#edislilit

(Another day at the coffee shop...they expect me weekly now,) Phoenix smiled softly at that thought. He was getting better at getting out of the house, thanks to Ibuki and the various friends he had made over the months being here again. (...Can't wait to get another cup of coffee next week.)

Looking out of the window and stirring his coffee cup, Palla spoke in a soft tone to Phoenix. His "listening ears" weren't exactly tuned in, he was thinking about the drafts of Ibuki's song he had to edit and other things. The idea that he had to edit a "pop rock" song was already exhausting. He was just stressed out by thinking about it.

Him and the succubus often spent long hours at the coffee shop, talking about almost nothing. She invited him sometimes, he invited her sometimes. It wasn't anything romantic, sometimes the barista would wink if she saw him with the other, but he didn't see her that way. He was too busy with other things to find himself in a relationship. (Like...editing a rock star's drafts.) She was married, he had found out recently, anyways.

He was sent back to Earth when Palla said, "Are you even listening to me?" Turning his head to face the succubus he nodded with a small smile, and took a sip from his cup. (Ouch.) he thought as his taste buds burned from the sweltering heat of the coffee.

Trying to recall what the other was saying, he thought for a moment. There wasn't a lot they could talk about. He never opened up unless prompted or he had to figure out something to boost the conversation. Sometimes he would ask her about her child, they were both parents after all--it was nice to know how Palla treated her kid.

And then he remembered. (...Ah,) he opened his mouth to speak.

"...Where--where exactly do I find the ingredient, er. The ingredient...elf's tongue?" In a way the meal had sounded wonderful but the idea of the main substance being..."elf's tongue."

Certainly not going to do it with a though, maaaybe with a nightmare. It wouldn’t be the first time that Cloud’s had a nightmare about meteor successfully landing in Midgar… all of his friends slaughtered… Sephiroth ascendant into full godhood. 

I assume you wanted the Nightmare Realm to end up pretty much devoid of all life, right?

Granted, it’d take Cloud a long time, most likely; but he’d keep chopping away at monsters and criminals until they’re all gone, or he dies.

Of course, if he doesn’t have friends…

And nobody specific to protect…

And nothing truly worth fighting for…

(Alternate path from here.)

Blinking once, Snowdrift caught the eye of a passing person and grunted. “Well…that didn’t turn out like I’d hoped…”