[ Cloud says it reflexively. I'll go. And like that, everyone divvies up the supplies. As Anna fits him in her coat- it fits him decently, surprisingly. But it's big on her, so that makes sense. He gives a nod as she tells him the coat's story - he'll bring it back. The talismans get divvied up between Andy and Felix, as they clear the room to the best of their ability - fire and lightning and Anna's own arcane talisman streaking mayhem across the room. He pulls out the charm he got from Matoba, sticking it square on his chest, as he picks up the Hi'hirokane knife. He puts a hand to his left bicep. It'll have to do. ]
[ He nods to the others, and breaks out into a sprint, breaking the perimeter of the chalice's protection in a dead heat toward the wall of darkness. ]
[ He hits the darkness full bore, the charm casting a light around him briefly, before it's consumed. The curse burns away at his insides - his lugs hurt, his chest seizes, but he keeps moving, his eyes focused on what they came here to do, his sword thrown to the side so he can keep both hands on the knife. ]
[ For all of the protective ability of Anna's coat, and Matoba's charm. It's not enough. He's driven himself straight into the heart of things. His vision swims. And he's not really... 'here' anymore. Not really. It's a good thing he has one of the cameras on him so people can review the footage later: Cloud Strife has checked out. ]
[The sleek, manufactured walls of the Mako Reactor. The pounding in his eardrums - frighteningly plausible, even as it's his body telling him he's in dire jeopardy. He's stumbling forward for a few steps. A corpse close by - an unconscious girl - he knows those well. He also sees what ahead of him clearly. ]
[Sephiroth. Turning to face him. Small, knowing smile behind those cat-slitted eyes. Hands outstretched, half-welcoming the attempt to challenge him. Darkness seeping off of him, unnaturally. Cloud's gut shrivels and twists.]
[Cloud's body moves forward on instinct, running towards the man. Hatred wells in his body, nearly freezing him in place, knuckles gripping tightly the blade in his hands as he thrusts forward with all of his might-]
[ Cloud Strife plunges the scarlet metal knife into the pulsing heart of darkness. He does not retreat, holding onto the blade as one might a lifeline as he tries to sink it as deep as it will go. ]
no subject
[ He nods to the others, and breaks out into a sprint, breaking the perimeter of the chalice's protection in a dead heat toward the wall of darkness. ]
[ He hits the darkness full bore, the charm casting a light around him briefly, before it's consumed. The curse burns away at his insides - his lugs hurt, his chest seizes, but he keeps moving, his eyes focused on what they came here to do, his sword thrown to the side so he can keep both hands on the knife. ]
[ For all of the protective ability of Anna's coat, and Matoba's charm. It's not enough. He's driven himself straight into the heart of things. His vision swims. And he's not really... 'here' anymore. Not really. It's a good thing he has one of the cameras on him so people can review the footage later: Cloud Strife has checked out. ]
[ The sleek, manufactured walls of the Mako Reactor. The pounding in his eardrums - frighteningly plausible, even as it's his body telling him he's in dire jeopardy. He's stumbling forward for a few steps. A corpse close by - an unconscious girl - he knows those well. He also sees what ahead of him clearly. ]
[ Sephiroth. Turning to face him. Small, knowing smile behind those cat-slitted eyes. Hands outstretched, half-welcoming the attempt to challenge him. Darkness seeping off of him, unnaturally. Cloud's gut shrivels and twists. ]
[ Cloud's body moves forward on instinct, running towards the man. Hatred wells in his body, nearly freezing him in place, knuckles gripping tightly the blade in his hands as he thrusts forward with all of his might- ]
[ Cloud Strife plunges the scarlet metal knife into the pulsing heart of darkness. He does not retreat, holding onto the blade as one might a lifeline as he tries to sink it as deep as it will go. ]