[03] Third Report: Lost and Alone

[xx_totaleclipse]

[The video clicks on, and its clear that Cloud doesn't know that its going, seeing as he's running through a set of katas with a large stick, eyes wide and bright, mouth slack and body as relaxed as he can possibly make it.]

Soldier, First Class. Cloud Strife. [A grunt, a spin, and he lets the wood in his hand hit against a tree. And as he spins

Comments

[xx_totaleclipse]

Huh?

[Ah crap. The video was on? Have one very embarrassed and slightly blushing Cadet reaching over to pick up his communicator.]

Its nothing, Ma'am. Just a few splinters. There are probably others who need treatment a lot more than I do.

[xx_totaleclipse]

My sword-?

[All of a sudden, his eyes are widening and he's raising both of his hands in front of him as soon as his communicator is placed more at eye level. He looks positively mortified]

I'm no swordsman. Just a grunt. A Cadet. The only swordsmen in ShinRa are with Soldier, really. I'm not- I didn't mean to come accross as one, because I'm not-

[Stops himself, tensing up slightly before forcing himself to relax, naming all the great Generals of ShinRa in his mind in order to calm himself, to get him out of that babbling phase so few people manage to invoke. The one where he's practically tripping over himself to do things, say things, prove himself.

So far, their interactions have been remarkably like his early days with Zack.]

... I'm in the forest, near where the ShinRa building is. I can just as easily come to your position though, Ma'am.

[myownmemory]

You need a spar partner?

I shouldn't like this, but...I don't think it'll open up again.

[xx_totaleclipse]

No, no, it was just a workout. You were part of the group that got captured, weren't you?

Tend to your wounds, Riqis. The less you reopen them the faster they'll heal.

[myownmemory]

Just a workout...you were really putting your all into it.

Yeah. I was. After they had me pinned down on the table it wasn't...too bad. There were more shocks, they burned something into my chest, shaved off the back of my hair, and...and Discordia stopped them from going any further.

I don't want to wait. Roxas cast a cure on it earlier. I hate being cooped up injured.

[xx_totaleclipse]

[He's just pressing his lips together in a thin line at Riqis' description of his capture.]

I've seen soldiers come back missing limbs. Most don't survive the torture our enemies put them through.

[Sighs, shaking his head, clearing it.]

You got lucky. I don't want to be the cause of you pushing that luck past its breaking point.

[axionestin]

[STARE]

[xx_totaleclipse]

[Stares right back, still preeeeeetty embarrassed that the video had been going.]

... Ma'am?

[axionestin]

[M'yep, deadpan]

You know that's going to get infected real fast.

[xx_totaleclipse]

[Now he's just staring at his hand, a bit confused.]

Its just a few splinters, Ma'am. Nothing serious.

[dragon_and_vine]

I know others have offered, but you really ought to do something to your hand. This place is just full of infection. I can do simple healing spells if you haven't found help.