[text | @strife] + action! intro post!

[nimbuster]

Who: Cloud Strife
Where: Network + Route 29
When: mid-November
Summary: Cloud arrives in Johto.

1. Network - text

How do you catch a Pokemon if you don't have one to battle with? Can I just throw balls at it until one of them works? Feels like I'd run out fast.

2. Action - Route 29

Fortunately, Cloud is used to trekking around in the boonies, so the three-day journey on foot from New Bark Town to Cherrygrove - traveling through a forest filled with wild Pokemon, unarmed and alone - is no big deal to him. But Cloud's never been afraid to get scrappy when he needs to, and wild places don't scare him...and, well, he's used to being alone. So none of this really bothers him as much as it might bother someone else, even when CJ insists it's time to go hunt berries and takes Cloud literally when he tells the Swablu fine, go ahead, see if I care.

Which is why, when someone runs into him on his way through the forest, they'll find a 16-year-old blond in a military uniform squaring off with a Heracross. He actually holds his own for a brief bit, fighting with a style that's part military CQC training and part tenacious cornered animal, until the Heracross manages to slip its horn under a punch, scoop Cloud up with it, and toss him into a tree.

Comments

Route 29

[1stclasspuppy]

It took Zack a bit to get to Cloud, he was all the way a few cities over in Ecruteak and with only the borrowed mudsdale from Geddoe he couldn't go too quickly but the moment he got the message Cloud was back he was on the hunt for him.

He had some of his pokemon with me in their balls and ready to go if he needed help. When he'd arrived at Cherrygrove he began searching for Cloud but couldn't find him. The town was small so when he didn't find him he headed towards route 29 instead.

It's there that by chance he sees the end of a pokemon battle with Cloud not looking too hot. "Cloud!?"

[nimbuster]

Cloud wasn't expecting to see Zack until he got to Cherrygrove, so he was fully prepared to make the journey alone and didn't mind doing it. So it's startling to hear Zack's voice right now, and it's mortifying to hear it right now of all times. Great, the first thing Zack sees of him now that he's back is his utter failure to defend himself. Cool. Perfect. Cloud just loves that for himself.

He scrambles up from where he landed in a heap up in the branches of the tree, balancing between the branches to peer down at Zack, a few leaves stuck in his hair, catching his breath.

"Zack! You're early. ...uh, hi."

[1stclasspuppy]

Zack could have waited for cloud, He probably even could have warped but that thought didn't occur to him till much later. All he knew was Cloud was here and he had to see him as soon as he could. When he pulled up he jumped off the horse with ease and looked up into the tree, arms open wide for Cloud to jump into them. "Cloud! Come down! What are you doing up there silly head?"

[nimbuster]

"Enjoying the view," Cloud says, in the driest tone imaginable. "Uh, I can get down on my own." And so he does, climbing down without much effort and dropping safely to the ground from a reasonable height. When he turns to face Zack again, it's with a bit of a sheepish look.

"Hey." It's a little awkward, knowing Zack hasn't seen him in months when he saw Zack just a couple days ago. He's...really not sure what else to say.

[1stclasspuppy]

Zack watches as Cloud climbs down the tree and when he's about to jump down entirely Zack moves closer so that once he's on solid ground he can pick him up into a big hug. They 'hey' doesn't go unnoticed as he keeps hugging Cloud and kisses his cheek.

"You're really back....Oh Spike I'm so happy!" To say he was a little lost without Cloud was an understatement. Sure he made some friends along the way but if it weren't for his pokemon he would have been so incredibly lonely. Cloud's back and he is going to spend as much time as he can with him now. The threat of losing him again is too real for Zack.

He eventually puts Cloud down but takes his hands in his, tears almost threatening in his eyes. "I...I thought I lost you."

[nimbuster]

"Whoa--" Cloud really should have seen this coming, he thinks, as Zack lifts him off his feet again the instant he lands. He laughs lightly as he hugs Zack back, though the cheek kiss gets him blushing a bit.

...and what comes next after Zack puts him down gets him blushing a bit more. He looks up at Zack with wide eyes. "You...you really did miss me that much?" Then he blinks. "Um, well, I'll...try my best not to leave without you this time. Promise."

How, he has no idea, but the will is certainly there.

"Long as you try not to leave without me, either," he adds.