[If anything, Cloud's reaction (given a few seconds for processing) is entirely different. Maybe it's their personalities. Maybe it's his changes. He's a pack animal, now. Losing her felt all the more terrible, that considered.
Maybe it's even his guilt. Maybe...
It's the fact that this feels like Sector 7, like the Forest of the Ancients, like the City all over again. Three times he'd failed her turned four.
He says nothing. He turns, immediately, finding his way to an attendant. Should Zack follow, he'd hear Cloud asking what the hell happened to the mirror. Hear him explicitly state the row, the location- hear quiet desperation in his voice as the (unfortunate) staff member recites the same old tired line about the magic 'not being an exact science'.
Perhaps he'd see the staff member attempt to leave, to be stopped immediately by Cloud grabbing their arm.
He'd more than likely see more staff members approach, as well.]
What the hell do you mean?
[Cloud's voice is pointed. It flares.]
Then do the spell again! Do whatever you did to get her here again!
[ Their reactions do represent an interesting contrast, with Cloud's anger flaring as he searches for some sort of immediate answer or solution, while Zack's instead struck with a sort of bone-deep morose acceptance of the situation. Because of course this would happen, with the way his life has played out over the past few years. He's upset and he's frustrated and he wants to shake his fist at the universe, but he isn't surprised.
Maybe it's just bad luck, or maybe there is some cosmic force that doesn't want them to be together, but this just always seems fated to happen.
Zack's shaken out of his reverie as soon as he hears Cloud yelling at one of the people who oversees this place. Realizing that his friend's making a scene and harassing people who likely can't do anything to change what's happened, Zack quickly jogs over to step in.
If it was just a simple spell to bring her back, Zack imagines that things would be pretty different here. He looks between Cloud, his eyes bright with outrage, and then to the staff member he's yelling at. ]
Hey. Sorry, it's just...
[ He steps forward, subtly placing himself between Cloud and the worker. ]
A good friend of ours is gone. Back home, I guess? Is there any way you can bring her back? I'm pretty sure if she was given the choice, she'd want to be here.
[ Just like him, she doesn't have much of a "life" to return to on Gaia. ]
[The contrast is certainly apparent. Zack, as ever, is just as confused, just as worried, and just as ...hurt as him, but outwardly, he's just... better at internalising it. He's speaking to this person calmly, even nicely, and Cloud...
He can't help but respond badly.
He wishes he could blame the Turnskin thing for it. It sure as hell doesn't help- Turnskins are pack animals. And Aerith... she's important. She always had been, even before this, but now...
He really, really has to hold his tongue when the worker starts rattling off about summoning 'not being an exact science' and when some (admittedly, well-meaning) words encouraging them to think of her not disappearing, instead just 'your friend's connection to their world strengthening' happen, he turns away in disgust.
His fists are clenched, as he walks away. And it's a good few moments later before he speaks.]
[ This likely isn't the first time that this person has been yelled at because a loved one has gone home, and so Zack can't bring himself to be too upset with them. It's not their fault, not really, and while it would be nice to have a place to vent all of his anger and frustration, this isn't it.
So when Cloud stalks off, wound up and boiling over, Zack merely offers the worker a quick apology and a word of thanks before he moves off to follow him.
Processing Aerith's loss is going to take a while, he knows, and yet right now he's focused more on Cloud than on himself. Damage control is what's at the forefront of his mind. In truth, he's never seen Cloud angry quite like this, but he also realizes that Cloud's grown a lot since the last time they really interacted. There's a lot for him to learn, still; a lot of lost time to make up for. ]
Hey.
[ He closes the distance between them, one hand reaching out to settle against Cloud's back between his shoulder blades. ]
Let's get outside. Get some fresh air.
[ It doesn't take long for them to head back out, though the heat that's clung to the city isn't exactly refreshing. Zack realizes he needs to say something, even if he knows his words will ring as hollow as the person's they just talked to. ]
She might come back, like I did. She may not remember being here, that's what happened with me, but...
[ He trails off, his gaze slipping down to the cobbled ground. Just having her back is all he really cares about. ]
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no subject
Maybe it's even his guilt. Maybe...
It's the fact that this feels like Sector 7, like the Forest of the Ancients, like the City all over again. Three times he'd failed her turned four.
He says nothing. He turns, immediately, finding his way to an attendant. Should Zack follow, he'd hear Cloud asking what the hell happened to the mirror. Hear him explicitly state the row, the location- hear quiet desperation in his voice as the (unfortunate) staff member recites the same old tired line about the magic 'not being an exact science'.
Perhaps he'd see the staff member attempt to leave, to be stopped immediately by Cloud grabbing their arm.
He'd more than likely see more staff members approach, as well.]
What the hell do you mean?
[Cloud's voice is pointed. It flares.]
Then do the spell again! Do whatever you did to get her here again!
no subject
Maybe it's just bad luck, or maybe there is some cosmic force that doesn't want them to be together, but this just always seems fated to happen.
Zack's shaken out of his reverie as soon as he hears Cloud yelling at one of the people who oversees this place. Realizing that his friend's making a scene and harassing people who likely can't do anything to change what's happened, Zack quickly jogs over to step in.
If it was just a simple spell to bring her back, Zack imagines that things would be pretty different here. He looks between Cloud, his eyes bright with outrage, and then to the staff member he's yelling at. ]
Hey. Sorry, it's just...
[ He steps forward, subtly placing himself between Cloud and the worker. ]
A good friend of ours is gone. Back home, I guess? Is there any way you can bring her back? I'm pretty sure if she was given the choice, she'd want to be here.
[ Just like him, she doesn't have much of a "life" to return to on Gaia. ]
no subject
He can't help but respond badly.
He wishes he could blame the Turnskin thing for it. It sure as hell doesn't help- Turnskins are pack animals. And Aerith... she's important. She always had been, even before this, but now...
He really, really has to hold his tongue when the worker starts rattling off about summoning 'not being an exact science' and when some (admittedly, well-meaning) words encouraging them to think of her not disappearing, instead just 'your friend's connection to their world strengthening' happen, he turns away in disgust.
His fists are clenched, as he walks away. And it's a good few moments later before he speaks.]
No point waiting around here.
[He's furious, still.]
no subject
So when Cloud stalks off, wound up and boiling over, Zack merely offers the worker a quick apology and a word of thanks before he moves off to follow him.
Processing Aerith's loss is going to take a while, he knows, and yet right now he's focused more on Cloud than on himself. Damage control is what's at the forefront of his mind. In truth, he's never seen Cloud angry quite like this, but he also realizes that Cloud's grown a lot since the last time they really interacted. There's a lot for him to learn, still; a lot of lost time to make up for. ]
Hey.
[ He closes the distance between them, one hand reaching out to settle against Cloud's back between his shoulder blades. ]
Let's get outside. Get some fresh air.
[ It doesn't take long for them to head back out, though the heat that's clung to the city isn't exactly refreshing. Zack realizes he needs to say something, even if he knows his words will ring as hollow as the person's they just talked to. ]
She might come back, like I did. She may not remember being here, that's what happened with me, but...
[ He trails off, his gaze slipping down to the cobbled ground. Just having her back is all he really cares about. ]