It's kind of egotistic, assuming the world's gonna stop just for you.
[Nothing saying whoever told Nier that wasn't full of it. How could they know something like that? It's not as if any of them got the opportunity to dip out and go back home, just to see.
...He doesn't know. And his sentiment, at the moment, is not holding his breath, and not hoping. Not with such little information. He's about to ask who told him that- so he can get more of an idea. Hell, shake them down for it if he has to- but what Nier says next makes him stop. ]
Your life has meaning- even if you're not human. Means a lot to me, despite not knowing you that long. Must've meant a lot to other people, too.
[It's strange. If he wasn't human, what was he? Other than something some people wanted dead.
...That's a question for later. And at what he says next...]
[ at what cloud says next, the answer is simple. remarkably so. ]
Neither do you.
But you said it anyways.
[ his voice is hard — perhaps he in general had been, in all of the ways cloud wasn’t. it’s what separates a man and a monster. the ability to regret, to feel, to fear.
nier was not a frenzied child who had gone berserk at the realization that he had nothing. he was perfectly lucid, a weapon ready to kill.
when cloud’s fingers loosen, nier’s do the same, just slightly; but he follows his lead. ]
There’s somewhere I can take us. You can see the stars there.
If they turn up here, sure. I'll be first in line. Otherwise, they'd have got the message anyway.
[Not a chance in hell they weren't dead. Either by Nier's own hand (likely) or the world ending, (a certainty) they must be. In a sense, it reminds him, vaguely, of Midgar. Those of the upper plate believed that those of the lower were less. Inferior.
...But it's not anything worth mentioning. Nier's situation is different, and it won't help, so he shuts his mouth and walks on a few more steps.
Except then he opens it, as if to say something at Nier's comment that yeah, he had said something. It runs through his mind to point out that he knew something of him, and he did mean something- but...
...He shuts up. And he keeps walking, his hand finally slipping from Nier's own. Probably best to have access to his sword, if they're going out into the wilde.]
[ it isn’t especially far, fortunately — it’s a tree house, one positioned right beyond the wall. nier, for as much as he enjoyed fighting, had little intention of sullying either of their clothing. the tree towers over them, grander than a building, and there’s a wooden platform attached to it; it’s enwrapped in vines, flowers sprouting at their ends.
there’s a ladder there too, for convenience. nier starts and waves a hand to guide cloud up, right beneath him. once they settle, there are potted plants lined up along its ledge, all of which seem to be flowers in bloom. ]
I haven’t finished building it yet. It’ll be a house one day.
[ and as he promised, the stars are indeed in view. ]
I don’t have any pillows, but you can rest your head against me if you’re tired.
[ whether he’s referring to his lap or his shoulder is up to cloud. ]
[It's actually kind of impressive. Especially considering the logistics considered in hauling the rough framework of, what he can tell already, will be a house all the way up there.
He glances at it, for a long moment, before he takes the cue and starts to haul himself up the ladder. It seems safe enough. And the construction seems pretty solid.
He waits for Nier to emerge before he speaks.]
...You thinking of moving out?
[His tone pretty much gives him away. Shit. ...If he... could have not sounded quite so Concerned at that, that would been wonderful. ]
[ an honest admission. but the concern in cloud’s voice is noted, and a little unexpected too. ]
I thought you and Aerith would want some privacy. But this house isn’t for living in. Just somewhere to put my weaponry — and a refuge, for anyone who needs it.
[ lowly: ]
I don’t trust the natives of this city.
[ better to have your bases covered than not. when cloud shifts closer, nier does the same in response. ]
[He withdraws a little at that, taking a breath and folding his arms close to his chest, leaning against the treetrunk in the centre of the house. His gaze moves away- to the planters at what looks like a rudimentary, at the moment, window.]
If you want to, then I don't want to hold you back. Aerith and me...
[It's complicated.]
She's a friend. She likes having you around, anyway.
[As does he. But. He'd abandoned his effort to move closer, but since Nier was moving toward him too, they're close anyway. And he doesn't step away. Instead, he moves his gaze from the sky through the window, to him.]
I don't trust 'em either.
[In many respects. Gingerly, he half leans on Nier, not quite putting his head on his shoulder, but sort of leaning. A little. Kind of awkwardly, actually. Just about enough to feel his cold skin through the fabric of his shirt with his shoulder.]
I'm sure.
[Half-leaning on him isn't really for being tired. Or warmth. It's closeness, really. And since the prospect of Nier moving out is still on his mind...]
Could always get a bigger place, if you need more space. It's a matter of time till they catch us living like that, anyway.
I like being around you two. And making sure that you’re eating right. But if you need me out, tell me, alright?
[ nier leans back alongside him — he knows well whatever is between those two is...complicated. and not at all straightforward. it isn’t his intention to intrude, however, or force them to compromise for his sake. another reason why he’d spent the night (or day rather) at other people’s houses on occasion.
but he can hear it, anyways: cloud’s attempt at keeping them together.
when he half leans on him, nier let’s one of his arms gradually snake around cloud’s shoulder, until he’s eased him closer. it stays there, like that. ]
I’ve thought about that too. We could get a cottage. I don’t buy much these days...not outside of weaponry or armor.
We don't. [He's firm with that.] And that's not gonna change. Like I said... she likes you being around. And believe me, if you're not... she's gonna take it personally.
[The sad thing is, he's not even lying. She would.]
...And I'm out a bed if you take off.
[It'd... been, well, nice to actually sleep in one again. It's not like he can without Nier. Not when the guy works so well as a way to not overheat.
...Among other things. Which should be apparent with the way his form tenses when Nier's arm moves around his shoulders (as is his instinct), but the way he relaxes pretty quickly should be indicative of that.
He makes a small, contemplative sound when Nier mentions the cottages- leaning a little more against him.]
I've got savings too. [The amount of jobs he's been doing, more money's coming in than he knows what to do with. Especially since things on this world... well, weren't exactly interesting enough to warrant spending. Foodwise, a taste for warm flesh meant hunting. And that's as free as free gets.] If it's for something like that, you can have it all. Not like I've got anything else to spend it on.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[Nothing saying whoever told Nier that wasn't full of it. How could they know something like that? It's not as if any of them got the opportunity to dip out and go back home, just to see.
...He doesn't know. And his sentiment, at the moment, is not holding his breath, and not hoping. Not with such little information. He's about to ask who told him that- so he can get more of an idea. Hell, shake them down for it if he has to- but what Nier says next makes him stop. ]
Your life has meaning- even if you're not human. Means a lot to me, despite not knowing you that long. Must've meant a lot to other people, too.
[It's strange. If he wasn't human, what was he? Other than something some people wanted dead.
...That's a question for later. And at what he says next...]
You don't know what happened.
[He loosens his fingers, eager to move on.]
We shouldn't linger around here.
no subject
[ at what cloud says next, the answer is simple. remarkably so. ]
Neither do you.
But you said it anyways.
[ his voice is hard — perhaps he in general had been, in all of the ways cloud wasn’t. it’s what separates a man and a monster. the ability to regret, to feel, to fear.
nier was not a frenzied child who had gone berserk at the realization that he had nothing. he was perfectly lucid, a weapon ready to kill.
when cloud’s fingers loosen, nier’s do the same, just slightly; but he follows his lead. ]
There’s somewhere I can take us. You can see the stars there.
no subject
[Not a chance in hell they weren't dead. Either by Nier's own hand (likely) or the world ending, (a certainty) they must be. In a sense, it reminds him, vaguely, of Midgar. Those of the upper plate believed that those of the lower were less. Inferior.
...But it's not anything worth mentioning. Nier's situation is different, and it won't help, so he shuts his mouth and walks on a few more steps.
Except then he opens it, as if to say something at Nier's comment that yeah, he had said something. It runs through his mind to point out that he knew something of him, and he did mean something- but...
...He shuts up. And he keeps walking, his hand finally slipping from Nier's own. Probably best to have access to his sword, if they're going out into the wilde.]
Sounds good. Lead on.
no subject
there’s a ladder there too, for convenience. nier starts and waves a hand to guide cloud up, right beneath him. once they settle, there are potted plants lined up along its ledge, all of which seem to be flowers in bloom. ]
I haven’t finished building it yet. It’ll be a house one day.
[ and as he promised, the stars are indeed in view. ]
I don’t have any pillows, but you can rest your head against me if you’re tired.
[ whether he’s referring to his lap or his shoulder is up to cloud. ]
no subject
He glances at it, for a long moment, before he takes the cue and starts to haul himself up the ladder. It seems safe enough. And the construction seems pretty solid.
He waits for Nier to emerge before he speaks.]
...You thinking of moving out?
[His tone pretty much gives him away. Shit.
...If he... could have not sounded quite so Concerned at that, that would been wonderful. ]
...I'm not tired.
[But he's moving closer anyway.]
no subject
[ an honest admission. but the concern in cloud’s voice is noted, and a little unexpected too. ]
I thought you and Aerith would want some privacy. But this house isn’t for living in. Just somewhere to put my weaponry — and a refuge, for anyone who needs it.
[ lowly: ]
I don’t trust the natives of this city.
[ better to have your bases covered than not. when cloud shifts closer, nier does the same in response. ]
Are you sure?
no subject
[He withdraws a little at that, taking a breath and folding his arms close to his chest, leaning against the treetrunk in the centre of the house. His gaze moves away- to the planters at what looks like a rudimentary, at the moment, window.]
If you want to, then I don't want to hold you back. Aerith and me...
[It's complicated.]
She's a friend. She likes having you around, anyway.
[As does he. But.
He'd abandoned his effort to move closer, but since Nier was moving toward him too, they're close anyway. And he doesn't step away. Instead, he moves his gaze from the sky through the window, to him.]
I don't trust 'em either.
[In many respects. Gingerly, he half leans on Nier, not quite putting his head on his shoulder, but sort of leaning. A little. Kind of awkwardly, actually. Just about enough to feel his cold skin through the fabric of his shirt with his shoulder.]
I'm sure.
[Half-leaning on him isn't really for being tired. Or warmth. It's closeness, really.
And since the prospect of Nier moving out is still on his mind...]
Could always get a bigger place, if you need more space. It's a matter of time till they catch us living like that, anyway.
no subject
[ nier leans back alongside him — he knows well whatever is between those two is...complicated. and not at all straightforward. it isn’t his intention to intrude, however, or force them to compromise for his sake. another reason why he’d spent the night (or day rather) at other people’s houses on occasion.
but he can hear it, anyways: cloud’s attempt at keeping them together.
when he half leans on him, nier let’s one of his arms gradually snake around cloud’s shoulder, until he’s eased him closer. it stays there, like that. ]
I’ve thought about that too. We could get a cottage. I don’t buy much these days...not outside of weaponry or armor.
no subject
[The sad thing is, he's not even lying. She would.]
...And I'm out a bed if you take off.
[It'd... been, well, nice to actually sleep in one again. It's not like he can without Nier. Not when the guy works so well as a way to not overheat.
...Among other things. Which should be apparent with the way his form tenses when Nier's arm moves around his shoulders (as is his instinct), but the way he relaxes pretty quickly should be indicative of that.
He makes a small, contemplative sound when Nier mentions the cottages- leaning a little more against him.]
I've got savings too. [The amount of jobs he's been doing, more money's coming in than he knows what to do with. Especially since things on this world... well, weren't exactly interesting enough to warrant spending. Foodwise, a taste for warm flesh meant hunting. And that's as free as free gets.] If it's for something like that, you can have it all. Not like I've got anything else to spend it on.