melodiesoflife | #15 | What goes down must come up again~?

Characters: Sephiroth [Open; will top-level prompt]
Where/When: Aqures Ixen, Evening-Early Morning 11-12/May
Summary: Between this and that, whatever progress Sephiroth has made with his once-proud ego finds itself sunk to the bottom of a bottle...or two...or three? This can only end one way, and lets hope this doesn't destroy his career.
Warnings: This is not designed to be a ‘come drink with me’ log (though by all means you’re welcome to try and be social). CW's include but not limited to: lonesome stress-drinking, self-destruction, anxiety/freaking-out, snap-violent reactions, confrontations etc.

There were worse taverns he could have picked, for sure, from the downright seedy or otherwise questionable establishments across Aqures. It was sometime in the early evening that Sephiroth passed the front door to the Space Saloon, like he had done a few hundred times since those months ago, when he’d helped to furnish it in the wake of the Battle of Aqures Ixen.

However, not more than a few strides later did a passing thought push itself to the front of his consciousness which soon found the SOLDIER turning heel and entering the Saloon a few moments later. The only interruption came, where Spencer were always at Sephiroth's side, the small bespectacled moogle turned back as soon as he realized his Hero was distracted-

"Kupo, you know we need to get back soon. Dinner will probably be on already."

"I know. Go on, I won’t be long."

Spencer squeaked, not entirely approving but far be it for him to forbid any Hero of Light from doing what they wanted, and gave a tiny quick-salute before turning back to the street that would lead him home. Sephiroth was responsible, always, and he knew he wouldn't keep Terra waiting.

One drink couldn't hurt, and it wasn’t like he had a habit of it. Break up the monotony of the routine he'd found himself settle back into again. Neither could it hurt to turn the volume of persistent poisonous thoughts down for a few hours. Might even get to relax, for a change; wasn't that what everyone else in the premises was doing, after all?

1) Had Enough [Open - Space Saloon]
2) Time to get home [Open - Post-Saloon, potential confrontations]
3) Panic Stations [Additional cw: drunk-sick]
4) End [Towards/Arriving at the Observatory/Next Morning]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Zelda's worry gaze moves from Sephiroth to the party with him.]

I know everyone is worried but he needs rest. I'd like to ask as many of you who are willing to leave. [Her lips tug into an understanding smile, Sephiroth has many good friends.] I'm going to be staying here tonight anyway. If a few want to stay then that's fine but sleep is best.

[It's the motherly tone that begins to show towards the end of her words. She turns back towards Sephiroth.]

I'll keep water and bread next to your bed side. Will you try to sleep?

Alright. [Jade puts the vial down on a nightstand.] Please make sure he takes this before going to sleep.

[It looks like Sephiroth has at least calmed down. Leaving him in Zelda's care should be safe now.]

I'll be heading home, then. Send for me if anything else happens.

You don't have to thank us.

[ She smiled but taking the reply warmly as usual. ] You're quite welcome. I'm sure you'll need plenty of rest and such and a huge party of people isn't exactly the best atmosphere.

I'll bid my leave as well, seeing you are in safe hands. Do try to get some rest and I'll probably see you later.

[ She plans on stopping by in the evening or the next day by bringing some helpful things like tea and soup but for now rest was important. ]

[Maybe after all of this is over he might finally wake to the fact that there are indeed others here that should be counted as friends. His own standards of the same have always been near-impenetrable to pass given previous experiences, maybe it was time to drop his shields...to let those that clearly want to help to at least be able to see how they might be able to. It scares him, what they might see though.

For the time being, as others start to say goodbyes, Sephiroth is concentrating on taking small sips of water, hardly looking around. It feels important for him to do so, as he's starting to come around to how dehydrated he's become through all of the excursions tonight. A headache has already started at the very back of his neck, almost like a strain where he's pushed SOLDIER in a way it's not meant to be used tonight.

He's more vulnerable, it seems, rather than put-off by Zelda's motherly tone, currently.]

I will, I thi-k. Soon.

[Zelda smiles at those who depart, her lips forming a silently thank you. Sephiroth is an important friend of hers and she’s happy to see that he has so many who are looking out for him. As people filter away her bright blue eyes come to test on her tenant.

Her tone remains calm and sweet but with a soft motherly force to it. She won’t let Sephiroth push himself in this state. That isn’t what friends do.]

Take your time. I’m going to fetch some more pillows for you to sit up if you need to.

[She’s gone for a few minutes at most and comes back with pillows. She places them at one end of the bed; he can toss away those he doesn’t want to use. She watches his consumption of the water and then speaks again, her tone remaining soft.]

Do you want more water?

[There are plenty of others who have pushed him far enough tonight. He doesn't know of the extent yet, but the consequences won't exactly be vanished along with a new day. Not to mention the potentially irreparable damage to his reputation. Currently though, he's not thinking that logically. Re-hydrating is most important right now.

When Zelda leaves the room, even though she announced she were going to fetch more pillows, Sephiroth's settling anxiety stirs in the back of his mind again. He takes a long moment, frozen in place and staring at the door until she returns. Then takes yet another sip from the glass before answering her.]

Don't want to overdo it.

[But yes, it would be good to have a fuller glass if he was to attempt to sleep. The small breads nearby might be an idea as well - to have something small back in his stomach at least.]

[Zelda nods her head and moves to refill the glass in his hand. She had brought in a small pitcher expecting Sephiroth to wake up dehydrated through the night. If he really has drank that much then he has a lot to recover.

She smiles at him, her expression kind.]

Take your time.

[She doesn’t know how many times she’s said that but she wants him to know it’s okay to take it slow. Healing is always a slow process.]

Do you want me to stay with you until you fall asleep?

[Zelda doesn’t mind, as it is she’ll be just outside the door for the rest of the night and will occasionally check in on him.]

[This time at least, Sephiroth manages to hold his hand steady enough for Zelda to refill it - there is still a residual shaking but nothing compared to now his nerves were shot when he'd first come around from the panic attack he'd had in the street.

His smile in response is mostly out of manners. Sephiroth might still be coming around from his drunken stupor but he seems to have at least thought around how Zelda is really putting herself out for him in this instance now. What time was it? What was she still doing here at this time of night when everyone else had gone home? How lucky it was that she'd been on hand.

Slowly he rips off a small chunk of one of the breads and spends a long time carefully chewing it. His throat didn't want to swallow it all that easily, and he could almost feel his abused stomach lining revolt as a reaction to the new substance introduced. After a moment of looking a little more sick the sensation passes and the nausea fades away.]

I don't...know what to say, Zelda.

[Finally looking back up at her, the pain he feels inside --and from a fair few physical beatings tonight-- crunches somewhere behind his expression. He knows he's been foolish now, and that this is only going to be the beginning of concern about him now that his soul has been bared. Sephiroth thumbs the rim of the glass while trying to force his thoughts past a growing migraine.]

[Zelda spends a lot of time at the old observatory and its usually at odd hours. Early in the morning she’s at the Chocobo farm and she’s found a peculiar balance to her day though it doesn’t run off of a particular schedule. In this instance, she’s happy she is on hand to help.

A more earnest, younger smile tugs at her lips when he looks back up at her.]

How about, ‘good night and sweet dreams’

[Her expression softens.]

We can talk more tomorrow.

[She can tell that he needs time to think and to process everything that’s happened tonight. She might write to Jade or Selen and see if either can tell her small details of earlier in the night, however, in the end it will be up to Sephiroth to speak to her. She rises from her work and tides up a few things in the room. It’s mostly busy work, making sure that Sephiroth is okay before stepping away from his room.]

#15 | What goes down must come up again~?

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