mooglenet_backup | ♘ 3: Video

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♘ 3: Video

[For him, the door opens. He'd actually been on his way outside, headed for gods knew where, but the second his gloved hand touches the knob, a soft chime sounds and instead of the bright outdoors, the scene shifts to a place he thought he'd forgotten.

The video tilts wildly as the skyphone slips from nerveless fingers and clatters on the concrete floor, a quirk of fate setting it on its side, able to view the room at large. Leather swishes as Sephiroth ignores it and steps further within, gazing about as if in a trance. Standing near the desk, he tilts his head and reaches down to pick up a ball of black fur, a very worn, very old stuffed toy.

A light chuckle wafts through the sterile place, followed by a melancholy sigh.]

...hn...I'd almost forgotten.

{ooc: backdated to 1/23 if necessary; welcome to the place where Sephiroth grew up, in the bowels of Hojo's madhouse.}

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[Shes still not sure what to make of him. It's quickly becoming clear that this isn't the Sephiroth that she knows. His words lack than manipulative and sadistic edge that she would expect. She is quickly finding herswlf very conflicted.]

Still, it doesn't seem right.

[She decides to take a bit of a risk.] I know of SOLDIER. There were some good men in its ranks.

Right or wrong makes little difference.

[And her latter comment makes him freeze just a bit. But he answers anyway.]

Yes. There are.

[Aerith can't help but pause uncomfortably at that. Still, he's more apathetic and stoic than hostile. Hearing the sound of his voice is having an effect on her, sending a chill down her spine, but she continues.]

Do you miss them?

[Is honestly always the best policy? Not sure.]

Sometimes...almost more than I can bear.

[That gives her a start. Is he lying? It doesn't sound like it, and why would he? It didn't make sense, but he's quickly warping the image she has of him. She never took what had happened between then personally, as it had clearly been the work of a crazed and betrayed man, but it is still so fresh in her mind. Is this the Sephiroth that Zack remembered? The one that everyone called a hero?]

You don't need to stay there if you don't want to. If we leave Midgar, it will go away.

[Sephiroth knows none of this, has no knowledge of the events after Nibelheim, because for him, he'd just set foot in that remote town. A blessing in disguise,perhaps, his transportation to this new world. But memories of the old still linger, ghosts which cannot easily be allayed.

He can still hear Angeal's familiar voice, intoning about dreams and the importance of honor, Genesis' recitation of Loveless, and Zack's happy laugh over something nonsensical. Gone days, those. And the man in that sterile room wouldn't hesitate to offer his soul to have a glimpse of those days back.]

The location, perhaps. But not the memory... [A tired sigh.] No, the memories will forever remain.

[A blessing in disguise, indeed. For all of them. And if anyone can relate to his feelings about being held against their will, it's her. She is just lukcy that she hadn't been alone, and had escaped when she had. Otherwise, it's hard to say if they would have ended up so different.]

I understand better than you might think. [She finds herself almost feeling...pity for him. If he were able to see her, he would find her hand pressing against the spot where his blade pierced her chest. It seems to ache in a dull way.]

But you cant let those memories define you. Let them help you wish for something better.

[Sephiroth doesn't answer for a few minutes, then finally exhales a sharp breath and shakes his head unseen.]

I am what I am. [What they made him.] Nothing more.

[No matter what way she looks at it, good or bad, she can't bring herself to hate him. That would be easier, that much is certain, but this is too complicated for that emotion. Hate, though intense, was too simple. Aerith isn't sure how to feel.]

And what is that?

[He stands behind the small desk, looking out of the window but seeing not the white wall of the Tower, but the years gone by. All the misery, the pain, the blood, sweat and sometimes tears.]

...just a soldier. A man, holding his honor above all else.

[And he will never falter in that task. He owes it to too many to fail. Those he once called "brother".]

[The tiniest ghost of a smile appears on her lips at the words. Honor, huh? That sounds a little familiar. He must have been really broken to slip as far as she remembered.]

[Convinced, she presses the button on the Skyphone to change from voice to video. She's sure now that he won't know her - the man that had killed her would never have said such a thing.]

[She looks into the camera, her expression calm and possibly even friendly. Aerith refused to look afraid, despite the flipping sensation in her stomach. She just hoped Zack wouldn't be too upset with her for taking this matter into her own hands.] There are others of us in the ShinRa building. Will you be okay by yourself?

[As the image comes over the display, there's maybe a tiny flicker of recognition in Sephiroth's odd eyes. Hn, wasn't that the girl Zack mentioned? The way the pup prattled about the pink ribbon brought back the conversation, causing a corner of Sephiroth's mouth to quirk.

So, she'd been brought here, as well. Well, the former SOLDIER would no doubt watch out for her. Nevertheless, her query prompted him to lift an eyebrow in curiosity.]

Quite well, I assure you.

[There's maybe the tiniest bit of recognition within his response, but it's not the kind she would need to fear. At most, it might be slight curiosity, which is what she feels. She's beginning to wonder if they can change his fate if they can just change the circumstances. Didn't everyone deserve a chance to start over? Or, almost everyone.]

Mm, I thought it couldn't hurt to check, just in case.

[She conjours up a polite smile.] I'm Aerith, Zack's girlfriend. You must be Sephiroth. He's spoken very higly of you. [Harmless conversation, right?]

[Sephiroth inclines his head cordially. Yes, this is her.]

Miss Aerith.

[But her latter comment lifts his eyebrows again.]

Did he? How very shocking. In our last communication, he was quite resigned to never speaking to me again.

[This entire conversation has been so intensely surreal that Aerith is having difficulty processing it. So very, very strange, indeed.]

Well, to be honest, I wasn't speaking of any recent conversations. I only just got here myself.

[She nervously tucks a long strand of hair behind one ear.] Did you two fight? You must know he can get a little overexcited sometimes. I doubt he really meant that.

Ah, I see.

[His lips purse thoughtfully but he shrugs a shoulder and negates with a shake of his head.]

Not to my knowledge. But his hostility is hardly warranted, and until it recedes, I have no need to speak with him.

[No, the Zack Fair here is not the Zack Fair with whom he traveled to Nibelheim, shared a friendship and camaraderie. Not even close.]

[Unfortunately, Zack's hostility is far more warranted than he can possibly imagine. But she also can't tell him that.]

He's had a difficult time. We both have. Just give him some time, okay?

[What was she even doing? Trying to repair their friendship? Maybe...it migt be beneficial for him to form bonds with people, to keep him stable. Or it could backfire horribly. It was hard to say.]

[Bad subject, Aerith. So very bad. Sephiroth's not even going to dignify that with a response. He and Zack have "had the conversation"; the ball's in the pup's court now. It'll be a cold day in hell before Sephiroth makes another effort.]

Will that be all, Miss Aerith?

[She knows immediately that she's hit a nerve, and she frowns deeply, breaking eye contact as he glances downward uncomfortably.]

Oh, I'm sorry. I suppose it's not really any of my business.

...forget I said anything.

[They were probably going to be upset with her for meddling, both Zack and Cloud.]

It's of little consequence. [Beat.] Thank you for your concern.

[Yeah, he's got his armor back on, that SOLDIERly shell that keeps the rest of the world out. And it won't be cracking any time soon.]

If you say so. [A pause.] It's no trouble. I'm just a bit of a worrier.

[Yeah, Aerith's usually good about trying to break down the armor of men. But Sephiroth is a very, very special case. She's a little afraid to go there.]

[A small bitter smile.]

You need not worry over me. It's hardly necessary.

[She returns the smile, hers almost mirroring his.]

That's easier said than done. [That means more than it appears on the surface, of course. There are lots of things to worry about where Sephiroth is concerned. She hesitates for a moment before she says:] If you need anything, let me know, okay?

[In cases thus, Sephiroth knows better than to argue. Give in gracefully, preserve at least a modicum of dignity.]

As you wish, Miss Aerith.

[She forces a brighter smile, wondering if this entire thing has been a terrible idea. Only time will tell.]

Just Aerith is fine. Thank you, Sephiroth. [A beat.] Sir.

[She hopes that doesn't sound as awkward as it feels.]

[Video]

furorimperator.livejournal.com - 2011-01-28 21:16 (UTC) - Expand

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♘ 3: Video

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