[ SND to Seventh Heaven ]

[tracedmemories]

Uplink successful.

Now initiating SND...

Negotiating connection with server.

Constructing residual image.

Preparing for network-to-network transfer.

Image stabilized.

Connection established.

Now commencing SND.

[ Shelke uses her SND to project herself into Edge, intent on getting a status update on Cloud after stalking him listening in on

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[tracedmemories]

[ This makes Shelke's frown deepen as she shakes him even harder, eyes narrowing at the state of him. It's worse than she thought. Truthfully, it scares her just a little. She's never seen Cloud like this, though she's heard from the others that he's hit slumps like this before. She doesn't like it, not at all. To her, it's a disturbing sight. It makes her profoundly uncomfortable and ill at ease, in the same way it would bother any normal child to see a parent cry. She's used to thinking of Cloud as untouchable, strong, reliable. Cognitively, she's always been aware that he's as vulnerable as any person, but on an emotional level it's much harder to accept. ]

Cloud Strife.

Get up. I came to speak with you.

[ She doesn't know what else to say to him. In fact, she's at a complete loss of what to do. She doesn't even know why she came anymore. ]

[tracedmemories]

[ This makes Shelke stall. She doesn't know how to answer that. She doesn't even know if there's an answer except that part of her wanted, more than anything, to be back here. To miss this place was completely illogical, and yet-- ]

To keep you from causing yourself alcohol poisoning.

[ This answer is almost sarcastic, but it's the best she can come up with as she reaches out and plucks the bottle of alcohol to return it to its proper place behind the bar. ]

..something has happened, hasn't it?

[ She almost sounds accusing as she returns to his side, studying him carefully. She doesn't mean to be cruel, however she might seem. She's genuinely worried for him. It's just that she's shit at expressing it. ]