#from Cloud's pov

[siyuri]

These perfectly symmetrical beings with unique colours, smooth and perfect, better than many beads, they were just food to him? For humans or fish? © Underline the Blue by amazing  @not-poignant

[pollyna]

After he dies, someone in the Navy starts to play with the idea of making a biography of Iceman's life. Annapolis, Pensacola, Top Gun, the Gulf, all the missions, all the secret missions he took part in, and his stellar career in the Admiralty, all crowned by the four starts on his shoulders. And how to pass the possibility of finally having answers to all the voices about his private life? About a wife who wasn't really a wife, kids who aren't his own and used to call him uncle, the kid of another dead naval aviator who still calls him dad and all the torrid affair, supposedly, with captain Mitchell?

What they give Daniel to start somewhere is the address of a place lost in the desert and a house two hours from the nearest Naval base. The woman who lives in the second place takes one look at him and says "You can tell the Navy they can all fuck themselves and if someone tries to publish a single word on Tom I'm going to sue everyone for so much money they're going to start to have to pay everyone in candies and I'll be able to solve the food problem of the world and still fuckin' rich" before closing the door on his face. The man of the first address, now RDML Mitchell, offers him a glass of water in a hangar full of planes, bikes and spare parts with enough grief written all over his face that Daniel doesn't have the strength for asking a single damn question.

"It's not your story, or theirs, to tell." Mitchell says, smiling softly, touching the wedding ring around his finger. By the time Daniel finds himself leaving, the man is already moving around, moving this and that part, searching for something. He notices it, just before leaving the hangar: a panel of pictures with a young, tall, and blond guy hugging a kid, kissing a shorter brunet aviator, in another his arm around a guy taller than him and then the same guy growing in his adult features, still kissing a now older brunet aviator, a wedding pics, graduations and Christmas, the woman who threats to sue the Navy dancing with another woman, and so many more pictures Daniel doesn't know if a day will be enough to see them all.

"It's not your story to tell," he repeats to the Admirals two days later "his ex-wife threatens to sue the Navy for enough damage to make you close the whole hovel around here."

"Someone else will write it if you won't." One of them says.

"Let them try. I don't think they're going to receive the same hospitality, next time."

[algodon-candi]

I feel like Hollow was a foreshadow for Rebirth (obviously, I know it’s not crazy). But after listening to the full No Promises to Keep, I think that song is a foreshadow for the next game as well. It makes me hopeful that Aerith will have an active role in the next game.

I also wonder what the next game’s theme song will be? We Cloud’s POV with Hollow, Aerith POV with No Promises to Keep..

[dark-elf-writes]

You ever run on the edge of exhaustion for days and are more than a little convinced you’ll never write again when a scene hits you so hard you have to write it out right that moment or explode?

Anyway, Leaf House Cloud snippet anyone?

“Where did you get that?” Tseng asked when Cloud produced a bottle from seemingly nowhere once they had found an empty stretch of roof to sit, the night still too young to retire but neither of them wanting to deal with the press of the crowds below.

(A professional hazard, the paranoia. Still the view of Midgar at night was hardly the worst in the world.)

One day Cloud would stop surprising him, but tonight, with a stolen bottle of wine in his hands and a darkly amused smile on his lips, would not be that night. It was fortunate that mischief was such a good look on him. More fortunate still that Tseng was no shining beacon of morality himself.

“The table next to ours had… opinions on the nature of our relationship and on what, exactly, a ‘slum rat’ like me is useful for to a man like you.” While his time in Midgar had gentled the Nibel drawl to Cloud’s words to anyone who didn’t know to listen for it, there was no mistaking the underplate accent. One intentionally learned.

(“The kids are more comfortable with someone that sounds like them,” Cloud had explained once, nodding to where a little girl was hanging off of Reno’s arm while she chattered at him. “It feels like home.”)

The smile Cloud sent him was all Nibel, however. Wild and full of far too many teeth to be polite. A wolf in the skin of a man. All too bright eyes and deceptive strength hidden in his slight form.

Tseng had never seen someone more beautiful.

“Figured if they were going to treat me like a rat, I might as well get something out of it. Payment for being their dinner entertainment.” The ice in those softly glowing blue eyes said enough about exactly the kind of conversation their fellow restaurant goers had been having.

(Perhaps it was fortunate that they had only spoken loud enough for Cloud’s enhanced senses to catch. Tseng was not nearly so forgiving.)

“Some might think that proving them wrong is the greater revenge.”

Cloud turned to him, pointing the top of the bottle at him in accusation. “Are you going honorable on me, Turk?”

Tseng wondered if Cloud saw the irony of the most honorable man Tseng knew, albeit in his own way, throwing the word at him like a curse. Still, it wasn’t worth ruining their night by pointing it out.

“With a vintage that fine as your prize? Hardly. Though it is a crime to drink it straight from the bottle.”

Cloud’s laugh was little more of a huff of air as he pulled out a knife, Reno’s old knife by the looks of it, cruelly serrated and certainly overkill for the poor cork, and carefully worked it in at an angle. When the cork popped free Cloud looked back up at him with that wild smile. “I can drink it all myself, if you want.”

Tseng took the bottle and tipped his head back for a long drink. As fine as the wine was, Cloud’s laughter was far more intoxicating.

Midgar didn’t have parks. Was far too well lit to see the stars. But seeing Cloud with his jacket open and legs dangling over the side of the roof, Tseng wondered if this was the feeling romantics chased with grand gestures and over the top spectacles. There would be no epic poem for their story, no record of their love forever immortalized in words to be repeated night after night in an opulent theater full of the exact type of person Cliud would steal from as compensation. There was only this moment. Only the two of them suspended above the city with Mako smoke burning their lungs and alcohol burning in their veins.

It was enough for him. Enough for Cloud too it seemed, when the man leaned into Tseng’s side as he regaled him with a tale of one of the many times he had send the Don’s thugs running from his little safe haven in the slums.

No epic tales, no eternal love story. Only Cloud and Tseng and and the blood that stained both of their hands.

It was far better than LOVELESS any day.

[somegiantmess]

Sharing another old Symphonia pic... Apparently I reproduced a sky from an OVA episode, sort of.

Genis and Lloyd are younger here!

[darkclouud9]

ohh night night 😴

[getvalentined]

Biting my own fingers to keep from going off on too much scientific bullshit in this next chapter of Smoke and Mirrors because Nobody Needs All That and it breaks the pacing but also MAYBE I NEED TO EXPLAIN THAT GENESIS COPIES ARE JUST MEN WITH A DISEASE WHO WENT ALONG WILLINGLY—

[kazumahashimoto]

oh god wait actually are they gonna give us "we're friends, right?" in 4k

[error404vnotfound]

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[imactuallyagiraffe]

i have a question and that is am i allowed to make adhd jokes if think i might have adhd but probably don’t but also might but also probably don’t and i have educated myself on this topic.

[ashorterurl]

I just finished playing crisis core and what the fucking fuck this is way worse than I remembered

[cloudbattrolls]

Paved with Good Intentions - 1

SIX SWEEPS PRIOR

It had been such a nice night, that night. 

I remember how I’d shared the news with Jikiro - his name was different then - and we’d stayed up far too late, still very much pupas despite how grown-up we liked to tell ourselves we were. Candy wrappers and drink bottles covered the floor of his room, for I’d had a smaller place then, and I rarely invited him over. 

If I’m honest, I was a little jealous of how a tealblood had a nicer hive than me, though of course he did with his ever so prestigious bloodline and all. 

It was cold, I remember that - snow fell gently outside his window, not much, just enough to give everything a pretty dusting.

“This is it.” I’d declared, holding up my latest drink, a lime seltzer. I was moderate even then, unlike my indulgent friend. “This is my ticket to business! Finally we can do it together!”

Jikiro slowly finished chewing on some chocolate, and nodded. “Yeah, but you better pick a cool one, or I’m disowning you.”

“Ooh, big chat from the drippy ink g - boy.” I gave him a slightly worried look, but he nodded, beaming, and I grinned back myself.

God, I still had those awful braces then, silver and terrible across my crooked fangs.

He pushed me over - tried to, my drink spilled a little but I shoved him back with my free hand, and blueblood superiority triumphed.

For all of five seconds before he plain tackled me onto the rug, but I’d set my drink down and went straight to giving him a noogie. His horns were even smaller then, it was almost laughably easy. 

We wrestled a bit and I wound up on top, for all he was bigger - not nearly as much then as he is now. He was starting to get softer in the middle, but we were still around the same height, and all my limbs worked how they were supposed to.

“You’re all chat.” I said smugly, adjusting my glasses. “Chat and hot air! And pudge.” I said, giving him a friendly poke in the belly. 

He stuck his tongue out and squirmed, but I held fast, digging my knees in.

“The pudge feels pain, you jerk.” He complained. “Get off!”

I sighed as if being asked to give up my new apprenticeship, but I obligingly slid off of him like a gentleman. 

“You keep that up and I won’t go into business with you!” He sniffed. 

“Pssssh, sure.” I said, waving a hand dismissively. “Right. And who’ll replace me? All your other friends?”

His face fell and he huddled up, and my ears drooped. Damn it.

“Hey, hey, sorry.” I said softly, twisting my hands together. “Look, I didn’t mean it that way. It’s their fault, they don’t get how cool you can be!”

“Yeah, right.” He mumbled. “They still make fun of my accent, and because I’m teal, and…everything.”

“Now you’re just being dramatic.” I said, slightly impatient. “Yes, they can be a little rough! But that’s how highbloods are. Push back at them! Show them you’re a Takami! At least you have your bloodline.” 

I was unable to keep some bitterness out of my voice, despite trying to be supportive. 

Jikiro sighed. “My bloodline made of women. Women who insist I have to be a woman. They won’t…they won’t listen. I don’t know what to do.” He looked like he was on the edge of tears. Again.

I knew I should have been sympathetic, but I was annoyed. This was my night and he was being a big downer, which had become all too common lately. 

“Fine, be a puddle then!” I snapped. “I do have other people I can celebrate with. Cry on Hanabi, it’s her job and not mine.”

I got up and stormed out. Childish, I know. Petty.

But we were children. 

–

“Heeeeeey, Jamie!”

Lastha wasn’t my favorite friend, but if there was one thing I could say for her, she was always reliable. A cerulean who had a chronic inability to tidy her hair no matter how many clips or hairbands I offered her, she was nevertheless always good to give me a hand with studying or with whatever prank I felt like pulling.

“Jamie, Jamie.” She said insistently. She did have a bit of a grating voice, I recall, but I suppose I can’t blame her too much. She wore the schoolfeed uniform almost religiously, heaven knows why, it was dull as anything. 

“Las, Las.” I said back, mockingly. “What?”

We stood outside the place we all took classes - it’s where I met Jikiro, a spot for up and coming teal to indigo pupas to learn all the things we’re supposed to so we can succeed in life. Well, for pupas with good names, well-established lineages or at least ones whose ancestry can be easily traced to someone with decent standing in the empire. 

And me.

I don’t actually recall the place too well, despite how much time I spent in it. I think part of me doesn’t want to. All I can tell you is that it was a fairly blocky, gray building, and that the drones who patrolled the grounds were objects of both fear and ridicule to us all. One of my better-known pranks had been leading Lastha and several others in a great bid to get balls of mud lodged on their electronic eyes without them realizing it was us.

This night had been a fairly routine one of learning - except now I had my job to go to! Five and a half sweeps old, and I was already an apprentice!

I couldn’t seem too excited in front of the others or leave myself open to all sorts of teasing, but I couldn’t help bubbling up with it inside. 

Lastha’s big gray eyes drilled into me. 

“You don’t know? Your friend Kasumi dropped out!”

She said gleefully.

I frowned.

“He wouldn’t. Would he?”

It was true he hadn’t been in tonight, but I’d just assumed he was being mentored by his signmate. He’d only met her a few perigees ago, having at last reached the appropriate age, and he would sometimes miss class in favor of receiving lessons on his bloodline’s business instead.

“I overheard the crechemistress talking on the phone.” She boasted, hands on her hips, and my power assured me she was being truthful. 

“Honestly, good riddance! I know you took some platonic pity on him, but he’s just a teal. He’s better off not being here anyway!” She waved a hand dismissively. 

“Now you can spend more time with us!” She said with a grin.

“Mmm, right.” I offered noncommittally, and she frowned.

“I have my job to go to, I’ll see you later, Las.” I said with an airy wave, walking away.

–

I flashed my ID card at the reader, watching it turn from forbidding rust to an affirmative pink, and grinned as I walked into the shining silver building and entered its vast first floor. 

Robots floated about, trolls bustled around, and holographic images were displayed everywhere. It was chaotic. It was disorienting to watch for longer than a minute. 

I loved it immensely. 

Easily dodging around all the bigger, taller trolls, I made my way to the office where I was expected by my new mentor.

Excited as I was, I still paused to knock on the smooth white door. It paid to be respectful to a violet, even when he’d chosen me in particular.

“Mr. Coloth?” I called.

“Come in, Jameth.”

His voice came through the door’s speaker, amused.

I didn’t much like that he called me that, but I’d never complain. It was just a little thing, not using my nickname, even though everyone else did. 

I stood as straight as I could, highly aware of how short and small I was for my caste. Everyone expects bluebloods to be big hunks of meat, or built yet lithe, but apparently genetics missed the memo for me. I was strong like any other of my hue, but clearly both good vision and good musculature had taken one look at me and run in the other direction.

No matter. Neither of those were why I was here.

“You realize you will have to start with everyone else, despite your talents.” He said smoothly.

Coloth was also short for his caste, but with him it didn’t even seem to matter. He laid back in his chair with as much ease as if the whole city belonged to him, not just this building. He was a curvy violet, with shoulder length hair, and his fins were edged with metal. 

I nodded. “Of course, sir. One cannot sit at the peak of a mountain without first understanding its base.”

He raised his eyebrows, clearly amused.

“A little scholar, are you? That won’t help you here. We deal with facts, not literary fluff.”

I was confused, but tried not to show it.

“Yes, sir. I’m quite looking forward to learning more of the trade, believe me. I know there’s an incredible amount I don’t know.”

“Of course you do.” He said, with a tone that was…probably well meaning. He’d chosen me, after all, he had to want me here, didn’t he? His violet eyes were hard to read as he sat in his sleek black chair, but I got the distinct feeling there was something I was missing.

“Go see the packaging supervisor, Jameth, she’ll have work for you.” 

It was clear I was being dismissed.

Trying not to let it bother me, I instead went to the supervisor (after I worked out how to find her in the first place, as Coloth had neglected to tell me who or where she was) and began my foray into packaging.

It was actually a lot more interesting than it sounds.

To me, anyway.

--

For some odd reason, I didn’t find a lot of fellow enthusiasts among my friends. Who knew biodegradable materials and the best kind of adhesives for long-term space storage weren’t hot topics of conversation among five and six sweep olds? Clearly not me, back then. 

I considered calling Jikiro - or Kasumi, as he’d been known then, as I got back to my hive. Then I didn't. Then I was just plain bored and figured I might as well try.

I called once and left a message. Then again.

Finally he called me back.

“What do you want.” He said, sullen.

“Well if you’d listened to my voicemail, you might have a clue…” I quipped. “Anyway. Why did you drop out?”

“Why do you think.”

“I think many things.” I said, a touch impatient again. “I’m asking you, so I don’t just assume and get it wrong. I’m being a friend, you ninny.”

He sighed. “Okay. Thanks. I just…I don’t think I can handle it right now. You’re right. I am being a big downer. I know it’s a pain. I can’t seem to stop, so it’s not fair to you to try and stick around, right? Plus…I’m so tired all the time, Jamie. This is wearing me out, feeling all wrong like I do.”

I bit my lip. Ugh. He was being reasonable…but I still didn’t like it.

“Isn’t there anything you can do? They really won’t let you start those treatments we looked up? I know they’d be a bit pricey, but surely you can afford it.”

“They won’t, Jamie!” He cried. “They won’t…they’ll never let me do it. Himari says it’s just not done. That she understands it’s hard sometimes, but I’ll get past this…phase.” He choked up. 

Anger shot through me, white-hot and volatile as phosphor.

“Himari can go to hell.” I snarled. “I’m coming over and I’m setting her straight.”

“Jamie, no, please - “ He begged, but I’d already hung up the phone.

Perhaps if I had listened to him, it all would have been very different.

[abigailspinach]

Heists!

F: And there’s an entire scene, which I love, which goes by in about, what? Three pages? Where, once they’ve crossed the river and they’re invading this city, and the whole point is that someone has discovered that Emhyr is under sex/romance pollen and has kidnapped Geralt to hold as hostage, and they’re going to get him back. And there’s this scene where Emhyr gives like three orders and they keep going— and you’re in Ciri’s point of view, which is really effective because you can’t be in Emhyr’s point of view. Which I think we’ve talked about lots before. If you’re writing the Machiavellian mastermind, it’s much less effective if you’re seeing what he’s thinking.

A: Yes.

F: So you’re either seeing Geralt’s point of view or Ciri’s point of view through the entire fic. And this entire series from Ciri’s point of view, you just see him give like three different orders that just seem a bit weird, and then two pages later he turns up in front of this thing and is like, “As you can see, we have conquered this city!” and suddenly the three orders that he made make sense.

[M cackling delightedly] 

F: Because he is literally bluffing his way into invading an entire city with a very small force, and you see it all fall into place. 

A: Yeah.

F: That’s where you’re just like, “astolat...why.”

A, sobbing: Whyyy?!?

F: How?!

M: He orders the ships in the harbor burned and the main square torched, but not actually fighting with the troops who are stationed there. He kind of just goes around all of the fires.

F: And then he finds some extra horses and puts some people on the extra horses, so it looks like— 

M: So he’s running around like, it’s like Birnam Wood has come to Dunsinane, you know?

A: That’s exactly what it’s like, actually.

M: And then he’s like, “As you can see, if your eyes are sharp, my ships are coming to reinforce me,” and everyone is just like—

F: Then he just gestures to this cloud of smoke.

M: Yeah. [laughs]

A: It’s so good. 

M: Ciri is just sitting there with stars in her eyes because, you have to understand, she is an imperial heir but she doesn’t really know her father. She’s been on the road stabbing zombies for most of her life. And is like, “Why can’t I stab it?” And Emhyr is like, “Because politics.”

[icharchivist]

Okay but Zack's smile looks very soft

I can understand why you'd go digging for it

*mumbles* now you can understand why there are TWO official OST songs that are supposed to be from Cloud's POV which have both songs begging to see the smile of the person he lost, one of the two song being explicitly about Zack while the other has been kept vague. We're all Cloud when we think about Zack's smile.

but also i was specifically digging for this one to make a point on an ask about how "i know exactly how Zack reacts when he sees you squat and fail -- i know because my bestie Cloud had a flashback to that at the end of CC, along with various different flashbacks of Zack smiling at him, all with a filter on it making the artstyle even more gorgeous that it is in the maingame, showing how Cloud's perception of Zack has always been enhanced in some way to make Zack even prettier".

so yeah. yeah many thoughts on this one but it was especially to answer an ask

[aricastmblr]

BT21_ X 14 mar. 2024 Behind the Scenes🎬 from COOKY’s pov😜 Already miss our days in Cloud Planet 💭💜

COOKYの視点から振り返り🎬 雲惑星での思い出がすでに恋しい…💭💜

COOKY 시점에서 본😜 우리의 비하인드 스토리🎬 구름 행성에서의 추억이 벌써 그리워..💭💜

BT21OntheCloud #Bestietrip #Newepisode #merch

BT21_official youtube short

Behind the Scenes🎬 from COOKY’s pov😜Already miss our days in Cloud Planet 💭💜

COOKY´S COZY FILM

[death-rebirth-senshi]

??????? What on earth would that solve? How on earth would that make sense

I'm convinced this person doesn't actually know the plot of ff7