melodiesoflife | Event || Doppelgangers

Event || Doppelgangers

Characters: All characters who signed-up for the event.
Where: Dreams.
When: Overnight from April 16th to April 17th.
Summary: The Heroes of Light have a shared dream— They find themselves in the body of a Hero of Light from two thousand years ago, both witnessing events and reenacting things that happened back then. But these Heroes of Light aren't just anybody; they are people from their homeworlds... And sometimes themselves. Please refer to the second OOC Post for details and plotting.
Warning: Battles, death, tragedies, bad things overall.

Common Dream || Mingle

Group A || The Dissensions
Group B || The Hacking
Group C || The Betrayal
Group D || The Enemy Within
Group E || The Plan
Group F || The Other Way
Group G || The End

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[And said HIM, as if on cue, steps into Cloud's line of sight also to look at the map. If Sephiroth did know that Cloud is there then he's not showing any sign of it outwardly. Besides, what has he left to say to an old enemy?

Old..enemy...

Cloud. The name is there as soon as thoughts drift in that direction and unlike a certain vague awareness of something being missing about himself, Sephiroth has never forgotten. Will never forget.

It's been eight years...and I can still remember how it felt last time. And from that thought memories flash at the surface of Sephiroth's consciousness as if they had been yesterday.

Still he refrains from shaking his head, barely, as Sephiroth inspects the various details of the advance of the crystallization on the map before him. Aging yet still precisely sharp intellect turning over the final details of their plan.]

[Clouds eyes narrowed as he spotted Sephiroth, hatred boring into his back. It was bad enough that he was running around free here when he should be dead. The man had been summoned to this world years before he had, so by the time Cloud tried to warn everyone of what a monster he was it was too late. Too many people trusted him and it was Cloud who had to slowly make people believe.]

{Monster? What are you talking about? What did he do?}

Ngh!

[Memories. Nibelheim. Fire. The battle inside the reactor. Aerith's death. Meteor.]

Stop it!

[He tried to mutter it as best he could. Sephiroth was trying to get into his mind again. He hadn't since they arrived here but clearly he was getting in because of all the stress he was under. That had to be it.

The only other voices he ever heard in his head were...no...he'd dealt with that. He was dealing with that.

Pushing away from the wall, Cloud marched over to where Sephiroth was standing. He wouldn't let him out of his sight if he could help it. Not with this world on the line.]

It must tear you up. Being the last hope of humanity and this world.

[There are many skills that Sephiroth had recovered for himself by way of his Custom Jobs but that particular connection with Cloud simply didn't exist as they did in Crystallis. The legacy of Jenova just didn't exist within the parameters of this world, no matter how Sephiroth has cultivated something of a similar method through use of the Crystals they all wield. If there is to be any manipulation going on, Sephiroth had to do it the old fashioned way.

Which is why it's so important to maintain that Cloud has got him all wrong.]

{Stop...what?}

[He looks to the side as Cloud approaches, canting his head down and back in the other mans direction before looking away and back up to the digital map. He should have known there would be a comment passed.]

Come now there is no need for such a toxic comment like that.

[Cloud glares but keeps his voice down. He hoped that the man hadn't heard his outburst but clearly his hearing was on point today. He doesn't chase it down though, the last thing Sephiroth needs to hear is that he's hearing voices. Give him more ammo to use against him in front of the others even if it isn't him.

And Cloud doesn't have the liberty to give HIM the benefit of the doubt.]

{Why....why do I hate him so much}

[Cloud pushes the voice aside again and leans against the console in front of the map.]

Only you would think it was. You have the others here fooled but I know what it is you want. Even if the crystal growth is stopped, they still will have to deal with you. [He stands up straighter and looks Sephiroth in the eyes before speaking a bit louder so that anyone standing nearby can hear.] I'm going along with you on your mission. I've already told the others I want to try to make up for being so untrusting of you in the past. You really HAVE become a hero.

[Internal smirk. Your move.]

[Hasn't Cloud learned yet, Sephiroth's hearing is always on point. Much like everything else about both his self and spacial awareness. It's a case of having to be in lieu of the supernatural parameters he had last time he had a body, and he's been doing this for a while now.

A rush of hatred is blinding in its intensity, in reaction to the bait that Cloud clearly lays with all the discretion of a bright pink neon-sign. Words can't describe how quickly and completely it blots out and buries the smaller consciousness piggy-backing off Sephiroth at this point in time.

Go on, give me more of a reason, Cloud. It's only going to make the end of this so much sweeter.

Outwardly, Sephiroth remains calm and collected, not so different to how he appears most of the time 2000 years in the future. A quick glance behind Cloud, a passing survey of the room where many others might be lurking in the back watching them. Watching him watching Cloud, or perhaps the other way around. Before standing back, discreetly clearing his throat and straightening his posture again, turning more to face Cloud in the process.]

It will be a pleasure to have you along, for once. I've heard that you're a credit to any team.

[The eye contact he sternly holds with Cloud is flawless in the way it is controlled. Sephiroth has had many years to perfect the act of only showing what is necessary facially.]

[Cloud is the one who is having trouble keeping his emotions in check. The rage boils so close to the surface it's a wonder it hasn't popped. The temptation to run the silver haired man through with his sword and damn the consequences is tempting to the point of even sacrificing this world.

{You'd do it. You'd burn this all down just to get revenge on him.}

'I beat him. Twice. He should be gone now. He said he'd never be a memeory. He has no right to be a reality! Not anymore!'

{He was your hero!}

'And if I killed him right the first time then maybe none of this would ever have happened.'

{Stop it!}

Cloud pounded his fist onto the console. His breathing was hard as he tried to push the voice in his head aside. He couldn't help but wear his heart on his sleeve, but at this rate he was at risk of falling to Sephiroth's side of the line. He couldn't give in to his tricks.

He straightened up, closing his eyes and took a breath. He couldn't trust his mind to not betray him. He had to follow what was important. Get Tifa through this. Worry about everyone else later.]

Of course. Northern Crater wasn't an easy expedition, but we got through....But you know that.

[The obvious fact that Cloud doesn't have such a good handle on his emotions when compared to Sephiroth is exactly why the vast majority of other Heroes are more inclined to believe in the strong, cool and collected warrior when compared to the bear-with-a-sore-bum that Cloud appeared to be. It almost came across as jealousy at times, which just suited Sephiroth's purpose more.

Sephiroth even jumps, ever-so slightly at the violent reaction Cloud delivers to the console. He needs to be so careful, as despite all the Custom Jobs he had equipped already if Cloud decides to end him here it really would all be over. With a carefully crafted edge of concern Sephiroth watches silently as Cloud pulls himself back into order.

Never mind how he's already laughing heartily inside. And then Cloud follows with that comment. The urge to twist his smile into a knowing smirk is heavily repressed, instead Sephiroth takes a step back and makes it look as if he's taking a broader look at the whole map. Answering Cloud as if they were discussing the weather; that casually.]

Of course.

{Northern Crater. My Promised Land. The Reunion.}

And who knows, maybe after all this is done- we even might be able to revisit there.

[Careful. Careful. That's just about as close to a hint as Cloud is allowed to get. Expressed as if it were a keen memory of a well-enjoyed vacation, or something.]

[Cloud glared at Sephiroth. The man was a wall of ice that rivaled Gaea's Cliff.The man was always so cool and in control that Cloud mistook that faint twitch for an act as well. The temptation to put Sephiroth to the sword here and now remained strong, but it would turn the other heroes against him in an instant, if not against each other.

The fact that leaving Sephiroth alive was the less harmful option hurt him to his soul.

He shot all the foul language he could through his eyes and then turned to return to his room. He needed to prepare. His gut was telling him something was going to happen and this would all be settled one way or another.

Fishing his crystal from his pocket, he rolled the pitch black gem around in his fingers. He recalled the day that he handed the black materia over to him.

'No...never again. I will never be a puppet again. If he pulls the strings, I'm going to do more than just cut them.']

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Event || Doppelgangers

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