What about Zack and Cloud helping each other in and out of their armor, I'm gonna call it for the sake of simplicity
the irony is that i don't even need to "imagine" it because it did happen.
When they were on the run and Cloud was in a vegetative state, Zack had to take care of him, and one of the first things he did was to replace Cloud's infantry armor and put a First Class Soldier's outfit on him because it was the only thing he could find to swap his clothes to. He had to do it because Cloud's initial armor was imbued with mako (so something that would poison him), but still Zack took the time to praise Cloud and tell him this outfit was fitting him so well, even though Cloud could never reply to him.
Zack worked so hard to take care of Cloud during the months that followed their escape and with that in mind it's clear to me that he had done everything he could to keep Cloud clean and safe and alive in any way possible.
But maybe it doesn't really count since Cloud was not really in a state to process all of this, though the pain of an intimacy that only exists for the sake of taking care of Cloud is just... oh the pain of it all.
But if we go back to the trope straight up, even there it's just... like, pre-incident:
I could imagine Cloud just being insecure about himself and maybe stumble on his armor, and Zack will cheerfully propose to help him. Cloud would find this awkward, especially since Zack is technically higher than him on the Shinra's hierarchy, and it would be weird to ask your Superior for help, but Zack just sees his buddy in need of help so he would help out right away. He'd diffuse the awkwardness by joking he would mess up his armor all the time when he just joined in and his friend Kunsel always had to lecture him about it, but Zack mentions it's just a skill that you pick up and will encourage Cloud saying that he'll get used to it, since he keeps getting better and better and will likely rise up in the hierarchy in no time. which would all fluster Cloud a lot.
And with Zack being as forgetful as he can be when he's in a hurry, i could imagine him running up to a training sessions once with his equipment barely holding on into places, especially in the back, and Cloud is a bit awkward pointing it out but once he does Zack just laugh that, see, he too struggle once in a while and Cloud would be embarrassed but touched at the same time, so he'd get bold and offer his help, that Zack is really easy to accept all while smiling big because "told you so, that you'll get it in no time"
And while when Zack was doing it Cloud could barely even look at him, when Cloud does it Zack just looks at him softly seeing how much Cloud is still gaining confidence to point those things out and all of that.
... so now i think im feeling unwell thinking about all of this thanks anon!
You know, that aspect of the Singularity and the Apostle of the Boundary getting together is really interesting, actually
Especially because while Siete knows we're the Singularity, I don't think we know just how entrenched he is with the boundary. Hell, it's unclear if he himself is fully aware of that being his role
But yeah, it brings this angle of "We could be destined to be enemies at some point" that really adds some flavor, that's incredible
It mostly just reminds me of this one thing he said in his year 4 birthday lines: "You have your own ideals, and I have my own. Our destinies lie at the end of different paths. But with our combined talent, there isn't anything we can't do together."
And isn't that romantic if you think about it while also being completely normal about the character?
Yeah definitely agreed!!
this is about being veeery normal <333
but yeah this is such a fun angle to explore especially with what is lurking on the horizon. you worded it well so i can't really add to it, but yeah. man.
Get lowercase anon to proofread everything you write to make sure there's no innuendo in there, they seem really good at spotting any and all things that can be misconstrued
HELPPPPP
this would be the dream job here i'm sure. Putting on reading glasses and pointing out unfortunate wording every two sentences, but in a pure "personally i love them don't get rid of them" way.
And that thing about the armor is so sweet actually, such a good point, I should considerWHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY MAKE NOISES WHEN USING THE WORKOUT EMOTE??? I can't handle that!!!!
Time to throw myself off a cliff
? :) liking it? <3
you really should consider it. and also consider using the emotes :) for your sake :) you'll have fun :)))
I'm happy to report that the new emote pack unlocks pushups, sit-ups and squats for every character and Percy is very earnest when doing his
I love the way he gently sets his sword down before doing pushups and sit-ups
Cagliostro straight up refuses to do them, shaking her head and whining. She falls to her knees when you select sit-up and manages maybe half a squat before giving up and pretending that she feels energized after her workout. She's just like me fr
Rosetta does some light stretches when you select push-up and otherwise shakes her head and refuses as well
Actually, Io is also hilarious because she can't manage to do the exercises either, but at least she tries her best to struggle through half a push-up and sit-up each and manages four whole squats!
Ferry collapses after five push-ups, but struggles valiantly through the other exercises
I love the way Siegfried and Id just jam their sword into the ground before doing sit-ups
Everyone else is a fucking workout machine, shoutout to Eugen especially, but you should probably turn the volume down before going through all of these, because they do make noises that could sound a bit suggestive lmao
ah i intended to get the emotes to see myself DLFDLKFJ tho steam isn't very cooperating about that rn
at any rate, that's really so fun, i love that all the characters have very unique reaction to it, and the realism that the non-warrior characters are going to struggle through it.