Weaving Words - cleflink's fic journal

...huh

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:49:16 GMT

Well that was a strange experience.

I have a necklace of the symbol off Ed's coat from Fullmetal Alchemist (the name of which escapes me), and I was wearing it today at school because I'm a nerd like that. One of my students asked me what it was and when I told him that it was from the anime, his response was: "Anime? But you're like 29." Which is, first of all, wrong on the practical level, but I'm more interested by the inference on his part that I'm too old to like anime. Because, really? That makes no sense to me. I mean, if my mum's friends can like 'Twilight', why shouldn't I like anime? And when he clearly knows very little about anime (I consider FMA decently mainstream enough that most anime-types would at least recognize the name, which he didn't), how is it his right to judge?

Besides, I'm technically 'an adult' which ~~I think~~ means that I can choose to like whatever the hell I damn well please. *makes immature face*

Tease - FFVII Zack/Cloud

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:55:20 GMT

Title: Tease
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII OGC Pre-game
Rating: PG-15
Warnings: Tequilla shots and foreplay. Yes, at the same time.
A/N: Found this on my hard-drive from a failed attempt at a porn_battle prompt and figured that I might as well finish it, considering how long it's been since I posted any actual, y'know, content here. Just a silly little fic.

In his own defense, Zack really hadn't set out to get Cloud drunk tonight. Not that he was complaining, really, but he figured that some plausible deniability might be a good idea for when Cloud eventually sobered up.

Even if Cloud wasn't the one getting taken shameless advantage of, for once.

Cloud's tongue dragged with agonizing thoroughness across Zack's palm and Zack's voice cracked on a groan. "Tease," he accused hoarsely.

Cloud drew back wearing a smile that was almost equal parts shy and hungry. Zack couldn't help but think it was a terribly good look on him.

"I learned from the best. Salt."

Zack dutifully passed over the half-empty salt cellar, leaning back on his free hand to watch as Cloud carefully tapped salt across the path his tongue had taken, his brow furrowed in a parody of drunken concentration. Zack didn't bother trying to hide his grin.

"There," Cloud declared finally, scattering an arc of salt liberally across the floor as he set aside the salt shaker. He nodded, pleased. "Ready?"

"Sounds good," Zack agreed amiably, sitting up to grope for the shot glasses as Cloud
reached with only slightly clumsy fingers for the bottle of tequila sitting against the bed. "You going to join me?"

Cloud blinked at him, considering, then grinned with such blithe cheer that Zack was immediately on guard.

"Sure," Cloud said, then poured himself across Zack's lap with a flirty little wink, tugging insistently at the hem of Zack's shirt. Zack surrendered without even a token protest and Cloud's tongue went to work as soon as Zack's shirt was out of the way, painting broad strokes across suddenly taut muscles and flickering teasingly into the hollow of his bellybutton.

Zack exhaled, a loud, shaky noise, and Cloud purred up at him, eyes glittering in hungry amusement beneath blond bangs.

If this was the result of Cloud drinking, he was so making tequila night a bi-weekly occurrence.

More than liquor was buzzing through Zack's blood by the time Cloud finally relented, lips shining in an almost obscenely pleased smile.

"Having fun?" Zack inquired, almost as casually as he'd been aiming for.

A sparkle of a grin answered him. "Very," Cloud agreed, and Zack's muscles jumped again as the salt cellar tipped, white crystals scattering and clinging to taut, damp skin.

More salt hit the floor as Cloud set down the salt cellar on its side instead of upright, and Zack moved to pour for both of them before Cloud spilled good alcohol all over the both of them as well. Cloud didn't bother moving away as Zack handed over his glass, and the easy weight of him slung across Zack's thighs was rather more distracting than it had a right to be.

"Ready?" Cloud asked, shifting back with a deft wriggle.

Zack nodded. "Am I ever," he agreed devoutly and Cloud laughed.

"Pervert."

Zack answered with a one-armed shrug. "Most of the time," he agreed. He hefted his glass. "On three?"

"Three," Cloud declared and Zack couldn't help a purr as that talented tongue scoured again over his skin, licking away the salt with determined hunger. His own salted hand was treated rather less enthusiastically, the sharp bite of it unremarkable amidst the scrape of Cloud's teeth against his skin, the hot press of Cloud's erection against Zack's upper thigh.

The shots came next and Zack hardly noticed the roll of tequila down the back of his throat, too busy watching the arch of Cloud's as he slammed back his shot, bracing himself with one hand just above Zack's knee.

"Mmm." Cloud's cheeks were flushed with alcohol and arousal, his grin wide and unfeigned, and Zack forwent the traditional lime wedge in favour of hooking a hand around Cloud's nape and reeling him in, chasing down his tequila with a taste of the same from Cloud's lips. Cloud's mouth opened to him immediately and the hungry, shameless twine of his tongue made Zack feel far dizzier than the tequila had managed.

He let his mouth go wandering, glass tumbling to the floor as he wrapped one arm around Cloud's waist and nipped teasingly against pale skin.

He could feel Cloud's smile against his temple. "No more tequilla?" Cloud asked, with suspect innocence considering his hands were already under Zack's shirt, curling around his shoulderblades.

"Nope," Zack answered cheerily, tongue flickering along the curve of Cloud's ear. "That okay?"

Cloud's answer was a wordless hum of approval and Zack took the opportunity to relocate them both to the bed where they could do this properly.

Because really, drunken floor sex was all well and good, but Cloud was going to be mortified enough in the morning without waking up covered in salt as well.

~owari

Sometimes my degree is full of awesome

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:27:33 GMT

Reading the Thesmophoriazusae, a play by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes and I'm coming across some very interesting verbs. Like these:

βινεῖσθαι - to get fucked

λαικάζει - he wenches or, as my translation puts it, he sucks cock.

The fact that both verbs are being used in reference to a man only makes it more awesome, if you ask me (I actually get to read this stuff for school!).

Drive-by pimpage!

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:27:10 GMT

The Request Post for the Choose Your Own Author Challenge at yaoi_challenge is now up! Twenty one author/artists (myself included) with a really excellent range of fandoms and pairings up for offer.

Requests/Prompts are being accepted from now until November 7th and I'm sure I'm not the only participant who'd love to see some awesome prompts from lovely people such as yourselves. You don't need to be one of the participating author/artists to join in on the fun - anyone can make a request! So please do!

*returns to homework-doing*

Worse or better?

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:13:03 GMT

*deep breath* Right, so I've now officially told my supervisor, the Graduate counselor and the future head of the department that I'm not going to try and get into a PhD program next year. I've been dithering about this for... months now, good god, so I'm glad I've finally made a decision. I even think it's the right decision too, ~~though I still kinda feel like I'm wimping out~~. *sheepish* I'm sure I'll feel better about it soon?

And in slightly ~~better~~ more interesting topics, I may just possibly have written something for the newest issue of Shousetsu Bang Bang - an online original yaoi fiction journal. I'm mostly happy with it? Another few days to edit would probably have helped (school!), but considering it's the first ~~complete~~ piece of original fiction I've done in a long time, it's a pretty good start.

Cool things and the state of me

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:40:44 GMT

*creeps out sneakylike* Erm, hi all. Long time no see. Apologies for being MIA (again) - I mostly blame school (or, more accurately, procrastinating over my thesis) and a general disinclination recently towards doing anything productive. *cough* Made of fail, I know. I will try to be less of a loser in the future.

But I do have an exciting thing! cejotting has recently translated my FFVII fic In the Closet into Russian! I can't read it at all, but I have no doubt that a fantastic job was done. Thanks for the interest and your hard work darling!

Also, don't quote me on it, but I may have some original fic to share with you in the next couple of weeks (this is me branching out)! *crosses fingers*

And for those who are interested, yaoi_challenge has signups for it's Choose Your Own Author Challenge coming up in the New Year-ish and Yuletide is accepting fandom nominations for Yuletide 2009! All sorts of incentives for me to get my writing act together! *glees*

Wild Ones Ch 3 - FFVII AU (Zack/Cloud)

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:31:40 GMT

Title: Wild Ones Chapter 3
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII AU
Pairing: Zack/Cloud
Rating: PG this section for glossed m/m
Word count this section: 4686
A/N: Calm before the storm people.

Summary: Irrevocably tied and holding nothing back, two men search the world for what's been lost. This is but a small part of their story.

previous part

The blacksmith stared at Zack like he'd grown a second head. "It's a what?"

"A fortifying charm." The medallion glinted faintly in the light from the low-burning forge, small in Zack's outstretched palm. "Got it from a Harper in the wetlands last season. It's supposed to be able to reinforce basic sigils."

"And you mean to say you'd just give it to me?"

Zack offered a one-armed shrug. "Why not? It's not like I'm using it. And you said yourself that the forge won't be any use until you get the spells renewed. Consider it fair payment for putting the edge back on my sword."

Hope and wary skepticism warred in the blacksmith's eyes. "If that little bit of copper can really do what you say it's worth an absolute fortune." He shook his head, flatly incredulous. "I can't believe you'd just give it away."

"Well first off, a sword's a lot more useful than a fortune I can't carry. And secondly," Zack's tone gentled slightly, "it seems like you could use the help a lot more than I could use the money."

"…are you serious?"

Zack's smile was wry but kind. "I'm very rarely serious, friend smith, but I'm usually trustworthy. If this medallion can benefit you, that's more than enough reason to give it a try."

It was no wonder, Cloud thought, leaning unobtrusively against the far wall and watching the scene unfold, that people took to Zack so quickly. Even when he was skirting round the truth with the skill of a lawmonger, his desire to help people shone through so clearly that even the most suspicious souls were hard pressed to find fault with his reasoning.

Not to mention that he'd pulled his 'fortifying charm' routine so many times now that even Cloud almost believed him.

For his part, the blacksmith didn't appear to need much convincing. The man's tone wavered between wariness and needy hope as he spoke, "Well… if you're certain…"

"Great!" Zack's bag hit the floor and he was beside the forge before the blacksmith could blink, sinking down to his haunches in front of the sigil.

Zack's magic swelled in the confined space, confident and brave, as he lifted the medallion. He glanced a grin over one shoulder. "I'm not entirely sure how this works," he admitted cheerily, which was probably the biggest lie he'd told so far, "but I'm sure we'll figure it out."

The blacksmith swallowed, looking nervous. Cloud rolled his eyes.

Cloud could taste the blacksmith's breathless want as copper clicked against the stone forge, streaking like a film across the back of his throat. The man's eyes were fixed on Zack's hand, all his trust and hope and tension aimed at that tiny polished disc. Which was foolish in Cloud's opinion, but he couldn't see what Cloud saw, couldn't know that it wasn't the medallion but the man that he ought to be coveting.

Cloud found himself privately grateful for that.

Nothing happened for a long moment and Cloud watched hope shade into uncertainty across the blacksmith's face, wavering on the edge of anger.

"Ah," the man dissembled eventually, "is there something wrong, friend…"

Light flared and Zack's yelp echoed off the rafters as he jerked his hand away from metal gone suddenly red hot. Sand hissed and crackled around the medallion where it fell and Cloud heard the blacksmith's sharp intake of breath as the metal began to ooze, dull copper turning glistening and slick in the light.

"Sweet Ivahner," the blacksmith swore devoutly. He shifted forward for a better look, completely oblivious to the hand Zack had flattened against the forge, the violet gleam in gray eyes as he fed energy into the worn sigil the way only trained mages were supposed to be able to.

In a matter of moments the little medallion had melted down to nothing and Zack shifted away from the forge just in time to catch the upward roll of the blacksmith's comically round eyes as they dragged away from the puddle of cooling copper on the floor.

"By the Bright Ones, that was…that - did you see… it, it just…" The man trailed off, the hopeful catch in his voice almost painful to hear as he ventured, "Did… did it work?"

Zack shrugged, one hand cradled gingerly against his chest. "I'm not sure." He gave practiced wince. "It certainly did something though."

The blacksmith's eyes sharpened in a rush. "Fates, that light - are you alright, friend traveler?"

"Just a bit tender," Zack promised, curling his conspicuously unburnt fingers safely out of sight. "Nothing to worry about." He canted his head at the forge. "What about your protective? Does it look any better?"

The blacksmith threw a critical eye over the sigil and Cloud was quietly impressed when the man brightened immediately, joy and disbelief chasing each other rapidly across his face.

"A wonder!" he exclaimed, expression rapt as he fell to his knees to trace the now-blazing lines of the sigil. "It's not been this fine since it was first built!"

The smile that softened Zack's face made Cloud's heart clench. "You must care for this shop very much," Zack remarked, something strange moving behind his eyes. Cloud wondered if it was anything he was supposed to remember.

"A thousand thanks to you friend traveler!" The blacksmith rounded again, broad smile taking years off his ruddy face. "This is true magic you've worked and no mistake!"

Zack held his hands up in defense. "Hey, all I did was hold the thing - not much of an accomplishment. Really," he added, when it looked like the blacksmith would protest. "I'm just glad it worked."

The blacksmith's head shook. "You're far too modest. How can I repay you?"

"I really don’t need repaying, but…" Zack's grin went slightly sheepish around the edges. "If you've the time to sharpen my sword I'd be much obliged."

"Done," the blacksmith answered immediately. His gaze shifted towards Cloud. "Yours too, if you have a need. It's not nearly enough in payment, but…"

"It's more than enough," Zack interrupted, unslinging his own sword with a practiced sweep of his arm. "A sharp sword's worth its weight in gold for guys like us, right Cloud?"

Cloud nodded. "Thank you," he said as Zack handed off his sword.

The blacksmith buckled slightly under the weight. "Oof! That would be a lot of gold and no mistake." He chuckled. "This is quite a hefty sword."

Zack smiled easily. "That it is." He gestured absently towards Cloud. "Did you want both now?"

The man paused, the contemplative sweep of his eyes from Cloud to the sword in his own trembling arms terribly easy to read. "Come back around the noon bells tomorrow," he decided after a moment, as Cloud had known he would. "I'll have this one finished and take the other then. Is that agreeable to you, friend travelers?"

"Perfectly," Zack agreed. His head tilted significantly. "Come on, Cloud. I think we've taken up more than enough of the goodman's time."

Cloud levered himself away from the wall with a shrug and followed Zack out into the crisp evening air.

"Ivahner guard you both!" the man called loudly after them as they went and Cloud winced at the curious heads that turned their way on the previously quiet street. So much for anonymity.

They walked side by side down the street, heading for the inn.

Zack was already grinning. "See? Told you it'd be fine."

"This is going to be all over the village come morning," Cloud reminded him quietly.

"Probably," Zack agreed. "But we really do need our swords sharpening. And the fact that he's doing them one at a time means that we're still going to be armed."

"That doesn't make it a good idea to call that much attention to us, Zack. What would you have done if there'd been a mage nearby?"

"Well I probably wouldn't have had to pull out the magic and sparkle in the first place." Zack grinned, leaning in close. "And you would have stopped me if there'd been any real danger, am I right?"

Cloud made a face, unable to deny that. Zack laughed and ruffled his hair.

"Always looking out for me," he smiled, at once teasing and sincere. "You really don't need to worry so much though. No one can expect us to magic any other sigils when our handy dandy charm's been melted down to scrap, now can they? All we have to do is act sorry when people ask about it and we're in the clear."

"And nevermind the half dozen others you've got clinking around in your pack, I suppose."

Zack pulled a sorrowful face. "Hardly - I'm down to my last one now. Remind me to pick up some more when the caravans arrive, okay?"

Despite his best intentions, the ghost of a smile cracked through Cloud's attempt at disapproval. "You're incorrigible," he declared.

A grin. "I try."

The streets were only sparsely peopled at this hour, closed shop fronts and empty stalls flanking their progress through the town. Cloud wondered uncharitably whether it was because all the villagers were already waiting for them in the common room.

"It probably won't be as crazy as last night," Zack said, as if in response to Cloud's unspoken thought. "Though I'd wager the blacksmith's going to be pretty popular for the next fortnight or so once the word goes around."

"I thought I was the one who read minds," Cloud remarked idly. The groan of wood filled the air and he glanced across the nearly empty square to where a handful of soldiers were wrestling with the heavy city gate, their grunting curses a strange counterpoint to the gate's steady shudder.

Zack shrugged. "Yeah, well I've been thinking of branching out." A pause, so brief Cloud barely caught it. "Though I wouldn't object to some backup tonight if you're up to it."

The gate closed with a rumbling boom that Cloud could feel right through the heavy soles of his boots. "The same people you talked to last night?" he asked, eyes tracking automatically to the massive sigils scrawled across the heavy wooden beams.

"Yeah. I figure we may as well get as much information as we can as long as we're here and these guys sure like to talk."

The gate's sigils were stronger than he would have expected, showing no signs of the decay that clung to the weaker protectives within the walls. Cloud supposed that made sense - weak magic wouldn't have been able to keep the forest out and this village wouldn't last long against the kind of monsters that sought old magic without strong defenses. He could feel the pulse of the power burned into the wood, standing against the outside world with the glint of a shield and the warmth of an embrace.

"Probably won't be able to get a word in edgewise," Zack was saying but Cloud barely heard him, attention fixed on that subtle impression of strength and protection and other things he couldn't name. That was… strange, he decided, footsteps slowing unconsciously as he tried to puzzle them out. Sigils usually came clear to him with barely a glance, unspooling like ribbons and stardust before his eyes, but this one knotted itself tighter instead, holding tight to its secrets. Cloud concentrated harder, ignoring the warning whine in his ears as colours whorled and looped back onto themselves, feeding in and around and together. The weight of their magic shimmered silver on the air, threaded through with green so pale it was almost blue, and Cloud strained, fighting to understand…

"-oud, hey Cloud. You in there?"

Jolting back to himself all at once, Cloud blinked owlishly at Zack, wincing at the thinly-veiled worry scrawled across Zack's face.

"Sorry," he apologized automatically, scrubbing a hand across his eyes. He felt very tired all of a sudden. "I just got… distracted."

Zack's expression eased somewhat. "What have I told about staring at strange sigils?" he chided, though gently. His head cocked curiously. "Which one?"

"The gate." Cloud shrugged self-consciously. "I didn't get a good look at it last night - it's a bit different from the ones in the west, isn't it?"

Zack hummed thoughtfully, magic flaring slightly as he considered the towering protectives. "Maybe a little, I guess. It seems to be doing its job, though." Gray eyes slanted back to Cloud. "Is there something wrong with it?"

"No, I… I don't think so." Cloud deflated, resisting the temptation to look again. "It's just strange."

"Well that's good. What about you? Still with me?"

Cloud started to nod, then stopped abruptly when it made the world spin. "A little dizzy," he admitted, hand migrating up towards his temple.

Zack smiled, wryly fond. "I noticed. Anything I can do?"

That made Cloud want to smile in return. "No," he said gently, the same as he always did. "Thanks though."

"Don't mention it."

They started walking again and Cloud was relieved when the world did nothing more worrying than wobble slightly under his feet as they went. "So," he said. "What's the plan now?"

"Now? Dinner, probably. You still up for company?"

"I guess." The inn loomed out of the encroaching dark ahead of them and Cloud wished abruptly that he'd let his energy levels balance out before trying to read the gate protectives. "I'll leave the story-telling to you though."

The warm glow of firelight spilled across the uneven cobblestones through the open inn door, the smells and sounds of dinner following it out of the building. Cloud felt ill just thinking about it.

"It's not story-telling," Zack protested, his hand smoothing warm and reassuring down Cloud's arm as they moved to enter. "It's a creative interpretation of the facts."

Because so many of them weren't safe to tell.

Cloud sighed instead of voicing a truth they both knew. "I hope you know what you're doing."

Zack's answering chuckle was almost equal parts warm and rueful. "Rarely, but you know I've always been good at improvising. Remember your first sword routine?"

Cloud groaned. "If you tell any part of that story tonight I'm going to kill you. Twice."

Really, he'd forgotten so much - so why did all the embarrassing things come back so easily?

--

"So," Lomas said, somewhere between dinner and heavily into his cups. "Where you boys from anyway?"

Zack leaned idly back in his chair. "Originally you mean? Well, Cloud here's from some freezing backwater north of Tivaner…"

"Explains the hair," Wolan muttered.

"And I was born and bred in a little village on the Trine that you've probably never heard of."

He got a pointed look for that. "Try me," Lomas suggested.

"Gongaga," Zack replied truthfully, and didn't even bother trying to curb his grin as Lomas' brow furrowed.

"I… can't says I have," the man admitted after a moment's thought, as Zack had known he would. It was hard to know about a village that didn't exist anymore, after all.

Zack shrugged carelessly. "Don't worry about it. Most of the neighbouring villages didn't even know we were there." Which was more than a little exaggerated, really, but he wouldn’t actually have to start lying unless they asked him which side of the border it'd been on.

"Small place, huh?" Raaf hummed thoughtfully. "That why you left?"

"Partly," Zack agreed easily. "Though I've always had a bit of wanderlust in me - I doubt any place could have kept my attention forever." He laughed and even he wasn't sure much of the ruefulness in it was honest. "I mean, I've always wanted to make a difference in the world - do great things and meet great people, that sort of thing." He shrugged. "Always figured I'd find out how if I just kept at it long enough."

“Hmm. And did you?”

Zack's answering grin was more self-deprecating than anything. “Well, it didn't take me long to learn that things never really turn out the way you expect them to, and that some adventures aren't nearly so much fun once you've started them. But I’ve definitely met my fair share of great people over the years,” a covert glance at Cloud found the man listening expressionlessly, no hint of colour splashed across his cheeks to suggest that he realized that he ought to count himself on that list, “and I guess I’ll just have to wait and see whether any of the things I’ve done turn out to be great.”

"You're young yet," Raaf told him, almost grandfatherly in his concern. "There's plenty of time for doing great things."

Nods all around and a precariously quiet Cloud answered that. Guessing where Cloud's thoughts had gone, Zack pressed a palm against Cloud's thigh under the table. A wisp of a smile flicked through blue eyes before they dropped back to the table.

"You ever been back to this Gongaga?" Wolan wanted to know then.

"Not recently," Zack said glibly, ignoring the way Cloud was frowning at his plate. "Been pretty busy monster hunting."

"Eh, probably not the best time for visiting anyhow," Raaf said prosaically, signaling for another pint. "Not with the number of press gangs ruining people’s lives around the capital right now."

Zack froze, his drink halfway to his mouth. "What?"

A silver-brushed eyebrow arched. "You haven't heard? The caravans have been abuzz about the conscriptions for half a season at least."

"Conscriptions?" Zack parroted, incredulous.

Raaf nodded soberly. "By order of the King himself. The Royal Forces haven't been so many strong in a hundred years."

"We haven't seen any press gangs," Cloud offered quietly, the first thing he'd said since sitting down at the table.

"You came up from the west though, didn't ya? They're in the southeast right now so you probably missed 'em. But it's only a matter of time before they come up this way too." Wolan sighed. "We're in for a bad harvest next year. Who's going to tend the fields if all the men have to join up?"

Zack didn't like the sound of this at all. "Any idea what the king's planning?" he asked warily.

Lomas snorted. "Yeah, war."

"War?" It came out weakly, like someone had just punched him in the gut. "With Leial?"

Raaf's nod made his heart sink. "Sounds like the king's not holding anything back either. I hear tell they're even enlisting mage troops into the Signet forces to swell their numbers."

"Why now?" Zack demanded, more of himself than anything. After all this time…

He got a shrug in response. “There’s not much else he can do, to be fair. The situation on the border's only getting worse with every passing year. All that waiting's going to do is land him with an invasion - or an insurrection depending on who gets fed up first."

"He can't expect-" Zack started, cutting himself off before he could say something very foolish. He pulled a sheepish face. "Sorry, it's a lot to take in."

"I can't believe you didn't know already," Lomas said, head tilting as he finished off his pint. "Would've thought the press gangs would be falling all over themselves to enlist a pair of massive lads like yourselves."

Zack's grin pasted itself on a little crookedly. "Just lucky so far, I guess." He kept his tone carefully neutral as he added, "Though it might be a good idea for us to think of lying low for the next… er, any word on when they're planning this invasion for?"

Raaf pursed his lips, considering. "With the next spring thaw I'd expect - King Rufus isn't so much of a fool as to start a campaign with the winter coming on."

But he was fool enough to start a war with Leial though, Zack thought bitterly. He caught Cloud's eyes across the table, reading the same worry in them that was surely reflecting in his own.

Half a year. How in Ge's name were they supposed to fix this?

Raaf sighed. "Well, there's no use worrying about what's already in motion." He met Zack's eyes, gruffly serious. "If I was you two, I’d do my level best to stay out of sight unless you feel like a career change. Lomas is right - the press gangs get one look at those monstrosities you call swords and you'll be off to the border before you can blink.”

"Thanks for the warning," Zack said, with a decent amount of his usual flippant charm, even as Wolan's attention sharpen on the single sword leaning against the edge of the table between him and Cloud.

"Hey, one of your swords is missing."

Zack jumped at the chance to change the topic, ignoring Cloud's unhappy sigh. "Funny story about that actually. See, we went down to the smithy…"

They needed time to think. Things were coming to a head, and far sooner than Zack had hoped for. They had to figure out what this changed and what, if anything, they could do to stop this war from happening.

Because there was only one thing Zack knew for certain; if Shinra went to war now, Leial was going to win. And that would be a disaster that there was no coming back from.

--

The waiting was the worst part.

Cloud woke up sandwiched between the mattress of a vaguely familiar bed and the solid warmth of Zack's broad chest - a position so common after years of living from inn to inn that it took Cloud several deep, shuddering breaths to remind himself where he was this time. A tilt of his head revealed that Zack was still sleeping, his handsome face drawn with the fatigue he didn't show during his waking hours. Cloud wondered if the same anxious worries that had dogged his sleep were slinking through Zack's too.

Restlessly tired, Cloud stared around the room, trying to resign himself to the fact that they were stuck here for Ge only knew how long. At least when they were on the move he could pretend that they were making progress, that they wouldn't always be waiting for information they'd never find. It was harder to convince himself on a day like today though, when he'd be coming back to the same room tonight, frustrated and impatient after spending the whole day trying to find ways to fill the time.

Cloud wound a frustrated hand through his hair, tugging until it made his eyes water. Zack needed him to be patient; time was the one thing they did have on their side and he'd be worse than useless if he let himself panic needlessly. But the threat of danger he felt before was already lurking at the back of his mind, louder than before, making him feel as tired as though he hadn't slept at all. He didn't know what was coming - maybe the press gangs they'd been warned about? - but there was no denying that time was running out on them, in more ways than one.

They wasted so many years already, waiting and watching and searching, and now there was a war coming. Even if they ran they'd never find him now, not with the whole world falling around them and the shadows of a past Cloud couldn't quite remember breathing down their necks. There was no time left.

And there was nothing they could do but wait.

The sound Cloud made then was brittle and lost, tasting like shards of glass when he tried to swallow it down. When Zack's arms tightened around him he didn't even bother being surprised, just turned urgently into the embrace, holding on tight.

Zack didn't say anything - he never did in moments like this - just held him close while Cloud shuddered. He held him until Cloud's heartbeat slowed and the bone-white clench of his hands on Zack's shoulders eased, calm and anchoring. Eventually there was quiet between them and Cloud breathed in Zack's warm, summertime scent, wondering, not for the first time, what good he'd ever done to deserve someone like Zack to watch out for him.

Zack's hands stirred soothingly across Cloud's back, asking for nothing, and it was Cloud who arched up, catching Zack's mouth in a kiss that was as sweet as he knew how to make it with tension still riding high in his veins. And Zack met him halfway, kissing back until Cloud was dizzy and half-wild with wanting. Cloud fell into Zack like he was drowning without him, wordless and hungry.

It wasn't as though there was any particular hurry to get up, for once, though Cloud refused to let himself dwell on that thought.

It was well past the breakfast hour by the time they dragged themselves away from each other and out of bed. Cloud's ears were ringing before they'd even finished eating, his attempts to smile at the young thing that Zack sweet-talked into fixing a plate up for them paltry at best. Cloud only hoped that Zack didn't notice.

The day oozed sluggishly past, as Cloud had known it would. They wandered the market together, Zack chatting with the locals like he'd lived there his whole life. More than a few commented on Zack's missing sword, artfully solicitous, and Cloud was supremely unsurprised at the crowd they found outside the smithy, avid faces jostling for a glimpse at the well-burning force. He left the questions to Zack, gritting his teeth at the chaos of the sweltering, overcrowded smithy.

It was a relief when they finally escaped, though to it took the press of Zack's hand to the small of his back, silently supportive, to convince him to hand his sword over to the red-cheeked blacksmith. His shoulders hunched further with every step they took away from the smithy, his bare back feeling terribly exposed. Zack, who had handled the same challenge with much greater aplomb the day before, just scruffed a fond hand through his hair and asked what they should do next.

They washed laundry. Zack wasn't particularly helpful.

It was early yet by the time they finished hanging clothes and Cloud didn't protest much as Zack dragged him beyond the walls, out onto the flat ground between the village and the caravan pass. They sparred bare-handed, more an exercise in motion than a real match, and Cloud found himself glad for the activity despite the way the world kept blurring around him when he turned. He knew that Zack noticed by the way his expression went quietly thoughtful, but Cloud refused to back down, pushing himself hard in the hopes that he'd sleep that night. Zack simply shook his head and pushed back, saying nothing. Cloud was grateful for that.

His head had started to ache in earnest by the time they called it quits, the thump of his heart turning hollow and erratic in his chest. The urge to run welled up more than once, but Cloud knew they couldn't leave, not while his sheath was empty and the caravan trail remained untrodden. There was no point in running if they went the wrong direction, after all.

So Cloud kept silent, picking at his food despite how dry his mouth was. He excused himself early, fleeing the common room to burrow himself under the bedcovers with sweat on his brow and his scanty attempt at dinner sitting uncomfortably in his stomach.

He hadn't managed much more than a fitful doze before Zack made his way up to the room, moving quietly to keep from disturbing him. Cloud sighed as Zack slid under the covers and Zack cuddled him in tight, pressing a chaste kiss to Cloud's forehead before settling down himself.

"Tomorrow will be better," Zack murmured, a gentle rumble of sound hardly more than a whisper in the stillness. "The caravan will get here soon enough."

"I know," Cloud whispered back, straining for sleep that he knew would be a long time coming. "I just hope…" he trailed off, unable to find the words to fit his fears.

Zack kissed his temple. "Me too, Cloud. Me too."

TBC

Playing With Fire - FFVII AU (Sephiroth/Zack/Cloud)

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:26:26 GMT

Title: Playing With Fire
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII AU (Wild Ones fic)
Rating: G
Pairing: Implied Z/C, pre-S/Z/C
A/N: Right so this is a sidefic for my slowly progressing Wild Ones AU story, for ldyavalon because she's been having a crummy time lately and deserves nice things. Apologies for taking so long darling - it decided it needed a plot. Takes places substantially before the events of Wild Ones and can probably be read alone if you're of a mind.

Summary: Zack decides that Sephiroth's spending too much time cooped up at the castle.

"What? Wait no, Zack, you can't be serious…"

"Why not?" Zack's voice said and Sephiroth looked up to see Zack and Cloud approaching through the densely packed trees that protected this part of the garden from the prying eyes of the castle. Cloud looked suspiciously harried considering the hour of the morning. Sephiroth wondered if he ought to be concerned.

The mischief in Zack's expression suggested probably yes. "Seph!" he greeted cheerfully. "Ready to go?"

Sephiroth met the mayhem in that expression calmly. "Given that you haven't told me what to be ready for, I'm not sure I can answer that question."

A sparkle of a grin answered him. "And yet you waited for us anyway." He flicked a glance over his shoulder. "Stop lurking around in the bushes, Cloud. Come on."

Zack started forwards, Cloud trailing obediently in his wake, and Sephiroth belatedly realized that Zack had a hold of Cloud's wrist, his tanned fingers stark against the boy's pale skin. Sephiroth couldn't really say he blamed Zack; the royal gardens were massive and purposely overgrown and Sephiroth doubted that Cloud would have been able to make his way through safely without that guiding touch.

The fact that Cloud looked a few deep breaths shy of bolting likely had something to do with it as well.

Zack fixed him with a critical look. "Hmm. Well you're in ordinary clothes which is good, but we've got to do something about your hair." He released Cloud and gestured to the grass at his feet. "Sit."

"Zack!" Cloud protested, indignation trailing off into silence as Sephiroth sank wordlessly to the ground and Zack dug his hands into the heavy mass of hair at Sephiroth's nape.

"Hmm?" Zack asked absently, broad hands effortlessly competent as they wove the long strands together. "Wassat, Spike?"

"I - you, we can't just steal him!" Cloud blurted, cheeks pinking as Sephiroth arched an eyebrow his way.

What did Zack have planned this time?

"Sure we can," Zack said, unperturbed.

"B-but he's the prince! What if someone, er… needs him for something?"

"There's not much fear of that," Sephiroth interjected, trying to sound reassuring. "My father has made it quite clear that my help is neither required nor appreciated in the management of the kingdom. Besides…" He paused, a quiet whisper of amusement curled the corner of his mouth as he added, "I don't think it counts as stealing if I come willingly."

"That's the spirit!" Zack approved. He tied off the end of Sephiroth's hair and stepped back to give Sephiroth room to stand. "Wear your cloak over it," Zack suggested. "That ought to keep people from recognizing you."

"The hood as well?" Sephiroth asked, unclasping his cloak and refastening it so it covered the thick braid trailing down his back.

Zack shook his head. "Only if you think you need it." He considered Sephiroth for a moment, then nodded, pleased. "Alright, now you're ready. Let's get going." He hooked an arm around Cloud's shoulders and turned, half dragging the boy towards the exit. "We don't want to be late."

"You still haven't said where we're going," Sephiroth noted, falling in step on Zack's other side.

Zack shrugged with suspect nonchalance. "Oh, just into town."

Cloud groaned aloud.

"You have something planned," he accused, though it didn't sound particularly like a complaint to Sephiroth.

Zack's grin was dangerously amused. "Ma~ybe. You'll just have to wait and see, won't you?"

As if there was any chance of either of them doing otherwise where Zack was concerned.

--

It had been… a long time since he'd left the castle. Sephiroth strode down the hard-packed street, taking in the sights and smells and comfortable chaos of the market. The three of them attracted a few stares - Zack's ineffable charm pretty much guaranteed that wherever they went and Sephiroth suspected that neither his colouring nor Cloud's were particularly common in this part of the kingdom - but it didn't seem to him that there was any particular recognition in the gazes turned his way. Which was strangely comforting, reassuring him that he was, if not unremarkable, then at least relatively anonymous with his armour traded for sober browns and his distinctive silver hair tucked out of sight, all the trappings of his rank left behind. It made him relax almost despite himself, the stresses of the court and the task of living down to his father's expectations seeming suddenly very far away.

"That's more like it," Zack approved at his side, meeting Sephiroth's faint frown with an open smile. "We should go find a statue of you to make faces at."

"I would sincerely hope there aren't any."

"Well, no probably not, considering what a hell-bastard your dad is, but it'd certainly be fun, don't you think?"

Sephiroth waited automatically from a protest, either verbal or physical, from Zack's other side and was surprised when neither was forthcoming. "Where's Cloud?" he asked, craning his head to ensure he hadn't somehow overlooked the boy.

Zack jerked a thumb jerked over his shoulder. "Getting us something to eat. We wouldn't want you wasting away in our care, now would we?"

Sephiroth snorted and didn't dignify that with a response.

"Whew," Zack breathed, somewhere between contented and wistful. "It's been ages since we've done this."

"Indeed," Sephiroth agreed.

"You been down here since then? And riding through on the way to the castle doesn't count."

Sephiroth shrugged. "No. Why would I?"

A flash of some emotion Sephiroth couldn't read slanted across Zack's face. "Man, not even once? Clearly I'm not nearly bad enough of an influence on you."

"I can think of several individuals who would disagree with you on that score."

Zack laughed. "Yeah, I'll bet." His tone went thoughtful then, gray eyes gazing past Sephiroth around the quiet square. "But do you really think it's a good idea to let Hojo hide you away in the castle all the time? These people are your subjects - how are you supposed to learn how to help them if you don't get a chance to try and understand them first?"

Sephiroth was saved from having to find an answer to that when Cloud rejoined them, cheeks flushed and hands full of small, paper-wrapped bundles that steamed visibly in the cold.

"Potatoes," Cloud announced, handing them out. "With pepper." His gaze flicked shyly to Sephiroth. "I hope that's okay."

"Thank you," Sephiroth said gravely. He ate the potato slowly, mind drifting as Zack started teasing Cloud about something inane and they all carried on leisurely down the street.

His subjects. It hardly felt like it even at the best of times - he had little to do with the running of the country and even less to do with its people. And it wasn't as though he would ever ascend the throne; Leial was and would ever be a matriarchy, even if the moon fell to the sea and the mountains melted to dust. So they weren't his subjects, not really.

And yet.

He cared for this country. Whatever else was uncertain in his life, that at least was true. And he could hardly care for the country and not have concern for its people as well. Did they expect great things of their prince? And how could he think to be any boon to them when he didn't even know what he expected of himself?

Zack laughed at his side, bright and unaffected, and Sephiroth willed himself to relax. He didn't have to face this alone. And his people expected nothing of him except himself. Zack had told him so, on more than one occasion.

The thought made him want to smile and he glanced instinctively to the side, stride hitching in surprise as his gaze met only empty air.

"Zack?" he asked, half-turning.

"Over there," Cloud told him before he could go far, pointing with his free hand. Sephiroth twisted round to find Zack crouched low to the ground several paces behind them, a gaggle of scruffy-looking children gathered around him. Sephiroth couldn't hear what Zack was telling them at this distance but the rapt expressions on little faces suggested it was something suitably fascinating. As he watched, Zack's hand dipped into his pocket and pulled out a collection of sweetmeats to a chorus of delighted smiles.

"Kids love him," Cloud offered and Sephiroth shifted his attention back to find Cloud looking at him with a smile that was tentative but open, an invitation to share the joke. "Happens every time we come into town."

"Ah. That's… understandable, actually."

Cloud's grin quirked towards something that Sephiroth would have called mischief if he'd seen it on Zack's face. "Why? Because Zack's got the mind of a five-year old?"

"Perhaps," Sephiroth managed after a short, startled silence, wondering how Zack could ever consider himself a poor bad influence with evidence like this to the contrary.

"Hey guys, thanks for waiting." Zack's arms looped carelessly around his and Cloud's shoulders. Zack was already grinning even as he leaned forward. "Miss me?"

"I'm not sure," Cloud said innocently. "Maybe you should go away for longer and we can find out."

Zack struck a mortally offended pose, an action made rather difficult by the current position of his arms. "You wound me kiddo. See if I ever buy you spiced potatoes again."

"I bought my own Zack. And I carried yours."

The level of noise ahead of them increased suddenly, shifting from casual racket into a more deliberate sort of commotion and Zack perked up. "Oops, it's starting. Let's go."

"What's starting?" Cloud wanted to know but Zack was already moving, trying with a considerable lack of success to haul them both along with him. Sephiroth surrendered to the sentiment if not the tug, deliberately ignoring the stares they were receiving, reeling down the street like a gang of soused revelers.

Zack's arms fell as the street grew busier, though the closeness remained. They edged their way through the growing crowd, Zack's easy smile helping keep the peace with the people they pushed past.

"Here looks good," Zack decided eventually, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

"Zack." Cloud was starting to sound put out. "What's going on?"

Zack's grin was a devilish thing. "Well-"

Light flared, roaring and violent, and only the sudden clench of Zack's hand on his arm kept Sephiroth from leaping immediately to the offensive.

"Oh," Cloud breathed at his side, oblivious to the rigid set of Sephiroth's spine. "A flare dance!"

"A-?" Sephiroth frowned, looking past the flash of fire magic to the group of white clad figures weaving gracefully in and out of the flames in time to the roll of an unseen drum.

"Traveling dance group," Zack explained quietly, hair turning ruddy as a swirl of fire streaked past. "They train for years to be able to perform like that."

"I can't believe this is a permitted use of magics," Sephiroth objected, nearly a question.

He felt more than saw Zack's shrug. "Well, it's not as easy to get a license as it used to be." His tone quirked wryly. "It's dangerous playing with fire after all, and Hojo's been pretty determined about restricting magic use for anything but the army." Zack sighed then, softly, and Sephiroth glanced over to find the man watching the performance with a strange little smile on his face. "It makes for a hell of a show, though."

Unsure which of that he was supposed to be answering, Sephiroth nodded, silence falling between them as he turned their attention to the performers. It was strangely compelling, Sephiroth decided, dancing fire and whirling figures, perfectly in sync. He tried to focus on the beauty of it rather than the motions, carefully not considering how they might be used in battle.

All in all, it was an impressive performance.

"Alright," Cloud admitted later, unforced delight shining in his face as they headed back the way they'd come. "That was worth dragging us down here for." He let out an explosive breath. "Leth, what a show!"

"I'm glad you approve." Zack had his arm around Cloud's shoulders again, drawing him in closer than was probably necessary. Cloud didn't seem inclined to object. Zack's other arm kept brushing against Sephiroth's, maintaining contact. Sephiroth was only mildly surprised to find himself also disinclined to object.

"So now what?" Cloud asked then, expression sobering some as reality intruded on the quiet bubble of contentment around them. "We should probably be getting back, huh?"

Zack made a grand show of thinking about it, the sparkle in his eyes ruining the effect entirely. "Well, I think we've probably got time for dinner before we un-steal our dear prince. If it's okay with Seph, of course." He grinned, his steady regard not asking for anything Sephiroth wasn't prepared to give.

Which made it almost disturbingly easily to nod his assent, not willing to give up this closeness just yet. "Alright."

"Excellent. Because we're just going past what is quite possibly the best tavern in the entire country and I don't know about you two, but I'm getting hungry."

He had things to consider. Sephiroth didn't know yet how to begin, but with Zack grinning in his ear and Cloud quietly eager at his side, he couldn't help but want to believe that they'd all figure it out eventually.

~owari

This has nothing to do with anything

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:17:05 GMT

But I'm kind of ridiculously pleased with it and want to share.

This is going to be part of a display about a performance of Seneca's Thyestes at my university this fall. I decided to do a spoof article a la the National Enquirer, because really, the amount of incest, parricide and railing at the heavens that comes with this particular cycle of myths would make Jerry Springer look tame.

What? It's totally educational.

For those who don't know much about Thyestes and the House of Atreus, you can find the wikipedia article here.

*snickers like the great big Classics geek she is*

Home again

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:09:08 GMT

I return! ^__^ After six weeks abroad and several days of ~~slacking off~~ getting over jet-lag - I'm sure you all missed me very much. *wry*

My trip was pretty awesome overall - ended up spending 4 weeks in Greece and the rest of the time in England. Greece is very hot at this time of year (especially when you're visiting archeological sites like it's going out of fashion). Spent the majority of my time in Athens (the Acropolis! the National Archeology Museum! the Agora!), but also visited Delphi, Corinth, Mycenae, Tiryns, Epidauros, Argos, Sparta, Pylos (sorta), Olympia and the islands of Mykonos and Delos. Boo yeah. Now I need to remit my expenses to the school so they can help pay for some of my monster trip. *fist pump for scholarships*

Also had the distinct joy of meeting ldyavalon for lunch and fangirling. It was awesome to meet you hon! I'll be getting the photos my cousin took in September and I'll send you a copy.

So yeah! Trip was good, not enough writing was done and now I need to figure out what I haven't done so far this summer than needs finishing before school starts back up orz. I'm slowly working backwards through my f-lists to see what I've missed in the last month and a half, but if you have a) made a post or b) know of a post that you think I'd want to read, I'd appreciate it.

And of course, if people have questions etc about the actual specifics of my trip or a particular site or whatever, please feel free!

*hearts*

Setting out of office message

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:57:56 GMT

Well folks and folkettes, my plane leaves today. I don't know how consistent my internet access is going to be so here's my official wish for you all to have a safe and happy summer - I will keep in contact when I can.

See you all in five weeks! *waves*

Later days! ^__^

Handbasket - FFVII (Sephiroth/Zack/Cloud)

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:54:59 GMT

Title: Handbasket
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII [OGC pre-game]
Rating: soft PG
Warnings: Boys in skirts and other boys approving
Prompt: Final Fantasy VII, Sephiroth/Zack/Cloud: Halloween costumes - Sephiroth made a sexy Big Bad Wolf, and Cloud in red…? Hot.
Word count: 1330

Summary: Sephiroth was starting to think Zack was making up holidays for the sake of dressing them up in strange clothes.

His pants had more holes in them than leather. Sephiroth frowned as he laced the belt, able to think of only sentence capable of summing up how surreal this whole experience was.

"How did you talk me into this?"

"Beats me," Zack said cheerfully over one shoulder, doubled-over as he laced his boots. "My good looks and charming personality?"

"I doubt that," Sephiroth remarked idly, most of his attention on trying to figure out how to fasten the cuff of silver fur around his wrist.

"Here, lemme get that." Zack stood, still shirtless, and caught Sephiroth's wrist in strong fingers. Sephiroth surrendered gracefully and watched as Zack fastened first one cuff, then the other.

A satisfied nod. "There we go. Can you manage the collar or do you want a hand?"

"Please." Sephiroth pulled his hair over one fur-trimmed shoulder to bare the back of his neck, trying without much success not to feel like a fool. "This is ridiculous."

"Naw, you're just not in the Halloween spirit yet." Zack's chin bumped Sephiroth's shoulder blade as he grinned. "This is fun."

Sephiroth arched an eloquent eyebrow, trusting Zack to hear it in his voice even if he couldn't see it. "I fail to see how being half-naked and edged in fake fur is supposed to be fun."

Zack chuckled. "Hey, I've seen you wear less to board meetings, Mr. Leather Pants Count As A Uniform. Stop being such a sissy about it. There." The catch slid home and Zack came around his front to take a look. "Nice," he approved, one hand sneaking out to straighten the waistband of Sephiroth's dubious approximation of trousers. "Now sit yourself down and I'll put on your war paint. Watch out for your tail."

Sephiroth settled carefully on the edge of the bed, assorted bits of fur scratching against his skin. Zack approached with brush in hand, flashing Sephiroth a grin as he got to work.

"Remind me again what all this… frippery is in aid of?" Sephiroth asked as Zack worked.

Zack made a face at him. "Oh, come on Seph! You're the Big Bad Wolf! Chin up." The brush slid smoothly across Sephiroth's face, thin lines of paint following cool in its wake. "You know - blows down houses and eats small children?"

"Lovely," Sephiroth said, his voice too flat and Zack whacked him lightly on the shoulder.

"Stop that. The whole point of Halloween is to dress up as something you're not, remember?" A curl of paint along his eyelids. "Besides," Zack said, leaning back to appraise him with a critical eye and a fond grin. "You make a really hot wolf."

"You're impossible," Sephiroth said, though mildly.

Zack chuckled. "Usually." He set aside the brush and reached across the bed for his costume shirt, warm skin brushing against Sephiroth's. "You know you'd be bored without me."

"Perhaps," Sephiroth allowed, shifting back slightly.

Soft flannel stretched snugly across Zack's chest as he fastened the buttons, hugging like a second skin. He made only a desultory attempt at tucking it in before turning to the sleeves, tanned fingers rolling them up with neat, practiced motions. He shrugged into his suspenders and reached for the prop axe leaning against the foot of his bed, slinging it easily over one shoulder. Then he turned, free hand cocked rakishly on his hip. "How do I look?"

Sephiroth considered. "Rustic."

Zack laughed. "Well, I was going for sexy, but I guess that'll do. All that's left is convincing Cloud to come out in public with us."

Sephiroth thought about that. "One of the three little pigs?" he guessed, bending down to pull on his boots before Zack could find something suitably ridiculous for him to wear.

The wicked grin in Zack's voice wasn't particularly reassuring. "Not exactly." His voice lifted. "How's it going in there, Cloud?"

The resounding silence from the vicinity of the bathroom sounded decidedly unimpressed and Sephiroth kept his eyes firmly fixed on the buckle he was fastening, letting Zack deal with it.

Zack sighed. "You may as well come out, you know. I'll just come in after you." His tone went wheedling. "Come on Spike, I'm sure you look great."

A heartbeat's breath and when the door slammed open it hit the wall hard enough to crack the plaster.

"You are such a bastard!" Cloud's voice declared, sounding low and seriously pissed off. "I am not wearing this!"

Zack made a sound somewhere between admiring and hungry and Sephiroth took one deep breath before he sat up to find out what Zack had done this time.

Stockings.

Sephiroth's mind stalled on the thought and he was sure his eyes were embarrassingly wide as he stared at the white fabric clinging lovingly to Cloud's legs from feet to thighs. He was wearing red shoes, some absent part of Sephiroth noticed, shiny patent things that matched the innocent air stockings like those were supposed to convey. They were not, Sephiroth thought, doing a particularly good job at that.

Cloud stalked forwards, white-clad legs brushing against each other in a terribly distracting fashion, and Sephiroth lifted his eyes to the almost obscene amount of bare skin showing between the top of the stockings and the bottom of the… well. He would have wondered how Zack had talked Cloud into wearing a dress, though he wasn't sure the swell of blue satin and crinoline barely covering Cloud's assets really counted as one. Cloud's hands were fisted on his hips, a wig the same blond as Cloud's hair clenched in one white-knuckled grip. The not-quite-a-dress came high on Cloud's chest, an effusion of lace and gathered fabric doing a surprisingly good job at hiding Cloud's… gender difficulties with the costume. A short red cape was tied at his throat, drawing attention to the pale span of his shoulders, the graceful arch of his neck.

"Zack," Cloud growled, fire snapping in his voice, and Sephiroth dragged his eyes up to find Cloud flush-cheeked and furious, looking just moments away from strangling Zack with his bare hands.

Sephiroth was fairly certain that shouldn't have been nearly as attractive as it was.

"Wow," Zack managed after a heavy pause. He coughed and tried again, tearing his attention away from bare skin and white stockings with obvious reluctance. For once, Sephiroth wasn't really sure he could blame him. "Looks good." His grin crooked. "Need any help with the wig?"

Cloud bared his teeth. "Dammit Zack! I'm not wearing this!"

"Why not? No one'll recognize you. And besides," Zack's arm snaked out and caught Sephiroth by the wrist, tugging him to his feet. "We can't have a Big Bad Wolf and a daring woodsman without a Red Riding Hood, right?"

For some reason that made Cloud falter, some of the fire leaving his eyes even as his flush deepened. "That's," he started, then seemed to get stuck, fidgeting uncomfortably.

"Zack said that this holiday is for pretending to be something you're not," Sephiroth offered, not quite sure whether he was helping or not. "Zack's taste in costumes may be questionable but he's certainly accomplished that much."

"Cynic," Zack accused, slinging an arm around Sephiroth's shoulders as he flashed a reassuring grin at Cloud. "If it really bugs you we'll think of something else, okay?"

Cloud squirmed some more. "People are gonna laugh," he muttered, not even close to a no.

"I rather doubt that," Sephiroth felt compelled to say, with a quirk of his lips that earned a small smile from Cloud and a pleased nod from Zack.

"Alright," Cloud caved with a sigh. He shot a narrow-eyed look at Zack. "But I'm going to kill you when this is over."

"That's okay," Zack said lightly, grinning fit to burst as he reeled Cloud in. "It'll be worth it."

Standing between the two of them, barely dressed in leather and fake fur and looking forward to an evening of trying to be social, Sephiroth was only mildly surprised to find himself in complete agreement.

~owari

Where has June gone?

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:38:30 GMT

This time two weeks from now I'm going to be in Greece. For a month. Holy crap. (And who says there aren't any practical benefits to a degree in the Classics?)

I-I have a lot to do in the next two weeks ~~Like work on my thesis~~. orz

Anybody want a postcard?

Ficbit set - where in the world?

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:34:18 GMT

Took too long with these (as per usual), but I'm pleased with how they turned out, so. Thanks to everyone who prompted me!

10 x 125 words. Fandom spread = Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy XII, Howl's Moving Castle, Weiß Kreuz, Yami No Matsuei. Overall worksafe except for Sephiroth (yes, really) and a tendency towards crazy in Farf's.

Cloud, waterfall for cloudy_chan
Somewhere on Disc 2...

Cloud stared at the water rushing past the cave mouth and tried very hard not think of anything at all.

The echo of a dead woman's words clung to the slick stones all around him, fractured and strange. Lucrecia's ghost, if that's what it had been, was long gone now and Cloud suppressed a shudder at the thought of being trapped here, alone, for all that time.

Vincent was silent behind him, staring at the blank walls with clenched fists and angry eyes. Cloud focused on the water roaring in his ears, letting in familiar numbness. This wasn't his problem. He wasn't like Vincent. Or Lucrecia.

"The Jenova inside me wouldn't let me die..."

He just hoped his own past knew enough to stay dead.

Vaan, bedroom for nan
Because only I could get a prompt for 'bedroom' and not turn out porn. ^^;

Penelo dropped unceremoniously onto her bed. "Alright, we're alone. Now spill."

"It's nothing," Vaan settled onto the floor, snagging a cushion on the way. "Don't worry about it."

"Liar." Penelo's eyes narrowed. "You found a ship, didn't you?"

Since when did Penelo know him so well? "Er…"

Penelo sighed expansively. "Vaan, you're about as subtle as a baanga on a bender." She cocked her head. "So?"

"…what?"

"Ask me to go in with you." Vaan gaped and Penelo hit him. "Idiot," she said fondly. "You think I'd let you go off alone? Besides, you'd never be able to afford it without my help."

"…You serious?"

"Of course. So?"

Vaan gave up. "Partners?" he asked, extending a hand, and Penelo grinned.

"I thought you'd never ask."

Howl, the Military for kiwikiwi

"You'll be fine," Sophie said. "Just think of it as mentoring on a bigger scale, okay?"

"This is such a pain," Howl muttered back, tugging on his collar.

"Maybe. But you agreed." A last pat on his hip. "So stop stalling and get a move on."

He wanted to go home.

"Howl." Madame Solomon smiled, looking far too pleased with herself. "So nice to see you."

He sketched a salute, trying to ignore the legion of fresh-faced young wizards staring raptly at him. "Madame Solomon."

Her eyebrow arched. "We'll need to work on your manners, Sergeant. For now, though-" she waved a hand. "They're all yours."

Howl swallowed hard. "Right." He was not happy about this.

But at least he looked good in the uniform.

Seph, natural hot spring for ldyavalon Not worksafe!

"D-damn," Zack gasped, hands slipping as they grabbed at Sephiroth's wet shoulders. He grinned broadly. "I could get used to this."

Sephiroth added another finger, purring at the feel of Zack's body yielding effortlessly in the steaming water. "I'd advise against it," he warned, licking a bead of sweat off Zack's collarbone. "We're shipping out in less than a fortnight."

Zack laughed, a breathless, giddy sort of sound. "The hot spring's not exactly - haah - what I was talking about…" His hips hitched, driving onto Sephiroth's hand. "Fuck, Seph please…"

"Ah." Cock replaced fingers and Sephiroth hissed as he sheathed himself in slick, willing heat. Zack groaned, panting heavily, and Sephiroth smiled. "In that case, I might be inclined to agree with you."

"Good."

Zack, downtown for b_borealis
I cheated. It's bartender!Zack verse.

"Downtown!" Zack belted out. "Where the neon lights are bright!"

"Do you have to sing?" Cloud asked, sounding pained.

"No," Zack admitted easily. "But what better opportunity than a downtown music fest?"

Cloud rolled his eyes. "We're here to watch other people sing," he reminded, not sounding nearly as put out as he probably meant to.

They wandered down the street in companionable silence, shoulders brushing intermittently. "This is nice," Cloud offered finally. A shy glance. "I'm surprised you gave yourself the night off,"

It's worth it to watch you smile, Zack wanted to say. He shrugged instead. "We never do much business over the festival weekend anyway." He took Cloud's hand. "And I'd hate to miss out on the chance to sing in public."

Vincent, tea shop for palmtree101

Vincent stared at the gilt-edged saucer and cup in front him, feeling ridiculous.

Cid sighed. "You've got to be the sissiest scary bastard I've ever met. Just drink the damn thing." Cid was glaring across the table, one calloused hand wrapped around his own silly-looking cup.

Vincent frowned. "I don't-"

Cid's eyes rolled. "You think I care? Looking like a fool isn't going to be the end of you." A noisy slurp, just as incongruous. "And this tea's too damn good to let it get cold."

"Next time bring it home instead," Vincent suggested, though he leaned forward just the same. The cup felt just as delicate as he'd feared, but Cid looked too pleased for him to object.

And the tea really was excellent.

Farfarello, rooftop for cypher
Couldn't fit in the lead pipe - how about a knife instead?

His blood looked black in the moonlight.

Farfarello drew the knife down his arm, watching smears of black roll hot across his skin. Not white anymore, that arm, and Farfarello hummed as blood dripped off his fingers, splattering across the ground like tears. It would stain.

A presence, behind him, and Farfarello smiled. "I can feel you breathing," he murmured dreamily.

The darkness chuckled. *Liar* Schuldig's voice said in his head, tasting like honey and razor blades. *Come on. We've got a job to do*

Schuldig's hair was pale in the dark, imitation fire, and Farfarello shifted, knife lifting thoughtfully. Maybe Schuldig's blood…

*Oh, it's just as black as yours. Now get your ass off the roof before Crawford gets pissy at both of us*

Zack, Edge for strayvalkyrie
Because really, how else did Cloud get back to the church? Advent Children.

"Hell of a place," Zack said as they walked. "And here I thought the slums were bad."

Aeris shrugged. "I didn't bring you along to enjoy the scenery."

"Naw, I'm just the hired muscle." Zack grinned down at his insensate burden. "Right Cloud?"

Cloud's head lolled, his face drawn with fatigue. Zack clucked his tongue disapprovingly. "Does this boy ever sleep?"

"Probably not. It's hard work being a hero." The door to the old church creaked open and Aeris led the way inside.

"He's lucky we're around to keep an eye on him." They waded into the water, cradling Cloud between them. Zack glanced up hopefully. "You sure we can't keep him?"

"I'm sure." Aeris' smile was fond and sad. "His story's not done yet."

Tsuzuki, library for yuenoclow

"No."

"But -!"

"No, Tsuzuki!" Gushoshin glared quellingly. "How many times do I have to say it? You're not coming in!"

Tsuzuki put on his best pleading face. "Please, Gushoshin? I won't blow it up again, I swear!"

Gushoshin looked unimpressed. "That's what you said last time, remember?" An imperious finger stabbed towards the door. "Out!"

"But I… ack!"

"Come on already," Hisoka said, dragging Tsuzuki away by the back of his collar. "Stop being a nuisance."

"Hisoka?" Tsuzuki twisted his head awkwardly. "I thought you wanted somewhere quiet to read?"

"I'm not going to get it with you arguing with Gushoshin, am I?" Hisoka muttered irritably. His cheeks were pink. "I can read in the office."

Oh. "Sankyuu, Hisoka!" Tsuzuki smiled.

Hisoka snorted. "Idiot."

Cloud, Mt. Nibel for aikonamika

I will not throw up, I will not throw up…

"Hey," Zack said, right behind him, and Cloud nearly jolted himself out of the truck in surprise.

Zack grinned apologetically. "Sorry." He slumped down beside Cloud, his attention turning outwards. "Inhospitable kind of place, isn't it?"

"Wait till you meet the locals," Cloud muttered darkly, and hurried on when Zack gave him a look. "The mountain's really beautiful though."

Zack grinned. "I'll bet. Take me for a tour later?"

Why? Cloud would have asked, only he doubted Zack would give him a straight answer. "Okay," he said, insides jumping at the thought of showing Zack his childhood hideaways. It wasn't a bad kind of feeling. "After we're done at the reactor, okay?"

Zack smiled. "Deal."

*hugs*

Blood Lines [KH2/Baccano! Axel/Maiza]

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:18:19 GMT

Prompt drabbles are about 2/3 done, but you can all enjoy this in the meantime! ^_^

Title: Blood Lines
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts 2/Baccano!
Pairing: Axel/Maiza
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Death play sex
Prompt: Axel and Maiza: necrophilia
A/N: If you'd asked me before this challenge, I wouldn't have said this was a kink of mine. Then I got these two for it and, well. *sparkles*

( It was fascinating to watch him bleed. )

Apparently I'm in a posting mood this week

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:22:07 GMT

S-so how about some prompts?

Give me one character and a place. The place can be as Proper Noun specific (Reno in Las Vegas) or vaguely generic (Claire in a dining room ~~with the candlestick!~~) as you like. I'm not going to put a fandom cap on this, so anything that shows up in my tags list should be fair game. I'll also accept prompts from Persona 4 (because... yeah), though fair warning that I'm only up to the end of August.

I'll take the first 10 responses across all mirrors of my journal (so 10 total, not 10 each). Um, go?

1. Cloud, waterfall for cloudy_chan (LJ)
2. Vaan, bedroom for nan (DW)
3. Howl, the Military for kiwikiwi (DW)
4. Seph, natural hot spring for ldyavalon (LJ)
5. Zack, downtown for b_borealis (LJ)
6. Vincent, tea shop for palmtree101
7. Farfarello, rooftop for cypher (DW)
8. Zack, Edge for strayvalkyrie (LJ)
9. Tsuzuki, library for yuenoclow
10. Cloud, Mt. Nibel for aikonamika

Does this merit an RL tag?

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:11:01 GMT

Con report! A week late, but still here!

This was my... 7th time going to Anime North and I'm pleased to say it was still a very enjoyable experience. The weather was, thankfully, very nice and I met more nice crazy people than irritating crazy people. This year the collective crew decided to spend an extra day and show up on Thursday - for less hassle checking in and the sake of not being crazy rushed all weekend. Surprisingly, it worked. Hotel check-in, con registration and weapons check were all done with a minimum of fuss, and then Thursday evening was spent watching Star Trek (again) in IMAX. Good times.

Con opened at 5pm on Friday, so we slacked off and finished last minute costume bits for most of the day. I reused an old costume and went as Hakkai from Saiyuki - and for a twist I decided to go for the youkai version. Meant that I got to leave my monocle and ear cuffs (and Hakuryuu) at home, which made the costume a lot easier to wear.

The work on my face is in eyeliner, my hands were done in pen.

Took freaking forever to get dressed on Saturday. I went as Caster from Fate/Stay Night, and the lovely Shadeling was Saber.

Shadeling looking lovely - and tiny, but she kind of is, so I guess that's okay. I made all the armour myself using an online tutorial, craft foam, some creativity and several litres of glue. I am very pleased with how it turned out, though I might try and find a different method in future, as this stuff is very soft.

Without the cloak. This was my first time wearing a full wig for a costume - it was a lot of fun, though the sheer number of hair pins holding me together was a bit ridiculous. People didn't recognize me. It was pretty cool.

Us, looking combatative and etc. And me with the full costume on this time.

My costume was surprisingly comfortable, although next time I intend to avoid anything that requires gloves - made damn hard to pick anything up, or photograph people. Luckily the rest of the people we went with weren't in costume and were kind enough to carry shit/act as picture gophers/pay for my swag (from my wallet, unfortunately). Had a lot of pictures taken, which is really nice after the amount of time put into making the costumes. There were a lot of really good quality costumes this year which is a nice change from previous years. Saw enough P3 and P4 cosplayers to make me a very happy cleflink, as well as a few old-school non-anime folks who were great fun (Barf from Spaceballs! Demona from Gargoyles! Cheetara from Thundercats!...how many of you are even old enough to remember Thundercats? orz)

Speaking of age, the guy behind me (with the popsicle) tried to chat me up not too long before this was taken. If I hadn't been so busy being surprised, I probably would have told him that I'm probably a good 10 years older than he is. ^^;

Watched a couple new things I might look up, laughed at the skit contest and thoroughly enjoyed the AMV contest. Spent a decent amount of money, though not as much as I expected to as several things I was looking for were MIA. I did get the Crisis Core Playarts ~~dolls~~ action figures of Zack and Cloud though, which makes me happy. And some lovely prints from the Artist's Alley which I have absolutely nowhere to put. Orz. So yeah, good all in all, and close enough to my hometown that it doesn't even take a full tank of gas to get there *win*. Now I just have to find some way to convince all you people to come next year lol.

Firestarter [KH2/FFVIII, Axel/Seifer]

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:07:12 GMT

Written for the summer round of no_true_pair.

Title: Firestarter
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts 2/Final Fantasy VIII
Pairing/characters: Axel/Seifer
Rating: Strong PG
Warnings: Snarky prison foreplay? Also somewhat violent boykissing.
Prompt: Axel and Seifer: handcuffs/prison scenario
A/N: I blame Seifer for the deplorable lack of porn in this (No, I don't understand either).

( Normally it took people an object lesson and several broken bones before they realized just how talented Axel could be with his hands tied behind his back )

Flailage

Sat, 30 May 2009 19:50:40 GMT

*waves* Well, I'm back from Anime North and mostly rested. I'll probably be posting some costume pictures once I figure out how to connect my camera to my laptop, but suffice to say a good time was had by all and much money was spent on new ani-swag.

This is... not really a fic but I've been mentally stalling on the longer things I'm trying to work on (my creativity, it is failing its will save a lot lately), and this piece snuck out while I wasn't paying attention. Erm, worksafe and short?

Zack was teetering at the top of a ladder with a power drill in hand when the knock came.

"Wha-" He half turned without thinking and promptly swore as he felt the ladder shift out from under him. He managed a single, desperate grab for the light fixture he'd been installing and then he was falling, drill slipping from his fingers as he hit the ground hard enough to make his teeth rattle.

"…ow."

Zack lay on the floor for a breathless moment, blinking muzzily at the wildly careening light above him. Thankfully he was far enough along with the installation that it didn't immediately fall on him and Zack breathed a small sigh of relief for small mercies. Maybe he should have listened to Reno when he'd said that renovating was hazardous work, yo.

The knock came again, louder this time, and Zack sat up with a pained groan.

"I'm coming!" he called out, climbing to his feet. The knocking continued as he shuffled through the mess of wallboard and drop cloths that was eventually going to become an apartment and Zack made a face.

"That'd better be a cute fireman making all that racket or I'm going to be really disappointed," he muttered, reaching for the door. "Yes?" he demanded.

"Mr. Zack Fair?" asked the very attractive blond police officer standing on his doorstep.

Zack blinked. "Er - yes?"

The man flashed his badge, pretty blue eyes calm and serious. "Cloud Strife, MPD. I've got a few questions for you if you have a moment."

Zack leaned into the doorjamb with a winning grin. Close enough.

Dreamwidth, Cons and Ficbits

Tue, 12 May 2009 16:19:16 GMT

Right! So I now officially have a Dreawmwidth account under the same name for those who want to follow me there. For now it's going to be a mirror of my LJ and IJ accounts - I have no intention at this point of leaving either place, but anyone who's made the move and wants their f-list all in one place is more than welcome to friend me there instead.

I had wanted some shiny new fic finished to celebrate the new account but... that hasn't exactly happened yet since I've been working like mad to get my shit together for Anime North next week (Anybody going?). So have some ficbits instead!

All written for Round Six of porn_battle on IJ.

Kingdom Hearts Zack/Cloud worshipful actions, he had to reassure himself that it was real - This could be taken as a follow-up to An Idiot in Hades but was technically written as a standalone.

Persona 3 Akihiko/Shinjiro blowjobs instead of explanations ...yeah.

Zap! Online Comic Gunner/Zap the world is not enough - Hooray for fandoms nobody's heard of! Zap! Online is a webcomic about space, psychics, amnesia, intrigue and trying to take over the universe (not necessarily in that order). Zap is the clueless main hero-type character with no memory and Gunner is the ~~sexy~~ main bad guy.

So yeah! Enjoy and I'll try to have something written, er, soonish. *hearts*

Damn you 0tp

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:28:14 GMT

I-I wish I didn't fail so badly at porn, because this? Would be so awesome -- Axel and Seifer: handcuffs/ prison scenario

And this is where my brain went (before it promptly melted):

The first thing Axel learned about Enforcer Almasy was to stay the fuck out of his way.

The second thing he learned, about Enforcer Almasy and prison in general, was that things were way too boring when he listened to good advice.

...seriously guys. I feel I need to attempt this just on principle.

(0tp is bad for me in all the most fun ways).

In The Closet - FFVII (Zack/Cloud)

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:46:38 GMT

Because nothing says yay end of term like celebratory porn.

Title: In The Closet or All Zack's Fault
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII (pre-game, not Crisis Core compliant)
Pairing: Zack/Cloud
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Unrepentant smut. PWP
Word count: 1450

Summary: Closet sex. Seriously.

Cloud was starting to think that Zack was a bad influence on him.

"Ah," he gasped, voice hitching as Zack's cock forced past the tight ring of muscle between his cheeks and pressed deeper. Cloud's fingers tensed, digging grooves into the cheap drywall he was braced against.

Behind him Zack purred low in his throat, the sound rumbling through the blackness inside the supply closet as he nudged carefully inwards, steady and unhurried. Once he was fully seated he leaned in close, hooking his chin over Cloud's trembling shoulder.

"You look fucking hot like this," he murmured, tongue swiping at Cloud's ear.

Cloud's cheeks flamed in the dark. "W-what?" he whispered back, shifting against the hot heavy press of Zack's cock inside him. "Surrounded by mops and buckets?"

A silent laugh puffed against his cheek. "More like pinned against the wall with my cock in your ass," Zack corrected. "But close enough." One of his hands drifted down to encircle Cloud's erection, pumping him knowingly. "Okay?"

Cloud hissed and thrust against Zack's hand, feeling Zack's cock twitch inside him. "M'fine," he managed after a beat. "Do it."

Zack nipped at his earlobe. "Whatever you say, babe."

Zack's cock burned nearly as much pulling out as it had going in and Cloud bit his lip hard, waiting for the ache to subside. The hand on his cock squeezed encouragingly, teasing in all the best ways, and then Zack's hips snapped forward, driving into him hard and making both of them groan.

"Mmm," Zack murmured, a warm, meaningless tumble of sound that stroked like wildfire down Cloud's nerves. Zack's free hand flattened against the wall beside Cloud's as he established a rhythm, his tongue snaking out to taste the sweat-slicked skin of Cloud's neck. "Gorgeous."

"Ngh, stop that," Cloud panted, fighting to keep his voice down as Zack set about driving him crazy with teeth and tongue and cock.

He could feel Zack smiling against his neck. "Stop what?" he asked innocently, and his next thrust made Cloud bite off a strangled scream, stars exploding in his vision as Zack's cock stroked over that perfect spot inside him. "I'm afraid you're going to have to be more specific."

Cloud whimpered, short nails gouging deep furrows in the wall. "Ass," he accused breathlessly, neck arching as Zack's mouth fastened on a spot just below his chin. "Not - ah - so high…"

"Mm?" Zack hummed.

How was he supposed to think with Zack thrusting into him like that? "No h-hickeys above the collar," he gasped out, his voice all over the scale. "I've got - haah - patrol this ahh, afternoon."

Zack's mouth lingered for a heartbeat, Cloud's pulse thrumming double time beneath careful teeth. Cloud was gathering his breath for another complaint when Zack dragged himself slowly away, his breath gusting hotly across wet skin. "Spoilsport," he accused, fondly amused. "Where's your sense of adventure?"

"In the closet," Cloud retorted before he thought better of it and Zack chuckled.

"Hells, if I'd known that was all it - whoops."

"What?" Cloud hissed, dreading the answer.

"Someone in the hallway," Zack said into Cloud's ear, hardly more than a whisper. "Better keep quiet."

Cloud could hear the footsteps now, a steady thump of standard issue boots heading towards them. He faltered, alarm jangling belatedly down his nerves, but Zack didn't slow, just kept fucking him slow and deep as Cloud's body clenched panic-tight around his hard length.

"Za-"

"Shh." Zack's hand covered Cloud's mouth, sweat and dust mingling with the salt tang of his skin when Cloud darted his tongue out to taste. "Trust me."

You're insane, Cloud would have said, only Zack chose that moment to pick up the pace and the words were lost in a low groan.

Zack was fisting him tightly now, sword-calloused fingers stroking with just the right amount of pressure to drive Cloud mad. He whined in frustration, writhing on Zack's cock, but Zack didn't falter, his control absolute. With a silent apology to his common sense Cloud gave in to the inevitable, shifting his legs wider as he rocked back hard into Zack's next thrust, hyperaware of the footsteps passing right outside the door as he fucked himself on Zack's cock with shameless abandon.

He was practically sobbing with need by the time the echo of the footsteps faded, his cheeks damp with sweat beneath Zack's hand. Then Zack leaned forward, his furnace heat draping over Cloud's back and his hand squeezing Cloud's cock, tight and perfect.

"Go on," he murmured huskily, nipping at Cloud's chin. "Let me see."

Another thrust, two and Cloud lost it, biting at the skin of Zack's palm to keep from crying out as his orgasm ripped through him. His knees threatened to buckle and Zack's arm wrapped around his waist, his semen-slicked hand curling under Cloud's rucked-up shirt as he jerked him back onto his cock. Cloud could feel the fine tremors running through him.

"C-come on Zack," he gasped when he regained the ability to speak. Zack's hand shifted, starting to pull away, and Cloud bit him in warning, laving the small hurt with his tongue. "Your turn."

Zack somehow managed to spare the breath to chuckle. "Since you asked so nicely," he purred, the ripple of sound making Cloud's toes curl as Zack's rhythm went erratic, his thrusts turning relentless before he finally stiffened, arm tightening around Cloud's waist hard enough to make him squeak. Zack's head dropped down to rest between Cloud's shoulder blades and they panted together for several long moments, Zack's gasping breaths against his damp collar making Cloud want to shiver.

Eventually Zack stirred enough to draw back and Cloud swallowed a disappointed whimper at the empty feeling left behind. Zack's hand slid away from his mouth, fingers catching Cloud's chin in a firm grip and tilting his face upwards for a kiss. Cloud surrendered gracefully, careless for the moment of the fact that he was standing in a supply closet with his pants around his ankles and a smear of his own come drying tackily across his stomach.

"Mmm," Zack hummed as Cloud turned to face him, strong arms caging Cloud's hips and holding him close. Cloud moaned into Zack's mouth, reaching up to wrap his arms around Zack's neck.

Only to yelp and jump when his hand knocked something off the shelf and sent it tumbling to the floor with a ringing crash. Something that felt like a broom handle glanced off Cloud's shoulder and he grabbed at it before it could knock anything else over, Zack's grip on his waist the only thing keeping him upright as his legs tangled in his pants.

"Gah," he managed, ears ringing. He could feel Zack shaking with silent laughter, patently amused. So he hit him.

"Sorry," Zack grinned, stroking the bare skin of Cloud's hip for a moment before his hands withdrew, the jingle of his belt chiming a moment later. "Guess I should have warned you about the hazards of closet sex."

"You think?" Cloud muttered wryly, not nearly as put out as he ought to be. Zack produced a mostly clean rag from somewhere and Cloud set about trying to put his clothes back to rights, shaking his head all the while. "I can't believe the kinds of situations you get us into," he remarked, fastening his pants brusquely.

"Hey now," Zack countered, sounding far too amused for Cloud's own good. "This was your idea."

"Wha - no, it wasn't!" Cloud thumped him again, glaring for all he was worth. "We're here because you asked if I'd ever had sex in a closet before!"

The shine of Zack's eyes in the dark was terribly smug. "Ah, but you answered me." Zack reached out to straighten Cloud's collar, stealing another quick kiss as he did so. "And you didn't really object very hard."

Well no, but…

"What's going on in there?" someone yelled suddenly, and Cloud's heart nearly jumped out his chest when a fist started hammering on the door. "Come out whoever you are!"

Cloud looked at Zack. Zack looked at Cloud. Cloud figured to hell with it and handed Zack the broom he still held.

"Give him that and see if he'll go away," he suggested.

Zack's teeth flashed in the dark as he grinned. "And if it doesn't work?"

Cloud shrugged with all the nonchalance he could manage. "Hit him in the head with it?"

Zack had to be a bad influence on him, Cloud reflected as Zack laughter rang brightly through the air and the pounding took on a fanatical intensity, because otherwise he had absolutely no excuse for how much trouble he'd probably just gotten them in.

~owari

I need a porn icon.

I need a music icon

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:37:23 GMT

*phew* Right, now that I've got more than five minutes to string together at a time, I can actually do this. *sparkles*

1. Reply to this post and I'll assign you a letter.
2. List (and upload, if you feel like it) 5 songs that start with that letter.
3. Post them to your journal with these instructions.

laylah gave me A! And I had to refrain myself from putting up all Celtic-type stuff. :P

Radical Face - Asleep on a Train
[Instrumental]
I don't know if I got this directly from ciceqi or downloaded it myself, but she's definitely to blame for my love for this guy. This piece sounds exactly like the title suggests and is a really clever mix of music and sound that is sleepy and evocative and just perfect.

Sin/ Mikuni Shimokawa - All the Way
Nagai tabiji ni hitori tatazumu toki ni wa
Kokoro ni ukabu hibi wo tadori arukidasu
~~
When I stand still alone on my long journey
The days that float in my heart go around and begin to walk
This is the opening theme for the anime 'Kino no Tabi' (which everyone should watch if they haven't, because it is excellent and quietly profound in all the best ways). The song is a little breahy in places as many songs by female Japanese singers tend to be, but the music is really pretty and makes for a generally feel-good song.

Mediaeval Babes - Alba
Reis Glorios, erais lums e clartatz.
Deus poderos, sehner si a bos platz
Can't find an English translation of the lyrics, these ladies do such cool things with their music that I find myself enchanted regardless - they do a fantastic job of creating that traditional medieval feel and their harmonies are beautiful. This is a slower song, and very pretty.

Celtic Tenors - Anthem [from Chess]
She is eternal
Long before nations' lines were drawn
When no flags flew, and no armies stood
My land was born
The Celtic Tenors are a trio of Irish opera-trained singers who sing traditional folk songs and pretty much whatever else catches their fancy. This is from the lesser known musical 'Chess' and they do a fantastic job of conveying the pride and honour that this song expresses. (Despite the lyrics, this isn't actually a yay nationalism! song. At least, not in the way you're expecting).

Barenaked Ladies - Alcohol
Forget the cafe lattes, screw the raspberry iced tea,
A Malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Some Canadian content from North of the border! This is one of their older songs and it is fun and irreverent as only BNL can be.

Aaand now I need sleep! *toddles off*

If At First - FFVII (Zack/Cloud)

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 03:11:08 GMT

*waves* Look, I'm not dead! Just... totally useless at updating so far this year apparently. And now I'm here with a really strange piece that kind of body-checked me when I wasn't looking.

Title: If At First
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Pairing: Zack + Cloud
Rating: G
Warnings: Canon-screwing
Word count: 3053
Music: Alice in Chains - 'Down A Hole'
A/N: Yet another example of me doing really weird things with song lyrics. I blame ~~the drugs~~ being sick.

Summary: Sometimes help comes from entirely unexpected sources. And makes you question your sanity.

( He knew the odds of them both getting into Midgar in one piece were somewhere between slim and abysmal, but that hadn't stopped him yet. )

Oh, Ske~ren!

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:10:24 GMT

Since you're the only one who wanted to play this game, could you comment below with your email addy? I'm probably going to need a posting address eventually, but, um, I haven't decided yet what I'm making so I'll probably fire off an email later if I end up making something that requires it. Comments are screened.

Also, please provide me with your favourite colour(s). *shifty eyes* ^__^

*is excited*