♘ 1: Video

[intemperiae]

[The visage appearing over the video feed was...less than amused, honestly. MAKO green eyes framed with silver narrowed in growing consternation, as this particular user had been trying to make sense of this strange simulation for the last hour or so. With little luck, as this place damned sure wasn't his HQ field tent.

Not to mention that this thing in his hand certainly doesn't look like his PHS, there's a bloody collar around his neck (and for that, heads will roll, oh yes), his sword is nowhere to be found and some idiot considered it humorous to leave cryptic notes at the foot of his bunk... Needless to say, Sephiroth's temper with it was quickly evaporating.]

...I do not find this particularly amusing, gentlemen. We have work to be done, these pranks are better left for your celebrating at mission's completion.

[Granted, finding himself in a completely different place than the one in which he'd arrived the previous day did little to mollify his irritation, either. But, no matter the situation, a SOLDIER always kept a level head. ...most of the time.]

Fair! Strife! Report in, immediately!

Comments

[atouchofstrife]

[ No no no no no no. Not here. Not now! Cloud stared at the screen - and Sephiroth would probably note the sudden flash of surprise mixed with horror in the Mako-tainted eyes - before all expressions were cut off outside of a grim frown. ]

Sephiroth. [ No 'General'. No acting like a mere infantryman flustered over a higher ranking person remembering his name. Just a cold determination. A careful observer would note the maturity in his face, his washed-out blond spikes, the blue collar and the non-military clothing the camera showed. ] We are not on the Planet any more.

[ Then as if carefully poking a bomb, he adds... ]What are your plans for this world?

[intemperiae]

[Ah, there you are, Cadet. Finally. Under more normal circumstances, Sephiroth would have indeed taken note of the changes in Cloud's appearance and demeanor, but unfortunately, the current circumstances were less than ideal and the man hadn't even had his morning coffee yet. Thus:]

Rendezvous with Zack Fair and meet me here-- [He paused, disappearing for a moment to check the number on the door.]-- 3-02. Immediately.

[A spark of wry humor flashed briefly.] It seems your village has gone missing.

[atouchofstrife]

...Zack's not here. [ What are you smoking? Are you playing tricks with him again because he does not appreciate your bringing up Zack's name. Not one bit at all. Cloud is frowning harder -if possible-. Careful, his face might get stuck that way. ]

Of course it's gone. [ Oh he is going to start up a righteous growl here but then... He realizes something here. He had talked a little with Reno who didn't know about the stigma or the Remnants and thought Cloud had been still under the delusion of being Zack's better cousin. ]

[ He pressed his lips together and then the feed goes off. A door will open from room 3-08 and Cloud will step out, but if the feed wasn't being paid attention, the flesh should be because what steps out and starts down the hall in a slightly angry huff was Cloud all grown up. ]

[intemperiae]

[Sephiroth stepped outside his own door, hearing the footsteps in the hallway. And his eyebrow lifted sharply to see the cadet, because this certainly wasn't the one who'd accompanied him and Zack Fair to that ass-freezing mountain just yesterday.

Nevertheless, the big General was a soldier still, and, whether Cloud liked it or not, it was still his commanding officer who stood in front of the open door, arms crossed over his chest, waiting. There was an inherent question in the tone, but his voice was just as quiet as always.]

...Cloud Strife?

[atouchofstrife]

[ That had been years ago, with a few world-shattering crisis between then and Cloud's current time. Parts of that time had been blurred in his memories, though with help he had regained them while lost in MAKO dreams.

Cloud came to a stop just beyond arm's reach, regarding Sephiroth thoughtfully. He wouldn't put it past the Sephiroth he had been fighting to use this face to draw him out, but usually there was a tick, a kind of tell that would give it away. This person though, this wasn't that Sephiroth. He looked like the one that Cloud had seen as a hero, the General that made him leave his hometown all those years ago. ]

Yes. [ He shifted, looking at the floor before returning to look at Sephiroth. ] Sort of.

This place likes to grab people from different times... Or so I was told. It's been years.

[intemperiae]

[Stoic as ever, Sephiroth simply looked at the former cadet, measuring the reality before him against the impossibility of the entire situation. And nothing added up.

Which, unfortunately, didn't sit very well with ShinRa's General. Thus, the quiet command of:]

Explain.

[atouchofstrife]

[ As if it was simple. What was he suppose to say to a man who might had been hours away from learning about the experiments? Tell him everything? Or just skip over the bulk of it?

He sighed and closed his eyes. ]

Long story. [ Opening them, Cloud looked around the hall and shrugged. ]

Don't think I want to tell it out here. It's... Not a good one.

[intemperiae]

[Granted, Zack was more familiar with Cloud in general, but this reticence didn't seem to be normal for the cadet. Which, along with the almost cryptic answer, lifted Sephiroth's eyebrow a bit higher.]

--very well. We'll collect Zack Fair and speak in private, if you wish.

[atouchofstrife]

[ Cloud had his reasons, the main one being that it had been years - four of which under circumstances he had never dreamed of happening to him. He was getting better, but he also did not expect to meet this Sephiroth in his lifetime. Maybe in the Lifestream - if there was anything left of him, but not in some kind of tower.

At the mention of Zack's name, Cloud's head shot up, blue eyes narrowing and focusing on Sephiroth's face. He half-expected to see the familiar twitch and the mocking tones but there was none, just the stoic General. Cloud looked away, frowning to himself. That made things a little more difficult. ]

...Zack's here too? [ The question was half to himself as he studied the ground, hunching a little against his mixed feelings. ] Yeah... He deserves to know to.

[intemperiae]

He is. [Praise all to Shiva, Leviathan and Ifrit.]

I sent him off on a small errand about half an hour ago. I expect him back quite shortly. [Provided the pup didn't find something shiny and veer off his course.

Sephiroth eyed Cloud a bit thoughtfully, wondering where this "whipped mutt" projection was coming from, but he didn't question it. Not now, at least.]

Is there a briefing room or conference office nearby, then? [Because standing here in the hallway wasn't getting them anywhere.]

[atouchofstrife]

"If he doesn't get lost," Cloud said mostly to himself, a small smile appearing. What few memories he still had of Zack always involved such adventures, usually with him being dragged in the First's wake like a rather confused chocobo chick.

Strange how even that embarrassing nickname hah him smile these days.

"Not really. There is a lounge area near the cafeteria, but I haven't explored all the floors yet. If there is no one else in the dorm rooms, we might have to settle there unless you want to take time for the trip."

Narrative..../sigh of bliss

[intemperiae]

"I'd rather not deprive anyone of their own private quarters." Or take the chance of someone not cleared overhearing. Military conditioning still ran strong, after all.

Sephiroth nodded to Cloud. "Lead on, then. We've a bit of time yet; and I'll check in with Zack to have him meet us there."

:3

[atouchofstrife]

It might not be too wise to mention that his quarters were on this floor. Cloud wasn't sure how long this side of the General's personality would last, so he was going to veer on the edge of caution right now. Maybe later, if he could trust the man, maybe then he'll tell him. But not here and not now.

Sephiroth didn't looked armed, but Cloud tensed, his faint smile fading into a strong scowl. He almost snapped for him to lead the way when he realized that the General had just arrived. He probably did not know where the lounge was yet.

But still...

"Fine." With that, he started walking.