[Unintentional Voice Post]

[herobydefault]

[There's a groan and a crunch of leaves before silence, and then...]


...was I just doing something?




[[ooc: Yes. Cloud has forgotten that he died. Why? Because his Death Penalty is short term memory loss. Think Dory from Finding Nemo. He will occasionally repeat himself or completely forget a conversation you had with him just moments before. Not all the time, though! That would get annoying. o/ ]]

Comments

[Voice]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

I... see.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

[Voice]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

...you're not. I'd have figured it out eventually.

[There's no words, only the sound of crunching leaves and twigs until Cloud speaks again, a little uncomfortably.]

...I'm at the treeline.

[Voice]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

I know, but still. It's painful to hear, isn't it?

What do you see? I'll keep an eye out for you, but I need a general idea of where you might be.

[Voice]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[A couple of rustles of trees and branches as Cloud clears the forest completely.]

I'm right by house number twenty-six.

[Voice]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

I see it. I'll be there in a minute.

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[So Cloud leans against the building and folds his arms, waiting for his grown-up kid.]

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[Simon makes his way along the edge of the forest at a steady jog, drill-staff resting on his shoulder. He spots Cloud, finally, beside the house he'd mentioned, and picks up the pace, lifting an arm to wave.]

I made it, finally!

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[Cloud glances over when he sees an unfamiliar man waving his arm nearby but turned away, searching for a sign of his child.

To his credit, it only took a couple of seconds before he did a double-take to realize that the man approaching was his child. His...very tall child.]

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[Simon grinned at Cloud's reaction, skidding to a halt a few feet away and lifting his hand for a two-fingered salute.]

Hey, Papa! It's been a while, huh?

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

For you. [Cloud was almost surprised to hear it come out of his mouth; his eyes lift to the top of Simon's head and he manages to suppress a scowl.

He was taller. Of course.]

How...how old are you now...?

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[Simon blinked. Right, right, Cloud had no idea, did he...]

Oh, me? I'm twenty-eight. Seems like forever ago since I saw you last...

[He trails off at that, quiet for a moment, then reaches out and drags Cloud into the biggest bear hug he can manage. He wasn't able to do it before, with Cloud so injured, but he wasn't about to pass up the opportunity now.]

It's SO GOOD to see you, Papa!

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[If there were any doubts about this man being his son before, they were wiped away the moment he swept Cloud up for a rather crushing embrace. Granted, at first Cloud's initial reaction was to tense uncomfortably, but that warmth he associated with Simon crept through his chest and he relaxed, an easy smile reaching his face as he wrapped his arms around Simon in return. It was a little awkward; the only adults he'd ever hugged were Zack and Tifa -and Stella, once- but it was more welcome than not, and he rubbed Simon's back.

Besides, he could just tell...Simon needed it.]

Ah ha ha...twenty-one years since, huh? You've grown up a lot.

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

You can say that again.

[Slowly, with some reluctance, Simon draws back to look at Cloud, giving him a quick onceover to make sure he's alright. Once satisfied, he scuffs a hand through his hair and gestures to the path beyond the house.]

Should we head back? I'm not the only one who wanted to see you again.

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

How long was I gone? [The question was out before he realizes it might be a painful one, and Cloud winces in apology, walking alongside Simon.

Whose chin reaches his own forehead. Damn it.]

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

Just a few days. It was so short hardly anyone even noticed you were gone.

[It's spoken in jest, of course, a smile still on the elder man's face. Simon finds it kind of surreal, speaking as an adult with the man who, to this day, he still views as his surrogate father, but he doesn't mind so much.]

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

Oh, I bet. [Cloud snorts; one person had already semi-snipped at him for dying, and he was fairly certain a couple more would make their irritation known. Like he's gone and done it on purpose.]

Anyways, enough about that. When did you get here? What do you remember; what happened while you were gone? [He sends a pointed look at Simon's eyepatch, a little flare of protectiveness surging up into his expression.] It looks like you had a tough time.

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[Simon blinks, glancing back at Cloud, and then looks forward again when he notices where Cloud's attention is.]

Tough time? I guess you could say that. I arrived the same day you, uh, died. So I at least got to see you beforehand. I do have all my memories of my last trip to Luceti, though, so no worries there.

[Not sure what to say beyond that - being almost as much of a social malfunction as his papa - Simon falls silent at that, gaze somewhat absent, wary of revealing too much out in the open like this. His grief is a more private thing, and while he doesn't mind telling Cloud, he's not keen on sharing it with the whole village.]

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[If anyone can recognize the signs of clamming up, it's Cloud. But he figures he could probably wrestle the information out of Simon if absolutely necessary later, so he simply nods and lets the topic slide.]

Where do your Luceti memories stop, actually? I assumed they stopped at seven because...well, because you're you now, but is that even the case...?

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[Simon frowns at that, scratching the back of his head and forcing a small smile.]

My memories... ah, to be honest, I think it's the experiment causing that problem. My memories tell me I left Luceti... well, a few days ago, exactly when I appeared at this age. You hadn't died yet, that's for sure. [He looks down again, lips pursing.] I'd have remembered that.

Seven years... maybe I really am cursed.

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

Hey. [Cloud stops him with a hand on his wrist and -without even a second thought- reaches up to drag a hand through Simon's hair, ruffling it and offering him a reassuring smile.]

I'm back, right? And I'm not going anywhere. No need to be upset.

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

[Simon halts at the touch, visible eye widening, and stares at Cloud for a long moment. That's all the time it takes for his words to sink in, and then he manages a smile, cheeks very faintly pink, and looks down, feeling sheepish.]

Sorry, I didn't mean to be a downer. I guess it was just... kind of hard, coming back after so long just to see that. But you're right - you're back now. That's what matters.

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm sorry you had to see that. Promise I won't do it again and you promise not to dwell on it. Deal?

[Cloud gives Simon's cheek a little pat before turning back to the path, waiting for him to resume the pace beside him.]

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

... Heh, deal.

[Simon nods in agreement, following suit and heading back down the path towards their house on the opposite side of the village. Even after so long, he remembers a lot about the village layout, mostly thanks to the tunnels he'd dug as a child.

...Speaking of which...]

I was thinking of recreating the tunnel system while I'm here. Do you think that would be a good idea? It's something to do, anyway.

[Action]

[herobydefault.livejournal.com]

[Cloud blinks in surprise before his expression falters.] Oh, but...S-your drill, it was broken. I don't think it'll work.

[Action]

[dawndigger.livejournal.com]

Drill? ...Oh, right!

It's okay - I'll take a look at it when we get back, to see if I can fix it. If not, I have this one here.

[Simon grins a little, giving the drill-staff a little pat.]