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mr-deblob · 27 days

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Aerti Reading of No Promises to Keep

So, new FF7 theme song, new group of lyrics to analyze, debate about Who It's About. While I'm fairly certain it's about all the people who Aerith came to know and who care for her, I can't help but feel that they lyrics point towards Tifa most of all. Perhaps it's simply shipping vision, but Hollow, while generally being about Cloud's state of mind trying to handle loss, definitely feels like it centers around Cloud's relationship with Zack specifically.

I'm not gonna write an essay about those two, but I will link to a video that pretty much embodies every reason why it embodies Zakkura:

youtube

But now, let's break down No Promises to Keep with that in mind. Hopefully I don't kick any hornets' nests in the process.

Walking city streets with worn cobblestones Listening to people rushing past to rhythms all their own Life passing me by, not thinking how the years have flown Until I met you

This portion can apply to Zack, Cloud, and Tifa pretty equally. All three of them played a part in Aerith engaging more in her own life. Zack kickstarted her flower-selling business; Cloud's fall led to her leaving Sector 5 with him and deciding to help rescue Tifa; and Tifa herself became her closest confidant and friend, both of them acting like each other's childhood girl friend that neither of them had a chance to experience.

I won't say that it was fate I won't say that it was destiny But if not, what could it be that drew you towards me? Could it be chance?

Let's be real- the fact that Aerith met Tifa at all is an absolutely wild chain of events from an outside perspective. Because Zack got her to start selling flowers topside, she ran into Cloud and happened to meet him once again when his fall from above landed in a church she frequents to gather flowers from. Then, when she accompanied him out of Sector 5, Chocobo Sam's cart carrying Tifa passed by and fired Aerith up to help rescue her.

Given that the Whispers only show up when the destiny of the Planet needs to be corrected, there's definitely an implication that all of these events were fated to occur. However, given that the Remake Trilogy's themes are heavy on changing destiny and if fates are fixed, these lines could be reflective of how Aerith is trying to fight the future she saw. Thus, she doesn't want to attribute the reason she met these people important to her to something greater. Better for it all to be pure chance that she knows them, that they sought each other out instead of being herded towards one another.

Till the day that we meet again Where or when? I wish I could say But believe—know that you'll find me Promises to keep, we won't ever need

While this is very much a general sentiment of Aerith wanting to be with her friends again after her death, the last line's rather striking to me. She doesn't need a promise for them to meet again- they will, even though she has no guarantee for how it'll happen. It's meant to reassure the ones she's singing to, and when it comes to someone who relied on a promise to keep herself connected to an important person in her life, Tifa Lockhart is the first one to come to mind.

Tifa has a lot of abandonment issues, rightfully so given... *gestures at her entire history*. At this point in her life, her childhood friend group had started seeing her as a romantic prospect and severely strained her ability to be open with them. Cloud, distant as he was, felt like the only one she could connect with who wasn't openly trying to court her, the closest one to treating Tifa like Tifa instead of a Young Maiden. If he leaves, she would lose the one person her age who talks to her like a person, and there's no guarantee that they would ever see each other again once he's gone. Trace of Two Pasts says that Tifa had a "special 'like'" for him, one that she couldn't afford to lose. So she comes up with the promise, a way to cope with the loneliness, something to believe in, like how she tried crossing Mt. Nibel to find her deceased mother on the other side.

She's the type of person who would need this kind of reassurance, especially with someone she's developed a close relationship with. Rebirth is not shy in showing that Aerith and Tifa are basically inseparable. And given the *ahem* separation which occurs at the end of Rebirth, Aerith would want to try and soften the pain and despair that would come for Tifa through the grief. If she could tell Tifa when or where they'll reunite, she would, but all she can do for now is help Tifa believe that they will meet again, that this parting is temporary and she won't need to mourn forever.

If only I'd never known All the burdens I was born to bear Lived a life without a care in the world save for you… But that won't do

Remake Aerith's gotten some glimpses of what will happen in the future/has happened in the past, something that's clearly weighed on her throughout the games. She's scared of the Whispers stealing away those parts of her, warns Cloud not to fall in love with her, and tries to keep Marlene and Red XIII as out of her memories/visions as best she can. But she knows she's meant to die for the sake of the Planet

Even beyond the meta elements of it, Aerith's status as a Cetra- the last Cetra- and her connection to the Lifestream has prevented her from really feeling as just another girl. She's the centerpiece of Shinra's plan to find the Promised Land, she's watched over by the Turks, she's been trapped since her birth and has never been able to make any real choices.

Wouldn't it be nice to be ignorant of all that? To have even a year where she didn't feel the weight of the world on her shoulders and could live as a carefree girl who loves flowers? But even if she could sweep away all those worries, she would still want to know the important people in her life and all the struggle that comes from caring. Now, that's an impossible dream, a good dream. To go shopping topside with her friends, going on a beautiful date with Tifa in Costa del Sol, basking in the wonder of the Gold Saucer. It would be nice to stay in those fantasies forever, but the future's approaches, it's survival hinging on her playing her part. So she has to let them fall to the wayside.

Till the day that we meet again On our street, I want to believe In the chance that we'll share a glance Promises to keep, we won't ever need

Much the same sentiment as the first chorus, but this time focusing on Aerith's perspective. Even though she put her carefree dreams aside, she needs to hold onto the belief that there's simply a chance for them to see each other again.

Aerith and Tifa have a recurring gesture of turning towards each other to connect, eye-to-eye, heart-to-heart. That's their way to communicate with each other in a way only they get to hear and see.

Then, in the ending scenes of Rebirth, when everyone's getting up to leave the altar, Cloud and Aerith look back to wait for Tifa, with Aerith in the foreground. When Tifa shakily gets up, takes a breath and turns around, Aerith's not there for her to look into her eyes, to share a mischievous smile with, to whisper their little jokes to. Maybe Tifa can't see Aerith now, but Aerith wants to believe that they might get to share a glance with each other one more time.

Till the day that we meet again At our place, just let me believe In the chance that you'll come Take my hand and never let me go Take my hand And believe We can be Together evermore

I don't think I need to point out how often Tifa holds onto Aerith's hand or has to catch her in her arms. Granted, a number of these happen in life-threatening situations, but we're in a JRPG here- those moments are basically flirting without calling it flirting /s. Honestly, though, these ladies give so much physical affection and care for each other. It'd take forever to put down all the examples, but you could probably find some real easy just by searching up Aerti, so let's move on to the last bit of the song.

Walking city streets with worn cobblestones Struggling against the crowds and finding ourselves all alone Fate and destiny are no guarantee Still I hope someday you'll come and find me Still I know someday you'll come and find me

Once again with walking through busy streets. Though this time the two of them make it through the crowd and get to be alone. The only crowd I can think of is Tifa pulling Aerith through the Gold Saucer crowd to get closer to the front. As for the two of them being alone, off the top of my head there's the room in Kalm and the cargo hold on the cruise ship where they're softly sharing their Pre-Order Pasts with one another... seemingly only with each other for now. And once more, there's a lack of trust put in fate and destiny.

However, she hopes and then knows that she'll be found be this person. Really reminds one of a pretty vulnerable moment Aerith had in Remake does it not?

She was already found once. She trusts that she'll be found again... someday.

#rebirth spoilers #aerti #aerith x tifa #aerith gainsborough #tifa lockhart #ffvii rebirth #ff7 #final fantasy vii #final fantasy 7 #no promises to keep #shipping #ship thoughts #song analysis #Youtube

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cloud-data · 5 months

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an objective analysis of ship content in ff7 remake!

i am a long time fan of ff7 and with rebirth rolling around the corner and ff7 fans all over the internet getting into arguments, i decided it would be a fun project to look at "shipping" content and make a judgement on which of the three most contentious ff7 ships has the most """"support""" in the current remake material!

a little background about this project: i was curious to see if there was an objective way to determine which ships of the 3 that are most commonly debated as canon (CloTi, Zerith, and Clerith) have the most content, as someone who is not aligned with any one ship. i didn't include other popular ships like AerTi and Zakkura because, as far as i know, the content for those ships is not commonly disputed! these ships, as well as the ships i did include in this post, are valid in their own right therefore this feels like a good time to explain that this is not a project meant to challenge the validity of any one ship! this is simply a thought experiment, by me, to see if there was a way that someone could objective determine which ship had the most irrefutable official content. whether you find that to be compelling enough to call one or more of these ships "canon" is not a judgement i can make. ultimately, there's no way to be completely objective. determining one scene as romantic and another as not romantic is not a purely scientific process. but i will outline the process that i used below!

how did i determine what media was included

not all ff7 content was included here. i decided to go with media i thought was representative of the remake continuity. the reason for this was to avoid doubling up on the same events, and also to be more in line with the new content, which is considered separate from the old content. i did not include the ultimania because despite this post proving the contrary, i do have a life, and going through all the ultimania plus their various translations sounded exhausting.

ff7 remake and intermission -- obviously, this was included as the central piece of media in the new continuity

crisis core -- having been recently remastered, this was included; i also felt that having been remastered spoke to its overall importance to the new content

advent children -- the developers of ff7 have noted that advent children is a piece of the new compilation as well, so it was included

trace of two pasts and picturing the past -- these two novellas told from tifa and aerith's perspective are the most recent additions to the ff7 remake franchise and were included

additionally, i included all four trailers for ff7 rebirth because of personal and fandom interest!

what scenes were included

to be as objective as possible, i looked at multiple sources to make judgements on what could be included "shipping content" for each ship. this meant browsing social media, for the most part. this way, i was not relying solely on whether or not i interpreted scenes as romantic.

initially, a tally across all 4 works yielded the following content/scene count (shown on the first graph above!):

CloTi: 54

Clerith: 35

Zerith: 30

to get this count, all scenes were included regardless of 1) whether they were interpreted for multiple ships, and 2) whether they were optional. this is simply a total of all scenes across all content.

how i narrowed it down

for the sake of maintaining objectivity, i made a few adjustments to the first tally. not all scenes could be considered objectively ship content, even with the benchmarks i was using. so additional rules were put in place and scenes were taken out if they met the following conditions:

optional: all optional scenes were removed. neither tifa nor aerith's resolution was included in the final count. the train sequence with tifa and cloud was also removed.

one-sided: this one hurt my heart a little.... but for the sake of objectivity, any scenes that were one-sided on tifa and aerith's part were removed. you might be wondering "why not cloud"? and the simple answer is because the love triangle debate about canon is centered around him. regarding Zerith, i removed scenes that were one-sided on zack's part using the same logic. i want to be clear that in no way am i criticizing any of these characters for having one-sided or unreciprocated ship scenes, nor am i of the mindset that cloud's affection has more or less value than anyone else's. this was just the best way to achieve an objective result and answer the question i posed.

multiple interpretations: scenes that can be interpreted as being for multiple of the included ships were not included for either ship. a notable example would be: cloud and aerith's scene in the park which can be counted as both Clerith and Zerith content. another example would be leslie's flower necklace, which is often attributed to both Clerith and CloTi.

the final tally

after eliminating those scenes, the new number of scenes for each ship was as follows (shown on the second graph above!):

CloTi: 33

Clerith: 22

Zerith: 19

as you can see by comparing the graphs, the results did not change much.

conclusion: based on the metric of current total romantic scenes together across the current remake ff7 compilation, CloTi has the majority of content at 44.6%, followed by Clerith with 29.7% and Zerith with 25.7%.

what does this mean? basically nothing -- a ship having the most content is not necessarily an indication of "who ends up with who". like real life, fictional romantic is dynamic and rarely ever linear. a couple that has many scenes together in the first half of a movie might not see each other for 40 minutes of run time toward the end. realistically, the same could be said here. at the same time, what is shown above could very well indicate the tone of the story moving forward -- there is no way to predict where the plot will go!

but i had fun looking into this from an objective pov and i hope you found this interesting, if not thought-provoking!

final thoughts

maths and numbers and whatnot is a fun little interest of mine, as is ff7! i am open to adding to this work (for example, calculating totals for each work individually, comparing them, etc.) if there's enough interest :)

additionally, i am opening my ask box for questions and comments! think i may have missed something? let me know!!!

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sunshinediaz · 7 months

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get to know me... a little bit more <3

tagged by @eddiediaztho, @callaplums for TWO, @wikiangela, and @fortheloveofbuddie

putting it under a cut because it got kind of long? mwah.

three ships: buddie, romanogers, and zakkura

first ever ship: god. um? inuyasha and kagome, probably? i wasn't a teenager yet and i was actively watching adult swim and that sent me down 89 rabbit holes

last song: the housefire by turnpike troubadours for... reasons teehee

last movie: the nightmare before christmas WHICH has to be watched both in october and december because it's a halloween & christmas movie, mwah

currently reading: to you i'm just a man (to me you're all i am) by @eddiebabygirldiaz and i'm SO SORRY i'm so slow with it ryan 😭

currently watching: bones? it's on in the living room and i'm glancing at it from the bar, so

consuming: sweet tea. a mountain of a glass, too, which is probably why my tummy hurts but i don't care! i am happy!

currently craving: definitely chocolate gravy. my birthday's coming up soon and my mama makes all of us kids a meal instead of a cake and my go-to is ALWAYS chocolate gravy, lmao

nicknames: none i'm sharing with anybody <3

zodiac: libra/scorpio cusp and by GOD i'm claiming the scorpio energy

fav music: rock + outlaw country

followers: 365 i think!

following: 71?

do you get asks: sometimes and they're always a GEM unless they're being vicious cunts and then i don't appreciate it at all

amount of sleep: 5-7 a night which is LOADS better than what i used to get <3 we love graduating and finally getting a proper schedule

what are you wearing: black fuzzy socks, black flannel pajama pants, black medusa t-shirt

dream job: when i was a kid i wanted to either be a veterinarian or a firefighter and, uh, guess which one i'm training for right now 🫶🏼

languages: english, some spanish

random fact: i was named after this song that waylon jennings covered ♥️

aesthetic: rockstar cowboy? queer cowboy? a mix of all three? think ronnie james dio + waylon jennings and then you got me

i'm tagging @callmenewbie and @devilyouwere and @emchant3d, mwah

#tag games

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banorawhite · 8 days

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1 (for ffvii) and 2 for Genesis! 🖤

ah i’m so sorry this is late!! had a lot of fun answering them though 💞

1 - otp for ffvii?

oh this is hard, i find so many dynamics in ff7 interesting and compelling! i’m going to have to cheat and list a few

aerti - if i HAD to choose a single ship as my favourite i’d probably say them! they absolutely have the best chemistry in the game, though i think what really draws me to them is that they GET each other. they’re open with each other and there’s definitely a spark going on, barely 5 minutes after meeting they’re planning a date. they absolutely were on a date in costa del sol!!

zakkura - where do i begin?? country boys. they’re laughing together in 5 seconds. zack is one of the first people to genuinely care about cloud. cloud invited zack to his house. zack DIED protecting cloud. zack continues haunting cloud long after his death. they just care for each other SO MUCH, they’re both important to the other, they are both so bright around each other. (and that’s ignoring EVERYTHING about these two in the rebirth ending)

ags - i love every variation of these three! (and it just makes watching everything fall apart in crisis core that much worse). the push and pull with sephgen, childhood friendship and intimate understanding with gengeal, quiet but resolute loyalty and supportiveness with sephgeal. they balance each other so well and i’m in love with their dynamic. if i had to choose a favourite duo it would probably be sephgen - there’s tension between them from differing vulnerabilities/insecurity, there’s rivalry, but also passion and it’s clear they really care about the other. paired with the inherent tragedy that comes from canon and there’s so MUCH to dig into with their dynamic that’s highly enjoyable!

strifesodos - ohhhh they make me insane. i LOVE thinking about post canon with these two. you have cloud coming out of his identity crisis and finding his feet again, gen reorientating to a world that’s suddenly unfamiliar to him; they’re both trying to figure out who they are and what they want. there’s also a LOT of history that’s kind-of-shared, kind-of-parallel, and having them dig into that is delicious. there is so much potential. also there’s the fact that gen has only ever met cloud as CLOUD, which is probably refreshing for cloud

i don’t think i can write any more mini essays but i also really like cloti, zerith and clerith - i’m a massive multishipper, and ff7 spoils me when there are so many great dynamics going on!

2 - ot3 for genesis

i feel like i’ve already covered my main ot3 with ags, but i’m also intrigued by gen/cloud/tifa. i haven’t thought too deeply about them yet but their dynamic seems really fun and interesting, there’s a lot of possibility going on there!

#sorry if these got rambly!! telling myself to stick to paragraphs and not go into essays was hard #the dynamics in ff7 bring me so much joy i could dig into them all day #fae speaks #we are ignoring the 5 seconds that cloud and gen met while cloud was mako poisoned DJFJDKFKD

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zimithrus1 · 1 year

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63 and 14 for the mashup prompts! 👀

Rules: Send me two (2) tropes from this list + a ship and I’ll describe how I’d combine them in the same story.

14. Bodyguard AU 63. Everybody Knows/Mistaken For A Couple

I'm gonna go with Clack/Zakkura for this one! Tis my fave and the easiest for me to write lol! 🥰

Zack always wanted to be a hero - it was his greatest dream for as long as he can remember! But he had no idea that once he became a hero the publicity would absolutely skyrocket! Like, he thought the crowds of people and fans flocking and ogling over Sephiroth was bad, but for himself? Someone much more happy, bubbly, friendly, and approachable?

Good Gaia he was drowning in fans!

So much to the point that even leaving the Shin-Ra compound to go buy groceries required an infantry escort to keep them off him. So, naturally, he was assigned a near 24/7 escort with how often he needed to leave the compound. Among this escort was a cadet named Cloud, who seemed very small and timid at first glance, but get too close and those eyes would go sharp and he'd practically start growling. Try to skim a touch of Zack? Cloud would promptly knock them back and bark about space and distance. He was very serious about his role and about keeping unwanted touches and sights off Zack, which, Zack appreciated, because as nice as he could be, some of those fans just got too crazy! Like that one time when a fan actually managed to tackle Zack and almost knock him to the ground, but Cloud was able to catch him and promptly raise hell on that fan! "Back up!" He growls at them. "You could have hurt him! I said back up! Don't make me get the mace!!"

So, the fans starting calling Cloud 'Zack's little Pomeranian', but learned not to get too close or he'd bite!

And over the course of time, Zack and Cloud having been paired together for a long time, grew close and formed a fast friendship, and eventually the fans started talking (as they always do) and eventually rumor got out that the puppy and his Pomeranian were an item. Zack's constant flirty teasing when they were out in public definitely didn't help that! Of course, it would get denied and brushed aside by Cloud, telling them it's not like that, but you better keep your distance!

Though one sleepy morning, Cloud and Zack cuddled up to each other, tangled in the sheets and each other's warmth, Zack smiles.

"If only they knew just how gentle my little Pomeranian could be after a few treats and pets."

Cloud rolls his eyes at that, "Shut up," he huffs and kisses him.

Ahh thank you so much for the ask!! This one was so much fun!! II hope I followed the prompts well! 💚💚

#ask game #fic ask game #again thank you so much aeris this was such a super fun idea!!#Was thinking about making Zack an actor or something but then I was like 'what if Solider fans were just as crazy as actor fans??' XD #and thus I wrote XD #ffvii ficlet #ffvii #clack #zakkura #zack fair #cloud strife #bodyguard au #If you have any more send them my way! repeat customers are welcome lol!

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bibright · 2 years

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my five favourite fics i've written (for writer appreciation day)

tagged by @breannacasey

the 298 000 km fuse, not rated, 157 610 words (5sos)

Normal lives aren't like Hollywood films and some boys are massively interested in explosions. (affectionately called the cancerfic, now 6 years old and my first fic to break over 50k.)

don’t make it weird, M, 22 928 words (Prodigal Son)

Malcolm needs a date for his cousin's wedding after lying to his mother. Rich people shenanigans and unbridled sexual tension ensue. (”the fake dating au no one asked for”. a wonderful romp of comedy.)

informed consent, M, 1533 words (Prodigal Son)

He should have told her before they’d slept together. She deserved to know the kind of man she was sleeping with, putting her trust in.

Malcolm and Dani sleep together for the first time. (some poetry-inspired weird sexytimes)

shine bright once more, T, 1789 words (Final Fantasy VII Remake) like a phantom limb, T, 4135 words (Final Fantasy VII Remake)

The zeroes on his wrist told a simple story: Cloud had met his soulmate and they'd died. The most important person in Cloud's life and he couldn't remember a single thing about them. The last he could remember, Zack had zeroes on his wrist. Now, he had thirty days counting down to a second meeting with a soulmate he already knew. ( a two for one special!!! zakkura soulmate au with timers, complicated by the fact Cloud has no memory and Zack lived.)

watch wisteria grow, T, 17 219 words (Final Fantasy X-2)

Recovering from possession proves to be far more difficult than Baralai anticipated. (some gippalai hanahaki disease shenanigans and fun - exceptionally wonderful writing for a tiny fandom!)

tagging @ephemeraljimin, @sybilius, @shinythinx

#my writing #text #my fic #thank u so much AC for the tag!!!#i'm so sorry i never get around to most tag games but this was such a fun time #and i want to add all my currently unpublished video game fics lmfao

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elegantmadness · 1 year

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Seeds of Doubt, Interlude 1.5

Please refer to the first chapter for character and fandom info; otherwise I'll just assume you know what you're getting yourself into!

Rating: For this chapter, it's T for language and kissy things.

Pairing : Clack, Zakkura, Cloud/Zack

Chapter Summary: Zack can't help but want to make sure Cloud's all right after the meeting, but more details about their accident in Nibelheim bring up an onslaught of feelings Zack thought he'd already buried. Cloud is reluctant to talk about their relationship, but Zack firmly (and emotionally) insists.

<- Previous Chapter AO3 Link

For several seconds after Lazard dismissed them, Zack was seemingly frozen in place, his mind reeling from all the revelations and subsequent implications. He could see Genesis rush from the room angrily: a flash of red in his periphery as the Briefing Room door slid open and no one made to follow. Silence was heavy and cloying in the air, stealing whatever words even Zack might have offered to help lighten the mood. What could he have possibly said anyway? Of everyone in that room he had gotten off the lightest with just a moderate case of mako poisoning and a shot of alien cells which proved incompatible with his already mako-infused system. The reminder nearly made him blanch; that was certainly a thought to discard until he was in bed that night, when the horrors came back to him in the form of nightmares and pieces of memory that plagued him with insomnia.

Lightning was next, her steps every bit as hurried as Genesis’ had been, though they lacked the same fury. Idly, Zack likened her celerity to her own namesake, though he had to bite back the subsequent urge to chuckle.

His heart leapt just a little when Angeal stood to intercept Sephiroth, and while Zack scrambled to stand, he paused when he noticed Cloud noticeably subdued and contemplative, still seated and showing no inclination to move as most of the others had. He couldn’t help the way his gaze wavered between the two until Angeal and Sephiroth stepped out into the corridor, and by then it seemed his decision had been made for him. Leonhart had already disappeared as well, Zack noted absently, and he slumped a little in his seat when Rufus and Lazard finally left the room, leaving the pair of them alone. He couldn’t remember the last time they’d been alone together.

Shit. Had it been Nibelheim? The thought made him antsy somethow, filled him with a strange apprehension that even the toughest missions and scariest monsters couldn’t. Cloud had pulled away from him so much after their accident, had put up walls that Zack hadn’t even attempted to circumvent or demolish, but now? His natural inclination to dive in headfirst was rearing its head again, and how could anyone expect him to just… sit back and watch Cloud try to navigate all this shit alone? Especially when he seemed so lost… in thought and memory and who knew what else.

Maybe he should’ve held his tongue or left well enough alone, but something spurred him forward: forced his lips apart until Cloud’s name was spilling from between them.

“Cloud? You okay?” he asked tentatively, remembering fully how much longer and more excruciating the rehabilitation had been for Cloud than himself. At the time he’d already been a First, and having endured mako injections for years had left him in a much better place to recuperate.

Cloud had been afforded none of that luxury, and Zack firmly believed that Cloud’s strength of will and determination were what had brought him out of toxicosis and back to life. It hadn’t been the Shinra doctors or scientists or even his own constant visits to Cloud’s bedside; he’d clawed his way back to consciousness and coherence and sanity with his own two hands, and Zack’s heart swelled despite himself. He’d felt so helpless at the time, so useless, and he’d lost count of how many times he’d bitterly cried to himself when Cloud had still been vegetative.

Cloud had made significant strides in the years since the accident, strides no one had ever imagined he would have been able to make, but Zack had only been privy to watching from the outside. Whatever bond they’d shared, whatever warm affection and feelings… had been left behind, dropped as though they’d been nothing but a burden weighing Cloud down. Zack logically knew there was more to it even if Cloud refused to share, but the blow at the time had been almost physical. His chest had ached, throbbed like no other wound Zack had ever suffered, but the last thing Cloud needed upon reawakening was Zack hounding him for deep, emotional answers or forgiveness for grievances Zack had conjured himself in his guilt-tortured grief.

Perhaps that was why it was so much easier to imagine Cloud resented him for recovering more quickly, or for not better looking out for him on the mission to the Nibelheim reactor.

It occurred to him slowly: that the ‘accident’ had been Hojo’s fault, and not his own. How could he have… shit, what had the file said? How could he have known that ‘Hojo had previously requested Infantryman Strife as an ideal candidate for one of his experiments’, and that he’d taken his rejection about as well as a child being denied a third helping of dessert.

“I knew it.”

His voice was quiet, small even, and Zack’s eyebrows furrowed uncomprehendingly. Had Cloud known about Hojo’s involvement, or even suspected it? Had Hojo had let something slip during one of his SOLDIER examinations? He had to calm himself before he let his thoughts run away with him; as loathe as he was to agree with Farron and Leonharts’ assessments, Hojo was nigh untouchable – at least, for now.

Was this… white-hot rage what Genesis had been feeling? Zack had always had difficulty seeing eye to eye with Angeal’s childhood friend, though Zack had always suspected it had a great deal more to do with Zack’s ‘infringing’ upon Angeal’s time than any sort of personal dislike. Perhaps it was more to do with Genesis’ more negative feelings; Zack had no problem smiling and laughing and otherwise being friendly and open, but hate? Fear? Anger? These were things he tended to bury or at least mask, and for Genesis they were practically a second skin. At the very least they could agree on their rage for Shinra’s Head Scientist; maybe, if they were ever allowed a chance at him, Zack might accompany Genesis just to hear the bastard scream…

Shaking his head free of the thought, Zack once more pushed his feelings aside; he needed to focus on Cloud for now, and his lips pursed anxiously as he glanced over at the blond.

“Cloud?” This time Zack laid his hand on Cloud’s forearm, and the blond reeled back as though it burned his skin, his mako-tinted eyes widening before he seemed to realize where he was. It only made Zack’s eyebrows furrow more deeply, concern lodging itself deep in Zack’s chest. Even after all this time Zack couldn’t stop himself from worrying about Cloud; he could go toe to toe with any of the other Firsts, had distinguished himself in battles and skirmishes all across the globe, but Zack’s predilection for ensuring Cloud’s safety never abated. If anything, he imagined it had only grown with time, especially after the accident.

“It’s fine. It’s nothing,” Cloud insisted, dragging his arm away before standing. Watching Cloud stand left Zack almost winded; had he done something wrong again already? All he knew, right that second, was that Cloud needed him, even if he wouldn’t admit it, and Zack could bear to let Cloud go again. The concern deep in his chest shifted until it curled around his heart and squeezed uncomfortably, affection bleeding into the twist of his lips despite himself.

Before the blond could get too far Zack was on his feet, his hand reaching for Cloud’s wrist and curling around it gently. “Oh no you don’t,” Zack admonished him teasingly, his telltale grin sliding back into place easily. It was almost frightening how easily he’d cast off his anger and concern and brought that smile to his face, but he somehow suspected Cloud wouldn’t pry. The thought left him a little crestfallen, in all honesty, but if he could help Cloud cope, then it would be worth it. Still, part of him expected to be shaken off with an exasperated sigh, but Cloud instead froze, his shoulders squaring.

Shit. He’d fucked up already. Did Cloud hate him so much he couldn’t even tolerate such a benign touch? Or was it less about the touch and more about all the shit they’d just had to listen to? “Oh, hey. Buddy. It’s okay. It doesn’t change anything-”

“You’re wrong,” Cloud stated flatly, his tone as unflinching and unyielding as steel. Zack winced to hear it, and struggled to keep his smile in place when Cloud turned in his direction, his face utterly unreadable. It was a far cry from the young cadet Zack had taken under his wing years ago, but such changes were inevitable after suffering all that Cloud had. Perhaps it was enough that Cloud hadn’t tugged his hand free. No. It had to be; Zack refused to trample all over the boundaries Cloud had set for himself even if it made something in his chest throb tightly, his airway beginning to constrict until breathing became a struggle.

In the past, he would’ve gathered Cloud into his arms and pressed reassuring kisses to the side of his head and in his hair, but now… now it seemed just holding his wrist to keep him from leaving was almost too much.

Zack had to stifle the sudden impulse to lean over and kiss him, and he blinked a little owlishly before finally letting go of Cloud’s wrist, the skin of his fingers and palm tingling several moments afterwards. They had been together for a short time, so, so happily, but the Nibelheim accident had messed up everything. Cloud had purposefully put distance between them once he’d finally convalesced, had made it abundantly clear that their more intimate relationship was over without so much as offering a halfhearted explanation or apology.

Honestly, maybe it was for the best. Zack still nursed guilt about it all even as that guilt was swiftly being replaced with fury at a certain professor, but part of him also still feared that Cloud resented him for pulling through the mako poisoning so much more easily. The uncertainty of their relationship – could Zack still even call it a relationship? – hung in the air. He couldn’t deny the attraction anymore than Cloud could, and sometimes it was just so easy to want to fall back into familiar rhythms and patterns. His smile tightened at the edges, though if Cloud noticed he didn’t react to it.

“I wish you’d just stop,” Cloud finally sighed, turning back towards the door.

His words were like a physical blow, and Zack staggered upon hearing them, the hopeful glint in his eyes beginning to dim.

So. There was his answer. He’d known it would be, had known it for years, but it didn’t stop Zack from feeling as though a knife were sticking out of his chest. A familiar pressure was building in his eyes, though he could at least keep the tears at bay for now; Cloud didn’t deserve to be guilt-tripped for making a choice, even if it was a devastating one.

Fuck. Why was he such an idiot? Why had he clung to such ridiculous hopes in the first place? He had no one to blame but himself.

“I’m sorry,” he finally found himself saying, his eyes firmly on his scuffed boots. “I know you’re tired of me hovering and worrying, but I can’t help it! Unless you’re saying we… can’t be friends anymore.” He tried to fight the sudden surge of additional pressure behind his eyes, his hands balling into fists against the tops of his thighs. He never wanted to be a burden to Cloud, never wanted him to feel suffocated or bogged down because Zack was being a mother hen, but dammit! Cloud had left their relationship up in the air for years now, and Zack couldn’t just abandon those feelings or pretend they’d never existed. Even if it seemed as though Cloud had moved on without him.

“What are you talking about?”

Cloud sounded tired, and another prickle of guilt added to the ever-growing lump in Zack’s throat. He turned back towards Zack, lips parted as he undoubtedly readied himself to give Zack another scolding, only to pause at the defeated posture that slumped Zack’s shoulders inward and stripped him of any vigor, any spirit. Seeing Zack so discouraged stirred something in him, something wholly familiar and warm in a way that only the sun had managed to make him feel before.

“Zack.”

He couldn’t parse the tone Cloud used, not precisely, but there was something in it that demanded his attention, and he couldn’t very well refuse the blond. Had he ever been able to? Something told him it was unlikely.

It was only minimally surprising when Cloud didn’t immediately start to berate him for worrying so much, though the flicker of shock that widened his eyes certainly was. Distantly, Zack realized a tear had slipped traitorously from one of his eyes, and he plastered a bright grin across his face to cover it up as he wiped it away with a loud chuckle. “Ah, sorry! I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Zack hated the obvious lie and the self-deprecating tone he’d used to offer it to Cloud, though maybe this was why they’d never talked about their past. Cloud was so closed off, so unwilling to acknowledge his feelings and talk about them it made talking to him seriously almost impossible. Worse, whenever Zack made his attempts and was rebuffed, he always tripped over himself to try and not seem too serious; playing it off as a joke was a horrible defense mechanism, but it was all he really had. He refused to cry, not here, not like this!

He knew the seconds the words left his mouth that they’d been a mistake; Cloud’s eyes narrowed sharply at him, and a hand found itself into the fabric of Zack’s regulation turtleneck. Sheer, unadulterated fury had tightened the attractive lines of Cloud’s face, and Zack knew already he was in for a verbal lashing.

“Why are you crying? What’s wrong?” Cloud demanded, though Zack wasn’t entirely sure how the blond could be so dense. He hadn’t conveniently contracted amnesia since the accident, had he? He had to know he’d been dangling Zack and his feelings over the edge of a dark abyss with no interest in addressing them so whatever they’d had in the past might have been granted the smallest iota of closure.

Nothing! Promise, Spike! Don’t worry about me!

His go-to echoed around in his skull, but his lips were leaden and refused to part for them. Some part of Cloud clearly cared if he’d been so obviously worried about Zacka moment ago, so why had he just left things like this? He knew it hadn’t been simple malice on Cloud’s part, but assuming such things had simply slipped his mind or been pushed aside made Zack inexplicably angry. It wasn’t that complicated, was it?

“Is it about the accident?” Cloud ventured a terrible guess. “It was years ago, Zack, and you’re fine. We’re both fine. Even with all the shit Hojo did–”

“It’s not about the accident!” Zack answered, frustration evident as he pushed Cloud’s hand off of him and shook his head with eyes squeezed shut. “Okay, maybe it is a little, but only because of what happened after,” Zack finally admitted, feeling his tears returning and doing nothing to combat them. He’d held this in for too long as it was.

Cloud foundered at his answer, oblivious to Zack’s meaning. “And what happened after?”

Zack’s jaw grit tightly at that. How coud he not know?!

“You, Cloud! You ignored me, pushed me away, and never even told me why!” His chest heaved for want of breath, though his answer stilled Cloud in place, the blond seemingly lost in his own memories. “Y-you just… you never even told me anything. I tried to help, tried to be there for you, but you told me to leave, to leave you alone.” God, was his voice shaking? Hot tears leaked from the corners of his eyes, and he roughly wiped them away, riding the high of relief-fueled adrenaline as he inhaled a shaky breath.

“And I did. Like a big, fucking idiot I did, because I thought you just needed some space, some time to put all the pieces back together. Only, surprise! You just… decided you didn’t want me anymore.” The pain in his voice was unmistakable, and Zack had to choke nacl a hiccup before wiping his eyes again.

“That’s not true! It was all just so overwhelming–”

“Please, Cloud. Just stop. I tore myself apart trying to figure out what I’d done wrong, tormented myself with how I could’ve stopped the accident from happening, or how I could’ve helped you through the mako poisoning quicker.”

Cloud seemed to take exception to this, and crossed his arms defensively over his chest. “I needed to do it alone, Zack.”

“But why? I’d always helped you in the past.” Cloud glanced away when Zack’s bloodshot eyes lifted to his.

“I just did,” Cloud sighed in exasperation, not quite sure how to explain. Maybe it had been to prove to himself that he could, that his eventual inclusion into SOLDIER hadn’t just been a product of nepotism.

Zack’s breathing had at least mostly returned to normal by that point, and he nodded absently at the less-than-helpful answer Cloud supplied before responding. “All right. Then I just wanna know one thing: why didn’t you break things off?”

“I thought I did,” Cloud insisted, trying to withhold a sigh. Now was not the time to talk about this.

“By, what? Telling me to go away and leave you alone?” Zack shot back tersely. “How was I supposed to know that’s what you meant?”

“Can’t we just… talk about this later?” Cloud wasn’t even sure how they’d gotten to this point, but he was desperate to be free of it.

Zack let out a scoff despite himself. “So, what? In another five years or so? Will you finally tell me what the hell happened?”

Cloud let out a frustrated sound, though before Zack could react, he was suddenly pressed against the wall to the side of the Briefing Room door, a pair of thin, chilled lips against his own.

Talk about your mixed signals.

Was this a dream? Of all the things Cloud could’ve said or done, this had been at the bottom of the list of Zack’s expectations.

It was warm and familiar despite the cold temperature of the room, and Zack’s arms surged forward to pull Cloud close, closer: as close as was physically possible as a shaky breath shuddered deep in his chest. The kiss ended far too quickly, far too chastely, though Zack let Cloud pull back even if he refused to let the blond leave the circle of his arms. His lips twitched to hear the steady rhythm of Cloud’s pulse, hammering a little more quickly than usual, and it took every ounce of his self-control not to nuzzle down into the blond’s hair.

“Look,” Cloud breathed, his point of his nose pressing into Zack’s cheek. “I’m sorry, all right? What I did to you was shitty, but I don’t have a good explanation for it. I don’t even know why myself, aside from just being shit at dealing with people to begin with.”

Zack swallowed before nodding breathlessly, that same, flicker of hope returning despite himself. “Just tell me one thing, Spike,” Zack whispered his answer, his hands itching to drag Cloud closer. “Do you still love me?”

It took Cloud several moments to answer, and Zack could feel his heart pounding more quickly with each second that passed.

“Idiot,” Cloud rebuked him fiercely, strong fingertips pressing against his throat as Cloud glanced up at his eyes before flitting down to his mouth. “I never stopped.” The kiss that followed devoured him whole, but gods if it weren’t worth the wait. Maybe it wouldn’t technically change anything, but at least now Zack knew how Cloud felt; that in itself was a win.

And now that they had all the facts about their shared accident, they could start planning for the demise of a certain asshole who’d never learned to take ‘no’ for an answer.

“No pushing me away again, all right?” Zack demanded rather imperiously, his eyes narrowed down at Cloud who simply smirked in return.

“Is that an order?”

“You're damn right it is!”

#ffvii #ff7 #clack #zakkura #cloud/zack #my writing #ffvii fanfic #ff7 fanfic #final fantasy vii #final fantasy 7 #crisis core #ffviicc

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creamypudding · 10 months

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New WIP

You know, I've been fermenting a new story idea for several months. It's going to have Zakkura elements but I think it will be mostly a Sefikura fic, with the high likelihood of it becoming a Sekizakkura fic.

Set in canon, but being canon divergent from the very start.

The basic premise is that Cloud gets on the mako and saves the world by sucking dick.

I actually started writing the first chapter and it's got me so highly amused that I want to share it with those of you who are into this kinda story/pairings.

If anyone is interested in being a beta reader or even an active reader and feedback provider as I go along with this story please reach out here or on twitter - creampudding_ or discord - creampudding and let me know.

This story feels like it's gonna be a bit of a crackfic with lots of sex and some falling in love. Should be fun. I'm excited.

Chapter 1 of Mako Slut (WIP title only)

Cloud tried and tried and tried everything he could to be considered for the SOLDIER program. He once was allowed to take the written test. It had been so easy. Then he'd been asked to pee in a cup and gotten a tongue swab. 24 hours later he'd received the message on his PHS – APPLICATION DECLINED.

It took months of chasing down people before he'd gotten an answer to his burning question of WHY?

Apparently his biology is incompatible with mako. He carries the gene making him susceptible to mako poisoning and SHINRA don't care to take the risk and don't think him valuable enough to consider the long process of micro-dosing to achieve tolerance.

So that's why Cloud finds himself at the doorstep of a shady mako den in Wall Market on one of his rare days off duty.

If SHINRA isn't going to micro-dose him, he'll have to do it himself.

“That'll be six hundred gil,” says the dealer behind a bullet-proof window with a reinforced steel frame.

“Six hundred for five millilitres? You gotta be kidding!” That was triple his weekly wage and basically all his savings. “Do you have anything smaller?”

“That's as low as we go. Come back when you've got the gil.”

Dejected, Cloud leaves the poor-excuse of an establishment and stands in the crowded and noisy Wall Market. This den had been cited as the seediest, and hence cheapest. He's been to all the up market ones already; this one had truly been his last shot.

“Psst. Psst!”

Cloud looks around. He spots a shadowy figure beckoning to him from around the corner. Warily, Cloud makes his way over.

“Yeah?”

“I heard ya can't afford the wares. But I've got a deal for ya.”

Cloud leans in closer to the man reeking of poor hygiene and alcohol dependence. “What's that?”

“Fifty gil will get ya in the back here,” the man nods his head toward the alley, “where ya can suck off as much mako as ya want. How 'bout it?”

“Really? What's the catch?”

“Well, it ain't the purest stuff, if ya catch my drift. But there's plenty of it. Ya interested?”

Cloud hands over the gil and the man steps aside.

“Just head on back there. If ya've never had mako use the stall with the 'one' on it. For the heaviest stuff go to stall four. Give a good hard thump to the wall and wait a bit. Enjoy.” The man gives Cloud a leery grin and shoves him into the alley which reeks of piss, rancid garbage, but also mako.

Trash litters the alleyway. A few unconscious and semi-unconscious people lay in various dishevelled states. Cloud ignores them all, making his way to the back where he sees some rickety partition stalls that could very well be lavatories hiding holes in the ground.

There are four of them. Two are unoccupied. Number 1 and 3. He knows what the man said. He knows getting on mako is fraught. But fuck it. He's no weakling. He'll prove that health report wrong, so heads into stall 3.

As soon as he sets foot into the stall he pinches his nose. The stall is as grotty as he envisioned. Graffiti is everywhere. The floor is sticky. The place reeks of a mixture of sickly sweet and acrid. Something fermented impregnates the air. Mako is definitely about, along with piss and… Shive only knows what else.

Music thumps from somewhere, faint and bassy. Weird noises come from the stall next door. Gulping, and something wet sounding.

Cloud grimaces. He paid the 50. He should get something for it, so takes the one step it takes to cross the tiny space. He's at the opposite wall, by a drainage hole, which he avoids standing on. This really is like a lavatory.

He bangs on the wall and waits.

There is a metallic scraping sound. A hole opens up in the wall.

Cloud jumps back and stares at… at… Oh Shiva! It's a penis!

Cloud leaves the stall pressing his back to the door. His heart's in his throat. What the fuck did he pay money to take part in?

Stall number 4 opens and out saunters what Cloud can only describe as an alley wench dressed in a clinging scarlet outfit, and her face caked in thick, and very smudged makeup. She's hiking panties up and her short dress down.

“Oh, hello there, darling. Watch where you're standing.” She hums with a giggle and pinches Cloud's cheek. “You're cute. Why're you wastin' your time here? You could go to the HoneyBee and get ten times what you can get from here.”

Cloud's left speechless.

Banging sounds from the stall Cloud's escaped from.

“Oi, anyone there? I need my cock sucked.”

The wench looks at the door. “You gonna take that?”

“Uh…” he shakes his head and steps aside. The woman slinks into the stall. The gruff annoyed shouting stops and gives way to a moan.

Cloud keeps walking backward, staring in horror, until he hits the opposite wall, where he stays, paralysed in body, while his mind races—

There are… This is… He got himself into a glory hole back alley. The building the alley flanks is the drug den he just left. Oh, Shiva! Oh, Ifrit! He's paid to suck cock. Mako users cocks.

Cloud swallows. Does that even… work?

The stall door opens. The women comes out, touching her mouth and looking pleased. She walks—shamles more like it—toward the mouth of the alley.

“Hey,” Cloud dashes after her.

“Hmm? Oh, it's you again cutie. I've never seen you here before. Are you new to the scene?”

Cloud gives the slightest nod.

“Ah, thought so. Good thing you didn't take that one. Stall three isn't where you should be, honey. Take it easy. No, no. That would have been too much mako for you. I've got the spins.” She wobbles.

Cloud helps to steady her. “Does that really work? Sucking mako out of… cocks? It's not just a scam?”

“It's not as good as getting the pure stuff straight in your veins, but on a budget it will help tide you over and stop the withdrawals. But—” She straightens and gives Cloud a sterner look than her affected body would let on being able to give “—Look at you, baby face.” She pinches his cheek. “Why are you here? Don't start. Don't let it ruin your life. You're so young. And pretty. Go home, stick to weed. You want some?” She fishes for something from her bra.

“No thanks.”

“Your loss.” She pulls out a spliff and shambles to a bum on the ground begging for a light.

Cloud turns back to the stalls. He swallows. The lady said it works. The lady also said not to do it. But Cloud can't start his life unless he does… something. Does it have to be this? His whole dream in life has been to be in Midgard. Become a SOLDIER. Protect the people he cares about. SHINRA has denied him. They have labelled him. But he fully intends to show them that he can handle mako. And the sooner he starts microdosing the sooner he will be ready for a full dose.

He takes a deep breath and head back to the stalls. They are all occupied. He grimaces. Number 1 becomes free as a haggard man leaves.

Cloud frowns. He doesn't want to start at the low end. But he wants to start. He spots someone coming for the stall—there are more people waiting in the shadows than he first realized. He can't wait for another one to open, so goes into the lame stall.

It's in much of the same level of distress as the other stall he was in.

He knocks loudly. A few moments later the same thing happens as previously: a little round hatch slides open and a penis is pushed through.

Cloud gulps. The grimace pulls firmly into place and he sinks to the ground, squatting, and his fingertips pressed against the grimey wall to anchor himself. The stench of mako is strong from caked cum on the ground and smeared on the walls.

He gingerly lifts the limp cock like it's a turd he's had to pick up with his bare hands and brings it to his mouth. He closes his eyes and puts his lips around the tip. He instantly recoils and receives a complaining grunt through the wall.

Is he seriously going to do this? He needs to, or he'll be a wash-up and stay an infantry grunt forever.

It's a bitter pill to swallow that he's fallen this far, but everyone who falls has the chance to rise, and this is how he will rise. Cloud opens wide and puts half of the shaft into his mouth. He gags and receives a pleased sound from behind the wall.

Cloud pulls the cock out, composes himself, and puts his lips around only the tip. He's got to pace himself.

He imagines it's a lollipop. A dirty, urine-flavored lollipop. But he keeps sucking and using his hand to massage the part of the shaft not in his mouth.

He's never sucked cock before, but he knows how to pump one, so pump he does. The shaft grows rapidly stiff, allowing Cloud to let go and just use his mouth to slide on and off the protrusion from the wall.

He just needs to think positively. He's milking mako from this tube. That's all this is.

Moans can be heard from his stall, but also the other stalls. How long does he need to do this until he gets something? Will it be worth it? He fucking hopes so.

The urine taste starts to change. Cloud sucks harder. Is it pre-cum? Pre-cum soaked in mako? He bobs faster, intermittently stopping to swirl his tongue around the head and give firm strokes to the underside of the shaft.

The person on the other side is panting hard and coughing out expletives and dirty compliments about Cloud's mouth.

Cloud's insides tingle. His cock pulses. Shit… is this turning him on? Is bringing someone to their proverbial knees something he… might like?

The croaking cry is all the warning he gets before an explosion of thick, viscous fluid fills his mouth. Cloud almost spits it out, but the astringent taste on his tongue reminds him—he's gotta swallow.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he sucks down the foul tasting liquid and pulls off when the spurting finishes. Cloud gags and repeatedly sticks his tongue out, but the taste of cum and mako on the air coats his tongue even worse.

The hatch slides shut and Cloud's left hunched over ready to throw up. Oh, Ranmu! His stomach churns. He will throw up. He races out of the stall, looking for a trash can to puke into. All he finds is the opposite alley wall to brace against as he pukes his guts up, spilling mako-laced cum all over his shoes and the hem of his trousers.

After the ordeal is over, he moves a couple feet to the right and slides down to the ground, catching his breath.

Something is held out to him. Cloud looks up and stares in wide-eyed shock at the well-kempt man standing in front of him.

“Here, drink this. It will help.”

Cloud takes the bottle and takes a sniff before he puts it to his lips, but still looks up expectantly before he dares to take a sip.

“It's an antacid. Very safe.” The man takes the bottle back and takes a sip. “See?”

Cloud accepts the bottle and drinks from it.

“Take it easy, or you risk throwing up again.”

Cloud takes the advice. His stomach settles.

“Is this your first time in Mako Canyon?” Cloud's look must say it all because the man laughs softly and says, “What is a gorgeous creature like you doing in the bowels of the mako dens?”

“I could say the same about you.”

The man gives him a wry smile. “What a charmer. I'm looking for a friend of mine. She has a nasty habit. Have you seen her? This tall, brunette, skinny as a rake.”

He's describing the alley wench. “She was looking for a light for her smoke and left.”

“Thank you…”

“Cloud,” he provides, instantly regretting it.

“Well, it's a pleasure. I'm Andrea. Do consider not coming back here. A pretty face like yours is wasted in the gutter. You belong somewhere where you can shine.”

“I need mako to shine.”

“You really don't.”

Cloud glares and sulks.

“Here.” Andrea hands Cloud the drink bottle. “If you continue you'll need to look after yourself. Stay hydrated. Mako, even in the tiny doses you get from places like this can be lethal.”

Cloud's left alone in the gutter feeling like a weakling for not being able to hold down mako-infused cum. If he's serious about joining SOLDIER he better make a serious start on building up his tolerance.

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kazumahashimoto · 11 months

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one trend i've noticed among zaclerith things is that. a lot of people put. aerith? as the "middle"? which is. so fucking strange to me?? like if anyone was to be the reason why the three of them are together it's obviously fucking zack 😭😭??? like. zerith is good and interesting without cloud, zakkura is good and interesting without aerith, but clerith?? clerith is just like. Whatever without zack. there isn't a clerith without zack even. like the whole reason why aerith and cloud feel so drawn to each other in the first place is because of zack. but like so much of what i've seen is like ah yes aerith and her two boyfriends that are fumbling around being interested in each other too and zack being jealous that cloud is closer to aerith than to him and it's so like. where the fuck am i. in what world. zack literally died for him..... he carried him across two continents and took care of him and gave him a new reason to live and then Died For Him. and you mean to tell me they aren't close? whgwhq?!?!?!?!?!? like Literally the most interesting thing about zaclerith is the shared relationship to zack. the fact that zack loved them both so much the first thing zack thought about after breaking out of his tube was to go to aerith and bring cloud with him. the fact that zack loved them both so much he gave his everything to cloud and when cloud comvinced himself he was zack he could still feel that love for aerith. the fact that aerith saw so much of zack in cloud she wanted to keep him around as long as she could. cloud and aerith form a connection beyond their shared feelings for zack of course but that's where it starts!!!!!!! a shared love of zack!!!!!!!!!!!! there is nothing here without zack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#personally i think everything is about zack always #longpost #obligatory among and strange right

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aerislei · 1 year

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Tag 9 people you want to get to know better!

You guys know the drill, I don't *really* tag people! But uhh @ryvian and @zimithrus1 if you two haven't already done it? And! Of course if you see this and want to do it go for it!

Three Ships

Zakkura: Zack Fair/Cloud Strife, FFVII. I've loved this ship for a really long time and I can't say what the first thing was. That did it but like. It's been here since advent children era. Something about the nice dude with a smile that saved Cloud, and also like, Cloud so clearly deeply mourns him still and I just *clenches fist* I was sold!

KaiRei: Kai Hiwatari/Rei Kon, Beyblade. I consumed so much fic for this ship. So Much. Mostly with them as Good Friends and kiddy dating because they were, you know, very young teens but god I love them so much. Rei and his ability to get Kai to trust him even a little. The plot of beyblade did a Lot and obviously in canon context... it probably wouldn't work. I'll always love it anyway.

ZackSeph: Zack Fair/Sephiroth, FFVII. I latched onto this as friendship first, but like. I'm happy to see it as a ship-ship too. They're great. Zack treated him like a Person and stayed by his side. and god how different things could have been if--- alas canon says it cannot be. But I'll forever hold them in my hands in fanfic.

First ship: Triple Threat of Zutara / KaiRei / Zakkura. I was into all three of them right at the time I joined fandoms in general and I do not have the ability to go back in time and tell you which of the three was actually "first". I consumed Beyblade (kairei) the earliest though.

Last song: Lights On by the wonderful @viinas

Last movie: Uhhhh. I think. I *think* it was Hocus Pocus. The first one, for halloween. I don't watch stuff often lol.

Currently reading: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. slowly but surely.

Currently watching: Technically watching Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood. However, realistically not watching anything bc I'm going very slowly and haven't progressed recently.

Currently consuming: Does... does sweet tea count?

Currently craving: I'm honestly really craving Taco bell. really craving it. It's not an option.

#tag games

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aerisleis-fics · 1 year

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I posted 278 times in 2022

That's 248 more posts than 2021!

84 posts created (30%)

194 posts reblogged (70%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@aerislei

@akseedragon713

@lacependragon

@ryvian

@aerisleis-fics

I tagged 172 of my posts in 2022

Only 38% of my posts had no tags

#ffvii - 61 posts

#my writing - 48 posts

#zack fair - 44 posts

#ff7 - 33 posts

#cloud strife - 31 posts

#zakkura - 29 posts

#sephiroth - 23 posts

#clack - 23 posts

#rwby - 10 posts

#writing stuff - 9 posts

Longest Tag: 107 characters

#also honorable mention to the fact that i apparently read a fic longer than moby dick in less than two days

My Top Posts in 2022:

Zakkura Week Day 6 is here! I'm absolutely still working on day 5 because it's On Brand for me to be late. Starry Night | SOLDIER!Cloud | “Well, you need a hand with him?” Former SOLDIER Third Class, Cloud Strife knew that dealing with the remnants of the Deepground labs would uncover some ghosts and stir up a few nightmares. He’d been prepared for that. But, as fate would have it, some of those ghosts are more physical than memory, and Cloud will face that, too.

“Cloud speaking.” “Strife, I know it’s a good few hours before you’re supposed to come back, but something came up. It would be appreciated if you could return to the site.” “What’s going on?”

13 notes - Posted September 9, 2022

[the only context I'm willing to offer is that Cloud woke up First and Zack is snuggled up against his back and hugging him.]

Cloud realized he would give the world for a million mornings just like this one and though he didn’t know what the future held, Cloud thought for the first time in a long time that he could face that future and whatever it had left to throw at him, if he could have mornings just like this one.

26 notes - Posted August 13, 2022

Yeah I had to infect tumblr with this one too. I typed out those three tweet, sent them and then sat here like not only am I out for myself today but I kiiiinda want to write it. At least in brief.

[Image ID:

Screenhot of three Tweets by user AerisLei (@ leiaeris) reading Don't think about Zack meeting up with The Team after the end scenes of the Remake. And coming face to face with a cloud that doesn't remember who he is.

Don't think about Zack, being so glad to see that his friend is alive and whole, rushing towards him, and Cloud staring at him, after yet another flash of pain and a flicker of a hallucination, asking him who he is.

Don't think about the fact that cloud has, at least once, hallucinated someone with Sephiroth cells as Sephiroth, and the way that he always reacts violently to Sephiroth's presence.

End ID]

40 notes - Posted June 11, 2022

Thoughts from my Twitter

Zack lives, but he mourns that the shy spitfire of a cadet he became friends with didn't survive nibelheim.

Zack lives, but he and Cloud must learn how their new scars and broken edges fit together so they don't cut one another

Zack lives, but he has to come to terms with the fact that Cloud is not a fragile kid who needs to BE protected, as much as he WANTS to protect him.

Zack lives and now they can live and grow together and learn to heal some of their broken edges. And come to terms with the people that they are now instead of who they could have been.

Just. Zack lives and the world is healing, but where does that leave ex-soldiers with more scars than anyone their age should carry.

Where does that leave the kid who would have given everything to save the world, and the guy who everyone thought DID give everything to save one cadet.

Where does that leave them, two kids who grew into adults that don't believe in heroes anymore but WERE heroes all the same.

Where does that leave them and the scars they bear and the anger they carry and the grief that will never go away?

But yeah just. Zack Fair lives, and Cloud lives, but so much of them didn't. And THAT is the mood of the night.

81 notes - Posted July 31, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Things I do when I'm Stuck

This is definitely not an end-all-be-all list of things, and if they don't work for you, I definitely encourage you to explore options that DO work for you.

But! When I'm stuck on a scene, or just struggling to write in general this is the list I run through in (almost) no particular order - The first and last ones listed are always in that order.

Make sure I'm not hungry, thirsty, over tired, etc. Taking care of the body is important to actually getting anything done. And refusal to focus on a task can be one of my first signs that I'm neglecting myself.

Take a 10-15 minute (or longer) break away from my computer. This can be to talk with a roommate or partner, to go get food, to sit with my dog, take a shower... just. Time away from the screen, Not Thinking about what I'm trying to write.

Try to write on something else. Literally anything else. 5 minutes on another project. A warm up. A journal. Get the words flowing. Then try to come back to what I need to be working on.

Try to write via a different program or media. For example - moving from dabble (my writing program) into a private discord server, or 4thewords. Or writing by hand in my notebook for a while. The change of pace can make the words flow better. I especially recommend trying to write by hand here and there - getting away from the distraction of the Internet + you can doodle in the margins.

Talk through the scene. Sometimes this is with a friend/writing group/etc and sometimes this is just me pacing around my room talking to myself while I envision the scene. The goal here is to banter out ideas and figure out where i'm getting stuck and what path I want to take with the story. Don't be afraid to look above where you are actually stuck - the problem may be earlier in the chapter, or even in a previous one.

Do some editing. Whether in the same project, an earlier chapter, or a different project entirely. This runs pretty heavily counter to the standard tip of not editing while you're meant to be writing. But sometimes just... rereading can get me back into the mood of a story, and if I'm going to be rereading, I'm often going to be touching it up, either adding or fixing, or even removing if it feels wrong.

Go do something else. Similar to the 10-15 minute break, but in this case it's more like giving myself permission to not be writing. Not, I'll get back to it in just a few minutes but more like - okay, I'm going to take a break for today, and play a video game or watch a movie. Maybe read a book. This tends to be more in line with "consuming media" even if it's media I'm well familiar with, because without input, there's no output.

I find it's really, really important to give yourself permission to not be creating. Sometimes you need to unwind and take the down time. Listen to yourself. Grinding yourself down to nothing does not help you.

827 notes - Posted April 14, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review #interesting insight!#damn I need to tag my posts better tho lmao

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hardnoctlife · 2 years

Text

Fanfic Writer Tag Game

Thanks @boysloveandtaxation for the tag!

What’s your all-time favorite ship?

As a multi-shipper, this is an extremely hard question for me to answer as it varies by fandom and mood, but…

For Yakuza, definitely KazuMaji. No contest.

FFVII favs are Cloti, Zakkura, Reno/Rude

My fav for FFXV has to be OT4, followed closely by Promnis and Gladnoct… any combo of the bros, really

How many works do you have on AO3?

What’s your total AO3 word count?

727, 857 words!

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

These are all in the FFXV fandom:

· Rain or Shine and Everything In-Between; (321 kudos) my first OT4 fic and definitely my fav fic I’ve written for the fandom.

· Write Drunk, Email Sober; (276 kudos) Promnis, College AU, conveniently my second favorite fic I’ve written!

· Stand By You; (269 kudos) Promptis, High School AU, my first major long fic that I completely revamped.

· The Long and Short of It All; (236 kudos) a sequel to Rain or Shine! I was pleasantly surprised it did so well.

· Of Ink and Parchment; (236 kudos) a collection of 2019 Inktober shorts.

Do you reply to comments, why or why not?

I always reply to comments. I appreciate that people take the time to leave them, so I feel they warrant a response.

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

Most of my angsty fics have a happy ending, but The Daemons that Live in the Dark is still pretty heavy.

What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

Maybe The Long and Short of It All, though I’m not dropping any spoilers here!

Do you write crossovers?

I once wrote a three-fic series that involved Final Fantasy characters across multiple games. Does that count? (They’re no longer on my AO3 though.)

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

…yes. And to the people who leave nasty comments or unwanted critique, you can go fuck yourselves.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I’ve written a few smut fics. I’m not sure what you mean by “what kind,” but they’re generally very self-indulgent, aka stuff that turns me on.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Yes… I’ve had several people who have written things "based on" my work or strongly "inspired by" my work that were never credited back to me.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not that I’m aware of.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Nope! I’ve had plans to write with a few people, but our schedules haven’t really lined up. (We’re all very busy.)

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

All in the Family, now known as All This Heart Can Hold. It’s supposed to be the third installment in my OT4 series but I’ve lost almost all motivation to finish it. Sorry, y’all!

What are your writing strengths?

I think I’m very good at writing dialogue and also balancing my description with action/interaction between characters.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Sometimes I write myself into a corner/don’t plan my story out well enough and create plot holes for myself.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

I think it’s really awesome… if done correctly. I speak some Spanish and Japanese so I have included sprinklings of different languages in a few fics, but I usually make sure there is some sort of translation for the readers. I also highly recommend getting native speakers to proof read.

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

First ever? FFVII back in elementary school, though there was no such thing as FF.net or AO3 back then.

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

My top two FFXV fics I’ve written are Rain or Shine and Everything In-Between and Write Drunk, Email Sober.

For FFVII it’s probably these two Rude/Reno fics: Can’t See the Stars for the Sky and Best Kind of Bad Something.

Tagging: @crazyloststar @ezra-blue @gingerel @every-lemon (only if you want to!)

#ffxv #final fantasy xv fanfiction #fanfiction #fanfic author #final fantasy xv #ffvii #final fantasy vii

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moonlightpastime · 3 years

Note

Hmm gonna throw Mistaken for Couple + Sleep intimacy Zakkura your way for whenever you might want to play with it. :3 (Also possibly revealing my secret identity with this prompt lol)

Oooooooo! Delicious lil combo indeed.

(also sorry. it’s me. of course this turned into basically a mini-ficlet on it’s own lol)

Hmm...okay. Imma be a basic, trope-y bich then lol. Scenario I’d probably play with in a canon-ish setting would be Cadet!Cloud and Zack kinda bumping into each a couple times- maybe brief mission overlaps or something after Modeoheim? And since they’d hit it off so quick that just continues. And of course people take notice. For one thing it’s weird for a First Class to be hanging around and all. And sure Zack’s got a reputation of being pretty chill and outgoing. What surprises the other Cadets is Cloud. Because Strife’s always been stand-offish and stuff.

So of course the rumours start flying. And there’s the mix of usual nasty ones “Sleeping with Fair to climb the ladder.” ect. But there’s also some squad-mates of Cloud’s who don’t think that’d really be the case. Maybe there’s something more genuine there- though it’s still a bad idea considering Zack’s basically one of their CO’s.

So one mission comes along and Zack kinda meets up with the tail end of this little sortie that the cadets were off training in. It runs later than they planned so they all just decide to camp it out and head back to HQ the next morning. Being the country boys they are- and with that ‘weird’ chemistry Cloud and Zack are pretty quick to get things organized and get a legit pretty cozy camp.

Only a sliiiight problem in that they don’t actually have enough space in the trooper tent. Meant for a four man squad, not five. So of course, SOLIDER Fair slings his arm around Cloud’s shoulders and says, “Then I guess this guy’s bunking with me.” since Zack’s been packing his own small tent for his mission. Cloud flails and blushes a bit. “O-oh. No I can do watch duty.”

Zack just rolls his eyes and jostles the blond. Puts on his friendly ‘commander’ voice. “We’ll do it in shifts Cadet. Just like always.” So they work out a quick schedule. Couple hours each so they can all get some rest after their busy training. Cloud’s got first shift since he ‘volunteered’. Zack takes the last one- because he’s slightly evil and loves being the one to wake up/break down camp.

Of course once they turn in, Zack isn’t really tired- always too much energy- so he wanders over to keep Cloud company. He’s sitting a way off from the camp. Away from the fire they decided to keep burning. Tends to help deter monsters anyway. Zack nudges Cloud with a knee as he comes up behind him.

“Aren’t you cold man?” He asks. Eyeing the wind tugging at the cadet’s clothes. Cloud shakes his head. Something almost wistful on his face.

“This is nothing compared to home.”

“Nibelheim right? That’s out west ain’t it?”

“Mm.”

They shoot the shit for a while, before Cloud gets a little flustered. Tells Zack he should rest since he’s waking up the earliest. And Cloud needs to focus on his job. So Zack puts on a little show of stretching and yawning- and NO. Cloud is NOT staring. He’s keeping WATCH.

Eventually Cloud gets tapped to head to bed. Hesitates for like an HOUR outside the tent. Or at least that’s how it feels like to Zack who of course isn’t sleeping. Scares the living day lights outta Cloud when he finally scoots over and tugs open the flap. Grinning up at the cadet, one eyebrow raised.

“You coming?”

Cloud shuffles in obediently, takes another age getting outta his boots, gloves combat gear. Just leave him in those baggy navy fatigues. The space is still pretty small, but Zack figures it’ll be fine. Cloud isn’t exactly a big person. (not that he says that. Out loud.).

Eventually Zack whines at him enough to get the other settled down anyway. The bedrolls really aren’t the most comfy thing, but they’d found pretty even patches of ground to set up their tents over so it could definitely be worse. Zack wiggles his closer to Cloud’s when the other very, very stubbornly won’t move himself. Logically it’ll keep them warmer and Cloud’s gotta be at least a little cold from watch right? Just makes sense. They tussle a bit, before Zack actually gets Cloud to relax again. Even crack a smile and it makes Zack’s chest feel warm. Cloud’s the first one yawning. Long, very busy day and he doesn’t have the same ridiculous energy as a SOLIDER (pointed look at Zack.) So Zack quite bugging him- as much- and they both settle in. Can hear the distant crackle of the fire and the two squadmates talking quietly outside. Thanks to his enhancements he catches little snippets of their conversation on the wind.

It surprises him a bit. Hearing people speculating him and Cloud are a ‘thing’. He shrugs it off more or less because he’s been around enough to realize Cloud’s kinda isolated. Honestly he feels bad for the people who don’t give the blond a chance. They’re missing out. Bit time, in Zack’s opinion. Cuz Cloud’s nice. And smart. And honestly just fun.

Warm too, now that the night time chill’s starting to fade from his skin. Zack snuggles up closer to soak some of it in and share his own. Habbit. Jungle kid after all. Prefers the heat to the cold any day.

He’s not really tired, not yet, still got that vague adrenaline pumping through his veins. Always kinda is. But there’s something kinda...mellowing about Cloud. Gives him something to focus on other than that constant itch to ‘get up, move, do something’. It’s nice. And pretty cute how Cloud’s hair falls in his face when he shifts. Can tell the other’s drifted off for real now. All those senseless little twitches and sounds. Used to freak Zack out a little bit when he first got enhanced. How he could catch the rhythm of someone’s heartbeat if he tried. But Cloud’s is nice.

Zack wasn’t really expecting to sleep that night. Usually has a tough time of it when he gets sent on missions that are way too easy. Takes a lot to tucker him out. But the next thing he knows he’s catching a voice. Snapping out of sleep. Something kinda soft brushing his face. Tickles a bit.

“U-uh. Sir?”

Hm. Cadet sounds weird. Almost nervous but Zack’s used to that. People act odd around him. SOLIDER status and all. Even Cloud gets kinda jumpy about it sometimes. But not as often as others.

“It’s nearly four a.m. Sir.”

“Oh right. Thanks. Go catch a few winks. We’ll be oughta here before long.”

“Sir!”

The tent closes again in a faint rush of chilly air and Zack yawns.

Gets a mouthful of hair for his efforts and sputters a bit. Blinks open and.

Oh.

Huh. Well that’d explain the extra warmth. He’s honestly not sure from the tangle their in if he’d moved in the night or if it’d been Cloud. Maybe a collaborative effort. But Cloud’s all tucked up against his front. One slender hand curled in the front of Zack’s heavy shirt. Zack’s got Cloud all wrapped up in a mix of their bedding and his arms. He’s done that since he was a kid. Grabbin’ up pillows and stuff to cuddle.

He thinks he prefers having someone to snuggle up with instead.

It’s super dark out. That weird hour before the sun starts to come up. Still enough to make out that funny little wrinkle of Cloud’s nose as the other grumbles in his sleep. Zack chuckles, leans back a bit so he doesn’t end up with another mouth of hair.

“You’re okay Spike. Get some more sleep.”

Takes a bit of careful shifting and wiggling to get them somewhat untangled. Doesn’t really succeed in keeping Cloud asleep either. Blue, blue eyes blinking open heavily. Makes a little mumble that could be Zack’s name. All confused and tired. Makes the SOLIDER chuckle again.

“At ease.” He says with a grin. Maybe a bit softer than his usual. If Cloud was like, actually awake, he’d grumble at Zack for real. Running joke with them. Started the first time Cloud thought he had to be all ‘formal’ and stuff around base. Dumbass.

They’re...friends.

...right?

#moonlight writings #prompts #asks #ficlet #final fantasy vii #ffvii #Zakkura #Cloud Strife #Zack Fair #ubububu I love these boys too much ^^"#hope this was at least SORT OF an answer to the prompt lol #thank you for the ask!

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