Cloud Strife (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
neverfirstclass) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
melodiesoflife2017-03-24 07:49 pm
neverfirstclass) wrote in melodiesoflife2017-03-24 07:49 pm
Entry tags:
On That Day, Five Years Ago - Black Water - Misery Marsh near Esdham
On the bright side, Cloud hadn't thrown up when the ship went down. Of all the things that went wrong that day, at least the fortitude of his stomach remained intact.
He'd braced himself for impact and after that it was fuzzy. Dream and memory intermingled. When he and the other Heroes blacked out and later he wouldn't be able to recall which parts actually happened and which were just projected assumption. He even thought he saw Zack running around on the deck trying to help, as absurd as that mental image of a chocobo trying to help keep an airship in flight was.
The next thing he was aware of was the feeling of thick water lapping against the side of his head. That and a sense of cloying scruffiness around his face. Grunting, he pushed himself up to sitting, half in and half out of some water. The dry ground wasn't very much so, more mud. Looking around blearily he could make out shapes moving in the fog around him. Things slipped into focus bit by bit from there. This was a swamp of some sort, or a marsh, whatever. Same difference.
Next he noticed three bodies laying near him; Reno, Johnny and another he knew was a fellow Hero but didn't really know by name. Dylan or something? His mind more latched onto the fact that the way they were laying was that it was almost like Johnny and Reno were reaching for each other.
The last thing to shuffle into focus were the shapes moving in the distance. They were a bit far off, too far, hopefully, to see or smell or hear them...but there were Malboros sloshing through the marshwater and mud in every direction.
He'd braced himself for impact and after that it was fuzzy. Dream and memory intermingled. When he and the other Heroes blacked out and later he wouldn't be able to recall which parts actually happened and which were just projected assumption. He even thought he saw Zack running around on the deck trying to help, as absurd as that mental image of a chocobo trying to help keep an airship in flight was.
The next thing he was aware of was the feeling of thick water lapping against the side of his head. That and a sense of cloying scruffiness around his face. Grunting, he pushed himself up to sitting, half in and half out of some water. The dry ground wasn't very much so, more mud. Looking around blearily he could make out shapes moving in the fog around him. Things slipped into focus bit by bit from there. This was a swamp of some sort, or a marsh, whatever. Same difference.
Next he noticed three bodies laying near him; Reno, Johnny and another he knew was a fellow Hero but didn't really know by name. Dylan or something? His mind more latched onto the fact that the way they were laying was that it was almost like Johnny and Reno were reaching for each other.
The last thing to shuffle into focus were the shapes moving in the distance. They were a bit far off, too far, hopefully, to see or smell or hear them...but there were Malboros sloshing through the marshwater and mud in every direction.
no subject
So Dylas was a man-eating monster guy. Reno was a mass-murderer. If they were both deemed worthy of being "Heroes of Light," then it shouldn't matter.
Reno smirked. "Don't tell me there's no one waitin' for you, though? I find that hard ta' believe. Just keep them in mind an' you'll be fine."
Because there had to be more Heroes somewhere else -- just scattered. They couldn't be the last ones left. Reno couldn't accept that.
no subject
Did that sound homophobic? Hopefully, the fact that Dylas' ears wiggle playfully, twitching up and down more excitedly than his face ever emotes is enough to suggest he's teasing.
But if anyone ever asked him, he'd deny being a Hero of Light. He never accepted the title, not fully.
"Hey. How reliable are you?" Thinking about Midna, Dylas decided that maybe he and Reno could take the rear guard for a few minutes. Have a private chat. "I have a favor to ask you, but only if you're the kind of guy who actually gets things done outside of the bedroom."
no subject
For waking up in a swamp and feeling like shit, being able to snipe jokes back and forth with someone was a welcome bit of normalcy.
Reno crossed his arms and canted his head. "I realize it's hard to believe, me being so sexy and all, but I really did have a very serious job once that included clothing. What's up?"
no subject
He waved his hand in front of his face, feigning disgust at an imaginary odor. His nose was just as human as anyone else's here, he was thankful for that much.
"Yeah, you're right. It is hard to believe. But I used to be a waiter, so I guess anything's possible."
Once the group started moving again, he fell in rank behind them and walked with Reno, his expression changing from cocky smirk to his usual stoic and/or annoyed.
"We don't know what's going to happen from here on out, right? I don't think we're the only ones who survived, but that might not matter if we don't regroup. What a pain in the ass."
no subject
Besides that, he could have sworn he'd heard a voice before everything went blank, telling them to sleep... Maybe it was just a dream, though.
"We gotta find our way back t' Aqures Ixen. Or, at least, where it was if it's changed." Because Reno definitely didn't remember this swamp on the maps. "That's prob'ly where everyone else would think to go, right?"
no subject
It isn't. But he shrugs anyways.
"I'm going to tell you something, but I need you to take it seriously, alright? If you don't, I'll eat one of your fingers to make myself feel better."
He wouldn't joke like this with Cloud or the demon, but he knows Reno has opinions about his beastlike nature. It's all in the name of fun.
no subject
The middle one.
"Seriously, though -- what is it?"
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His features droop even while his face stays the same. His body language is impossible to mask, it always is.
"But if something happens to me, I need a message delivered to Midna. I'm not so naive to think everything will turn out to be sunshine and rainbows for us."
no subject
"H-hey now," Reno sputtered. "Shut up -- you're Dylas, yer a fuckin' wendigo man, yo. If anyone, you'll be fine! Don't even think like that!"
He huffed and crossed his arms. "Don't be stupid..." He stood there, stubborn for a moment, before he looked away.
"... What even would I tell her anyway?"
no subject
Now seemed as good a time as any to go back to not making eye contact. Turning slightly to the side, he crossed his arms, watching Cloud and Johnny get a few steps further away before starting to walk again.
"How the hell would I know what to tell her? Er, I haven't gotten that far...but it's not like we know what's going to happen. And I've seen what happens when people...when people die when they least expect it. I wouldn't want to put her through that."
If he even mattered to her that much. No, no, he did. He had to believe that.
no subject
"But... I guess once you knew what you wanted ta' say, I could tell her," he conceded. "If I had to. Which I doubt."
Of course he knew the stakes. He didn't want to dwell on it for too long, though. There was a fine line between preparedness and paranoia, and the latter would be too distracting. He needed to be sharp. They all had to focus.
As he was currently half-focused on the particular swing of Johnny's gait, it made him wonder if it was better or worse that they were together. He wouldn't have to worry about planning his last words or sending a message. But it did mean that whatever danger there might be here, Johnny would also be in it. Though he'd likely be in danger... anywhere, really... Reno shook his head. It didn't matter. They just had to be careful.
no subject
"I don't want you to tell her anything, but I don't plan on dying a second time without leaving something behind. I owe her at least that much. ...No, I owe her a lot more than that, but it'd be a start."
What would he say, though? He picks up his pace a little. Words aren't really his strong suit. He'd rather be punching things. It might even be nice to punch Reno sometime, it might feel good.
"...you think with how many times I've died, it'd be easier. But it sure as hell ain't."
no subject
Either way, Reno gets the strange intuition that he should take half a step away from Dylas, like the other man might hit him for no reason.
"UGH, yes." He let his head fall back to emphasize his full agreement. "Sorry -- but fuck yes. Gods! I mean, I know this sounds weird, but you are the first person to actually say that, and it's so fucking true."
Reno might have been a little bit repressed about past deaths.
"It never gets fuckin' easier!" Repressed and exasperated. "Which one are you on?"
Death, clearly.
no subject
Dylas laughs.
"I died three times in Ryslig, but the third one stuck. Four, if you count the whole...body dying, becoming a wendigo thing."
He counted it himself.
"What about you? Are you talking about dying here or your pervert-land?"
no subject
He counted off on his fingers. "Got drowned by a tentacle monster -- after other unpleasant things." Ew. "Ah, got drowned again because the sea god was pissed we killed said tentacle monster..."
He knew the risk of going out on the water with Poseidon out there, ready and waiting to kill any who dared trespass on his domain. But Kyo was out there somewhere -- maybe. He had to try.
"Then once here. Not drowned, at least."
Reno sighed.
"An' every time it sucks ass, yo. Ya think maybe you'll get used to it or somethin', but nope. Sucks every time."
no subject
Considering death is permanent these days, he's not so sure that's a great idea, but if Reno wants to tie the score up he's more than welcome to.
"Burned to death. ...Impaled against a building. I've been through the whole...heart stopping thing twice now. And then there's when those gangsters finally killed me for good. Back then, I'd been a little grateful, but that's changed."
Though on the subject of burning...Dylas still looks uncomfortable when he remembers that particular day. He'd still been mostly-human back then, the changes hadn't even started yet. He sighs, tail swishing with more agitation than before.
"I've still got the scars. Back where I was, I'd never bother with a shirt. Wendigo can't feel cold, and it feels wrong against my fur, so I guess no one here's ever seen them."
no subject
Death was permanent now, again, as it should be. Even Reno shuddered slightly at the thought of burning alive. It was a slow death he hated... burning, drowning, even being strangled. If he had to choose, he'd prefer a swift gunshot, which would have probably been likely at home. Drowning, strangulation, they were shorter than burning, but it was the awareness of dying that was the worst part.
Knowing that it was the end... and feeling everything...
"Eh?" He looked up. "Gangsters? For good? Whaddaya mean -- you were totally dead, for the last time, and then Crystallis fucked it up?"
no subject
He knows that's not quite how being chosen works, but he's going to stick with it. It gets his feelings about the matter across just fine.
"But that's right. The gangsters...hell if I can remember what they were called now. Blood Boners? Something stupid like that. They figured out how to kill us monsters for real."