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

[Sephiroth has always had clear goals set in front of him that he's strode towards. An unstoppable force once focused on even multiple objectives at a time. His perfection in execution had been what set him apart before, had made him a Hero in the eyes of many. Before Crystallis. Before his bubble had been burst.

There wasn't a clear goal here, and recently in trying to make it clearer it's only gotten hazier. Sephiroth had made for himself smaller goals, within his comfort-zone, his work mostly - objectives that he knew he could accomplish well but now he's realized those for what they were; distractions self-inflicted in the absence of an obvious mission. That no one had really uncovered still and he felt as if, for him, it was already too late.

Please don't cry. Don't make me make you cry.

A knot twisted the other way in his stomach as Sephiroth spotted the edges of Terra's eyes as they started to gather tears. He drew his other arm up and around her and encircled her waist to just hold like she was holding him.]

I'm sorry-

[Terra softly smooths over this silver hair. Her lips pull into a warm smile even though her eyes continue to water. She can't stop feeling what she feels but crying doesn't have to be a bad thing. She isn't afraid of her tears and she'll draw strength from them, like she does everything else.]

You have nothing to apologize for.

[She moves to keep her gaze locked with his. She's sitting completely on Sephiroth's lap now, enjoying the closeness and warmth of Sephiroth's hold. This isn't a position that they sit in very often.]

Just come to me and we'll figure it out.

[Thin fingers brush at Sephiroth's bangs.]

You aren't alone.

[If only he didn't attach such a stigma to tears. Little boys cried, grown men did not. There is no strength to be taken from Sephiroth's tears, only anguish, frustration and all the weakness those things brought along with them.

He wants to be strong, like he was before for so long but as it's turned out he's just...not. His tears seem to have stopped, for the time being - like Terra's stroking at his hair could just make everything troublesome go away.

However, having Terra around always takes the sharp edges off reality. If only moments like this could really last forever; they don't sit in this position very often...perhaps they should more...it's taking a lot of self-control not to squeeze his arms around her too tightly.]

The next time -that we have time- there is something that I would like to share with you.

[Still turning the idea around in his mind, probably will until the day that he does finally commit.]

[Terra watches him curiously, her blue eyes inspecting him as if reading his thoughts. Her lips tug into a gentle, understanding smile. Warmth touches her heart and spreads through her torso. It’s happiness in its purest form.]

I would love that Sephiroth.

[She knows a little bit about Sephiroth. Not everything in his past is pretty but then there are so few things in her past that are joyous. Both of their futures are uncertain and might be unkind. These are the reasons that Terra is so focused on now.

These singular moments; they’ll never be forgotten.]

What do you need today?

[Her fingers brush against his forehead.]

You look like you need rest.

[He seems unsure of what he's thinking, but given the hangover -no matter how much Jade's potion might have helped- coupled with the inherent exhaustion that came with his equipped Job, perhaps thinking shouldn't be something he tries too hard for today. Creasing his eyebrows together like he does is quickly bringing on a migraine to add to the overall lethargy.

Not ideal. Sephiroth bows his head against the soft curve of Terra's shoulder again, closing his eyes and breathing deep as if he might indeed be able to sleep just sat against her like that. Her gentle fingers brushing his forehead summon him to sit back again to look at her face.]

Lets go home?

[Terra nods her head, her gaze filled with strength and adoration for the man holding her. She lightly brushes his hair once more before speaking.]

Yeah.

[She has no intention of leaving him along, even if he wants to be. She can have Tempest run the shop and keep an eye on things. Her first priority is Sephiroth and she wants to make sure that he's feeling better before she does anything else.]

Do you think you can stand?

[Terra realizes that she has to get up first.]

[Stroking his hair used to be weird, being that boundary no one had ever been allowed to cross before, but now it was just as comforting as Terra intended it to be. Sephiroth takes a collective breath and finally sits back from the sprite-like young girl sat on his lap. As if just realizing that she's actually sat on him.]

I might have some trouble...

[A light tease, somewhat dried out, but at least he's trying to lighten up where otherwise he might as well just sit there and hope the ground could swallow him up.]

Oh!

[Terra feels her cheeks warm and she quickly moves to stand. She hadn't wanted to get up but at the same time she knew it would be better for both of them if they returned home. It'd be a start forward and Sephiroth most likely needs that.

She holds out her hand for him feeling her smile widen.]

Sorry. Ready now?

[She likes being physically close to him which is a weird realization for Terra.]

[The longer that Terra stays in the room here with him, the clearer it becomes that going home has to be the only outcome. There is no reason for him to stay here, after all, just wallowing in the various messes and disorder that he'd caused last night wasn't going to undo it at all.

However long it's going to take to get over, best that they start to take the steps than not at all.

Sephiroth reached for her hand and squeezed it briefly, lingering his eyes on her face as if addicted to it, finally standing and glancing around for the necessary items he needs in order to get fully dressed again.]

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

4) [Next Morning]

4) [Next Morning]

4) [Next Morning]

4) [Next Morning]

4) [Next Morning]

4) [Next Morning]

4) [Next Morning]

4) [Next Morning]

4) [Next Morning] (If it's OK to end here?)