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[imjustaman]

Hello, this is Sephiroth. I am sorry I missed you. Please leave a message and I will get back to you promptly.

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[imjustaman]

Sephiroth smiled back. "Yes, that will be fine."

He headed home to put things away and decide what to make. He had been intrigued by cooking ever since he had been able to have a place to live away from the lab and had had control over his meals. He liked that freedom.

[cloudsenior]

Cloud went home to put his own things away, and... then panicked a little. He should probably actually wear his new clothes, which meant they needed to be washed first. He hauled the load down to the building's shared washing machines, taking advantage of the fact that someone had left some detergent "free for emergencies". He quietly urged both the washer and dryer to hurry it up, but it still took longer than an hour for it all to wash and dry enough to be worn.

He rushed back up to his apartment, taking the fastest shower he had taken in his life, before grabbing the first pair of jeans and shirt that he could get his hands on. It was then he realized, as he saw part of his knees and calves in the mirror, that he had accidentally gotten one of the pre-ripped jeans by accident.

...

With the baggy shirt he chose and the casual boots, it honestly wasn't a bad look. He saw the appeal.

He was taking off for Sephiroth's place soon after, certain that the walk back and forth would be enough to break in the boots he had fussed over. It wasn't long before he was heading up to Sephiroth's apartment, knocking on the door.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth had also decided to wear the new clothes. He had washed and dried them while showering and working on the food, and was a bit relieved when Cloud didn't arrive quite on time since he wasn't ready. By the time Cloud did come, he was ready, wearing the black slacks and the black shirt ... unbuttoned, of course.

He opened the door with a smile. "Hello, Cloud. Come in." He hadn't quite noticed the jeans yet.

[cloudsenior]

Oh but Cloud noticed the unbuttoned shirt. His mouth worked a moment, his face pinking and he had no idea why. It wasn't like he never saw Sephiroth's bare chest before; he always had himself out on display. Something about the casual slacks and shirt was just somehow more indecent, and he had a moment where he almost reached out to touch, before he caught himself.

"Y-yeah," he managed to get out of his mouth, shuffling inside and trying very hard not to turn a fresh shade of pink.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth looked amused but pleased. "These clothes are very comfortable," he said. "I will like wearing them."

As Cloud walked, now he noticed the holes. "... You were so intrigued by the concept of the ripped jeans that you decided to purchase them?"

[cloudsenior]

"I-it was an accident, I swear," he replied sheepishly, before he turned back to him, shrugging casually as he slipped his hands into the pockets of the jeans. "It's... not a bad look."

[imjustaman]

"Hm." Sephiroth studied him, pondering. It might take some getting used to when it was unlike how either Cloud he knew tended to dress, but it was interesting. He couldn't say he liked the concept of ripped clothing as a style, but he had liked Cloud's explanation about it, and if that was why Cloud liked the look, he could understand and respect that.

"It is intriguing," he mused. "Come into the kitchen; dinner is ready."

He smiled, gesturing at the kitchen. He had the table set and the food available.

[cloudsenior]

Intriguing, hunh? He didn't say he hated it, so Cloud would take that as a win.

He peered around Sephiroth to see what was on the table before he started over for it.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth was diplomatic and polite, but he honestly was trying to find something to like about a style that was so strange to him in general.

There were baked potatoes, some type of rice and cheese and vegetable casserole, rolls, and squash.

[cloudsenior]

Cloud let out a hum of appreciation as he sat at the table; it was a nice spread, and the smell was amazing.

"I honestly didn't peg you as someone that could cook," he confessed, waiting for Sephiroth to sit as well, despite how anxious he was to dig in.

[imjustaman]

He smiled. "I learned partially because it's a useful skill to have on missions," he said. "And also because I liked deciding for myself what I would eat and seeing it be made step by step."

He sat down and started to dish out the food.

[cloudsenior]

Cloud tilted his head curiously at that. Deciding for himself what to eat?

"You mean... you didn't choose your own meals at Shinra?" he asked.

[imjustaman]

"Not as a child," Sephiroth admitted. "Hojo decided."

[cloudsenior]

Cloud made a face at that.

"Ugh... Hojo," he muttered. He could only imagine what he would make Sephiroth eat; probably some gruel that had no taste, just all the nutritional values that a growing young man needed to survive.

Gross.

[imjustaman]

That definitely wasn't far off from the truth.

"As soon as I was allowed, I took control of my own meals and never looked back," Sephiroth said. He realized now that he had likely been allowed to give him the illusion that he had choices in life. But he still appreciated having been able to eat things that actually tasted good at last.

[cloudsenior]

"Can't blame you," Cloud replied, before starting to dig into his food. He let out a hum of appreciation as he swallowed; yeah, he could tell that Sephiroth had been cooking for himself for awhile now. It was really good.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth smiled, seeing Cloud enjoyed the food. He ate as well, savoring each bite.

"Have you been discovering what kind of work is available here?" He had been told about manual labor, and he supposed that was a lot of what Cloud was doing, but he wondered if there were other options.

[cloudsenior]

"Mmhmm," Cloud mumbled, before swallowing and taking a breath. "I mentioned the deliveries; being able to get transportation opens up a lot of options. And there's helping out on some farms, some businesses, that sort of thing."

He paused a moment for another mouthful of food, swallowing. "The whole point of this place is random acts of kindness, right? Gotta leave yourself open to do those acts, I guess."

[imjustaman]

"Hm. I must admit, I am not sure what I would be good at aside from military or law enforcement, or manual labor," he remarked. "There seems to be no military or police force that I can find."

And a nod. "Yes, I suppose one could find opportunities for those anywhere."

[cloudsenior]

"It doesn't hurt to try new things," Cloud replied. "You don't become versatile as a mercenary if you're not willing to try some crazy jobs, even if they're not in your area of expertise."

He smirked, waving his fork at Sephiroth, teasing. "A little advice from a pro mercenary."

[imjustaman]

"I see. So you are suggesting I follow in your footsteps and become a mercenary?" A bit of an amused, teasing smirk.

[cloudsenior]

Cloud shrugged casually, an amused light in his eyes.

"I don't see why not," he replied. "You can still make use of what you know as a SOLDIER, but working under your own rules."

[imjustaman]

"Hm." He hadn't ever considered it before, but maybe it was a good idea. At least it was one deserving of further examination.

"I will think about it. Have you only been making deliveries, or are you doing other jobs as well?"