fall, but he came out less unscathed than she did. In fact she was in a coma and woke up without some of her memories. He wasn't allowed to see her , in fact he was forbidden to go anywhere near her. No one stood up to defend him, to tell her father he wasn't the cause he'd saved her the best he could. Of course they wouldn't, her friends never liked him and always told her not to include him because he trouble, always getting into fights.

He was only ever defending himself and his Ma because he had no Dad. But no one ever believe him that they had thrown the first punch. Except for his Ma and maybe Tifa herself Cloud shakes himself out of those memories focusing on the here and now.

Of course Tifa understands---they had been through a lot together. Maybe its why---why she doesn't mind him holding her so close like this. Why she only rests her head gently against his chest. Even as he chides her almost like a child. Tifa knew how to handle herself around a ladder. She was a big girl after all. She had been up on many a roof and been many dangerous places. Even so Tifa offers him a small nod and gently messes with a loose strand of thread from Cloud's shirt. It caught her attention and with gentle twists she intended to break it free.

It hen dawns on him that he's holding her a little too closely and that he should set her down.

He sets her down , awkwardly avoiding eye contact.

" well I suppose they say break a leg to actors and actresses before they go on stage to perform. Supposed to be good luck or some bullshit like that. Maybe you get someone to say that before you climb a ladder next time." It's bad joke and he knows it, but he doesn't care. Anything to forget about the awkwardness he feels.

Send “I have you!” for your muse to protectively grab my muse and shield them from an attack/danger.

Tifa had been up on Seventh Heaven's roof a thousand times. She knew its in and outs better than anyone. And of course like any of the run-down buildings in the slums, it had some---kinks to it, let's just say. A few holes that needed patching up as it had started to let rain fall on her beloved patrons. So with her rusty ridden ladder that she had stolen from a nearby shop to ( or rather borrowed and intended to give back ) she had climbed up and with some wood and nails had begun to do a pretty good job of patching things up. Dare she say, it had started to look good as new.

"..." It was almost like the day he saw her fall off the Clift of the mountain. That day, he had only just prevented her death by slowing down her fall, but he came out less unscathed than she did. In fact she was in a coma and woke up without some of her memories. He wasn't allowed to see her , in fact he was forbidden to go anywhere near her. No one stood up to defend him, to tell her father he wasn't the cause he'd saved her the best he could. Of course they wouldn't, her friends never liked him and always told her not to include him because he trouble, always getting into fights.

He was only ever defending himself and his Ma because he had no Dad. But no one ever believe him that they had thrown the first punch. Except for his Ma and maybe Tifa herself Cloud shakes himself out of those memories focusing on the here and now.

" I can go for food but unless you're talking about a non alcoholic beverage, you're not supposed to be drinking with a head injury."

Zack huffed out a breath that sounded suspiciously like an amused snort, inclining his head forward. "Touche. Okay then. Nonalcoholic, it is."

Couldn't argue with the guy. He was right after all. No reason to challenge fate any more than he already had that day. He'd earned himself a nice new scar on the noggin, he didn't need to bleed out because of poor decision-making skills.

He made a brief pit stop, washing the blood from his face to prevent horrifying the general public. They called it a 'distraction' injury for a reason. It always looked more horrific than it was in reality. Besides that, it was in bad taste to go sashaying into a respectable business looking like a trouble-maker [not that anyone would be able to deny the Soldiers in their midst].

He didn't appear very refreshed when he emerged, but there had been no expectation that he would have.

Once Zack is back, he snorts at his comment about getting fake hammered. As if soldiers like them could get hammered that easily to begin with. It would take a hell of a lot of Alcohol to get even remotely tipsy. Not that they're allowed to get drunk when they could be called on any given moment.

> send an emoji for the following,

☂️ – for my muse to share an umbrella with yours

🚪 – to find my muse at your muse’s doorstep

🍯 – for my muse to do something unexpectedly sweet to yours

🍺 – for your muse to catch my muse drinking

🛼 – for my muse to skate right into yours

🤿 – for my muse to save yours from drowning

💙 – for my muse to fall asleep on your muse’s shoulder

⚠️ – for my muse to snap at your muse

🛌 – for your muse to find my muse asleep on their bed

🧊 – for my muse to give yours a cold shoulder

🩰 – for my muse to teach yours to dance

🚖 – for my muse to accompany yours on a taxi ride back home after an accident/drinking party

> send “(emoji) + reverse” for the opposite

For a moment a small smile lingers on her features. She did like his worry, even if she would say otherwise. She liked his caring and kindness when he showed it. Tifa only sighs, and links her palms behind her head, leaning back in her seat. "Fine, fine. I can see what you're trying to get at. I concede. But you know, I really don't plan on biting the bullet any time soon. Who will watch over the bar? And pour the good citizens their drinks hmm?"

"I don’t see people. I have enough food for four months. By then it would be obvious I’m pregnant when I go out to get some more from the resort area,” she copped tomatoes faster then let out a yelp when she cut her finger. She snarled grabbing something to wrap her finger up.

“Sorry I got a little upset. I’ll clean up and carry on with cooking.”

Aerith shifted away from Lou. Her heart full of guilt and sorrow. She should be mourning Zack like Lou. She sighed flopping over the edge of the bath and watching the water drip from her hand.

"Stop. Take deep breaths and calm down, you're going to seriously hurt yourself. " He gets up from the floor and walk over to the kitchen , grabbing the knife and rinses it off, before he starts finishing the chopping of the tomato. His cuts aren't as even but at least he's not making a mess of it and cutting himself.