» I » [Dictated]

[animusangelus]

[The journal hadn't seemed important when he had first arrived. There were far bigger problems like...

Where the hell am I?! and Is this the Lifestream? Did I...die?

Even Cloud has to admit that if he is dead, it had to be the most anti-climatic death ever. He was only on a delivery, riding Fenrir to the outskirts of the city. He's not even sure how he could die from doing that.

No, something else is going on and he needs answer. That was the thought that finally drew him to opening the journal and beginning to dictate.]

So this is a castle. [Time to get the obvious out of the way.] I...didn't want to come here. Who brought me here? And why?

[He finds a chair and sits down, reclining with the journal in his lap. Only then does he continue.]

I'm Cloud Strife. [Does that mean anything?] I was making a delivery and -

Where is my motorcycle?

Comments

[animusangelus]

What do you feed him? [Does he want to know?]

[wishmadeinfire]

Oh, meat. I'll buy from the butcher in town or sometimes I just wish it up. Usually some sort of red meat, more protein for him and fat for the winter months.

[animusangelus]

That works. [He wouldn't be happy with slaughtered animals.] As long as it keeps him happy.

[wishmadeinfire]

I do my best. He is particularly sluggish in the winter, and then he is hardly a danger to anyone.

_{[ Cold-blooded beast that he was. ]}

[animusangelus]

Isn't that dangerous? Should he hibernate?

[wishmadeinfire]

No, he never quite hibernates, but the stables are kept magically warm and I keep blankets and wraps and on his legs if he has to go outside. He does fine - has for a few years now.

[animusangelus]

Alright, then. [Someone has a soft spot for animals. He won't admit to that, though.] Might be interesting to see him. I'm supposed to visit the Chocobo.

[wishmadeinfire]

Aha, do you want to? I suppose since you're not a cloud this time, you would enjoy it.

[animusangelus]

Doubtful. It's a big bird.

[wishmadeinfire]

So you have to take care of the Chocobo, but you don't like the Chocobo?

[animusangelus]

[It's only a problem because people say he looks like one.]

Won't know for sure until I try.

[wishmadeinfire]

Well then, I can meet you down at the Castle lobby and we can go out from there, if you like.

[animusangelus]

It might be boring. [Not that he doesn't mind the company per se.]

[wishmadeinfire]

I can think of more boring things than visiting my Svitana and chatting with an old... well, old-new friend. Or would it be new-old?

[animusangelus]

Not sure. It won't matter once we get reacquainted. [He is already walking out the door.] Meet you in the lobby.

[wishmadeinfire]

Surely.

_{[ And a few moments later, have a six foot man with black hair to the floor and long elf ears approaching you, Cloud. He smiles at the sight of the other, nodding his head in greeting. ]}

Ah, indeed, not a storm cloud this time!

[animusangelus]

[The height...is surprising. Cloud is only 5'7", so you can bet he is craning his neck to see those ears. Not that he stares. He's not that rude.]

I told you. [He reaches back to adjust the large sword strapped to his back. He might look a little different - depending on the previous Cloud's canon point.]

Let's [mosey] head out.

[wishmadeinfire]

_{[ Ashura nodded his head, not commenting on the blade, though a part of him wondered how the man actually wielded the thing. He walked beside him, the tips of bare toes showing from beneath his silks as they walked, Ashura turning them in the direction of the barn. ]}

I think it will be good to have someone here who knows the Chocobo again. I'm not sure who takes care of him now.

[animusangelus]

[He wields it quite well, actually. Not that he wants to. He's dead tired of fighting and struggling.

Once Ashura leads the way, he follows, looking around curiously. At the comment about the Chocobo, he sighs and scratches the back of his neck.]

I guess I'll be looking after him. Does he have a name? [Or something?]

[wishmadeinfire]

You know, I never really asked? He was just.. the Chocobo.

_{[ He waved his hand apologetically. ]}

[animusangelus]

Huh. I'll have to think about it. [He'll have to call him something. Not that he likes the big bird.]

[wishmadeinfire]

That would be good for him. We can wish up a plaque to put on his stall, in case you should ever leave this place.

_{[ It was a sad thought, but it was also inevitable, in some ways. People came and people went. You were sad, and you moved on. ]}

[animusangelus]

Mm. [The bird deserves that much. Cloud frowns a little as he considers names. Before he realizes it, they are approaching the stables.]

Let's see your...pet...first. [Is pet the right word?]

[wishmadeinfire]

I would not call him a pet, per say. He is a war trained steed, and I've raised him since he was a hatchling.

_{[ He walked into the stables and down the way to a corner stall, pausing to unlock it and sliding the door back. From the back of the stall comes forward a massive creature of scale and muscle, colored red with a cream-yellow belly, its head framed in feather-shaped frills and eyes predatory gold, jaw long, teeth sticking out at points, a thick tail shifting behind it.}

Dragon-horse indeed. ]

Meet Svitana, Cloud.

[animusangelus]

So he's...your steed. [That doesn't sound right coming from him somehow, but he shrugs it off. The steed is enough of a distraction to take his mind off of the oddity anyway. He looks over the creature, unblinking.]

He's...impressive. [Slowly, he nods his head, acknowledging the dragon-horse.]