#strifesoldier | cloud strife

[myristicisms]

Eyes flash near dangerously, the usual subtle glow of the mako staining his irises giving way to the sudden rush into his head and there's a soft laugh that he barks out, head cocking slightly to the side curiously while he mulls over the statement. He could handle everything fine enough, or at least that's what Zack thinks even if it would be fun to hand the reigns over and see what Cloud would do if he allowed the blonde to take over. “ Depends. ” He manages, voice as calculated as possible given the way he has to hold himself still, body growing jittery from excess energy beginning to pool within his limbs. “ If you think you can then go ahead, I wanna see what taking charge looks like to you. ”

@strifesoldier | Cloud Strife

"Do you want me to take charge? "

#muse;; zack fair #strifesoldier | cloud strife #• answered ic! #verse;; tufts of phoenix down #the way Zack's just being vague because he's not sure if he's reading the sentence right is so funny #and by reading i mean understanding #he took it as an innuendo 💀

[scorching-passion]

@strifesoldier "Hey, I found this little... bike..." In his hands is a miniature motorcycle, probably a toy for children. "Do you... want it? I don't even think there's kids around here who like bikes as much as you do, so..." Unprompted Asks - ALWAYS ACCEPTING

Border patrol was truly a bane of Roche's meagre existence. So very droll and mind-numbing to a fault, there was a lot to be desired when manning the gates leading into the undercities.

Today just happened to be one of those days, where the mind doth wander and he could possibly care far less who passed through and who didn't; criminal, vagabond, stowaway or otherwise, today it was none of the blond's business as he simply stands there astride the border between the plate and its dingy underbelly.

That was until a familiar voice would capture the SOLDIER's immediate attention, his head turning - albeit somewhat sluggishly - to focus on one fellow swordsman and the tiny trinket in his hands.

Strange how each encounter with one Cloud Strife had ended with one of them (or both) retreating with their tail between their legs, and yet here he was - this strange little imposter, the twinkle in this Third Class' eye - offering gifts.

And what a sweet little thing it was too; a little tarnished, paint on the main body work worn away over the time it had been lost or discarded. The toy would bring back a fair few memories of the first motorbike Roche had ever owned - a derelict machine salvaged from the scrap surrounding Sector 5; dearest Bessie.

With a soft hum would Roche pluck the object from Strife's leather clad palm, rolling the thing around in his own for a moment or two. He had no use for it, but there was a sentiment he wished to believe in with this odd little gesture from a one time rival.

"And for what do I owe the pleasure, my friend?! For which I am aware soldier's of fortune such as yourself do not offer such pleasantries without cost!" he would boom then, arms thrown out, as if to embrace this man, the faintest wisp of a deranged grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. Though he was swift to settle with a hard slap against the other blond's shoulder instead.

"Such a heartfelt gift in the shadows of uncertainty cannot go unpaid, hm~?!"

#strifesoldier #we really must do this again answered asks #This was actually super cute #;o; #thank you <3

[steeleidolon]

(StrifeSoldier) "I-" Cloud winced and clutched his head. He felt bad, in some way, that he couldn't think of any of his old coworkers without immense pain. He could barely even remember why he left Soldier in the first place. "Do I... know you?"

@strifesoldier

"...you're kidding me, right?"

Full stop, eyes trained on the face underneath the riot of blond spikes, Kunsel stands poised to defend himself, but--

That doesn't seem necessary. Not at all, for all that he's seen in CCTV feeds the way Strife swings the familiar - and entirely too-large-for-him - sword currently nested against his back.

Time for a different tack.

"Man..."

Long-suffering, good-natured, his sigh. Hands up, a ruffle through his own hair, and then he holds his palms over his face, covered from the nose-bridge up.

"You mean to tell me my lips and chin aren't recognizable? Guess the rest of my mug is distracting. I probably owe someone gil."

He peeks through his fingers.

"When'd you get back, Strife?"

#strifesoldier

[myristicisms]

@strifesoldier | Cloud Strife sent;;

' You and me. Your body near mine, close. I'm not right when you're not with me. I get the shakes ' oop zack made him codependent...

Vulnerability, no matter how small or largely given, was always a difficult thing to express; Years of forcing himself into the mold of what Zack thought was the ideal hero only further forcing him to push the overwhelming desire to rely upon someone else to the back of his mind. Being relied upon was the closest he'd ever come to sharing a vulnerable moment with anyone and it was something he cherished far more than even his own life. That much so had never been in the question though, only further proven with each moment where he took a beating to protect those he cared for most, often coming as victorious in each battle he'd carelessly chosen for himself.

Perhaps it was the hubris of a man who has lost damn near everything already or maybe it was just the delusion of someone who had grown lonely over the years, someone who felt as though nobody bothered to know who he was outside of his uniform and rank; At least not until after he'd managed to establish a connection with another person for the first time since... ( Nevermind. ) Zack has come to rely upon being needed, feeling helpful and he's long since found that purpose at the side of his blonde companion. While he'd known that Cloud was capable of taking care of himself well enough, he also couldn't scratch the desperate itch to feel helpful, to do more than just stand beside the other man silently like some brooding shadow.

Though that's what he's become, hasn't he? Bitter and violent should he feel it necessary to be so, a trained killer unafraid of ripping and rending through flesh that managed to be snagged within the maws of an enraged beast, many saw the once proud warrior as nothing more than a monster as of late; A creature that thrived on combat and the destruction of the very people that made him into who he was today, but not Cloud, never Cloud apparently. Lips curl into a gentle grin at the idea, he was helpful to someone at the very least, even if he'd grown all too protective throughout their time beside one another and perhaps he cared far more than the average friend should have, but then again; Average friends don't go through the same horrors as the duo had to endure together. That's how Zack justified it, anyways.

A rabid guard dog trapped in an endless loop of biting despite never wanting to bring harm to those unfortunate to cross into Zack's poor graces, a feature of which was far easier done than said given how low his tolerance for anyone daring to cause problems for either Cloud or himself truly had become. That dependency, as it seems to be, is reciprocated. Though that hardly came as much of a surprise, being without the blonde felt off, something so viscerally incorrect that his very being often trembled with wrath when the two were separated for too long and the verbal confirmation he wasn't the only one to experience that... ( Validating, freeing even. )

“ And here I was, stewing about whether I'm being overbearing towards you. ” He huffs out, amusement glimmering within mako stained eyes; An odd calmness kept Zack completely and uncharacteristically still. At times such as this, he'd often be pacing or doing squats, clears his mind and allows the former SOLDIER to focus on his surroundings but instead he simply sat, jaw twitching while his tongue feels at the sharp canines meant for rending through his foes and that familiar emptiness he'd been so prone to slowly seeps in. “ I'm always here though, always nearby until you tell me to go away and mean it, I promise. ”

#muse;; zack fair #strifesoldier | cloud strife #verse;; tufts of phoenix down #• answered ic! #interaction continued? #zack is also in his codependent arc i understand #also so sorry if it's all over the place #he had a lot to say i guess??

[myristicisms]

“ Huh? ” Not that he wasn't paying attention or listening, Zack was always doing both whenever Cloud was around; Force of habit and also because that was his lover, his better half and other side. “ What jungle are we talking about? Do you mean... ” There's a pause, glowing eyes widening and filling with such an unhinged delight before swiftly dying out at yet another realization.

“ If you mean Gongaga, it might not be safe. ” There's a lingering but hidden in his tone, though whether that's a wise choice or not to begin with is something far above the raven haired man's pay grade simply because the idea of going home again warmed his heart terribly so, seeing his parents and the other children he grew up with and even being able to tote Cloud around and introduce him to everyone sounded all the more appealing despite knowing the risks of ShinRa still hanging around his home town. Of course there's also the chance Cloud meant something completely different too, “ If not, then uh... What jungle're we talking? ”

@strifesoldier

"Take me to the jungle? Pleeeeeease?"

#muse;; zack fair #strifesoldier | cloud strife #verse;; tufts of phoenix down #• answered ic! #sometimes he is stupid #like now

[myristicisms]

@strifesoldier | Cloud Strife sent;;

" Wow... Wow. You're so pretty? Wish you'd wear me instead of the coat- I mean! You know. Like. Snuggles, please. "

Winter, while not too terrible back home in Gongaga, was certainly among Zack's least favorite seasons. He was a child of the sun, warmth was a must otherwise the raven haired man would be extra miserable and thus he'd learned to bundle up. It's to that regard that when he hears Cloud's flustered voice that he grew flushed himself, crimson dusting over tawny flesh while the former SOLDIER shrugs his coat off and carefully stretches for a moment. “ Don't stroke my ego too much there Sunshine. ”

Despite the confidence in his tone, Zack's body is tense, eyebrows knit tightly together as he loosens his tie slightly before making his way to the blonde and slowly wrapping his arms around his lover's frame. Plush lips plant cold kisses to Cloud's cheek, lingering down to his jaw before resting his head atop golden spikes with a hum. “ So you think I'm pretty huh? I think maybe that warrants a good while of cuddling up to you, get some warmth back eh? ”

#muse;; zack fair #strifesoldier | cloud strife #verse;; tufts of phoenix down #short and sweet #• answered ic!

[myristicisms]

@strifesoldier || Cloud Strife says;;

" You shouldn't have seen that. "

The 'that' in question isn't even something he can fully wrap his mind around to begin with; Sure Zack knew Cloud and his group of friends were... Eccentric to a degree but there's a line where eccentricity ends and falters to deranged to some degree and that's what his confused brain managed to settle on. He knows he can't make choices for other people, if he could then half the hardships he'd endured in his life would have been nothing more than whispers to the wind known only by whoever the hell decided that perhaps those woes needed to be settled upon Zack. What he can do is try to fight the lingering disappointment that had settled upon his features. “ What? That you're part of AVALANCHE? ” He remarks almost sarcastically.

“ Y'know, the whole point of breaking from the lab was to escape ShinRa, ” He continues, and it's mortifying how he'd seemingly picked up Angeal's habit of lecturing many years past the man's death. “ Which also includes not joining an organization that can't seem to stay the hell out of ShinRa, even if it's for ‘ teaching them a lesson ' or whatever it is they do. ” Even worse a feeling is knowing that the bubbling ire he was feeling had nothing to do with Cloud being in AVALANCHE and everything to do with the ever present fear of their freedom being stripped away from them again, of Cloud being taken back by ShinRa and Hojo.

He'd willingly put his life on the line to prevent that happening once and as is, he'd do it again; Though that doesn't mean he'd be all too appreciative of that fact and that thought only bunches dark eyebrows together in further frustration. He's so selfish, naïve to a fault too and this damned hero complex really is gonna get Zack killed some day. ( Though is that really a bad thing? Yeah, I guess. ) The raven haired man recognizes the fact that Cloud doesn't need a hero, doesn't need Zack of all people to hound him for his choices.

“ Clearly it's none of my business though seeing as I'm not supposed to know anything. ” And that's what hurt the most in this little predicament; Secrets being kept, then again what reason would Cloud have to share that with Zack? As far as the blonde knew, Zack was just a mercenary nowadays but that's even more reason for him to be trustworthy outside of the obvious past the two shared and that's something he can't quite understand either. “ I'll leave you to your eco terrorism, not my problem and I won't make it my problem. ”

#muse;; zack fair #strifesoldier | cloud strife #verse;; tufts of phoenix down #• answered ic! #he's in a mood I'm sorry

[myristicisms]

Glimmering canines shine between plush lips, a wide grin tugging taught upon tawny and marred flesh while Zack listens intently, glowing eyes radiating a form of amusement before he barks out a brief laugh. “ Nothing's tougher than being warm in your boyfriend's coat Spikes. ” He cooes playfully, head tilting and ruffling the admittedly out of control raven tufts of his hair. It's cute to think about, something that left an odd mix of adoration and possessiveness nestled deep within his belly, something that he hasn't felt in God knows how long yet not utterly unwelcome.

Then again, Cloud wearing any of his clothes was something that left the former SOLDIER feeling all sorts of odd in the most unhinged of ways, to feel so whole and know his devotion is returned was one thing but for that to be visualized? It's something that makes Zack itch for combat just for the sake of tamping down the heady haze while his mind fights between falling into his imagination or being functional. “ Besides, it'll make you look tough if you take it, like a trophy or something. “

(( @strifesoldier )) "I gotta look tough for appearances, but all I wanna do is snuggle up in your jacket all the time..." Because Cloud really thinks his 5'7" ass looks tough smh

#muse;; zack fair #strifesoldier | cloud strife #• answered ic! #verse;; tufts of phoenix down #zack be normal challenge impossible

[myristicisms]

Eyebrows scrunch together, regarding his boyfriend's remark before tawny fingers point to the ‘ offending ’ body parts with a curious hum. “ They're not boobs. ” He remarks briefly before cracking up a bit because even Zack himself has called his pecs ‘ boobs ’ many times nevermind the sorts of garments he's indulged in quite a few times. “ What about 'em? ”

(( @strifesoldier )) "Boobs." Cloud!!!

#muse;; zack fair #strifesoldier | cloud strife #• answered ic! #verse;; tufts of phoenix down #semi suggestive #Zack refuses to be normal I'm sorry

[myristicisms]

A soft laugh rumbles through his chest, fingers gently digging into blonde spikes while he plants a kiss to the man's crown and hums. “ Thanks Spikes, another year passed eh? Guess I'm really gettin' up there in age, soon I won't be able to get outta bed on my own! ”

@strifesoldier | Cloud Strife

Snuggles up on Zack's chest. "Happy birthday, Zack."

#muse;; zack fair #strifesoldier | cloud strife #verse;; tufts of phoenix down #• answered ic! #• interaction cont!

[myristicisms]

Eyes narrow ever so slightly, the beginnings of irritation prickling behind his gaze. It shouldn't feel as insulting as it does but the question certainly has been relatively offensive simply because the plain answer was ’ it's complicated and opinionated ’ but Genesis could never just offer a plain explanation for anything that held his interests. The blonde had somehow set and walked into a trap and it was only a matter of time before Rhapsodos would inevitably strike, fangs born and ready to maim.

( Patience, Rhapsodos, he is merely asking a question. )

“ That depends upon your media literacy and what you find intriguing. There's also the fact that different interpretations are out in the world so your experience heavily depends upon which one you either watch or read first; To shorten the answer, yes LOVELESS is really that good. ”

@strifesoldier | Cloud Strife

" Is Loveless really that good? "

#muse;; genesis rhapsodos #strifesoldier | cloud strife #• answered ic!