[His eyes roll at that, and his body language seems to close that much more. An exhale escapes his lips, and he's giving the impression of being jaded. Nonplussed, even outright dismissive- but if Teshima's perceptive, he might sense a flicker of sudden, jarring fear characterised with his dimly glowing eyes widening just so, brightening as they do, as well as the dig of his fingers into his arms. He'd really have to be quick. Or very perceptive for that- but if he had noticed, to say something didn't seem to be right would be an understatement.
For the smallest second, Cloud might have looked vulnerable. But he's quick to adjust. He forces a shrug. He loosens his fingers from where they'd dug into the skin of his forearms.]
No telling if all of that stuff's bullshit anyway. I don't need 'em.
[Even if he doesn't know the fear, the fact that his body language changes is enough to catch his attention. Someone closing themselves off like that is usually a sign of uncertainty, especially if they're trying to appear unbothered.
[...Okay, maybe that came out a little more aggressively than what he would have wanted. A dart of his eyes to Teshima follows, in vague apology, before he steps forward, unhooking his hands from around his arms.
A breath, deeper than what he'd wanted to display, follows. And he extends one hand, willing it, with everything in him, not to tremble. ....That's something at least. It's solid as a rock. The accompanying words aren't, however.]
You're right. I didn't think of that.
[His words seem clumsily put together. Unnnatural. And the truth lies in his eyes- they almost look as if he's asking rather than demanding.]
[At least he doesn't fight it, just hands it back to him, but he can't help the concern on his face. It's just a phone, after all, but he seems shaken enough that he's definitely missing something in the picture. He can't help but worry.]
Here, and you sure? You... I mean, if you need to talk about it...?
[He wants to say he's here, but maybe that isn't what Cloud wants? He keeps it open, see what he would say for now.]
[Phone in hand, he feels a lot better. He takes a breath and begins to shift back into his normal self, eyes hardening as soon as he feels the weight of it, what was on it, again in his pocket.]
Nope.
[Maybe some clarification's needed. ...He doesn't want him to worry about him, after all. So yeah. He can lie.]
It's the voicemail I got when I first got here. [A breath. And he wills himself to relax, or at least try to. To pretend it was something he wanted.] I didn't wanna lose it. That's all.
[Not that much of a lie. Technically, it's true.]
You feel the same, right? You must've got one from someone important to you.
[Family. That's a good one. ....And given what'd happened to his only family, not exactly something he can lie about. Even if he wanted to. He falters, swallowing, audibly, before his eyes shift away.]
...No. More like someone I know, where I came from.
[To him, it feels like the silence after that is palpable, incriminating. His eyes move to him again. He has to fill the void with something, anything.
...The thing that comes most naturally is aggression. Sorry, Teshima.]
We done? You got confirmation Fen isn't who you thought he was. You got that, and last thing I want's some kind of third-degree about other stuff. You get it? I don't owe you any damn answers, so back the hell off.
[He feels bad about it. Of course he feels bad about it- throughout all of Midgar, meeting Aerith, Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge... and seeing how they reacted when he went off- remembering the expression in Tifa's eyes when she said he scared her, makes him feel bad. Really bad- and it's shown only in his own eyes.
He glances backward, to Teshima's face, his gaze unsure. But he can't back down. He's already done it; so he forces himself to take a few steps forward, shifting focus to what lies ahead.]
Tell your friend they've got nothing to worry about. Alright?
[He sees the expression, and this time he smiles to reassure him. Whatever is on Cloud's mind, it seems to at least not be something about what Teshima did personally. He looked like he regretted it, the outburst.
He really is pretty awkward.]
Sure thing. Hey, don't be a stranger, you know? If you ever change your handle.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[It's not like he has anything to lose, taking it. Still, it might be useful, so it seems a waste to just throw it away.]
What if they send you something important?
[They being doubleneon, implied as it is.]
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[His eyes roll at that, and his body language seems to close that much more. An exhale escapes his lips, and he's giving the impression of being jaded. Nonplussed, even outright dismissive- but if Teshima's perceptive, he might sense a flicker of sudden, jarring fear characterised with his dimly glowing eyes widening just so, brightening as they do, as well as the dig of his fingers into his arms. He'd really have to be quick. Or very perceptive for that- but if he had noticed, to say something didn't seem to be right would be an understatement.
For the smallest second, Cloud might have looked vulnerable. But he's quick to adjust. He forces a shrug. He loosens his fingers from where they'd dug into the skin of his forearms.]
No telling if all of that stuff's bullshit anyway. I don't need 'em.
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He tilts his head a bit, curious, and speaks up.]
Are you okay?
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[...Okay, maybe that came out a little more aggressively than what he would have wanted. A dart of his eyes to Teshima follows, in vague apology, before he steps forward, unhooking his hands from around his arms.
A breath, deeper than what he'd wanted to display, follows. And he extends one hand, willing it, with everything in him, not to tremble. ....That's something at least. It's solid as a rock. The accompanying words aren't, however.]
You're right. I didn't think of that.
[His words seem clumsily put together. Unnnatural. And the truth lies in his eyes- they almost look as if he's asking rather than demanding.]
Give me it back.
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Here, and you sure? You... I mean, if you need to talk about it...?
[He wants to say he's here, but maybe that isn't what Cloud wants? He keeps it open, see what he would say for now.]
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Nope.
[Maybe some clarification's needed. ...He doesn't want him to worry about him, after all. So yeah. He can lie.]
It's the voicemail I got when I first got here. [A breath. And he wills himself to relax, or at least try to. To pretend it was something he wanted.] I didn't wanna lose it. That's all.
[Not that much of a lie. Technically, it's true.]
You feel the same, right? You must've got one from someone important to you.
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[He asks in response, not agreeing nor denying the question as he thinks of it as a rhetorical one. Those who arrived earlier all had it, after all.
He seems dubious, the reaction not matching his earlier words, not supporting the later ones. Something is up with this guy.]
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...No. More like someone I know, where I came from.
[To him, it feels like the silence after that is palpable, incriminating.
His eyes move to him again. He has to fill the void with something, anything.
...The thing that comes most naturally is aggression. Sorry, Teshima.]
We done? You got confirmation Fen isn't who you thought he was. You got that, and last thing I want's some kind of third-degree about other stuff. You get it? I don't owe you any damn answers, so back the hell off.
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[He raises his hands in surrender, definitely backing off in surprise, not expecting the pushback to be that intense.
Whatever it is on that phone, it's definitely a lot more important than he's letting on, enough that it might turn badly if he pushes too hard.]
Sorry, don't get mad. I didn't mean to push so hard.
[He lowers his hands though, dropping them to his sides.]
We're good. Thanks for meeting with me, Strife-san.
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He glances backward, to Teshima's face, his gaze unsure.
But he can't back down. He's already done it; so he forces himself to take a few steps forward, shifting focus to what lies ahead.]
Tell your friend they've got nothing to worry about. Alright?
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He really is pretty awkward.]
Sure thing. Hey, don't be a stranger, you know? If you ever change your handle.
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And only he, probably, could feel like he owes Teshima something now. So, even if the idea doesn't sound all that desirable...]
Fine. See you around.
...And seriously? Take a weapon with you next time you agree to meet some weirdo. A knife, a bat, anything.
[And he's off with precious little pomp, very little circumstance, and little other statement.]