Johnas Clearwater (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shinrasfinest) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
melodiesoflife2016-02-24 09:34 pm
shinrasfinest) wrote in melodiesoflife2016-02-24 09:34 pm
#14 | Now for re-learning that which might have been forgotten.
Characters: Sephiroth & Open Prompts below
Where/When: Aqures Ixen and a little further out for the 3rd prompt, during the Another Side, Another Story event.
Summary: Sephiroth burns the last four sessions due for obtaining his Custom Job, runs into a terrorist from Gaia and heads out further afield for some light training.
Warnings: Some long prose. Some action. Potential profanity filter w/Barret.
1) Laboratory [OPEN] 23-24th Feb
He’d got this.
After the vast amount of time he’d spent in Mysidia engaging in one expedition or another last month -and then there was Terra- Sephiroth’s Custom Job just had to be neglected for a little while. Never mind the amount of times he’d found himself in a situation where that potential power he might unlock in his crystal would have been more than welcome; it only reminded him constantly of its need to be finished.
He’d so got this.
It wasn’t so terribly unlike the physical monitoring he’d undergone at Shinra countless times before, the last stages of his ‘attunement’ to the ‘parameters’ that equipping this newly created Job would have on him. Nodes were attached with sticky tape to specific points on his bared torso; to monitor muscle tension, the build-up of latent energy, heart-rate, and who-knew what else. Wires trailing off to a nearby machine as Sephiroth again lifted Masamune up and out in front of him; the great sword finally as weightless as he remembered. A basic kata executed, seen from behind the glass of a viewing platform as moogles on the other side recorded the various readings. A spike of dials dancing as he closed his eyes and reached deep for the mako-rush that he’d used to be able to summon so easily at will.
A spark from one of the dials accompanied a flicker to the lights momentarily as Sephiroth carefully, once more, lowered his sword.
--
But there was a catch.
A flaw in the Job itself that had been identified early on that in itself had prevented its discovery half as quickly as Sephiroth would have liked. It manifested itself as a delayed-onset exhaustion and while a few of the moogles had a theory why it was an issue, it made symptoms no less tangible.
As tangible as promptly hitting the deck when he emerged from the last session of his four-day burn towards Job completion, where Sephiroth’s physical limitations had been pushed to their absolute maximum; during the process itself, combined with the untold weight of his other responsibilities and duties as well, and had crashed as a result. It took a handful of moogles and other assistants to lift him, but at the very least there were a spare consultation room that day where he could be lain out to sleep, lights off, until he could catch up.
However long that might be, being as Custom Jobs weren’t yet an exact science.
2) Aqures Ixen [Barret & OPEN Cast-prompt]
[Well this is categorically not what was on Sephiroth’s particular to-do-list for the day. Or the month, or even the year, to put it bluntly.
He thought he’d gotten over the worst of what the apparent ‘other’ wave of Heroes of Light could mean for him, having been presented with a mother that he’d never known already and the resultant surge of questions and insecurities have already proved a difficulty to sleep with a couple of nights ago. Wrecking untold havoc with the come-down from the final stages of tuning his new Job, no less. No matter it’s done now, he still feels a little hazy.]
Don’t do anything foolish.
[Hopefully this lunatic would listen to calm reason, insofar as Sephiroth just about manages not to provoke the situation further with his tone. Both leathered hands are raised, palms forward at the rough, agitated black guy with a gun arm pointed squarely at his chest. It’s surely the last time he’s leaving home without a weapon, after this.]
3)Monster hunting; Aqurean Forest - [Lydia/ Terra/ OPEN]
[ooc: Pick your monsters. From bestiary we’ve Golem, Mandragora, Ochu which are native to the Forest, or Red Bomb & Elemental which are native to the Region.]
Thanks to the presence, and consequential vigilance of many Heroes of Light living in Aqures Ixen, the plains nearby to the City seem relatively free of any monsters that may have roamed closer to the outskirts in the past. No matter; with the dump of several months worth of experience into his new Job, Sephiroth was fairly certain that the run-of-the-mill critters probably wouldn’t serve for the challenge that he needed to feel out - for once out of the safety parameters of the laboratory.
By chocobo it opened up the option, and it was clear that a location a little further afield would prove more adequate. Plus the fact that there were a couple of other Heroes that he intended to bring out towards the Aqurean forest in the south, for similar purposes. He knew the route well enough, having travelled it on occasion between Aqures Ixen and Esdham when he had the time or the shuttle couldn’t make a call on his request.
Upon reaching the edge of the forest, Sephiroth brought his bird to a stop --she warked almost rebelliously at not being allowed to carry on running, but eventually obeyed-- and with a smooth swing of his leg dismounted and began to survey the treeline a little ahead of them. There didn’t seem to be any threats visible, but he knew perhaps better than most Heroes that this forest could be alarmingly deceptive.
Not being a Chocobo Knight, after all, it would be safer to proceed on foot with the birds safely out of the way. He turned once more to his bird and, with a sing of edged steel, Masamune was pulled smoothly from the scabbard that he’d secured just behind the saddle. The chocobo, as unused to it as she might be, didn’t seem to even flinch.
Where/When: Aqures Ixen and a little further out for the 3rd prompt, during the Another Side, Another Story event.
Summary: Sephiroth burns the last four sessions due for obtaining his Custom Job, runs into a terrorist from Gaia and heads out further afield for some light training.
Warnings: Some long prose. Some action. Potential profanity filter w/Barret.
1) Laboratory [OPEN] 23-24th Feb
He’d got this.
After the vast amount of time he’d spent in Mysidia engaging in one expedition or another last month -and then there was Terra- Sephiroth’s Custom Job just had to be neglected for a little while. Never mind the amount of times he’d found himself in a situation where that potential power he might unlock in his crystal would have been more than welcome; it only reminded him constantly of its need to be finished.
He’d so got this.
It wasn’t so terribly unlike the physical monitoring he’d undergone at Shinra countless times before, the last stages of his ‘attunement’ to the ‘parameters’ that equipping this newly created Job would have on him. Nodes were attached with sticky tape to specific points on his bared torso; to monitor muscle tension, the build-up of latent energy, heart-rate, and who-knew what else. Wires trailing off to a nearby machine as Sephiroth again lifted Masamune up and out in front of him; the great sword finally as weightless as he remembered. A basic kata executed, seen from behind the glass of a viewing platform as moogles on the other side recorded the various readings. A spike of dials dancing as he closed his eyes and reached deep for the mako-rush that he’d used to be able to summon so easily at will.
A spark from one of the dials accompanied a flicker to the lights momentarily as Sephiroth carefully, once more, lowered his sword.
--
But there was a catch.
A flaw in the Job itself that had been identified early on that in itself had prevented its discovery half as quickly as Sephiroth would have liked. It manifested itself as a delayed-onset exhaustion and while a few of the moogles had a theory why it was an issue, it made symptoms no less tangible.
As tangible as promptly hitting the deck when he emerged from the last session of his four-day burn towards Job completion, where Sephiroth’s physical limitations had been pushed to their absolute maximum; during the process itself, combined with the untold weight of his other responsibilities and duties as well, and had crashed as a result. It took a handful of moogles and other assistants to lift him, but at the very least there were a spare consultation room that day where he could be lain out to sleep, lights off, until he could catch up.
However long that might be, being as Custom Jobs weren’t yet an exact science.
2) Aqures Ixen [Barret & OPEN Cast-prompt]
[Well this is categorically not what was on Sephiroth’s particular to-do-list for the day. Or the month, or even the year, to put it bluntly.
He thought he’d gotten over the worst of what the apparent ‘other’ wave of Heroes of Light could mean for him, having been presented with a mother that he’d never known already and the resultant surge of questions and insecurities have already proved a difficulty to sleep with a couple of nights ago. Wrecking untold havoc with the come-down from the final stages of tuning his new Job, no less. No matter it’s done now, he still feels a little hazy.]
Don’t do anything foolish.
[Hopefully this lunatic would listen to calm reason, insofar as Sephiroth just about manages not to provoke the situation further with his tone. Both leathered hands are raised, palms forward at the rough, agitated black guy with a gun arm pointed squarely at his chest. It’s surely the last time he’s leaving home without a weapon, after this.]
3)Monster hunting; Aqurean Forest - [Lydia/ Terra/ OPEN]
[ooc: Pick your monsters. From bestiary we’ve Golem, Mandragora, Ochu which are native to the Forest, or Red Bomb & Elemental which are native to the Region.]
Thanks to the presence, and consequential vigilance of many Heroes of Light living in Aqures Ixen, the plains nearby to the City seem relatively free of any monsters that may have roamed closer to the outskirts in the past. No matter; with the dump of several months worth of experience into his new Job, Sephiroth was fairly certain that the run-of-the-mill critters probably wouldn’t serve for the challenge that he needed to feel out - for once out of the safety parameters of the laboratory.
By chocobo it opened up the option, and it was clear that a location a little further afield would prove more adequate. Plus the fact that there were a couple of other Heroes that he intended to bring out towards the Aqurean forest in the south, for similar purposes. He knew the route well enough, having travelled it on occasion between Aqures Ixen and Esdham when he had the time or the shuttle couldn’t make a call on his request.
Upon reaching the edge of the forest, Sephiroth brought his bird to a stop --she warked almost rebelliously at not being allowed to carry on running, but eventually obeyed-- and with a smooth swing of his leg dismounted and began to survey the treeline a little ahead of them. There didn’t seem to be any threats visible, but he knew perhaps better than most Heroes that this forest could be alarmingly deceptive.
Not being a Chocobo Knight, after all, it would be safer to proceed on foot with the birds safely out of the way. He turned once more to his bird and, with a sing of edged steel, Masamune was pulled smoothly from the scabbard that he’d secured just behind the saddle. The chocobo, as unused to it as she might be, didn’t seem to even flinch.
Re: [Not completely here for the rescue.]
He is not the enemy here. The situation is different than on Gaia.
[Coming around to stand next to Yuffie, familiar mantle and gauntlet and stoic expression.]
And now to complicate things further
But of course Cloud forgot to mention a certain specific someone.
Cloud runs over, just a little late but not far behind and glad that no blood has been spilled yet. He runs in after Yuffie and Vincent, putting himself closer to Barret and in front of that gun arm. It's a subconscious thing, putting himself first in the line of fire, but considering who he's defending it speaks volumes.]
Barret...remember what I said about different points of time? It's the same thing.
no subject
Vincent?
[ Didn't expect to see him here. And all of them protecting Sephiroth? You've got to be kiddin' him. Cloud, okay. By that point it was clear he had little in common with the Cloud he'd known back home. But Yuffie and Vincent should definitely know better. ]
The hell you're talkin' about. Even if he's from a different time, how does that change what he's gonna do?
[ Like putting a meteor on crash collision with their planet. ]
no subject
But Vincent catches up and then Cloud too. Sephiroth has even had to take a step backwards to make room for all the people who have put themselves in between him and the end of Barret's gun. Who'd ever have thought.
Any comment Sephiroth might make now would just make the situation even more tense, so his better judgement won out on this occasion and he kept quiet. At the very least he might be able to edge himself further back and out of a direct shot-line should this crazy man decide to open fire.]
no subject
[Yeah take that logic!]
Second, I was just like you but Tif told me that everyone deserves a chance and maybe we can avoid our future now. Sephiroth's rough but he isn't evil... I mean this one isn't... [It sounds really lame when she explains it and she totally realizes that Sephiroth is standing behind her as she's talking.]
He's just sorta grumpy all the time.
[She realizes that the last comment most likely didn't help.]
no subject
Whatever will happen on Gaia is irrelevant. Sephiroth has the same goal as we do. Stop the Calamity on Crystallis here and now, or no world is safe.
[Never mind that yes, this is a different version of Sephiroth. Not the madman with god-delusions they'd been chasing. Work it out later if you must Barret, but there are other priorities right now and Vincent is going to point them out.]
no subject
Vincent is right. Sephiroth and I were with the first group of Heroes pulled to this world [
This Cycle. Stupid Crystallis.] and he's been fighting with us just like everyone else to save this world.Besides. We both know what's going to happen on Gaia. Nobody has tried to hide it from us. We both...we both know how things will wind up between us. But that's just a future we've been told about. Not one that we've lived. I don't know if we can stop things back home but I promise you that he's not a threat here.
[For now...and he hopes that doesn't change.]
If anything, I've put people in danger here more than he has.
no subject
A glance to Vincent and then to Cloud as he tries to put more of it in context for Barret -whose name Sephiroth doesn't even know. He feels the edges of his face tighten up as Cloud talks about the future but knows that particular tension that still stings will be hidden enough by his hairstyle.
He starts, but stops himself from mentioning the fact that what happens at home -at least as far as he's surmised- might well have actually already happened. Wouldn't help here, blasted honesty.]
I wouldn't go that far, Cloud. We've all had our moments here.
[Whether Cloud remembered that first October isn't for Sephiroth to point out now but it's relevant all the same. Sephiroth looks back between everyone else, to meet Barret's eye contact directly.]
If it means anything to you, I've not laid eyes on you before.
[It sounds damn honest, at that.]
no subject
$@#$^! Are you all insane?
[ He shook his head at Cloud before turning to Vincent. ]
I get he got memories issue, but what 'bout you two? [A beat.] Just 'cause he's not actively trying to destroy this planet means we should be friends with him? What makes him any different from the Sephiroth we've chased across the planet?
[ Sounded honest indeed, but that's not enough for Barret and he's not moving his arm-canon down. ]
no subject
[Yuffie has no better way to explain. Beside she thinks her points are very valid.]
no subject
[Vincent is glad he can be patient. Yes, Barret can be stubborn, but had he listened to what they'd said?]
You don't need to be friends with him. You don't need to like him. You DO need to let him be and not shoot him, and accept he is a Hero of Light, like the rest of us.
no subject
[Come to think of it, Cloud isn't entirely sure if this is true of the new group of Heroes, but he knows it's what should happen to Sephiroth...at least he hopes that's still the case.]
If you kill him, or any of us really, we'll just come back. But that might also make things worse for this world. And where will you be after that? It's less than revenge. There's no point.
no subject
Therefore, Barret's comments hold true. There really isn't much difference, other than the fact he can't remember having lived it yet.
Even Cloud were trying to help diffuse the situation and the longer this situation continued, the more uncomfortable Sephiroth was becoming with that fact. Knowing that they both know things of the future that they otherwise wouldn't -and could be argued, shouldn't- yet they still continue on ignoring it can't be the right way? Genesis hadn't thought so, and Sephiroth were starting now to finally understand why.]
no subject
[ They did make some measure of sense, as much as he didn't like to hear it. ]
I'll let him be. But... [ He marked a pause and looked up. ] I don't think I'm saving this world because I care for it. Nah. I'm doin' it because I want to save Gaia. And I want to save Gaia because I want to make sure Marlene got a future.
[ He shook his head and stared back in Sephiroth's direction. ]
So I don't care about you being a Hero of Light here. First step out of line, and I'll be on your ass.
[ That's as far as Barret is ready to concede. Sorry, but not trusting him. ]
no subject
See, that wasn't so hard.
no subject
There were others among the Heroes who bore more 'watching' than Sephiroth. There were also quite a few already watching Sephiroth, as well. So long as the other Gaian didn't act too pre-emptively, it would hopefully be alright.]
no subject
Thanks...I know this can't be easy for you. But if you can't trust him then try to trust me. We want to help Gaia too, but right now that means saving this world and making sure the Calamity doesn't get back there somehow.
[Cloud glances back at Sephiroth, making sure if he's okay. He doesn't want to have to stand between the two like this. He hopes that Barret's worries won't come to be, but if it did come down to a fight between the two of them he is fairly sure of which side he'd likely take.]
[ooc: feel free anyone to come after him]
It's all a possibility and that Sephiroth himself has no control over it just makes it cut deeper.
It's probably no surprise that when Cloud looks back for him, the leather-clad man has already turned and proceeded away from the scene they've all managed to cause. Feeling hot in a way that's so much more than just embarrassment and quickly striding off towards the residential district with his moogle sweeping down from a rooftop behind him; Spencer quickly trying to catch him up.
Not to mention; sure, they all beat the Calamity here and go home....still means he'll become the next one, regardless.]