Thirty-fifth Lotus
[There are a great many scratched-out starts to this, illegible.]
Please do not be alarmed if you run into me. I will try to avoid most people.
I may need some days off work, Stoneface. I will come explain. [A pause.] I will come, and then I think I will not need to explain.
[[ooc: And now he's in Hidan's body. Whee!]
Please do not be alarmed if you run into me. I will try to avoid most people.
I may need some days off work, Stoneface. I will come explain. [A pause.] I will come, and then I think I will not need to explain.
[[ooc: And now he's in Hidan's body. Whee!]
...of course, the fact that a large black-and-white fish had been floating in mid-air over his head when he woke up might have something to do with why he was still awake.] You look tired, Cloud. Are you certain you don't want to go back to bed?
[Cloud shook his head stubbornly. They were currently walking--well, Cloud was walking, with his fish swimming behind him--through the Park, along one of the many paths that wound under the trees and eventually past the Aquarium and over toward the Farm.] I'll be fine. I want some fresh air. [ ( ... )
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The rhythm was a little soothing, falling into it, knowing that few would be awake and around this time of day. Captain Planet was Gai's patrol; he wasn't likely to run into anyone from the Watch here.
He'd started to relax when a flicker of motion came from ahead. Gai slowed to a walk, watching, as someone who looked like a small Cloud walked out with a fish. He stopped, ready to greet Cloud, and that's when he remembered exactly who all had been killed by Apostle. Oh, this wasn't going to go well.]
Ah.
[Maybe he could slip back into the trees without Cloud noticing. Or maybe that would stress Cloud out more. A friendly greeting didn't seem like a good idea. Gai wound up standing there, feeling ( ... )
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His eye widened as he actually looked at the person. Apostle. He couldn't forget that face, after... he was in prison! What had happened, had he... no, wait... a vague, half-remembered journal entry... he had vanished from Edensphere. Had he been reborn? Why hadn't it been... maybe he had...
His thoughts swirled, chaotic and panicked, and he took a few uncertain steps backwards before he tripped over something and fell heavily to the ground. Breathing unevenly, he continued to back away from Apostle, scooting along the ground until he ran into a tree. His face felt cold--it probably matched his hair at this point.] Cloud? Cloud, what is it, what's wrong, say something!
St-stay away... [Pathetic. But there was nothing else he could say, the panic freezing him up completely.]
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It is not what you think. It is all right. I am not him. Relax.
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Was he going to die? Yes, of course he was. He had seen Apostle, and no doubt the man wanted to kill any eye-witnesses...
He froze as the hand came toward him, and then... stopped. It took him a second to realize that... nothing was happening.
He wasn't dead. Why wasn't he dead? Apostle was right there, he could kill him by just reaching out...] ...hear me? Cloud? Oi, snap out of it!
[Cloud's gaze flicked up toward his fish, then back toward Apostle. Something was odd here... and it was enough to shake him out of his shock and panic, if only a little.] ...wh-what? [It was meant for the fish, of course; Cloud didn't yet realize he was the only person who could hear him.] Did you hear any of that? [The fish sighed when Cloud shook his head minutely.] He said that it wasn't what you think. It's all right, he isn't 'him.' Whatever that means.
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I am sorry. I was not thinking. Are you all right? Do I need to call for a medic on the journal?
[He frowned, wishing there was some way to help. But if he went closer and tried to assist Cloud, he would frighten the other man all the more.]
I am not Apostle. I am in Apostle's body right now.
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[His fish 'swam' down and appeared to be trying to look him in the eye.] Knock it off, Sensei, [Cloud grumbled at the fish. It seemed to like getting in his personal space like that... but it backed off at his complaining.]
Right, so... so who are you?
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...Gai. I did not think anyone would be out this early, and I was going for my morning run. I am very sorry.
[He frowned, feeling like an idiot.]
Can I give you a hand up? Or do... anything?
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[Cloud glared halfheartedly up at the fish as he rose, a little shakily, to his feet, then turned his attention back to Apo--to Gai.] ...I couldn't sleep. Bad dream. [And this morning probably gave him about a year's worth of fuel for those dreams.] It's... fine. You couldn't have known.
[He brushed one hand along the kimono's edge, then looked up at that face again, doing his best not to flinch. He would probably be handling this a bit better if he didn't feel so vulnerable right now... this body was so tiny.] Well, I got up fine on my own. [He tried out a small smile--it felt alright, though a little shaky at the corners.] Uhm... like what?
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[He nodded.] I meant... I do not know. Something that can make up for this. I am sorry for scaring you.
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He probably looked very much like a child doing that, but hell. He felt like a child; he was fairly certain his reactions would have been a hundred times more reasonable in his normal, adult body. Or at the very least, he would have been able to hide them better.] ...ah. I'm not sure...
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...Would you like me to go? This cannot be easy for you. [The shifting did make him look young, which made it all the more clear how hard this was for Cloud. Gai didn't remember dying, but he knew his hadn't been brutal like the deaths of those murdered by Apostle.] At least this means for a fact that he is gone, because no one has ever changed into someone who was currently here.
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I don't blame you for this happening, Gai. It wasn't like you wanted to look like him, right? [Cloud sighed briefly, feeling a bit more centered. But like he had thought earlier, he was certain this encounter would come back to haunt him later, in his dreams. Not that that was Gai's fault either.] ...I think I'll head back, maybe try to get a few more hour's sleep. See you later?
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That is correct. It would be much easier if I did not. [He nods again.] Get home safely. I hope that you sleep well. I will... [Gai trails off before a short sigh.] Finish my run and then hide myself again.
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Maybe it was best to just leave it.]
I will. [And then he'd probably stay there for a while. Like a few days.] And I'll try. [He can't promise that for certain, though.
He turns away, about to leave... he glances over his right shoulder, something occurring to him.] Be careful, Gai. All I could do was panic; someone else might be able to hurt you. They might not ask questions either, if they spot you in that body.
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He nods at the comment with a wry smile.] I have already been attacked. But do not worry about me. This body cannot be killed and I know what I am doing in a fight. Whatever they try, I will survive it.
[There's a pause.] And so will they.
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