Claudia Strife

         “Cloud!” Her voice was colored with excitement, eyes bright and smile wide. “The town is holding a baking competition!” She began to roll up her sleeves, copying her son’s victory pose. “I’m thinking of entering and could really use your help!”

        “Excuse me..”

           A meal rested on her extended hands toward the man -- miscounted leftovers in a tupper and wrapped in a pink cloth -- still warm to the touch.

            | @reppin-avalanche |

           Now this was amusing.

                 Not that she would laugh because she was sure it would hurt his ego ---- but she had needed the help and he was the only one around she could rely on.

                 Still, feeling his overpowering presence behind one -- one of strength and stability -- braid flowers into her hair was adorable and somehow fitting.

          He did have a young daughter of his own she was sure he did this for.

                  “Thank you again for helping me. And don’t worry about hurting the flowers. They’re resilient.”

                | @nimbostrxtus | 

           Perhaps it was retaliation for all the hair she had ruffled during his younger days? Her lips quirked into an amused grin, head (covered by his gloved hand) turning to look at the grinning visage of her precious son.

         “Okay --- just because you’re taller than me now doesn’t mean you can mess up my hair. I know you’re not too old for the tickle monster.”

      I wonder if I should make offline/online posts. I don’t want people thinking I’m here and wondering why I’m not replying. I don’t wanna seem mean. 

Right now I’ll have to leave again - only came on to answer the ask - cause my littlest bro is leaving for the marines. But I’ll be back later. So in case anyone wants to thread or something, let me know. I have the app so I can use the messenger.

                        | @playeroneiswinning​ |

       ┌    𝒮𝓅𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓌𝒶𝓇𝓂 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓁𝓈.

                       𝒲𝑜𝓇𝒹𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒽𝓊𝑔𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹𝓈.

           𝒜 𝒽𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓇𝑒𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒸𝑜𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒.    ┓      

     Her hand pausing in the slicing of vegetables, her skin feeling as if it had turned to absolute ice. Did he really believe she would ever think that of her own child? She felt as if someone had grabbed her heart and were taking their time tearing into tiny pieces.

              “Cloud...” she began, turning around to face the broad shoulders that seemed so small to her now, an image of him as a small child when he would have nightmares overlapping the young man he was becoming, “sweetheart...” her voice was soft in the quiet house, taking steps braver than she felt, “I know that day was hard on you, I know it’ll take time to convince yourself that it was an accident..”

            ┌    𝒯𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝑜𝒻𝒻𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝑜𝓃, 𝓌𝒾𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝑜𝒻𝒻𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝒾𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹.     ┓ 

           Once he was within reach, her soft and gentle hand lay upon tendrils of his soft, straw-colored hair and stroked along the curve of his head. “You would never intentionally hurt anyone. You have such a big, kind heart.”

              Outside the world continued on, a few shouts from the local children making its way into their home as they ran by. And yet her baby boy had been forced to play alone, the other children not allowing him to join in their games.

               Maybe it would be good for him...to join SOLDIER. He could make friends there and learn to be stronger. And he’ll be back. He isn’t like him...

               “You don’t need to go off and join SOLDIER to prove you can protect people but if it’s what you want to do, what you think you need to do,” she continued, bending down to press a kiss to his head, “I’ll support you. And you know you’ll always have someplace to return to.”

“Wat'cha mean what brings me here? Think the better question is what took me so damn long to come and find ya’. Come give me a hug! It been way too long.” He chuckled.

Lifting the tiny woman into the air and wrapping her in his mighty arms.“ How ya’ been? Ya’ cookin’ anythin’?”

                 The hug is warm and comforting, slightly more powerful than the ones given by her son and feet that dangled from the ground. Giggles bubbled up when she could take a few breaths, looking into the gentle man’s face.

             “Well I wasn’t expecting company but I can whip up something quick if you’re hungry. I have some leftovers from the food I made for Mrs. Frenir.”

“That’s true but it ain’t that quiet ‘cause ol’ Big Barret is still the man! Oh yeah!” Barret wouldn’t admit this out loud but he was thrilled that have some company.

“Ya’ miss me?”

           Now that was a voice she hadn’t heard in ages -- pivoting on her foot and revealing the glow she gained at his presence.

           The town’s gotten quiet lately.

      The final swishes of a broom before picking up a watering can to go water the garden --

        Doubt anyone I followed months ago are still active...?

Hi, after dealing with a lot of life and swearing rping wasn’t for me anymore after a rough year, I missed this place and decided to pop in.

       Was debating coming back as Claudia or reintroducing my Rapunzel...still unsure.