[video]

[i_love_squats]

[It’s a late night post, a video display of Zack from his chin on down, facing a clear glass bowl with a golden fish idly swimming in lackadaisical circles. He really needs to put more stuff in there, you know. Fake plastic trees. Treasure chests. Something. Gil has to get bored with just those precious rocks given to him from small, kind hands…]

Comments

[ text. ]

[machiavellisms]

Confiscating your Forge is still futile.

[voice ]

[i_love_squats]

If this is a joke about how I'd probably just talk loud enough for everyone to hear me even if I didn't have it, too late. I've heard it all before.

[And he really has. Please don't mind him; he's just grouchy because he has a lot on his mind. But, oh, wait a minute! He's not done yet.]

[Private]

You're from later, right? So...do you know anything about Kadaj?

permatext

[machiavellisms]

No, just because you don't have anything to broadcast your thoughts doesn't mean that you're not wasting your time with it.

[private.]

What do you need to know?

[Voice] (as if Zack evvvver shuts up)

[i_love_squats]

It's easier if I just deal with it rather than freak everyone out with it, though. It's not something they need to be seeing.

[private]

The vague answer of "everything" isn't going to cut it, is it?

[ video ]

[swordofmiltia]

That doesn't look good.

[ Sorry Zack. He is a doctor.

Well.

When it isn't annoying. ]

[ video ]

[i_love_squats]

[Doctors? Totally his kryptonite, especially since the docs/scientists he knew primarily were people like Hojo and Hollander. ]

Huh? Oh! [He looks down at his hand, out of camera range.] It's not so bad, really. Just healing up kinda slow. I'll be fine.

[ video ]

[swordofmiltia]

[ Some doctors aren't completely crazy. ]

It wouldn't be wise to leave it. Have you seen a professional?

[ video ]

[i_love_squats]

[What?? You mean, it's not in their job description to be batshit insane? Why didn't anyone give Hojo the memo? ]

I--um-- I'm getting it taken care of. Besides, I don't want to bug anyone with it, not when they're busy with other stuff.

[And not when he's scared of the white coats...]

[voice]

[halcyonthird]

He's missed his patrols. I think he would have informed me if he meant to do so.

[private]

If not the natives, or us, maybe it's what?

[voice]

[i_love_squats]

I'll go out and look for him. This whole thing, it's really not like Scar... [And frankly, he doesn't want to believe Scar is gone, sent home like so many others. Not yet. Not without scouring the place from top to bottom, just like he knew the man would do for him.]

[Private]

Um, would you believe me if I said "nothing"?

[voice l private]

[halcyonthird]

From what I know if him, I agree. The more of us that look, the better. We should search in opposite directions. Sooner that later.

[A door shuts, and if it sounds as if she's on the move---

---she is. The ruins. It's what's for breakfast. Lunch and dinner, too. It's almost a second home.]

I'm heading toward the Southwestern corner.

I may have, if you hadn't started your sentence with 'um'. You don't have to tell me, but the option is there should you wish to.

Did you forget to [tell me what the hell that happened to your hand?] change your bandage?

[voice l private]

[i_love_squats]

[Always moving, aren't you, Irene? Can't stay still for longer than a second, which is part of the reason he likes you. That, and you wear your armor well.]

Then I'll hit the northern regions. I wonder if we should organize a party or just go it alone...?

[Crap, he hated being an open book!] It's... complicated. Did... did I ever--or did Kunsel ever-- tell you about Jenova? [Because it's a long story, an unhappy one, and one that made him wonder if the dream was tied in with the sudden appearance of a particular son or two.]

Huh? Oh, yeah. This. I just was busy. It looks worse than it is.

[ Voice || Private ]

[cursedtobe]

[ She was surprised to see the message to her. Well, surprised there even was a message - and outright shocked at the contents of that message. Several minutes are spent as she stared at her Forge, trying to determine the reason for it. ]

... no. [ This is awkward okay, people don't offer to help her when they find out what she is. They tend to run or hunt her or want her dead. Granted it seemed less so here, but habits are hard to break. ]

I'm fine. [ A lie. She hasn't left her apartment in days, and not just because of the damage to her leg. The offer to catch something and this 'your wish, my command' business was baffling. ]

... why are you making such an offer...?

[ Voice || Private ]

[i_love_squats]

[Awww, don't be surprised! This is what he does, especially to poor people who are hurt in a fight that that shouldn't have been. He's really sorry that he couldn't protect you....]

Did you see a doctor? Did someone look at your wounds? I wish Sakura was still around. [Because that really was the only doctor he trusted, with reason. Maybe it was the pink hair.

[He blinks a little, then smiles, a soft little thing, flicking on the video function.] Because that's what people should do. Look out for each other.

[ Voice || Private ]

[cursedtobe]

[ Her responses are hesitant, guarded. Almost trying to read Zack's every word for some sort of hint of a lie. It's more troubling that she can't find any. He's either being honest or he's very good at lying. ]

... no, I haven't. I don't trust them. [ Of course she means this in a more general sense. She didn't trust anyone - except Merlin. ] I'll heal. I've been hurt before.

[ A longer pause at the response, studying the image on her Forge. She pauses, considering turning hers to Video in turn, but decides against it.]

I don't believe you. [ There had to be some angle. He saw what she turned into - he was just like the others, right? ... Right? ]

People don't do things like that, after ... they don't help monsters.

[ Voice || Private ]

[i_love_squats]

[You're going to be reading them a long time if you're looking for a lie there, kiddo.]

Heh, can't blame you there. I don't like them either, the way they smile or look at you. But your injuries... they might be a little out of your scope of just healing, you know? Is there someone in the city you trust? Someone you can go to that can help you?

[And if you're trying to push Zack away with that, you're going to have to try harder. What's with everyone thinking they're a monster just because they're a might different? Sheesh.]

I don't see any monsters here. I just saw a very brave person who stood up to a couple jerks when she could've run.

[ Voice ]

[knows_it_all]

[ ...Nineteen months, two days. ]

[ What? He's been keeping track. ]

...You've gotta get that hand looked at, buddy.

[ Voice ]

[i_love_squats]

[Totally not surprised there.]

It'll be fine, don't worry.

[ Voice ]

[knows_it_all]

Don't tell me not to worry.

If the situation was reversed, you'd be worrying.

[ Voice ]

[i_love_squats]

Well, yeah, but that's different!