AUDIENCE FOR: Butt Strife

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[skyagain]

... There's things that are clearer. And stuff that feels more... muddled. I know it... had to have happened, but I can't always remember the details. [ there's another pause ] ... Five years ago, I don't remember what happened after I killed Sephiroth. I don't remember... most of those years. I know I spent some of it traveling back. That I decided to go back to Midgar to be a mercenary. But the rest is all-- a blur.

[resumed]

[...there's a pause.]

But he didn't stay dead. Right?

[skyagain]

No, he didn't. [ a little darkly ] ... I don't know how, but he's done a lot of stuff that should be impossible.

[resumed]

[give him a second to think.]

What exactly is he? When people don't stay dead, it usually means either they weren't killed with the right kind of weapon, they're not fully mortal, or there's something deeply wrong with the planet that death doesn't stick.

[skyagain]

... I'm not sure.

[ there's a pause ]

There's some stuff wrong with the planet, but I don't think that's why. [ he's not entirely sure because it's complicated, but. ] Back then, he said... his mother was a Cetra. We call them the Ancients. They're the people that were there before us on the planet. [ he frowns a little more deeply ] ... Aerith is one.

[ he doesn't know if jenova actually is a cetra, because she looks. fucking weird. then again cloud did mostly meet her head and then the rest of her body sans head. so. ]

[resumed]

[sure, okay, that makes sense.]

By nature, we're harder to kill, too. [they're not cetras or anything, but they are designed differently.] But that doesn't mean it's impossible. You think he's telling the truth?

[skyagain]

... He sure seemed to think so. [ cloud's eyes look a little faraway for a second before he shakes his head ] He's definitely not human, anyway. Not fully. I've seen his mother. Or... what's left of her. So... yeah. Maybe that's how he did it.

[resumed]

Then at least there's time to find a better strategy to take him down permanently. After all this? Maybe you'll have better luck.

[skyagain]

Just a matter of making sure it sticks, this time. Last time...

[ he tilts his head ]

What'd they call it? Couldn't exactly double tap him.

[resumed]

[...snort.]

Out of everything you could have learned here...

[skyagain]

Might have heard it in the Realm, first. [ wry. it's a blur of terrible slang. ]

[resumed]

[shaking his head.]

I don't know if anyone ever picked up on the concept at the castle, and I'm too scared to think about asking.

[skyagain]

Doubt it. I don't think anyone at your castle had to deal with two months of Lup by herself and two of her with her twin.

[ deadpan. ]

[resumed]

[...thinking...]

That is a completely fair comparison to make. I'm not even as close to Lup as you are and I can only imagine.

[skyagain]

It's a thing.

[ a Problem kind of thing. ]

[resumed]

The second time around didn't you kind of choose for it to be a thing?

[skyagain]

Wouldn't go that far.

[ he does not feel like he did any of the effort there. thanks. ]

[resumed]

[hum.]

...you're good with it though?

[skyagain]

... I think so.

[ which is maybe a phrase to use about a relationship he is in but. he figures nico will get how commitment is weird when your memories are a mess and you are starting to doubt your own life ]

[resumed]

[there's a slow nod.]

It's weird. But if they want to stick around, all we can do is let them after a point.

[skyagain]

[ huffs ]

... Stick around's about the right word for it.

[resumed]

Knowing the people you've associated with--[not just here, but back home]--I think you'll be stuck for a while at least.

[skyagain]

They're stubborn. [ all of them. horribly. ] ... I guess I'm alright with that.

[resumed]

Keep them. [why?] Making new friends is a pain in the ass anyway.

[friends. relationships. all of that.]

[skyagain]

[ he kind of huffs out something close to a laugh ]

That the only reason?