[ The pair of them sit together, hand in hand. Aerith feels a surge of confusion strike her as easily as lightning splits the earth, as she listens to Cloud's voice float over the boisterous sounds of a pub half-way drunk to death. A stunned quality seems to decorate his voice, something she can't help but cling to, finding it familiar. She's stunned, too, and her lips purse together in a thin, thoughtful line as she realizes that they're working with something more. ]
Should I... not know you can dance?
[ She poses it with a slant of annoyance to it, authenticity lost in her tone. Rather than true annoyance, she's fishing. There's a wiggle feeling of something being wrong ghosting along her spine now. ]
[ A part of him wants to say 'Never mind.' and brush it off, he's only a little used to Aerith's accusatory tones. But the other part of him, the part that's more than a little confused, can't help but take the wheel. His hand squeezes her, affirming she's real here and now. ]
[ His brows knit together, his blue-green eyes searching hers for something — something he doesn't even know he's looking for, as he speaks up. His voice is still small, compared to the rowdiness of the night, but there's an insistence that goes with his own confusion. ]
I've never been on stage before, but I just... saw myself dancing. In some weird vision. And—
I think— I think you were watching me.
[ He feels altogether too forthright with this. But another part of him is screaming 'if not Aerith then with who?' Especially if she's in his visions. He hasn't seen anyone else he recognizes from town, yet, but her..?
[ Searching for something in her gaze will pull out only the seriousness masked by amusement. Perhaps now, more than ever, it seems that Aerith's eyes are more green than any other's person's have been, though. An ethereal, Earthly glow to the vibrancy of her gaze— oh, but it could be the lighting, no? Aerith returns the favor and finds in Cloud's gaze a mottled mix of toxic green and sky blue. Which came first? She wonders idly, strangely: Hazel eyes don't work that way. ]
Maybe... You really want me to cheer you on?
[ The lopsided smile she offers him is half-hearted, barely there. Supportive as it may be, it does not hide the truth well. ]
[ The way she wears her seriousness makes a pit of unease settle into his stomach, the way her eyes twinkle with amusement but hide her own worries about what this means. They're beautiful, otherworldy, even— no, supernatural but distinctly not otherworldly. He isn't sure why he knows that, but he does. ]
You did, huh...?
[ This isn't the first vision he's gotten, but something about the connection — and how serious Aerith is taking it — make him want to act. The impulse is there to jostle the stone of worry in his gut before it sets. What does it mean? Even now, he's no closer to the answer, but knowing there's someone here who might also be looking for those answers, that he's not just adrift at sea with only his own thoughts to keep him company, make it easier to bear. ]
[ There's a small speck of confidence he doesn't quite grasp the origins of moving him. He squeezes Aerith's hand again. He finds the counter with his other hand, pushing the two off — himself into Aerith, and the two of them two steps back away from the bar's countertop. He doesn't let go of her hand all the while. Practically heartbeat against heartbeat, for this moment. ]
Well. If we both saw it... wanna see if I have those kinds of moves after all?
[ It's bold, it's brazen, it's something he hopes brings the spark of delight back to Aerith's eyes, instead of the uncertainty bubbling beneath her bemusement.
And think about it, Aerith does. She lets her line of sight slither from Cloud's face to the sturdy line connecting neck-flesh to his shoulders, an inevitability she indulges in and happily admit to. Her curious yet challenging gaze lingers on the veins in his arms. Thin, firm muscles on his body look more and more enticing as she thinks about his idea. He knows her too well, she thinks. ]
A very interesting proposition, Mr. Strife! Hm. It might just confirm or dispel these rumors swimming about in this very conversation.
[ There's a brief moment where he can hear the din of the tavern die down. Cloud's hear maybe skips a beat as he realize, in a burst of confidence, all eyes are on the two of them - the delivery boy, head-over-heels for the small-town songbird. It's almost enough to make him get cold feet— ]
Woah!
[ And then, like a whirlwind, she drags him along. In the direction of the stage? That'd make the most sense, but the truth is he's not really paying much attention to where they stop. Especially not when Aerith's right in front of him.
...Is she checking him out? Nah, couldn't be, right? ]
Mosey? Heh. Let's. [ He returns a smile in kind, and the musical accompaniment, waiting in the wings, takes this as initiative to start to play a jaunty little tune - not too slow, not to fast. But it's little more than warmup noodling, seemingly taking their cues from the two who have risen to their feet, to the stares of many. It gives him time to pull Aerith close, drink her in, eyes moving from her brilliant eyes back down to the body he's pulling deeper into his arms (Her slender build, her graceful, confident steps. Not dainty. Not fragile. She'd never go for that—) and back up again.
Hey, turnabout was fair play. ]
How do you want to take this? Fast... or slow? [ It's an honest question. He feels on top of the world, right now, and he's giving Aerith free reign to say whether they let this candle burn... or they set fire to the whole damn tavern, here and now. ]
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expiationlogs2024-03-09 08:37 am
no subject
[ The pair of them sit together, hand in hand. Aerith feels a surge of confusion strike her as easily as lightning splits the earth, as she listens to Cloud's voice float over the boisterous sounds of a pub half-way drunk to death. A stunned quality seems to decorate his voice, something she can't help but cling to, finding it familiar. She's stunned, too, and her lips purse together in a thin, thoughtful line as she realizes that they're working with something more. ]
Should I... not know you can dance?
[ She poses it with a slant of annoyance to it, authenticity lost in her tone. Rather than true annoyance, she's fishing. There's a wiggle feeling of something being wrong ghosting along her spine now. ]
no subject
[ A part of him wants to say 'Never mind.' and brush it off, he's only a little used to Aerith's accusatory tones. But the other part of him, the part that's more than a little confused, can't help but take the wheel. His hand squeezes her, affirming she's real here and now. ]
[ His brows knit together, his blue-green eyes searching hers for something — something he doesn't even know he's looking for, as he speaks up. His voice is still small, compared to the rowdiness of the night, but there's an insistence that goes with his own confusion. ]
I've never been on stage before, but I just... saw myself dancing. In some weird vision. And—
I think— I think you were watching me.
[ He feels altogether too forthright with this. But another part of him is screaming 'if not Aerith then with who?' Especially if she's in his visions. He hasn't seen anyone else he recognizes from town, yet, but her..?
Why her? ]
no subject
Maybe... You really want me to cheer you on?
[ The lopsided smile she offers him is half-hearted, barely there. Supportive as it may be, it does not hide the truth well. ]
The truth is, Cloud... I saw it, too.
no subject
You did, huh...?
[ This isn't the first vision he's gotten, but something about the connection — and how serious Aerith is taking it — make him want to act. The impulse is there to jostle the stone of worry in his gut before it sets. What does it mean? Even now, he's no closer to the answer, but knowing there's someone here who might also be looking for those answers, that he's not just adrift at sea with only his own thoughts to keep him company, make it easier to bear. ]
[ There's a small speck of confidence he doesn't quite grasp the origins of moving him. He squeezes Aerith's hand again. He finds the counter with his other hand, pushing the two off — himself into Aerith, and the two of them two steps back away from the bar's countertop. He doesn't let go of her hand all the while. Practically heartbeat against heartbeat, for this moment. ]
Well. If we both saw it... wanna see if I have those kinds of moves after all?
[ It's bold, it's brazen, it's something he hopes brings the spark of delight back to Aerith's eyes, instead of the uncertainty bubbling beneath her bemusement.
If only for a moment. ]
no subject
And think about it, Aerith does. She lets her line of sight slither from Cloud's face to the sturdy line connecting neck-flesh to his shoulders, an inevitability she indulges in and happily admit to. Her curious yet challenging gaze lingers on the veins in his arms. Thin, firm muscles on his body look more and more enticing as she thinks about his idea. He knows her too well, she thinks. ]
A very interesting proposition, Mr. Strife! Hm. It might just confirm or dispel these rumors swimming about in this very conversation.
[ So Aerith stands, grabs his hand, and tugs. ]
So! C'mon! Let's mosey, shall we?
no subject
Woah!
[ And then, like a whirlwind, she drags him along. In the direction of the stage? That'd make the most sense, but the truth is he's not really paying much attention to where they stop. Especially not when Aerith's right in front of him.
...Is she checking him out? Nah, couldn't be, right? ]
Mosey? Heh. Let's. [ He returns a smile in kind, and the musical accompaniment, waiting in the wings, takes this as initiative to start to play a jaunty little tune - not too slow, not to fast. But it's little more than warmup noodling, seemingly taking their cues from the two who have risen to their feet, to the stares of many. It gives him time to pull Aerith close, drink her in, eyes moving from her brilliant eyes back down to the body he's pulling deeper into his arms (Her slender build, her graceful, confident steps. Not dainty. Not fragile. She'd never go for that—) and back up again.
Hey, turnabout was fair play. ]
How do you want to take this? Fast... or slow? [ It's an honest question. He feels on top of the world, right now, and he's giving Aerith free reign to say whether they let this candle burn... or they set fire to the whole damn tavern, here and now. ]