"It's like every event at the Coliseum. There is a measure of showmanship involved but the competitors really do go further for Noel. I heard from some of my comrades, once, that some guy had glued his beard on...nearly ripped all of the skin from his jaw..."

Talk about pulling the festive mood down to the floor and crushing it underfoot. Trust Sephiroth to take something cheery and immediately make it sound less such, by applying his signature splash of harsh reality every time. Honesty is a blunt creature.

Sephiroth gives Sparks an almost disbelieving look over when he mentions that he's brought ice cream for everyone. It seemed way off what he knew of the Marshal up to this point and only kept a layer of underlying tension in their conversation; wondering what exactly was Sparks' point. Maybe there wasn't one, and that bothered him even more.

"I'll try to remember for when we're headed back to the lodge."