01 - Bake a Pretty Cake (ota)

[firsteditionbfs]

WHO: Angeal and whoever wants to bother a man throughout a week
WHAT: Roosters and bread oh my
WHERE: Town
WHEN: The vague existence of October
WARNINGS: none planned

SUMMARY: As a practical man with goals, Angeal has a lot of things he wants to do to make sure his household is doing okay. This means things like re-establishing his bakery, and carrying a rooster. The rooster is important. Don't worry about it.

A - Agriculture

While the autumn air makes things somewhat cool, that doesn't seem to be a matter that's bothering Angeal as he pushes a wheelbarrow along the more residential streets, filled with dirt. He does take a break occasionally as he goes about his business constantly, sometimes carrying little bags on top of the dirt. "You would think dragons could have better timing, rather than right at fall," he says during such a break to anyon who joins him. There's the faint glimmer of gold up along his hairline, horns that are just starting to appear. He doesn't seem happy about it.

B - Bakery Remade

For those making their way through Town today, they may come across one of the empty not-residential buildings with its doors wide open. There are a variety of encounters to be had with this simple fact...

For example, early morning may find anyone passing directly in front of the doors having a face full of dust. Angeal's voice comes from inside. "Ah, shit, sorry. You alright? I was just cleaning this place out. Need something to get the dust out of your mouth?

By noon, a pleasant smell is wafting out of the newly cleaned out bakery. Anyone is welcome to step right inside, as the doors have been left open for the time being. It's not a big fancy place or anything, but there are a couple of tables for anyone who'd like to sit, and a good amount of space behind the counter. Angeal is hard at work kneading more dough as bread bakes in an oven, fairly content with how things are going for the time being.

When evening finally rolls around, Angeal can be found relaxing right outside the bakery with a decently sized piece of wood in his hands that he is making a commendable go of carving words into. "I should have asked for a smithy," he says casually to anyone who slows down enough to linger. "I don't know anything about woodcarving."

C - Cock

Angeal has a rooster tucked underneath his arms at the market.

None of the locals are batting their eyes about this.

Other people at the market, however, may have different reactions. They may especially have different reactions when the roster (otherwise being a pissy little football hisses at them.

"Sorry about that," Angeal says casually. "He's not happy about the situation."

D - Do Whatever

[The wildcard catch all option, for interacting with Angeal however you want]

Comments

B...Somewhat! Bread and Sparring?!

[relativefugue]

Cloud has a bone to pick with a certain SOLDIER First Class. Lucky for him, the man isn't all too hard to find. Give or take some time of wandering about Town, the blond will find Angeal seated in front of a wonderful-smelling building carving away at a wooden sign of some sort. Of course this guy is already opening or helping open an establishment. It was only a few weeks ago that he built an entire chicken corral upon arriving here.

Cloud scratches at his fluffy hair before making the approach, wincing at the aggravatingly itchy and sore pair of bumps coming in up there. He swears he didn't hit his head at all in recent memory- probably some strange kind of sickness that will pass with time.

"You really just love sticking your nose in things, don't you?" he says flatly, coming to a stop just in front of Angeal. His expression is that of his usual stern sort, with some annoyance peppered in, all covering up some level of genuine curiosity Cloud would rather not anyone see. "What the hell kind of skin do you have in the game to pull a stunt like that?"

Cloud knows Angeal knows exactly what he is speaking of, as the engineer of the entire startling and eye-opening talk the boy ended up having with Sephiroth not long prior. "Why are you messing with me?" As far as Cloud knows, Angeal doesn't know him, despite knowing his friends. They didn't really cross paths back in SOLDIER. What gives?

[firsteditionbfs]

"I think you just answered your own question," Angeal says casually, still working on his sign. He's not bothered at all by Cloud coming up at him, clearly. "I really just love sticking my nose in things." A pause as he blow away some wood dust and sweeps off some of the sign. It's not perfect but it's certainly coming along.

Well, he can always do better when spring comes through, and he's practiced carving some more. Or get someone else to do it.

"Anyway, what - you have some complaints about how that entire meeting went? Because according to a little birdy, it seems like it went pretty well. My chickens all seem rather happy with the arrangement."

[relativefugue]

"Okay, smartass, I know there has to be more to it than just loving it, and so do you," Cloud snaps, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He really, really sucks at talking to people, let alone confrontations when the other party is as quick of wit and seemingly multiple steps ahead like Angeal is. None of his usual prickly nonsense seems to work on the guy. He'd rather have a one-on-one fight with a pissed off behemoth than this.

"It went-" Cloud actually pauses. How it actually went was sort-of well. World-shattering for him, but, ultimately...Fine. The existential crises were certainly a thing, but now he doesn't feel like he has to constantly watch for a katana to be skewered through his chest again, or see his nightmares around every damn corner of this place. "It went, I guess."

"What I need to know is why the hell any of this benefits you. If you know so damn much about me, you should have known that was not a good idea at all." As per usual, the awkward, and frankly somewhat stunted Cloud sees this as merely transactional, despite the results speaking volumes of over-arching benefits. A chance at a better future, healing, and closure. "You planned all of that. My problems with Sephiroth back home have nothing to do with you."

Oh, how woefully wrong this huffy stray SOLDIER is. Buried somewhere beneath the mess of memories not his own, the answers to all his questions lay out of reach.

[firsteditionbfs]

"Bad idea that seemed to go pretty alright, if the best you can say is that it went," Angeal points out. It's hard to argue with a guy who's pretty confident he's in the right, and Angeal is pretty damn confident. It helps that he's being proven right, too. Cloud may not want to admit to as much yet, but Angeal can read the signs.

And he can see a hopeful future, here, too.

"Although you seem pretty caught up in how anything would benefit me." Leaning the sign against the wall behind him, Angeal pushes himself up onto his feet. He'll at least make an attempt at having this conversation not be so awkward.

"Can't I have seen plainly that things were going to explode for either or both of you, if they went like they were going, and decided to do you both a favor?"

[relativefugue]

"Explode? Things already exploded a long time ago," Cloud corrects flatly, stepping back as Angeal stands himself up, tilting his head back to continue meeting the other man's gaze. Why the hell is everyone so much taller than him here?

Simple as the answer is, it is one he doesn't expect. Favors are never free, not from near-strangers especially, yet here Angeal is saying he did it to stick his neck out and take a chance for both Cloud and Sephiroth. He probably mainly just means Sephiroth, given how much Cloud learned he (and his...Husband? Genesis) means to the silver-haired SOLDIER, but it still comes as a surprise either way. His eyes widen a measure for a few beats before his expression settles back to the usual detachment.

"...Stupid gamble to take, honestly. Were you watching from somewhere? Or were you that cocky about being right?"

[firsteditionbfs]

"Guess you better start rebuilding from the ground up then," Angeal says matter of factly. "Because I knew I would be right."

Or, rather, it was a gamble where he was pretty sure he knew what cards were still available in the deck and what could be counted there on the table. He's not much of a card counter in a casino, but with people? Easier, a little bit, or at least he likes to think so.

"Even you couldn't really complain about how it went."

[relativefugue]

This smug bastard. What the hell does he know about Cloud?! How can he sit here and say so easily that he knew the merc would immediately be just fine and dandy with hanging out with his tormentor?.

It hits a soft enough spot for Cloud that he braces as though ready to spring into a fight. He's been pretty damn understimulated as far as combat related physical activity goes, the hallmarks of a restless soldier there to see for any eye trained to look for it.

"Maybe I don't, but you have some real nerve acting like you know everything about him and I."

What Cloud doesn't realize is Angeal probably does know, actually.

[firsteditionbfs]

Yeah, he can recognize that kind of agitation, the buzz in a person's body. There were a lot of young recruits who had to adjust to the thrum of mako in their bodies, in how much more they could do. A lot of them going through puberty.... probably didn't help matters, honestly.

Cloud isn't going through puberty, at least.

Probably.

Sighing, Angeal rolls his neck a little bit, and looks down at Cloud. "I don't need to know everything about you." And he already knows a lot about Sephiroth. "But I think I get the core well enough." This will probably not make him any happier.

[relativefugue]

It most definitely does not make him any happier. It only makes his eyes narrow and his stance take on something way closer to a combative one, until the blond catches himself and huffs, tightening his hands into fists at his sides and relaxing. Well, relaxing his posture. That buzz is ever present, without an outlet. Maybe he should go try hitting a tree as a target dummy again.

There's a certain way that Angeal squares up, however, that lights a fire in Cloud's mako eyes. Still, he stays put.

"You mean all the mysterious shit you can't tell me. Great. Makes you so sure you have all the answers." Except Cloud knows in this case Angeal did have a solution. After some thought, the blond is even...Cautiously optimistic about how the discussion with Sephiroth went.

Not that he's about to thank Angeal. He's got enough hot air from the satisfaction of it all anyway. Cloud holds onto what shreds of pride he can for dear life. The last few pillars holding up a worldview that is rapidly crumbling apart with Sephiroth not being a monster, and Genesis and Angeal alive and knowledgeable of things he cannot yet comprehend.

"You elite Firsts are a real pain in the ass."

Said with all the gusto of a fellow First who knows no better of it.

[firsteditionbfs]

"Less the mysterious shit, and more I think anyone with a braincell can see how you tick once they've had a conversation with you." And after seeing the way that Cloud had kept looking back to the chickens, knowing the buster sword he still kept on his person...

Angeal feels confident in this much, certainly.

Still, for that little comment, an amused huff leaves him. "I don't think you know how much of a pain in the ass I can be," he says dryly. "All I've done is talk to you. Get on my training, and you'll see how it really feels."

[relativefugue]

Great, now Angeal is calling him predictable. Being that easy to read by a serial meddler spells bad news for the merc- there is a strong nonzero chance Angeal is not about to stop doing things like this. For whoever's sake it might be. The last person Cloud thinks of is perhaps the most likely- himself. For his sake.

Cloud Strife has no idea what he's gotten in to, having caught the eye of one SOLDIER First Class, Angeal Hewley. Perhaps it was always inevitable, given the blade on his back, and important people he's forgotten.

"And pulled a bunch of strings to make things happen. That's a lot more than just talking to me." His scowl deepens. "Your training? That some kinda challenge?" Cloud has vague memories of the whispers of how intense Angeal always was on the SOLDIERs under his tutelage. But at this point, it is a matter of pride. He can take it. Maybe even prove himself. He's a goddamn First, after all. "I can take it."

[firsteditionbfs]

"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."

[relativefugue]

"Whatever. You know what you did, Hewley."

Nah. Hand-to-hand was never Cloud's strong suit- always swordplay, with the barehanded stuff as a backup. He was made especially aware of how lacking in that department he was when Tifa showed back up in his life, not even SOLDIER, but pushing the very boundaries of human strength. Sticks it is. Cloud turns on his heel and stalks towards the wooded border of Town, waving an arm. "I'll come back with some sticks, then."

What the hell did Angeal mean by his energy anyway? He's just annoyed. Anyone would be, right?

True to his word, Cloud returns maybe ten minutes later, with a stick in each hand. Both are a decent width, and as close to the length of a ShinRa-issue training sword as the blond could manage to find. He tosses one Angeal's way whenever he emerges from the entryway of the bakery.

"Just take us wherever you want to eat those words, then."

Cloud will dutifully follow the man wherever that leads. Quietly.

[firsteditionbfs]

Well. He can say that when it comes to being a little pain in the ass, at least Cloud is certainly reliable. Angeal lets him go off with a little wave, content to keep working about in the bakery. Or at least do a quick little clean up and be ready for him when he does come back. Themis can watch over Mithrun and get him back home well enough.

As for him? He casually takes his stick in hand and makes a leisurely way out to the outskirts of the city, more towards the grazing areas where ranch animals like to go. This late in the day, however, most of them have learned to wander back to their barns and stables.

There's enough space here, he thinks, turning back to Cloud.

"So, what are the lose conditions, then? Have any in mind?"

[relativefugue]

Ah. Cloud likes this area. It's quiet and nice and there's livestock around. He's made his way out here more than once to just exist, in the presence of other living things. The blond's always had a serious soft spot for animals of all kinds, having grown up around so many. They made good company back then. His eyes are on any stragglers making their way home, even as his feet continue to carry him after Angeal. A cow and her calf seem to be the last to scurry towards the barn nearest them.

Angeal draws to a stop just as the calf's tail disappears into the open barn doors.

Cloud squares up his shoulders, though he keeps himself from looking too tense. He's only antsy. Raring for an outlet. He holds the stick in front of him as he would a sword, and brings one leg back to brace behind him.

"First one to take three hits on the body loses. That work?"

He's ready, like a coiled spring.

[firsteditionbfs]

"Three hits. Alright. Works well enough for me."

And with that said... All Angeal does is position himself just a little bit to the side, stick held patiently in his hand.

"Then give me your best shot."

And he waits.

[relativefugue]

Angeal doesn't have to wait long. Cloud springs into action with impressive swiftness, even without his SOLDIER speed. While he doesn't have the fine-tuned form any First worth their ranking should have, there is a spirit and technique behind it that stands out- and may or may not look a little oddly familiar. Especially when the blond raises the stick up above his shoulder in one hand just before dashing ahead. He attacks with a raw, unrefined lunge towards Angeal's right shoulder, bringing his second hand back to the stick's 'hilt' to drive it forwards faster and with extra force.

Very much an all-or-nothing strike.

[firsteditionbfs]

It.... really is familiar, in a strange way.

Of course, it's not unusual for the people he's taught to pick up on certain battle traits. That's what happens between mentors and students. Especially sometimes when he's gotten hands-on with some of the others if he really wanted to how them just what was off with their stance and such. And then of course there would be the things they would pick up while watching him fight whenever they were on missions together...

But, a problem. He never trained Cloud Strife, for the very obvious reason that he never made it into SOLDIER.

Hm. Well, that's worth taking a look into. So, rather than simply meeting that rather rash and raw attack, Angeal simply... sidesteps it. Turns so that Cloud might just go charging past him if he's not careful.

He'll see just what else is familiar with this popcorn headed spitfire.