herobydefault | [Voice]

[Zack nods and turns to find it, whatever it is. He doesn't ask about the correction; no sense in stirring up little ghosts when Cloud's already so down.]

[And Cloud sits down at the piano, staring at it before plucking out a tune.

It's the little melody from Tifa's sheet music. Funny how he can remember that from eight -ten?- years ago, but not what happened in Nibelheim.]

[Zack glances over; he'd forgotten the piano was in there. Sliding a glass along the counter now- but he doesn't call him back, listening instead. When did he learn that tune?]

[Cloud goes through that a little bit before fooling around with a couple chords and...stops. He doesn't remember anything else.]

[.....Sort of getting that impression, so-] Spike, drink's ready.

[Cloud lingers for a minute before heading over and- yeah, no tasting this one. Right to the back of the throat it goes.]

[And Zack's not surprised by that in the least; juuuuust wordlessly stretches out the arm with the bottle and refills it.]

[Cloud downs that one too, but moves behind the bar to join Zack and start picking out bottles.] What'll you have?

Huh... [Looks like Tifa didn't carry his regular, so he shrugs and gestures vaguely.] Something a little lighter than that. No point in wasting the good stuff on me.

[Cloud shrugs, but...sees the list Tifa had tacked onto the wall, that she'd told him about. Seems like it hadn't disappeared; did that mean it belonged to 7th Heaven itself?

...doesn't matter. Cloud picks one recipe at random and starts mixing. May as well practice if he's going to be taking over.]

[Zack turns around to lean against the back of the counter, head tilting back. The whole place smells like the kitchen did when Tifa cooked. Or maybe it was just her smell in general. It's weird- like the only thing she left behind. Wonder how long it'll last?]

Times like this, I really wish we could just get plastered.

I dunno. [Cloud double-checks the recipe list before pouring Zack the contents of the shaker and handing it to him.] I figure we're miserable enough without adding hangovers and puking to the list.

I guess. [Zack takes a swig, but doesn't drain it yet; he'd come with Cloud for the company more than for the alcohol for once.] I just think it's fun to let loose and stop being so... [A helpless shrug.] So controlled all the time, y'know?

[Cloud cracks a half-smile, even as he starts to mix something new for himself.] "Controlled" is not the word I'd use for you, Zack.

[ARM-PUNCH. But Zack can't resist smirking back.] Naw, I'm just crazy.

[Cloud just shakes his head and tops off his own drink with some sort of syrup before testing it with a grimace. Forgot something. He dumps it and checks the list.] ...I wonder if she'll show up again. Like I did.

[Zack shrugs slightly, draining his glass.] If anybody can get back here, it's Tifa. She's one stubborn girl.

[Cloud pauses. The bottle and tumbler in his hand lower to rest atop the counter with a thunk.] ...you think she'd want to?

[And that makes Zack hesitate as well.] ...I don't know. [His lips quirk a bit once more.] Depends on how long it takes you to get your ass back there again, right? She's not the type to wait around forever.

[Cloud lowers his head.]

[....Oh geez.] Spike, you know what I meant by that.

I know. [Cloud tips the bottle, pours some vodka into the tumbler and just takes a shot of that really quick.]

It's not that. Not you, I mean. What you said.

So what is it? [Zack takes the vodka from him, pouring himself another glass. Need something to do with his hands.]

[Cloud turns the glass as it sits on the counter. It makes a little damp ring of condensation on the wood.] ...I'm not sure she should wait around for me.

[Zack purses his lips, leaning an elbow on the counter and glancing sidelong at him.] Why not? You're friends, right? She doesn't have to wait for you the same way a girlfriend might. [Tricky business, that.] And it's not like she can't do anything else while she waits. But I don't think she'd be satisfied with being completely separated from you for long.

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