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[identitycrisiscore]

ACTION ∙ TEXT ∙ VIDEO ∙ VOICE ∙ PLAYER This is Cloud. I'm out, leave a message and I'll get back to you. If this is for a job, you can find me at...

Comments

right after ic announcement

[everblooms]

[ It matters little of where he is. She'll find him, just like he'll always find her. It's the pull of... something. Concern, maybe.

Reunited again, there's a dire expression on her face, bags under eyes, but a glimmering determination in her gaze. ]

Can I help? I can go with you, Cloud. [ She totally can't. But she doesn't want to leave him alone, either. ]

[identitycrisiscore]

[ They always seem to find each other, don't they? It's a good thing, too - Cloud would have been worried if Aerith hadn't come to stick her nose in his business while he was preparing. ]

[ He turns to look at her, taken aback just a bit at how quickly she found him - he was expecting Aerith, but not... so soon. ]

The teams are already full. I don't know what happens if we have more people there than they said those chalices can handle. [ It's his attempt to let her down easy - they both know she can't come. ]

...Besides. You should get some rest. Half the reason we can get in there is because you've been running yourself ragged all week. Going in there while you're tired is just going to put you in danger.

[ He knows Aerith can handle herself. But he also knows she's been pushing her limits because of how much she wants to help everyone. If she was fully rested, this might not be an argument he could win - but she's not. ]

[everblooms]

[ It's true this is the gentlest way possible to let her down, but he's also not wrong. "Besides," he says, but they both know that's probably the biggest crux here. He's right: She hasn't had more than a few hours of sleep daily for... weeks, in fact. Since the haniwa first appeared. ]

You know I'm not going to listen, right?

[ She's holding on the Mythril Rod already, for one, but for two... ]

Besides, I'm the one with the healing powers. [ POINT END MATCH whatever whatever. ]

[identitycrisiscore]

Which is why you should stay behind, so you can help patch people up when we get out of there.

[ He's putting his hands on his hips as he turns to face her full on, away from checking his gear - he's not letting you win this one that easily. ]

And if things get worse out here while we're in there, you and Emily and the rest of the medical team are going to be the first line of help for the people who can't fight.

[ He frowns, although it's not hard to tell there's at least a little concern on his face. ]

If you go in there, there's not telling what will happen if you get caught off guard - or if you'll make it out.

[sefirot]

Don't die in the mission, Cloud. It would be disappointing for you to meet an end so soon.

text;

[identitycrisiscore]

[ You've gotta be f- ]
wasn't planning on it.

[ That's all you're gonna get for now, Sephiroth. He's very busy. Not paying attention to your attempts to get a hold of him. ]

text;

[sefirot]

If you were, I'd still be disappointed.

[identitycrisiscore]

i'd tell you to go to hell, but given where we are, i don't think i have to.

text; un: deku

[fullgauntlet]

Cloud-san? Are you busy? I wanted to ask you a favour if you're free sometime.

text; un: braver

[identitycrisiscore]

this is...
izuku, right?
i'm free whenever, now that i'm out of the hospital.
mostly.
what do you need?

[fullgauntlet]

Ah, sorry...! Right, It's Izuku Midoriya. Deku is my hero name.

W

Wait, why were you in the hospital, Cloud-san???

[identitycrisiscore]

oh. i assume everyone knew by now.
i was part of the team that infiltrated the big tower at the center of town. the one the enma is usually in.
i got fuc

[ Hastily backspacing... ]

i got pretty messed up.
but i'm clear to move again, so long as you don't need me to do any heavy lifting.

text; un: suizenji | two weeks after the tower mission

[watermemory]

Strife-san? I hope this is the correct address. My apologies for not paying you a visit, there's been much to do since the storm ended.

[ translation: Minato depressionslept/conked the fuck out from sleep debt for half this time, and has been doggedly scrubbing blood out of everything in his flat for the other half of it. ]

I hope you are recovering well from your trials. This is Suizenji Minato -- we've spoken before, if you recall. I was assigned to the upper levels that night.

text; un: braver

[identitycrisiscore]

minato?
yeah, this is cloud.
recovery has sucked most of the joy out of being the name on everyone's lips, that's for sure.

[ Sarcasm over text is hard, but not impossible, especially with Cloud. Minato may get the distinct impression that fame doesn't suit Mr. Strife. ]

i got some of the details when cain visited, yeah.
sounded like it was touch and go up there for a while.
good to hear you're bouncing back.

[watermemory]

Ah, you've spoken to Knightley-san? Without him -- and not to mention your admirable leader -- I suspect I'd be in the ward next to you.

[ Or dead. ]

Well, chin up. With luck, by the time you're back on your feet, the local press will have found a different target to latch onto. I don't know if they've managed to penetrate the walls of the hospital, but they surely have been tenacious out here.

[ Yeah he is about as enthused about this development as Cloud is. ]

[identitycrisiscore]

i could say the same.
without toraguma, i'd probably be dead.
be glad you aren't here, it sucks.
higher ward means i haven't had to deal with the reporters - yet.

[ One of the many benefits of the executive ward. ]

but honestly, the inaction might do me in faster.

[ He's so goddamn bored, Minato. ]

text; un: jsarchivist

[eyediot]

I'm not sure if I have the right contact. But if this is Cloud, hello. My name is Jonathan Sims, the Archivist. I'm a new arrival and am looking for information about the incident last month. I was told you had video footage of it. I would like to speak with you regarding this, if you are able.

text; un: braver

[identitycrisiscore]

[ He's surprised a bit by the name, given he's not interacted with Jon before, but he replies fairly quickly. ]

this is cloud, yeah.
i have the footage. i also have a copy of the footage from the other team.
none of it has been cleaned yet, but it's available.

what do you want to know?

[eyediot]

Whatever you feel comfortable telling me.

[It's odd, asking for something that amounts to a statement over text and not in person. Even stranger asking without his compulsion ability...]

If there is anything you don't wish to share, I understand. I'm mostly looking for any details about the larger picture, as well as any footage you're willing to share.

text; username: levirage, late august

[fibrillate]

Cloud? It's Levi.
Normally I wouldn't reach out about this, but you're the only person I know who might be able to help.
Dr. Yue doesn't appear to be available anymore, and I received a note from the Daitengu recently asking me to get another examination.
They didn't use any emoji, so they must have been serious about it.

Do you happen to know any good doctors or nurses?

text; un: braver

[identitycrisiscore]

yeah, it's me.
and that does sound like daitengu when they're being serious.
mmm.
normally i would direct you to sublieutenant dyer - emily, i mean. she runs a clinic on the side that some of us volunteer with.
but i'm going to take a guess and assume this condition isn't exactly common.

Re: text; un: braver

[fibrillate]

Well, if you recall, I can control lightning.
It's generated by a mutation in my heart -- it's a normal thing that all human hearts do, but because of my status as a meta-human, mine behaves... slightly differently.
It can cause damage if handled improperly. To myself and to others, but mostly to myself.

The good news is that it's been handled through normal cardiology in the past. Dr. Yue hooked me up to a monitor and provided me with some medication to help handle it, but, again, it seems like she's disappeared.

text; un: UMAI

[enbashira]

Hello, Cloud Strife!

You do not know me, but I have heard great things about you.

text; un: braver

[identitycrisiscore]

[ What in the- ]

uh.
hey.
you're right, i don't know you. who is this?
and what... exactly have you heard?

[enbashira]

I believe you have an admirer!

Someone who asked me to check up on you to ensure your wellbeing.

I should have led with introductions! My name is Rengoku Kyojuro!