melodiesoflife | Player Plot: The Mysidian Tower!

[Strange to think, that on now two completely separate occasions, Sephiroth is spending his nights under canvass somewhere on the newly discovered continent. Even by the standards in Esdham, which might see a party away for a little more than a week at a time if they were scouting out in the Heran desert, it's starting to seem that he's spent more time in a sleeping bag than a real bed this past month.

Which is why, when he's not up on some floor of the Tower exploring, the majority of the time Sephiroth is between patrolling the campsite, checking in on any one number of the squads he brought with him for backup, taking some rations or -even for just five minutes- lying on his camp bed trying to get just a little shut-eye.

He just might be starting to look -just that little bit- exhausted. But at least Spencer happily takes on the responsibility of checking around the campsite when Sephiroth is resting; enthusiastic to be finally of some help.]

[ Traveling like this isn't anything new for the ninja. In fact, it's what she had been doing right before she had been brought to this world.

Corrine, on the other hand, is looking a little worse for wear as he rides upon her shoulder, soft "kupo" sighs coming from him every so often as he tries to flap his wings. Poor little guy had been so excited to go on this trip that he had tried to fly all the way--only to tire himself out.

Reaching up, she gently takes him from her shoulder and places him on the small blanket roll she had for him. ]

No more flying today, Corrine. You just take it easy, all right? I'm going to take a look around.

[ With a final scratch behind his ear, she waits until he dozes off before rising and turning...

...only to literally bump into Sephiroth. She really needs to put her guard up more often. ]

Oh! Sephiroth! Sorry about that! Are you all right?

[Moogles, for all their gumption and boundless enthusiasm were indeed only small creatures and often could be prone to burning their wings out if they tried to take on excessive flying around. There were reasons why Spencer were happy enough not to accompany Sephiroth every time he went up into the Tower; after all, what good were the squads of men he'd brought with him if they couldn't keep him safe? Even if it were technically Spencer's duty...

Sephiroth is just on his way out of inventory checking that particular tent and couldn't have expected Sheena to have suddenly moved like that. His head had been bowed and reading a small notebook which, when Sheena had bumped into him, had been the first casualty; dropping to the ground even as he immediately crouched to retrieve it. Not even looking at Sheena during the motion.]

No. It's fine. Should have been looking-

[Then he stands back up, adjusts his military-issue navy jacket and slips the notebook into a large front pocket while at the same time nodding to emphasize his comment. He flicks some of his silver hair out of his face, though most of it is tied up high and out of the way; better to keep it that way where there weren't exactly the facilities, on camp, to keep it the way that he preferred.]

My apologies.

[ That had been the very reason she had insisted on leaving Corrine behind when they went to visit the Crystal Tree. This time, however, he had done the insisting--although he hadn't told her why. Just that he "needed to there". Well, she had relented, and look where it had gotten the little guy.

On the way back, she's tying him to her so he won't be able to fly.

And Sheena doing things suddenly shouldn't actually be news to Sephiroth. She's done it a few times since they've known each other. However, this is the first time she's actually done something to him as a result.

Seeing the book fall, she moves to catch it--only to miss and have it hit the floor anyway. Rising, she looks at him in confusion. ]

Why are you apologizing? I'm the one who ran into you.

[ She nods towards the pocket where the book had been placed. ]

What are you reading, anyway?

[It's just that little more irritating when sudden movements result in some personal consequence such as this one. Sephiroth really detests clumsiness, and it's as much Sheena's fault as his own even if he's the one apologizing for it. He's much taller than her, and just generally larger, after all.]

It was a fault on both of our parts, but I'm usually a little more spatially aware. I need to be, even.

[From closer up he does seem a little worn around the edges...maybe it's just down to the different way he looks in fatigue-like uniform rather than leathers?

Having finished straightening himself out he takes half a step back from Sheena, out of politeness mostly before coming around to the fact that his hand is still atop the pocket that he put the notebook back into.]

It's not anything interesting, just a book I'm using to keep track of the supplies with.

[A light shrug.]

I'll need to report it all back, afterwards.

[ Sheena isn't a fan of clumsiness, either--despite her penchant for falling into holes. Or maybe it was because of that. She had been trained to be graceful in her movements, so anything other than that rubbed her the wrong way.

Which meant size didn't matter with something like this.

Peering at him closely, she narrowed her eyes in concern. ]

Are you all right?

[ She hopes it was just the natural result of preparing to come to he to we that had him looking ragged. But perhaps that vision still haunted him...

Glancing back at the book, she smiles. ]

Really? Army rule or something?

I'm fine.

[Aside from the vast amount of things either in the front of his mind or not so very far back from his surface thoughts, that is. Not only to do with the military provisioning of this particular expedition, but other concerns --Terra's current mood of unease being only one of those things-- never seemed to be able to be distracted so easily.]

That's the only downside to requisitioning any number of troops like I've managed for this trip, the seemingly endless paperwork that ends up going with it.

[Not that he's not used to it, nor does he mind terribly as a result. In fact Sephiroth's tone even in mentioning it --while matter of factly as always-- is rather light.]

If you're sure...

[ She doesn't sound convinced, does she? Probably because she isn't. And she can imagine why he appears the way he does. She probably hadn't been the only one avoiding him on the trip here, and then there's the situation with Terra.

If there is a situation between the two of them.

She's talked to Terra... Maybe she should talk to Sephiroth, too? But only if he asks; she's still a little gun-shy around him right now. ]

Ah, the benefits of just picking up and traveling the world with a small group or by yourself. No requisitions, no paperwork--except for letters home, which end as soon as you get back.

[ She had picked up on that light tone and had responded in kind. An ice breaker, perhaps? ]

[Difficult to tell, considering that particular bud of a relationship hasn't yet really been made public outside of that embarrassing mistletoe moment at Starlight and the -really quite normal- dance they had at the New Year party? Who believed the moogle rumor-mill, at times, anyway?

Unless one were perhaps a little closer to either of them than Sheena really was....or knew certain 'signs' when they were exhibited. After all, neither Terra nor Sephiroth are outgoing social types; it might be usual for them to seldom talk to each other - as they had to talk sometimes, living together like they do.]

Indeed. Though that in mind it can be argued strongly that it's better to have safety in numbers, in unknown territory, like this. At the very least, it seems to have made the expedition run a little smoother.

[Nothing wrong with more eyes, to search with, and more pairs of hands to help carry or combat, after all.]

[ Don't underestimate the moogles. They see all and know all. And then talk about it, or get involved.

But that's not the source of Sheena's "instinct"; the vision is. And she has to tread carefully about what to say and not to say since she and Terra shared more of the vision's events that either of them had with Sephiroth.

And really, you two need to be more sociable. The moogles can't do all the work. ]

Or have someone run among the treetops. [ She laughs. They should have had more people do that. ] But seriously, it depends on what's happening, I guess. Sometimes a small group is perfect, but for this... A bigger group is definitely better.

[ Mainly for the searching. ]

[Sephiroth and Terra are sociable enough, at least, as far as was comfortable for each of them. Silences were as golden as any treasured conversation might be. They really do have that in common.

He chuckles a little at Sheena's first comment; appreciating the reference back to their time in the Crystal Forest navigating the apparent maze. They hadn't been the first group to get to the tree in the middle, but they hadn't been the last either.]

That's right. Especially due to the fact that the exploration can be tackled a little at a time, not all in one go and there is the opportunity for backtracking too. Lest we miss something important.

[It doesn't take very much talking about his current mission to get the impression that Sephiroth really does put everything he has into anything he has going on. Not that it would be much of a surprise, given what Sheena has already seen of him.]

[ How ironic that a ninja is probably more talkative than either of them. Still, she can appreciate a comfortable, companionable silence as much as the next person.

At his chuckle, she gives him a look of mock indignation. ]

I'll have you know running in the treetops was fun! You should try it next time! [ She paused as though in thought. ] Yes, a quick trip through the woods among the trees. [ As quick as it can possibly be. And while they hadn't been the first, that hadn't been her goal--their safety had been. So it still worked out for the best. ]

I'm just used to exploring in a small group, I guess. Even something big like this. [ Then again... ] Except maybe not. My village has the best netowrk for gathering information, so that helps a lot, too. [ Seriously, where would they have been without some of the information they had gathered?

Actually, she kind of got that impression the first time they met, so no, it's not a surprise at all, really. In fact, it's something they kind of have in common--although Sheena may not show it. ]

[Not that he's afraid of heights but a certain misjudgment he made with Dragoon really early on has him steering clear of all of those jobs that greatly increase agility or offer any sort of high-and-dexterous leaping which might botch terribly. He'd rather keep both feet firmly on terra firma and cleave his way through anything in his path.

Play to the strengths he's already got, after all.

Sephiroth tilts his head as Sheena essentially talks herself around in a circle. It's interesting to listen to, at least, even if their conversation is all too easily slipping off into that level of small talk where Sephiroth loses any thread of interest personally. Never one for idle chit-chat; despite the attempt.]

Your village...back home?

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Sephiroth was beginning to look a little worn around the edges and Albel had noticed. He'd noticed the changes in the man for awhile after the vision he'd had, though he hadn't approached the SOLDIER before. He'd felt too guilty. After all, in this supposed soon-to-be-coming future, Albel had let Sephiroth die and then he'd become involved with Terra! Terra, who was living with Sephiroth; Terra, who was very obviously romantically involved with Sephiroth. Albel had stepped into that. Even though Sephiroth had been absent (and in the vision, Albel had felt... well, comfortable with Terra, in love even), he felt guilty now for "stealing" Terra.

So he'd avoided Sephiroth. And the two women he'd somehow become involved with in the "future," though less successfully. Except that, besides the guilt, the feelings of loss that followed that vision, the grief of losing Sephiroth, still remained as well. And, while Albel didn't want to believe that that "future" he'd seen was necessarily coming, it didn't sit right with him to waste the time he still had with a man he so respected. Three months wasn't a long time. If Sephiroth did die, again, then Albel would hate himself for doing nothing in the meantime and knowing the possibility was there.

"How are you holding up?" he asked quietly when he finally did talk to the other man, taking advantage of a moment where Sephiroth was alone.

It was yet another failed attempt at a nap which had just turned into a mild ache. At the front of his head and the small of his back; a symptom, no doubt of the extended period he'd spent sleeping in not-so-comfortable circumstances. With the work he'd put into his Custom Job sometimes causing inexplicable fatigue, Sephiroth had been hopeful that the day of rest he'd taken prior to coming on this expedition would have been enough; clearly that had been short-lived relief.

Sephiroth had shrugged the thermal blanket off himself and tucked his jacket back around his shoulders while sitting back up, pushing the heel of his palm into the space just above and between his eyes as if he might be able to will the headache away. It could simply be the wrong time for him to sleep; being as it was probably the middle of the day still.

"Hm." Clearly, and perhaps a little unusually, Sephiroth hadn't noticed that Albel were there. He brought his hand away from the front of his head and blinked heavily before turning his gaze up towards the other man nearby.

"I'll be fine." Dismissive, as usual. Probably not in all that good of a mood, either.

Albel crossed his arms and shook his head. "Rest. Even if you can't sleep, don't get up. I'll handle things. And if not me, then Jade, or Tear."

Sephiroth was running himself into the ground, and a leader worn ragged was just about as useful as no leader at all. Potentially worse, if he made a poor decision because he was tired or stressed or otherwise distracted.

"And if you can't sleep, but want to... I'm sure someone around here has some status magic, if you're desperate," he suggested softly.

"I might ask around...when it's a more appropriate time for me to sleep."

Next moment and he was up onto his feet, if with a little of a wobble backwards, before pushing arms through into his jacket and followed with a single deep-squat movement. The motion helped to ground him immensely but the knot of a growing migraine would be around for a few hours yet. Taking the metal canteen from down by the side of his bunk, Sephiroth took a small sip of water. It would need a refill soon; just the reason to venture into the outside world for a walk.

"My apologies. It's no excuse that there has been a lot on recently, but bad timing for it all to start wearing now."

"Sephiroth."

Now Albel was getting annoyed. He held a hand out to stop the other man from leaving.

"You don't need to apologize," he said with some exasperation. "You can't do everything yourself! You're only human."

It was advice he realized was ironic, coming from him. When he'd worked himself to exhaustion, training, beating himself down until he felt he deserved to exist again. It was advice that sounded more like something Fayt would say.

"Going out there impaired is worse than giving yourself a break," he grumbled.

He blinked at the hand that came up in front of him just as he'd felt about ready to take a step towards the exit flap of the tent. On a second blink, Sephiroth followed the arm to eventually meet eye contact with Albel, not seeming to be very impressed with the way the other man had addressed him. He wasn't a child, and being spoken to like that was just as like to encourage him to do exactly the opposite from what was being suggested, just to prove that he was -as he said- fine.

"I'm hardly running all of this myself." He forced his tone to at least sound a little lighter than his expression was, where the latter had started to drop into a deeper frown and a telltale tightening of his jaw. Still, it was clearly an attempt at a brush off.

"We all need to put in to make this expedition a success. I've had a break, trust me it'll be worse if I now don't try to do something."

"You only lay down for all of three minutes!" Albel exclaimed. "I only followed you in here because I assumed you'd still be standing!"

Like he'd purposely interrupt a man's sleep.

"Since you weren't standing, I'm only more convinced you shouldn't be," he continued. "I don't see how it'll be so much worse to take another five minutes."

Or more.

Had it really only been three minutes? That had to have been a gross underestimation. The outside edges of Sephiroth's eyes widen a fraction just for a second and then he immediately looks away, and down to the ground, from Albel. There was a phrase wasn't there, about friends not just being there to agree with you all of the time? He wasn't sure if Albel really had any grounds to level such a judgment in his direction.

Why did he care -was one of the thoughts which had caused him to look away. Sephiroth remained stood in silence...but at least he wasn't taking another step towards the door flap of the tent just yet?

"It's easier said than done. There is a lot going on."

Albel sighed and the tension in his shoulders relented slightly. He did understand, truly -- perhaps more than Sephiroth thought. He was very much the same way, pushing himself further, harder, always more. There was always more that needed to be done, there was always another challenge he needed to accept and conquer, there was always another way he needed to be the best. He had to prove that to everyone, most of all to himself. And pushing himself so hard to be best brought some of the worst out of him.

"I know," he said. "Which is why we have to take advantage of the downtime when we get it. It's brief enough as it is."

He gestured to the tent flap. "We're not going anywhere for a little while, not while people are still setting up camp and setting their plans. Besides, there's that... machine that can take people to the other floors." His hand moved loosely in the general depiction of an elevator.

"We can go up and down as we like. So, while we have the time now..."

Such was an ethos that Sephiroth had pretty much forced himself into from an early age without very much encouragement. Aside from the several months in 'adjustment' to Crystallis when he'd first been brought here, soon enough -inevitably- the old habits found their way back into his lifestyle. If there ever came a time where there was no challenge left, then Sephiroth would make one.

He followed Albel's gesture towards the tent flap but then sighed. It seemed as if hot air deflated from his shoulders as Sephiroth stepped backwards and then allowed himself to sink back into sitting on the camp bed. It felt like a lot more than just getting his weight off his feet, and for that reason -alongside the near throbbing migraine starting really to pound- Sephiroth decided to stay put. He didn't like submitting to anyone but he found himself agreeing with Albel for the most part; his logic would be to blame for that.

"I suppose the others can form to take the next trip up. There is certainly enough backup to take if needed."

[Albel was relieved and he even managed a small smile.]

Indeed. I'll watch over Spencer, so you'll be fully informed when we return.

Edited 2016-03-06 01:42 (UTC)

[Even in that smallest of meantimes Sephiroth has already started to hold his temples between his thumb and forefinger. Nope, probably shouldn't have got up at all. It seems, to him at least that there is an overlong pause in the time it takes him to lower his hand and look up at the other man again as if drowsiness takes the hint and rears up to prove Albel's point.]

Spencer would probably get lost up there; he's best down here keeping the books straight.

If you would be so kind to relay the orders to one of the captains...

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wickedone - 2016-03-17 00:12 (UTC) - Expand

Ground Floor - Campsite | Sephiroth and/or Spencer [Open]

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