melodiesoflife | Event || The Festival Of Light

[As Sephiroth has kept those soldiers he brought in enforcing the curfews and adding security to the streets last month stationed in Aqures considering what is coming, that means of course their commanding officer has to put some time in as well. He could delegate a larger chunk of his workload than he does but such is the life of a chronic workaholic.

In addition to the below prompts, it's possible to encounter Sephiroth both off and on duty throughout the Festival though generally while off duty he tries to spend as much time with Terra as he can make happen; though not so much as to appear overly clingy...maybe.]

[Monster Arena]
[What a hectic couple of days!

It begs one to wonder, who did the old-man who ran the Monster Arena have to bribe, exactly, to get the green-light for such a outright dangerous parade of dressed up monsters that various Heroes of Light had worked to deliver into captivity. Sephiroth had a hunch it might well have been Biggs' idea, just based on what he knew of the mans character.

Not only innocent, curious citizens, but children too..being encouraged by pink ribbons on Malboros, ridiculous costumes on zombies...glitter painted on red bombs. Clearly this is a recipe for disaster.

Hence the security reinforcements in and around the 14th District on both of those days. Indeed, if Sephiroth had been given the clearance to line the streets with barricades he would have seen it done personally if that's what it took, but instead he's pulling long hours coordinating and executing patrols just on the off chance that -somewhere- something might go wrong.

Not that he doesn't have faith in the abilities of other Heroes that live in the area to act as they might need to should a monster decide to break rank, but better that it doesn't get to that stage at all if it can be helped.]

[A small gathering in the 13th District; 02nd August]
[A year ago on this day had been the climax of the Battle of Aqures Ixen, when Kalki had met the Heroes of Light at the Fire Crystal and then displaced them all back into the past some 28 years.

Anyone could now see the 100 Heroes of Light play to get the basic gist, albeit with a few dramatic inconsistencies, of the fierce battle which had gone before. But to the more-solemn group gathered in the morning at the foot of the great four-piece statue that stands vigil over the vast graveyard, it's still much too soon to be taken so lightly. Citizens from both sides lost loved ones, family members who would never be replaced. Both armies had suffered losses which had then been made worse once Palitutu had commandeered the Weapon for herself; and now heavy on a lot of people's minds is the looming fact that this looks set to be repeated.

As the masses of Crystallis enjoy the Festival of Light for what could be the final time, a wreath of white flowers is laid at the foot of the central statue by a junior officer clad in full Esdham colors, as a mark of respect to the fallen.

Sephiroth is somewhere on the front line of the soldiers, all dressed up for the occasion, that have come to pay their respects with a moment of silence, along with anyone else -being native to Crystallis or not- that has gathered to do the same.

Afterwards, some stay to share their stories, to recount their losses to anyone that might hear. But it's not all in mourning still; it's as much of a celebration of the lives of those that had died, as any of the festivities that have gone on elsewhere for the last few days.]

Edited 2016-07-26 21:39 (UTC)

[It's impossible to say when she walks up behind him, a boon of the Assassin jobs, but also Mary not wanting to interrupt what Sephiroth is doing. She's watched the whole ceremony, keeping her hood up to hide her face. The heat from the recent murders has died down but she still doesn't care to be too public following all that had happened. Thus the hood and the otherwise neglecting of the Kidd guise.

It's Mary who's preparing for the next battle anyway.

She steps up alongside the tall man, looking at hi briefly before her eyes trace back to the monument.]

It's good of you to take the time to come and do this. [She can't blame the others for taking the time to play games and relax, but sometimes she wonders how much they actually care about this world and its people.]

[It's something of a solemn moment that Sephiroth has taken, alone, to dip his own head in memory before the monument they have adorned with the various dedications of remembrance. It's not clear if he had heard or felt someone approach his side but for sure he feels the brief look she gives him.

Despite the hood and the perhaps not-so-much needed secrecy, he's grown closer to Mary and Kidd in recent months and so recognizes the quiet tones without even having to open his eyes first to look at her. He does follow by doing so, though, remembering his manners.]

I wanted to do something like this before, much earlier, but the opportunity never came along.

[He almost sounds bitter about it, but if he does feel particularly angry or even sad about that fact, Sephiroth is hiding it quite well.]

[She nods at his words, letting them sit for a moment before she responds. She listens to the reading of the names, doing her best to commit them to memory. To remember who she is fighting for.]

That's the terrible thing about time. It marches on relentlessly. Doesn't care for what we want to do or who we want to be with. Despite all our best efforts things still get left behind.

[And as they get left behind they leave lingering regret. Things that could have been done. Things that should have been done. The constant questioning of what if, or could I have done this better. If only is one of the worst things one can say to oneself.]

Will this let you go into battle with a clear heart?

Hm.

[Easily they slip into another long silence as names are read, Sephiroth's gaze sliding back to the monument and then dropping down the front of it to the floor and eventually closing his eyes.

Blinking a few times in response to Kidd's following question, Sephiroth turns back to her. It's unclear the resolve that he answers with, but there is something at least a little more determined than he's been able to show, in a while. Like the topic has some deeper resonance within him.]

No. Completely the opposite.

[He should never release those things, going into such a battle as they were about to embark. It's important to hold onto it all as closely, as tightly as possible and draw all the strength from them that they were worth.

It's the only way to truly exhaust that regret, all those possible 'could've should've would've' outcomes.]

[She nods. She can understand the importance in holding onto the weight in one's heart. She looks back to the procession before them. Without pressing him further on the matter she can assume that he means to remember the victims of the past as his incentive to do better than he perceives he did last time.

She's much the same way, herself. She's never been one to seek apology. Rather she too wants to remind herself of what needs to be done and make sure it does so.

And in the end, the answer he gives is his own. It's right as long as he believes in it.

She's quiet for a long while before speaking up again.]

Just be sure you come back alive yourself. Debts can be paid in blood, but they rarely ever come out even.

[It's due to that weight that Sephiroth had taken those words Biggs had put in a certain letter, perhaps more to heart than he would have done if he hadn't gotten involved. Failures, for all they are unacceptable, are indeed best used as tools to improve oneself and this is a concept that he's well-practiced in.

The silence that follows gives the time for the majority of those gathered to follow along with the procession. Leaving the two of them stood alone before the monument of those first four Heroes of Light.]

Don't worry. I don't, by any means, intend to throw my life away as I did such in a certain vision.

[That's not to say that he won't bleed just as much as any of them. At least in battles like this one coming, he has confidence on his side. So far as the goal posts don't change so much, as he half-expects them to.]

[Mary watches Sephiroth's expression after he replies, waiting to see if he cracks. After a moment she gives a satisfied nod.]

That's good. You're too fine a man to lose here and now. And if we're going to stop Palitutu and the Calamity, we need to show her we can do it together, and without sacrifice.

[No matter how badly the odds are stacked against them. And no matter what Kalki suggested. And even if sacrifices did occur, they couldn't be something that they accepted as necessary. Not after what that vision showed them.]

[She hopes the fellow workaholic doesn't mind an offered glass of ice water on one of the rare moments both their schedules aligned in regards to a break. Granted, she had to physically leave the labs in order to do so. But with rumors of just what was being paraded in the 14th district, she had a hunch he could use something much stronger. Said hunch was then followed by the remembrance of what Vincent had deemed fit to share about a bar fight. Thus, water would have to suffice.]

Long day so far, I take it?

[Not that it shows well on him, but call it intuition. Not that it would be wrong for the first time, mind. Then again, she wouldn't be entirely surprised it was accurate for once... what with how the old man from the monster arena decided to dress up the monsters and parade them down the city streets.]

[He's been getting better, since the start of the week when it comes to taking breaks. He's almost been making a point to take just half for every eight hours on duty.

Until today.

The chaos brought about by a rogue malboro in the 14th District earlier just had been a cooking pot of disastrous consequences. Crowds panicking, swarming around back and forth on the street where it had been packed with hardly anywhere to escape to, picking through Heroes' back gardens to get away. Sephiroth himself still has a cloth next to him on the table he's sat, stained almost to ruin with the remains of the blood and some gunky residue likely from the surface skin of the monster.

At the sound of a glass being put down to his side, the silver head turns to look up at the bearer of it. Of course he recognized her voice by now, for all she made herself scarce at home, they did share a home.]

Inevitable, really. It was all going just a little too smoothly.

[She heard the craziest rumors on the way here, and while she tried to give Sephiroth and Terra enough...space... after that first night she accidentally overheard something she likely wasn't supposed to, she couldn't help but show a bit of concern when her gaze fell on the cloth lying on the table beside him.]

From what I've heard of the owner's antics, I'd say it was lucky it did this long.

[And to think some wondered why she spent most of her time inside the lab. At least there wasn't a stampeding generator of status effects in there.]

[From the smell of it, it's mostly monster blood that'd likely come from Masamune which was now already safely tucked back away up in the sheath and harness arrangement just laid out on the bench next to him. If Sephiroth had been injured, most likely between his custom job and the ready availability of those with healing powers it's already long forgotten. Not to mention there is nothing like a good dose of a Remedy when stacked up with status-effects.

He was well due the break after that rigmarole though.]

I've always wondered what that old man truly wanted out of all of this.

[Not even bearing to think about the three-formed version of himself that one could turn up at the Arena to fight...]

...because Heroes of Light will be staying at home this week...

[Was that...dry sarcasm?]

I suppose you could ask him, if you'd like.

[She'd even offer to do so instead, and rightly slap him across the face for having endangered others. That was before the sarcasm. Instead, she laced her fingers behind her back, tilting her head to the side.]

Well, so long as there isn't too much alcohol in the house that shouldn't be too much of a problem, right?

[She said it rather...playfully for how awkward their relationship had been. If it could even be considered that. Still she smiles, knowingly. Perhaps a bit amused. She wasn't the best drinker herself, and goddess forbid his father ever touched a bottle.]

I was going to ask if you both had any plans, actually. Thought about bringing something home.

[That sip of ice cold water he'd just taken? There was a wet hiccup of a noise from Sephiroth as he managed to cover his mouth, and avoid spraying as Lucrecia made her comment. Finally managing to cleanly swallow instead, he took a breath.

Talk about ripping off his sarcasm along with a few newly healed layers of skin.]

Ri- [-cough] right? Not exactly what I meant but-

[How she knew doesn't matter; it could have been anyone, or even any moogle in the meantime, that might have told her about a night he'd sooner forget existed. He's picked up and moved on from those issues that were bared, however as much that Terra was an ample distraction from the fact that they were still very much there and unresolved.]

I've got to pick up the late shift tonight. [Which, if Lucrecia remembered well enough, means he'll be home for the evening but then has to go back out again much later.]

But that's not a bad idea.

[For her part, she at least attempts to stifle the laughter as she turned away. Hiding the shite-eating grin, but exposing the fingers crossed behind her back just as she was uncrossing them. No, she knew what he had meant, yet she couldn't help but take a rare opportunity to jest at Sephiroth's expense.]

He likely wanted to drum up more interest, but the timing failed save that misadventure. And I wasn't the best at holding my drink, either.

[Sorry, it's practically hereditary. Though at the confirmation of his schedule, she nodded.]

Any preferences?

[He doesn't seem to have much of a sense of humor; something else which is undoubtedly hereditary also. So instead, Sephiroth looks pointedly away over Lucrecia's shoulder at something else so that her amusement doesn't annoy him past the point that he'd be unable to continue conversing with her. Never has been able to take a joke at his expense very well. Especially one from this company, considering their rocky .

Good. The comment about her holding her drink or not doesn't get replied to as Sephiroth firmly keeps the real topic of the conversation at the forefront of their dialog.]

Nothing too heavy, just in case.

[Aside from the fact he very much keeps the high-protein diet up, having to react to potentially troublesome situations on an over-full stomach is just not workable. Never mind, given SOLIDER, the fact he could burn through double portions in half the time.]

[Black was Lydia's normal color, and with her pallor she would stand out more if not for the lack of shadow and silence of the Vampire job. The dark hat gave her some cover, and the concealing clothes. She waited, watching as respects were paid.

A year ago, she had chosen to be one of the heroes who evacuated. One of the last to go, true--but she was not a fighter normally, and had felt evacuating would provide one less target for those coming for the Heroes. That there had still been such a loss of life made her...scared, sad, hopeless.

She was trying hard to not let it overwhelm her--especially since there was nowhere to run, this year. She had a few ideas in her mind, one or two she was seriously considering. Were they 'good' ideas though?

Once the main ceremonies are over, she waits and tries to find a point where the silver-haired Hero is not surrounded so much by others. She probably shouldn't waste his time but he had never talked down to her. Never treated her as less because she was younger than most, or not a fighter. If nothing else, she could ask for his views and opinions on the coming situation, now that it was almost on top of them rather than in letters.]

I was hoping you'd have a minute?

[A bit shyly, hands behind her and half-a-sad smile on her mouth.]

It's not important, if you're too busy. I know you have a lot of preparations going on.

[It's towards the end of the hour or so they've all mostly been congregated around the statue that Lydia will be able to catch Sephiroth on his own. Even during a scheduled moment of respect like this there were runners that occasionally came to deliver reports from various other areas where the Festival was still going on. The Colonel never lets up even a midge of his duty.

It's impossible to tell what he might have been thinking, as a chiseled expression and keen gleaming eyes dropped a little and he turns to look at Lydia as she addressed him. She's taller than she was when they'd first met; teenagers grow up so fast.]

I'm always busy. But I can always spare a minute for anything you have to say, Lydia.

[It's sad, between looking at him and looking at the soldiers and back at the memorial--she completely forgot why she originally made her way over. There's a sheepish grin as this hits her, but she's still appreciative that he'll give her time.]

Y'know, I just completely forgot what I wanted to ask originally.

[Small laugh at that too, as Lydia thinks it's funny...and sad.]

So, until I remember it I'll keep it short. Please be as safe as you can be, kick butt, and come back and tell me the story alright?

[It's a more genuine smile, if still small and sad. But she's being brave, and she's grown-up in ways she never thought she'd have to.]

I'm probably going to prepare and be armed tomorrow. Just in case.

[She's not the first to have done that, not least given the reason for the memorial. Sometimes even his best troops had exactly what they wanted to say to him all clear in their minds but every now and again it's almost as if Sephiroth's presence itself dashes it to the winds.

He doesn't laugh with her, but he does smile. It's a light one, but softens the edges of his face a little; he's gained a lot of compassion for Lydia in the time they've known each other.]

You've decided to stay then. [The smile quivers a little, as that knot of anticipation over what might happen if any Hero were absent festers somewhere in the back of his mind.]

Can't say that I blame you.

[Sephiroth so rarely smiles, it's easy for Lydia to pick up that it faltered for a moment.]

If I didn't think I'd be a distraction, I'd honestly consider going. But there are too many who'd probably try and do stupid things to keep me safe. Not to mention for all that I'm not afraid of adventuring, I'm not a fighter. My skills are basic at best.

[Not that she thought Sephiroth would be one of those, but she was sure Miss K'Pandolu would try to protect her. She didn't want to be the cause of someone else getting hurt, when she'd do better here.]

Besides, if nothing else and...everything goes badly, maybe I can help at least get people out of the way.

I don't blame you. [He repeats-]

-but at the same time I hope that she doesn't do a headcount and react drastically if any of us that are to be absent.

[Given the threat she'd issued. That being said if Palitutu were able to defeat the Heroes of Light then rampage on Aqures regardless. Or maybe it had just been that, a threat to get to them do as she wished...

This time tomorrow, they would know.]

Would you-

[He hesitates, thinking about Terra and wondering if his partner had decided to come out to the Plains finally or not. He's not seen her all day, thus far.]

-if you see Terra, would you look out for her?

[Lydia listens to the concern, and sighs. Frowning, although she's more exhausted at this point.]

Honestly, if Pali-I-wanna-be-all-cryptic-and-not-helpeful wants to take a headcount? I'm not sure anything would satisfy her. At that point she's just being a brat.

[And Lydia had experience dealing with overgrown brats. when he hesitates though, and asks her the request--any annoyance is gone. There is no hesitation as she brings a hand up over her heart. Ensuring she meets his gaze.]

I will look out for if I see her, and do what I can to keep her safe.

[It's about as solemn and serious as he's ever seen the teenager. Heartfelt, and clear that Lydia understands and gets it.]

Re: Gathering in the 13th district

shinrasfinest - 2016-08-17 20:05 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Gathering in the 13th district

deadlyvu - 2016-08-18 00:20 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Gathering in the 13th district

shinrasfinest - 2016-08-18 18:40 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Gathering in the 13th district

deadlyvu - 2016-08-18 22:14 (UTC) - Expand

Gathering in the 13th district

shinrasfinest - 2016-08-19 19:44 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Gathering in the 13th district

deadlyvu - 2016-08-19 20:55 (UTC) - Expand

Gathering in the 13th district

shinrasfinest - 2016-08-19 22:23 (UTC) - Expand

Think we're wrapping up?

deadlyvu - 2016-08-20 03:39 (UTC) - Expand

( paying respects to the dead was something a spiran did best, yuna being no exception. she had been there on the front lines during the battle, run with people that had never made it out of the city— and now here she was, again. bowing in prayer for their souls to make their journey to the afterlife without incident.

by the time the ceremony ended, she had made her way slowly to the man in uniform that she recognized, yet had never seen in such formal dress. )

Are... all these soldiers with you, Sephiroth?

[Esdham's formal colors consisted of a stuff-shouldered jacket with silver trim, along side the various stripes and pins on the breast and the upper part to one sleeve which foretold his rank. He had, indeed, hardly ever worn it except to the various promotion ceremonies -the last time which had been for his own inauguration to Colonel; the highest rank available to one of the foreign division in which Heroes of Light could enroll.

Having spent his own moments at the monument, taking his turn in offering silent contemplation for those that had died, Sephiroth was respectfully stood back from the small gatherings of people which only dwindled in size as citizens then went back to their daily lives...or enjoying the festivities. Having watched Yuna approach, a simple nod, in which small bangs fell forwards and then back around his face, answered her question. ]

They are mostly of my brigade, yes.

[He hadn't made it mandatory, for any of them to attend yet a few had shown up regardless.]

Event || The Festival Of Light

Sephiroth | All Open

Re: Sephiroth | All Open

Sephiroth | All Open

Re: Sephiroth | All Open

Sephiroth | All Open

Re: Sephiroth | All Open

Sephiroth | All Open

WE can wrap this here

Re: Sephiroth | All Open

<3

Re: <3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Gathering in the 13th district

Gathering in the 13th district

Re: Gathering in the 13th district

Gathering in the 13th district

Re: Gathering in the 13th district

Gathering in the 13th district

Re: Gathering in the 13th district

Re: Gathering in the 13th district

Re: Gathering in the 13th district

Re: Gathering in the 13th district

Re: Gathering in the 13th district

Gathering in the 13th district

Re: Gathering in the 13th district

Gathering in the 13th district

Think we're wrapping up?

august 2nd

no subject