#that Aerith look to the camera is perfect

[hiramaris]

Dusk til Dawn

Part 14

Summary: Following Episode 9. And spoilers for Episode 10. 

Author’s note: As Episode 10 is just released I just want to say heads up for those who are not yet finished. Completing the game without spoilers really made a difference, and as much as possible I want everyone to experience that. And for those finished, I’ll gladly welcome you to my domain where MC took a different route.

Disclaimer:  I do not own Duskwood or any of the related characters. Duskwood is created by and owned by Everbyte Studio. This fanfiction is intended for entertainment only. I am not making any profit from this story. All rights of the original Duskwood story belong to Everbyte Studio.

Warning: Mentions of blood, suicide, violence, pedophiles, drugs, gun, murder, sex offenders, kidnapping

gif from weheartit.com

“Officer Alan! The stream was cut off! And the hatch won’t open!”

“What?! Miss Donfort and Y/n are still there! Go force it open!” Alan was barking orders. From sending more paramedics and firefighters to talking with the newly arrived FBI.

“The fire is spreading fast! Hurry up!”

Urgent shouts filled the air.

Lilly couldn’t comprehend anymore what was happening around her. One moment they were still inside the cabin panicking about Jake and Y/n’s lack of updates since they descended from the shaft and then Jessy got a call from an agent who claimed she was Y/n’s subordinate. Not long after, they were all escorted inside a vehicle along with the rest of Y/n’s squad.

They couldn’t understand what was happening. Why was the FBI here? Did Y/n contact them to finally capture Jake? But that’s unlikely, you would never do that to him. So just why?

The woman who contacted Jessy must have noticed the look of confusion among their group and began to explain. “Our Chief likes to do everything on their own. You can imagine how stressful that might be for our squad,” Agent Hartmann chuckled wryly. “But they mean well. We just wish they'd allow us to help more. After all, we're a team.” Her gaze hardened. “Now Chief L/n needs our help more than ever. That’s why we are here.”

“Did Y/n inform you of their location?” Cleo voiced the question that was likely on everyone's mind.

The raven-haired agent shook her head, her expression serious. “We tracked them.” She motioned all five of them to follow her to the back of the vehicle to see loads of computers and gadgets set up to perfection. If Lilly were to imagine Jake’s setup, it would probably look like this. “Did you finally manage to breach into our culprit’s laptop, Aerith?”

A redheaded woman swiveled her chair to face them, fingers dancing across the keyboard as she worked on her screens. “Affirmative,” she confirmed before returning to her task. “The guy doesn't even have a password on his computer. Seriously, who does that?” She scoffed as she manipulated the keyboards, bringing up multiple camera feeds. One screen displayed a blinking red dot on what appeared to be a map—presumably Y/n's location.

However, it was one particular monitor that seized their attention, and Lilly's heart sank at the sight.

A hand suddenly clutched Lilly's shoulder. “Lilly…” Jessy's voice trembled as she whispered, her eyes fixed on the monitor. “Why is Richy pointing a gun at Y/n?”

Agent Hartmann swiftly made her way to the driver's seat, her urgency palpable. “Viktor, we need to hurry!”

A loud screech of tires brought Lilly back to the present moment as another vehicle came to a sudden halt, and she strained to see through the commotion. Lilly could see Agent Hartmann, who had been in a heated discussion with Alan for a while, go pale as a tall figure emerged from the vehicle. The man was easily surrounded by men wearing the same uniform as Y/n's squad.

It didn't take long for her to realize that this must be the Director they had mentioned earlier. His presence seemed to command attention effortlessly.

Identifying him was not difficult. His deliberate, measured steps and the pristine condition of his black suit, along with his impeccably styled blonde hair, marked him as a man of authority. Even without doing anything, an aura of power seemed to radiate from him.

Shit. Lilly's mind raced. What could the Director be doing here? Her anxiety surged as she watched the unfolding scene.

Not long after, a gunshot rang out, followed by the harsh, echoing sound of metal striking the ground. The men who had been gathered around the hatch, attempting to force it open earlier, scattered to the sides.

Smoke rose from the newly opened hatch, obscuring the view. However, through the haze, the unmistakable silhouettes of two figures can be seen.

Tears welled up in Lilly's eyes, and all the emotions she had been trying to hold back since the FBI had dropped them off overwhelmed her. She watched, her heart pounding, as Hannah and you emerged from the hatch. You held a Glock in your other hand, which you had probably used to open the hatch, while your other arm was wrapped around Hannah's shoulders as she helped you walk.

However, before they could race toward the two of you, you were both escorted to the paramedics. The men surrounding the Director began to disperse and held Lilly and the others back, preventing them from approaching your location.

“Let me go!” Thomas bellows as he struggles to get past the agent. “Hannah! Hannah!” But the man didn’t budge. Thomas yanks him by his collar. “That’s my girlfriend!”

The agent, maintaining a stern demeanor, responded, “we understand, sir. But we can’t let you in just yet. Especially Chief Y/l/n is gravely injured.”

“B-but…” Jessy sniffed. She has been crying nonstop since they arrived here. “You already forbid us to see Richy and Jake. Now Hannah and Y/n?!”

“Ma’am, you need to understand.” The agent prompted indifferently. “Three of them are injured and Miss Donfort is still shaken up. So, please. Just give us a moment. We will let you see them once we’re through.”

“Damn,” Dan mutters, his shoulder slumping.

“We understand, sir,” Cleo responded, her voice cracking didn’t go unnoticed by Lilly.

Cleo urges them to back up a bit to the side despite the general protests from the gang. It was significantly far from Y/n and Hannah’s position, but they could still see them from here. Lilly is glad that despite the situation, Cleo was able to keep a level head which is exactly what the group needs right now because honestly speaking? Lilly is on the verge of going to her sister herself.

“Unfucking believable.” Dan rasped out.

“We need to calm down, okay?” Cleo faced them. “The more we resist, the more they won’t allow us to see them.”

“I just don’t understand!” Thomas couldn't contain his frustration. He covered his face with his hand, voice strained, “Why can’t they just let us see them? We’re not just some bystanders! For god’s sake, Hannah’s sister is here, too! At the very least, they should have let Hannah see Lilly!”

Lilly began to zone out as her eyes focused on where Hannah and you were. She can see your squad dotting on you as they carry you to the paramedics. Lilly’s mouth went dry as she noticed the numerous bruises and cuts on your body. And with your clothes being black, it's hard to make out any other wounds beneath them but the droplets of blood trickling down on the ground from what seems to be a wound on your abdomen already tells her you have a serious wound.

And Hannah…

Hannah seemed to be okay. Apart from her smoke-etched face and slight scratches from her arms, there don’t seem to be any noticeable wounds on her. Thank God.

But the look of sheer horror is written all over her face. She looked emotionally wrecked. The blanket and what seemed to be a mug of warm drink did little to Hannah’s shaking form. She had stopped crying, but her eyes were puffy and grim as she focused her sole attention on Y/n as the paramedics began to treat their wounds. If Hannah had noticed Lilly and the group, she didn’t show; not daring them any single glance.

Hannah’s still shaken; Lilly noted. Who wouldn’t? What happened down there was fucked up. And despite the irresistible urge to approach their place, Lilly knew deep down they wouldn’t be able to give much help.

****

It felt like ages before any of these people acknowledged their group. Jessy only allowed herself to breathe freely when she saw you stand up from the stretcher. The paramedics had you remove your shirt to treat your wounds, and now your whole torso was almost covered by gauze. There was still a glaring red stain on your right side despite the blood being stopped by the bandages. Your head was also wrapped with bandages, but the dried blood from the side of your head had been cleaned now. You seemed okay now, too, better than earlier when Jessy had almost thought you weren't breathing at all.

Once Agent Hartmann gave them the signal, Jessy practically raced towards you. You only have seconds to react on time when Jessy’s body collided with yours in a searing embrace. It didn’t last longer than she would have preferred because she heard you groan in pain, only realizing she held you a little too tight, earning one member of the paramedics to admonish her.

“I’m okay, I’m okay…” you managed to say amid grunts as you gently pulled her back into your arms. Jessy is careful now to not put any pressure on your wounds.

“Damn, Y/n!” Dan made a move to slap you lightly on your arm, but Jessy swatted his hands away, daring him to continue. “Geez, I just want to praise them.”

After ensuring you were okay, Jessy turned her attention to Hannah, who throughout the whole ordeal remained staring from the distance. Even when Lilly, Thomas, and Cleo tried to embrace her, she flinched away, unconsciously gravitating closer to you. Lilly and Cleo quickly understood and gave her space, but Thomas was a bit persistent in trying to comfort her. Just as he was about to reach out to her, Hannah scampered away, seeking refuge practically behind you, whimpering softly.

Thomas quickly withdrew his hands like he was burned, finally getting the message. “Hannah...?” He questioned, a hurt expression crossed his face at the thought of his girlfriend flinching away from him.

“Hannah,” Jessy started carefully. But when Hannah darted her eyes to her with a fearful look, Jessy closed her mouth shut.

“Uh…” you begin as you start shielding Hannah behind you away from their prying eyes. You only stopped moving when you were able to create a significant distance between both of you and the gang. “She’s still shaken up.”

“Hannah… no one’s gonna hurt you anymore,” Lilly finally spoke after a long while. She was practically begging for her sister to talk to them. And despite the guilty feeling rising in Jessy’s chest at the notion that she was far more worried about Y/n than her friend, she couldn’t help but notice how Hannah was holding onto Y/n’s arms like some sort of lifeline. And from the look on Thomas’ face, she knew he noticed it too.

“What happened inside…" you trailed off, shaking your head. "It was horrible. Give her some time.”

Thomas began to open his mouth, likely to voice his protest, but the man from earlier returned. Jessy watched as you visibly stiffened at the sight of him. Despite any discomfort, you tried to stand straight, fighting back the wince that threatened to cross your face as you attempted to salute. “Director,” you greeted, your voice steady.

“Agent L/n.” The Director replied, his voice a few notches lower.

His cold cobalt eyes bore into yours, and Jessy observed as you, for the first time, seemed to shrink in your place. It might have been imperceptible to others, but Jessy can easily see through your facade. That despite trying to battle the eyes of your own superior, fear can still be seen etched from your eyes.

“Agents,” the Director cleared his throat to address his men, but his gaze never left you. “I need a private moment with Agent L/n, if you may. You can assist Agent Hartmann and the others in securing the hacker and the mechanic. Do make sure they are patched up accordingly before you do so. After all,” he added with a small smirk that made your expression harden, “we are not that cruel.”

Jessy and the others visibly bristled at how the Director referred to their friends. What did he mean by ‘restrained’?

Richy may have done something horrible but that doesn't make him a terrible person! And Jake! Y/n has stated he was wanted with the same people they are working with. What happens to him now?

This is the only time Hannah acknowledges the Director's presence. Her eyes widened and there was obvious panic in them. Lilly almost wore the same expression. Jessy's not entirely sure but they are probably just as shocked about the words that flew from the Director's mouth.

“Everyone,” you said, commanding their attention. Everyone but the Director was surprised at your sudden change of demeanor and tone. It was cold and calculating. There was barely any trace of emotions that could be seen in your eyes and that scared Jessy. “Please give us a moment.”

For a brief moment, nobody moved, and silence enveloped the atmosphere.

“Now, please,” you stressed. You turned towards Hannah, giving her what Jessy assumed was an encouraging nod. Hannah seemed to understand and let herself be guided by Lilly a little further to Y/n's location.

“What the hell was that?” Dan was the first to react. “Richy's a douche I know, and Hackerman's weird and all but what the fuck? What are they going to do with them? Is Y/n going to let something happen to them?”

“Calm down,” Cleo interjected. “I'm sure Y/n wouldn't let anything happen to them.”

“If they are going to arrest them,” Hannah spoke for the first time. Her eyes are a bit different now. Despite the tears staining her cheeks, there's a subtle fire in them. “They should arrest me, too. After what...” She shook her head as she fought the tears from coming. Thomas instinctively tried to reach out to her but— “DON'T TOUCH ME!” She shrieked and everyone froze.

Hannah had never been one to raise her voice. Actually, the words ‘shouting’ and ‘Hannah’ are two completely different concepts. It was quite hard to picture the past Hannah to the Hannah in front of them now. But Jessy couldn't really blame her if this whole ordeal changed her.

Her outburst was loud enough to capture your and the Director's attention. Jessy could see that you wanted to go to them, but it seemed you were in the middle of a heated discussion, even if it didn't look like it.

“Don't touch me,” Hannah repeated with a sob. Now quieter that it was barely audible. Thomas, once again retreated back, clutching his hands as if to physically stop him from doing something. “We're murderers, okay?! And we deserve to be in prison if that's what they want!”

“Hannah, honey...” Cleo took a cautious step but didn't dare to touch her. Tears glistened in Cleo's eyes as she struggled to find the right words. “None of that. We heard everything. Ted's responsible to...” Cleo paused, not wanting to bring out Jennifer's name in the middle of Hannah's outburst, “to everything that happened. Not you. Not Richy...”

“You don't get it!" Hannah cried. “Accident or not, we moved the body. Can't you see how sick that is?!” She turned to Thomas, her eyes searching for any sign of his feelings, her chest heaving with emotion. “What do you think about me now, huh? Do you still want to stay with someone like me?! Do you still think I can be able to tell you something like that and expect you to accept it?! Were you disappointed when you got to know me? The real me?!”

“Hannah!” Lilly bellowed, her voice cutting through the heated exchange. “Enough!”

“But that's the truth!” Hannah shouted back with a bitter laugh, her voice trembling with emotion. “You all probably go all through all this trouble just to find out your sister, your lover, and your friend was a murderer all along.” She looked at each of them in turn, her eyes filled with pain. “Can you really say that it was all worth it?”

“Y/n and Jake go through the lengths of the world just to get you back to us.” Jessy finally spoke. Her tone wasn't angry or argumentative. She was trying to make her understand. “Try to look at them and tell yourself that what they did is meaningless.”

Hannah went silent, her shoulders slumping as she wiped away her tears.

“It wasn't at all meaningless. I admit that we weren't exactly prepared for the truth.” Jessy went on, taking a tentative step closer. “But we go on as before. All we ever wanted was to find you, and that already meant something. And that something is you. You're our friend Hannah. You and Richy may have done a terrible thing, but that doesn't mean you're terrible people.”

“You don't understand...” Hannah's head shook slowly, her voice filled with despair. “After what happened... even if I could go back, I wouldn't belong here anymore.”

Jessy placed a hesitant hand on Hannah’s shoulder, and this time, Hannah didn’t resist. “It's okay if you don't accept it just yet, but please do remember,” Jessy said softly, her eyes filled with empathy. “We didn't go through all this for nothing.”

****

“We will take the hacker into custody,” you announced as you approached them, Alan following closely behind you. Your agents moved with practiced efficiency, swiftly dragging a barely conscious Jake toward a waiting black SUV, its engine idling and the doors held open by two agents.

“Y/n!” Lilly exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief. Her eyes darted between you and the vehicle. “What the hell?”

“As for the case of Miss Donfort and Mister Roger,” you continued, maintaining a composed demeanor amidst your friends' shock, "we will have to discuss it further at the Headquarters."

You could feel their stares burning into your back, but you resisted the urge to turn around. And for the sake of your own self-preservation, you didn't turn to witness Jake being ushered into the van. You didn't want to see the betrayal in his eyes.

“I expect to see you in my office, Officer Bloomgate,” you added, addressing the man beside you.

Alan almost scoffed. “Just earlier, I was inviting you to my precinct, not the other way around. But I will see you there, Agent L/n.”

“And the media?” you asked.

“We'll handle them.”

“You better make sure,” you replied, your gaze fixed on the van as it prepared to depart. Not daring to meet the eyes of your friends, all bewildered and questioning your actions.

“Y/n…” You felt Lilly tug your arm to face her. “What the hell is happening? Why was Jake–” she couldn't finish her sentence. “I thought…”

“I will handle him,” you answered as truthfully as you could. You turned to Hannah who wore the same expression as Lilly. “don’t worry. I got everything under control, okay?”

“Okay…” she nodded, her mind still clearly racing with confusion.

Your eyes briefly caught the Director's gaze, and you knew it was time to go. Despite the pain surging through your body, you straightened up. “Officer Bloomgate will explain everything to you.”

With that, you forced yourself to leave, but you were well aware of how stubborn your friends were. They wouldn't back down easily, and you could feel their questioning eyes on your back as you walked away.

“Y/n! Hold the fuck up.”

You sighed, not daring to turn around. “Mister Anderson, as I said–”

“Drop the formalities, Y/n, you know that’s crap!” Dan shouted as he tried to follow you with his wheelchair, frustration, and anger clear in his voice and demeanor.

With a deep breath, you willed yourself to continue walking. The vehicle's engine rumbled softly in the background, a stark contrast to the tension in the air. As your foot finally touched the cold, hard floor of the vehicle, a hand shot up to grab you back, and you turned to face a very angry redhead. A crack seemed to appear in your façade, and you desperately tried to fix it before Jessy noticed anything.

“You’re leaving?” she asked, her voice dripping with disbelief, the words echoing in the confined space of the vehicle. Her eyes bore into yours, demanding answers. “You’re just going to leave without saying goodbye?”

“Miss Hawki–”

“No!” She cut you off vehemently, her words laced with frustration. “You don’t get to call me that! What is wrong with you? What happened? Was it the Director? Did he tell you something? Did he threaten–”

This time, you silenced her with your lips, a brief and intense kiss that tasted like a mixture of desperation and farewell. It was a dangerous move, and you knew it. You knew you shouldn't. You knew the risk. You had convinced yourself that it was better to leave without saying anything. The less you opened your mouth, the less you'd screw this up. But seeing Jessy this way, almost broken and full of questions, almost broke down your resolve.

You knew to yourself that you just couldn't allow yourself to leave without saying the words to her.

The night air hung heavy with tension as you drew close, your lips almost touching hers. "I love you," you all but whispered to her lips, the words a fragile promise, a plea. You hoped she heard it, felt it, and understood the depth of those words. "Trust me."

With that, you gently pried her fingers away from you as you finally entered the waiting vehicle. The engine hummed to life once more, vibrating beneath you, and the door closed with a soft thud. As the vehicle pulled away, you couldn't help but steal one last look, seeing her standing there as Lilly and Cleo tried to hold her back from even following after you.

Your heart broke at the sight.

"Are you okay?" You felt a hand squeeze your shoulder.

"Yeah..." You answered absentmindedly. Charlotte took that as her cue to leave. Leaving you alone with your thoughts.

You left her. Leaving her nothing but a chaste kiss and two words. Two words you badly hope she will hold.

She didn’t have to believe the three words you uttered. After all, you just left. But you hoped she believed the two words. There was so much you wanted to say, so many emotions you wanted to convey, but you were afraid that no words would suffice for you to stay. It’s the only thing you could say at the moment. It’s the only thing you could give.

It was funny, in a bitter way, to think that Jessy only needed to be herself and nothing else for you to love her like this. It never took too much to love her. But it took everything in your willpower to even step away.

As you settled into the vehicle, your eyes glanced at the moon on the horizon, its pale light fading as the sun began to rise. You couldn't help but laugh quietly to yourself, a hollow, rueful sound. Like the moon, you left as quickly as you came.

You left.

And you didn’t come back for a long time.

~~~~~

Previous

A/n: Apologies for the wait. I lost track of time from the past days reading some awesome fanfictions. Anyway, I was wondering if I should end it here. Actually, I'm already thinking of ending it here, and possibly starting another series or providing one-shots or drabbles or prompts whichever y'all prefer in the same verse so let me know what y'all think. Also, I'm not really certain if I have given this story a satisfactory ending so I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts about it.

[holly-fixation]

Three... Guards? Ch13

Summary: Tifa finds Cloud at the train station in Sector Seven. It’s the first time she’s seen him in seven years. But he’s not alone. Three silver haired boys protected him. Three silver haired boys that triggered memories of her hometown. Of steel through her chest. Of SOLDIER First Class. Of Him.

They must escape while they still can.

Please Enjoy!

Inspired by the prompt by @im-totally-not-an-alien

Chapter 13: City Escape

The elevator rang as the party entered the second highest floor of Shinra HQ. Without hesitation, Genesis and Strife sprung into action, knocking every receptionist and security guard unconscious, and Barret destroyed the security cameras. 

“Tie them up,” Strife ordered as he aided in the task he commanded. Red and Barret looked at each other and shrugged. Tifa stepped up, Loz following and helping as they collected wires. Aerith watched Yazoo with a hand placed on his shoulder, the engraved nameplate still firmly within his grasp. 

“We need to find a way down,” Red mentioned, almost leaning toward the glass elevators. 

“Gotta go up to go down,” Barret explained. “The president's keycard’s the perfect way to do it.”

“Then let’s not waste any time.” Their leader stepped forward, moving the staff members to the center of the hall with his right hand, the smallest silver child still supported by his left. “What do you know about the president’s office?”

“It's a large waste of space with one desk near the helipad,” Genesis answered first. 

“Oh good, it didn’t change-” The older blond cut himself off, blue eyes wide. 

“What’s wrong?”

“...Let’s find out,” Strife avoided the question as he, Tifa, and Loz tied the employees together for one final measure. Once again, Strife and Genesis led the group, Barret at the ready to block out visuals. Though in all honesty, they didn’t have too much extra time. Security would only be delayed with their preparation, not prevented. Someone would notice the camera malfunctions. It was only a matter of time. 

The group climbed up the final staircase, red carpet muffling their steps. Strife pushed open the double doors at the top, revealing the massive office decorated with thick pillars and black tile. At the far window sat the president’s desk, President Shinra shocked and scrambling the moment he caught sight of them. 

Genesis practically flew across the room, grabbing the president around the neck and forcing him to step away from the desk. “Ah ah ah, can’t have you grabbing any weapons, can we? Or maybe trigger the silent alarm?”

Bullets destroyed the security cameras. The party stepped forward. 

“Genesis Rhapsodos. What a surprise. Aren’t you supposed to be in the gutter with all the other failed lab rats?” The commander in chief feigned strength but failed to contain the fearful crack in his voice.

“Good to see you too, Mr. President. How’s your son doing? Still trying to learn how to fight? Say, do you think he can take on a former First? I’d love to see him try.”

“We didn’t get to talk much last time,” Barret joined in. “Feelin’ like listenin’ now?”

As the group zeroed in on the Shinra, Strife glanced between the man and the doors repeatedly. 

“Pathetic,” President Shinra huffed, trying to wriggle out of the SOLDIER’s grip. With Tifa’s encouragement, Loz hopped behind the desk and searched through the drawers. 

“Look. I’ll let you off easy today. Make a simple statement about how Shinra knows it’s killin’ the planet, and get us a car to get outta here. Sound good?”

The silver child handed the redhead two computer cables. 

“Perfect. Thank you.” Genesis immediately restricted gilded hands. The extra silence the president.

Loz turned back to the group, holding up a retractable lanyard with an ID slipped in a plastic pouch. “Found his keycard…” his voice was still shrouded in grief.

“Thank you, Loz,” Tifa gave an attempt at a smile. Luckily the boy reacted with the same fluttering confusion as always. At least that was still effective. 

“This is wrong,” Strife stated, nearly in shock. 

“What is?”

“He’s supposed to be dead already.”

“Who kills him?” Strife’s young self questioned immediately, and if Strife was in his shoes, he would do the same. 

“Sephiroth.”

“Who disappeared after Mother did…” Yazoo finished at barely a whisper, clutching the metal closer.

“But what would that change?” Aerith asked. “He's only one person.”

Strife thought for a moment, wishing he could word his next statement softly. “...This is the president that approved the fall of the Sector Seven Plate. And the Sector Five Plate. Just because we stopped them doesn't mean they won't try anything like it again. Keeping him in charge is…dangerous. The current Vice President won't allow plans of mass casualties. Trust me.”

“He's more useful alive than dead,” Barret countered. “He can at least shut down a few reactors!” 

“We don't have enough time.” Cloud adjusted the boy in his arms. “We need to get out of here before security arrives.”

The president grunted before attempting to open his mouth, but the wire muffled his voice. 

“But who's going to do it…?” Tifa realized softly. “I mean, even in AVALANCHE, killing the president wasn't the goal. It's not going to stop the other directors from running the same reactors…”

“I'll do it,” The Crimson Soldier volunteered, though the cat-like playfulness vanished from his voice. 

“Hold on a minute-”

“This man allowed the science department to ruin the lives of everyone I knew, including myself. I've done many horrible things, but as they say, you regret the things you didn't do too, yes? And I regret letting you live just as much as all I did.”

The group looked at each other. The flower girl that cherished life found herself turning away, guiding the long haired boy who followed her every caring command. The bartender held the largest boy's hand and led him down the stairs of the desk. The gun armed man glanced at the red furred creature they rescued from the labs. The beast shrugged, a pitiless stare given to the Commander in Chief. The smallest silver boy balled his hands in the purple SOLDIER sweater. The blonds nodded to each other before nodding at the Crimson Soldier. 

“To become the dew that quenches the land

To spare the sands, the seas, the skies

I offer thee this silent sacrifice.”

With a swift slash of a crimson blade, the gilded corpse fell to the ground. 

“Now how are you planning to get out of here?” Genesis questioned casually. 

“In my time, we used the Hardy Daytona and three wheeled pick-up truck in the lobby,” Strife explained before glancing around. “...Shoot…”

The group looked at each other. There were simply too many of them for one truck and one motorcycle. 

“I can take one of you, but I’m afraid one is my passenger limit.” The man in red mentioned. 

“We won't have to get far with all of us…” Cloud thought aloud, his hand absently trailing the child's medical robe. “If I can get one of security's motorcycles…”

Aerith turned to Genesis, her bow bobbing with a tilt of her head. “Can you take any of us? Any at all?”

“Of course.”

The girl in pink glanced at the man with a gun for an arm.

There was a pause. “Oh hell no.”

Tifa perked up. “She's right. Barret, if space is the issue-” 

“I don't know this guy! Why can't he just take the boys?”

Genesis glanced up, almost reminiscent. “It would be a very rough ride. Especially once Shinra starts firing on us.”

“Ride on what?” 

Even Strife didn't know the answer to that question. 

The Crimson Soldier let out a small sigh before extending his arm, a massive crooked wing expelling from his back. Ebony feathers gently glided through the air. 

Everyone stepped back. The two older boys nearly hissed. 

“What the hell?!” Barret's question boomed through the office. 

“Strife found me in a secret underground lab and you’re still surprised? Shinra's experiments did this to me. I'll explain when we are not actively running out of time. According to Strife, you ran to Kalm after escaping Shinra in his time. I'll fly west to divert the army and we'll meet you in Kalm when things die down.”

“Barret, you don't let anyone talk down to you either. You’ll keep him in line,” Cloud mentioned, softening the father's resolve. 

“If you try any funny business, pretty boy, I'll blow your head clean off.”

Genesis brushed his hair into place. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Cloud and Strife glanced around the room. There were still so many of them. Cloud, Red, and the three boys would barely fit in the truck. But it would have to do until they could steal another vehicle. 

Loz opened his mouth, but Yazoo grabbed him, silencing him with stern eyes. 

“Let's put this keycard to use,” Tifa held up the item as she spoke. See you in Kalm, Barret.”

“Good luck,” Barret grumbled as Genesis opened the doors to the helipad. The rest of the group claimed both elevators and rushed down to the lobby, half ahead and half waiting behind to catch Shinra’s forces off guard. 

* * * 

The first group obeyed the command to freeze at the bottom level of the lobby, completely surrounded by troops ready to fire. The head of security walked straight through the defenses and mocked the escapees. The team stood at the ready, waiting for Strife’s entrance. 

“Tell me, what is this ragtag group of misfits I see before me?”

“Ex-SOLDIER.”

“Local florist.”

“Lab-rat dog.”

The boys didn’t even answer, Loz clutching the vial of ashes as Yazoo tightened the headplate. Kadaj barely moved, only tightening in Cloud’s hold. 

“And the ‘Sephiroth Remnants’ Hojo wants back,” Heiddiger spoke for them. “Where are the others?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know, meanie!” Loz shouted.

“Adorable. Very mature.” The director barked a laugh before ordering his men, “Capture the children and the Ancient. Feel free to kill the rest.”

Aerith took Loz’s right hand and Yazoo’s left, blocking the clear path forward. The director scowled at her sacrificial display before a rumble suddenly rang through the room. With a rev of the engine, Strife sprang into action on the Hardy Daytona, knocking down all units as he maneuvered the bike like an extension of himself. Each troop fell to his sword and skills as Tifa started the truck. Only the director remained standing when Strife turned away.

“Get in!” Tifa yelled once she was close, throwing the door open. The largest child launched into the bed, but the middle one was taken by the red beast by the scruff of his clothes. Both boys sat against the glass to protect what they could of Mother. 

The flower girl took the passenger seat before holding out her arms. “Let me take him, Cloud. He’ll be safer up front.”

Kadaj strained the fabric of Cloud’s sweater, his breath strained and audible. 

“Just until we’re home free. I promise,” The ex-SOLDIER quickly but carefully lowered the boy into Aerith’s lap, deliberately removing the child’s hands. She swiftly moved the boy between her and Tifa on the seat and slammed the door. Cloud hopped into the bed as Kadaj shivered, curling into the tightest ball the boy could manage. 

They barely fit, but for now, it was enough. 

Strife led the charge, knocking back the last security officers and shattering the glass with the fusion sword. Red and Cloud tried to shield the boys from the shatter as they launched through the air and roughly landed on the abandoned expressway. 

“Everyone okay?” Aerith turned back. 

“Can’t complain,” Red answered immediately. “No one is injured.”

“We’re not in the clear yet. Take a breather but be ready.” Cloud watched the skies and the onramps. Drivers kept their eyes on the road, but passengers adjusted within the larger vehicle. 

Yazoo slowly placed the headplate into Loz’s lap. At the protest and surprise, he simply lifted his pistol and glanced at the road. 

“Are you sure?”

“I have better aim and we both know it… Keep it safe…”

Loz nodded softly, holding both of Mother’s remains to his chest. Red gave the boys a curious, sorrowful look, but when turning to Cloud for an answer, none was given. The ex-SOLDIER remained on watch.

In the front cabin, Aerith slowly revealed a green materia to the child at her side. 

Once mako blue eyes caught the orb, he shook his head frantically, squeezing into himself. 

“Just a small, normal healing spell, okay?”

Another shake of silver hair. 

“I can control this spell way better than the other one. You’ll be safe. And I’ll stop it right away if something happens, alright?”

Kadaj ducked, holding his head against his knees. 

“One cure,” She pushed. “Just one and if you even feel a little itchy I’ll stop, okay?”

The boy didn’t move. Three seconds passed without a proper response before the orb in the flower girl’s hand began to glow, and a soft green swirled into the boy’s heart. The driver cringed in preparation, but the boy did not make a sound.

He glanced at the girl in pink, silent and confused. 

“See? Now we can heal you up once we’re out of here. I’m so sorry I hurt you.”

Tifa sighed in relief, but Kadaj looked down. 

“We've got company!” 

Drivers checked their mirrors, and passengers turned back, watching Shinra approach on multiple motorcycles and fully armed trucks. Helicopters whirred in the distance, out of sight but certainly on the hunt. 

Fusion Sword and Buster Sword at the ready, anyone who could prepared for the fight as the drivers stepped on it. Beyond the capacity limit, the pickup truck could not accelerate as quickly or maintain as high of a velocity as the Hardy Daytona, and Strife needed to fall back in order to protect them. 

“I'll keep them away,” Strife shouted as officers drove up from behind. “Focus on the road!”

Bullets shot through the air, Strife weaving and drifting through the expressway to take down every last enemy on the road. The occasional shot from the long haired Sephiroth remnant no doubt aided their escape. Everything was the same until the helicopters caught up with them, launching explosives to catch their party in the blast. Tifa swerved repeatedly, trying to avoid the fires while maintaining top speed. 

It was only a matter of time before flames surrounded them for a moment, most occupants yelling in pain and bracing for impact. 

“Tifa, get close to one of the troops,” Cloud commanded. 

“What?! Are you crazy?!”

“Too much is going on. You need to keep everyone safe. We can draw their attention. They won't have the manpower to aim for all of us.”

Strife knocked another troop off of a Shinra sanctioned motorcycle and caught the handlebars with his blade. “Get on!”

Cloud launched, the truck jostling as if hitting a bad pothole from the force alone. 

“Be careful, Big Brother!” Loz shouted from his spot next to the red creature before ducking under a new wave of bullets.

The blond landed on the vehicle and Strife swiftly removed the blade. Every second they wasted on this transition meant more firepower focused on the truck. Cloud grabbed the handlebars with his left hand and the Buster Sword with his right. Together they swept through Shinra's ground forces, men knocked off their vehicles and rolled on the unforgiving pavement. 

Yet again, the company adapted. 

“Brace!” Red yelled, pinning the two boys against the cab with his body. Tifa tried to swerve, but the rockets landed in an impenetrable line on the road. 

Everyone screamed as they ran through the fire. 

“Tifa!” Cloud shouted first, barely acknowledging his own pain from the flames. 

“We're okay! For now… I don’t know how many more hits this thing can take!”

Cloud turned to his future self. “Can you reach those helicopters?”

Strife scanned the curved walls of the expressway and tightened his grip on his sword. Not enough. “Stay in the back. I'll disperse the fires.”

“That won't be enough.” 

“Do you have a better idea?”

He didn't. With multiple helicopters communicating attacks at once, each reload threatened everyone's lives. They couldn't turn back. No exits existed on this decommissioned highway. They needed a miracle. A guardian angel. 

Bullets rained down upon the circling aerial blades, one helicopter colliding with the other before another attack launched. The team looked up, searching for the source. A man in red with one black wing carried a one armed man through the air. 

“Long time no see!”

“Barret!” Tifa couldn’t help but look.

“We couldn’t just leave you with these assholes!”

“You looked like you required assistance.” Genesis flapped his wing and the two rose in the air, ready for the next strike.

From both above and below, their party was unstoppable. From the smallest troop to the latest and greatest in weapon technology, the team shook Shinra’s defenses and met in the plains beyond the city of mako. 

.

.

.

.

To be continued…

Three Guards Chapter List

Author’s Note: Well, this is the end of Remake! I made a plan long before Rebirth launched and I plan on continuing it. Some Rebirth elements will appear, but the whole ending just does NOT fit with my plan. …for now at least. I won’t go into spoilers without warning at the beginning of a chapter. For now, you’re all safe! I hope you’re enjoying this story. It’s a lot of fun. 

I’m starting my first real job soon! I won’t be able to update as much but I’m very excited to enter the workforce. I won’t be abandoning any of my current stories. I promise.

Thanks for reading!

[lemon-plort]

[ FFVII Demo thoughts below :) ]

Dumping all my first impressions here now that I've sat on it for a bit

PROS

This is probably going to be a bit of a mess bc there's just so much I love about this franchise...

Starting off obvious, the music oh my god. Nobuo Uematsu smashed it out but that was to be expected.

I absolutely adore how they explored Cloud's recollection of events from his pov!! Zack's mannerisms and personality showing through while the real Cloud stayed in the background and kept mostly silent (especially around Tifa). It was cool to see, and I think they did a great job blending cloud's perspective with what actually happened. It felt believable that Cloud could recall everything the way he did and seeing how his mind mended or flat out ignored the gaps and inconsistencies was perfect.

Speaking of, the method they chose to retell it. I'm so glad they opted for more of a story around a campfire kind of approach than just showing us through flashbacks. The added dialogue from Barret, Tifa and Aerith was the cherry on top.

Loved the choice system

I've seen others mention it too but how they aren't afraid to keep things a little silly :)) Cloud stuffing his mouth with those sandwiches, butchering Tifa's theme on the piano and stretching with the exercise class were great little moments and I can't wait to see more.

Sephiroth. He honestly deserves multiple bullet points. I LOVE how we got to see more of his personality pre-nibelheim disaster. His banter and expressions were such a welcome addition since I feel they never expanded on it nearly enough in crisis core! He looked genuinely upset after losing the other Shinra trooper and the amount of expression purely in his eyes during and just before the disaster- *chefs kiss*

The small details around the environment, I spent a good chunk of the time just getting in the camera mode and zooming into all the pictures Tifa had around her room or the posters in the general store and inn.

How realistic the physics were for those mako purifiers?? It made me feel like I was back hauling around road cases

Screw it he is getting more points. I need to mention his hair and boots. I couldn't stop looking at them, they were so nicely rendered...

Expanding on that everything was tbh. The fabric of Cloud's pants looks so so soft (they were looking a bit rough in remake) and all the detailing on the buster sword and metal like Tifa's gloves. I could spend hours just zooming into every little detail and texture.

I also think they nailed Cloud and Tifa's models. They both clearly look like themselves even though they're younger which I feel some games struggle with.

More Sephiroth points soz- his model was just so accurate. There were shots where his silhouette literally looked like his original art, it was so satisfying to see.

The use of the L2 R2 buttons. Idk the proper name for the feature but when they make it physically harder to press. I feel they used it sparingly which made it more effective. That scene especially with Cloud crawling towards Sephiroth...oh my god chills. It gave me the same sense of immersion like the end of Crisis Core during Zack's final stand.

More on the immersion. How they differentiated between Sephiroth and "Cloud's" skill levels by allowing Sephiroth to cast the higher level spells from the get go.

Combo moves!! One of my favourite features in FFXV so to see it translated here was great

Just going to make a general point for the atmosphere, environment, voice acting, enemy design etc. bc otherwise I'll be here forever.

Though the scene with Sephiroth cutting down all the tubes has to get a special mention. The pure disdain in his voice towards Hojo was done super well.

CONS

Some of these might be a little nitpicky since I really don't have much to complain about

I found some of the dialogue to be a little clunky at times, like the characters weren't given enough time to say their line before the camera changes. This is probably just a translation issue though and really doesn't bother me that much

Not the biggest fan of the white interface for your spells n shit. It feels like it sticks out a lot more than the blue and not in a good way.

I think I just generally prefer remakes UI (except the pause screen, I enjoy getting to see their models rather than the still images we had before)

Moving around the map is a bit clunkier than I would've hoped. The inside areas were better but outside felt choppy at times.

the storage space....

MISC.

I find it generally funny how they completely skipped over any mention of gackt Genesis. Like it makes sense but as someone with no real hatred towards him like a lot of fans have, it came across like square enix was shoving him in a box and hoping no one brings it up lolol

surprised to see we're getting a demo update too, the Junon demo? curious to see what they'll cover in that

Overall though I'm absolutely buzzing. February 29th can't get here soon enough :)))

[themattress]

Kingdom Hearts vs. Kingdom Hearts II vs. Kingdom Hearts III

I am never playing Kingdom Hearts IV, so might as well see how these three stack up.

GRAPHICS - Let’s get the easiest one out of the way first. Obviously graphics improve as time goes on, and such is the case here. While I have issues with many of the KH-original characters’ models in Kingdom Hearts III since they seem so stiff, that’s more than balanced out by all the breathtakingly accurate Disney models and scenery. The worlds of Hercules and Winnie the Pooh look great enough, but the worlds of Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Tangled, Frozen, Big Hero 6 and Pirates of the Caribbean look exactly like those movies; it’s amazing!

Winner: Kingdom Hearts III

GAMEPLAY - The combat in the original Kingdom Hearts is fun, but can also be pretty cumbersome due to Sora’s unrefined movement, Donald and Goofy’s less than reliable AI, a frustratingly too-close camera, and the default game difficulty being a tad more difficult than one might expect. The combat in Kingdom Hearts III is also fun, but its problem is the exact opposite - it’s way too easy, with Sora’s floaty movements combined with all kinds of special features in battle at your disposal right from the start making every fight a walk in the park. Kingdom Hearts II‘s combat, otoh, is a perfect balance; the best in the series hands-down.

Winner: Kingdom Hearts II

MUSIC - This seems like a tough one since Yoko Shimomura always does a fantastic job. However, you have to ask yourself which soundtrack is the most impressive on the basis of how it was put together. And the answer is the original Kingdom Hearts’ soundtrack - with the other games’, musical tracks are always re-used and put alongside new additions. The first game’s soundtrack, by contrast, was 100% new, meaning its success was crucial. Also, none of Utadu Hikaru’s songs afterward are nearly as iconic as “Hikari” / “Simple and Clean”.

Winner: Kingdom Hearts

VOICE-ACTING - Another tough one, since the KH series usually excels at voice-acting, helped by many of the voices being original Disney film cast members or convincing soundalikes. When it comes down to it, though, I’m going to have to give the nod to Kingdom Hearts II. There’s only one especially bad performance in that game - Mena Suvari as Aerith. But otherwise, everyone is giving it their best. Standouts include Haley Joel Osment, who isn’t as whinily high as in the first game or artificially modulated to sound younger in the third, Jesse McCartney who first showed us all what an amazing voice-actor he can be with his performance as Roxas, Paul St. Peter who is chilling as Xemnas, the late Wayne Allwine who makes Mickey sound convincing even with dialogue like “Did somebody mention the Door to Darkness?”, and the legendary Sir Christopher Lee lending all his dignity, gravity and general badassness as DiZ / Ansem the Wise. It’s just a perfectly skilled and star-studded vocal cast. 

Winner: Kingdom Hearts II

STORY - Ha! This one’s easy. The original Kingdom Hearts, no question about it. The story of Kingdom Hearts II is good, but it’s haphazardly told due to disharmony between its primary tellers (Tetsuya Nomura, Kazushige Nojima and Masaru Oka), can be confounding with its central concepts which isn’t helped by said haphazard storytelling, and won’t leave the same impact if you haven’t been through Chain of Memories first. And as for the story of Kingdom Hearts III....pfffft, WHAT story? That thing is a goddamn mess! This naturally leaves the original Kingdom Hearts’ story, which is classically themed, perfectly structured, and beautifully told, being both incredibly simple and incredibly deep. The talents of Tetsuya Nomura, Jun Akiyama, Daisuke Watanabe, Kazushige Nojima, and Keiko Nobumoto came together perfectly; it was lightning in a bottle that was never really going to be recaptured.

Winner: Kingdom Hearts

CHARACTERS - From a character arc standpoint, the three leads Sora, Riku and Kairi were never written better than they were in the original Kingdom Hearts. They feel like they’re just wrapping up loose ends in Kingdom Hearts II, and Kingdom Hearts III shits on all of them in various ways. While Xemnas in Kingdom Hearts II is actually a stronger character than his Heartless counterpart Ansem in Kingdom Hearts, Ansem is still well-written in his own right, and both are far ahead of Master Xehanort in Kingdom Hearts III. Kingdom Hearts II also has the advantage of memorable characters such as Roxas and his friends, Namine, Axel, and DiZ /  Ansem the Wise. Kingdom Hearts has more Disney characters in major roles, while Kingdom Hearts II has more original characters in major roles, with certain Final Fantasy characters having major roles in both (and absolutely not in Kingdom Hearts III!) Given that and how well the majority are depicted, I think this one is a tie between the PS2 installments.

Winner: Kingdom Hearts & Kingdom Hearts II (TIE)

UNIVERSAL LORE - Let’s rule out Kingdom Hearts III right now, since the universal lore at this point is nigh incomprehensible and so sharply divided from the Disney stuff that it may as well be two different universes altogether. As for Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II, their universal lore is equally solid and compatible, and the difference lies in their presentation. Simply put, Kingdom Hearts does it better because it’s simply put. The more perplexing aspects of the lore are there for you to think about on your own as they float along in the background of the story and the actions of the characters. Kingdom Hearts II brought them to the forefront, which leads to a lot of expositing and drawn-out cutscenes that more often than not still leave players confused, and unless it’s Christopher Lee talking it’s never done particularly well. Leagues ahead of Kingdom Hearts III, don’t get me wrong, but not ideal.

Winner: Kingdom Hearts 

WORLDS - With this category, I mean the worlds from an outside perspective, not related to the events or gameplay that goes on within them. Which assortment of worlds holds the most appeal? Much of that will depend on your preference in Disney properties, but this is my post so my opinion is the one that counts here. And my opinion is that Kingdom Hearts II wins out. Worlds representing Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, Hercules, The Little Mermaid, Pirates of the Caribbean, Aladdin, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Lion King and Tron, all some of the finest Disney properties of all time....oh, and let’s top that off with a world based on fucking Steamboat Willie, Mickey Mouse’s premiere! You just can’t beat a line-up like this.

Winner: Kingdom Hearts II

LEVEL DESIGN - Now we get into how it actually feels to play through the worlds. Kingdom Hearts’ worlds are designed where you get the maximum amount out of all space available, with all sorts of things to interact with, puzzles to solve, and treasures to collect. The downside is that combat in these areas can be a chore, especially with the game’s weak camera. Kingdom Hearts II’s worlds are streamlined for combat, with the camera expanded which helps make battling through them fun as all Hell (or Hades, in one specific case), but the lack of interactivity and exploration is missed, and the lack of collectibles given how easy it is to get every treasure chest in the original edition went over so badly that Final Mix had to make up for it with the puzzle piece and Mushroom XIII sidequests. And that brings us to Kingdom Hearts III - not only are both previous game’s styles merged perfectly, but each world feels like it’s in its own sub-genre of video game altogether. Combine that with the graphics replicating each world’s cinematic source material perfectly and you have the best experience playing through worlds. Kingdom Hearts III is worth it if not only for this factor.

Winner: Kingdom Hearts III

GUMMI SHIP - The scenery and music in the original Kingdom Hearts’ Gummi Ship segments is wonderful, but the gameplay is horrendous. Kingdom Hearts III has great scenery and gameplay, but the music is bland and forcing you to fight Gummi bosses three times to progress to a world was not a good choice. Kingdom Hearts II is the only one that it’s get it all right - great visuals, great music (in a wide variety of different tracks, too!), and great gameplay, feeling almost like a Disney theme park ride. I always love going through it.

Winner: Kingdom Hearts II

MINIGAMES - Kingdom Hearts had many memorable minigames....unfortunately, the majority of them weren’t very well designed. Kingdom Hearts II’s are much better designed, but a lot of them are repetitive and sometimes feel like more time went into them than other things that needed it more. That leaves Kingdom Hearts III as the winner, as its minigames such as the Bistro, the 100 Acre Wood and the Flan Heartless, are fun, plentiful and unique. Special mention goes to the Classic Kingdom app, which packs over 20 minigames into it.

Winner: Kingdom Hearts III

EXTRA CONTENT - In terms of which game is packed with the most stuff beyond what is required to get through, I’m not sure which one objectively places first. What I do know is that what Kingdom Hearts II had initially didn’t feel sufficient compared to its predecessor and needed to be rectified by its Final Mix. Kingdom Hearts III had more from the getgo, but at the cost of crucial things that should have been required being absent and needing to be filled in with Re:Mind. The original Kingdom Hearts, even before its Final Mix, felt so loaded with extra content that it was dizzying; truly on par with what you would expect out of a Final Fantasy game. Square, still headed by Hironobu Sakaguchi at the time, spared no expense.

Winner: Kingdom Hearts 

OVERALL SATISFACTION - So, Kingdom Hearts III clearly isn’t winning this whole thing, with just two victories to its name. But Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II are tied, so this last category has to serve as the tiebreaker. Which game, as a whole product, is the most satisfactory? Which of the two has all its qualities even out to provide the best experience?

Personally, playing through the original Kingdom Hearts is an experience that has never been matched by anything since in this franchise. And therein lies the problem. It’s not that the game doesn’t hold up and I don’t enjoy replaying it - far from it! But the sheer magical feeling that gripped me back at the end of 2002 and start of 2003 can’t be replicated, which leaves some of the game’s technical issues in a more glaring light. And that’s a problem that doesn’t exist with Kingdom Hearts II (especially the Final Mix version). It was a highly fun, thrilling, well-polished ride to begin with, and it still is with every new playthrough. It feels like the apex of what the concept of Kingdom Hearts is supposed to be: the best of Disney and the best of Square all in one crazy, epic package. It’s the series’ finest game....and it always will be.

Winner: Kingdom Hearts II

[makoxmind]

@hisalis

Know ones enemy as one knows oneself.

He was tired of knowing the enemy. Chased to the brink of the walls and left in the shade of the tall cliff-faces of Midgar’s outer wasteland, Cloud had decided to slip back into Midgar alone. The danger was immeasurable and there had been protest after protest clattering at his ears to at least take a tail in case of danger, but more conspicuous than a state terrorist was two. Shinra had its unblinking eyes everywhere, but in the aftermath of the grand chase, the destruction of a weapon on public roads, the glimpses of dark shadows above the central tower and the death of the president… there were stories to weave. There were announcements to film, cover-ups to handle, cleaning, debris moving, a thousand bodies awoken to the dawning of a new world under Rufus’s rule… and in the sunlit chaos, he moved. There were supplies to grab before dashing to the safety of the dead outlands once more.

Cloud didn’t know what it was that drew him back to the church. With a cloth upon his head to hide the radiant gold of his hair from any cameras above, the man kept to its flanks and walked without a sound past the stretches of stained glass with a thoughtful look. Perhaps he could bring Aerith a flower so she at least had a piece of home with her-- no... that was stupid. No doubt the woman wouldn’t want him ambling up to the patch within the church to kill something so special by stealing it… plus there were muted cries within. Refugees no doubt from Seven, trying to eke out some kind of plan in the absence of their homes and work spaces. He pitied them greatly, for he knew what it was like to be without a home. To start anew amongst the rubble, tired and weary, with barely any gil to their name; yeah, he knew that feeling rather well.

The ex-SOLDIER came to a slow stop about the church's front to give a slight stretch, regarding the door for only a moment with a dull expression. Wall street awaited, and no doubt the lack of Shinra activity upon the ground floor meant that the usual easy-going daytimes of the notorious market were brimming with more life than usual. Perfect for blending in… not so great for haggling.

The doors muffling the dreadful woes of the lost were enough for a sense of peace to come about him, only briefly, but it had been so long… since he had reveled in the relative silence.

[vivi-mire]

Hey! this is a post with some of my various thoughts for the ffvii magical au that’s been discussed. It’s long, so It’s all under the cut. 

In this world, Magical girls are fairly commonplace, like superheroes in other media. Unlike the name suggests, it is a very gender-neutral profession. 

Magical girls, once they gain their powers, often register with their local government to get a salary for their magical work. They are usually paid per monster/crisis, so most have normal jobs outside of their magical abilities. Another option is to be a private Magical Girl, one who is employed by a private company such as Shinra.

Fan groups for various Magical Girls are very common. There’s a fanpage out there for even the most obscure ones. Have you ever heard of Mr. Dolphin from Junon? Me neither. But there's someone out there making flower crown edits of him as we speak. 

Magical abilities usually consist of 3 factors: The Transformation Sequence, A Weapon, and Other Supplementary Powers (ex: fire magic, healing abilities, etc.)

Magical Girl abilities are recognized to come from three sources: 

1.) Passion. People who are so involved or Passionate in something can sometimes manifest magical girl power from it. Magical Girls who gained power this way generally have abilities related to the passion and are often older than type 2 or 3. Ex: a magical girl who gained their power through passion of knowledge may have analytical/information based powers 

2.) Genetics. Children of Magical girls have a moderate chance of inheriting powers of their own. These powers often take after their parents but with a personal twist. Some scientists (cough Hojo cough) work with theories on how this inheritance works and how to get the most power from it

3.) Outside, unknown source. The rarest type, these magical girls gain power from something other than 1 or 2. There are usually illegal experiments or freak accidents involved. 

Types 1,2,and 3 can have overlaps, like a type 2’s powers becoming distinct and mature from a type 1 experience, or a type 2 with dormant powers being awakened through a type 3 incident. 

However, there is a 4th, unrecognized source that not many know about: Loaning. This is what happens to Cloud. Aerith, who was a type 2 magical girl, deciding she really didn't want to have to deal with her magical girl destiny, lent out her powers to Cloud, who uses them as a type of proxy magical girl. Because of this disconnect, he is missing the transformation sequence factor of his powers. Cloud’s improvised transformation sequence consists of him wearing some of it under his clothes, and having abag with the extra bits nearby. 

Shinra is a large company that also employs Magical Girls. Shinra Magical girls are employed by Shinra as a private force, being on standby to be deployed to various areas and are on Shinra’s payroll. There have been many rumors of Shinra tampering with type 3 magical girl experiments, but this is all alleged and Shinra has never addressed the rumors. Shinra Magical girls are usually assigned an area to protect under Shinra’s control. Ones with support based powers may also be stationed at Shinra-owned hospitals or disaster sites that Shinra has been contracted to aid with. 

---------------------------------------------------------

Sephiroth: 

Type: 2 and 3 mix

Employment: Shinra Licenced Private Magical Girl

Sephiroth was the result of Hojo trying to mess around with how to breed the perfect magical girl. Lucretia was a fairly powerful one herself, and Jenova (who is thought to be some ancient magical girl specimen) was added to the equation via hojo brand fuckery. He is very fascinated with Cloud, who caught his attention with his unorthodox transformation sequence. He has been at Shinra for as long as he can remember, and due to Shinra’s hardworking propaganda team, is generally regarded as the most popular Magical Girl of this time. 

Genesis:

Type: 1 and 3 mix

Employment: Shinra Licenced Private Magical Girl

Genesis is known by his coworkers as being very flamboyant,easy to anger, and competitive. He has an almost one-sided rivalry with Sephiroth and Cloud and is very proud of his abilities and performances. His powers came from his love of Loveless, with poetry and wordplay abilities, but some patented Shinra interference gave him powerful fire magic as well. His transformation sequence is well known for having a splash zone- stand too close and you WILL get hit with glitter and various other materials that swirl around. 

Angeal:

Type: 1 and 3 mix

Employment: Part-time Shinra Licenced Private Magical Girl. Owner of a Florist shop.

Angeal used to be employed full-time at Shinra, but has since semi-retired due to training an apprentice and wanting  to work on his passion. He still takes on Shinra missions, but it is less often and more specialized. His powers are plant-based, due to his awakening passion. Much like the others, Shinra also threw in several other enhancements, making him a type 3 mix. He runs a Florist shop above the plate, and is acquainted with Aerith, who is one of his suppliers. Zack, his apprentice, also works at Shinra.

Zack:

Type: 1

Employment: Shinra Licenced Private Magical Girl

Zack is Angeal’s apprentice and Cloud’s best friend. He has the ability to copy attacks from beings he has met or defeated, giving him incredible potential. This got him on Shinra’s radar, and he was offered a job not long after he registered. He is very excitable and friendly, earning him the nickname of “puppy” among others. 

Cloud: 

Type: unknown (type 4)

Employment: Under the plate corner store cashier, handyman, various other small jobs

Cloud is one of the few unregistered magical girls below the plate. He was lent his powers by Aerith, after he expressed his frustration about Shinra rarely stationing Magical Girls in his area. He is very exasperated with magical girl culture and would just like the powers thank you very much. Because he has no transformation sequence, Aerith bullied him into getting an outfit under the insistence that “it would protect your identity!”. It does not. He rapidly gained infamy as an under the plate unlicensed magical girl, and has been caught in camera multiple times putting his outfit on. In some of them he is even looking directly into the camera. However, whenever asked, he denies it was him. Because he is a proxy, his powers are not as potent or specialized, leaving him with a fairly standard kit of super strength, a hugeass sword, and various small elemental abilities. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Reeve & Cait sith- Reeve uses Cait as a magical girl conduit and generally works under his own agenda. His movements are unknown to shinra

Vincent- type 1 whose passion was guns. That's right, his magical girl ability is a gun. It sounds funny until he's pointing said gun at YOU.

Cid- space themed magical girl, but fell into obscurity when the rocket launch failed. 

Tifa- runs a bar and is one of Cloud’s good friends

Barret- runs a daycare below plate and is also a member of the neighborhood watch.

Kunsel- he’s a magical girl, but virtually no one knows about him. Has information-based abilities. 

[skania]

Hollow: an ode to Cloud’s regrets about Aerith

I’ve always felt Hollow is about Cloud’s regrets after Aerith’s fate. But after finishing the Original Final Fantasy 7 game, I realized the lyrics outright quote and reference things Cloud says about Aerith in Disks 2 & 3.

So if I was convinced before, now I just can’t see the song being about anyone nor anything else.

I’ve been posting my thoughts about it on Twitter the last few days, but I figured it was worth putting everything together in one single post to illustrate just why I feel this way. I’ll divide the post in a few parts:

What we know about the song

Where we hear the song in Remake

The name of the song

The song lyrics and its ties to the OG (and to AC)

The imagery of the song

Could the song be about multiple people? nope

I’ll illustrate each point with images from the OG and occasionally Advent Children, so beware of spoilers for both! In contrast, there are only a few spoilers from Remake, including one cut-scene from the ending and a scene from Chapter 14.

What we know about the song

The song’s lyrics were written by Nojima and the music by Uematsu. In the Behind the Scenes, Uematsu explains that the song is sung from Cloud’s perspective and gives the vocalist clear instructions to make the vocals fit Cloud’s character.

This was further confirmed on a recent interview, where Uematsu said: “[...] the song is supposed to be about Cloud's inner feelings” (source).

Similarly, Nojima confirmed that one of the two keywords he received to write the lyrics was “told from Cloud’s point of view.”

Even more interesting, however, is the following:

I interpreted [Hollow] as "a ballad for a man who lost something important to him."  — Nojima

In other words, Nojima wrote these lyrics thinking about Cloud having lost “something important” to him. In Japanese, the wording is 大切なもの, which means both “something important” or “someone important” depending on the context (comment from the translator).

Both have already been used from Cloud’s point of view, in regards to Aerith.

In the OG, it’s used when Cait Sith predicts that Cloud will lose Aerith. “What you pursue will be yours. But you will lose something dear." In Japanese, “something dear” is written with the exact same wording used by Nojima:  大切なもの

The same wording is also used in Cloud’s cameo in Final Fantasy Tactics, where he’s featured alongside Aerith.

As for “someone important”, Aerith has been described as Cloud’s 大切な人 "important/precious someone” more times than I can count. Like here, for example:

... [Sephirot] took away my important/precious someone. 

So just from the wording alone, we can establish a link to Aerith. However, this is far from being the only way Hollow is connected to Aerith.

Where we hear the song in Remake

The very first time we hear the instrumental version of song in Remake is in Chapter 8, called “The Flower of Reunion” in Japanese and “Budding Bodyguard” in English. In other words, the first time it plays is on a Chapter entirely dedicated to Cloud and Aerith.

But even more telling is the very first moment we hear the song. It’s when Aerith briefly separates from Cloud in the Sector 5 Slums. It literally starts playing the instant Aerith leaves the party.

Then, it continues to play throughout the chapter as Cloud & Aerith reunite and do different quests together.

Fittingly, the second time we hear the instrumental version of Hollow is in Chapter 13, as Cloud & the party step into the places that Aerith first showed to Cloud  — except that this time, Aerith isn’t with them because she’s been kidnapped by Shinra.

Meaning, Hollow’s instrumental version only plays in Sector 5. Aerith’s Sector.

The last time we hear the song is, of course, in the credits of the game. Where the full version of Hollow plays in full. But I think it’s interesting to think of the moment when the song starts to play.

First, we focus on Cloud & Aerith, standing on a barren place as rain starts to fall down on the party (this will be important later). It’s only after this very shot that the camera pans to the sky and Hollow starts playing.

So three out of three times we hear Hollow, the song can be connected to Aerith.

Which makes perfect sense IMO, because everything about the song itself is connected to Aerith.

Including its title.

The name of the song

While the song is sung in English, the original lyrics were written in Japanese. The original name of the song was actually 「 空っぽの雲 」 “Empty Cloud”, which then became「からっぽの空」aka “Empty Sky” or “Hollow Sky”. And in fact, the Instrumental version of the song that plays in Sector 5 — again, Aerith’s sector —  keeps the Japanese name.

Of course, both “empty” and “hollow” carry the same meaning:

“Having a hole or empty space inside”.

You know what was meant to evoke this exact same feeling in the players? Aerith’s death.

The feelings aroused by Aerith’s death are “a great emptiness” and “If I had know this was coming, I’d have done things differently”.

These are the exact same feelings Cloud sings about in Hollow. 

And what’s more, his pain after losing Aerith was recently referenced in the Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Exhibition with the following quote:

Which takes me to:

The song lyrics & its ties to the OG and to AC

Since the song was originally written in Japanese, I will be using @gurekura’s literal translation as well as the official translation of the lyrics. You can see their original post on Twitter HERE.

I think that when you read the lyrics, it becomes very obvious that it’s written from the perspective of the original Cloud. The Cloud we see in the Original FF7 as well as in Advent Children, among others. So, of course, it’s no surprise that these lyrics perfectly match various scenes.

What’s telling though, is that just as we’ve seen until now, the lyrics are a perfect match for scenes focusing on Cloud and Aerith.

1.

2.

No matter whether you take these lines literally or figuratively, “healing” easily evokes images of Aerith. Who not only is a healer  — we even see this in AC, where Aerith heals Cloud of Geostigma — but also reaches out to Cloud as he’s broken by pain and guilt in AC and helps him recover.

But while this is all fine and dandy, I can understand why people may think of different scenes while hearing these lyrics.

However, their link to Aerith becomes even more blatant as we go. In fact, from here on out, the lyrics basically quote Cloud’s words, feelings & thoughts in the OG as he faces Aerith’s death.

3.

Was it all a dream? Will I ever know?

Foolish and blind to everything Had I realized, had I noticed it sooner, Would you be here in my embrace?

Word. For. Word. These are literally Cloud’s feelings, pain and regrets after losing Aerith.

4.

Then we have the chorus, where the references to Aerith are also clear because she’s always been known for her bright personality, and for keeping a smile on her face even in the hardest of times.

Remember how Kitase said that “If I had know this was coming, I’d have done things differently” was one of the feelings he wanted to inspire with Aerith’s death? 

That is exactly what Cloud is singing about in this chorus. But this will become more obvious when we get to the end of the song.

5.

This is honestly unequivocally about Aerith, who hid her pain and the weight of her mission behind smiles and comforting words to not pain Cloud and the others.

Hidden within your smile There were secrets

But I was empty I just demanded

This fits perfectly with how blinded Cloud was by his own pain after he lost her, and how this kept him from realizing the truth of her sacrifice.

6.

Then there’s the second chorus, where Cloud once again sings about all the things he would do differently if only he were given a second chance.

And what he wants to do most of all, is to be able to notice Aerith’s pain and the truth hidden behind it.

What’s more, while players may have missed it given the graphics of the OG, Remake itself shows that this is indeed how Aerith is. She is always hiding her pain and heavy truths behind a smile. The perfect example comes in Aerith’s Resolution Scene in Chapter 14, where Aerith tries to reassure Cloud that she doesn’t mind staying in the Shinra Tower.

She does her best to keep a bright smile and a happy front. But if you look closely enough, you can see the sadness in her eyes, a clear reflection of her true feelings.

7.

Lastly, we have Cloud facing the truth. That despite all his regrets, despite how hard he may wish to have a second chance, Aerith is gone. And the song takes us full-circle.

You’re no long here, so I’m empty. Again, this fits perfectly with the feeling Kitase wanted to evoke with Aerith’s death.

And Cloud feeling this way is also backed-up not only by his behavior in AC, but also by insight from Tifa, as shared in Dismantled:

Plus, of course: “She was gone in the blink of an eye. But the pain never went away.”

So really, given everything I’ve mentioned above, I just can’t see this song being about anyone but Aerith. Because the lyrics clearly evoke thoughts and emotions Cloud himself said about her in the original game.

And if you keep Aerith in mind, then...

The imagery of the song

In the Behind the Scenes, Uematsu  also talks about the imagery that inspired the music. This is what he says about it:

Nojima also confirmed that  [Cloud] “standing in the rain” was the second keyword he received to write the lyrics.

The moment I heard this, I thought of one particular scene from Advent Children:

This scene fits the imagery on multiple levels. Cloud is alone, standing on a barren and empty place, as rain pours over him. He lets the rain wash over him, eyes closed.

In this scene, that rain is Aerith’s Great Gospel. It starts falling the moment Kadaj hears Aerith’s voice, heals everyone it touches from Geostigma and Tifa outright speaks to Aerith as she watches a droplet of the rain.

Of course, there’s no way to know exactly what image Uematsu was talking about. But I find this particular scene quite fitting, given all the ties the song has to Aerith.

Not to mention that in the Final Fantasy 30th Exhibition, Aerith says the following about Cloud’s pain after her death: 「もう、泣かないで. 雨になっちゃうよ」 “Don’t cry. You’ll make it rain”. (source)

So, there we have an explicit link between rain — and Cloud’s anguish after he loses Aerith.

To wrap this up, I’ve seen people suggest that the song is about multiple people. I respect that everyone has the right to have a different view-point, but personally, I can’t help but to disagree with this particular one.

Could the song be about multiple people?

There is no evidence of this in the song. At no point does the song switch its focus. At the contrary, the references and themes remain the same all throughout-it  — as does its subject.

Your shining smile = Once more, shine brightly = Once more, laugh again = Hidden within your smile, there were secrets = Had I noticed sooner, would you still be in my embrace? = Show me your smile one more, this time = I'll notice the truth hidden inside your tears

The subject and the imagery remain constant, so it’s safe to assume the song is about one person and one person only. 

And given all the things mentioned above... I hope you can now see why I can’t think of anyone else but Aerith.

If you made it this far, thanks for reading!

[im-totally-not-an-alien]

Final Fantasy prompts # 31

1. Sephiroth uses Cloud as a therapist.

Sephiroth going on about his life while Cloud is tied to a chair and gagged is just hilarious to me.

2. AVALANCHE, Sephiroth and the Turks are all turned back into 10 year olds and booted, (by Aerith probably) to the Pokémon world and have to survive as Pokémon trainers. The problem? They were all separated and no one has any way to contact eachother.

(Inspired by Viincentsvalentines pokemon/ff7 post. I adore Cloud having a overprotective and murderous Shinx as a starter pokemon. I also love AC Cloud with a Luxray)

(I have a set of rules I use for the pokemon AUs if you're interested)

3. Cloud is ace/aro and is just working on Fenrir, blissfully oblivious to everyone fighting over him just inside the bar.

Those who aren't fighting are fueling the fire and making the situation worse.

In short, Reno starts a shipping war with an actual war.

There is no mercy.

Featuring: people trying to flirt with Cloud only to be full-body tacked away mid conversion, Cloud shrugging everything off, Rufus being a manipulate weasel, and Cloud choosing to "Date" his motorcycle just to get people off his back. No one is respecting Clouds boundaries or sexual orientation.

4. Cloud gets thrown back in time but loses his memory. He has no idea who he is or how he got to this snowfield, luckily this energetic, spikey haired man befriends him and is dead set on showing him off to Angeal.

Genesis had to do a double take, the blond wasn't just well armed. He was practically prepared for war. A massive overly intricate sword was the mans back, his gaze was unwavering, even when faced with the three most powerful men in the world. The redhead barely had to glance at him to tell that all the materia on him was at max level, even the supports.

"Well, my dear friend," he began, turning to Angeal, "it seems your puppy has brought home a wolf."

5. Sephiroth appears to Cloud in his apartment, intending to torment him again. Cloud doesn't seem to acknowledge him, no matter what he says or does. He even grabbed his puppet by the throat and pinned him against the wall.

Nothing. Cloud just closed his eyes and began counting backwards from thirty. The former general released him and Cloud went back to making his sandwich.

The silverette was thoroughly miffed at this point and stalked Cloud throughout his apartment as he sat down the plate of food down on his table next to a glass of water. The blond then darted into the bathroom for a moment and came back with a small orange pill bottle.

Intrigued, Sephiroth watched the blond down two pills before picking up the bottle.

He looked back at his blond, quietly assessing him as he ate his sandwich.

"So. You've been hallucinating."

6. Cloud bursts into a packed SOLDIER rec room disguised as a SOLDIER 2nd and yells, "Who knew about the cat?!" Then sprints across the room and breaks through the window, leading down to the streets below.

The room erupts into chaos.

Later Yuffie pays him 2000 gil

7. Sephiroth not understanding the symptoms of a crush while Genesis tries to teach him how to flirt.

Genesis is not having a good time.

8. Cloud and Sephiroth are trapped in a small enclosed space. So there they lay, pinned by debris, pressed against eachother, and making awkward conversation cause Cloud will be damned if he let's Sephiroth go on about the whole "Sailing the cosmos" thing again.

9. Vincent and Cloud secretly sing duets together when no one is around. Poor Barret winds up listening to them sing (and dance to) "Instruments of cyanide" (DA games version) and is thoroughly shook.

On the plus side, he now knows why Valentine always carries around those small Bluetooth speakers

10. Time traveling animal version of Cloud who reverts back into a human while being petted by Sephiroth.

"....I can explain."

11. Doll AU where Jenova creates an AC Cloud doll for Sephiroth, a CC Zack doll for Angeal, and a FF7 Aerith doll for Genesis. All of the dolls are life-sized and perfect copies of the originals. The three generals didn't know what to do with them at first. Sephiroth shoved his in a closet, Angeal sat his on the couch and poked fun at the real Zack, and Genesis layed his lovely maiden in a glass coffin filled with lillies, using her as a center piece in his home decor.

It starts with Sephiroth occasionally brushing his dolls blond hair, eventually coming to brush it every night. He became obsessed with caring for the doll, until one night, while he was laying in bed pretending to be asleep in an attempt to do the real thing, his doll came to brush his hair. He remained still while the doll lovingly groomed him. Even after the doll left, Sephiroth did not sleep.

The Zack doll...was another thing entirely. Angeals things would go missing on a regular basis. His laptop, his keys, his keycard. He couldn't tell you how many times he'd been locked out of his own apartment. The weirdest time, was just ofter he had comforted Zack, telling him that he cares about him more than any doll, no matter how lifelike it is.

Angeal had night terrors for a week strait and every pair of pants he owned disappeared on the day of a military presentation he was required to attend.

Genesis's doll has full on disappeared from her case, sometimes for days at a time. The redhead is always furious, convinced someone is stealing her. He sets up cameras, but they catch nothing. One moment the doll is there, then she's gone. He always felt like he was being laughed at when this happened, on the other hand, the flowers in the case mysteriously never wilted and new materia would appear around his house sporadically. Which was weird because he was always meticulously organized regarding his materia.

Aka Eldrich Doll au horror story slowburn.

12. Sephiroth realized his puppet was growing stronger at the same rate he was growing weaker

(Not related to no. 11 unless you want it to be)

13. Sephiroth shoving a ring onto Clouds finger and proudly declaring them married.

Cloud thinks he's gone completely off his rocker.

14. Sephiroth devolving into base animal instincts to court Cloud.

Example: giving him shiney rocks and materia, blankets, and basic food and hygene products, killing people the blond hates, complimenting him on both his looks and skills, and of course, preening himself to look the absolue best for his precious.

The best part is that it actually works

15. Vincent and Cloud cuddling in Vincents coffin. Cozy.

[your-1up-girl]

Won’t Be In White

@aerith-week day three! Theme of Red and Pink dress. 

Pairing: Aerith Gainsborough x Cloud Strife

Word Count: 1495

Read on Ao3

Did Cloud ever think that he would make it to the point in his life that he would get married? No, not at all. Was he happy that he could finally make it to this point with a wonderful girl in his life? Absolutely. Cloud didn't think someone like Aerith would ever come into his life. But the flower peddler with the breathtaking smile stopped him one day, Would you like a flower? You can give it to the special someone in your life. From there the rest was history. It was a cool day and Cloud was thankful for that. Standing there in his tux, he thought that he was going to melt from nerves. Barret seemed to notice this and handed him a handkerchief. He took it with a soft thank you.

"What's with all the nerves SOLIDER boy? Afraid she's gonna change her mind?"

Cloud's eyes widened and he turned to Barret, who was going to solemnize their marriage, "Do you think she will?"

"You know that Barret is just messing with you." Zack wrapped his arm around Cloud's shoulder. "Aerith is absolutely crazy for you. And I haven't seen you smile so much since you've met her. I really am happy for you Cloud.

"Yeah. I was just kidding; didn't mean to scare ya." He didn't respond, so Barret tried to change the conversation. "The girls did a great job getting this place ready huh?"

"Y-yeah, it is very scenic." They decided to hold the wedding at Elmyra's house. There was a clear area that plants haven't grown to yet so the part decided to take advantage of that. The fence leading along to that area was decorated by Yuffie and Tifa with ribbons and arching banners. Chairs were set up for a few select people and created an aisle that lead to where he a Barret stood. People were creating conversation, awaiting for the ceremony to start. Prior to the wedding day, Barret, Cloud, and Cid hand built an arbor. Elmyra and Aerith, along with Red and Marlene's help, arranged some of the vines around the house to wrap beautifully around the arbor a day before. The flowers on some of them still looked fresh despite being cut. "It's all perfect for her."

"All's that's missing is the bride." Cid said, he was taking pictures of the event after Aerith had convinced him to do so.

Meanwhile back at the house, the girls were putting the finishing touches on a few things. Aerith was still upstairs getting ready. Elmyra was tying the bow-tie around Red's neck, he seemed very happy that he too was able to dress up for the event. Yuffie fixing up Marlene's flower girl dress making sure that everything is right. And Tifa was putting the last of the petals in the for Marlene; along with making sure Aerith's bouquet was ready. It was an arrangement of wine red roses, pale blue forget-me-nots, and ivory hydrangeas. The leaves were eucalyptus leaves and olive branches to create a bit of a cascading look to it.

"Alright, I think we are set." Tifa happily announced as she tied the stems with a pink ribbon. Tifa and Yuffie were the bridesmaids so they helped Aerith plan the wedding and they all helped make the dresses. The two girls wore a champagne key hole neckline dress that when to their knees with a chiffon skirt.

"Thank you girls. Now, we just wait for Aerith."

"I'm sorry I took so long." As Aerith walked down the stairs, Elmyra thought she was going to cry. Aerith looked beautiful. Her dress was had off the shoulder straps with a sweetheart neckline. The straps looked as if they were made of petals. The bodice was beautifully beaded at the waist that faded into the tulle of the skirt. The skirt itself had just enough puff that Aerith liked but didn't look like too much. Aerith had added the touch for the top layer of the skirt by carefully sowing fake pink, white, red, and ivory flowers to the top and bottom of the skirt. But what really pulled this dress altogether was that the dress itself was a blush pink, similar to the color of what she normally wear. But in this case, it looked much better than it had the dress just been white.

"Aerith! You look so pretty!" Marlene ran to give her a hug being careful not to pull the leaf-like jeweled necklace the bride wore.

"Oh thank you Marlene! You look pretty too! The best flower girl I've ever seen. I think you're the one that will steal the show today." This made Marlene blush. She and Red went out the door to prepare to walk down the aisle. Tifa and Yuffie both gave their own form of praise to Aerith and left as well. Elmyra was in a state of shock, but it was the best kind of shock you could feel. "What do you think Mom?"

"You're just-," She shook her head and gave her a hug, "I'm so happy for you and Cloud."

"I don't think I've ever seen you cry this much before."

"I was saving them for this moment." She brushed a bit of hair out of her daughter's face. Aerith's own eyes were glassy and they hugged once more. "Your mother would have been very happy for you."

Aerith laughed, her biological mother was always in the back of her head, she would never forget about her. But right now, it was between her and Elmyra. "I can see that she is." Both women walked out the door. Cid was waiting, a half smile on his face He took pictures of them as they walked down the path to the area where everyone is waiting.

Marlene and Red walked down first. Marlene was carefully letting the petals fall onto the grassy dirt path. Yuffie and Tifa were close after, the silence was filled with the camera shutter and the little waterfall behind them. All of them took their place Marlene sat with Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge, the girls on Aerith's side, and Red next to Zack. Finally, Cloud saw her.

Walking arm in arm with her mother she looked right back at him. The amount of love in each other's eyes matched the other. Cloud felt a tear fall from his eye, and another, and another. He had to keep himself together as he reached out to her and they held hands as Barret began. What he was saying it didn't seem to matter to either of them. At this moment, in this great big world, it was just the two of them. Aerith smiled, her lip shaking just a bit. And he licked his lips, nerves and excitement filled their bodies all at once. She looked beautiful in that dress. It was different but still seemed to match her. The light pink allowed her to stand out from other brides who have worn just a white dress. It was all Aerith.

"Do you Cloud, take Aerith to be your wife?" Barret asked them.

"I do." His eyes never left Aerith.

"Do you Aerith, take Cloud to be your husband?"

"I do."

"Well then," The smile on his face was contagious to the rest of the attendees, "By the power invested in me, I know pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss the bride." Aerith jumped into Cloud to kiss him, he caught her with ease but it still caught him off guard. Barret belted out a laugh and the rest of the crowd cheered for the newlyweds.

The rest of the day went on without a fuss. Everyone had a great time. They celebrated, ate, sang, danced, and drank to their hearts content. They played some games took so many pictures. It was getting late but and people began to filter back to their homes. A few hung back just to shoot the breeze with others. But Aerith and Cloud slipped outside for some time alone. He twirled her in the empty area under the arbor. They laughed like children. Cloud pulled her close and they swayed together. Her lips were pressed close to his neck that he could feel her light breath. And his head bent down towards hers. Eyes closed just allowing themselves to have this moment.

"I can feel your heart beating." She spoke softly and she giggled. "You're not nervous around me right?"

Cloud held her tighter, "Whenever I see you, it feels like I'm meeting for the first time all over again. I will won't forget that feeling of falling in love with you. You're the only one for me, Mrs. Strife"

Aerith moved just enough to see the smile on Cloud's face. She could tell that he's been wanting to say that to her for a while. She pulled on his tie to bring him close to his lips and said. "And you're for me, Mr. Strife."

[medemorphosis-a]

@prismwove.

02.   entry made on the best night of their life.      +   13.   entry made featuring mention of aerith.

i finally got to take joel's pickup tonight. it's a miracle it still works.

i took my first drive into sunnyvale, and it's as picture-perfect as people say. there's no trash on the ground, no sirens, no shady high school kids lurking around. it's almost too perfect.

i found aerith's place quickly, and i'm so glad i did. she looked amazing beautiful. we were just going to the movies, but it was like she was the movie. she had the biggest smile on her face too. i probably looked like an idiot to her. all i remember is my cheeks hurting from how hard i must've been smiling.

but her smile. ARGH! i can't get it out of my head.

wish i still had my camera. stupid disposable cameras.

[ 𝙸𝙻𝙻𝚄𝚂𝚃𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽 𝙾𝙵 𝙰𝙴𝚁𝙸𝚃𝙷; 𝙸𝚃'𝚂 𝙰 𝚁𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙷 𝚂𝙺𝙴𝚃𝙲𝙷, 𝚁𝚄𝚂𝙷𝙴𝙳 𝙸𝙽 𝙻𝙴𝚂𝚂 𝚃𝙷𝙰𝙽 𝙰 𝙷𝙰𝙻𝙵 𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚁. 𝚂𝙷𝙴'𝚂 𝚂𝙼𝙸𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶. ]

what a good night.

[multi-fandom-imagine]

The SOLDIER and The Baker || Cloud Strife || Pt4

Part 1 || Part 2. || Part 3

A/n: Also vote....if you don’t mind cause that part is coming up soon{{ vote here }}

A/n 2: I totally gave Sam a wife cause i love this man...annd here is the dress. I will do my best to describe it.

P.S: THANK YOU ALL FOR THE NICE COMMENTS AND LIKE AND STUFF, IT MEANS SO MUCH.

A/n 3: Since i was taking forever on this Part 5 is going to be the who thing with Cloud in a dress / the ghost train yard and the whole.....err the thing with the Plate.

A: 10

B: 1 

C: 10

Tag List: @ayamenimthiriel​ || @kitsamii. || @courageouslystupid.

If i forgot to tag you....just let me know and you’ll be added.

THE DATE YOU AND CLOUD GO ON Here.

.And the dress Here

“The first time I’ve meet your mother....she was covered in dirt and grime....tryin to rescue some animal.” Sam snorted shaking his head, a small smile forming on his face. “She had no other family...she was alone...this ten year old...well my Ma wouldn’t have it so she took the girl in.”

Listing intently, your fingers clutching your dress tightly. You held back your tears as the man continued to talk about your mother. 

“So after E-” Sam caught himself from saying her name, you wondered if it was to painful for him “-- your mother became my little sister and as the years went on I started to notice somethings...things Ma and Pa didn’t see. Your mother would talk to things that weren’t their. Know things that she couldn’t have known. Animals flocked to her, flowers seemed to grow...not to mention how she could use magic with out Materia.”

Frowning you glanced down at your own hands, you just thought you were seeing things. The spirits you’d talk too though it made you feel better that your mother could do it too. “So...if you know all that about my mother...she wasn’t human...was she?”

“No...no she was not.”

“Then what was she? I need to know.”

“Y/n...I believe your mother was a Cetra.”

Taking a deep breath in it felt like the world was moving to fast, your started to feel sick. “A...and my father? did you know him.”

“I did.” Sam spat, it sounded like he couldn’t stand the man. “Do you even remember him.”

“I..do...a little...I remember his smile.” You then frowned clutching your head tightly, a painful memory resurfacing. 

You wanted to remember more but everything was fuzzy, you saw spotty images of your father and mother. Images of you playing with Rufus then something went wrong. You father was arguing with a man, he stormed out then the next thing you knew you and your mother were living near Aerith’s church.

“Your mother was an amazing woman, she did her best to help the people of Wall Market and if you’re anything like her. I know you’ll be able to do the same.” Sam gave you a smile. 

“Your father...Reeve Tuesti....he works for a dangerous company...so be careful Y/n...I’d hate to see anything happen to my sisters kid.” Standing up Sam then slipped off his hat, his fingers clutching the brim. “Stay far away from Shinra...the Turks and Reeve Tuesti...It will bring you nothing but trouble.” Clearing out his throat he gave you a nod placing the hat back on his head blinking away a few tears that have formed in his eyes.

“Now little lady...I made a promise to you, that I intend to keep.” Smiling he held out his hand for you to take. “Don’t hesitate to kick that mans ass.” Giving your hand a squeeze he pulled you up from the chair, walking with him you could feel your heart hammer in your chest doing your best to wrap around everything you were told.

Stepping into a from you were greeted by a pretty blonde that was a few inches taller than you, she gave you a kind smile then turned to give Sam a small glare. “You must be Y/n...Sam has told me an awful lot about you..”

“Huh?” Glancing over at Sam the man held his hands up though it took a few strides for him to be standing next to the woman. Planting a kiss on the side of her head you then spotted the ring on his finger. 

“Just try not to make her too beautiful darlin.”

Rolling her eyes, the woman gave him a smile. “You know I can’t do that.” With a wink she then shoved the man out. “Now leave us be!.” Slamming the door shut she then turned her attention back to you placing her hands on her hips. “Lets get started.”

Cloud scowled to himself, the people who passed him to scared to even look at the man afraid they might set him off. Aerith rolled her eyes watching the man, he sure wasn’t scaring her, the only thing she felt was annoyance. 

“You’re acting like a child Could, Y/n will be done soon just you wait!!.” She smiled giving him a wink though she then turned to the attention of all the voices. Whatever it was seemed to cause quiet a stir among everyone. “Oh.!” and that must has been the reason why the people were talking.

Stepping threw the parted crowed your cheeks flared from all the talk, did everyone really think you were that beautiful? Though the flashes from the camera were a bit to much and of course their had to be fireworks.

Turning to see what the commotion was about Cloud could feel that his breath was taken away when he spotted you. You were wearing a long voluminous strapless dress, different blue’s that flowed together. He really liked the darker blue that was layered over the more soft blue, the sparkling fabric seemed to make your eyes pop more and for a moment Cloud couldn’t breath. You hair was pulled to side tied off in soft waves, the blue flower he had given you was the only accessory in your hair. You looked perfect, like he was staring into the night sky back at home. 

“C-Come on...I don’t look that bad to do?” You tired to ignore the cheers from the people, the one’s opinion you really wanted to hear from just stood their dumb struck.

Cloud blinked as he tried to take this all in. Where you wearing lip stick? and just how soft could your lips be? Boy did he want to find out. Opening his mouth the man tried to respond only to receive a scolding from Aerith. 

“Cloud...say something.”

“Wow...you look...” What could he even say to you?, a simple word really couldn’t do you justice.

“I know....Corneo’s got certain...tastes.”  You sighed glancing down at the long elegant dress, the soft blue seemed to make your skin glow. Sighing you shook your head twisting around, the dressing flowing with your movements. “I mean it’s so gaudy...I can barley move in it.” You were starting to miss your dress that was covered in flour.

“Y-Yea.” Cloud swallowed thickly, it was hard to take his eyes off of you.

Sighing you stepped closer to the man to peer in his face. “Cloud.?”

“Huh”

Aerith sighed as she grasped your hand then Clouds. “I think what he’s trying to say is that you look beautiful....right Cloud.?”

“Right.” He said quickly though refused to meet your eyes.

“Annd he would like to take you out...on a date.” Aerith beamed as she waited for Clouds answer.

“Right...wait wha-”

“Perfect!” Aerith quickly placed your hand in Clouds, the man to stunned to say anything and judging by the smug look on her face you thought she was planing this all along.

“Aerith!.”

Laughing she quickly waved you off, your carbuncle following after the florist. “Don’t you worry about me! Madam M agreed to sign me up! have fun you two!.”

Sighing you then glanced at your joined hands, about to let go an apologize the man gave your palm a small squeeze. “I...let’s okay.”

Taking a deep breath you two walked in silence, doing your best to ignore the whispers of the people. Did they really think you and Cloud were together?God you shouldn’t be thinking that, not when it made your heart race so fast.Nibbling your lip a habit you seemed to be doing lately, you  glanced up noticing that his pale cheeks were tinted pink.

Using your free hand to clutch the silky fabric you tried to focus your gaze on anywhere but the man now. 

“So”

“So”

Chuckling that you both managed to answer at the same time you shook your head then tugged him to a food stand, doing your best to not get the dress dirty.

“So...what would you like to know about me Cloud?” Giving him a smile you at least wanted the man to relax, he looked like he was going to keel over.

“I...what was your mother like?”

“Oh” Surprised you thought he’d ask about something else but this was an easier topic for you to talk about. “She was wonderful....when ever I was sad she’d always bake my favorite cookies then hold it out to him and with a smile on her face she say. ‘A cookie a day...keeps the sadness away.’ s-she’d then take a bite of the cookie then give me a kiss.” Feeling a few tears slid down your cheek you then felt the familiar hand on your skin, the coolness of his glove calming you down.

Cloud didn’t know what made him touch you, but he found himself hating seeing you cry. It made him feel useless that he couldn’t stop it and angry for whoever took your mother away from you. “It’s alright to mourn your mother...to miss her.” He let his thumb slide across your cheek. “But you should know that you’re no longer alone. “You have the children of Leaf House, Aerith....and me.”

Sniffling, you could feel Cloud brushing away your tears though shaking your head you gave him a smile before grabbing his hand gently. “Haha! you’re right! look at me! I didn’t mean to be a big baby! come on! I wanted to try one more place.”

Cloud blinked a few times though his lips twitched into a smile, to bad you missed it. 

Cheek’s still burning from the kiss, your mind was still reeling. You never thought that Cloud would kiss you, you never thought that his lips could feel so soft but what you did wanted was from him to kiss you again. Cloud refused to look at you, the man seemed determined to keep his gaze everywhere that wasn’t your face. Did he not mean to kiss you? If so then why did he even do it in the first place.

Fingers gripping the blue fabric of the dress you were about to question him until Aerith bounded over to you. Not sensing the awkwardness between the two of you, the young woman smiled as she rocked on her heels. “I know a way to get Cloud in with us!”

“What is it?” Cloud quickly turned his attention to her, anything to keep his mind off that kiss.

“First! We gotta go to the Honey Bee Inn.”

[moodysnowflake]

Hello there!

Warning guys, nasty SPOILERS ahead, both of FFVII (+ Remake) and FFVII Crisis Core.

The severity of spoilers is arguable, it depends on the level of involvement you have or you got in the series, so please be aware that what you're stepping onto might be a wildflower lawn as much as a war minefield.

I saw, read and heard a lot of people complaining about Cloud's dancing scene/minigame, grumbling about how:

1. Stupid it was;

2. Degrading it has been;

3. Zack would have been disappointed.

Let's take it in strides, shall we?

1. Stupid? I'd rather say silly, more than stupid. Stupid means doing something that you've no idea how/why you're doing. FFVII never made that a mystery: there was a goofy vibe in the original too, and that was on purpose. You couldn't handle the story otherwise, it would just have been a mess of violence, death, tears and blood. Light moods are needed for you to recuperate, recharge batteries and balance. Otherwise, we all would've ended up like Sephiroth.

Character perspective wise, Cloud might not have understood from the beginning (as much as I love him to the bottom of my essence, he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer - that's also why Sephiroth can do what the fluff he wants) what the hell Aerith roped him into, but when he gets the idea he accepts it (in his very Cloud way) and faces it with one of the most determined look he has ever sported. He's willing to let himself be dragged on and about the stage by Andrea, because he knows this is for Tifa, so it doesn't matter if he has to shake is ass in front of a bunch of strangers. He never really cared about his reputation since Crisis Core; he doesn't care about what people think, he's doing it for the woman he loves (shut your trap, he loves her as much as she loves him, he just needs time to untangle himself from his nightmares - and someone smacking him on the head really hard).

Secondly, player perspective wise, is it really such a stupid section? How many did manage to get a perfect score on the very first try? Camera speed, moves and angles pulled some interesting stunts, didn't they? Tricking your depth perception, together with the lights going bananas. Even if they weren't; everything has been coordinated and perfectly synced with the music. If you'd refrained for two seconds from blabbering insults you would have noticed that you could've actually used lights as another cue to help you sync, with the music and Cloud's movements. It's called peripheral vision, you need to expand your focus as much as you can and split it both on the background and the forefront. That gives your brain the capacity to better throw information at you so you can react faster, 'cause you're actively trying to remain perceptive of your surroundings too. Just like in battles.

If that shooting dynamic would have been present during battle, nobody would have survived, not even a doomrat.

2. Talking about degrading. Did Cloud strip naked? Did he have to put on a honeybee outfit? As much as he was very uncomfortable, Andrea (a.k.a. the game) pushed him only up to the limit that still felt secure enough and over which it could have been really perceived as abusive. Andrea could have done that and Cloud would still have obliged (because Tifa) but his objective was not humiliating him. He wanted to play with the dangerous SOLDIER, over which he, paradoxically, even for a tiny bit, had the power and control. Still, he didn't overdo nor overuse it (that is some good representation of a BDSM Dom, btw).

Moreover... I mean... Did you really look at him? Those were not exactly noobs moves, he nailed that too (but that's something I'll talk about next).

About the dresses: are you seriously complaining about them? I admit that the black/white one is not exactly the best (but it's your fault for ditching all Wall Market's quest... you had it coming), and I prefer the blue corset one over the lilac/black silk.

Point is: you have to sneak a guy who's built like a fucking BRICK WALL into Corneo's audition. How in the ever-loving hell are you supposed to do it? The only things playing in Cloud's favor are his facial features and his height: he's the smoothest skin I've ever seen, light jaws and is compact enough not to stand out too much among average-height girls, but that's it. He has shoulders and muscles for days. You have to cover him as much as you can, and how would you do that, if not with a broad gown, puff-sleeves, and a corset? If you're wondering about the chocker/high neck+thick necklace: it covers the Adam's apple, genius... And all the frilly, shiny laces of the lilac dress and the extensions are needed to divert the attention from his neck, clavicles and forearms, otherwise, you'll notice the buff.

That's why he had to look like a Victorian maiden.

Putting him in a catsuit, with latex or leather stretching over every inch of skin, or a sundress, with arms and legs on display... That would have been a bad idea.

Andrea is talking about not being afraid, and that's an awesome message: if you feel comfortable and beautiful, why not doing it? If you're happy, do it. It's not your problem if other people are insecure about themselves and try to pick on you because they're afraid and, most of all, jealous of your confidence, identity, and fortitude. They're just disrespectful and sad, and you should avoid them like the plague.

And again, Cloud doesn't seem that much fazed about it. I think he's more annoyed than anything; having to move in that huge-ass skirt, squeezed in a corset which is not letting you breathe and turn around would make everyone who's not used to it lose their shit. Women or men, regardless, it's a pain either way, especially if you're a fighter and need to move freely. Also, if you notice, the heels he's put in are not that much higher than his combat boots... Sure, they're thinner, but that's why he's not wobbling like a newborn calf. Did you see him swaying through the streets? That was some awesome heel-walking.

What ended me was how he was moving after he woke up. Have you seen how completely ungraceful he is, and at the same time fluidly stands to check on Aerith and doesn't trip over his own feet? In a dress like that, being that agile is shamefully amazing. Then, he swings like he's in the SOLDIER uniform, spine blocked because of the corset, moving his center of gravity too much because of too broad steps, awkwardly bobbing, switching too much weight from feet to feet, getting his stance rigid. That's precious. And hilarious af.

He has to held still as much as he can to try and convey the feeling of being scared, but we know he's just trying really hard not to wreak havoc in the audition room and slaughter everyone.

(Despise lighting, which being warm oriented would have mingled with the blue of his irises and shift them to green, I still believe that in that scene his eyes were going mako. In some millisecond-split moments, they seem to really flash out. That's hella relatable: you're using all your self-control not to cut open the scumbag who's lusting and sniffing and drooling and being awful to your friends. Plus, you're being groped and talked down too? The only thing you can do is look, and boy does he Glare™

(Cloud is not afraid/disgusted of other men touching him, but people seem to forget it. He just doesn't want Corneo to touch him. He doesn't move when Andrea touches his lips nor react when he swings him around in the dress, he doesn't move when Biggs pats him on the head on the pillar (I bet he would give everything to have Zack do that again, just one more time...dammit [I know what happens in the final cutscene of the Remake, but the post below this one explains why I think this]), he doesn't pull away when he grabs his hands, and not only he grabs it back, but grasps with the other one too. [Captain Levi vibes, anyone?])

He didn't have control over his eyes and I firmly think he didn't even intend to; he let them glow on purpose, just because that was the only thing he could unleash and nobody would have noticed.)

Cloud dancing is not stupid, nor offensive. Cloud is a loyal, caring friend, who doesn't have prejudices and is comfortable (as much as he can be) with his sexuality and identity that he's not questioning it nor getting scared (and violent) at the situation.

Do I have to dance and dress like a woman to help my girl? If it's the best way, so be it. She needs my help, I'm not gonna let her down. Gonna be a pain in the ass to fight, but I'll manage. I'm not that insecure of myself that a dress is going to make me have an existential crisis.

If you're a man or a male, and your friend/lover/person you cherish would ever be in a life-threatening situation (and this is, 'cause if they were on their own, they would have died), and the only option would be for you to dance and put on a dress to save them, but you refuse because you have to dance and it's a dress... Just a fucking dress... Well... You're not that decent of a friend, nor human being...

3. So. About Zack. If you think he would've been disappointed/disgusted... Are we talking about the same character? 'Cause I think we're not.

Zack Fair, SOLDIER 1st class (previously 2nd), 6 foot and a ladder, black hair, blue eyes, scar on his left jaw. Droll af?

Just because he's a legend, a powerful, passionate and strong-willed person, doesn't mean he couldn't be a quirky dumbass.

The first line said to him in Crisis Core is "Get serious" by Angeal... Angeal who described him to his mother as a PUPPY.

The same guy who jostled his mentor, a fucking SOLDIER 1st class, in front of their boss, when he knew he recommended him.

The same guy who tried to get Aerith on a date after 5 minutes.

The one who grabs a parasol to fight troopers without breaking a sweat.

The one who faked defeat by sixth-grade-Yuffie in Wutai.

The one who dances with the Cactua he summons?

When Angeal discusses the plan and tells him to charge the front gate of Wutai on the first game mission, he's jumping like an over-excited dog.

And, most importantly, the only living being who actually managed to:

- Make Sephiroth care (after Hollander with implanted Jenova cells escapes, he tells Zack Genesis’ copies had been seen in the slums... And with that frigging Knowing™ look, and a smirk, he tells him "Permission to return... Granted", Seph's gentlemanly way to say 'I know you have a girlfriend down there, you should go check on her':

Then Sephiroth says goodbye first

And fucking smiles (Zack wasn’t able to see it ‘cause he was already walking away)

- Yell at him over the phone and live;

- Pull a GENUINE laugh out of him. When they're trying to locate Angeal and Genesis, Sephiroth calls him. The conversation goes as:

S:"You and I are gonna find them [Gen & Angie] before they [Shinra] do, and..."

Z:'And WHAT?!?!' *angry bark, to which Sephirot pulls the phone away*

S:"...Fail to eliminate them"

Z:'For real?!'

S:"[AMUSED HUFF] Yes, for real" *playful mocking of Zack's words*

Okay, that was a huff, BUT STILL... Not even Sephiroth (when he was still a human being...because yes, he was, and a pretty decent one too) was immune to his Puppy Dog Energy. Look. At. That. Smile.

So this is what I think.

The only thing Zack would be disappointed about would've been Cloud not dancing enough.

Heck, he would've jumped on the stage as soon as given the signal and dragged Cloud along, yelling in his face to be heard over the music "This is gonna be great! Let's show them what a SOLDIER can do! We're gonna put all these cute bees to shame!" ᕕ(ᐛ)ᕗ

Then again... If Zack would've been there...if we think about it, a part of Zack was there.

During his childhood and infantry training, I seriously doubt Cloud had any occasion to dance or learn how to do it.

Plus, he couldn't have done it during his 4-years mako-comatose state.

This doesn't leave that many options.

It is very likely that, like his fighting ability, his dancing moves were coming from Zack's memories too.

In a way, we can say that Zack, in the end, was there on stage with him.

Gosh, I'm gonna cry so much... ಥ_ಥ

[secret-engima]

Random Clouds and Moonlit Skies verse HCs

-Prompto/Cloud still has some Wanderlust issues, so when he’s about 16-17 he approaches his dad with the request for Cor to help him find a Required Adult for a business idea. While Cor is ... supportive, he’s also very surprised. He kinda assumed Prompto would become a Crownsguard or even a Kingsglaive considering how tied to the hip Prompto and Noctis are. Prompto just smiles and says he can help Noctis more if he does things his own way.

-Some discussion and enthusiastic support from Noctis later, Prompto runs his first delivery to Hammerhead as part of his Cloud Strife Delivery, as sponsored, not by Cor (for reasons I’ll explain later) but Cid. Only Zack, Seph, and Aerith (and Tifa who I have yet to decide when she gets introduced into the narrative) know WHY Prompto named his business that, but there you go XD. At least it’s easy to remember.

-Cid squints at Prompto for a long time when Prompto makes his first paid delivery, an envelope from Regis that basically has a letter saying “Look at how the bby Leonis has grown! Thank you ahead of time for supporting this idea and having all your name on the paperwork even though you didn’t know this existed until now, and yes Cor is not sorry for forging your signature.”

-Cid rolls his eyes and calls Prompto reckless and Cor a cheat, but sure enough a poster advertising the new delivery business is up in the garage, the diner, and the general store by the end of the day.

-Cindy is thrilled and insists on being his go-to mechanic. Prompto takes it 100% seriously and Cid gets to quietly die from Grandadly Pride as his granddaughter and basically-grandson sit down and work out a contract where Cindy will get a major discount on all deliveries using Prompto’s service in exchange for Prompto getting free oil changes and a major discount on various repair services (but not any cosmetic services like new paint jobs, because those aren’t “necessary” for his business). Cid is So. Freaking. Proud. It’s all goodnatured and probably not as haggled or airtight as a contract SHOULD be, but Prompto and Cindy (who are not yet an item btw) trust each other and know each other and so know that it won’t cause any issues.

-Prompto’s business is seasonal, he still has school after all for at least a little while longer and he also has to make time for training with the Glaive and keeping up with Noctis and handling the politics that come from being the Immortal’s Son. So, to start, it’s a summer only business. After he graduates it becomes all year round.

-Prompto is never particularly busy, mostly having a small pool of steady customers dotted all over Lucis (his biggest income are the Hunters who really enjoy having a speedy, competent source of delivery for their letters and care packages to and from home). He also runs delivers for the Glaives, but only on a person-to-person basis. No official “military contracts” upon his insistence.

-This is all actually intentional. Prompto doesn’t want to be swamped in deliveries because frankly his business is just a very nice, profitable cover story for his real reasons. One being Wanderlust and the other being Helping Noctis.

-See, delivery businesses/import-export businesses can get special border licenses. While there’s a yearly license registration fee and a customary inspection at checkpoints, those licenses mean if you have one, you can basically go anywhere. Even Niflheim held territory. Even overseas. It’s basically a passport and a very minor political immunity pass. Of course, breaking crimes in other countries will still be dealt with harshly, but it means you can’t be detained on the border solely for being a citizen of the other side (or for being the Immortal’s kid). As long as he keeps his head down and doesn’t get caught anywhere near trouble, Prompto can go anywhere.

-Can you say “perfect spy cover”?

-And yes both sides know that this is a perfect spy cover which is why business licenses of this nature are usually restricted and the bigger the business the more restricted to different areas across the border it is to keep all the potential spies corralled. But Prompto is a one-man business, a small-time delivery service that mostly goes to rural areas and only occasionally goes into a city. Sure he’s the Immortal’s Kid, but he’s shown no interest in politics ever and he’s off running a delivery business on a motorcycle he built himself rather than, you know, getting any form of formal military training or rank. Despite literally all the warning flags, Niflheim is a Bit Too Busy dealing with other, bigger, way more obvious things then a teenager delivering Grandma Hunter’s care package of cookies to Mister Nobody Hunter.

-So yeah Prompto scouts out stuff while delivering letters and things and may or may not sabotage a few of the more urgent things on the way without ever getting caught or even put under suspicion because he was Cloud Strife The Terrorist/SOLDIER/Savior of the World. He can avoid a few cameras and sleepy watchmen.

-This is totally how he meets Aranea and they become Snark Buddies.

-Also secretly Prompto now has the long-unused position of the King’s Hawk. Aka a member of the Retinue who specializes in gathering info/scouting ahead and in general being AWAY from the rest of the Retinue until called upon by their king. Prompto still regularly stays in Insomnia to rest and report and hang out with Noctis, but outside of Regis and Co, Titus, and Noctis and Co, no one knows Prompto as anything more than Noctis’s childhood friend and the Immortal’s Son who decided to abandon the fancy lifestyle as much as possible in favor of running around the wilds delivering crates of beans to rural shopkeeper and letters to lonely Hunters. Cor is so proud of his boy. Even if it’s lonely now to have Prompto living in an apartment outside the Citadel to help sell the image of a semi-rebellious loose-footed teen/adult.

-Also also Aranea once sarcastically asks if he would deliver something for her and is stunned when Prompto immediately rattles off his rates and the list of things he will not transport (drugs that aren’t pre-approved six ways from Sunday by a legal pharmacist to the recipient because he understands needing a rare prescription but will not risk being used for a drug ring, military grade weapons, nothing militarily sensitive like classified papers, anything alive that isn’t a potted, non-monster/non-toothed plant, etc etc). Aranea gapes for a bit, then slowly points out she’s ... she’s a Niflheim officer. He’s a Leonis. Prompto just impatiently asks if she’s gonna hire him for a delivery or not because he has to deliver that box of frozen frog parts to a wacky researcher lady halfway across Lucis by Monday.

-Aranea, just for the hilarity of it, asks him to deliver some random object to Loqi. Just- just to see if Prompto will ACTUALLY DO IT.

-Loqi calls two weeks later from the freaking capital of Niflheim, screeching about how bby Leonis just walked into his office and made him sign off on a package from her. Why did she send him a spiracorn horn. Why did she use a Lucian delivery service. WHY DOES THE SON OF THE FAMED IMMORTAL RUN A DELIVERY SERVICE THAT CAN EVEN GET TO HIS OFFICE IN THE CAPITAL OF NIFLHEIM.

-Aranea quietly dies laughing, just holding the phone away from her ear so all her crew can silently die with her as Loqi goes on an utter tirade.

[zachsgamejournal]

PLAYING: Final Fantasy VII Remake

I love it. Done. Just Kidding. Final Fantasy VII is one my top 10 favorite games of all time. My first play through was over 99 hours, and I didn’t feel like I was “done”. I just beat the game to beat it. I’ve restarted the opening Midgar section a hundred times. I love it.

I don’t know why, but when the PS2 came out, I heard rumors of FFVII sequels...but then FFX got a sequel. I didn’t really care for that one...Why did it get a sequel? Then PSP had Crisis Core and Advent Children. While Crisis Core was an action packed revisit to FFVII’s world, it wasn’t exactly a remake. And while I enjoyed watching Advent Children a 100 times...it wasn’t exactly a film-adaptation, or even an EPIC-Quality sequel to the game. When the PS3 Demo teased a remake, I became desperate. I needed this REMAKE. When the PS4 Remake  was announced, I couldn’t believe it was real!!!! But then it turns out, it was only going to be the first section and that there would be “changes”. While I’m ok with the game ditching the turn-based combat, I didn’t want a game so revamped that it was unrecognizable. And the fact this was only the first section, I was worried that a. they were filling the game with fluff, and/or b. they wouldn’t bother making the rest... Doesn’t matter now. It’s in my hands now, and I can’t wait to play! FFVII’s opening is possibly my most favorite opening of any video game. How the stars of space turn to life-stream embers, and Aerith steps out of an alley to reveal a bustling city. The Camera pulls back to reveal Midgar, our new home, a huge ominous tower surrounded by planet-killing reactors. Then as the camera pushes in, there’s quick cuts of a train--building the tension and pace of this slow, elegant reveal. And boom: the bombing mission begins! In contrast, the remake starts with a vast desert landscape in daytime. For a moment, I thought it was meant to mirror the desert Red XIII visits at the end of VII...maybe it is. But then we see Midgar, reimagined to new glory! It was strange, but not offensive. Until we cut from day to the familiar image of Aerith looking at Mako energy. She’s prompted to leave the alley by someone...or something. And we pull back to see Midgar, as in the original. And while I’m glad we’ve remade this perfect scene, it is sabotaged by the new day-time opening. The city has been introduced twice. Revealed twice. And one is clearly more impactful than the other (the original). Ah well. Now we’re in the familiar train station. I think they’ve added some sections to give more combat opportunities for the player. It works. The combat is fun enough. I’m glad that I can “strike” as much as I want without delay, unlike Crisis Core. Maybe it’s because I played CC for hours that I’m so satisfied with this action-combat? Limiting the item and magic use to a timer was a bit awkward. I would often forget to use them. I’m still quite confused about when to use special moves like Braver. Shinra soldiers are no sweat. The graphics are great and the lighting perfectly captures the original’s style. It was fun to play a modern game with 90s aesthetics. Because the camera is now over the shoulder and not overhead, like the classic, I almost missed how many times they took the original game’s environments and reworked them for the remake. I was impressed when I discovered it and absolutely thrilled. They’ve also done a good job reworking the enemies into the game. The dialog/story is a little hit or miss. But that’s just kind of where Japanese games live, for me. In the 90s and early 2000s, most games didn’t have good writing, even if they had good stories and ideas. So Japan’s non-western style didn’t stand out that much, and they were usually cutting-edge for cinematic games and storytelling. Now that Western Games have improved so much, it’s harder for me to tolerate Japan’s eccentric style. The original game was very succinct and clear: Barret was an angry, militant rebel who saw Shinra Corp as a threat to the world. He explains clearly how the reactors are sucking up the planet’s energy. The stakes were clear. Cloud’s cool indifference was an interesting foil. Usually you’re the hero, now you’re just a jerk. While the remake did a good job showing that Cloud was specifically brought to do the fighting, proving his worth to the team, when we get to Barret’s speech about the reactor--it’s somewhat unprompted and...unspecific? It’s so over the top, I hardly realized this was “the speech”. If you’ve never played FF7 before, I’d imagine the point would be lost on you. If you have played, then you get the joke that Barret isn’t exactly an environmentalist--despite his impassioned posturing. I think this is a misstep.

But they did give side characters more of a voice in this mission, especially Jessie. They basically sacrificed Barret’s presence to give the others more talking opportunity. This works because we’re gonna get to know Barret over many, many more hours. But it also gives Barret a more solemn presence that works for his character.

Getting to the iconic scorpion bot fight, I was impressed by the challenge. The original game is still trying to let you win at this point. The only way to lose is to attack when the tail is up, unleashing a devastating laser attack. But this game really pushed me. Maybe it was meant to challenge the player and force them to experiment with different attacks and strategies. I had to heal a lot!! Also, it seemed like my dodge was worthless. Occasionally the boss would launch a barrage of missiles and when I tried to roll-dodge, I always rolled right into a missile. By the end, I just didn’t bother dodging or blocking, cause they don’t seem to do anything...maybe I suck.

Then it was time to escape. This was fun, but they introduced a new “shock trooper” or something. These guys are fast, strong, and a pain in the ass. I couldn’t dodge, I couldn’t block, and I couldn’t land a hit. I hate these guys. It seemed odd to put such a challenging enemy into the game at THIS timed moment. But maybe they assumed I’d be better at combat by now?? The biggest issue with FFVII is that you start the game as terrorists and that’s never really addressed. Sure, you’re stopping an evil corporation, but you’re doing it at the expense of innocent lives. The remake makes a smart decision here and establishes the bomb as small and insignificant. But then President Shinra orders the reactor to be destroyed--causing a huge explosion that causes a great disruption to the civilians. I assume this is an effort to paint your team as terrorists and enemies of the people. I think it’s a good twist that corrects the original’s problematic points.

After escaping the reactor, the team is faced with the aftermath of the explosion. They’re confused by the amount of destruction, but also try to rationalize the importance of their goal. While I think they were mostly trying to stretch playtime, there’s an interesting sequence of having to face the fruits of your labor: burning buildings, crashed cars, injured people receiving emergency care, displaced citizens, and complete chaos. Even though I know, as the player, that Shinra is the true cause--it’s a good beat to have the player/characters facing the consequences of rebellion.

This leads into a new take on Aerith’s introduction. This is where Japanese “styles” don’t meld with me. Aerith is fighting off invisible spirits--and it looks ridiculous. Most people would give this flower girl a wide berth, and likely not purchase her products. But Cloud is just like, “Hey, what’s up?” after blowing up a reactor... Anyway, Cloud also sees these ghosts: hooded creatures. This is new--but I wonder if it’s related to Sephiroth clones/alternatives?

Aerith runs off, and we’re treated to a vision of Sephiroth. This seems to be addressing another issue with FFVII--what is this all about? In the original, Shinra is the main enemy within the early 2-5 hours, and Sephiroth is lightly referenced. It’s not till Shinra is found murdered that we really see Sephiroth as a potential threat--let alone the “final boss”. It’s a weakness in the storytelling, for sure. But having the vision of Sephiroth appear and bring Cloud back to the fateful day seems like a real attempt to focus the narrative.

And then I had to do a lot of fighting. It was fun, and didn’t quite feel like “stretching”, but it was funny to reflect that this 30+ minute sequence was about 5 minutes of gameplay within the original. So--I’m around chapter 2 of an 18 chapter game. These chapters cover about the 5 hours of the original’s plot, but I’ve already put in 1:43 hours.

Final Fantasy VII spends so much of the early game in Midgar, it really starts to feel like home--as much as it’s meant to represent the dangers of capitalism and fossil fuels--it really becomes a part of you, like the Mansion and Police Station in Resident Evil 1 and 2. I’ve always wanted to see more of it--so I’m hopeful that this game has taken the time to really build Midgar.

[silver-wield]

Dude, they think he decided to dance for A. I’m not surprised they believe the song is CA, they also mocked CT once saying CA has 4 songs meanwhile CT 0. They didn’t even know about the Midgar Blues. LOL I read a discussion about it and chocked ‘cause when someone let ‘em notice it this they started saying “Well, It’s about Zack then”. (This because they are mad others think Hollow is about Zack)

Yeah, he didn’t do none of that shit for Aerith.

Cloud’s inner debate (Honey Bee Inn)

Watching it back at 0.25 speed -- yes I literally just watched it -- Cloud grimaces, looks anxious and emotionally checked out. Even when we’re supposed to assume he’s looking at Aerith and it’s not the camera just panning for her reaction, his face has zero romantic coding to it. It’s actually uncomfortable to watch when you can see his face clearly, which explains why they don’t let you see his face very much in that scene. I’ve seen people say he laughed. He didn’t. I’ve seen them say he smiled. He didn’t. He gasps for breath because he’s doing a high impact dance scene. There’s zero point in that where he looks comfortable or smiles. He’s enduring it, and it’s not because of the girl he gave a dirty look to before he started. 

Aerith also isn’t the only person we see a reaction from at the end of that sequence. The other two members of the trio are there, too, or did they forget like everything else? Does that mean they fell in love with Cloud, too? He doesn’t focus on Aerith, either. He scans the entire room to see just how many people saw him make an idiot of himself. 

If anything, Aerith’s slack jawed look is more exaggerated than Cloud’s in her best dress lol guess that means she’s into girls.

Cloud looks dead eyed and anxious through the whole scene with the only flicker in his eyes when Andrea says he’s perfection. Because who doesn’t like compliments lol

[halfcharacter]

Rufus Shinra Analysis in FFVII Remake (2020) vs FFVII (1997)

taken from my original thread on twitter here.

[MASSIVE REMAKE AND OG GAME SPOILERS, you have been warned]

From what we’ve seen in Final Fantasy VII Remake so far, Rufus (in my opinion) is 100% more interesting than he was in the original Final Fantasy VII. In the original game, Sephiroth/JENOVA infiltrates the Shinra building and murders everyone inside. Then, Sephiroth/JENOVA stabs President Shinra and leaves his body at his desk with Masamune sticking out of his back. Palmer, who had witnessed the entire thing, calls Rufus (who is in Junon) for backup. Rufus responds by boarding a helicopter to come assume command of the company in the wake of his father’s death.

Rufus arrives just as the protagonists discover President Shinra’s body, and they rush out to confront him. Rufus doesn’t know who they are, so he asks. Each of the gang gives a brief one-liner of their “occupations”, and Rufus responds with “what a crew” which is A REALLY GOOD SNARKY LINE I’M SAD ISN’T IN THE REMAKE. In Final Fantasy VII Remake, the part where the party reveals their ‘occupations’ is instead given to Heidegger, and only Aerith, Barret and Red XIII are present.

An interesting major divergence from the original game then happens in Remake. In the original, Rufus begins his inauguration speech:

That’s right. I’ll let you hear my new appointment speech. ...My old man tried to control the world with money. It seems to have been working. The population thought that Shinra would protect them. Work at Shinra, get your pay. If a terrorist attacks, the Shinra army will help you. It looks perfect on the outside. But, I do things differently. I’ll control the world with fear. It takes too much to do it like my old man. A little fear will control the minds of the common people. There’s no reason to waste money on them. 

As Rufus begins by talking about how Shinra used to work, the player starts to think “Oh good, maybe things are about to change for the better. Maybe he’s a good guy!” WRONG.

Rufus then drops the bombshell that he has no intention of being ‘better’ than his father—in fact, he’s worse. While his father used money to rule, Rufus will instead rule with fear. I’m not sure why this speech was cut from the Remake, but my guess is that they’re going to keep it for a later instalment because it’s just a+ in terms of setting up just how cruel Rufus actually is.

In the original, Cloud then asks Barret to take Aerith and escape the building (present in Remake) because the revelation that Sephiroth is alive “is the true threat to the planet” (not present in Remake). when Rufus and Cloud are alone, Rufus asks, “why do you want to fight me?”

Cloud responds, “you seek the promised land and Sephiroth.” Rufus’ last line before the boss battle is “I see. I guess this means we won’t become friends.” THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING LINE which is not in the Remake because OG!Rufus and Remake!Rufus are quite different.

In the original it is implied that Rufus was planning to team up with Cloud, or at least gain their support since they’re both going after Sephiroth. It’s only after Cloud refuses his offer that they fight, and the fight was more of a story fight than a true challenge.

HERE IS WHERE THE FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE REALLY DIFFERS RE: RUFUS. Remake gives us a short scene with the Turks thinking back on their actions regarding the Sector 7 pillar, before Tseng gets a phone call from Rufus and says, “the VP needs us.” The Turks then leave. 

The first time Rufus is seen is when the AVALANCHE helicopter is shot down, and Reno asks, “you sure you want to do this personally, boss?” to which Rufus smirks. In the original, Rufus arrives at the Shinra HQ because he heard that his father had died. In the Remake, Rufus was already on his way to Midgar when his father dies. Why is this? An important clue comes from the Turk-centric game Before Crisis, as well as the actual boss battle vs Rufus himself.

Before Crisis reveals that Rufus had previously planned to assassinate his father with the help of AVALANCHE but was found out. This assassination attempt is confirmed to be canon within the Remake from one of Heidegger’s lines early in the Remake. President Shinra placed Rufus under house arrest, but still retained him as VP (even if in name only). While fighting Rufus in the Remake, he tosses two coins in the air and the camera gives us a closeup of them. The coins read “Shinra Inc.” and “A New Era”, among other things. 

Players of the original will know that “A New Age” is how Rufus brands his version of Shinra, particularly seen on his banners during his parade in Junon. Remake!Rufus has already managed to have his new currency minted BEFORE HIS FATHER EVEN DIES. So, what does this mean?

It means that what’s likely to be the case in Remake is that Rufus called Tseng to come pick him up because he’s either staging another coup/planning to take control right there and then. He just happened to have weird timing and arrived at the same time as Sephiroth/JENOVA and the protagonists, and his father had just died (at the hands of Sephiroth/JENOVA).

Rufus in the original didn’t show any sadness about his father dying, but Remake!Rufus appears to have taken that one step further in that he was preparing for another attempt, and had already had his new currency minted in preparation for his success and ascension.

It’s interesting also to compare President Shinra and Rufus. President Shinra is very much tied into the corporate structure—he rules using his wealth, he’s very business minded, and his closest allies are his execs. Rufus on the other hand prefers to use fear and black ops to get his way, which is shown by how he has a much stronger relationship with the Turks. The Remake showcases this internal conflict nicely with a brief scene near the end.

In this scene, Heidegger slips up and calls him “Mister Vice President”, which Rufus ignores. Tseng then walks in and says, “Mister President”, and Rufus replies, “that’s right.” Tseng smirks at Heidegger as they leave. This shows how Heidegger (and the other exec’s) control is being usurped by the Turks. I’m interested to see how the Shinra power struggles are going to be further explored in the Remake, because it’s one of my favourite parts of the whole game.

With regards to the actual boss battle itself, it’s very interesting how much stronger they’ve made Rufus in Remake. the original boss battle was very easy and was more of a story fight than a true fight. Rufus in the Remake is one of the hardest bosses because he just fucking counters EVERYTHING you do. he’s DESIGNED to be irritating as shit to the player, because he has a single attack that staggers him instantly, but the game doesn’t tell you what it is. Furthermore, the way Rufus fights is incredibly flashy—spins and twirls, shooting coins, etc. it’s all a dance to him. It’s very strongly implied that he must have been trained by the Turks, because he’s still a regular human, but he’s on a comparable level to Reno and Rude, if not even stronger.

In the original, Rufus fights Cloud because Cloud refuses to let him leave, Cloud having recognized him as a threat. In the Remake, Rufus HIMSELF chooses to fight Cloud. He willingly gets out of his helicopter to confront cloud BECAUSE HE WANTS TO. Reno even points out that Rufus doesn’t have to do it personally, but Rufus craves a fight with cloud. Rufus in the Remake fights cloud for sport and takes great pleasure in doing it as well.

In the Remake he comes off as a highly dangerous opponent who is both smart AND a capable fighter, giving Cloud a run for his money, while in the original he was pretty much just trust fund kid with shotgun and dog.

Remake!Rufus and Dark Nation/Darkstar combo off each other incessantly, implying that they’ve been fighting together for a very long time. Rufus also CONSISTENTLY taunts you throughout the entire fight, while Cloud (and the player) are getting really annoyed at him.

All of these elements set Rufus (and by extension, New Age!Shinra) up to be way stronger and more dangerous opponents than they were in the original game, where after the beginning Midgar portion they were pretty much just joke opponents vs the real threat, Sephiroth. 

Another extra thought: Why can Rufus seemingly see the whispers? 

The whispers are said in the Remake to be drawn to people who attempt to alter destiny’s course and ensure that they do not. Rufus seems to be able to see them, but Tseng cannot, and is confused by it. I’m assuming what this means is that Rufus’ actions have already defied fate in some way. Nothing of what he did on-screen really changed the original game’s timeline, so I think this means that he has done something off-screen that we the player hasn’t seen yet, but had timeline changing effects. Another idea is that in the original game Rufus and Shinra just “follow” sephiroth in the same way cloud and co. do. If the Remake is giving Rufus/Shinra more agency, as well as Cloud and co. themselves, it’s not hard to imagine that now Rufus himself can possibly pursue new timelines/events, rather than just following after Sephiroth. In the original, you have parties of people just following “Sephiroth” to the northern crater for the Reunion, but now all bets are off. Rufus also “dies” in the original and Advent Children retconned it, and I’m wondering if this means Rufus is also defying his fate to “die” on top of Shinra HQ near the endgame.

I'm REALLY interested in this re-imagining of Rufus and Shinra, and i can't wait to see more of them in remake. THANK YOU FOR READING ALL THESE MUSINGS ON MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER IN FFVII.