Howling and Hollow (Cloud Catch-All)

[relativefugue]

WHO: Cloud Strife and YOU
WHAT: What does your heart desire? (A place for planned threads outside prompts!) Cloud is settling in.
WHERE: Around Town and the outskirts, depending!
WHEN: A week or more after arrival, ongoing.
WARNINGS: Probable mentions of mental health struggles and trauma.

SUMMARY: A catch-all for Mister Final Fantasy! Here he is, trying to...Leave. Inevitably, he will be settling in, whether he likes it or not. What are those weird bumps hidden in that chocobo fluff hair? He fell and hit his head, probably.

Comments

[orbicularis]

"You have no idea what Angeal wants."

Mithrun steps forward, reaching out to shove Cloud backward himself - maybe with a little more force than necessary. "And, for you to have gone as long without proper sleep as you obviously have, you will clearly not be 'fine' at home. Are you staying with anyone?"

[relativefugue]

Cloud cannot help but be a little surprised at just how strong this wispy looking guy is- must've hit some kind of nerve concerning Angeal. Not that he cares.

"I'm staying with myself." As it always was before he somehow ended up with a travel party. How it always was going to end up, too. "'Nough time and I won't have a choice but to sleep. Just trying to get there."

That's how trauma nightmares work, right? If he has to skip work, fine, but he can handle it himself.

[orbicularis]

"'Won't have a choice?'" Mithrun raises an eyebrow, just faintly. "What does that mean?"

He may not have the details yet, but clearly something is up.

[relativefugue]

"Exactly what you think. Pretty sure if you're tired enough you just shut down. May as well get to that and deal with it later once I can sleep." Cloud says it as though it is matter-of-fact, shrugging his shoulders.

"And to do that, I need to go home."

[orbicularis]

"Yes, you do just shut down." Don't tell him what happens physically when you just simply do not sleep, Cloud. "Not what I was asking. Why aren't you sleeping to begin with?"

[relativefugue]

Cloud falls quiet for a moment, considering. He has little to lose, giving this away- but also isn't all too thrilled about showing more weakness on top of what is already there presently.

He huffs. There's no way Mithrun is going to let up.

"Bad dreams."

[orbicularis]

"Bad dreams," Mithrun repeats. He tilts his head, actually thinking it over. "Sleeping spells can help with those, but they're not something you can cast on yourself."

[relativefugue]

"Yeah. Can't remember being able to do that back home. Only can put other things to sleep. Materia is finicky like that." Not that materia seems to be required for magic in every world, but...it's similar at least. Cloud shakes his head, and immediately regrets it- the room starts to spin. "Ngh."

Sleep sounds so good right now, it practically aches to think on it. "You saying you wanna knock me out?"

There's more questions, of course. Waiting to be asked.

[orbicularis]

"Right - you're from that world." Wanna be less vague, Mithrun? No? He moves right on.

"No, I'm saying I can, and I intend to. The question is whether you want me to; the spell works better on a willing subject."

[relativefugue]

What? What does that mean? Have the others been talking to Mithrun about him? Something about that makes him bristle. There's more than enough people who already know more about Cloud Strife than Cloud himself does.

"What, you're going to knock me out back here and go about working. Then what? Not really thinkin' this is a bright idea."

How long will he last on one big sleep? Cloud is too exhausted to crunch those numbers either. Maybe another week? Two, if he's lucky.

[orbicularis]

"Why not?" He shrugs. "It's what the hammock is for - you aren't the only one here with trouble sleeping, and the rest of us don't need it right now. Nobody comes back here except employees. I'll tell the others you're resting, and they'll know not to bother you.

"But you're right. It isn't a permanent solution. That said, I doubt you'll like my suggestion for that any better."

[relativefugue]

Cloud does have to concede the first point to Mithrun- he could simply just rest here. But the thought of it, and a show of weakness to the people he's only just begun to become used to being around, naturally sees him displeased.

"Wow. Great lead-in. Just spit out the idea."

[orbicularis]

Alright, well.

"You shouldn't be living alone. I'm confident that Angeal and the others would be more than willing to take you in with us."

[relativefugue]

"No."

Cloud's expression gets a little intense with that. Like a startled, angry animal recoiling at being touched.

The thought of not being alone isn't unwelcome deep down, but Cloud's reflex to cover himself and keep playing lone wolf jumps way to the fore and smothers it.

"The hell are you thinking? Take me in? Like some stupid pet? I'm not looking for charity, and they sure as hell aren't-"

Getting that worked up simply has Cloud's exhaustion crash into him. He inhales a sharp breath, swaying in place as the words die in his mouth.

[orbicularis]

Not much surprise there. Mithrun frowns, reaching forward to set a hand on Cloud's shoulder and steady him.

"Then I'll just have to go to your house, every night, and put you to sleep, if you'd prefer it. It worked well enough when Angeal used to do that for me." He raises an eyebrow. "Before he took me in like some stupid pet."

[relativefugue]

Cloud doesn't recoil or really respond to the steadying hand negatively. He merely stays put, swaying less. His brow knits at what Mithrun says, sheer exhaustion starting to mess with his judgement, inhibition, and active efforts to keep up a prickly front.

"Make you keep going there? That's a ridiculous ask. Got nothing to give you in exchange."

[orbicularis]

Without resistance, Mithrun just. Pushes him back down into the hammock. Stay put.

"Then I guess it would be more convenient for you to move in with us. I'll talk to them about it."

[relativefugue]

Cloud makes an angry sound, but does lay back down. For now.

"Not moving anywhere-" Cloud protests, before slowing himself down. He's so, so tired. So tired. The idea of finally getting sleep is tempting enough that...

"I could. Go there a few times. Maybe."

[orbicularis]

"Alright."

Honestly, he'll take it. Some proper sleep is better than none at all - Mithrun himself knows that well.

He keeps a hand on Cloud's shoulder, the other going to rest on his forehead. "Now, hold still. Relax."

He murmurs the sleep spell, fingers threading gently into Cloud's hair - it may seem an oddly tender gesture, but it's one with a practical purpose, allowing him to direct mana more precisely into Cloud's system, aiming to lull him to sleep.