Strength. Is that what they're going to call it now? Cloud is about to make a bit of a face at it, but Sephiroth poses such a compelling argument and point concerning the details of mako poisoning that instead the blond is left with a little bit of pride swelling in his chest. Astonishing. Strong. Hell of a thing to hear coming from the kid, after their prior exchanges. Kid or not, he grows up to be Cloud's hero one day.
"So you think it's all the mako," Cloud confirms, making no indication of thinking Sephiroth is wrong. It makes plenty of sense, and hell, is probably a massive part of the issue, Jenova or not. "Guess it makes sense. As much as it as I'm gonna make of finding out the four year gap in my life was fucking this."
He's lost a lot of sleep.
Everything that helps you, helps us.
The dragon chimes in following a wave of approval at what Sephiroth has to say regarding him. Finally, someone- or someones, he assumes, knowing well the boy's own dragon is likely involved here- knocking some sense into this shattered mess of a man. He has wanted to assist the older Sephiroth in his attempts to help Cloud with his memory struggles the whole time. He lives in this mind space too, and the mess he sees and the pain it causes his host are more than enough motivation. That's not even considering the complications Cloud's symptoms creates for the both of them.
Cloud's eyes go wide, his response aimed at Sephiroth, but clearly to the voice in his head.
"If you're going to be forced to help me, spit your name out."
Indignance floods Cloud at that. Probably enough even Earenk and Sephiroth might feel it.
You speak nonsense, whelp, to assume I only wish help you for my own gain. Judging my character upon a complete lack of knowledge about me. I make my decision in spite of my own wellbeing- not that you would offer me even the barest credit for it. Close your mouth and open your ears, lest I burn them off you for taking this long to do so.
Cloud is scowling deep, but quiet now, clearly listening further.
"...Ioth. That's what he says his name is. He's pissed, but wants to help."
That's what he's going to call it, because it is. Cloud should have never woken up. Not after YEARS of being in a tank under Hojo's care. "The most obvious answer is often the right one," the boy says quietly. "It fits all I have heard of what happened to you and also what the Professor favors experimenting with. Even I was not subject to full immersion for years on end. I don't know that I'd still be able to think after so long. In which case much of what you have forgotten ... will be the pain of those tests, and not something that is worth dredging back up." Amnesia is a blessing. "The lifestream's mercy, if you wish to think of it that way."
If he could forget what he'd endured in his own lifetime, would he? Simply erase it all?
That Sephiroth is missing a significant portion of those experiments, that Cloud's infected with an alien plague, with his own genes ... might not actually affect that belief and outcome. He wasn't inherently hallucinagenic. Hadn't experienced any such thing as hearing voices.
There's a dialogue going on here that he can't hear, that much is obvious by Cloud's words and reactions, and he has no doubt it isn't an illusion. Who knows how long the dragon's been trying to help him, rejected by the fear of it being nothing more than so much smoke and mirrors.
"I don't think they're forced. I think they picked us." He had no confirmation of that beyond a distant feeling of a rumble from his own dragon. "Or at least, agreed to it." Willing participants in all of this nonsense! So what drew Earenk to him?
What drew Ioth to Cloud? "...Mm, I'd say hello but I'm not sure that works well through a proxy. I can't say I know a lot about our situation with these dragons, but I have a lifetime's experience with what mako can do. I ... know my brother is invested in seeing you at your best," the older, presumably, "But I don't know if he'll address things as directly as necessary when it comes to you. Or at all." Guilt and all. "I have no such problems, and will assist if you wish. Between the ... four of us, perhaps something can be done about the lingering effects sooner rather than later."
He shouldn't bother. Cloud's not his problem. Cloud's the other Sephiroth's problem.
Except there's still this faint tug, that he hasn't even focused on enough to realize is there. Some unconscious sense that this isn't extending a hand to a stranger, but part of himself, exactly the way it did with the older Sephiroth.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2024-12-15 11:48 am (UTC)"So you think it's all the mako," Cloud confirms, making no indication of thinking Sephiroth is wrong. It makes plenty of sense, and hell, is probably a massive part of the issue, Jenova or not. "Guess it makes sense. As much as it as I'm gonna make of finding out the four year gap in my life was fucking this."
He's lost a lot of sleep.
Everything that helps you, helps us.
The dragon chimes in following a wave of approval at what Sephiroth has to say regarding him. Finally, someone- or someones, he assumes, knowing well the boy's own dragon is likely involved here- knocking some sense into this shattered mess of a man. He has wanted to assist the older Sephiroth in his attempts to help Cloud with his memory struggles the whole time. He lives in this mind space too, and the mess he sees and the pain it causes his host are more than enough motivation. That's not even considering the complications Cloud's symptoms creates for the both of them.
Cloud's eyes go wide, his response aimed at Sephiroth, but clearly to the voice in his head.
"If you're going to be forced to help me, spit your name out."
Indignance floods Cloud at that. Probably enough even Earenk and Sephiroth might feel it.
You speak nonsense, whelp, to assume I only wish help you for my own gain. Judging my character upon a complete lack of knowledge about me. I make my decision in spite of my own wellbeing- not that you would offer me even the barest credit for it. Close your mouth and open your ears, lest I burn them off you for taking this long to do so.
Cloud is scowling deep, but quiet now, clearly listening further.
"...Ioth. That's what he says his name is. He's pissed, but wants to help."
no subject
Date: 2024-12-15 02:13 pm (UTC)If he could forget what he'd endured in his own lifetime, would he? Simply erase it all?
That Sephiroth is missing a significant portion of those experiments, that Cloud's infected with an alien plague, with his own genes ... might not actually affect that belief and outcome. He wasn't inherently hallucinagenic. Hadn't experienced any such thing as hearing voices.
There's a dialogue going on here that he can't hear, that much is obvious by Cloud's words and reactions, and he has no doubt it isn't an illusion. Who knows how long the dragon's been trying to help him, rejected by the fear of it being nothing more than so much smoke and mirrors.
"I don't think they're forced. I think they picked us." He had no confirmation of that beyond a distant feeling of a rumble from his own dragon. "Or at least, agreed to it." Willing participants in all of this nonsense! So what drew Earenk to him?
What drew Ioth to Cloud? "...Mm, I'd say hello but I'm not sure that works well through a proxy. I can't say I know a lot about our situation with these dragons, but I have a lifetime's experience with what mako can do. I ... know my brother is invested in seeing you at your best," the older, presumably, "But I don't know if he'll address things as directly as necessary when it comes to you. Or at all." Guilt and all. "I have no such problems, and will assist if you wish. Between the ... four of us, perhaps something can be done about the lingering effects sooner rather than later."
He shouldn't bother. Cloud's not his problem. Cloud's the other Sephiroth's problem.
Except there's still this faint tug, that he hasn't even focused on enough to realize is there. Some unconscious sense that this isn't extending a hand to a stranger, but part of himself, exactly the way it did with the older Sephiroth.
Everything that helps Cloud, helps him.