[Zack is there, but he's in the shower, oops. Déjà vu? Maybe, with the tables turned, though he doesn't know it yet. So, the knocking is noted, responded to with a shouted out statement:] Showering!
[And he does hurry it, at least, coming out with tanned skin a little pinked from vigorous toweling, pants hastily pulled on and a towel draped over his shoulders to catch the drips from his hair.]
Coming, I'm coming-- [And the door is opened!
And promptly closed again at the sight of the blond sitting in the hallway. But Zack's voice follows a moment later, hopefully to soothe the offense of the action by recalling their first meeting in the castle.] What's the password?
[Because aside being half-naked, the past week had just been weird and Zack still needs a moment or two.]
[And he does hurry it, at least, coming out with tanned skin a little pinked from vigorous toweling, pants hastily pulled on and a towel draped over his shoulders to catch the drips from his hair.]
Coming, I'm coming-- [And the door is opened!
And promptly closed again at the sight of the blond sitting in the hallway. But Zack's voice follows a moment later, hopefully to soothe the offense of the action by recalling their first meeting in the castle.] What's the password?
[Because aside being half-naked, the past week had just been weird and Zack still needs a moment or two.]
[Yes. Seriously.]
Ha ha. [Slides to the floor; Cloud can probably hear him settle down with his back to the door. Zack just is a mess of jumbled thoughts and memories and false memories and he's not quite sure right now what's going on.] I know you can do better than that.
Ha ha. [Slides to the floor; Cloud can probably hear him settle down with his back to the door. Zack just is a mess of jumbled thoughts and memories and false memories and he's not quite sure right now what's going on.] I know you can do better than that.
[You know the sad thing about bikinis? The people most often wearing them are ones who really, really shouldn't be. But that's mean to say, and Zack keeps it to himself.]
Mmm, nope. Keep going. [And yeah, he should be getting dressed the rest of the way. But hair is still pretty damn wet; Zack's working it with the towel while he sits.]
Mmm, nope. Keep going. [And yeah, he should be getting dressed the rest of the way. But hair is still pretty damn wet; Zack's working it with the towel while he sits.]
Something like that. [Shrugging on shirt and tucking into pants before going for the doubled belts. And yeah, he's tan, darker than his normal skintone and no tan lines visible waist-up. It's a definite sign of sun exposure, a good week's worth of it. And he's trying to hard to keep this casual, but it's weird.]
So. [So... yeah...] 'sup?
So. [So... yeah...] 'sup?
Yeah, you're telling me. [Because what was that cruise even. The sea turtles were really neat, as were some of the other animals and sights, but he's got the strangest set of doubled memories to accompany it all. Things like growing up (again?), high school, football... things that don't make sense at all.
Things like...] Heh. Roommates, huh?
Things like...] Heh. Roommates, huh?
I...
[Pauses, and sinks down onto the edge of the bed -- it's still just a small room, very plain; Zack hadn't wished it into anything else. He doesn't have the need; no one really visits him or anything, so it doesn't much matter.]
I want to say yes, but it's all jumbled up. It doesn't make sense. [Or, it makes as much sense as the little braided band tied around one wrist. He runs a hand through his hair, a slightly agitated motion.] I don't know what to think anymore.
[Pauses, and sinks down onto the edge of the bed -- it's still just a small room, very plain; Zack hadn't wished it into anything else. He doesn't have the need; no one really visits him or anything, so it doesn't much matter.]
I want to say yes, but it's all jumbled up. It doesn't make sense. [Or, it makes as much sense as the little braided band tied around one wrist. He runs a hand through his hair, a slightly agitated motion.] I don't know what to think anymore.
[Sorry Cloud, it's just a bit disturbing to know something's messing with your memories.]
Gongaga, but it was... different. Midgar too. [A slight stumbling over the next words, because they, and the concepts behind them, are still a little weird.] I remember high school and football and-- and college, too.
Gongaga, but it was... different. Midgar too. [A slight stumbling over the next words, because they, and the concepts behind them, are still a little weird.] I remember high school and football and-- and college, too.
Yeah. [Sitting back up again, rolling with the motion to stand. Zack crosses to the dresser again, scooping up the little cloth drawstring bag and moving over to Cloud, to give it to him. He's got to do it quick, before his brain tells him it's stupid and he should forget about it.
Inside is a braided bracelet similar to his own, and a little glass turtle figurine.]
Inside is a braided bracelet similar to his own, and a little glass turtle figurine.]
[And he just... doesn't say anything, because what is there to even say? Small mementos, souvenirs purchased on a cruise for which his memories had been altered; he doesn't know how to justify them now.
But there is the small thread of hope that maybe Cloud will like the gifts.]
But there is the small thread of hope that maybe Cloud will like the gifts.]

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