[There's a long pause, and then ... a sigh. It sounds heavy.]
You didn't ask, but I'm gonna give you some advice anyway, alright?
[He sounds utterly serious.]
Take it slow. For both your sakes. You have a chance to build something really lasting if you're so inclined, and a slipshod rush job can have serious consequences later. Take your time, and find out what you both like, and what you don't like, together and apart. You got all the time in the world here, and that's a precious opportunity. And...
[And Cloud listens carefully to the advice. He has a few questions about what Angeal's said, but he's going to hold off until he knows the man is finished.]
....Look, I'll be honest as I can be without sounding silly. I'm pretty sure you're the first, ever, that he's cared for like this, and near as I can tell he's barely even made friends on the Barge since arriving here after his deaths, never mind really re-learning what he likes and doesn't.
[The hesitation is there still, but he's plowing on anyway!! Is this a good idea? Is any of it a good idea?]
If you think this is the man you want to build a life with ... then you're going to have to teach him how to live. Really live, have a dream and reach for it with all he has. There's so much wonder and joy to be found in the world and he's lost touch with that.. except for you, maybe. And if he can find that in you, then you can help him find it in everything else. I'm not sure anyone else can, anymore.
[The first ever. Well, technically true, but also technically not, as Cloud now knows. The first was the other version of him who was here before, and that started during a breach. But Cloud also knows that it's him Sephiroth is - was always - focused on, thinking of, and for the purposes of what Angeal's saying, it might not really matter anyway.
Build a life with, huh? Angeal's not the first to pose the question that way, although Zack didn't put it in quite those terms. Cloud told Zack yes, he could see a way forward with the person Sephiroth is now, and that hasn't changed. He knows there are important questions they'll need to answer once they've both graduated - once they both have lives to build - but he feels pretty confident that he's not going to change his mind. Frankly, he has a hard time imagining a life without Sephiroth in it.
Maybe that's part of why he felt so unsatisfied, so listless, after Meteorfall was over and the rebuilding began. Even when Sephiroth was the enemy...he was always there.
Angeal's words resonate with thoughts Cloud's had before. It's why he asked the Admiral for something Sephiroth had always wanted, back during the holidays. It's why he took Sephiroth riding with him for their first actual date. And it's why he keeps hounding Sephiroth about having opinions of his own, wanting things for himself.
And more selfishly...Sephiroth is the only one who makes Cloud feel truly wanted. Needed. If he can do what Angeal's describing, help Sephiroth find wonder and joy and dreams again, live up to the way Sephiroth sees him - then he wants to, more than anything. He wants to be worthy of the limitless trust that Sephiroth seems to put in him like no one else does anymore.]
...I will. I've been trying, but the Barge is... [A pause.] No. No buts. I'll try harder. As hard as I can. I'm not going to let Sephiroth down. I promise.
This ship.. makes things more complicated in some ways, doesn't it?
[Sephiroth isn't the kind of person to casually date. If he's chosen to invest himself, and was ANYTHING like the man he used to be, then he was going to be planning long term.
Longer than the Barge.
But it isn't .. just about Sephiroth. He's observed Cloud for a while too, and it wasn't hard to tell that the blond needed SOMETHING in his life.. 'meaning' was perhaps too trite, but everyone needed a focus, and he didn't seem to have one. That this focus is the man who ruined his life was ..well, strange, but love worked in strange ways.]
Don't forget this is about you too. What you want, your happiness. I'm hoping that you'll have some things in common on that angle and can enjoy them together. But if you start sacrificing just because you care about someone .. you're gonna wind up unhappy. And that's how relationships end.
In some ways. But if it wasn't for this ship, I never would've been able to talk to him and work things out like we did. So, net positive, heh.
[It's not a joke, but it's not overly serious, either.
Cloud takes a moment to consider what Angeal's said.]
Right. I wouldn't worry too much about me - Sephiroth's determined to focus on what I want no matter what I say, because he doesn't think he wants anything. I know he's wrong, and I'll prove it to him. But - thanks, Angeal. I'll keep it in mind, too.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-02-13 08:25 pm (UTC)That's what the Enclosure's for. But I got a feeling Aerith will have plenty of suggestions.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-13 08:31 pm (UTC)You didn't ask, but I'm gonna give you some advice anyway, alright?
[He sounds utterly serious.]
Take it slow. For both your sakes. You have a chance to build something really lasting if you're so inclined, and a slipshod rush job can have serious consequences later. Take your time, and find out what you both like, and what you don't like, together and apart. You got all the time in the world here, and that's a precious opportunity. And...
[Hesitation.]
no subject
Date: 2025-02-13 08:39 pm (UTC)[And Cloud listens carefully to the advice. He has a few questions about what Angeal's said, but he's going to hold off until he knows the man is finished.]
And...?
no subject
Date: 2025-02-13 08:46 pm (UTC)[The hesitation is there still, but he's plowing on anyway!! Is this a good idea? Is any of it a good idea?]
If you think this is the man you want to build a life with ... then you're going to have to teach him how to live. Really live, have a dream and reach for it with all he has. There's so much wonder and joy to be found in the world and he's lost touch with that.. except for you, maybe. And if he can find that in you, then you can help him find it in everything else. I'm not sure anyone else can, anymore.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-15 07:38 am (UTC)Build a life with, huh? Angeal's not the first to pose the question that way, although Zack didn't put it in quite those terms. Cloud told Zack yes, he could see a way forward with the person Sephiroth is now, and that hasn't changed. He knows there are important questions they'll need to answer once they've both graduated - once they both have lives to build - but he feels pretty confident that he's not going to change his mind. Frankly, he has a hard time imagining a life without Sephiroth in it.
Maybe that's part of why he felt so unsatisfied, so listless, after Meteorfall was over and the rebuilding began. Even when Sephiroth was the enemy...he was always there.
Angeal's words resonate with thoughts Cloud's had before. It's why he asked the Admiral for something Sephiroth had always wanted, back during the holidays. It's why he took Sephiroth riding with him for their first actual date. And it's why he keeps hounding Sephiroth about having opinions of his own, wanting things for himself.
And more selfishly...Sephiroth is the only one who makes Cloud feel truly wanted. Needed. If he can do what Angeal's describing, help Sephiroth find wonder and joy and dreams again, live up to the way Sephiroth sees him - then he wants to, more than anything. He wants to be worthy of the limitless trust that Sephiroth seems to put in him like no one else does anymore.]
...I will. I've been trying, but the Barge is... [A pause.] No. No buts. I'll try harder. As hard as I can. I'm not going to let Sephiroth down. I promise.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-22 06:16 pm (UTC)[Sephiroth isn't the kind of person to casually date. If he's chosen to invest himself, and was ANYTHING like the man he used to be, then he was going to be planning long term.
Longer than the Barge.
But it isn't .. just about Sephiroth. He's observed Cloud for a while too, and it wasn't hard to tell that the blond needed SOMETHING in his life.. 'meaning' was perhaps too trite, but everyone needed a focus, and he didn't seem to have one. That this focus is the man who ruined his life was ..well, strange, but love worked in strange ways.]
Don't forget this is about you too. What you want, your happiness. I'm hoping that you'll have some things in common on that angle and can enjoy them together. But if you start sacrificing just because you care about someone .. you're gonna wind up unhappy. And that's how relationships end.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-04 11:54 pm (UTC)[It's not a joke, but it's not overly serious, either.
Cloud takes a moment to consider what Angeal's said.]
Right. I wouldn't worry too much about me - Sephiroth's determined to focus on what I want no matter what I say, because he doesn't think he wants anything. I know he's wrong, and I'll prove it to him. But - thanks, Angeal. I'll keep it in mind, too.