IC Inbox for Empatheias

[nofarplaneyet]

Messenger Bird/Voice/Image/Action

*If you want to harass an old man, feel free. Expect dry humor in return if you're trying to be smart.*

Comments

[sonicblade]

[There's several moments of silence before Cloud finally speaks.]

Leon went home.

[nofarplaneyet]

[Oh. Shit. He's completely awake now.]

Where are you right now?

[sonicblade]

Home. Sora's been spending the night... but I could really use a drink instead of milk and cookies.

[Hence his call to Auron. Although he knew Auron also deserved to know.]

[nofarplaneyet]

I do have some beer if you really need it.

[He didn't know the whole story of Leon and Cloud but he knew that Leon is basically Cloud's best friend and how much he missed him as a crystal.]

Apartment home or cottage home?

[sonicblade]

Cottage home. I relinquished the rights a day or so ago.

[He can't really afford it on his own right now.]

Beer is fine. I mostly just also want another face to talk to. Sora's out at the moment and... and you deserved to know too.

[nofarplaneyet]

[That is a lot of trust being put toward him. Although it's not surprising given how close they've gotten the past few weeks.]

Give me a bit. I'll be over.

[Especially since he's got to wander around in the dark to get to the cottage. It looks quite nice considering all the effort Cloud's put into it. It'd be a shame if he just let it go. It does give Auron a vague idea, but letting Cloud know he'd arrived was more important.]

[sonicblade]

Okay.

[Cloud isn't in any sort of rush and he does feel bad for waking Auron up like this just because he wanted company. When Auron arrives, he let's the other man in.]

Thanks.

[nofarplaneyet]

Not a problem.

[He has no idea how bad Cloud needs a drink so he just brought with him a few beers and sets them in his kitchen.]

Did it just happen?

[sonicblade]

[He leans against the counter and takes a bottle, fiddling with it momentarily before popping the top off.]

A few days ago. Probably a little longer... I didn't really notice at first but... well, when he didn't seem to be home two days in row, I asked Sora on the third day.

[nofarplaneyet]

I'm sorry, Cloud.

[Auron's awake now, so he'll also share a beer to commiserate with Cloud. He's also not the most physically demonstrative person in the world, but there were times that a brief hug could be appreciated, which is what he does for Cloud.]

I know he's your best friend and I hope he's safe back in your world.

[sonicblade]

Thanks.

[Doesn't matter how small the gesture is for Cloud, he appreciates it. It's been a few days but the past week really had been a whirlwind for Cloud. First day of dunamis training went horrible, the evidence showing on his arm as the dark scars had progressed, then suddenly needing to crossdress which was all sorts of weird and embarrassing and yet strangely fun (he attributed that to Usagi though) even though it landed him with a split lip for a good day or two, and now Leon was gone and he just wasn't sure how to deal.]

He's safe and probably doesn't even remember his time here. But I guess it's for the best.

[He finally takes a drink and guh, this is why he didn't normally drink beer. The taste was something he never got behind, but the burn feels good.]

[nofarplaneyet]

[Yes, there is something to be said for that nice burn of alcohol. Sometimes you just needed something to kill the pain for a little while. He raised his bottle of beer to lightly touch Cloud's.]

To Leon. Be safe, wherever you are.

So what are you going to do about the cottage? You've put all this work into it.

[sonicblade]

[He let's the bottle clink with a nod and doesn't answer, taking another drink and moving over to the stool against the island in the middle.]

Well, I'm not leaving it. Don't really have another place anymore and I like it. Just feels a lot bigger now.

[He might just move up onto the loft and turn the two bedrooms into guest rooms.]

[nofarplaneyet]

[That and he knows Cloud dislikes being alone. Especially alone out here where it's much quieter than in the city. It's too bad that he can't help...

Wait. Maybe he can.]

Hey. Been thinking. You know how I've been curious about getting a place of my own out here? Especially with Ifrit getting bigger.

Instead of doing that, what if I moved here? If you were okay with that, of course.

[sonicblade]

[It's why he let Sora stay over. He rests his chin in his hand as he takes another swig, eyebrows going up at the suggestion.]

Uh, no, I don't think that'd be a bad idea. You sure though?

[Didn't Auron like his solitude?]

[nofarplaneyet]

Unlike a lot of people who'd I'd be tempted to punch if I lived with them, I think we'd actually get along.

We're both quiet and respect each other's privacy, but don't mind spending time with each other either. Plus Ifrit does like you.

There's enough room around the place that I can build a little shed for Ifrit if he's going to get big enough to ride.

Also be willing to help you out with whatever else that needs fixing around here.

[sonicblade]

[Cloud warmed to the idea as Auron listed the reasons why this was okay. He hadn't really thought about all that, probably because he wasn't used to living with anyone but Leon and the Radian Garden crew.]

Well, I can't argue against that. Not that I want to. Alright, let's try it. Just give me a head's up when you need to get your things over so I can help.

[nofarplaneyet]

Sure thing, Cloud. Ifrit will probably enjoy having more space too.

[Not to mention Cloud has a much bigger kitchen than in Auron's apartment. He'd worry about getting settled before asking if other people (like Shinji) could come over.]

I think this will work out.

[sonicblade]

We definitely have a lot of that.

[He drained the last of the bottle and set it aside, contemplating taking another. He remembered now why he also doesn't normally drink, it makes him tired.]

Yeah, I think so too. It's weird going to sleep and you're the only presence in the house.

[nofarplaneyet]

[Auron does enjoy his privacy now that he's not attached to a pilgrimage. At the same time, being able to choose where to live is empowering to someone who felt pretty rootless for a while. He finishes off his drink.

Did all of you from your world just stay in the same house or something?

[sonicblade]

Sort of. We all kind of took over Merlin's place. But some of us have our own place too but... I dunno, being together was always a thing, I guess.

[Although Cloud spent more time alone than others.]

[nofarplaneyet]

Like you run in a pack.

[With the way Leon kinda teased with Cloud, they'd probably known each other for quite a long time.

A little jarring to be away from that group, even if it only consisted of two people.]

So then Sora just world traveled to your place and he's friends with probably everyone there, right?

[sonicblade]

They did. I left shortly after we left our World.

[He had been away from the group for years until recently.]

More or less. I met him at the Coliseum, he met everyone else at Traverse Town. They didn't move back to Hollow Bastion until the Keyhole was sealed. That was when Cid picked me up and took me home too.

[nofarplaneyet]

So you traveled around, did your own thing, then went back and rejoined your friends.

[He'll take a good bet that perhaps Sora might have triggered something in Cloud. He can relate. Sora keeps insisting Auron is much better than he seems.]

Kinda like this place. Getting punted to another world, figuring things out and getting a group of friends again.

[sonicblade]

Well, I didn't really go to very many places but yeah, I guess you could say that.

[More like Cid hauled his ass home. But he wasn't going to correct Auron on that. No real point. He reached over for another bottle and pulled the top off. Even if Cid hadn't, Cloud most likely would have said yes. Sora told him what was going on with the rest of the crew and, well, it was about time he came home.]

Yeah. I guess so. Would be nice if the rest of the crew came along for the ride, though.