#azure-steel

[ghostofnibelheim]

@azure-steel || Continued from here!

"Way ahead of you..." the words left him in little more than a breath while he attempts to make sense of whatever it was he was feeling right in that moment; that strong thump in his chest, a crippling sense of impending doom.

He'd felt it before, it was undoubtedly familiar, the same when he was listening to the cries of the dying back home, while he watched his birthplace burn. It was the same as when those pale jade eyes locked with his own, back then, and here in this vast expanse of nothing.

But it was none of those things triggering this flight or fight response, but something else, something bigger than the both of them combined. Bright mako stained eyes continued to comb the surrounding area, flickering only momentarily to the Buster still propped against an outcropping of stone, so sickeningly out of immediate reach. Not that Cloud had the skill to wield the thing as his own weapon.

But then he saw it, in the near distance; the glow of yellow eyes glowering over the waters of the ever encroaching tide invading the grotto, the reflection of which glittered in the murky ocean, and that sense of impending doom intensified. The breath stilled in the very bowels of his throat, eyes wide at the sight of whatever those eyes belonged to, staring at the pair of them, sizing them up, before the tell-tale plink of the water as the creature submerged.

They had encroached on another's territory and now they were the prey right here in this cave.

"Attention at Two O'clock... It's big." A harsh whisper as he dares to take a single step back, the silence of this place deafening, the glow of the surrounding corals so very suddenly blinding to the eyes and that sensation of dread forcing the bile into his throat.

So, he'd noticed. Even with his SOLDIER days behind, Sephiroth couldn't hold back a satisfied grin beneath impassive eyes.

"Very good. You are sharp." He praised him, rising his sword to eye level then, in a two-handed stance at the shoulder.

"But not ahead of me."

Slit pupils dilated slightly as the shadow of the creature beneath the surface came into view. The silver-haired one moved forward, two long strided steps, and swung. The sword danced at an angle, in an upwards sweeping motion like the stroke of a painter on his canvas. The blade itself would make no contact with the rocks he'd aimed at. And still, the shock wave hit the cave ceiling with violence, shaking the whole bowels of rock around them. Large boulders broke off, severed by neat moon-shaped cuts and plunged into the waters below, in a deafening crash of dust and water.

Sealing their way out; the one they knew of, anyway. But it would buy them some time.

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

@azure-steel | Closed Starter | Cloud and Sephiroth

Moments turned to hours, turned to days, to months, to years. Advent Day had left it's impact; negative, frightening, and then cathartic and hopeful. Geostigma still lingered in various corners of the world, in stubborn or loss or struggling hearts, but the cure was closer than ever and those blessed in Edge were the image of the potential of the future.

It had been long enough. The shadow skating the return of daylight had been biding it's time. The returned calamity fell to Cloud's sword once again, the last of his grasp on the corporal having faded in the blessed rainfall, and leaving the belief that the world was safe from such madness once more. So it was to seem, and so it was to be believed. Such was the intention of the shadow.

But the ghost of the apocalypse that was ended before Meteor was cast away, the warped figure referred to as Sephiroth remained. The figure, not a man, not a god, barely existing in any normal sense to even be claimed as a monster either, he had continued on in so many forms after so many deaths already...he knew how to tame his presence and existence, to survive. If nothing else, he would always survive, but he hungered for more. He desired it. It was rightfully his, to claim more. And so he would take it all.

In time.

He seeped through the pain of the world, through the dark infection still fighting purification within the planet and the wretches living upon it. He coaxed the pain to continue to fluctuate and grow, but he knew better than to push it any further, or himself. He had to contain his existence, if he was to make another try at reclaiming his right as this worlds god. He continued as he had before, after those remnants had come and gone through their own existence; tapping into and tasting the remains of memory and fear bound to his memory, and it kept him empowered in his lessened state. But it was the anchor that kept him flowing on...and it was the anchor that kept drawing him...

Most especially when that source of all his greatest connections to the corporal, the real, and the living continued to think of him, even if only fleetingly. There was a wicked pleasure every time he felt it, like a whisper of his name, and he drank it in, no matter whether it tasted of rage, of sorrow, of fear, of confusion...every taste was the greatest tonic.

Cloud would always be his resurrection. He was ready...to remind him of that fact.

He could feel it now, a distant thought, a flickering of rage and disdain, and a sense of longing... Oh, did the last hero of a damned species miss the fight, just as he did? Oh perfect.

Cloud....

[crue11]

 day by day , he was getting used to the looks he received from the doctors , from the other shinra workers that seemed less keen on having a remnant join their ranks and treated him like a bomb to be blown up whenever they felt the urgency — yazoo was lucky rufus didn't kill him for their little rebellion , and he didn't want to die . he didn't . . . he could take humiliation and hard work as long as they allowed him to go out at night . wander around the city as a half normal guy– months had passed . yazoo would often find a lonely rooftop where it was too high for people to look up , and didn't see him . he hasn't seen cloud either , he hasn't seen anyone but rufus shinra and the strangers outside that yazoo never quite socialized with . [ @azure-steel ] cold gaze painted emerald , glancing at the glinting lights of the ruined city as he sipped his drink . alcohol wasn't good for him , not that it made him drunk but it fucked up his stomach it seems . ❛ don't you have anything better to do than stare ? ❜  he could know him by the heaviness of his steps . it was an odd kind of comfort ; yazoo was a suicidal weapon in the morning and a nobody by night , but he didn't have to be something anymore – didn't have to be sephiroth . his eyes close , long legs dangling from the edge of the building . ❛ so creepy . ❜

    starter call.

[hisnewera]

@azure-steel liked for an oneliner.

"Did you come to be a good Soldier, or try and kill me again?" 

[sweettifalockhart]

[ patch ] sender carefully patches one of receiver's wounds

[ patch ] sender carefully patches one of receiver's wounds

Their foe was formidable; a fiend sewn to life by the fantasies of a sick man. By the end of it all, the party was hanging on by a thread, depleted of potions and trinkets that could heal the flesh. Tifa did not intend to delay their progress, for there would surely be an opportunity to restock soon after. But when each step caused her to wince, her friend insisted otherwise. Tucked away in a safe corner, Cloud retrieved her first aid kit; something she refused to travel without. Air hisses through her teeth, as fingers curled against barren dirt. The concoction cleansed her flesh, clearing away corrosive remnants of the terrifying beast. "--Nnh." She purses her lips, and waits for the bandage to be applied to her side.

"Thank you... Cloud. I'm sorry, I'll be more careful--"

[holyguardian]

Muddy, listen.

Your Aerith is just out of this world! Everything about her is just *chef's kiss* I fail to words just how much I adore her honestly. Like we don't RP much anymore, and that's totally okay, and I don't think we've ever really done anything here on Cloud, as much as I would love to. But you're one of my favourites, for real.

You balance out that 'Good Girl' persona mixed in with all the mischief that makes Aerith such a wonderful and loveable character, that every time I see you on dash I can't help but smile. You make the RPC a better place, man, truly <3

xo

Saphie, how dare you commit violents like that in broad daylight 🥹

That means so much coming from you. I don't know if I've ever admitted it out loud, I feel like I may have, but rewind the clock back to somewhere around 2020 when I first started to see your blog in my roleplay orbit I was impressed and intimidated. I know people don't like to hear that, your Cloud has such a strong presence and is so well-written that I had that "pbbf I can never show my face in this neighborhood" reaction for the longest time because I put you on a pedestal.

However, I'm not the same Muddy as I was in 2020, and I've taken off those rosy glasses and realised how silly I've been by putting up walls where there were never walls to begin with. I would love to explore something with your Cloud! I know we've let Aerith and Roche dance, but Aerith and Cloud deserve to step on each other's toes a bit!

P.S. How dare you, I'm touched, I really appreciated this 🥺💞

[rebelichor]

[ tavern ] our muses are both visiting a local tavern, where they meet.

Medieval interaction scenarios.

The Keeper entered Buscarron's Druthers and a telltale little flick trailed behind her. Most folk knew to leave well enough alone when a Mi'qote tail did all the talking. Hers wasn't cute or fluffy, a sleek tail like that of a proud lion, and sharper teeth to match.

She took her seat in a far corner, where she faced a stone wall. It was obvious she was a traveler. From the large traveling pack she hauled, her dusty clothes coloured by Thanalan's red soil and the glint of her ephemeris it was easy to puzzle together. The fact that she was an Astrologian all the way out here seemed to pull a few looks.

Her hands covered over her eyes and rubbed in circles to soothe the ache. The thing about being a Keeper was that she was built for a more nocturnal life, and being out in broad daylight often brought about a headache. The midday sun in Thanalan had been torture and she hadn't much wanted to pause for a rest at Camp Tranquil above the Rootslake where it smelled ripe with Morbol droppings. By the time she arrived at the tavern, she was in a sore mood.

The scrape of a chair perked her drooped ears and her hands lifted from rubbing at her eyes to instead shove back through her silvery hair. She looked like a right old mess as she stared at the stranger across from her. "... what do you want?"

[calamitysshatteredson]

  ❛  you were once and perhaps continue to be the myth you tell to scare yourself  ❜

Not Here Starters | accepting but slow

The blink was slow in a way that might almost be methodical if there weren't such exhaustion under the motion. Less intimidation or defiance than straight-up tiredness. He still loomed over the blond man, technically; if he were standing. If he had any want to use his height, his bulk, his still-unreasonable physique, but that...

Changed, as well. In ways. Everything changed, in ways.

Sitting in a chair technically a bit too small for him. Wearing clothes that most certainly weren't designed for him, but they fit. Enough. Boots that must have been worn by more than one person before him. What he'd felt he'd lost, he'd sought and he'd found, and--

It was regret all the way through. "Did I become a myth? Or did I start out a myth?" Placid smile, placid tone. The best attempt at false calm he had, which... was lacking. Like everything else. "Did I end like all myths do?"

Or is that yet to come?

So help him, he had no idea what he was hoping for.

[defiant-ex-soldiers]

(@azure-steel)

Terra was in Junon on a mission, tracking down one of the CEOs of ShinRa to get information from him. He thought he had time to get in and get out before Rufus' Inauguration ceremony, but he was mistaken, and soon found all exits from Junon closed off for the event. He had even tried to bribe his way through, but it hadn't worked.

Originally he had decided to watch the even in the crowd, cloak up over his head and keeping people from noticing his eyes. He had half a thought to attempt to take out the new president then and there, but he knew doing so would be throwing away his life, considering how heavily guarded he was.

Eventually the crowd overwhelmed him and he needed some air, so he slipped into the nearest building, which happened to be a bar. He decided it'd be a good place to lay low until the ceremony passes, Though he could still hear that annoying music through the walls.

So he ordered a drink and sat at a table, expecting to be there for a while. He knew he looked shady with his hood still up, but he couldn't risk anyone seeing his eyes.

[hyperionswrath-a]

🐹 have a chonky hamster~

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐦 𝐈? 

🐹 for “You? Intimidating? Hell no.”

HE CHOMKY! ♡ ♡ 

At least someone understands I am just a dork ahahah. ( but also once again I am so glad to see you back and am happy we poked each other way back when! It’s always a huge pleasure to write with you or simply see your portrayal on the dash :3 )

[ghostofnibelheim]

@azure-steel || Continued from here!

"That's not-" He almost fell for it. Almost. Genesis saw through Sephiroth's taunt and reined himself in, sitting straight and scoffing. "Hard pass on that. It's not my size, and unlike other people in this room, I wouldn't put on a show so on the nose."

And still, the man decided to exit stage left, taking a deep chug of his mug to empty it of what remained, eyes burning straight into Cloud's as he did, almost as though to intimidate with his swallowing talents. He rested it crudely on the table before stalking off towards the stairs.

Sephiroth seemed to register the event only tangentially, directing his attention on Angeal just long enough to warn him. "We'll be claiming the main bathroom for a while. I don't want to be disturbed."

"… Knock yourself out." The man said with a touch of irony, but no smirk. He did however take the time to look at Cloud, appraising him. Perhaps wondering if he had what it takes for… whatever it was that was about to happen.

As Sephiroth uncoiled away only to lead the other by the wrist towards a different door at the end of the hall.

[steeleidolon]

💋 :3c

:: Flirtation // Seduction

Another night, another day, another afternoon bleeding toward evening, the slant of sun catching on motes of dust, beams like golden arrows or headlights through the rain.

Time is a nebulous thing. Slow or fast, depending on any number of factors. All that matters is whether or not one seizes it in the moment.

When he shoulders open the door, Kunsel looks every bit like a man stepped off the battlefield and onward to the next mission, a keen and lively light in eyes stained ShinRa blue. Roaming. Seeking. There. There, the unmistakable plume of blond, beacon for his steps.

He is not as effusive as some of their mutual acquaintances, not as bubbly; his enthusiasm is more targeted, and he homes in on his target with precision.

Sidling up beside Cloud, half an arm’s length away and not crowding, Kunsel raps gently against the counter, tacit understanding that startlement from thought or daydreams - for either of them - might result in violence.

“Hey.”

Pitched low, almost velvety, what he has to say is for no-one else’s ears. 

“...so, she’s purring. Sourced some rods and they fit like they were made for her.” 

He knows how it sounds. 

“Suspension’s sound...turbo’s got just the right vibe. And the afterburners, man. It’s like a rocket between your thighs. Ramp her up and you're flying.”

He can’t not know how it sounds. A dimple pinches with his crooked grin, puckish, mischievous, as he rolls a key over his knuckles.

“Think we could set a tandem speed record on the flats. You wanna go?”

Letting the key drop on its toggle, he dangles it within reach.

“I’ll even let you drive~”

[uponthyhonor]

"Congratulations on being alive..."

@azure-steel

This person in front of him seemed familiar. Perhaps his memories were hazy still but he had the feeling that this person was close to Zack but his eyes fell upon the sword on his back and he focused on it. Memories with the blade played through his mind that he nearly didn't hear Cloud's words

"I'm not sure if it's a blessing or a curse." Angeal chuckled. "You were close with Zack. Is he still alive?"

[ofgeneticperfection]

"We're on opposite sides, you know."

She regards him with a prolonged stare, responding with a slight tilt of her chin. “Are you so certain about that?”

[mezzomorendo]

"Another day, another migraine."

[ mixed bag starters ]

Zack crossed his arms, head cocking in concern. These migraines were getting more and more frequent. Had it been anyone else, Zack might've worried they were just wanting his attention.

"Was there a trigger to it this time?" He knew that he had memory issues and they were often accompanied by intense migraines, but he was more concerned about the ones that weren't associated with his mako-and-trauma-induced amnesia. At least the latter was getting better. "Do you want meds or tea?"

[nanakithewarrior]

rcdfcxr​:

       ❝ Reversed… logic of a… hang on a damn minute !! – wait   ,  eaten!?  Is that why ya licked me!?  What ? Like a fucked up try before ya buy!?   I am not edible.   An I wouldn’t make a fuckin’ good chew toy either so don’ even think about it. ❞

On his list of things to do today  ,  arguing with him over the scent of soap and whether Reno would be a good food source ?   Nope  ,  that hadn’t been on his list of things to do today.

Red’s never had to buy a thing in his life, so the mockery was completely lost to him. To the Turk throwing a fit, he just reacted with a scoff through his nose, his good ochre eye wandering to the side, towards the mercenary who had taken his side just earlier.

“You could be learning a thing from Cloud ( @azure-steel​ ) . A single waft of his scent and I knew with confidence that I’d never want his flesh anywhere near my mouth.”