shinrasfinest: (All the same)
Johnas Clearwater ([personal profile] shinrasfinest) wrote in [community profile] melodiesoflife2015-06-19 07:41 pm

#11 | Everything will be alright

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 

jadethenecromancer: (you silly children)

[personal profile] jadethenecromancer 2015-07-05 01:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Although Jade lived in a different part of the barracks, he had decided to accompany Sephiroth on the way to his room. It wasn't far out of the way, and in any case, he did have something he meant to bring up before they parted. For the time being, though, he merely smiled in a way that revealed nothing of what he was thinking.

"Well, you are not wrong." Jade's eyes squinted in amusement then, as though he had just thought of some private joke. "But as it happens, Crystallis was not the first time I've had to start over from square one in mid-crisis."

The first time it had happened had not been voluntary. Having his fon slots sealed by Largo had been a lesson in not only humility, but in navigating a land on a brink of full-scale war with nothing but novice artes and his own wits. And, of course, with Luke and the others at his side. That their then dysfunctional team had managed to survive long enough to stop Van was a testament to their ability to adapt in emergencies.

He had considered whether continuing to depend on his black magic wouldn't be a safer choice. At the same time, it wasn't as though a reasonably skilled White Mage and a Magitek Knight occupying an armor were anything to sneeze at, either. You couldn't play it safe all the time without your abilities eventually growing stagnant.
jadethenecromancer: (just hanging out)

[personal profile] jadethenecromancer 2015-07-22 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Jade took him up on the unvoiced offer and pulled out the chair, crossing both his legs and arms out of habit as he took a seat. Unsurprisingly, there was little in the room that would reveal anything of its owner -- or rather, perhaps the lack of decorum spoke for itself.

"Frustrating though it may be, starting fresh does force you to rethink how you fight. I find the insight welcome, but to each their own." There was that special something you got when you delved into something completely new. Jade had always hated not knowing things, ever since he was a child, and that had driven him to soak up everything he could get his hands on, no matter how challenging or out of his field. Even as the range of topics he didn't know about had grown smaller, the thirst for knowledge when he did encounter something unknown had only become stronger.

"In any case, while we are on the topic of Jobs... I gave Jessie the file on Custom Jobs from the ancient computer. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like she'll be able to make much of it at present."
jadethenecromancer: (just standing here)

[personal profile] jadethenecromancer 2015-08-08 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
While he could relate to the dislike of having one's hard work stripped away, Jade couldn't help but find the added handicap intriguing. Being forced to achieve a goal with limited resources and still coming out on top -- it was a satisfying feeling.

Of course, there were times when efficiency had to take priority over intellectual challenge. Stroking your ego was pointless if it got you killed.

"Oh, did I not mention it? The ancient computer bought from O'aka contained an encrypted file titled 'Custom Jobs'. I managed to find some help in decrypting it and gave it to Jessie."

Jade uncrossed his legs to sit more comfortably and steepled his hands. "However, it seems she can't do anything of merit with it without years of work. At least, not without help from someone who already knows about Custom Jobs or about accessing our real powers."
jadethenecromancer: (...eh?)

[personal profile] jadethenecromancer 2015-08-14 12:52 pm (UTC)(link)
The translation process had in fact been very fast with the Jessie's program. Jade had been surprised about that. Given how much of the Ancients was still unknown, a program that could translate the language that quickly must be very valuable. Of course, that had still left the decryption... but as it happened, there were quite a few helpful Heroes gifted in programming. An asset that would no doubt serve them well in the future.

Jade watched curiously as Sephiroth's thoughts seemed to go elsewhere for a moment. To painful places, judging by that shudder.

"That was in November. Why, is there something important I missed?"

He had at some point read Zelda's notes on what happened prior to his arrival, but there were likely a number of details he still wasn't aware of. No one seemed to like talking about the prior events.
jadethenecromancer: (to be a troll or not to be a troll)

[personal profile] jadethenecromancer 2015-08-21 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Jade waited in silence as Sephiroth stepped closer and picked up his stack of notes. There was clearly something specific on his mind, and Jade saw no reason to rush him with impatient questions.

Sephiroth wasn't one to bring things up for no reason, after all. And sure enough, he soon seemed to have found what he was looking for.

"That would be when you all fell victim to an illness, correct? Something about a ritual to revive a Moogle king." Jade leaned back and stared at the ceiling, momentarily caught in recollection. "As I recall, the incident turned a number of Heroes against each other, resulting in casualties."

That last part had, in fact, been one of the first things he had heard upon arriving in Crystallis. It had meant so little back then, with neither context nor personal attachment to hold his interest. Just another strange thing in a strange new world.

In hindsight, he should have asked more about it back then, while it was still fresh on everyone's minds. This seemed like a good time to fill in the remaining holes.
jadethenecromancer: (srs thoughts)

[personal profile] jadethenecromancer 2015-09-04 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Jade briefly considered pushing for more details about what happened. However, Sephiroth's actual point sparked his interest, enough so that he decided to let the matter go... for now. He could always ask Zelda later.

"I see... So our powers are still accessible, even if they came at a steep cost." He could see why Sephiroth had brought it up -- and now that his memory was being jogged, he had an inkling of what his comrade had in mind.

"That Moogle who attempted the summoning -- was he confirmed to be the cause of the illness?"

Jade had never gone looking for Mograma back then, during his first month in Crystallis. Chasing after a criminal hadn't been high on his list of priorities when he had had little to no understanding of the situation, and getting to know Aqures Ixen had taken enough of his time as it was. It had worked out without him, in any case, and so he hadn't given it much more thought.
jadethenecromancer: (just standing here)

[personal profile] jadethenecromancer 2015-09-16 07:37 am (UTC)(link)
Something about the way Sephiroth said "us" made Jade raise his eyebrows, though he said nothing. He could guess why Sephiroth might be reluctant to go into detail, but that was all it was -- a guess.

It was beside the point, in any case. Jade listened in silence to the explanation. Once Sephiroth had finished speaking, he hummed in thought, tapping his chin.

"It may be worth another attempt to speak with him. If Mograma's loyalty to his king is stronger than whatever allegiance he owes Kalki, I doubt he'd be very happy about the planet turning to crystal. He can't very well revive anybody if the world is destroyed." A pause, and he added: "Besides, if the Empire decides to make a move, Mograma will be right in the line of fire. No matter how you look at it, he's not in a good position."

Black Crystals, though... Yet another thing they knew too little about.
jadethenecromancer: (look at how sincere I am.)

[personal profile] jadethenecromancer 2015-09-23 08:35 am (UTC)(link)
"You would be right about that." What he wouldn't give to be able to use fonons again... If there was one thing he had actually liked about going through everyone's worst memories, it was having his abilities back.

For all he had defended the prospect of starting over, even Jade had to admit he missed being stronger.

"We can request a visit to Mograma once Biggs returns." He stood up, ready to head out again, and once again smiled as he always did. "Well then -- I'll let you get settled in properly. It has been a busy month."