(Untitled)

[dontloselight]

Cloud (who has not recieved an entrance post of his own for a while) is in the bar, sitting by the Observation Window with a drink before him. He has never really given any of his attention to the universe resetting itself repeatedly until now; but tonight it gives him something to do on his self-proclaimed day off

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[sells_flowers]

From somewhere nearby there is the vague scent of fresh, spring flowers - slightly out of place in an interior setting like the Bar.

It might just smell familiar. Sort of like home.

[dontloselight]

It does smell familiar. It is a scent that has always offered him the sort of peace he doesn't find when he's alone with his (dark) thoughts.

He looks up, briefly searching the room for the owner.

[sells_flowers]

The owner is standing somewhat uncertainly by the door - this is the first time she has come here on her own and she's not exactly sure of herself, or how she ought to be acting. Briefly she considers turning around and simply returning to Hollow Bastion, but she steels her shoulders and takes one step after another deeper into the Bar.

When nothing happens, some of her trepidation fades and she looks around her with curiousity.

[dontloselight]

It is when Aerith takes her first steps into the bar that Cloud happens to glance towards the door.

She is unmistakable to him; he recognizes her immediately and begins to straighten. Something within him seems to lessen, or lighten, in her presence.

He would wave in her direction, but he isn't the waving sort; in any case, it is unlikely she would see him from where he is.

He starts to walk towards her.

[cloakandclaw]

Even though this is not the Cloud he knows -- the Cloud Tifa knows -- this one has much of the same look to him.

A different temperament, perhaps, but no less deserving of acknowledgment.

"Cloud." He spares a brief nod: he's not in a hurry but he also has little desire to linger if his company is unwelcome. With this Cloud, it's difficult to tell but he's not particularly at ease in social situations. Then again, he doesn't often try so very hard.

[dontloselight]

Cloud looks up and away from the sight through the Observation Window, eyes landing on the vaguely familiar man - familiar, because they've met. If he has any recollection of him from beyond that, he doesn't show it.

He returns the nod; it is a nod of invitation.

"...Vincent, right?"

[cloakandclaw]

"Right." He moves one step closer and that, he feels, is enough. It indicates he's received the accepted social cue -- the nod -- and...

Stop.

He's thinking like... a Turk.

"You've been well?"

Their common thread is... a visible similarity and that's it: they don't know one another. The concept is strange: Cloud spurred him to action after nearly thirty years asleep in a coffin. They fought side by side, survived untold dangers, untold strange circumstances... and yet, they haven't. Not he and this Cloud.

Still, it's hard to look at him and not see the man he knows.

"A drink, perhaps?"

[dontloselight]

Cloud nods again, stoic as always, never showing any more emotion or expression than he has to.

(Not that he has any real reason to in this situation anyway.)

"I'm nearly done with this one," he says in acceptance of Vincent's offer, gesturing to his own cup. He picks it up and downs the rest in one easy gulp. "Something stronger, perhaps."