Taking responsibility [Semi-Open]

[bloodypast]

Characters: Vincent, Sephiroth, others [Mostly Open; Refer to the top-level Prompts]
Where: Hospital, Aquares Ixen
When: 9th-14th September
Summary: Some aftermath of the fallout from Sephiroth grieving over Terra being in Crystal Stasis. Vincent helped disable Seph, and is now keeping an eye on him. Some people might want to have words with him about how he did so. In between guarding a Weapon for a few shifts...
Warning: Language maybe? Potential angst?



Sept 11th-13th at various times.
Vincent is one of those who is guarding the Ultima WEAPON'S wreckage. These are the only times he won't be found at the Hospital, keeping a guard over Sephiroth. If you want to interact with him, see here.




Sept. 9th-12th

Vincent will stay out of the way of the healers, but otherwise stay in the hospital and keep an eye on Sephiroth as he sleeps off both the post-Job exhaustion and the sleep status. Making sure the silver-haired SOLDIER is healing well, and not being bothered unduly. Occasionally Vincent will head to the Crystal Stasis wing, visiting those among his friends who are there. Ophelia can also be found bringing him a bag with a change of clothes, and a book or two.

He's unlikely to talk in the same room Sephiroth is resting in, but feel free to come check on the SOLDIER, or yell at Vincent, or check on Vincent.




Sept 13th--Closed to Sephiroth
Vincent has spent the past few days keeping watch over and not quite playing guard for Sephiroth, mostly so that when the other does wake--he can apologize. Also to keep others from overwhelming the silver-haired soldier right away. Sadly, Vincent understands heartbreak; he also knows Seph well enough to have some idea of how, hopefully, to help the other start healing.




September 13th, OPEN

Since part of Vincent's assumed role has been gatekeeper for a very private and recovering SOLDIER, he'll be keeping an eye out to ensure the other doesn't get tired, when others DO come to visit him. This is the prompt to use for visiting Sephiroth--and if you want to do so privately, Vincent can wait outside the door.

Comments

Re: September 13th

[bloodypast]

There is an eyebrow raise at the question. Mostly because it should be obvious that--well, no, or why would he be here? It doesn't mean he'll share details though. "Keeping an eye on someone." It's non-specific enough, and Vincent does respect Sephiroth's privacy--what they've managed to keep, anyways.

Besides, Vincent had been known to visit the Crystal Heroes wing occasionally.

[rialynn]

"...Oh." She waited a while to see if he had anything to add to that, but once the silence settled over them like the world's most uncomfortable blanket, she got the impression that he didn't really want to be bothered right now. Rialynn glanced at the door, then at Vincent, and took a large step to scoot herself right on by. "I'll leave you to it, then. Let me know if you want any coffee or anything."

[bloodypast]

He certainly hadn't meant to be unfriendly towards her, even if he was inclined to be private about his own reasons for being there. "My apologies." A nod of his head, and there was curiosity in crimson-eyes. Sorry for his rudeness, even if he still found himself surprised to be well-regarded by the bard. "You are...well enough, after the events of the past month?"

[rialynn]

Apologies? For what? Rialynn stopped to look back at him, and scratched the back of her head. She couldn't really tell what he was thinking, but it seemed like maybe he did want some company after all. "Yeah, I'm okay," she replied, reversing her course so she could help him hold up the wall with her back. "We had a couple of oddball adventures, but things worked out fine in the end. What about you?" she asked, lifting her eyebrows as she glanced up at him and gulped down her coffee.

[bloodypast]

"I could've done without the chase." Even if some of the worlds and things they'd discovered were interesting. "I'm also far from the only one who finds it annoying to be constantly tested and disbelieved, and chastised, when we seek help--while also being expected to know just what to do, simply because of our uninvited and unwanted roles." A hint of annoyance, but the game really did wear itself out a long time ago.

"It could've been worse though. The sanctuary was one of two options, according to a program on her computer."

[rialynn]

"Yeah, it's frustrating," Rialynn agreed, staring down at her coffee cup. "It's hard to record history when there's still so much we don't know. I'm not sure how much help I'll be playing Hero anyway...I'm a bard. I write songs. I didn't even have any special powers until I finally relented and asked Cid to put some jobs on my crystal." Because she couldn't just sit around and do nothing but write down people's stories. She could do that while defending her friends too.

His last statement pulled her attention back up to him, and there was a flicker of worry in her thin brows. "What? Why, what was the other option?" Rialynn had never dealt with computers before, and didn't recognize the coded language they utilized, so this was all news to her.

[bloodypast]

"One of the lines of code indicated transport to a location based upon whether the Ultima Weapon was on, or off. If it was on--the Edge of Madness, if it was off--Order's Sanctuary." Vincent intoned, informing her more than anything else. "One had to poke through the program to find the lines of coding, but it was found in Palitutu's secret lab."

[rialynn]

Rialynn's mouth pursed into a small 'o' of understanding...shortly before the full realization of his words set in. "So because we defeated the weapon, we went to the place where we wouldn't get mauled by those weird purple zombie things?" She held her coffee cup with both hands, looking more than a little nervous. "Then...in that vision, where we opened a portal to the rift, we must have gone to the wrong place!"

She didn't know much about computers...or anything at all, honestly...but if she thought of it as a story with two diverging paths, it made it a little easier for her to understand.

"Um...aren't they working on a project at the lab that'll open that rift? Maybe they should...I don't know...smash it together with Palitutu's code...thing?"

[bloodypast]

Vincent watched Rialynn and her imagination go wild. A hint of amusement in his expression, as she speculated before he shook his head. "We don't know for certain what the Edge of Madness is, other than a location. It would seem there are multiple places within the rift."

A shrug, before he continued. "I was not party to the vision, although I have had parts of it described to me." In the vision, Vincent had been one of those to die, after the rift opened. Seeing Sephiroth go down had triggered Chaos's release, and he'd done his best to hold the line against the manikins--and perished doing so. "If you're concerned though, I would ask the scientists. Jade and Dr. Crescent were both present when we investigated Palitutu's lab. Are they also working on the rift project?"

So curiously formal there, using Lucrecia's title. Then again, saying her first name often revealed too much of how Vincent felt--in his own opinion. Much as he had been in another life; when discussing her professionally she was Dr. Crescent, not Lucrecia.

[rialynn]

"True, but with a name like that?" Rialynn pulled her head back, brows shooting up into the edge of her bandanna. "You know it's not going to be anything pleasant, especially if the place we found was supposed to be the nicer of the two options."

She finished off her coffee, pushing away from the wall to deposit her cup in the trash before quickly returning to assume wallflower position.

"I'm...not sure if they are or not. I don't really visit the lab much, I don't know how any of that stuff works," she admitted. "I know who Jade is, at least, but I don't think I've met any Dr. Crescent before. Who's he?"

[bloodypast]

"She." Vincent corrected, before continuing. "Dr. Lucrecia Crescent is a fellow Gaian." So another from the same world as himself, Sephiroth, Reno, Cloud, and too many in Stasis. "I don't visit the lab much either."

Too many bad memories--and the only reason he really visited now was often to be sure Lucrecia actually left. To get sleep and food, and OUT of the lab. So not dissimilar to his role in her life previously, though circumstances were so different now.

"I try to read the reports though, to at least be aware of what's going on though I have little interest in researching or working on the projects myself."

[rialynn]

Rialynn had a good hear for music. She also had a good ear for people's voices and reading the emotions behind them...most of the time, anyway. She could detect the quiet affection reflected in the way Vincent said the woman's name, enough that Rialynn eyed him a little more curiously.

It wasn't really like her to pry if she thought her questions would be rebuffed, but Vincent seemed more quiet than secretive.

"Are you two close?" she asked, testing her boundaries to see where they might lie.

[bloodypast]

Giving it a moment's thought, Vincent really wasn't surprised at her perceptiveness. Rialynn was a bard, and observed a lot; at times she seemed to be less experienced, but she was certainly not dumb. How did he answer that, though?

Vincent could be both quiet AND secretive at times, and he doubted Rialynn would spread gossip or ask annoying questions. But he didn't exactly want to fill her in on all of the details and complications. "We have history." Softly, not necessarily indicating it was a 'bad' thing.

Continuing a moment later, even more quietly. "It's complicated, albeit our time here has allowed a measure of healing." A faint sigh, crimson-eyes closing. "She was my primary concern, in terms of keeping an eye out, during the Ultima battle." Rialynn had asked him to watch over Ramza, and he had done his best. But he had also made no secret that he had another priority.

[rialynn]

"...Ohhhhhhh. Oh. Sorry about that, then, I wouldn't have asked you to look after Ramza if I'd known." Though he'd spoken little, he'd told her quite a bit if she paid attention to what he'd said. If they were healing, then they'd had a pretty tumultuous past. Still, it was good that they were on the mend.

She dug the toe of her boot against the ground with a little smile. "It sounds like you're pretty serious about her. Does she know how much you still care?" Because while it seemed obvious to her, as an outsider, that sort of thing had a tendency to go over the heads of those who were involved.

[bloodypast]

Vincent shook his head, and there might've been amusement in crimson eyes as he reopened them to look at her. "You had no way to know, and I am still sorry that I was unable to help you more." Part of his apology to her earlier, when she'd first come up to him. Vincent took his obligations seriously. He always had, which is why he tried to take on only those that he chose.

Does she know?--Lucrecia most certainly knew that he still cared, although to what depth? That was less clear. "Part of the healing has involved us talking, and we've both been hurt-" Badly and both were reluctant to hurt each other again. "before. It's complicated."

[rialynn]

"Don't be sorry," she folded her arms, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "I should be trying to get stronger so I can protect him myself. He's already an amazing warrior, so he might not even need me. But...I don't know...I still want to repay him for all of his help."

That was about as much as she was comfortable sharing for the moment. She glanced up at Vincent, listening as he spoke. It seemed there was a lot he wanted to discuss, but perhaps he just worried that he didn't want to burden anyone else. It was hard to say. But, like everything else worth learning, all she had to do was ask.

"...What happened? I don't mind listening. Doesn't seem like there's anyone else around to eavesdrop anyway."

Stories will def. come, but in a dif. log mebbe?

[bloodypast]

A slow blink, and Vincent tilted his head a moment as he regarded her. "Does Ramza have any idea of your feelings?" Quietly voiced--as she said, it was unlike anyone was around to overhear.

Shaking his head slightly. "Another time, we can swap stories. For now I'm trying to dwell on the present, than the past." But he was willing to share--which was new and progress. "I do not know him well, but I doubt Ramza thinks there is anything you need to repay him for."

Sounds good to me!

[rialynn]

Rialynn was silent. Ordinarily she might have blushed or wildly denied harboring any sort of romantic feelings for anyone. Instead her gaze just dropped slightly, and there was a slightly guilty hunch to her shoulders. "...It doesn't really matter."

What she felt, if it really was love, meant nothing if he didn't see her that way. And she wasn't even sure she wanted him to fall in love with her. What would she even do? The world was going to end, and even if it didn't, he belonged with his sister, living freely without attachments.

It was a sign that she shouldn't press Vincent for more details either, she was sure. "The fact that he thinks like that is why I need to repay him. He does so much for everyone. I don't think I've ever heard him ask for anything." She shook her head, still avoiding his quiet scarlet gaze. "I owe him."

He's slowly learning how to have 'friends' again--so Rialynn is welcome to become one of those.

[bloodypast]

Vincent let her speak, listening attentively and observing her while she spoke. He did avert his gaze, so she wasn't quite being so scrutinized. "I understand very well how you feel, if it makes any difference." Sincerity in his voice. No judgement, but that understanding and a hint of camaraderie if she wished to take advantage of it.

Her words told him more than enough about how she felt.

"Even if there is nothing you feel you can obviously do for him, then simply being there for him will be enough for him. From what I can tell anyways." A one-shouldered shrug.

A longer pause, then he tilted his head down and hid a bit more in his cowl. "It clearly matters to you, and if you wish to ever speak, I will listen." A bit awkward obviously, but still offered genuinely for her.

How about a nice scholar instead? C_C

[rialynn]

"Oh, that's not going to be a problem," she said quickly, jerking her head up. "I just...ugh." Her hands rose, hovered uselessly in the air, then dropped back to her sides. "I just don't think romance is the right thing for either of us. The timing is all off, there's so much to do in this world...and it would definitely compromise my ability to perform songs and ballads without tainting them with my own emotional bias."

That being said, her gaze returned to her boots. "That's all there really is to discuss. But thanks for offering to listen anyway." Maybe she was still in denial, but honestly? Good. This world was complicated enough as it stood, the last thing either of them needed was more personal drama.

"I just want to be his friend. That's all."

Shush, she's a friend.

[bloodypast]

Vincent wasn't sure if he should push--since it seemed like Rialynn was protesting a little much--or let it lie for now. A few heartbeats, before he nodded. "I suspect he considers you that already." Reassuring--and it was odd to Vincent. Not used to having friends himself, although he was learning.

"Did you want to start learning about the language of flowers?" Moving away from the wall, willing to show her those he'd lain at the feet of friend's statues. His own way of remembering, even if it was hard.

:X

[rialynn]

Considering how uncomfortable she looked, not pressing the issue was probably the wise decision. She glanced up at him as he gave his quiet reassurance, mouth pursed in thought...then she smiled faintly. "Probably. Thanks." Even so, she couldn't shake the feeling that she really did owe him more than what she'd been able to give, and the sensation refused to leave her.

What he said next, however, caused the young bard to perk up significantly. "Flowers have a language? ...Now that you mention it, I heard that was something nobles did, but I never really had the opportunity to delve into it too much." The only noble she'd known wasn't really the flower type of man, nor was she comfortable about learning anything more from him.

She nodded, curious, and followed after him. She crouched to squat on her heels to better look at the flowers, resting her hands on her knees.

I think this is a good place to end it?

[bloodypast]

"I'm only familiar with the bare basics." Amusement in his voice as he lead the way to those of his friends in stasis he'd left flowers by. "But it's interesting, as it was developed as a discreet code to provide a veneer of innocence and ignorance as to what was going on from prying chaperones."

Leading her to Yuffie's statue, then Aerith's, and Tifa's--allies and friends from his world, explaining as he moved.