#blondwolf

05:85:04

She doesn't notice the timer counting, long since used to the numbers whittling down second by second --  they've last an eternity, and often the timer jumps around, up and down and all over. Yuffie's learned to ignore them, certain that the strange behavior of the timer means that she'll never meet whoever has the matching one.

If anyone does have a matching one. As a goddess, it's entirely possible she has no soul, and no soulmate. She's never been quite brave enough to ask Gaia for an answer.

The numbers tick on.

00:24:10

Hades -- Cloud -- covers his face with a wolf's skull, and wears a strange, dark cape. She's seen him before of course, always skirting the outer edges of the gatherings, when the gods come together for whatever party they're having at the time. But she's never been quite so close before, nor ever spoken to him.

But she knows how everyone avoids him, mortal and divine alike. They whisper, stories of how harsh and unyielding the god of death really is. How frightening -- he's cruelty unrivaled, my dear. Don't soil yourself with his presence.

Yuffie listens, and smiles at their warnings, and wonders what lies underneath the mask.

00:00:00

Cloud doesn't speak, Yuffie discovers. At least, not often, and when he does he is always near silent. And despite what she's been told, he's far kinder than the others have told her. So she stays by his side, chattering the night away and asking hundreds of questions about the underworld. Sometimes he answers, most of the time he does not.

Eventually, as always, the party must end. The time to depart comes, and Yuffie pauses when he places a hand on her arm, offers to escort her back to her fields and flowers.

"I'd like that."

She can see a hint of a smile under the edges of the mask, and Yuffie can't resist the urge to see him at least once tonight, instead of the dreadful mask.

So she reaches up; Cloud goes deathly still as questing fingers wrap themselves against the edge of his mask, and slide it upward to reveal his face.

Yuffie catches his eyes, just as her timer ticks down.

00:00:00

you’re a rebel!