"I mean, I just talked to two people," Angeal points out plainly. "That's not really pulling a bunch of strings." Frankly speaking, it is basic matchmaker level of nonsense that any romcom would fall back on. This isn't really a romcom, to be fair, but still. It's not exactly complicated.

If he really wanted to something like "pull strings", well. He has even better sources and shenanigans than that.

Maybe they can get to talking about it. Later. You know, when Cloud isn't scowling at him and demanding a challenge. "It's a fact," he says, tilting his head to the side. "But if you need something to get out all your energy, sure. I can drag you along and show you exactly why everyone under me always made First. But I'm locking up this place before we do anything... and you better get some decent sticks for practice, unless you want to try me at hand-to-hand."