[ can't a man enjoy his porridge and piss-ale at a campfire without things getting so existential... sheesh... ]
[ the only one to hear a would-be king's groaning at the fireside is a fellow soldier doomed to die being consumed by what was put inside of him. it's like that, he supposes — before a fight, after a fight, anytime war and uncertainty plague the horizon: hard not to feel the weight of the journey taken to get there. Cloud can practically breathe in the wet tropics and cool mountains of Wutai's countryside as he chews over the words and the congealed bran of his bowl. ]
[ his last memory of war not his own, his undertaken war at home forcefully abandoned, his looming choice to make someone else's war his own. only for the right price, he reminds himself, and scrapes the sides of his bowl with a wooden spoon. SOLDIER no more — a mercenary now. cold, ruthless Gil commandeers his motives again; things are easier that way. ]
Is it? [ he finally asks in return, low, well after it had seemed like he'd let the topic go unanswered. Cloud's new at making rallying speeches, and he doesn't especially know this man, but the kinship of one pawn to another is instantaneous. cautious, but earnest: ]
Seen that face once, you'll probably see it again. That's just how it is.
[ becoming desensitized is... well, survival. it's just good math. ]
omg an alistair... well well well!!
[ the only one to hear a would-be king's groaning at the fireside is a fellow soldier doomed to die being consumed by what was put inside of him. it's like that, he supposes — before a fight, after a fight, anytime war and uncertainty plague the horizon: hard not to feel the weight of the journey taken to get there. Cloud can practically breathe in the wet tropics and cool mountains of Wutai's countryside as he chews over the words and the congealed bran of his bowl. ]
[ his last memory of war not his own, his undertaken war at home forcefully abandoned, his looming choice to make someone else's war his own. only for the right price, he reminds himself, and scrapes the sides of his bowl with a wooden spoon. SOLDIER no more — a mercenary now. cold, ruthless Gil commandeers his motives again; things are easier that way. ]
Is it? [ he finally asks in return, low, well after it had seemed like he'd let the topic go unanswered. Cloud's new at making rallying speeches, and he doesn't especially know this man, but the kinship of one pawn to another is instantaneous. cautious, but earnest: ]
Seen that face once, you'll probably see it again. That's just how it is.
[ becoming desensitized is... well, survival. it's just good math. ]