jigokulogs | ( open ) you doing anything to keep her by your side

[ ...Does he tell her? She wanted to know the whole story, but that part - the amount of people that he's told is... well. Aerith. But he's also a couple drinks in at this point, and rapping on the counter for another. ]

[ Might as well commit to the whole truth, Cloud. ]

...I don't know. I thought I did. I followed him up to the reactor after he burned the town down, and I remember stabbing at him.

I know I killed him. But... he didn't stay dead. I asked him if I killed him, he never denied it.

[ The drink comes, and Cloud immediately takes a sip. ]

But after what happened... in- in the tower. I don't know how true all of that is. I realized... there's a lot of time... missing from after that point. I should be able to say what happened after that. But it's all... fog.

I think I got back at him, but I can't be sure, anymore. What happened back then... I don't know how much of it is real.

[ eula watches him carefully over the rim of her glass. he speaks with so much uncertainty, as if he himself wasn't sure if he'd killed the instigator or not. maybe it was that distressing of a memory to him? can't blame him, if that's the case. way to go, eula, for dredging it up from cloud's mind...

but no, this is barely her fault. and ultimately it isn't her business whether cloud did get his vengeance or not. but the least she can do is: ]

You don't have to explain further than that. I believe you.

[ assure him that it's okay. even if most people don't believe that vengeance will get them anywhere. for eula, it's only right for him to act on it -- after all, that man had claimed so many lives, so why not even out the playing field, right? ]

...Thanks. It's not easy to talk about. But you deserved the whole story.

[ He sets the glass down, staring into it. There was at least... something there. In being able to let it all out, to Eula. Eula, who at least seemed invested in wanting to see Sephiroth pay for what he'd done. It was... rekindling, in a way. His fingertips grip on the glass a little harder. ]

If he isn't dead... then I'll just have to make sure I do it right, this time. He's too dangerous to be left to his own devices, otherwise.

...But I'm not the only one here with a lot on my shoulders, huh? Back there, all those people - seemed like it wasn't the first time you've had to deal with... a crowd. [ More like a mob. But Cloud's being polite. ]

What's the story there, exactly?

[ a determined nod. that's the spirit, cloud. take back what's rightfully yours, and that is payback. vengeance can be healing so long as the evils that came from it will be eliminated.

but oh, it's her turn. she takes a sip of her drink, closing her eyes on how to tell him. would he even care if she's a disgraced noble at this point? not everyone in this world probably does, but it begs to be careful anyway. most people do regard her in face value, after all. ]

Calling that a crowd is putting it nicely, but I suppose that nightmare couldn't fit in more people if it tried. No, I'm certain that they represent the huge majority of the city of Mondstadt, my homeland, and how they think of me.

[ another long sip. boy, she'll want to get a little drunk for this. ]

[ Cloud watches Eula drink. He's a few cups deep himself, at this point - he needed to be for his own trauma. He isn't going to begrudge Eula hers. ]

A whole city, huh? [ So it was a mob. Cloud had the right idea, but that left a lot more questions. It's not like her homeland being a city is surprising to Cloud, given Midgar. ]

Can't imagine why they'd be after you the way they are. You don't strike me as someone who could get a whole city to hate you, no offense.

[ ...He had kind of just blurted that out, but he stands by it, taking a quick sip of the drink to cover up the shock of him saying something so bluntly. ]

What happened?

[ she looks up when he said that. oh, cloud. buddy. you have no idea. but he'll continue to not have an idea if she doesn't tell him, so.

she sighs. at the very least, she's not being forced to tell this, and honestly? it's about time she tells her side of the story to someone who isn't from there, to get some new perspective. ]

A thousand years ago, the nation of Mondstadt was ruled over by the aristocracy. One of which was the Lawrence Clan, who took over the city and ruled over the land with an iron fist as they sunk into corruption and ruin. It was the darkest time in my land's history. [ all forms of music was banned there, and slaves were being kept and used for bloodsport and sheer entertainment. just the tip of the iceberg. ] The oppression was enough to rouse the Anemo Archon from his slumber, and with the help of the gladiator, Lady Venessa, the land fought back against the aristocracy until they triumphed, making Mondstadt known as the Land of Freedom to this day.

But time does not heal all wounds. Even now, the Lawrence clan is still widely detested in Mondstadt. I don't blame them for it, however. The aristocracy still dreams of taking back Mondstadt for themselves, after all. And I take full brunt of their criticisms is because...

[ she takes a sip of her drink cooly. ]

I am their most talented heir in a long time. My name is Eula Lawrence. I didn't think I'd ever have to say my surname while I'm here, but you forced my hand. And now, you shall pay.

[ uh oh ]

[ If Eula is expecting Cloud to scoff at her story, it never comes. He sips on his drink there for a long moment as she talks. Her story is a simple one, but it's one that's full of pain. She didn't ask to be an heir - especially not to an aristocracy that had seemingly, rightly, gotten what they deserved. Now that he thinks about it, she did have a noble bearing about her. ]

I see. Well, I should have known I'd have to pay, sooner or later. [ the drink is making him more than a little glib. ] Do what you must, Eula. [ He does, however, refrain from using her last name. It's clear she doesn't like it much. ]

For a noble, it sure sounds like you got the short end of the stick - all the expectations to avenge some bloodied nose you might not even care about... and no one on your side because of your heritage in the first place.

[ He stares and swirls at his drink for a moment, before looking back up. ] Seems like a pretty raw deal, to me.

[ eula stares him down, as if expecting him to say anything contrary. it didn't come, which leaves her... quite floored? and relieved, in fact. she did have an inkling that her surname doesn't really matter in this realm, but even so, it's in her official files. she can never hide it for long.

she breaks her long, cold stare from him, and shakes her head. ]

I don't count myself as part of the aristocracy anymore. Not after my family had disowned me after I joined the Knights of Favonius, which was established after said aristocracy was overthrown.

[ she takes a sip of her drink. she's feeling the buzz a little bit now, but she can keep going. ]

It's been easier since I'd become a knight, but back then it was rougher. Usually I'd be kicked out of bars by now, just because of my bloodline. [ and that was just the tip of the iceberg. ] Being chained down by both parties must've been why I had those chains. It's a little dramatic, the more you think about it.

[ she can't help but laugh a little, now that they're no longer in immediate danger. still, it's a little eerie how that nightmare session summed up her problems as a whole... as much as she'd appreciated the fact that it was just cloud at the time, she'd never want to inflict something like that to people she'd just met. ]

[ He's taking a sip in response, nodding along as she talks. He can feel the pleasant buzz take over him, too. And it makes his shoulders slip a bit in relaxation, even as Eula breaks her death stare. ]

It makes sense. Between everyone's expectations or notions of who you are, you felt trapped. Doubt I wouldn't feel the same in your shoes.

Still, that you didn't let it break you down says a lot. You're tough, and you paved your own way, at that. If nothing else, that's something to be proud of.

[ Maybe he's taking another drink to hide the embarrassment creeping to his face at the compliment. At least, he likes to think it's a compliment. ]

I...

[ it's what the traveler and paimon would say, and back then she wouldn't have believed it. but having cloud here with her, sharing his own brand of struggles and vice versa -- it almost makes up for the fun she'd missed back home. ]

There's someone back home who said... that winds always change their course. I don't know when I'll ever change their minds about me, but. [ there's a slight flush on her cheeks as she looks up at cloud with a small smile. ] Just hearing that from you makes me believe that it'll definitely happen one day. Thank you.

[ she's. definitely not used to being sappy, though. it's really not her thing, so she's going to take a looooong sip from her drink until it's thoroughly drained. ]

[ Oh, that smile gets him right in the heart. She has such a pretty smile, he thinks, addled by the alcohol and lingering for just a moment longer than it would have taken to discard if he was entirely sober. ]

...No problem. And— even if the people back home don't change their minds about you, that just means they're all the more fools for not seeing the person you really are.

There are people who would treat me like trash just because I'm ex-SOLDIER. They might have their reasons, but if that's all they see... well. Then their opinion doesn't matter much anyway, right?

[ He's gesturing with one hand, the faint flush of intoxication finally starting to show on his end. ]

[ it really is easier said than done. she's heard that before -- amber, sara, the traveler and paimon. and from the bottom of her heart, she wants to believe it so bad.

but after hearing it from cloud, someone who wasn't even from mondstadt, there's no reason why she wouldn't take his word for it. ]

...You're right. You're absolutely right, Cloud. But you shouldn't be getting hate for fighting valiantly out there as an ex-soldier, either.

[ that's... that's what he meant, right? but seriously. nothing else matters now, except the opinions of her peers. god, the fact that she has peers now... she'll never get over it. ]

Let's raise a toast to it. Just to make it official. [ she may or may not be getting drunk too, with how she's becoming less reserved with that proposition as she raises her glass. ] Cheers?

[ He scoffs for a minute. He'll explain exactly what he meant by 'SOLDIER' another time, maybe. And how it had some similarities to Eula's own situation — a group with no one's best wishes at heart, least of all the people who were meant to fight for them. But that's a talk for another time — they're both a bit too deep in their cups for it to come out eloquently. ]

Yeah.

Cheers. [ He raises his glass, and clinks it with Eula's. ] To knowing whose opinions matter, and whose don't.

( open ) you doing anything to keep her by your side

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