#11 | Everything will be alright

[shinrasfinest]

Characters: Sephiroth (Open/Closed as sub-comments)
Where/When: 19th June; Aqures Ixen, 21st June; Esdham 
Summary: Having returned from Crystal Stasis, there is a lot to touch base with. As prompted in the sub-comments. 
Warnings: N/A (Yet? Will update as needed)

Prologue

Sephiroth had come home from the hospital only briefly the previous day. Without even much of a glance around for his housemates he'd crossed the familiar threshold feeling an odd sort of deja vu that could only be compared to when one went away for an extended vacation and then returned back to their more permanent abode. 

But really, he knew he hadn't been anywhere, even if his body were still adjusting as if he had been returned from Gaia once more. Exactly like when he had first arrived in Aqures; movement felt sluggish, awareness was blunted. It seemed even breathing seemed to take more effort. Having experienced a 'drop' from mako on previous occasions, though, as well as following some advise from the nurses at the hospital too Sephiroth knew that soon the haze which he currently perceived as a great weakness would lift as if it had never been there. Just as that tell-tale gleam would again fade form his eyes. 

He'd confiscated the bathroom and then, looping his long silver hair -restored in thickness and length- up and around in a loose knot he'd headed out again for the Military Airport where he knew there was work to be done; leaving his leather coat hung on the back of the wardrobe door, the pants neatly folded on the end of his bed and the SOLDIER motif of his belt set atop it as if it were some sort of ritual.

It had been into the early hours of the next morning before Sephiroth had retired home again. 

>Prompt #1: Back into the regime
>Prompt #2: Visiting someone 
>Prompt #3: Touching Base 

Comments

Prompt #1: Back into the regime [Morning 19th June // Around Aqures Ixen, In/near House B-04] - OPEN

[shinrasfinest]

Yet he still woke early.

Morning stretches followed by a few short circuits of rapid exercise in his room with the door shut soon opened again so he might get his usual morning slot in the bathroom; unless things had changed in his absence. It was almost like putting on an old well-worn skin again how he fell into the same mundane routine and was soon again dressed in a light gray vest and loose pants before breakfasting. Even Spencer knew the timing so well now that the bowl of simple dried fruits and grain was already sat on the side in the kitchen as he came down. Very rarely did he sit at the table, preferring to lean against the counter-top to eat it, while the gleaming mass of silver hair all pulled over one shoulder finished drying.

A good breakfast was important.

The Blitzball Cup was still on, so that meant that the favored route of his morning jog had to be adjusted. He could hardly cut through the 10th district with all that commotion going on and even early in the day the area was relatively swarming with people. It was a shame, as sometimes one of the centres there had served him well as an indoor-place for him to continue his workout; not while the Cup was going on though.

Spencer happily took up the responsibility of spotting him again though, flying off in front a fair distance at a time, checking the next street, timing him. Yet sometimes also refusing to continue until Sephiroth would pause to catch his breath for a few moments. Long, deep breaths to slow the heart rate back down a little again, a sip of water so as not to dehydrate. The route had to take a longer way around to avoid the majority of the crowds, but being the test of stamina as well would no doubt help him to re-learn the limitations of his own physicality again.

They settled eventually in a small park on the border between the 7th and 8th Districts for the more static-type parts of a regime that he might well have almost forgotten. Fierce crunches, and even simple chest-press exercises were made difficult after such the punishing ordeal of his jog before. Still, even on the slow walk back to the residential district, Sephiroth found that overall, he already felt better. Clearer in both body and mind.

Re: Prompt #1: Back into the regime [Morning 19th June // Around Aqures Ixen, In/near House B-04] -

[woman_of_strife]

Tifa had only woken up a few moments ago, hearing the rustling of footsteps and food being prepared across the hall from the room she'd only just finally finished furnishing. When she heard the front door close, she'd only just gotten her clothing on to peek out and see what had been happening. Unsure if she'd missed either Alice or the other house mate, Tifa stepped out to find the hallway leading to the kitchen vacant, yet the lingering smell of a fresh breakfast hung like a dense blanket of flavors and scents that almost threaten to lull her back to sleep.

Before she could satisfy her rumbling stomach, she needed to address a few things around the house. Opening shutters, letting the natural light pour in to bathe the entire house with light, the basic routine she'd kept up even before moving in to keep a close eye on her conscripted fellow. By the time she was finished getting the house ready for the day, her stomach felt as if a pit might be forming around what emptiness she already felt.

Tifa was halfway through cooking some pork in an already used pan when she heard the front door open. Turning her head to peak through the doorway, she stepped out with a towel between her grease covered hands as she wiped them clean, spotting the silver-haired man as he'd come back home. The curious woman tilted her head to the side, almost birdlike in how she moved, flashing a rather tight smile to see the man with his moogle.

"Welcome home.. Guess you were the one who woke up earlier?"

Prompt #1: Back into the regime [Later Morning 19th June // House B-04]

[shinrasfinest]

With a good workout always came the good endorphins and if there were ever a time where Sephiroth could exceed his base-level of confidence it would be after such a workout. The walk back across Aqures had given him ample time to cool down, re-hydrate and stretch muscles -particularly that jelly-leg feeling- that he wouldn't ache so much later on.

That sense of confidence might as well have ghosted his physical step back into the house. There was always an afterglow that any person held about them after a good session but with Sephiroth, perhaps not so unexpectedly, it was taken to a whole new level. Not only had he needed the workout, he had thoroughly enjoyed himself doing it. Made it all worthwhile.

Most of his breathlessness had worn out by the time he got in, but he did still need to catch his breath a little. The dull aches he felt promised that they might well tighten up if he didn't keep moving too. Recovery was a thing again, that was a fact. Sephiroth ran a hand back and pulled the band holding his hair all back, shaking it all out behind him before noticing Tifa as she stepped out from the kitchen.

"Quite a bit earlier, yes." He glanced around momentarily as the cloak of silver settled around his shoulders before falling back- a few threads getting caught on warmed deltoids. He listened as if he could hear that the other two housemates might be home or not. A light 'hm' followed s he came back to the fact he couldn't be that perceptive anymore.

Re: Prompt #1: Back into the regime [Later Morning 19th June // House B-04]

[woman_of_strife]

She clears her throat, turning her head to the side as she removes her eyes from the sight of the man letting his hair loose. Sarcasm was always the choice mechanism to clear the air, so it's no surprise that Tifa speaks in such a tone to the man as she tries to keep the conversation going.

"Must be nice to wake up and not worry too much about appearances. If you've got a second, can you follow me into the kitchen?"

She turns, her own hair swaying behind her as it remains tied with the band of red that she'd always kept it together with. When she walks back into the kitchen, she glances over at the stove top before she makes her way across the room to the solitary open window at the other side. A plate has already been set there, utensils left as if some one would be arriving shortly to sit and eat. The smell of pork fills the furnished room, hanging above them as the fresh catch of food is being prepared on the pan.

Tifa crosses her arms, lifting her eyes up to look at the entryway behind her, hoping that Sephiroth does as requested so that she might have a word.

Prompt #1: Back into the regime [Later Morning 19th June // House B-04]

[shinrasfinest]

"Hm." A non-committal noise in reply, really.

Sephiroth never did bite very well to such light sarcasm from someone hardly more than an acquaintance, before discarding it. Besides why shouldn't he be proud of an appearance that he'd spent most of his life defining. It wasn't his problem that Tifa might be jealous, even less of his problem if she might still be harboring the notion that he needed to be watched.

He handed the mostly-empty water bottle to Spencer, who dutifully flitted around Tifa to go and wash it out...though not without a momentary pause to survey how the kitchen looked like it was well in use for a meal and not just for one person, either.

Sephiroth conceded to follow Tifa into the kitchen and then across the room. The smell hit like walking through an invisible wall and -though he kept a good handle on it- pulled on his stomach instantly just by the smell. Beneath his slightly damp vest muscles clenched as he fought the reaction that might cause an audible growl; he set his jaw to make sure of his control of that as well. Re-fueling was very much next on the to-do list.

Eyes fell easily on the plate at the window, almost as easily as he figured who it might be set for. A certain girl who really needed to learn to look after herself, and that included admitting a particular hurt so that it could even have a chance to heal. Still, it had never been Sephiroth's place or right to comment about Yuffie's habits.

"What's this about?"

Re: Prompt #1: Back into the regime [Later Morning 19th June // House B-04]

[woman_of_strife]

She moves as she spoke, walking around the kitchen as she was some sort of short-order cook. The meal being prepared was given great care, despite the speed with which she moves.

"How'd it go?"

She turns her head to spot him, glancing for only a moment before she's back to looking at the food she's cooking.

"Your training. With Spencer there it's hopefully not so lonely."

She lifts a small cup, no bigger than what would be used for a child's tea set, putting it atop the small table pushed against the wall as she gives a short nod to the Moogle now toting Sephiroth's water bottle.

"Tea'll be up in a second."

She wipes her hands on the towel over her shoulder, looking back to the pan littered with pork and eggs as they all cook over the heat simultaneously.

"And, aside from training, how are you feeling?"

Re: Prompt #1: Back into the regime [Morning 19th June // Around Aqures Ixen, In/near House B-04] -

[not_most_days]

While Sephiroth was dealing with the effects of his 'return' to Crystallis, Mary was dealing with a bit of the opposite. She had stumbled upon that unique job combination that allowed her to awaken some of her own skills and was practicing her free running across the city. It felt good to be able to move so well again.

Her mind was busy with the thoughts that came with the recent memory incident. It had hammered home that she was not going to be going home any time soon. Ever, most likely. And if she were to return to Earth it would be the end of her, with no exaggeration in saying that. It was time she started treating this world properly as her new home. Make herself comfortable here.

Of course she wasn't quite ready to drop her habit of dressing like a man or the James Kidd persona.

Her run had brought her to the same park where Sephiroth was doing her own training. She gave the other hero a friendly nod and wave. Glancing back she noticed she had lost Bonnie and stopped to wait for her moogle, the little one intent on taking part in this training as well. Her gaze settled back on the silver haired man. "I saw your letter. Good to see you back up and about."

Prompt #1: Back into the regime [Morning 19th June // Around Aqures Ixen, In/near House B-04] -

[shinrasfinest]

At first, Sephiroth didn't really see Kidd. As she first waved over at him he were on the way down from the latest in this set of crunches; thirty, to be exact, of which he were counting with each sharp exhale of breath at the apex of the motion.

Spencer hovered just a few feet in the hair above Sephiroth's bent knees so that he wouldn't get in the way but could count the repetitions as well. His Hero seemed to have a handle on it though, fighting through the glistening sheen of sweat and the growing moisture in the air - it was going to rain shortly, for a fact. The moogle turned in the air to face Kidd, in the meantime.

"One moment, kupo-"

But Sephiroth hissed his thirtieth rep out before slowly lowering himself back to the ground and stretching shoulders back against the ground. The first few drops of the promise of rain hit his face and he imagined he could feel it evaporate off his skin. His chest rose and fell steadily a few times before he lowered his legs and sat up; looking over who had called out having not recognized the voice right away. Kidd looked familiar as well, but he didn't recall from where right away.

"Oh. Well, thanks. I guess."

Re: Prompt #1: Back into the regime [Morning 19th June // Around Aqures Ixen, In/near House B-04] -

[not_most_days]

Kidd felt those soft drops as well but paid them no mind. She'd faced worse than a bit of rain over the years and over the seas. She wouldn't want to linger, but it wasn't about to scare her off either. She crouched down, meeting Sephiroth at eye level rather than staring down at the man.

"My moogle has mentioned you a few times. Said something about how she was at a party and that she and yours got into a little argument over which of us was the better here." She kept her tone low, trying not to embarrass Spencer too badly. Still, he was probably close enough still to hear her.

Smiling, she held out a hand in offering, "James Kidd. You can call me by either name. It's all the same to me."

Prompt #1: Back into the regime [Morning 19th June // Around Aqures Ixen, In/near House B-04] -

[shinrasfinest]

After his workout, the heavens could open a storm on his head and Sephiroth might well revel in the refreshment. Until he got somewhere dry again and then had to worry about the implications of the same; change of clothing, washing and drying his hair again, etc.

A twitch of a smile flitted across the edges of his mouth as she crouched rather than looked down on him, appreciating the gesture. He didn't quite trust his legs just yet, or his core to carry him up back into standing. Spencer, in the meantime, knew how to take a hint and fluttered off to put a little distance between the two Heroes as they talked. It was clearly a private conversation; why else the hushed tone.

He couldn't help it but to look her over more from a close proximity and then recalled the memory he'd seen; Mary Read. The pirate, thief, assassin that had stood for trial and he'd seen it. As if opening his eyes to see it clearer despite her attire, he noted those tell tale signposts that she was indeed a female.

It was a heavy shrug that brought Sephiroth's hand forward to shake hers, yet however the temptation to use it as leverage to get up he refrained from doing so. As convincing as her costume was, he were still 6-feet something of life-honed muscle and it would be rude to pull her off her feet. A wider smile, knowing in it's nature, tugged at his expression as he took his hand back then with a grunt pushed himself up to his feet in a smooth motion - taking care to shift himself a little further away from her at the same time.

"I see. Well, that depends very much on which name is more comfortable to you." At least he was being honest, well, mostly. Sephiroth wasn't sure how he really felt about the whole cross-dressing thing.

Re: Prompt #1: Back into the regime [Morning 19th June // Around Aqures Ixen, In/near House B-04] -

[not_most_days]

Kidd likewise appreciated not having her hand taken for granted for his own purposes. As she saw he was getting up though she leaned back and let him use her leverage to aid his rise to his feet. Once he was upright once more she stepped back, giving the man a comfortable amount of difference.

"Kidd is fine then. James is a bit more personal." His meaning had gone over her head, not knowing that he had observed the memory that she had found herself recently trapped in. While the deception wasn't truly necessary in this world, she preferred to keep her identity as Mary within a close circle, as she had al her life.

"I believe I saw you about the airship yesterday. I was busy helping to fix some of the piping when you passed. You're from a world with crafts like it, are you not?"

back into the regime!

[grandsummon]

"Well we can't have both blueberries and bananas and strawberries, that's too much, don't you think?" Yuna's voice was light, carefree. The atmosphere that the city had taken thanks to the blitz tournament was rubbing off on her. "Kupoooo, no way, Yuna! We just need bigger pancakes, that's all," Momolumi floated lazily in the air beside her as she laughed.

The sound of ever-approaching footsteps in the distance was enough to alert her that someone was coming, and that unmistakeable long silver hair gave Sephiroth away immediately. Yuna hesitated a moment, knowing that the man had just gotten over a stay at the hospital -- where she'd made a point to give him space.

But seeing him out and about, he looked for the better, and so she nodded towards him, a little unsure, but smiling all the same. "Good morning," she chanced.

back into the regime!

[shinrasfinest]

Sephiroth came to a stop just a few feet in front of where Yuna was as Spencer continued to flit a fair ways ahead to the next intersection of street. There the small pale moogle with the glasses twisted himself in the air to make sure that his Hero hadn't fallen that far behind before spreading his wings out wider, hovering in place almost like a sentinel.

Meanwhile Sephiroth had leaned forwards, hands on his knees as he forced air in...and gradually released it. His face was turned down towards the pavement as Yuna greeted him but instantly he looked up, a stray piece of silver hair sticking to his forehead and face a little on one side. In the latter part of his circuit, no doubt.

"Good Morning Yuna." He had to take a breath to say it but he at least replied to her, before taking more air in - if only his heart rate wouldn't speed up so quickly, he wouldn't have to keep taking this breaks. Each time was like a stab in the back of that pride of his, the fact that his just-human body had lower thresholds than his mako-enhanced one.

[grandsummon]

She brightened as her greeting seemed well-received, darting a between the SOLDIER and his moogle partner. "It's... good to see that you're already back at your training," Yuna imagined for someone like him, getting back into the swing of things physically was more important than ever. "I wonder if it would do any good to say, 'be sure not to overdo it' though," she added with a quiet laugh.

"But I am... glad that you're feeling better," he was always trying so hard for their sake, pushing the limits, striving to improve... some could even say it was inspiriting, in a lot of ways. But for Yuna... well, she couldn't help but still feel a little sheepish, seeing his side of him after the impression he'd left on her during the wars. "You really do set a good example, you know."

[shinrasfinest]

In the meantime, the stitch that Sephiroth had managed to give himself began to loosen and he managed to drag his posture back up straight. He was still breathing heavy, and the flush of blood to his face and collar area was more than obvious where his complexion was so pale naturally but he did manage something of a small smile at Yuna's words.

"I wouldn't say so much better yet, but it's just a matter of adjustment...again."

He wasn't used to taking such compliments, much less then thanking someone for them so Sephiroth refrained from saying anything more. Offhandedly, he wondered if she had been on shift when he came out of stasis a few days prior...he hadn't seen her. It must have been her day off or something. Still not really his place to bring it up.

"You set quite the stunning example, yourself."

[grandsummon]

She wasn't so sure about that. Despite the great amount of practice she'd gotten along the pilgrimage trying to do just that, the feelings that swirled about inside of her made her feel as though she fell short of it. Still, Yuna smiled in thanks to the words, sure that he meant it in sincerity, nodding in kind, then falling silent for a moment.

Drawing in a breath, she found a spark of courage from below the calm surface she tried to project. She supposed, maybe she wouldn't have a chance like this again.

"I... want to... apologize," she started out slowly, the words falling heavily from her lips. But after all that had happened, she believed he at least deserved that much. "You're always working so hard for the sake of the people here, civilians and heroes alike. When we first met, I... wasn't so sure what to think. I know you don't remember, but for me... I'd met you before coming to this place."

Prompt #2: Visiting someone [Afternoon/Early Evening 19th June // B-09] - Genesis/Terra

[shinrasfinest]

A certain letter aside, delivered obviously in an attempt to goad him with the future that had not yet happened yet, stirred again the same old thoughts as the afternoon drew on. Those words that Genesis had said both before and in times since, though through other means he now knew the truth as he might come to understand it, the question bugged at him regardless; the actual truth had to be somewhere swamped between what he felt and what he knew. It might take a little longer to banish the burn of the fact that he'd held a literal key in his hands just before reality had shattered around him. It bothered him that he remembered that now; but what of the rest of it?

Sephiroth knew that the key to it before had always been to keep himself occupied, and he had dedicated himself to his work at Esdham in order to think about -anything- else. It was pointless ignoring the concerns though, eventually they always floated back up to the surface. Perhaps so many others were right, there had to be another way around...it really wasn't worth all that pain, was it?

He wasn't sure really what thought exactly had drawn him to the front door of that particular house but a single, firm knock to the front door was already delivered without very much in the way of conscious thought. Sephiroth gathered his thoughts around him and ran a hand through his hair on the one side of his head while he waited on the doorstep.

Just wanted to see that they were OK...

[nodreamsorhonor]

The person that opened the door was Genesis, though he was a Genesis after spending far too long pouring over books and forgetting sleep was a thing. Terra tried to make sure he went to bed, but he was a bit obsessive at times. He had taken his braids and twisted them into a messy bun on top of his head, a couple pens holding it in place. A line of dried ink was still on his cheek from where he had fell asleep over a notebook, and a general ruffledness about his person spoke of how he hadn't really moved from the chair and his books to his bed.

He was also wearing a pair of glasses. Do to the fact that without mako in his system, he really did need corrective lens to read the fine print.

"Sephiroth..?" He blinked for a moment and then shook his head stepping aside. "Do come in. Sorry about the mess."

[shinrasfinest]

Sephiroth had seen Genesis before in various states of exhaustion and unkemptness especially since he had buried himself more and more in his books. Since Sephiroth had returned to Esdham after his leg had all healed he'd not seen his once-friend and in that moment he was presented with the man on the doorstep he felt a tight twist of guilt quickly knot up inside. It wasn't entirely logical, given how memories had now inserted themselves to Sephiroth's recollection but he felt it all the same.

Quickly buried as deep as Sephiroth could swallow it, he averted his gaze from Genesis so that he wouldn't stare at the blatant ink-smudge down the side of his face, or the almost-repulsive untidiness he held himself in.

A short nod of acknowledgment and then Sephiroth stepped cleanly over the threshold and entered the house, a quick sweep of the surroundings inside verified said 'mess' and although he wasn't impressed at all with it he still managed to hold his manners in check.

"I wasn't sure if you'd be home. It's been a while."

Not quite-so obvious, just yet, that it really hadn't been Genesis that Sephiroth had come to see.

Prompt #3: Touching Base [21st June // Esdham Military Base] - Jade

[shinrasfinest]

Could so much really have happened in just two weeks?

It was his duty, of course, to catch a personnel shuttle back to Esdham as soon as he managed to get affairs in Aqures back in order. Sephiroth wasn't yet ready to sign back on for duty but at the very least he wanted to get a lay of the land, so that he could better judge what exactly to prepare for, before deciding on how long his next tour at Esdham might be. Biggs had mentioned that things were undoubtedly going to get a lot busier within the military soon as the Herans started to quake in the approach of the expanding Calamity.

He almost felt guilty, during the brief with his Superior Officer, that Cid had managed to obtain a special clearance of leave for him so that he might lend his assistance to the Airship effort. Sephiroth wasn't even that great of an engineer, where tactics in a military setting were far more his forte. It seemed, indeed, that another great push might be on the horizon any day now.

He intended to go to check his inventory at least, to take the time to decide if he might stay a few days or not, yet as Sephiroth approached the door to barracks a heavy -mostly involuntary- sigh was released. Was he sure that he should even be here, anymore? It hadn't been that long at all but already he felt more than a little uncomfortable. Perhaps he'd exhausted his use here now, where he couldn't be the legendary SOLDIER that he expected of himself?

[jadethenecromancer]

For Jade, the past two weeks had passed slower than he would have liked. Not because there was nothing to do -- indeed, there was always something, whether it was blitzball or more battles -- but because most of it had been spent on travel time. While Stiltzkin's Castle had in itself made for an interesting visit, he didn't miss the slow days on the boat with little to do but to keep an eye on the Mognet.

At least it had given him time to think. After what happened in his memory, perhaps the relatively stress-free trip had been just what he needed to wind down.

A brief stop in Aqures Ixen later, and Jade was back in Esdham, already working as though he had never left. It seemed to have come as a relief to some of the personnel; not having any of their Heroes present had put them on edge.

And speaking of Heroes... Jade stopped on the path to the barracks. There was no mistaking that silver hair. He'd considered responding to the letter on Mognet, but there hadn't been much need. Sephiroth was a soldier through and through, after all, and a soldier's place was on the battlefield. Jade had expected him to return sooner or later.

"There you are. I was wondering how long you were going to nap." Jade crossed the distance between them, unhurriedly, while giving Sephiroth his usual smile. As though the man really had just returned from a quick break rather than from what could have been a permanent stasis.

[shinrasfinest]

Though Sephiroth --as always-- remained blind to it, his own return to Esdham drew more than a handful of appraising glances as he had meandered his way through the military areas. Rumors were the lifeblood of socialization within some of the lower ranking soldiers and though when Jade had returned it had eased some of the tension developing, Sephiroth's eventual appearance only served to draw a longer breath in somewhat - he didn't look like he was reporting for duty; missing his pack and not being in uniform.

Still, the seasoned SOLDIER was used to avoiding and/or ignoring said weighty glances.

Sephiroth paused as Jade's familiar tones pierced the air behind him. It would be his luck that he couldn't avoid a conversation with his fellow-Captain even if he tried to. They worked well enough together, point of fact, but there was still that matter regarding his doppelganger that left the bitter taste of a memory in the back of his throat still. Not to mention the blunt words at the revelation of a scene which was now a memory to him.

"It wasn't much of a restful nap, for what it's worth." He commented, turning back a little to face his comrade. "I trust you've been picking up the slack, in my absence."

[jadethenecromancer]

"Not as much as I perhaps should have. By the time I realized you were gone, I had already made arrangements for a trip of my own."

The first thing Sephiroth would notice was that, rather than the Black Mage outfit or his own Malkuth uniform, Jade was wearing a White Mage robe. Even after making certain the garment was cut with practicality in mind -- ending just below his knee rather than at his ankles -- he had to admit it wasn't the most militaristic look.

And neither had the role of a healer come to Jade naturally. That his abilities had always, nearly without exception, been geared towards destruction was a part of himself he had come to accept over the years. Now, having access to the one thing he had never had any talent for... it was oddly discomforting. Every attempt he had made to cure or to create had ended in a catastrophe on Auldrant, and yet here he was, casting white magic with no training whatsoever. It felt like he had cheated, somehow.

Of course, it was silly to think of a simple Cure spell as something he didn't deserve to have. The past month had been one of illogical thoughts, it seemed.

[shinrasfinest]

It was certainly a different look for Jade, and once Sephiroth had turned to look him over he found he had to double-take a little bit at the somewhat extreme difference in attire. Sephiroth was wearing his 'cooler' variant of his freelance set; the usual leather pants and boots coupled with a loose grey muscle vest, his long silver hair loose and cascading down and around his shoulders sometimes when he moved. He looked just as out of place as Jade might but in a different way.

"Ah, you decided to make a change in Job." Sephiroth put two and two together, knowing of how Jessie had set him an assignment as well, when he had requested the Scholar job.

"How's that going for you?" Anything to avoid the topic of conversation to lean too much in his personal direction.

[jadethenecromancer]

"Healing is not my area of expertise, I admit. All the more reason to learn it now, don't you think?" Jade could guess what topic Sephiroth was trying to avoid. For the moment, that was fine by him. He was more interested in observing than interrogating, anyway. "We may have survived so far, but there is no telling what we'll be facing in the future. In preparation for that, I intend to master as many Jobs as humanly possible."

Jade had it thought out in a fair amount of detail. The mage Jobs alone would give him a wide variety of attack, support, and utility skills. Combined with the physical might of Dragoon and Magitek Knight, as well as the knowledge of the Scholar and the Blacksmith... There was no end to what he could do.

Whether he'd live long enough to master all of them was another matter entirely, but having long-term plans couldn't hurt.