Welcome to this place

[spikyponytail.livejournal.com]

[There's a teenage boy with blonde spiky hair leaning against the wall - but he isn't a Roxas. No, it seems a small Cloud has arrived, but it seems he doesn't know it yet, as his eyes are closed.]

Comments

[honoranddreams.livejournal.com]

[Those blond spikes are unmistakably familiar, even if the accompanying ponytail isn't, and Zack wonders if the hair is a genetically inheritable feature indicative of Strife parentage or if this is actually a younger version of Cloud himself.

Well, there's really only one way to find out, and that's by asking. Either option is rather a mind boggler for Zack, but this is the Dressing Room after all. Walking a little closer to lean against the opposite wall, the dark-haired SOLDIER smiles gently and waits for the boy to open his eyes.]

[spikyponytail.livejournal.com]

[He's still for a few moments, and then - he can feel that someone is near and his eyes shoot open. Excuse him for a moment while stares. Why is there a SOLDIER in Nibelheim?]

[honoranddreams.livejournal.com]

"Hi." [It's not much of a greeting from the normally talkative Zack Fair, but he's not about to startle the kid -- not just yet, at least -- by inquiring if his name happens to be Cloud Strife.]

[spikyponytail.livejournal.com]

[Holy childhood heroes Batman!]

H-hi.

You... you're a SOLDIER, aren't you? [Inner fanboy flailing goes here.]

[honoranddreams.livejournal.com]

[Zack chuckles softly, nodding.] "Yeah, I am. I'm Zack. Who are you?"

[spikyponytail.livejournal.com]

[Eyes go wiiiiide.]

My name's Cloud! I'm gonna be a SOLDIER too one day!

What're you doing all the way out here?

[honoranddreams.livejournal.com]

[Excuse that wistful look that briefly flickers across Zack's face when he hears your name, Cloud. But then he's quickly smiling again, resisting the innate urge to ruffle your blond spikes.]

"Um, 'here'? Do you mean the Dressing Room, or Nibelheim?"

[He's got a hunch that Cloud is new to the Dressing Room -- and, whoops, he just kind of let it slip out that he knows that Cloud's from Nibelheim. Uh-oh.]

[spikyponytail.livejournal.com]

Well, Nibelheim, what's the... [One sec while he notices where he is.]

[honoranddreams.livejournal.com]

[Zack chuckles sympathetically, not at all unkindly. So, it would seem that this Cloud is indeed new here.]

"Welcome to the Dressing Room, Cloud. It's a place that pulls in people from all over, from different worlds, different times, you name it."