I like big swords and I cannot lie, Let's Play Final Fantasy VII !

You'd better get out of here
When the time comes, can I post a link to a guide? The first optional character is really annoying to get if you don't know what you're doing.

"Excuse me, miss, would you like to drive across country and kill people with me?"
No? Okay, You'd better get out of here.

You'd better get out of here.

Music! That I forgot to include that earlier. Whoops.

Cloud: You’d better get out of here.



Just like that, huh?

I walk up to a man staring intensely at a wall.


Person: Don’t be fooled by Shinra! Mako energy doesn’t last forever! Mako is the planet’s lifesource! The end is in sight!

Person: Protectors of the planet: AVALANCHE



That makes them sound a little crazy.

Maybe they are…


Shoot!
More come to after me, blocking all the exits.
Soldier: That’s as far as you go!

Soldier: Enough babbling…..Grab him!!



Suckers.

Biggs: Cloud……Wonder if he was killed?
Barret: No way!!
Jessie: Cloud……
There was a strange sound came from the roof of the train. After a moment the group ignored it.
Biggs: Say, do you think Cloud’s……Going to fight to the end for AVALANCHE!?
Barret: The hell would I know!? Do I look like a mind reader?
Barret slams his fist on a crate.
Barret: If y’all weren’t such screw-ups…
Wedge: Hey Barret! What about our money…?
Barret punches the crate again and gives Wedge a look.
Wedge: Uh, nothin’…sorry.
The other two sigh.
Another sound came from the roof of the train.
More sounds.
The door to the train car slams open.


Yeah, yeah don’t slobber over me.
I dust off my clothes.
Cloud: Looks like I’m a little late.
Barret folds his arms.
Barret: You damn right, you’re late!! Come waltzin’ in here makin’ a big scene!
I brush a the hair out of my face.
Cloud: It’s no big deal. Just what I always do.
Barret: Shi’t! Havin’ everyone worried like that you don’t give a damn ‘bout no one but yourself!
I shrug and can’t completely contain the smirk on my face.
Cloud: Hmm……You were worried about me!
Barret looks about ready to burst a vein.
Barret: What!? I’m takin’ it outta your money, hot stuff!
Hey!
He walks to stand next to Wedge.
Barret: Wake up! We’re movin’ out! Follow me!
Barret jumps into the next cart.
Wedge: Hey, Cloud!! You were great back there!
Biggs: Heh heh……Cloud! We’ll do even better next time.

Jessie turns around and gives me a once over.
Jessie: Oh, Cloud!! Your face is pitch-black……
She invades my personal space and attempts to wipe away the soot.
Jessie: There you go! Say, thanks for helping me back there at the Reactor!
Whatever.


(Cloud why do you have such an attitude problem?!)

As soon as Barret barrels into the next car almost all of the other passengers leave.
A man in a red suit walks out shaking his head and mumbling “This is why I hate the last train. Hoo-boy…”

The bum to the left of me drunkenly welcomes me into his home.
I decide not to get too close to him.
A rather tattered looking man offers me something that was supposed to be a smile.
Man: You see the headlines in the Shinra Times?
I shake my head.
Man: The terrorists that bombed the No. 1 Reactor are based somewhere in the slums.
They figured that out? Well…that’s not good.
Man: …blowing up a Reactor…they sure put some though into this one. They must have a real calculating leader. I wonder what they’ll do next?
I walk past Barret and he immediately starts his yammering.
Barret: Stop actin’ like a damn kid. Si’down an’ shu’up!
I was going to do that. Now I’m not.
Biggs: It seems this train hasn’t switched to security mode yet. I’m sure that will change by tomorrow.
Wedge: Someday AVALACNHE’s gonna be famous…and me, too!
I wouldn’t consider that a good thing.
He must have read something on my face, as he continues speaking.
Wedge: Cloud!



Should Cloud be a complete butt?

He's been a butt so far, so why break continuity?

By the way, if you like FF7's music (which I think is fucking amazing) check out The Black Mages versions.

I can't get over Cloud's battle sprite. WHY IS HIS TORSO SO SHORT AUGH DOES NOT COMPUTE
Also, be a butt. There hasn't been enough character development to do otherwise.

The Black Mage group is pretty awesome! I'll have to post some of their music here sometime.


Cloud: I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Wedge: You really think I won’t?
Did you forget whom you were talking to?
Jessie noticed I was near and smiled,
Jessie: Hey, Cloud. You want to look at this with me?
Jessie: It’s a map of the Midgar Rail System. Let’s look at it together. I’ll explain it to you.
Jessie: I like this kinda stuff. Bombs and monitors…you know, flashy stuff.
Jessie: Okay, it’s about to start.

Jessie: It’s about a 1/10000 scale. The top plate is about 50 meters above ground.
Jessie: A main support structure holds the plate up in the center, and there are other support structures built in each section…
Jessie leans in a little closer to whisper.
Jessie: The No. 1 Reactor we blew up was in the northern section.
Ah.
Jessie: Then there’s No. 2, No. 3 all the way up to the No. 8 Reactor. The 8 Reactors provide Midgar with electricity.
We’re blowing up the city’s source of power.
That'll work out well.
Jessie: Each town used to have a name, but no one in Midgar remembers them.
Jessie: Instead of names, we refer to them by numbered sectors. That’s the kind of place this is.
Jessie: Phew…, this is next! Look.



Jessie: At each checkpoint, an ID sensor device is set up.
Jessie: It can check the identities and background on each and every passenger on the train by linking it up to the central data bank at Shinra headquarters.
Jessie leans in close to whisper again.
Jessie: Anyone could tell that we look suspicious, so we’re using fake ID’s.
Will the fake ID’s really help when we’re all covered in soot?

A relatively quiet alarm goes off.
Jessie: That light means that we’re in the ID Security Check area.
Jessie whispers: When the lights go off, you never know what kind of creeps’ll come out.
Jessie: …anyhow, we’re almost back now. That’s a relief.
The Security Check alarm goes silent.
Biggs grumbles and snores. I can barely make out his mumbling.
Biggs: Don’t act so damn big, Barret…
Heh.
Looks like I’m not the only one who has that opinion.
Wedge whines about hating the dark.
Jessie: I know!


(I'm assuming she's talking about a fake ID which is too bad. I want a bomb. :D )

Cloud: Thanks anyway.
Jessie: Oh yeah, you might regret it. I’m the type who takes things personal.
Wait, what?
Did I miss something here?
Jessie: We’re almost there. After talking with you, I really want to do it! I think you’ve lit my fuse.

I try to walk to the next car, but the train attendant stops me.
Apparently we’re bothering the other riders.
I may as well sit down.
Barret: Look…you can see the surface now. This city don’t have no day or night. If that plate weren’t there…we could see the sky.

Is the sky really so special?

Barret stands up and crosses his arms.
Barret: Huh? Never expected ta hear that outta someone like you.
Barret: …you jes’ full of surprises.

Is he seriously going to start lecturing before we reach the safety of the base?
Barret: It’s ‘cuz of that &^#$# ‘pizza’, that people underneath are sufferin’!

Barret walks over to Wedge and slaps him on the back. Wedge turns around stares at the ground while attempting to ignore how he’d become the target of Barret’s rant.
Barret: On topa that, the Reactor keeps drainin’ up all the energy.
I decide to throw Wedge a bone by attracting Barret’s attention. I may have been a little harsh earlier…
Cloud: Then why doesn’t everyone move onto the Plate?
Barret: Dunno. Probably ‘cuz they ain’t got no money. Or, maybe…
He slams his gun arm into his fist.
Barret: ‘Cuz they love their land, no matter how polluted it gets.

Cloud: because they want to.
Cloud: It’s like this train. It can’t run anywhere except where its rails take it.



Train worker: People meeting, parting, joy, sadness…After a while, it doesn’t even get to you anymore.
Sounds like you’re feeling a little jaded, huh?
I can relate to that.
Train worker: I wonder how long it’s been…There’s an invisible rail between me and the passengers. I could never live their lives. I’m just a train man plain and simple. It’s easier that way.
Yeah…it’s easier this way.
Train worker: That’s not to say that the crossing gate of my heart doesn’t hurt now and again. Back during the war…I remember there was a lot of painful scenes then. But, that’s a story for another day…
You and I should go for drinks sometime.
See you later, Train Man.

Sure it is. Always remember, Cloud. They can take your love, take your land, and take you to where you cannot stand, but you don't have to care, you'll still be free, 'cause they can't take the sk- *looks up at giant metal plate*

Son of a bitch, they took the sky from me. That song is entirely inaccurate and now I'm just more depressed.

C’mon Barret. We’re still not at the base yet.
Barret: The hard part’s still to come! Don’t y’all be scared of that explosion!
Why, because the next one is going to be bigger?
Barret: Cause the next one’s gonna be bigger than that!
Damn it.
Barret: Meet back at the hideout! Move out!
Everyone runs off. I lag behind, watching them with disbelief.
How have they not been discovered?
The couple by the lamppost talk to one another.
Man: I’m not letting you go tonight.
Woman: Wow!
Should I be listening to this?
Man: Isn’t there somewhere we could go to be alone?
Woman: Wow!
Wonan: There’s only the train graveyard around here. And they say there’s ghosts around too!
That sounds interesting.
Man: ……damn.
Woman: What?
Lady, you need to watch out.
For now, I’m going to take a quick look at that train graveyard.

Hmm. Nothing I can do here at the moment. I’ll try again some other time.

I tried to go south but a couple of guards stopped me.
What are guards doing here in the slums?
I check up north instead.

Man: What on earth are you doing? Just butt out……geez!
Man: Huh? You come to see it , too?
Man: There was a bombing on top. If this pillar should come down, everyone in the slums is dust…
That’s ominous.
Man: Well, there’s no point in worryin’ about that.
Personally, I’m a little worried.
Man: Hey!! Look! It’s huge, ain’t it?



Wow.
I guess I just never bother to look up at all.
Man: Hey…This is a strange and wonderful place.
Man: This is my place, but you can come here when you want. Bye, bro!
I’m so glad to have your permission.

Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.

What's he-

Oh.
Barret kicks the people out of the bar without a second thought.
Do these people know about us or did they just hear about the news?How do you still have patrons?!
I ask the woman standing next to the bouncing child about what’s going on.
Yep. They just got the news update.
Woman: You know what this means?
Cloud: No, what?
I felt a tinge of curiosity about how the average person felt about the group.
Woman: Ya see, I keep on top of these things, an’ f ya ask me……
Woman: If you knock out Midgar’s power, then all of it’s computers and signals are going to be knocked out too. Financially there must’ve been about a billion gil worth of damage.

Shit.
Woman: If the explosion had been in the middle of the night, that woulda been one thing. At least the people coulda gone in their sleep.
Woman: This Mako explosion has really sent Midgar into a fit.
This lady has put a lot of thought into this. Probably more than Barret has…
I kept out of sight of Barret and spoke to some other people in the area.
Avalanche…isn’t popular.

Heh.
Is Barret the one writing this graffiti everywhere?
I sigh.
I should go to the base now.
Barret: Ok! Go on ahead.
Barret: Cloud, get your slow ass movin’!
I walk slower.

A little girl jumps off a barstool. She spots me and runs off to a corner.
I rub the back of my neck. I don’t know how to deal with kids.
The young woman behind the bar chases after her.
Young woman: Marlene! Aren’t you going to say anything to Cloud?



Hmm.
I technically didn't fight with him but...

Not this time.

If we're allowed to vote. If not...

WHEE, CLOUD

Cloud: Not this time.

Young Woman: When you were little you used to get into fights at the drop of a hat.

Tifa: I’m so glad everyone’s safe.

I talk to the guys. Biggs offers me a drink and gets offended when I turn him down.
I don’t like alcohol.
Wedge loudly compliments Tifa’s food, and implies that taste-testing the food she makes made him ‘rolly-polly’.
You could just say no.
Jessie: Careless……You’re getting all excited. Wonder what for…..?
What is she mumbling about?
I try to talk to Marlene.
Marlene: …….
Tifa: Don’t mind Marlene, she’s just shy.
This is boring. I’m leaving.
I was almost to the door when Barret charges through. Surprised, I jump back like a cat and ended up sitting at the table.
That…was embarrassing.

Barret picks up the little girl and puts her on his shoulders.
How did a guy like him produce a cute kid like that?
Tifa: You all right, Barret?
Barret: Great!!
Barret: Get in here, fools!! We’re startin’ the meetin’!!
All of us are within a two-meter radius of you. Why are you screaming?
Barret ambles over the broken game machine and slams a fist on it. The machine shakes and gradually lowers.

The group jumps down after him.
Tifa: Sit down.



Does Cloud want something to drink?
(Feel free to vote whenever I end an update with a question! Some of these choices really do matter somewhere in the game while other choices simply lead to different dialogue. Also, let me know if anything is confusing you.)

Ask her to give you something hard.

That way, maybe you can give her something hard later.

I was wondering what the different dialogue lead to.

Ask for a drink.

Blowing up reactors is thirsty work, yeah? Ask her for a drink.

Cloud: Give me something hard.

Tifa expertly fixes a drink and slides it towards me. I catch it and try it.
Strong.
Tifa: You know, I’m relieved you made it back safely.
Cloud: What’s with you all of a sudden? That wasn’t even a tough job.
Tifa: I guess not…You were in SOLDIER.
Tifa: Make sure you get your pay from Barret.
Cloud: Don’t worry. Once I get that money, I’m outta here.
I jump off of the barstool.
Tifa: Cloud. Are you feeling all right?
Cloud: …yeah…Why?
Tifa: No reason. You just look a little tired I guess. You’d better go down below.

Jessie: Oops…Hey, look at the news…what a blast.
Was that pun intended?
Jessie: Think it was all because of my bomb? But all I really did was just make it like the computer told me. Oh no! I must’ve made a miscalculation somewhere.
We blew up a reactor. There’s not telling what kind of unstable materials were kept there.
Now that I think about…I don’t think we got the full ten minutes we were supposed to have before the explosion.
Jessie: Hey, that was my bomb’s debut. Makes me kinda proud.
I’d better not mention it.
Just like I probably shouldn’t mention that a lot of people died as a result of that blast.
The TV’s reception wasn’t great down here but I could still make out the voices.
President Shinra: ……today the No. 1 Reactor was bombed. The terrorist group AVALANCHE has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Really? When did they do that…?
President Shinra: It is expected that Avalanche will continue its reign of terror. But citizens of Midgar, there is no need to fear. I have immediately mobilized SOLDIER to protect our citizenry against this senseless violence. Thank you and goodnight.
SOLDIER?
Not good. Not good at all.
I’d better collect my pay.

Barret: Was there anyone from SOLDIER fighting us today?
I fold my arms across my chest.
Cloud: None. I’m positive.
Barret: You sound pretty sure.
Cloud: If there was anyone from SOLDIER you wouldn’t be standing here now.
Barret: Don’t go think’ you so bad jes cuz you was in SOLDIER.
Don’t get mad just because I told the truth.
I rolled my eyes and turned away from him. I could see Biggs hold Barret back in the corner of my vision.
Cloud: ……
Barret tosses Biggs aside.

Barret: Probably all them guys in SOLDIER are. But don’t forget that your skinny ass’s workin’ for AVALANCHE now! Don’t get no ideas ‘bout hangin’ on to Shinra.
I whirl around. I could feel a rare tinge of anger burning in my chest.
Cloud: Stayin’ with Shinra? You asked me a question and I answered it…that’s all.
Get off my back.

Barret: Shucks!! ……money…
Marlene, clearly not paying any attention to what’s going on, babbles cheerfully.
Marlene: Papa, you’re so great!
Ugh. I’m leaving.

Barret: Tifa! Let him go! Looks like he still misses the Shinra!
I turn around. Is he looking for a fight?
Cloud: Shut up!
Cloud: I don’t care about either Shinra or SOLDIER!
I walk towards the lift while shaking my head.
I just need to get away from this asshole.
Cloud: But don’t get me wrong! I don’t care about AVALANCHE or the Plant for that matter!
Barret shuts his mouth and begins to beat furiously at his punching bag.
The others look away awkwardly.
Tifa: Straighten things up with everyone for me.
Why…?
I sigh.
I can’t help but hear Jessie’s mumblings as she tries to hide herself away in her hands
Jessie: Money…Oh my. It must have been for a lot of it.
Jessie: Sure! Well, what the hell? It’s a verbal agreement. Now let me figure this out.
She glances up and sees me staring at her.
Jessie: Oh stop it, Cloud! Did you hear me?
Any louder and the whole room would have hear you.
Wedge: ……Cloud.
He calls out to me.
Wedge: You say you don’t care, but you came to talk to me. Cloud…you just want friends.
I feel something abrupt, something close to anger…but not.

I…


(Wow! It's probably because I'm writing from Cloud's POV, but I don't remember the beginning feeling so intense! Should we somewhat reject Wedge's olive branch or completely throw it in his face?)

Yeah, he's kinda a dick in this part. Or indifferent, at best. I say let him be a dick though; he deserves it.

Let Cloud be the biggest dick at the angsty protagonist prom.

Blow off.

Here's the music for this part. It's the same as posted earlier.


I blow him off.

What?
Wedge: If you ever got anything you want to get off your chest, you can always talk to me.
I…
I go up the lift.

I shake my head and take a step closer to the door.
Cloud: Sorry Tifa…
Tifa: The Planet is dying. Slowly but surely it’s dying. Someone has to do something.
Why does that someone have to be me?
I turn around to face her.
Cloud: So let Barret and his buddies do something about it. It’s got nothin’ to do with me.

Tifa: You’re just going to walk right out ignoring your childhood friend!?
I stopped and listened didn’t I?
Ignoring and obeying are two different things.



Should Cloud be nice to Tifa? I think the "How can..." option is the nice one but if I'm wrong like I was with Wedge then I can redo the choice.
Wedge…you’re a good guy.

Also, I thought that blowing him off would be the asshole option but it wasn’t. If you say you don’t care, Wedge calls you a terrible, cold-blooded person.

While I fully endorse being a dick overall, since it matches Cloud's personality, my natural perversion gallantry refuses to mistreat a girl that hot.

"How can you say that?"

How can you say that!

Never played the game, but when I read up on it while playing KH, Tifa sounded like she would be a favorite. Here's hoping she's a decent fighter.