Go West, Young Man - Cat and Mouse log

[neverfirstclass]

Who: Cloud and whoever else he runs into
When: November 16th to the 21st
Where: Aerilon
Summary: Cloud journeys to Aerilon to help track down information, but also forgets something VERY important
Warnings: None



Airship

I'll be a hero. I'll work hard and I'll make my friends proud, both the ones from Gaia and the ones I've made here. Cloud felt bad for being a burden in the last two incidents, and those were the thoughts on his mind as he set out for Aerilon. From the sounds of it he might be able to get himself some better gear and maybe find someone to help train him in gunblades in particular.

He just forgot one thing.

Cloud groaned as he slumped against the railing of the airship. Even with the wind whipping around on the deck, the weight of his armor helped alleviate any fears that he might fall off. That wasn't the problem though. His stomach was very vocal in its displeasure of his choice of transport, and his face was well green for the past hour. His lunch had already disembarked to the plains below, but all he could do was wait out the ride. Mako was keeping his distance, not wanting to get anything caught in his fluff, but Cloud couldn't blame him. Hopefully they'd be landing soon.

Aerilon Streets

After taking some time to recover from the flight, Cloud and Mako set out into the streets to find clues. The place was more crowded than expected, and Cloud found himself happy for the bulky armor he was wearing. He noticed a few folks keeping their distance from him as they walked along, not wanting to take the risk of picking his pocket. If he had shown up in his mage clothes he was sure it he might have been in a bit more prickly a situation.

He found himself having to watch his step though. He wasn't used to being the tallest person in the room, not that he was short, but being surrounded by moogles, tarutaru and hypello meant he had to take care not to trample the smaller folk. Now and then he stopped to question a group about the moogle he was seeking, but eventually he stopped at one of the inns. He wasn't old enough to go into a bar at home. Would it be okay here?

O'aka's Shop

Cloud and Mako stood dumbfounded at the pricetag in front of them. The body armor and weapons he'd been seeing all looked impressive, but as soon as he entered the shop his eyes were drawn to the mounted armor that was on sale. It was similar in style to the one that had he had faced down some months ago and somehow he had the knowledge to pilot one. An aid of the Magitek Knight Job and his crystal no doubt.

"What do you think, kupo? Can you use it?"

"Yeah...I don't suppose you have any gil hidden away?"

"N-no, not that much, kupo..."

Three million gil. And that was the sale price! He could hardly imagine anyone other than President Shinra or the owner of the Gold Saucer ever having that much money. He'd been able to save up a decent amount from his job at the ranch but that was only about a hundreth of what this cost.

Comments

aerilon streets

[rhapsoidein]

Genesis was wondering if she was better off as her secondary job, the Red Mage. But she suppose her Black Mage robe was warmer. Still, why did all the Black Mage robes cover so much? She felt frumpy and she wanted to look nice, even if traveling didn't necessarily call for it.

In her distraction of her thoughts, she felt herself bump into a heavily armored individual and she fell backward. "Oof!"

And robes were totally not armor. She groaned and held her stomach, Monty fretting as she waved him off. "I'm fine, Monty, I've had worse."

Re: aerilon streets

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud's eyes went wide as he collided with the other person. At first he was worried he ran into one of the local toughs and was bound to be in trouble, but then when he saw the clothing he was even more worried he might have accidentally hurt someone. When he saw the face of the person it didn't make him feel much better, but at least it was someone he knew.

"G-Genny! S-sorry! I didn't see you there!"

"That's what you get for looking around like your head is a weather vane, kupo!"

[rhapsoidein]

Monty was laughing himself, however, once he knew Genesis was okay. "Well, it wasn't like she was looking either."

Genesis scoffed at Monty, a bit offended at that as she picked herself up and brushed off her robes. She decided to ignore Monty for the time being and address Cloud.

"On the trail of the Moogle in the Black Hat too, hm?"

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud gave Mako a look before offering a hand to help Genny to her feet. The moogle just smirked at him rather than his usual huffing. Clearly the two were getting along better.

"Y-yeah, sorry. After everything that happened recently...to me and...anyway I just wanted to do something to help out." Even if he has personal reasons for taking this on, the core of his drive is the desire to do good.

[rhapsoidein]

Genesis silently thanked Cloud as she finished brushing herself off. She nodded to him. "I understand. I'm much the same, although I was not around for the fiasco with the moogles. Shed some light while we walk and search?"

Genesis wasn't sure what she would find, if anything. But she figured it would not hurt to try.

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud led the way as they walked the streets, taking advantage of the imposing sight his equipment made. He didn't really want to scare anyone, but at the same time most people didn't want to get in the way of someone as well armed as he was. Appearances were often more important than combat ability.

"A bunch of us were getting sick, if you remember. I'm not sure how my own...problem was related but I guess it was. Then a couple of the people who died from their illness came back and were on the side of this moogle in black mage clothes. I'm not entirely sure what he was plotting, but there was some ceremony involved."

O'aka's Shop

[woman_of_strife]

A tap comes to one of his shoulders, trying to get his attention as he looks at the Job on display.

"You think something like that is going to make you a "hero"?"

When he turns around, there's his childhood friend standing not but a few inches away from his face. The woman smiles as if the month before had been nothing but a dream.

"Leaving town without telling me. Just how far were you looking to go?"

Re: O'aka's Shop

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud jumped a bit at the sudden interruption. He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed Tifa sneaking up on him. A now familiar blush came over his face quickly in response to her presence.

"Oh, uh...I dunno, maybe. It'd be nice to pilot one of these rather than fighting it eye to knee." But that wasn't the only thing she asked. He rubbed the back of his head as he continued, "I dunno, I just felt like I needed to get out and do something. To find the moogle who caused all the trouble. I guess I didn't really think it through."

Please please please don't let her have been on the same airship flight he was on.

Re: O'aka's Shop

[woman_of_strife]

She comes within closer proximity, almost touching her nose to his as she leans in to give him a better look.

"Mmm hmm~ And just who would you be piloting against, huh? Rather brave of a guy like you to hop aboard an airship, what with you getting so easily sick to your stomach from all the turbulence."

Oh, she saw everything Cloud. She hasn't been working with terrorists just to cut doilies for their drinks. Sneaking about had become a necessity, and something she'd gotten rather good at in time.

Her breath is on him, her lips parting as they grow closer and closer to his own.

".. Cloud?"

Re: O'aka's Shop

[neverfirstclass]

"I dunno, those Imperial guys if they ever show up again. I don't know what they want, but I'm not going to lose to them a second time." Cloud huffed indignantly. He was still sore about that loss. He was a magitek knight now, right? He should be able to handle piloting that thing!

However his moody anger quickly faded when he realized how close Tifa was to him. The wind from her breath blew away those thoughts of heroic battle, and he was once again completely focused on her. His lips quivered as all number of scenarios ran through his mind, "Uh...y-yeah?"

Re: O'aka's Shop

[woman_of_strife]

A single finger raises to poke him on the nose, what little space still left between them no expanded as she backs away from him with a welcoming smile.

"Your shirt. It's not tucked in."

Before allowing him the chance to correct it, the woman takes to the clothing sticking out from the few pieces of armor he wears. She pushes it into the waist of his armor, adjusting his belts from him as she aides to keep his attire looking proper. She does this while a slight rouge comes to her cheeks, the hint of blush that comes from realizing that she's taking care of him even in this world.

"We've got to make sure you look the part of a hero, don't we?"

She catches his eyes, looking back to him as her lips slowly open to silence. Tifa stays there, stays in that youthful sight of his, looking back and staring at him as memories flood back into her waking thoughts.

Re: O'aka's Shop

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud's brain almost explodes when she taps him on the nose. His cheeks are a hot red as she starts to fuss with his clothing and he makes vague and feeble attempts to push her away, growing a bit more urgent as some people turn to stare, "Ah! Tifa! I got this! Hey! Come on!"

But she was looking out for him, and that was important right? He just wanted to be able to return the favor but right now she was making him feel like a little kid.

It wasn't so bad though.

"So...uh...why did you come to this city?" With so many options to pick, he was wondering what made her choose this one.

NPC - Aerilon Streets

[randomnpcs]

[ When Cloud stopped by an inn, an employee stepped toward him. On the bright side, this Hypello Inn was possibly one of the safest place in the city. On the less bright side, well that was a Hypello Inn.

At least they're not criminals. ]

Yesh? Ish there shometithing we can do for yoo?

Re: NPC - Aerilon Streets

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud can't help but balk a little at the Hypello. He's been glad this world has so many things in common with Gaia but occasionally there's something new that manages to throw him off guard.

These blue...people are one of them.]

Uh...yeah, have you sheen, uh, seen a moogle dressed up like a black mage? He might have arrived on a flight from Aquares Ixen."

[It's entirely possible the moogle didn't use an airship at all, but it's still worth asking.]

[randomnpcs]

A Mooglegle dreshed like a Black Mashe?

[ He pondered for a moment before walking to the counter. ]

Pleashe follow me. I am going to look in the ledsher.

[neverfirstclass]

[The Hypello is actually being more helpful than Cloud dared expect. It almost sounds like the description is ringing a bell.

Cloud does his best to keep a straight face and not get his hopes up too much as he follows the blue innkeep.]

[randomnpcs]

[ The Hypello looked through the ledger and nodded as he found the right page. ]

Yesh, we had a Moogle dreshed ash a Black Mashe. He paid to shtay a week but we haven't sheen him shince ze shixteen.

[neverfirstclass]

[Both more and less he was hoping for. But it's promising.]

So I just missed him. When is his week up?

Airship

[jiyunotaika]

There is one person who's not worried about Cloud getting sick on him but he remembered that the kid got motion-sick. When he found the blond on the deck, he made sure to stay upwind so that at least one of them wouldn't feel guilty about it.

Zack leaned against the railing and looked out on the land below. This wasn't quite the flying he wished he could do but it was still pretty nice. Better than ShinRa helicopters anyway. It felt a lot more like freedom this way. After a moment of just enjoying the view, he finally turned towards towards Cloud.

"Hopefully we'll land soon. Maybe you'll feel better than." He remembered how Cloud was in Junon.

Re: Airship

[neverfirstclass]

"Nghh...yeah..." Cloud tried to keep his words short. Anything longer got him thinking about what just happened and that only got him sick all over again.

This was embarrassing though. He knew that Zack knew about this but he was hoping something had changed. The job classes could give physical abilities right? Why couldn't they calm his stomach too? He just wanted to show his best friend that he was growing.

With a grunt, he pushed himself up and away from the railing, his armor clattering as his rear hit the deck, "Ugh...we gotta...get that....moogle...for Tifa..."

Airship

[whereishe]

A gentle hand pressed against Clouds back as Yuna carefully guided him towards her. She didn't want to shout. If he was feeling sick he was most likely very sensitive to sights and sounds. She dug into her pouch and pulled out dried ginger. It was coated in sugar and she hoped that it would do the trick to settle Clouds stomach.

"Here eat this. It's ginger. It will cure your seasickness." She placed the back of her hand on his so that he knew where to grab for the cure without having to look at her.

Re: Airship

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud moved slowly. The armor was heavy on its own, but the motion sickness drained both his strength and his desire to move. Still, as pale as he looked he seemed pretty stable now. Then again it might have been because his stomach was now completely empty.

With a few false starts he finally grasped the sweet, looking it over distantly in his fingers. Would this really help. He popped it in his mouth and swallowed before he could think about what he was doing and his body tried to reject it. Even then it was close.

Airship

[whereishe]

"Woah." Yuna stepped back for a second before turning to look closer at Cloud. "They also have a sleeping potion you can buy. If you rather sleep through the ride."

There wasn't any transportation in Ruby City so Yuna hadn't known about Clouds motion sickness. She glanced around with a worried expression trying to think of something she could do to help. Clasko was the only one she knew who got seasickness and ginger is what worked for him.

Re: Airship

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud shook his head. "No, I don't want anything like that." His words came slow and mumbled, trying to keep himself steady. "Don't like...the idea...of being under like that." He wouldn't call it a fear, but he really disliked the idea of being out of control of himself in one way or another. Especially after what happened to Tifa recently.

As for the other Cloud that Yuna knew, he was a time from his future. With all the bad things that would befall him in a scant few weeks back home, the Mako infusion would also steel him against motion sickness.

Cloud glanced back to her as he swallowed the ginger, a weak smile on his face. "Thanks."

Airship

[whereishe]

"I wish I could help more." She watching him in dismay hoping that the ginger helps settle his motion sickness. She started to use it to help with her vertigo and it really didn't prevent dizziness.

"I usually eat some of this before I travel. If it works I'd be happy to give you some." Even if this wasn't the same Cloud Yuna couldn't help but already treat him like a friend. Her head shook once she realized her mistake and took a step back from him.