melodiesoflife | #12 | It's time to take some time away...

Who: Sephiroth & #1) Open, #2) Tifa/Alice/Open #3) Terra
When: Post Zelda's Meeting: 25-31st August
Where/What: #1) Aqures Ixen: Helping to repair, #2) B-04: Preparing to leave, #3) Flence: Some time away
Warnings: N/A, except for potential eye-rolling in #3

#1 - 26-27th August/ Aqures Ixen: Helping to repair [Open]
[There is still a lot of work to be done in repairing many of the buildings that are still damaged in some way from the battle. It's only right, in the wake especially of Zelda's meeting, that he use the time that he's managed to get from taking leave from Esdham constructively in repairing what -by proxy- he at least had some part in causing. That guilt is still there, and this is his attempt to reconcile at least some of the weight from off of his consciousness.

Many houses and other buildings need to be at least patched up so that citizens could move back into their residences safely where more cosmetic repairs could be revisited at a later stage. He's no architect, nor much of a builder but at the very least Sephiroth can lend his strength where it's needed; and with a Job change, he's soon fitting well into a team of volunteers doing various jobs around the damaged districts. Breaking bricks, chopping wood, hauling materials up and down rickety scaffolding...

Even with glass, as atop the roof of the greenhouse at Jardin Verdoyant, fitting the last pane carefully into place.]

#2 - 27th August/ B-04: Preparing to leave [Tifa and/or Alice / Open]
[The house that Sephiroth claims residence in has hardly been touched by the battle and those repairs that had needed to be done were superficial rather than major structural damage. There is an odd irony in there somewhere. Still makes it no less bitter than for several other streets all around them the scenery would remain scarred for a while yet.

It's a good idea, getting away for the weekend. They both needed a break from the constant doom and gloom, and Flence were far enough removed that they might even be able to pretend it hadn't happened. At the very least they might be able to come back afterwards, a little more clear-headed. Doesn't help the current predicament though...

Sephiroth's often-used, large military issue rucksack is spread wide open on top of his bed. Half-filled with that which he deems the essentials and a few items of clothing besides. He stands over it, suspended in a long pause as he tries to keep his thoughts on the task in front of him. Who knew it'd ever be so difficult to decide what needs to be taken?]

#3 - 30th August/ Flence: Some time away [Terra]
The County of Flence reflected, in it's tranquility, the Temple of Water that's housed nearby to it. Neutral from all of the conflicts that have befallen Crystallis, Flence retained a peace to it's picturesque visage that might as well be another world away from the strife of the Aqurean region - that Sephiroth and Terra had been surrounded by constantly since before the attack of the Imperial Fleet.

Not that they hadn't had to pay for it. The double-roomed suite that Sephiroth had managed to secure at one of the smaller inns had devoured almost two-thirds of what he would be paid for a month in Esdham. He'd known it would be on the pricey side, and it wasn't as if he hadn't any gil saved up, but actually parting with such expense willingly caused a pause sometimes.

Two days later though, and it had all been worth it. The comfort was on another level, even the small lounge area in the suite told of the exquisite fabric that had been used to make it and that was a fact which reflected everywhere during their stay. The scenery was breathtaking especially at sunrise and again at sunset as the river cast the light back as if it were on fire; golden in the morning, gleaming crimson as the evening drew in. Not to mention the food; they hadn't been kidding when Sephiroth had read that Flence was reported to have the finest cuisine in the World.

Never mind that it had been sunny for every day of their visit, for some reason it didn't seem to bother Sephiroth as much as it might have done if he'd spent so much time outside in the Aqures region. The creams and oils available to protect skin were of the highest standard too, and melted right in without feeling heavy.

On their last evening in the town, the pair had wandered down to the winding pathway, lined with trees, which followed the river off towards the Temple of Water which was located out of town a ways. The air felt significantly cooler near to the water and the breeze that came off of it was refreshing to feel across the sun-warmed skin of faces and shoulders, it's almost as if Sephiroth's hair had been similarly revitalized from the long weekend of relaxation - loose and almost seeming feather-light, moving minutely in the same breeze as he kept a casual pace beside Terra.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yuffie will just have to wait for an extra beat, for a second while Sephiroth manages to flick the small splinter that was in his arm away from him. Then he looks down at the small Wutaian girl, as if for the first time recognizing that she's working on the same site as him. He studies her for just a moment, before having his attention drawn to the beam that needs to be held in place while someone smaller -like her- can get into a position that would be best to secure it in place.

That beam looks heavier than the one he was just hauling though and Sephiroth doesn't like that idea much at all. He chews a little on the inside of his lip, which makes him look a little like he's pouting.]

I can try.

[Though, given as he's Scholar/Engineer and that reduces his strength even further from what levels Yuffie might expect, Sephiroth is unsure how well this is even going to go. Nevertheless he approaches the beam that needs to be supported and, though he has to stand on a nearby ledge of scaffolding, spreads his stance before taking the weight evenly between both outstretched -but not elbow-locked- arms. Muscle tenses up and he grunts lightly, steeling himself against the pressure building through his frame.

He hopes that Yuffie was not so far behind him as it's unknown how long he'll be able to hold that up.]

[A few people around Sephiroth move to lend the hero a hand with the beam as Yuffie gets into position. Her foot steps are light as she carefully jumps back onto the roof. She says nothing to Sephiroth taking his efforts to lend a hand at face value. She evenly distributes her weight before curling under the building to reach the beam. For anyone else it might have been a little bit of an awkward position but Yuffie fell into it comfortably.

She slides the hammer from her waist and begins taking nails from between her lips. It doesn’t taste great but it’s the easiest way to hold things when your legs are on the roof, your waist is twisted and your arms are trying to put in enough nails to release the weight on those holding the beam into place.

Yuffie quickly sinks two nails into the beam before sliding down two feet and repeating the process. After the first four nails had been placed her lips are free and she’s reaching for more nails in her pocket.]

Just a sec longer, I need to get these two in and it should be able to support its own weight for me to finish.

[Her tone is short and she is mostly talking to those who’ve decided to help Sephiroth but she glances at him so he knows she’s talking to him as well.]

[Even with all the extra hands helping to take some of the weight, it's still just a few pounds heavier than Sephiroth can comfortably lift and it's reflected in the way he holds his jaw firmly; as if he were to crunch his expression up like he wanted to it might detract some way from the strength in his arms.

He only glances to Yuffie, as she appears with her upper body hanging from the ledge and coming pretty much into his direct line of sight that way. The first nails being knocked in threaten to shake the wood from his grip entirely but Sephiroth curls his fingertips against the beam while he adjusts to the sensation. He inhaled in a short hiss while doing so but otherwise remained silent.

Just in the corner of Yuffie's line of sight, the nearest bicep to her twitches when she mentions how she's nearly done. It's one of those things, like during exercise when a countdown can draw your focus away from the job you're getting your body to do. Internally cursing, the beam immediately feels heavier and Sephiroth levels his gaze into the grain of the wood as if he might be able to will it to stay upheld with only his mind, while Yuffie drives the last nails into place.

Holding his breath until she does so.]

[Yuffie really wants to fix the house but seeing the effort that Sephiroth put forward almost made her slow her efforts. It is mean, but it’s as if she could get back at him for all the stupid little things she still blamed him for. No, he isn’t the jerk that they kill but he’s still the jerk that helped attack Wutai. She understands, now more than before, the feeling of war. She had been so young then and she’d been confused after the conflict had settled.

That doesn’t mean she has to like him but there is no reason to be mean.

With those thoughts in mind she moves quickly, seeking to release him of the stress of the heavy beam. A few quick strikes with the flat of her hammer and the last nail sank into the hard wood. She looks down at him and those helping him.]

It’s in, you can let go. We need to hammer in a few more points to help withstand nature but it’s not falling any time soon.

[Yuffie flips forward, her legs swinging from the roof before letting her torso follow. Being acrobatic really helps when you’re fixing up buildings. She lightly hands on her feet, sliding a few nails into her pocket for later. The others who were helping quickly get back to work as if knowing to leave Yuffie to whatever it is she’s planning to do.

The young princess gently kicks the ground with her toe, her eyes looking at a random spot on the ground before glancing up at Sephiroth. He’s so damn tall, it’s annoying.]

Thanks… [Her voice is soft as if planning to take back the word the instant he response to it. She’s really trying more so after her conversation with Vincent but damn this is hard.]

[Perhaps now, Yuffie might begin to understand the effort that Sephiroth puts in to anything he might put his mind to. After all, though the destruction could be partly blamed on his military decisions at the time, those exact same orders contributed to the fact that there were still an Aqures Ixen there to rebuild.

Even though by the time Yuffie drives the last nail home his arms feel like they might be starting to shake, he still knows better than to all of a sudden just drop a weight like that. Worst-case scenario could involve the wood splintering and then it would have all been for nothing.

A grunt of an exhale is passed through gritted teeth but by sheer force of will Sephiroth forces the weight back through his arms and into his core first, before gradually lowering his arms. Keeping it all tight and stable. By then, the other workers are already well away but it makes sure that the beam can for sure take the weight it now had to bear.]

Hm...for what? [He's already stepped away from the area a little and is running a stained hand towel over his forehead -which had been secured to one side of his belt- recovering from the exertion by the time the ninja princess is there before him. Sephiroth's tone is honest, and perhaps the most gentle that she might have ever heard it.

Of course it's only a moment before he's giving Yuffie the intense once-over that he gives to everyone, no exceptions.]

Just...doing my part.

[She almost wanted to hit him when he said for what. What the hell does he think she'd say thank you for?

Yuffie sighs softly, her arms falling to either side as she turns back towards the building that they worked to resort.] yeah, yeah. The great SOLDIER. [For once it sounds more like a compliment then an insult. She doesn't like him but if he's going to help she will at least be amiable. It is possibly Mooshoo's influence or maybe Ace's words but she's more interested in helping than starting fights right now.]

Well, later. We'll probably send someone out if we need more materials.