ⅶ┆filling the blanks...

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Cloud's been in his room all day--his loss ended right after he made it through the window the day before, luckily for him (or probably just what castle intended for him). It would have been bad to change all sudden while still being at some meters above the ground. Getting a broken bone or something while wearing nothing but his birth suit? Well he didn't get any of that.

Either way, he's been sitting on the edge of his bed, reading the journal and Zack's notes (after taking a nice, long warm bath and changing into his regular comfy clothes!). Cloud, I'm sorry if I upset you or something... Or Can we talk? At all? Why did he worry so much...?

Cloud's eyes travelled slowly back and fort from the journal to the Buster Sword that lied peacefully in the very same place he had seen it the last time he was in his room. All he wanted was an explanation, but all he was getting was a headache.

Why were there two Buster Swords? Fine, it was normal for there to be replicas or doubles of weapons, but this one, this one didn't seem to be like that.

Something wasn't right. He could feel it in his gut, but whenever he tried to force an answer, his brain would just shut down.

What was wrong? What was wrong? What was wrong?

Maybe he was the problem after all...]

Goddammit... [The journal is open on his lap, obviously catching on his voice. He doesn't seem to care though. The curse is soft, yet the tension on it weights a ton. Sighs, and a moment later, he grabs a pencil and scribbles something.

He's gotta mosey, he can't dwell on this forever...]

[ Reno ]

[Thinking it better... scratches that.]

[ Reno ]

[Or not? Wait no, never mind...]

[ Reno ]

[Just forget it... He's not gonna ask him. Hopefully the redhead won't notice this...]

[ Hermione; dictated ]

Hey. You got time?

--

[And finally...]

[ People who talked to a cloud during the past weeks, except Reno; dictated ]

I ... just wanted to say thanks to whoever helped me while I was a... cloud, oh and, sorry about the rain. [He's not sorry about the thunder nor the lightning!]

The name's Cloud, and you don't have to say anything 'bout that...

--

[This one takes him longer to write down, in fact, he rather only write than speak to him... He's not sure he wants to know but hey, after insisting that much... Ah, notice he didn't exclude him from the last filter?]

[ Zack; written ]

What did you want to talk about?

Comments

[ninjainviolet]

[Such a gentleman. She's honestly surprised for a moment before taking him up on his offer and stepping through.]

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Once inside, he's staring curiously at everything. Maybe he's not quite the artist he said he was because he doesn't know what is all this stuff...]

[ninjainviolet]

[Sheena's not sure about some of the items, either, but she's immediately gravitating over towards the inks and brushes that were like the ones she used, so she misses Cloud's expression. So far, his secret is still safe.]

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Since something catches her attention, he peeks from behind her shoulder. What's personal space again?]

[ninjainviolet]

[With Cloud, there is no such thing as personal space--especially when she's engrossed in the items before her.]

These are the inks I use, and there are the brushes. Oh! This is different! [She's discovered several sizes and colors of the paper used for her drawings. She's definitely going to be buying some.]

[shrugs_a_lot]

[With Sheena so excited about the items, Cloud gives a hint of a smile, nearly nonexistent really. He's glad they found the little place, and being around the girl helped him not to think about Zack.]

[ninjainviolet]

[Sheena looks up at him, her smile still wide.]

What do you think, Cloud? One of each color?

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Ummm!]

Sure.

[ninjainviolet]

[She smiles as she gathers up each one--along with a few other supplies.]

Are you going to get anything?

[shrugs_a_lot]

Um...

[Scratches the back of his head. Grabs the first notebook he finds.]

There.

[ninjainviolet]

[Eyes him curiously. Surely he hadn't picked that up because she asked, had he?]

All right, I guess that's it.

[Heads to the clerk to pay.]

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Of course he did! But she doesn't need to know that.

On the way to the clerk he does get a couple of pencils because that seems like the good combo.]

Wait, lemme get that. [He's getting some money out. He knows Aerith would make him pay for everything, better get ahead it.]

[ninjainviolet]

[Sorry, Cloud, but Sheena's not like that. She doesn't expect others to pay for her, so she's looking at him with some surprise and embarrassment when she replies.]

Th-Thanks, Cloud. I-- I appreciate it, but you don't have to do that.

[shrugs_a_lot]

It's fine. [He's usually not like that either! ... But Aerith trained taught him well.

After he pays for the stuff he gives her the bag.] You can draw me something in return.

[ninjainviolet]

Bu-- Clou-- [Any further protests were taken care of by his paying. Sighing, she took the bag and looked at it a moment before turning back to him.]

You took the words right out of my mouth. It's a deal!