It's a simple, small thing that Cloud says in return to Sephiroth, but for a man like him, the meaning is momentous. A verbal admission of understanding. Of meeting Sephiroth where he claims he is at.
Cloud is a kind soul deep down, and despite his trauma, he wants to believe those words on some level. There is an undeniable and oh-so-human level of consideration in all that Sephiroth is saying and doing. If nothing else is clear, he can at least say a monster wouldn't put in so much time thinking about regrets like this, or means of atonement. Or...About him so much, in ways that aren't malicious.
He's tired, really. Tired and wanting this all to end. This seeming fucked-up chain of suffering that all leads back to Shinra. Maybe this is step one. Or fifty, with where things stand between them. The one option that always seemed so wildly out of the realm of possibility stands tantalizingly close: cooperation.
Sephiroth knows things. If he wants to help, then it could change the game for Cloud, and perhaps the both of them. While these vague talks of memory issues and dire truths are no less frustrating or alarming...A path to investigating seems to be starting to reveal itself. That's more than nothing for a man of action.
"That's a start right? Towards what you're saying you want to try. You show me. Show me you do mean it with time. We'll see." His eyes are a measure gentler than what Sephiroth had probably ever seen directed his way by Cloud Strife. There's no anger, no rage, merely a cautious, measured curiosity atop something softer.
The hen in Cloud's lap makes a cooing sound as he scritches at one of her cheeks. The other birds wandering between the two men also appear to have happily settled in where they are, fluffed up and at peace.
"Dunno how long any of us are going to be stuck here, but Angeal sure thinks it's gonna be long."
no subject
It's a simple, small thing that Cloud says in return to Sephiroth, but for a man like him, the meaning is momentous. A verbal admission of understanding. Of meeting Sephiroth where he claims he is at.
Cloud is a kind soul deep down, and despite his trauma, he wants to believe those words on some level. There is an undeniable and oh-so-human level of consideration in all that Sephiroth is saying and doing. If nothing else is clear, he can at least say a monster wouldn't put in so much time thinking about regrets like this, or means of atonement. Or...About him so much, in ways that aren't malicious.
He's tired, really. Tired and wanting this all to end. This seeming fucked-up chain of suffering that all leads back to Shinra. Maybe this is step one. Or fifty, with where things stand between them. The one option that always seemed so wildly out of the realm of possibility stands tantalizingly close: cooperation.
Sephiroth knows things. If he wants to help, then it could change the game for Cloud, and perhaps the both of them. While these vague talks of memory issues and dire truths are no less frustrating or alarming...A path to investigating seems to be starting to reveal itself. That's more than nothing for a man of action.
"That's a start right? Towards what you're saying you want to try. You show me. Show me you do mean it with time. We'll see." His eyes are a measure gentler than what Sephiroth had probably ever seen directed his way by Cloud Strife. There's no anger, no rage, merely a cautious, measured curiosity atop something softer.
The hen in Cloud's lap makes a cooing sound as he scritches at one of her cheeks. The other birds wandering between the two men also appear to have happily settled in where they are, fluffed up and at peace.
"Dunno how long any of us are going to be stuck here, but Angeal sure thinks it's gonna be long."