004 - [Video] - sleep is for the weak

[stormhelm]

[It's some ungodly hour of the morning when Cloud starts the feed. It looks like he's in the kitchen, judging by the peeling benchtop the phone is set on, and the cup of steaming tea clutched close. Maybe it's just the light from the Jigoberry bathing his face in eerie blue, but he looks completely wrecked. Dark bags under eyes and all.]I doubt

Comments

[Private] 1/2

[soldierinbloom]

[Tired Zack is tired-- poor kid is tangled up in sheets, having his own troubles sleeping. Sleep in a place like this is hard.

So at first it doesn't register, and Zack blinks lazily, trying to get it together.]

Shiki said? Yeah I talked to him, bi--

[Private]

[soldierinbloom]

--wait, dead?!

[Bolting up-right, yes indeedy.]

[Private]

[stormhelm]

[He blinks sleepily at the camera, frowning, looking almost confused at the reaction.]

... it's not permanent here. That's what I heard.

[Private] DX /punches notifs

[soldierinbloom]

It doesn't matter if it's permanent or not! Dying is still dying!

[Private] no worriiiies :)

[stormhelm]

[an uncomfortable shift on his stool. This is... difficult.]

... I get that. I can't help having a... haunted wound, though. And in case it does turn out to kill me permanently, I need to tell you something before that happens.

[Private]

[soldierinbloom]

...to tell me-- you're not gonna die.

[There's that sharp determination to his frown; not Cloud, not anyone, if he can help it.]

We'll figure something out.

[Private]

[stormhelm]

[He looks away from the phone, not really game on meeting that gaze.]

You're so stubborn...

Anyway, what I need to tell you is more important than that.

[Private]

[soldierinbloom]

[A breath, slow and tired. But he nods. That doesn't mean Cloud's off the hook, though.

Zack runs a hand through his hair.]

Okay...

[Private]

[stormhelm]

....

[It takes him a while to realise Zack is waiting for him to spill the beans.]

... I'm not telling you over the phone.

It's too...

...it's a face-to-face, thing. If you're too tired now, some other time.

(ooc: just a heads up, but obviously Cloud is wanting to totally spoiler-break him and be all "THIS WILL HAPPEN IN YOUR FUTHER AND YOU HAVE TO NOT TO SUCH-AND-SUCH", so in case you're not cool with Zack knowing Nibelheim-stuff let me know and he won't. ♥ )

[Private]

[soldierinbloom]

--I'm awake now. Don't worry.

[Besides. He'd been waiting for Cloud to... stop avoiding him. It'd been kind of strange-- a face he didn't know, but knew him.

It'd hurt a little. Someone obviously so sad...]

I understand. We'll do it on your terms.

Re: [Private]

[stormhelm]

[Best to get this over and done with. He realises talking about Nibelheim will very probably be what kills him, but. No way he's letting Zack go through that - no damn way at all, if he can help it.]

I'll... come now, then. Which room is yours? [he's already getting up and attempting to neaten his tousled hair and slept-in clothes.]

[Private]

[soldierinbloom]

It's three-oh-eight.

You uh... want something to eat? [He can at least try to be polite! Even if he is getting up to loosen the tape a bit for Cloud.]

Re: [Private]

[stormhelm]

Hn. [It's an almost wry realisation that Zack was living just down the hall from his original apartment room all this time.]

No thanks...I'll be down in a sec.

[Feed cut.]