[It's unexpected, this pain that makes his vision double, but the way every muscle in his body tightens in shock isn't exactly something he hasn't felt before. He knows this feeling, it's something that'll stay with him for the rest of his life. But it's different, too.
He's expecting Sephiroth to brace, to shove the greatkatana all the way out of his other side, but he doesn't. Instead, he scrapes it to the side in a long, deliberate cut- shallow but painful- and honestly, it's only his own sudden jolt to the side, reactionary of course, that makes the cut crooked. Pain gives him the strength to allow him to wrench the sword from the ground- to turn and to hold the sword above Sephiroth's head as if to strike- but he teeters, sword careening to the side where it's tossed with a loud clang.
His hands move to his side. It's shallow, but that doesn't mean it's not bleeding like a bitch. He's certain it's no accident. Sephiroth didn't have accidents. But he's also certain that if he wanted it to be worse, it would be worse. Much worse.]
Shit.
[Press harder. Press harder. And behind gitted teeth.]
...That some kind of learning experience? Or how you vent out stress?
[Just a scrape, Cloud. Were his materia more than just useless spheres now, he might even be generous enough to cast a healing spell in his direction. But the point is moot, and the wound is purposefully shallow, so despite the pain and the blood, he knows it’s nothing critical.
He doesn’t so much as react when Cloud’s weapon is swung high over his head, only to clatter unceremoniously to the ground.]
I was seeking an answer to something. I have it now.
[Sephiroth gestures to the other with his free hand, knowing it would be useless to wait for the hot flash of pain to subside. He merely continues.]
But as for you… consider this an incentive to improve.
[That's for sure. The fact he can stand is proof of that. It's a lesson- something most would likely see as a cruel one, but something he knows to be just... an incentive. To not screw up again. He doesn't have to be SOLDIER to know that.
...And lesson learned.
He drags himself to pick up his sword, grimacing faintly at the effort needed to pick it up and put it back on his harness, but he doesn't say anything. Of course not. He doesn't want pity, and he's certain Sephiroth wouldn't be inclined to give it.]
Feel like letting me know what you were after?
[Spoken as he's straightening himself up again.]
It's not like it's your job to help me. ...But I want to improve. If you're up for it, next time you'll get more of a fight.
[When he’s more inclined to have that conversation, and when Cloud isn’t bleeding out from a minor injury. He watches as the man slowly hefts his weapon up to attach it to his back, considering the offer, and Sephiroth angles Masamune vertically behind his shoulder, as well, as if to signal the end of it.
It doesn’t take much thought to accept Cloud’s implied offer.]
However, if you want to train to improve, you only need to ask me. I would rather put my idle time to good use.
[That and Cloud is his bonded, a man with whom he’s built up a small amount of rapport. There is a faint, friendly obligation, though he does not say as much.]
[That's all that there is to say, isn't it? It's not like he's still unsure of the man. It'd been long enough to know that he wasn't exactly his enemy. Hence agreeing to this in the first place, much less his behaviour around him. There's simply no reason to be curt.]
...Thanks. If you want anything in return, [...Anything he could provide, anyway.] then let me know.
[And.]
I can get myself back from here. I'll see you in a couple days.
[Anything in return? People keep offering that to him, keep checking on him. It's still a strange notion, as if the statement is always spoken in a foreign tongue.
Still, he's learned to accept it as the reality, and responds only with resigned acceptance rather than outright denial any longer.]
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no subject
[It's unexpected, this pain that makes his vision double, but the way every muscle in his body tightens in shock isn't exactly something he hasn't felt before. He knows this feeling, it's something that'll stay with him for the rest of his life. But it's different, too.
He's expecting Sephiroth to brace, to shove the greatkatana all the way out of his other side, but he doesn't. Instead, he scrapes it to the side in a long, deliberate cut- shallow but painful- and honestly, it's only his own sudden jolt to the side, reactionary of course, that makes the cut crooked. Pain gives him the strength to allow him to wrench the sword from the ground- to turn and to hold the sword above Sephiroth's head as if to strike- but he teeters, sword careening to the side where it's tossed with a loud clang.
His hands move to his side. It's shallow, but that doesn't mean it's not bleeding like a bitch. He's certain it's no accident. Sephiroth didn't have accidents. But he's also certain that if he wanted it to be worse, it would be worse. Much worse.]
Shit.
[Press harder. Press harder. And behind gitted teeth.]
...That some kind of learning experience? Or how you vent out stress?
[Just a scrape. Just a scrape.]
no subject
He doesn’t so much as react when Cloud’s weapon is swung high over his head, only to clatter unceremoniously to the ground.]
I was seeking an answer to something. I have it now.
[Sephiroth gestures to the other with his free hand, knowing it would be useless to wait for the hot flash of pain to subside. He merely continues.]
But as for you… consider this an incentive to improve.
no subject
...And lesson learned.
He drags himself to pick up his sword, grimacing faintly at the effort needed to pick it up and put it back on his harness, but he doesn't say anything. Of course not. He doesn't want pity, and he's certain Sephiroth wouldn't be inclined to give it.]
Feel like letting me know what you were after?
[Spoken as he's straightening himself up again.]
It's not like it's your job to help me. ...But I want to improve. If you're up for it, next time you'll get more of a fight.
no subject
[When he’s more inclined to have that conversation, and when Cloud isn’t bleeding out from a minor injury. He watches as the man slowly hefts his weapon up to attach it to his back, considering the offer, and Sephiroth angles Masamune vertically behind his shoulder, as well, as if to signal the end of it.
It doesn’t take much thought to accept Cloud’s implied offer.]
However, if you want to train to improve, you only need to ask me. I would rather put my idle time to good use.
[That and Cloud is his bonded, a man with whom he’s built up a small amount of rapport. There is a faint, friendly obligation, though he does not say as much.]
no subject
[That's all that there is to say, isn't it? It's not like he's still unsure of the man. It'd been long enough to know that he wasn't exactly his enemy. Hence agreeing to this in the first place, much less his behaviour around him. There's simply no reason to be curt.]
...Thanks. If you want anything in return, [...Anything he could provide, anyway.] then let me know.
[And.]
I can get myself back from here. I'll see you in a couple days.
no subject
Still, he's learned to accept it as the reality, and responds only with resigned acceptance rather than outright denial any longer.]
I'll be sure to.
[Before Cloud goes, he makes certain to add-]
Find a healer. Don't let your wound fester.