[CLOSED] AUGUST CATCH ALL

[adversus]

Who ⬤ Marie and various others
What ⬤ Shenanigans with her new buddies. Mostly drinking, hanging out, making sure the population of Jigokucho is properly trolled...
When ⬤ August, before Tanabata event!
Where ⬤ Various
Content Warnings ⬤ There's some trauma talking up in here, but I think that's about it.

Comments

[identitycrisiscore]

[ He gives a snort as he looks away — his way of diffusing Marie's compliment. People calling him interesting doesn't not bolster a little bit of confidence in him. But he's not good about showing it. ] Yeah, well... thanks.

Yeah, I'm surprised you didn't hear about it already — there was a curse that hung over the city in July. I was part of one of the teams picked to dive into the center of it. We had to make a gamble to destroy the source of it. I volunteered to bear the brunt of it... nearly didn't make it out.

[ He rolls a shoulder, massaging it with one hand. ]

I'm on light activity until the physical therapists give me the clear. Best estimates is next month. No training, no combat practice, and especially no 'reckless heroics'.

[ Their words, not his. His drink comes out and he holds up in a toast. ]

So, where would you like me to start? [ He can tell he's probably going first in this exchange, and, well, with Marie, he doesn't entirely mind. ]

[adversus]

[Marie takes a sip of her water, and ponders his words. If only because she's heard bits and pieces of it, but not the whole story. So, hearing about it from someone who not only was there for it, but was in the center of it all... It was certainly interesting, and she turns her head to look at him in utter amusement. Not at all having expected him to be the heroic type, given how quiet he was but. It was good to know that she could certainly trust him in those kinds of situations.]

You surprise me, soldier. Didn't take you to be one of those heroic types, but good on you. We have that in common.

[There's a soft laugh that escapes from her, and she can't help but smile a bit into her cup. That sort of advice was all too familiar, that was certain.]

Well, once you're cleared, let's hit up the gym or something. We'll get you back into tip top shape again.

[With that, she takes her drink in hand, and offers it up so they can toast together. The sound of glass clinking echoing around the room for a moment, before she brings the glass to her lips. Not hesitating to swallow down some of the drink, happily humming once she swallows the alcohol down and places the drink back onto the table.]

Let's see... Let's talk about how you and that organization know each other. You sound like you have quite the history with them, and I'm curious to know. If you don't mind divulging in any traumas.

[identitycrisiscore]

I'd like that. Could use a workout partner, once I'm back on my feet.

[ He takes a long sip of his own drink, letting the atmosphere fill the gap between the two, before he starts to explain. It was the easiest place to start, admittedly. ]

They're known as Shinra, or the Shinra Electric Power Company, if you're being snooty. On the surface, they're the leading provider of the electric power fueled by mako - a magical substance drawn from deep within the planet, and they built Midgar, the most advanced city in the world, as an example of what they and mako provide to the world.

The truth is, Shinra might as well be its own country. They're a corporation with their own privatized military — from lowly grunts to special operatives known as SOLDIERs, and a smaller, more discrete taskforce known as the Turks.

[ He pauses as he sips, once again letting the atmosphere fill the beats of silence. ] Shinra controls Midgar, and everything to do with mako, too. From energy production, to crystallized magic known as materia, to the experimental enhancements conducted on its SOLDIER operative. They might as well own most of the inhabitable world.

As for me? I was one of the 'lucky' ones. A SOLDIER. Experimented on and given superhuman enhancements... all for the sake of benefitting Shinra's bottom line.

[ He'll pause there, let Marie catch up. He's not exactly finished in full, and he's sure Marie has more questions there. But if she wanted to know about Shinra... that's as good a primer as any. ]

[adversus]

[Marie stays quiet for Cloud's explanation, taking small sips of her drink while she learns more of Cloud's world. A curious hum leaving her, before her face twists into that of disgust. The fact that they had their own privatized military sounding all too familiar to what her nemesis back home did. Her fingers grasping the cup all too tightly, as she tries not to grit her teeth too much.

Although, when he mentions SOLDIER, her gaze turns back to him with a sympathetic look. Her free hand reaching out toward his shoulder, and squeezing it tightly. A deep sigh leaving her as she pulls her hand back, understanding all too well how that was like. A bittersweet laugh escapes her as she practically chugs down her drink, and sets down the glass.]

Funny how corporations like that always need privatized military. They're totally not doing anything suspicious!

[Marie can't help but take another sip, before setting her glass down again. The tip of her finger trailing across the rim, sighing out again.]

So you were experimented on, were you? What did they do to you, if you don't mind me asking? Just curious, since... My nemesis does the same shit back home. She basically has a super army to protect her from me, specifically.

[identitycrisiscore]

[ He looks up at her, perhaps a bit startled at her reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. Cloud wasn't a guy who took to physical affections. Not readily, anyway. Still he doesn't resist, staring into his glass. ]

All the usual you'd expect. Faster, stronger, tougher, bounce back from the worst quicker. SOLDIERs are made to be a one man army.

I don't... really remember all if it, if I'm being honest. They put you in a tube. They infuse you with mako. You're not even conscious for that part. But you can always tell when it's happened to you. [ He turns to Marie and taps at his temple, drawing her gaze to his eyes - baby blue, but closer to the pupil is an ethereal green that seems to spill into the rest of his eye. ] Mako always leaves its mark.

[ He breaks the look after a moment, and half-shrugs — the shoulder that Marie isn't squeezing rising and falling with indifference. ] So, I guess that's to say I'm not all that different from the army your friend who sold out and went corporate does to people.

[adversus]

So my initial inspection of you was correct. You are the exceptional soldier.

[A one man army... Marie certainly knew how that was. She was trained, like so. The two certainly having more and more in common. It was comforting to say the least; the life of that kind of soldier being a lonely one.]

Probably for the best. That kind of thing is... Traumatizing, I bet. You are being experimented on, after all.

[When he mentions mako, it's almost a sickening feeling, really.

But, her attention is brought to Cloud's eyes as he taps his temple. Marie leaning in from her position, and getting a much better view of his eyes. Her sharp gaze catching those odd features in his eyes, which. Makes sense, in all honesty. Still, it doesn't feel right, and she squirms slightly.]

Geez, soldier boy. So, with this mako -- can you die from it? I reckon that's the kind of thing that can poison you if you're around it too much!

[That. Makes her take a big gulp of her drink.

He's right -- that doesn't make him any different. But still, she doesn't hold a grudge with those soldiers.]

Ah hah, don't say it like that. I mean, it's true, and I hate that it is. But... I don't know. They're promised lavish rewards, and powers beyond their wildest dreams, but at the end of the day, they're disposable to her.

[She sets her drink down, and without hesitation:]

I think we're learning that corporate people suck.

[identitycrisiscore]

[ There's a moment, where Marie asks about how much worse can Mako get, that Cloud seems to stare off at some point fixed in the far distance. A tube, experiments, slumped over. Clothes drenched in Mako. He blinks, and it's gone. ]

...You can, yeah. Too much exposure, especially directly, and you can fall into a coma or die. It's... it's not inherently bad. But the way they use it—

[ He shakes his head. ]

I can't begrudge them if they're looking for a payday, either. You and I both know what that's like, right?

Corporations will always use people like us to get what they want done, but don't want their hands to dirty.

[ He stares into his glass. ]

That's just the way it is.

[adversus]

[There's a brief moment of worry that washes over her face, watching as Cloud stares off into his own memories. For a moment, wondering if she should offer him a pain killer, if his memories are hurting him, but once he blinks and the tension is gone, she pushes that thought down. Her eyes trailing back toward the bartender, and waving him over to order another drink. A much stronger one this time.]

Damn. I'm glad neither of those happened to you. Wouldn't be sitting here, having this drink with you if it did.

[She. Downs her first glass, and feels the corner of her eye twitch. A deep sigh leaving her in turn.]

Corporations can go to hell.

[Plain and simple.]

Got any friends? Enemies that this Shinra corporation produced? You must have made some friends and enemies, right?