melodiesoflife | We are off to see the Crystal Tree!

Sephiroth's own attire was significantly lighter than the blacks he might usually wear; the field fatigues for Esdham being suited more to the scalding sands of the desert there rather than the black sands of these particular plains. It made him, and the other soldiers stand out a little more but that wasn't so much of a bad thing, easier to keep tabs on everyone as they had journeyed.

Having arrived at the first point for their watch, pretty much together, Sephiroth also nodded at Vincent as they met. It seemed the logical -and somewhat automatic for him at least- thing to do next would be to take a preliminary sweep of the perimeter of the area of campsite they were assigned to.

"Shall we?" Sephiroth didn't wait though, just knowing that Vincent would keep in step beside him as he took the first steps towards a patrol.

In some ways it was almost eerie how well they fit together. They were already similar in so many ways; Albel had even mistaken, during the vision of memories repeating over and over, that Vincent might be the father... Such was not the case however; that 'honor' had not been the gunslinger's.

Perhaps it was simply that ShinRa left its mark on them, molded them both in various ways. Perhaps a certain scientist simply had distinct tastes. None of it worth musing or devoting thought to at the moment other than an appreciation that they worked well. That Vincent was rather glad to be working with, and interacting, with this version of the silver-haired-SOLDIER.

As suspected, no reply needed and the gunslinger simply fell into step. Placing Sephiroth closer to the 'outside' of the perimeter as he would take the close-range combat with Vincent providing support. Logical and a practiced strategy.

In truth, this world needed more people to be able to mesh so well together as Sephiroth and Vincent did not only with their approaches to duty, but their cool-headed logic and reasonable way of thinking. Most of the time, anyway. There had been a certain atmosphere that lingered around some of the other Heroes in the wake of whatever they'd been shown by the Sage a couple of days ago, but both himself and Vincent hadn't been affected so it was in fact rather comfortable to be taking a watch with him tonight.

It wasn't for a good few paces, and a long sweep of his vision out over the horizon that Sephiroth dared to make a low comment. Even if it was a kind-of opportunist one, in case Vincent might have any troubles himself during their journey so far.

"The others seem to be coping well, camping out under an open sky like this."

Had Sephiroth been told of what would happen in a hypothetical future? Vincent knew because of a few people having told him. For the most part it seemed as though few wanted to talk about whatever horrors they'd witnessed.

This was not at all that different, again except in size, than traveling with Avalanche. Vincent was not encountering trouble. "That you bring experienced men who know how to set up camp has certainly lessened any learning curve needed." Was his own soft reply.

Easier for all of them to adjust, when presented with the example of military on how to 'do it right'.

With regards to what the others might have envisioned; Sephiroth knew well enough of situations like that to keep his nose out. This was the only time he'd been ever spared of an experience like that and so knew it would take time for the dust to settle again. What anyone would come forward to tell him, they might well do in time, but for now he's content enough not knowing. He had enough on his plate what with the expedition they were currently engaged in.

"Exactly. It certainly didn't take much consideration, to think to bring them along. I'm authorized now, at least." Not that he hadn't been in a responsible position before; the Battle of Aqures being the benchmark that had pretty much made his career.

"Those that want to learn as well have been taking part; these transferable skills might make the difference someday."

"Is this where I offer you congratulations on your promotion?" Not that the gunslinger was surprised. Everything he'd seen, and having worked with Sephiroth before, indicated it was well-earned. "No fools were brought along, it only makes sense to learn what we all can from each other in useful skills."

Still quiet, no trouble--and that was fine with Vincent. What he'd observed meant it was a good thing, since many of their number were distracted or otherwise not at their best. If it stayed quiet, it was likely also that Vincent might be able to finally answer a question he'd been asked. Devoting time, to try and figure out how best to answer it, for Sephiroth.

"It's a little late for that; two months in and all." Sephiroth actually cracked a side-on smile at that comment, compliments always went down well and they did wonders for his ego which -more often than not- struggled to stand up on its own. Especially when a particular other person who he thought a lot about, and had helped no end in keeping him propped up, seemed to be sinking under the weight of her own thoughts again, currently.

Not that he hadn't been the same, a time ago.

"It's no surprise to you either, I'm sure, that you'll find that I don't suffer fools."

It might have sounded a little too close to the mentality of Sephiroth's future-self, but as far as his role as a commanding officer went, it did him more credit than not.

"Suffer from fools perhaps, but never by our own choice or for long." Vincent replied after a moment. Companionable, and almost a banter. Odd, and perhaps the most social he'd ever 'felt'.

"The commission hasn't interfered much with your own plans though." Phrased subtly as a question. Sephiroth likely knew Vincent had been keeping vague-tabs on him and Terra. IF for no other reason than that he considered both of them friends.

Something he'd never have thought to consider of one of that pair in particular, and yet it was there. Snuck up on him. Along with a desire to watch out for her son, here, where Hojo could hopefully not taint things further.

"Once we're assured it's quiet..." A pause, voice lower and only for Sephiroth's ears. "I have been pondering what we last spoke about."

About as 'social' as the two of them might get, point of fact. Still, Sephiroth felt significantly less like he had to keep up the strong-and-silent when he were around Vincent, for some reason. The other man had earned respect, by way of his silent support.

"I've managed to delegate the majority of the work," He assumed Vincent were referring to the commission over Mograma. "But I still have to report for duty at Esdham every so often. Even if it's to patrol the same streets and drill the same troops over and over."

It almost sounded like Sephiroth might be growing a little bored of it. After all, it had been quiet at Esdham and seemed like it might stay that way now that Hera simply weren't there anymore. Likely though, something else were bugging at him and if Vincent had been keeping tabs on Terra it'd be easy to suggest what that might be. Still, he needed to give her space, perhaps he had been entirely too close...too soon.

"At least we're not confined specifically to Esdham, anymore."

Thankfully Vincent seemed ready to take the conversation in another direction.

"Hm." He followed with a slow sweeping look around. For monsters, but also for listening ears. Lowering his voice to match Vincent's, Sephiroth continued to keep in steady step and eyes-alert just like his partner.

"...oh?"

Silence was an old friend to Vincent, quiet a dear companion--even in the midst of a watch to be ready for an attack. No need to fill it simply to have something to do, which meant he could take care with how he spoke. "You mentioned I might...tell you about her. Sometime."

Even though it had been a few months since he made that comment, with such a good memory -of course- Sephiroth knew what Vincent was referring to. Yet at the same time, to ask that same question again might have seemed to be putting pressure on and therefore he'd not pushed at Vincent at all.

He'd not really had much time, to pursue such personal goals and interests. No matter how a small part of his gut clenched in on itself internally as his thoughts revisited such a still-sensitive matter.

"I did." A short acknowledgment, that's all. If Vincent wanted to know why exactly Sephiroth had coined that request in the first place and were waiting for an explanation to come...well, he might have to ask directly. Like Vincent, Sephiroth keeps a lot of things close to his chest.

Vincent could think of a few different reasons why Sephiroth might ask. He'd already thought over those, and possible responses, in the month or so since it had been asked. Examined it as he could from every angle, trying to be as dispassionate about it as he was when he was a Turk.

It had only helped a little, as the memories still remained clear in Vincent's mind. Emotions and pain dulled only minutely with time past. "It would depend on what you wanted to know. I only met Dr. Crescent when I was assigned as her bodyguard and assigned to oversee the project."

No, he hadn't known Lucrecia long at all. It didn't matter. She'd changed his life in ways that he was still suffering the effects of.

"Perhaps..." Sephiroth used the excuse they were still on patrol well, turning his head from one side to the other as they walked and keeping his eyes pointedly away from Vincent.

"...perhaps I might be over-reaching, for something that's not even there. I just wanted to know what you knew of her. What she was like...as a person. But I suppose you really wouldn't know."

Foolish, of course, to think that Vincent had gotten that close to her. But the dream space they'd shared before certainly had given the impression...

"Did I-" Where Sephiroth's eyes had fallen back towards Vincent, they hit the floor pretty quickly as he reached the next question; hungry to verify if anything of what he'd been told as a child and into his pre-teens had any ounce of truth behind it, yet for some reason almost terrified to hold the others eye contact while he asked it. "-did it...kill her?"

Vincent was quiet once more, then took a deep breath in and out. "To your last question--I don't know." But it wasn't the complete answer. "I did not find out how things went, until 30 years later, when Cloud and Avalanche found me in the basement of the mansion."

Quiet again, almost leading one to think the subject was done. Except Vincent was gathering his thoughts--how to say what he wanted to say--and attempting to remain alert. Even with soldiers with them, and knowing Sephiroth was supposedly staying alert too.

"Your impressions were correct; I knew her. But it was all tangled apparently, before I ever really got to know her." Interesting statement, that.

"And they wouldn't know either." Sephiroth's voice was low, bitter as he thought about those details he'd read and what he'd managed to piece together about how his future ends up all entangled with an infantryman he hardly knew. He suspected Cloud, as he was here in Crystallis, also had similar unsettling thoughts; how could he not?

The silence was golden though, it allowed both men to allow thoughts to simmer away behind perhaps over-alert facades. It was flat and there was very little definition to the landscape though out on the sands, the chances of any type of monster being able to ambush the campsite was fairly minimal. Didn't rule it out though.

"Tangled?" Sephiroth focused on that one word where he had hardly any comprehension at all over what Vincent might mean by the rest of his statement.

Few would ever accuse Vincent of NOT speaking when he felt something need to be said. "She exists, in a cave, encased in Crystal. I do not know if she still 'lives' as we understand the term, but she does communicate. She asked about you." Perhaps the trail of thoughts were not making much sense, but he had a purpose.

Knowing why Sephiroth wanted to know, Vincent felt it important he start with that. "I could not tell her of the madness and horror that had come. I told her her son was dead." Lied to the woman he'd given everything up for, so long as she was happy. And yet she hadn't been in the end--that much was clear, and Vincent took it as one more sin upon himself.

"She had, before working with Doctors Gast and Hojo" Controlling his tone to not growl out the latter name, however much he wanted to. "worked with my father, Dr. Grimoire Valentine, on a project. I did not know this when I was assigned to the project as bodyguard and watchdog. Only that he had died, but not whom he worked with." Another pause in the conversations. "I only found out, looking for her one day, when his notes and work they'd done together was on one of her monitors. I confronted her about it, and she blamed herself for his death. That was when she started to pull away from me."

The madness and horror that had come.

That was one way to put it. Even from only reading a third-hand account of those acts that he'd come to commit in the apparent name of his own sick revenge that had become executable onto the whole of humanity, just bringing his thoughts back to it only shouted louder the question which quickly rushed to the forefront of his mind: WHY

Sephiroth was unsettled, always, at the fact that he wouldn't ever know. And should he ever come to know, it would be already too late as he would no longer be the man that he was now. But still, the lie that Vincent had told Lucrecia stung at him. Even though -technically- it could be considered to be a true fact; he'd only have to regain a few days of the memories that he'd yet to have revealed, to experience passing the boundary between life and death. Understandably Sephiroth didn't want to consider it too much.

One might come to wonder, exactly what justification Shinra had for assigning a Turk to an assignment to which -surely by any reasonable logic- they would have such an underlying circumstance which could jeopardize their mission. That said, it hadn't stopped SOLDIER from initially assigning him to the on-going pursuit of Genesis and those troops that had defected, regardless of the well-known fact of their friendship. Whether it spoke of the Company's confidence in his loyalty and unchallenged record, or if it were something more insidious, were questions that become all the more pointed as time went on.

Knowing all of that, and drawing the clear comparisons, Sephiroth's brow started to lower into a frown as Vincent continued. Each step he took in his patrol started to feel that much heavier, as if his current task were becoming more of a chore and it pulled at his attention to engage further with the other man.

"I-" He wanted to ask if Vincent knew the cause of Grimoire's death, but it was implied cleanly enough.

"-that might be classed as getting to close to your subject." Sephiroth knew just about enough of Company policy, to be able to make that call. It hadn't helped in any way, but that Vincent hadn't been re-assigned immediately afterwards left one probability; it hadn't been reported.

"But she didn't really, did she?"

Vincent at least kept a pretense of their still being on patrol. Even if his mind was on the conversation at hand, and organizing the accompanying thoughts. "Were I to have the chance..." Still very quiet, going back to Lucrecia for a moment. Or at least her view on her son. "knowing you currently, I would tell her that she would be proud of you."

This felt like the more important point, given why Sephiroth had even broached the topic.

"No, she pulled away, throwing herself more into the project, and more into Hojo's influence. Dr. Gast had left the project prior to my confrontation. Ideological differences, and for all that Gast was nominally in charge..." Low voiced, tone carefully neutral. "The project seemed more and more like Professor Hojo's pet project and priority."

Letting the silence fall once more, several more paces before he continued.

"Regarding Dr. Crescent..." A deep breath in and out, a long sigh and Vincent abandoned any pretext of paying attention to their surroundings. Lost in memories. "Lucrecia had the most beautiful smile. She was focused, and her expression would light up when she found a tangeant or trail of thought that was promising to her work." He could still see her smile, in his memories; all he'd wanted was for her to be happy ultimately.

It certainly shouldn't have mattered to him -he'd not known his base-biological mother at all and still mostly hung to the notion that he didn't need to; considering she'd essentially given him up even before he was born- yet at Vincent's first comment it was Sephiroth's turn to look away, to veer completely into a silence that knotted somewhere in his throat as they continued to walk the perimeter.

Why did he even care? A thought snapped in the direction of the back of a certain reactor but he pushed that about as far back into the back of his mind as he could make it go.

Vincent's continued words weren't responded to but Sephiroth heard them all the same. Dr. Gast. There was a name that also stirred something of a reaction but it was little more than a faint twist to the side of his mouth, being a name he hadn't considered for many years. He remembered Gast, albeit briefly as he'd been little more than a toddler, but his was just another face that had simply not turned up again one day. Later, Sephiroth had learned that he'd left Shinra...that he'd died...

Then silence met silence and for a good few moments it might seem as if the conversation had run dry. Quite the opposite, though, stirred up thoughts and barely half-recollections rushed behind Sephiroth's otherwise cool facade, as he calmly continued to remain alert on their patrol.

"I'd have liked to have known her, I think. Maybe..." Sephiroth trailed off, his mind and opinion caught between the mind that he'd had as a child -that had always wanted a real family- and the man who didn't need one.

"...I suppose I'll never understand it, even if I had though."

"Much of the time we spent was off-duty, when things were more casual. That was when I knew her more." Observing her and overseeing the project and its researchers as a whole, had eaten most of the time. Besides being Vincent's official duty and role in the whole project.

"You observed the final act of our falling out." His tone was deceptively even, for all he still remembered and felt it keenly. "...I told myself that so long as she was happy, it would be enough." Deep emotion there, for all the voice remained low and the tones even.

Being one who made it something of a specialist skill, in boxing emotions sternly away from being seen, Sephiroth didn't have to look at Vincent again to understand -without being told- that this were a topic that the older man was still deeply moved by. If there had been any great objective in getting them to see their own worst memories in the presence of others, perhaps in helping them grow to overcome them, then neither man had taken that on board very much at all.

In Sephiroth's case, remembering his own memory soon after that event had just drove it home just as deeply, but notably after the fact.

"I'm sorry." Even though there was no way that Sephiroth could have controlled what had happened with the project, or at least not consciously at those early stages, it still felt like the right thing to say. There may have been a tiny quiver to his voice in the saying of the apology, though, as if he did on some level feel responsible for Vincent's burden.

Crimson-eyes slid to watch the other;, blinking at the words. Nor was Vincent even able to make sense of his own initial reaction. Anger--in many ways it was Sephiroth's fault, then guilt--because it really wasn't. Confusion--why was the other sorry, it was Vincent's own burden to bear. Those three chief among a riot of emotions prompted by the words. Especially as that tiniest-of-quivers in the other's voice was heard as loud as a klaxon, for all its impact.

Aside from the blink, and the gaze shifting to the silver-haired man, then away, none of it showed in his expression or posture.

Several more footsteps, stretching to minutes, of quiet. Then broken gently with "You wanted to know about her." Acknowledging, accepting--attempting with the words to soften any blows or discomfort that had come up.

Those long minutes Sephiroth spent trying to fathom exactly why he'd felt the apology was needed. His brow was creased down to it's deepest and his jaw couldn't possibly be held any firmer. He was sorry...for bringing up a subject which was so deeply hurtful to the other man, for the pain his questioning mind always seemed to cause to others and often himself...sorry for being...born?

Sephiroth shook his head heavily at Vincent's further comment, as if dismissing any harsh feelings and the discomfort that had started to stir in himself. He couldn't be sorry for that, such events had been completely out of his control. That said, if Lucrecia had decided to pull out of the project...it left a wide window of possibilities open with regard to the type of person he might have ended up becoming. The idea, that Professor Hojo were even --in any way, shape or form-- capable of being a father. His father, moreover...it brought even more of a chill to those thoughts.

"Thank you for indulging me. I know it's selfish but it-" The next words stumbled a little where Sephiroth wasn't sure how to express them without sounding like he were looking for sympathy.

"-it's important, in finding who I'm supposed to be."

Which was why Vincent had answered--and what he had considered during the month or so it took him to determine if he would answer.

"Your hair and eyes are different. She had deeply warm dark brown hair, the color of the bark of trees in the forests near Wutai. Her eyes were a shade lighter of the same, much as the sunrise lightened their hue." Oh yes, Vincent had most definitely gotten too 'close' to Lucrecia. "Your hair falls like hers, and your bangs frame your face in the same way. The curve and overall shape of your face resemble hers as well."

The gunslinger's voice neither rose in volume nor changed in tone as he described her and stated what he saw of her in the Soldier. "I...have not seen it as much, as it is not your way. But there are times you will have a quirk to your expression, and a shift of your head, that remind me of her when she was being playful but confident."

Like when she had taunted him for falling asleep on the mountainside.

All of this pulled from memories, and offered to Sephiroth, in the hopes it might do him some good. "At work, she was focused and driven, pushing herself hard to succeed, more than others would." Another way 'mother' and son were similar.

To begin with, Sephiroth was not quite so sure what had prompted Vincent to spill those extra details about his 'surrogate' mother but as they walked, they did help to dispel a little more of the awkward tension that had developed over the topic. The silver-haired man already knew full well where he'd gotten his unusual hair color and somewhat alien-like eyes from; it didn't need inserting that those were Jenova's traits.

He almost cracked one of those thin smiles, out in front of him and not directed at Vincent, as he mentioned that there were certain mundane things that resembled her in terms of unconscious mannerisms he held.

Sephiroth laughed, dryly and only in two-huffs as her work ethic was brought up. It really was no surprise in how focused and driven he could be if one looked at his genetic makeup alone.

"I daresay I've more than enough of that bred into me, given the other half as well."

We are off to see the Crystal Tree!

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?

Re: Sephiroth - Plains of Sorrow - Night watch, 4th shift, a few days in?