[Voice]

[i_love_squats]

[He's quiet, a little subdued. Worried. In the background, the murmur of the marketplace is clear, a low noise punctuated only by the pass of an occasional loud-mouth seller or rude resident.]

So, I get Gil back, and lose Angeal. Don't think I like this deal very much.

I'm searching everywhere. If anyone sees him, let me know immediately. He--

[

Comments

(text)

[jaytodd]

How should I recognize this Angeal?

Voice

[i_love_squats]

He's tall, muscled, dressed in blue and has a sword on his back. Brown hair, a little long, and some facial hair. Brightest eyes you've ever seen. He--He might have one white wing. Maybe.

[Pause.]

Are you new?

(text) has some issue with missing people

[jaytodd]

Shouldn't be too hard to recognize then.

Yes, that obvious, huh? I'm looking for people of my own, even if I'm beginning to doubt they ever where there: a guy in green and glowing or a chich in a star suit, or a guy going by The Atom. Can't have missed them if they ever were here.

Hope you'll find this guy.

[Voice] Everyone seems to around here ._.

[i_love_squats]

Nah. He sticks out, in his own way.

The Atom? That's a new one, and I've hear some weird names around here. What's your name, anyway?

I will. I-- I don't think he's gone far.

[voice]

[i_love_squats]

[Zack won't turn away help, not about this, never about this. Besides, Sephiroth probably wants to find him as much as Zack does, so who is he to argue?]

North part of the city. I'm in the marketplace now. I'm going to hit up Dismas when I'm done here.

[Then the tunnels. Then the Ruins. Then down by the docks and everywhere his feet will take him before he falls out of exhaustion.]

Thanks, Seph.

[And it's been a long time since he's said those words.]

[voice]

[i_love_squats]

[Zack has a habit with nicknames, and he figured that "Seph" is better than "Sephy".]

Yeah, of course. [And for a minute, it feels like the old days, missions that he and the General went on together. One in specific where they were playing these roles once before. History repeats itself.]

He is here! Don't act like he could've gone away.

voice - sorry for this, sob

[clawofsin]

Ahh, cheer up. You got your fish back, ain't that enough for you?

[ voice ] /threadjack, sorry

[lonestray]

You don't have to be an ass about everything, Senji.

[Sorry Senji, but. On the scale of how much Scar cares about people, Zack outranks you.]

[ voice ] np!

[clawofsin]

Well, isn't this cute.

What's the big deal? Even if he's dead, chances are he'll be back in a week anyway. Everyone knows this place doesn't play by the rules.

Or am I an ass for sayin' that, too?

[ voice ]

[lonestray]

[If you listen closely, there might be a tiny hint of a growl, there.]

Funny, I don't remember you sounding that calm when Priscilla died.

[And he knows that was a low blow, but it had to be said, or Senji just wouldn't get it.]

[yetsleeping]

I'll look.

...I'm sorry, Zack.

[i_love_squats]

There's nothing to be sorry for. He's around here somewhere; we just have to find him.

[Someone's trying really hard to be positive.]

[yetsleeping]

I... I hope you're right?

[Someone's lost a good bit of her optimism lately!]

[i_love_squats]

I know I am. I have to be.

[Aww, bb!]

[ voice ]

[lonestray]

...

I'm sorry, Zack.

[And he really is. He'd started to get attached to Angeal too. Damn it.]

I'll look for him.

[ voice ]

[i_love_squats]

Thanks for looking. And like I told Pris, nothing to be sorry for. He's just lost or something; we'll find him and lecture him something fierce.

[ voice ]

[lonestray]

...You know he might not be.

[And while that is blunt, from his tone, it's obvious it wasn't intended to be hurtful. He doesn't want Zack to get his hopes up for nothing.]

[ voice ]

[i_love_squats]

[And no one else has been that utterly honest and blunt with him. His voice is quiet, not angry, but neutral.]

I'm not giving up on him yet.