"After everything...don't think I believe there's really any such thing as a 'good person' or a 'bad person' anymore. In the moment, people can choose to hurt each other or not. They can choose kindness or not. Only one person I know who I'm pretty sure never once chose kindness in his life, and it ain't Sephiroth. It's Hojo." The name is dripping with contempt.
Cloud nods his appreciation when Vincent agrees to talk to Sephiroth again. "Thanks." There's a familiar sort of pause, the kind that usually precedes Cloud ending a conversation because he has nothing else he wants to say. But then he decides to try something different this time, even if it is with his usual averted gaze.
"...it...means a lot, Vincent. That you're willing to do this. Even if you're no less worried afterward, at least...you trust me enough to give it a shot."
Maybe Sephiroth will talk about it, but that isn't the same as reporting back with his personal thoughts. Though Cloud's gaze is averted, Vincent's is upon the blond, studying him before finally responding to the gratitude.
"Mm." Acknowledgement. "If you love him, I'm not saying that's wrong. Complicates things, but... hm."
He leaves that particular statement there, simply because... well, it and the rest of what he could say is obvious to everyone.
"I want you to find happiness. Just... understand I'm not looking for a way to say 'I told you so'. If... I step in."
It's all that tricky friendship thing. And... not wanting to regret letting things be because of 'if they're happy...' again.
There's a pause, as he considers how to bring up the second thing. Braces himself for this feeling of easy friendship to vanish as soon as it came. But he's not backing out now.
"So, the other thing I wanted to tell you...a while back, way before I ever got here, some weird flood happened and Sephiroth...had the Admiral give him the black materia. He never used it. He didn't even hold onto it - he had John put it in some kind of uh, dimensional pocket or something. But then, on my birthday...he gave it to me."
The shift is not as subtle as it could be; the way Vincent's manner changes. He's calm but as Cloud speaks again there's probably an undercurrent that causes him to focus. Something which becomes more intense and brow furrows. There's a way the visible muscles shift that suggest the tall gunman's lips have pressed into a line.
"Who else knows?" He'll handle the idea that it was kept around, that Sephiroth had given it as a birthday gift and the months that implied later. Right now one thing at a time.
Cloud expects nothing less as Vincent's demeanor shifts. His own remains steady. Collected, but open.
"Zhao Yunlan, Zack, and Aerith. That's it. Allen Walker did, cuz he was my warden at the time and I asked him to request a secure place for it from the Admiral, but...he's gone now."
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no subject
Cloud nods his appreciation when Vincent agrees to talk to Sephiroth again. "Thanks." There's a familiar sort of pause, the kind that usually precedes Cloud ending a conversation because he has nothing else he wants to say. But then he decides to try something different this time, even if it is with his usual averted gaze.
"...it...means a lot, Vincent. That you're willing to do this. Even if you're no less worried afterward, at least...you trust me enough to give it a shot."
no subject
Maybe Sephiroth will talk about it, but that isn't the same as reporting back with his personal thoughts. Though Cloud's gaze is averted, Vincent's is upon the blond, studying him before finally responding to the gratitude.
"Mm." Acknowledgement. "If you love him, I'm not saying that's wrong. Complicates things, but... hm."
He leaves that particular statement there, simply because... well, it and the rest of what he could say is obvious to everyone.
"I want you to find happiness. Just... understand I'm not looking for a way to say 'I told you so'. If... I step in."
It's all that tricky friendship thing. And... not wanting to regret letting things be because of 'if they're happy...' again.
no subject
There's a pause, as he considers how to bring up the second thing. Braces himself for this feeling of easy friendship to vanish as soon as it came. But he's not backing out now.
"So, the other thing I wanted to tell you...a while back, way before I ever got here, some weird flood happened and Sephiroth...had the Admiral give him the black materia. He never used it. He didn't even hold onto it - he had John put it in some kind of uh, dimensional pocket or something. But then, on my birthday...he gave it to me."
no subject
"Who else knows?" He'll handle the idea that it was kept around, that Sephiroth had given it as a birthday gift and the months that implied later. Right now one thing at a time.
no subject
"Zhao Yunlan, Zack, and Aerith. That's it. Allen Walker did, cuz he was my warden at the time and I asked him to request a secure place for it from the Admiral, but...he's gone now."