#10 | Picking up, carrying on-

[shinrasfinest]

Characters: Sephiroth, Terra, B-04 House mates & Open-prompts
Where/When: 6th - 14th May: Republic of Esdham, then Aqures Ixen.
Summary:
[Esdham] 1) Terra goes looking for Sephiroth after the last correspondence 2) Open-prompt for anyone else looking for him or even just visiting
Esdham.
[Aqures Ixen] 1) Sephiroth returns 'home' 2) Open-prompt, soul-searching at the Crystal of Fire
Warnings: Most-likely Angst throughout, and wordy prose beneath the cuts.

[6th May Esdham: Terra]

Compared to Aqures Ixen, it was the height of summer in the region of Esdham already. Its climate drier and hotter on account of the Republic's proximity to the great Roalian desert. It might be a small wonder how any soldier might be able to train, let alone serve there at all in defense of the mostly now-repaired stronghold. Indeed, there were times in which cases of dehydration and heat-sickness were quite common but it was mostly the newer recruits that were as yet unaccustomed to it.

 

While it had been relatively painless and quite easy for Terra to have boarded the airship to take her to Esdham on 5th May, pinning down exactly where the man she had wanted to desperately talk to was not such. Considering the military compound within which the barracks were located, where undoubtedly Sephiroth spent his downtime, was off-limits to civilians there was little that Terra might be able to do other than to hang around and wait for him to come out; surely he had to come out of there at some point, right?

Not to mention that the first lead she obtained by being approached by a returning solider while she waited at the gate, had sent her across town to the site where the barracks had been before the Battle of Esdham -where Sephiroth had indeed been in residence before the fight- which were now nothing more than charred patches of otherwise barren land, fenced off and locked down tightly. Who'd have thought just wanting to visit her friend might be wrought with such difficulty? She'd be forgiven for wondering if she should give up, by the time evening rolled around.

 

Early the next morning however, it seemed that Tempest managed to track down Spencer at the mognet office. The small bespectacled moogle came in with Tempest to the room where Terra were staying. Spencer chewed on his bottom lip and joined his stubby paws in front of him, his red pom-pom going limper at the idea that he'd come along so that Tempest could bother her Hero at such a very early hour. She'd come all this way though, to try to speak to Sephiroth and considering how obviously he'd now gone about annexing himself from contact with all the other Heroes, Spencer at least wanted to talk to her himself first.

 

--

[Until 12th May Esdham: Open]

Whilst on duty, Spencer is seldom seen with Sephiroth these days whether by choice or by direct order. As such, the silver haired hero might well be overlooked by those who don't know him. As the various drills and shifts might see him with a partner or a small squad of four patrolling the streets or sometimes even guarding the perimeter of Esdham itself for long-hours at a time. Occasionally even pounding the pavement as part of a larger squad as the various training officers urged larger troupes of soldiers through the streets on their intense fitness regimen. Dressed down some and with vests sticking to them in the heat.

 

Still, sometimes Spencer might be spotted lingering somewhere nearby on the route, forever diligent to watch over Sephiroth even if he didn't seem to want him around much, of late. For anyone whom might be looking for other Heroes of Light, though not familiar with Sephiroth himself, it might beg the question why the moogle might be there and not busying around delivering mail.

Off duty, Sephiroth spent a lot of time on his own -his room mate often worked opposite shifts to him- at the barracks with his books, notes, letters and Spencer's occasional company. However, once every so often the four walls of the room became too cramped and he did venture out into Esdham itself- having learned from other comrades of a small fitness studio tucked away near to the Coliseum where he could go to train for himself in addition to the brutal drills that had become very much part of his daily bread once more. Always he would stop to take in the view of the Coliseum, to appreciate the repair work and to remember the fires that he had battled within, on his way passed. Never minding the locals who might glance for longer, or look back over him, his face well known for its heroism at that time. He'd never used that staff lodge invitation that they had awarded him either- hadn't had the time.

--

[13th May Aqures Ixen B-04: Open to House mates/visitors]

Perhaps he could be forgiven for having lost track of time somewhat by the time that the month passed into it's second week. But the date for the meeting at which he hoped to talk to Biggs and Cid, specifically, was approaching and as was always inevitable Sephiroth would eventually have to return to Aqures Ixen for one reason or another. There could be a new collection of faces, by now, but where they might have appeared -it could only have been Trano or Flence; the nearest to the Water or Wind Crystals- logical deduction. He couldn't help but to shudder inside at the too-real experiences he still recalled from the dream of his doppelganger at the Water Temple. The extent to which it still made him feel sick would be something for him to deal with alone.

 

He hadn't passed the threshold of his residence in Aqures Ixen though, for well over a month. With the large military rucksack on his back Sephiroth let Spencer go ahead first, the small bespectacled moogle quickly heading for the kitchen to take stock of one of the most important rooms. Not more than two strides in though, Sephiroth's booted feet came to an abrupt stop. Something felt different, and he wrinkled his nose up as if it were an unpleasant smell. It wasn't a smell though, more like a sense that he were invading someone else's abode that he couldn't force himself to ignore. If instincts served him correctly, it was hardly just himself and Tifa in residence here anymore.

--

[14th May Aqures Ixen 3rd District/Crystal of Fire: Open]
Who Am I?

Sephiroth opened his eyes and drew his hand away from where it had been planted in silence, for a good few minutes, upon the surface of the Crystal of Fire. On the rare occasion that he had visited the Crystal in the past, quite often it had delivered an odd sort of comfort- for a moment he felt closer to, and therefore more rooted to the Planet he had left behind in being brought here. It had always helped Sephiroth to ground himself, to relight that spark within him to keep going regardless of the large crushing obstacles Crystallis invariably dropped in his path.

The last one of which -that dream- he'd not only stumbled over, but landed on his face and then rolled over himself a few times before dragging himself back onto his feet. Much like when he had broken his leg though, sometimes the pieces didn't quite fit back together just right and, despite how he'd deny it, mentally Sephiroth was exhausted as a result. Too many long shifts, too many sleepless nights, way too many soul-searching questions which he couldn't answer alone but at the same time felt averse to reach out and burden other Heroes with.

Hence why he was having a problem to connect with the Crystal the way that he had before.

That boy-

Monster.
Was that really the truth? If that boy were the reincarnated soul of Sephiroth from the future, then who exactly did that make him?

Comments

[shinrasfinest]

Rikku's quick bounce-back at his first comment about being unable to train her was for the most part ignored, yet, it was obvious that the girl had the enthusiasm and it didn't seem she were even a shadow of the girl who might have broken under his gaze earlier in their conversation. It was a little disconcerting. Sephiroth valued honesty above most other morals and it made him wonder which Rikku was the real one and what the reasons could be for her putting up the opposite facade in either circumstance.

For attention? For guidance? It cast something of a dark light on his own behaviour of late and some similarities there, easily seen for what they were, were quickly used in Sephiroth's re-composure. Like a quick shift in the winds, he spotted the signs of the unstable Rikku peek out again as she finally seemed to understand what he'd meant with those words. Yet he wasn't sure she did understand the direct reference he were making to himself; no matter though really, they were hardly acquaintances.

It was probably better, in the long run. Besides, then finally the penny dropped and Sephiroth smiled lightly at her reaction. Still, not one to go back on his word once given he canted his silver topped head at her just once to verify...and then the corners of his nose creased up a little at the mention of her Jobs.

"Assassin? That's not a Job that I've even heard of."

[victorix]

Rikku was the type to wear herself on her sleeve, she might have grown up with con artists but Sephiroth would see before long that the girl was an honest person. She was mercurial by nature - but not manipulative. Having had every intention to respect the SOLDIER if he simply did not want to train her, she just could not be silent when he seemed to indicate she could not learn. The Al Bhed was head strong and always someone who expressed her opinions. Not wanting to train her was one thing - but the optimist always believed things could change for the better. It frustrated her to no end when people did not.

For all her flighty, restless nature the Al Bhed was very observant of others. However, she was blindsighted in that she tended to see only the good. Most especially when she looked up to someone. There had not even been an instant when Rikku considered the man might have been saying he was incapable of training her because he felt incapable due to his own failings. People like Sephiroth, simply did not fail in her eyes.

A gloved hand rubs at the back of her head. "Yeah. It's a combination Job. When you reach your top level of Thief and Ninja, you get extra skills as an assasin. I don't know...if you had or heard about any of the dreams some heroes had?" If the man had not, he surely would. "In the dream, I was one." Strange to have abilities for what felt like years, and then wake up without them.

[shinrasfinest]

Failure was a sour dish that Sephiroth were still getting used to. He wasn't used to tasting it, much less having somewhat prepared it himself with his own actions before - or actions in the future, however you wanted to look at it. Being very much the type of man who prided himself on being as fully informed as possible so that failure simply hadn't been possible. Rikku's slanted, optimistic view of him had been the accurate opinion of him, the whole world over.

"I see." He felt the urge to also pass a hand through his hair as she rubbed at her head, but refrained and seemed to push his shoulders back just a fraction more; clinging to his haughty confidence a little where it simply was crumbling away from under him.

"It rings a bell." And it did, even if he had to afford the suggestion more thought than he used to have to give details within that dream. It seemed that certain things were consciously retained easier than others, plus it had been a while ago already. Strange, how the mundane details would be the easiest to forget. Sephiroth chewed lightly, but discreetly,on the inside corner of his mouth as he tried to recall more about so-called 'combination' Jobs.

"But it doesn't. I know that I-" A rough grunt changed his word. "-my doppelganger had a very different set of Jobs."

[victorix]

So Sephiroth had dreamed. Rikku found herself wondering, if he'd been among those sea of bodies. Disturbing as it was, the dream was easier dealt with than the events of Rikku's imprisonment had been. The Spiran was used to dealing with death, especially en mass. She moves her weight a little from foot to foot, her head tilting slightly. Not missing how the man chose to distance himself from the events by drawing a clear line between himself and the doppelganger. For all she missed in her optimistic naivete, the girl was observant. On Rikku's end, she felt older in the dream but not very different from who she was now. She did not cling to the distinction.

"Well, look at the two of us." The faintest of smiles, although her eyes still shine betraying her earlier breakdown - it was clear she was trying hard to move past it. "You," She pauses, corrects herself, "He would, wouldn't he?"

[shinrasfinest]

Separating the two of them entirely, himself now and his future-self was the only way that Sephiroth had managed to put any of the events dreamed behind him. He wasn't that man who was so full of hate, who played up to everyones expectation of the model hero and then crushed all of their loyalty underfoot as he leaped for his greater destiny. An odd thought passed fleetingly; if he'd had his coveted wing would he have had the reach to succeed. It was dismissed as soon as his thoughts landed that way, but the slight drop to his expression was notable.

For a few moments it was as if Sephiroth were looking at the floor through Rikku while he continued to gather his thoughts.

"He knew a great deal more than I do." Was spoken with an obvious amount of care.