[phone call - Cloud]

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[Ring, ring, ring! Pick up the phone, Cloud. Angry daughter-type is calling!]

Comments

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

[Well, he almost lets it go to the machine then realises there isn't an answering service like at home and it'll just keep on ringing so, after what seems like an eternity, he picks up.]

...hello?

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[There's no hello, not even a pause.]

When are you coming home?!

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

[Well, here's a long pause from Cloud.]

When I'm finished doing what I have to do. [Captain Vague has just entered the room.]

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[That's not good enough, Cloud.]

But when are you going to be done?

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

I... I don't know. I'll be done when I'm done.

I have to go and get Fenrir...

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

Well go and get Fenrir and come home! Me and Denzel want you here. We miss you.

Tifa misses you too.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

...I'm no use to you guys anyway...

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

How can you take care of us when you think like that?! We've had this talk before!

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Because it's true, Marlene. Tifa knows it, that's why she's so mad at me.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

Then you need to come and talk to her instead of being there. How can we work out the problems as a family if you're not here, huh?

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

You guys are a better family without me.

All I'll do is let you all down again.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

There ain't no gettin' off this train we're on! You know that, Tifa knows that, Denzel knows that, Shelke knows that, and I know that!

Stop moping around and come back! Papa, we're only a family if you're there. It has to be all of us.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

...Marlene... [He pauses, and the sound of rustling sheets can be heard.]

...how am I supposed to take care of my family when I can't take care of myself? You said that before, when the stigma made me and Denzel sick... but I still can't take care of myself.

You guys will be fine without me, okay?

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

That's why we're gonna help!

No, we're not going to be fine without you! It won't be the same! It'll be like when you left when you were sick! We want to help, Cloud, and we can't if you won't let us.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

...Marlene, I don't know if this is something you or Denzel or Shelke can help with.

Tifa's mad at me, and I'm mad at Tifa... this isn't going to just go away, even if I'm there.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[She's not dropping this, Papa Cloud.]

Then you two need to talk things out, and you can't do that if you're not here.

Come home, please?

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

I said I'd come home when I'm done with things.

I'll get Fenrir and I'll come home then. Not sure what Firion's doing though...

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, after you get Fenrir!

We do miss you though, Cloud. Everything will be alright. I know it will.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't want to promise her anything will be alright, just in case it's not.]

...I'll be home as soon as I can.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[Infinite Marlene optimism says things will be alright. Therefore, it will. Don't question her logic.]

We'll be expecting you! And you can bring Firion back with you. I like him.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

[Wouldn't dream of it.]

I'll tell him you have a crush on him, Marlene. [Teasing always lightens any mood.]

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

I-I don't have a crush on him! He's just nice! He got us the puppy!

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

...yeah, sure. [He gives the slightest of laughs.]

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[Defensive Marlene is defensive. What crush? She's innocent. Nothing to see here.]

Oooh, Cloud! I-I really don't! Serious!

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Okay. You don't. Serious. [Okay, he was only teasing. This is suspicious behaviour, young lady.]

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[She muttered something. It sounded vaguely like poopiehead. He had figured her out. The last person she had thought would, too!]

Maybe... just a little one. But not a lot.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

[Aww, Cloud is totally surprised but finds it far too adorable!]

Don't worry. I won't really tell him.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[Firion was nice. and he looked nice. And he wore crazy clothes. And he gave her a puppy. She's smitten.]

You better not! Or I won't forgive you!

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

[Cloud laughs lightly.]

I won't. I promise. And I'll be home soon.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

Okay! I'll see you soon! Be careful, okay?

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Okay. [A pause.] ...Bye.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

Bye! [And she hangs up.]