aerialassault | 006 [Action/Audio]

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006 [Action/Audio]

[Action: Locked to Souji Okita]

[Consciousness crept upon him slowly, like a migraine. It slipped in through the window panels with the sun and stung his eyes, but for once Cliff did not want to awaken. He instead rolled over with a groan, burying his face under his arms and promising himself another ten minutes.

But a nagging sensation in the back of his mind kept sleep at bay. He knew in his gut that it was something important, something that was blue and white...

...Fayt.

His eyes snapped open as he crashed into the memories. The dogs and the cultists were all a blur, but the spear stood out in his mind. It was only when he sat up that he registered the not-entirely familiar surroundings and the warm body lying by his side.]

[Action: Locked to Fayt Leingod]

[He messed up, and there was no way to fix and forget about the mess that he had left for everyone to deal with in the battlefield that was once Zompania. It was afternoon by the time he returned to his apartment in the ground building, wearing a fresh set of denim jeans and a comfortable tee-- both of which fit because of some miracle. The dark shades he wore were new, as was he bag he carried by his side that contained the clothes he borrowed off of Souji and yet another set of loose white pants to add to his small collection.

Entering as quietly as he could manage, Cliff did a once-over of the apartment to make sure that things were still mostly as he left it. The Vac whirred and hummed patiently as it made a pass over the carpet, and Cliff found himself smiling.

At least that was still functioning.

After throwing his belongings into his room, he made for Fayt's. A quiet knock was the only warning he gave before he nudged the door open...]

[Audio: Open to All]

Yo. It's Cliff.

[It was dark by the time he reached for his journal, but he didn't care. There were plenty of other people that he wanted to see, but there was no way he could go visit them all in one day.

This was the next best thing.]

Can I get a headcount of who all's here and a tally on the damage? And, is the bar open?

[He'll be heading there later if he get's confirmation. For once, he plans to drink unil the damage doesn't look so bad.]

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[It was strange how he knew the days were passing even if he rarely left the house. Since returning from the draft, he'd holed himself away. It wasn't the right thing to do, but he also hadn't been able to do much else. By his account, nearly a week had passed, although he could have been missing a day or two in there.

It was strange to be lying in bed at this hour of the morning. Normally, he'd been just coming home from training Ginia, or, in the past, Sokka, and would have been up and cleaning the house. Now, he just lay on his side, listening to the sounds of the village and his pets waking up. Saizou would be around soon, pawing at his door, hoping to be let in. Sometimes, Souji would let him in; other times, he just wanted to be left alo--

Something was in the bed with him. There was a subtle shift in the pressure on the futon, the way the cover rose next to him, and the added sound of someone else breathing. Souji stiffened, keeping his back to the thing that had just appeared and slid his hand under his futon for the small dagger he kept there.

It was a person, judging by the size and the sound of the breathing. It sped up and then the person moved, sitting up suddenly. Souji rolled from the bed, bringing the dagger up, ready to fight if necessary - and froze when he saw who was there. He'd almost been afraid that, like a few others here, he wouldn't return, but there he was, looking panicked? Confused? Probably a bit of both. Souji lowered the knife and hesitantly moved forward.]

Cliff-san?

[The sun was too bright. Rubbing his eyes with the back of a big hand in an attempt to clear them of sleep, Cliff blearily looked up when he heard that familiar voice.]

...Souji.

[There wasn't any question-- he would recognize that boyish voice no matter the distance that separated them. Cliff shook his head with a huff, giving up on trying to force his vision to focus for the moment, and found himself smiling wryly over the familiarity of this.]

Yanno, this is almost like deja-vu. I had a dream that was similar to this last fall-- where are we?

[He wasn't an illusion or a hallucination, and in fact, he looked completely normal albeit sleepy. Souji felt the tension drain from his shoulders bit by bit as he moved back to the bed, tucking his legs under himself. He was shaking his head like he had something in his eyes besides the usual sleepiness.]

I didn't realize you dreamt of being in bed with me already.

[Souji motioned to the cover Cliff had thrown off when he sat up.]

This is my room.

[He chuckled softly at the small jab Souji had made with his words.]

Not like that, [he said, grinning in boyish chagrin.] It was actually more similar to all of this...

[Blinking, he found that his vision had cleared somewhat. Something was still off but he could function like this until he figured out what the problem was.

Cliff pulled at the cover, bringing the warm fabric closer to the both of them, hopefully covering the thin white trousers he was wearing in the process.]

I just never talked about it 'cause it seemed weird, [Cliff added, returning his gaze to his companion.] That's all.

Edited 2014-06-03 04:37 (UTC)

Mm.

[He hadn't heard of any of them being psychic, but Souji had some experience with this. Hajime could, and did, know the dates of all of their deaths and the methods of their demise. He didn't like to talk about it and rarely mentioned it to anyone, if he ever did, but Souji had a feeling. It was the way he sometimes looked at him, or the others, when he thought they weren't looking. It was like he was waiting for the storm to come and take them all away.

Souji watched Cliff carefully, trying to pick out what could have been taken from him. He remembered well his time on the other side of this, and how it had taken him months to figure out what was wrong. He'd simply lived too long with the disease that being short of breath and weak was normal. So what could be affecting Cliff?

He noted the white pants and slid from the bed, smoothing his clothes out as he walked around the futon and toward the bedroom door.]

It doesn't change that you dreamt about waking up in my bed. I'm going to see if any of Harada-san's old clothes will fit you. Give me a moment.

[It wasn't a psychic premonition so much as a Shift. He had that dream not too long before the Malnosso had borrowed him for a month to test out the native durability that all Klausians are gifted with, and the ending of that dream had been happy enough in his book. Given that he had found a swanky jacket in his closet when he returned, he liked to think that someone in the organization had taken a shine to him...

Like the responsible parties did now, with returning him directly to Souji.

The fact that it wasn't someone else worried him.]

Hold on, [He reached out a hand to grab Souji's sleeve before the other man got away. Rubbing his eye once again with the other, he looked almost desperate for once.

Almost.]

Tell me. Did Fayt make it back okay?

[That was a new expression on Cliff, and it shocked him to see his friend on the edge of such a fall. Of course he wouldn't know what had happened to Fayt, just as he wouldn't know what Souji had seen and what they'd gone through after Cliff had died. It was obvious and yet he'd almost forgotten.

But there was something else bothering Souji and as he watched Cliff rub his eye again, his expression teetered between worry and reassurance. Souji turned and leaned down, putting his hand on Cliff's, trying to guide it away from his eye.]

He's at his apartment, tired, but waiting for you.

[He didn't fight Souji. Instead, watching the other man carefully, he tried to force his vision to focus in on the worried smile that he heard in that voice. It took a moment for the lines and contours to clarify themselves, but there was a lingering haziness that bugged him...

None of this was voiced. Not yet.

He sighed in relief and visibly relaxed with Souji's answer.]

That's good. That's very good. I....[He shook his head, not even caring about everything blurred.] I dunno what could've happened if they got him.

[He wasn't focusing. It was like one eye was seeing him, but the other wasn't. Cliff shook his head and Souji wasn't able to track his eye movement again.

Instead, he smiled at Cliff, trying to reassure him.]

I wouldn't have let that happen. Nor would any of the others.

And pardon me for a moment, but...

[Souji reached out and gently pulled Cliff's face back so he could see him straight on. Then he lifted one hand to the eye that was tracking him properly, covering it.]

[Cliff froze at the sudden contact and, blinking in surprise, stared at Souji in his confusion.

....but, that fixed the problem.

Snorting in bitter amusement, Cliff let out a short laugh and grinned at Souji, embarrassed.]

This is lookin' like an annoying season already, isn't it?

[Souji pulled his hand back and offered a sympathetic smile.]

So it would seem. At least it won't be forever.

[He straightened and took a step back, wondering just how much the loss of his vision would harm him in the upcoming months. He knew he'd heard somewhere on the network about how long one had to wait to contact that strange ex-Malnosso who seemed to be working with the village, but he couldn't recall the number. Instead, he turned to leave the room, returning to his former task. Cliff might not be dealing with it now, but eventually, someday they would have to talk about what happened. Still, whatever Souji had gone through in the past week, it was far worse for someone else - and that someone was the person he needed to see right now.]

I'll get you something to wear. Fayt-kun is waiting for you.

[He watched Souji set off to do his task, already pondering over the scattered details that he had read about how death worked in this world. There was a way to regain these losses, he knew, but he also didn't remember the exact number of months.

Somehow, his gut told him that it was a season-- but, it was something to investigate later.]

...I know he is, [Cliff said, standing. He stretched out his shoulders, his arms and legs, just to reacclimate himself with the feeling of moving again.] But I can't see him looking like this. Gotta get some clothes that fit if your friend's don't....

and do you have anything to eat here? I'm starved.

[He laughed a little and nodded as he reached the door, turning so that Cliff could plainly see that Souji was smiling and nothing was wrong.]

Of course. I'll bring you Harada-san's kimono and make you breakfast while you put it on. How does that sound?

[There was always something that lurked behind that gentle smile of Souji's, especially after a crisis like this, but Cliff let it go this time. They had other concerns to think about, and a lot of heavy details that needed to be sorted through in the coming days and weeks.

He smiled in return, and for once felt like he understood some of Souji's reasons for always doing so.]

Sound's great. And, I hope you don't mind the company after I get everything on. ....I think I just wanna be around people today.

[He paused and then nodded.] Of course I don't mind.

[Then he slipped out of the room. The house seemed empty still, even though Saizou was sitting on the couch, looking at him curiously. He gave his pet a smile as well, then let the expression fall away as he went to the other room and found a kimono that worked. It was a dark green, unpatterned, and game with a black obi - to him it was plain, but this was Harada's favored style. He'd gathered a few upon living here, but it still felt strange to be loaning his things out.

Souji fingered the fabric quietly before closing the box it sat in, then headed back to the room. He knocked and opened the door, sliding the long wooden box inside before heading to the kitchen.]

[It had to be Japanese manners that threw him, he decided, because even after associating with all of these people from Japan, Cliff found that he still wasn't used to some of the distant and polite mannerisms he saw in his friends. He pulled the contents out of the box, admiring the way it was folded and the comfortable weight of the natural, unaltered fibers. That quality of fabric was rare in the era of space travel, and it was a luxury that many people didn't even know existed until they found themselves holding such a fine garment.

He slipped it on, unsurprised by how the sleeves were a little short on him, and fumbled to tie the the other piece around his waist.

Odds were that he did it wrong, he knew, but it worked well enough.

Comfortable in the clothes, he went out to go join Souji. He knew he would be safe enough from tripping over any wandering animals if he stayed close to the wall.]

[The dagger he'd been holding and had slipped into his sleeve once Cliff had focused on him was set on the kitchen counter when he arrived. He knew it would take Cliff a few minutes at least to put the borrowed kimono on, so he gave him a moment to close his eyes and breathe. Cliff was alive again, he was missing vision in one eye, and he was putting off dealing with what had happened. Souji still saw it in his nightmares and so he knew both Fayt and Cliff both had to be dealing with twice if not a thousand times more.

Which meant Souji would have to wait, give the man time and pretend until then that he himself was fine, too. Fayt had seen Souji react poorly, but that had been a day after, when he'd relatively calmed down. As long as Saori never spoke to Cliff about him, perhaps he would be safe from his partner ever finding out.

Souji slipped the dagger into a drawer as he heard the door behind him opening and busied himself with other tasks; cracking eggs and getting the late evening's rice heated up again. He tried to keep his voice light as he worked, in contrast with how he felt.]

It isn't too small, is it?

[Though the tone was light, he understood Souji well enough by this point to catch the underlying worry that he didn't openly voice. It was with reason too-- but, until he saw Fayt for himself and knew that the young man was okay, Cliff knew that he had to keep on moving forward like he always did.

Afterward, though... he couldn't remember the last time he had slept well. The enormity of the situation weighed heavily on his shoulders, and he had a lot more to think on than just his revival. The entire battlefield of Zompania, littered with the bodies of the people who were sacrificed in what had to be some kind of arcane ritual, and the thing that lurked underneath the fabric of existance still needed to be reconciled in his heart. Although he had seen planets be destroyed, his course of action at that point was still clear. This time, he had no idea what the next move was.

...it bothered him.

Cliff padded across the cool, wooden floors in bare feet, fingers trailing against the firm lines of the wall, and joined Souji.

He was grateful for his partner's discretion.]

Nah-- fits better than I thought. I probably goofed on the tie, though.

[He swiped his fingers on a nearby towel and turned to examine Cliff's attempt at an obi. He smiled, noting how Cliff felt his way along the wall and forcing his expression to remain unchanged. Souji reached out when Cliff made his way to him and quickly loosened then retied the obi, slipping the loose ends into a neatly tied knot.]

If you had been perfect the first time, I might have worried that something was wrong with you.

[He leaned slightly to the side, examining the length of the sleeves.]

I'll have to see about getting one made to your size. And Fayt-kun's. I don't know if I should have one made for Albel-san. He might shred it in a fit to get back at me.

I dunno, man. That guy likes wearing skirts.

[He said it in a joking tone, but he carefully watched Souji's movements all the while. It would take some time to get used to but, out of all of the possible losses he could have taken, this one was relatively mild.

He could still see. It was just a off.]

But, seriously. I'd appreciate that-- these clothes are comfy, and I like your friend's taste. It's simple, but still classy.

...He must have been an interesting guy.

I think he gets mad if you call it a skirt, doesn't he?

[He tugged at the sleeve for a moment, then paused as Cliff mentioned his "friend." Souji would have to get Cliff one of his own someday soon, if only so that he could shut this one away again. Maybe it was strange of him to keep their old clothes when he had a feeling none of them would ever return, but he couldn't bring himself to give anything away either.

His fingers lingered a moment and pulled away as he turned to go back to cooking. He could hear Saizou grunting in the living room, chewing on the pillows in agitation.]

Harada-san is a very interesting person, yes. They all are.

How do you like your eggs?

That's just all the more reason to keep using that word.

[The joke was short-lived when he saw Souji still when the topic turned to the absent Harada. It was as if a wall went down, and once more Souji closed off a part of himself to the rest of the world. No one could follow him once he went there, Cliff knew-- all he could do was be supportive and patient.

Besides, he realized bitterly, this time it was partly his fault.]

Honestly, I don't know much about what you did back in your world. One day I'd like to hear more...whenever you're ready to.

[Cliff followed, and relaxed back against the counter to watch Souji cook without being in the way.]

For now, could ya do 'em scrambled? With some salt and pepper?

There isn't much to say really.

[He did at Cliff asked, putting a dash of salt and pepper into the bowl as he mixed with a pair of long wooden chopsticks.]

We are the Shogun's personal police force and are charged with protecting the capital and enforcing his laws. My country is on the brink of civil war since the foreigners came, between those who wish to reinstate the emperor and dissolve the old ways and those who wish to uphold the government and protect them. It's more complicated than that, I suppose, but it boils down to that in a way.

[He finished whisking the eggs and turned on the stove, waiting for the pan to heat.]

We have different ideas of how to defeat the foreigners who are trying to flood onto our shores and change our way of life. The Joi think that by reinstating the emperor, they can force them out with a war. The Shogunate thinks that we can only defeat them by first opening our doors to learn from what they have so we can later turn it on them.

[Souji shrugged slightly and slid the egg batter into the pan, listening to it sizzle. Everything he said was detached from his reality now. This was the textbook answer, the things anyone could find from what Souji had left in the library. Books about the Shinsengumi, the people, and the outcome, however, he'd carefully picked out and removed, destroyed or obfuscated enough that no one could read them.]

It's a difficult time for my country, but our lives are relatively dull. We patrol for the Joi rebels and ensure that no harm comes to the Shogun, his retinue or the Emperor while we are in Kyoto.

[Cliff leaned back and closed his eyes, carefully paying attention to the details without having to worry about the visual filter for the moment. Although the story, simple as it was, sounded almost distant and detached from what must have been the reality, Cliff didn't persue it. All he did was focus on the information offered, plain and simple...

He could smell the eggs start to sizzle in the pan when Souji took his pause.]

That still sounds rough, even if the day-to-day was boring. Having to deal with people coming in like that is always a pain.

...actually, it sounds sort of like what people in my grandfather's generation had to deal with. There's never an easy, clean way to deal with situations like that.

Eventually, we will have to go to war. [He swirled the chopsticks through the cooking egg, breaking up bubbles.]

Although yes, it's likely what your grandfather went through. Does that make me as old as him then?

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