Mission 16: [Accidental Video]

[argentimperator]

[The feed blinks on as the PCD drops out of Sephiroth's coat pocket. The coat that Sephiroth is no longer wearing; the video catches him throwing it over a gravestone, hiding it from sight. The stone, of course, is only one out of a number he almost finds surprising. The names on them, however, are not surprising at all

Comments

[Video]

[reflectivedawn]

Covering it up won't change the fact that it's there.

[Or the fact that it actually belongs there.]

[Video]

[argentimperator]

I know. Nothing will, even when the stone itself disappears.

I was supposed to be stronger than anyone, but I'm not strong enough to watch that moment again and again. [But then, he's always been more emotionally fragile than most people realized, hasn't he?]

[Video]

[reflectivedawn]

Does calling the person who finally put an end to it an ass make you feel stronger then?

Is that how you would have thought of me if I had succeeded?

[Aka tread very, very carefully, Sephiroth.]

[Video] I think this is the most he's said in one shot ever.

[argentimperator]

[For once, Sephiroth thinks he can thread the mine field with the simple truth. Hopefully, he's right. He sighs and shakes his head slightly

[Offline]

[ff_red_turk]

[Vincent doesn't care much about his own graves or hallucinations, because he's been living with them with almost forty years now.

But Sephiroth, this Sephiroth who hasn't lost his mind yet, who knows where he comes from ... his son doesn't deserve that.

So he'll be on his way.]

[Offline]

[argentimperator]

[Sephiroth isn't going anywhere anytime soon. So Vincent will find him as the feed left him, shirtless and seated on the ground among the gravestones.

He got this broody streak from you, you realize.]

[Offline]

[ff_red_turk]

[Well, he had to leave his mark somewhere.

Vincent doesn't stop next to Sephiroth. Instead, he walks to the headstone that bears his own name, and crouches in front of it. His right hand softly traces the dates etched into the stones.]

They even got the dates right. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[Offline]

[argentimperator]

I suspect they know far more than they admit, even if they cannot act beyond this world.

[He's not particularly surprised to see Vincent. In some matters, the older man is fairly predictable. Sephiroth leans back slightly to watch him examine the stone.]

[bunny_flower]

Why don't you head back inside, Sephiroth-san?

[argentimperator]

[He has a feeling that isn't actually a question or even a suggestion, but he's going to try anyway.]

I'm thinking.

[bunny_flower]

About what?

[argentimperator]

The past... and the future.

[Yes, he knows it's vague but he doesn't really want to admit to Unohana that he is brooding and being a little emo.]

[video]

[theflower_girl]

[She's not sure what to say, it's taken her a lot to even open this up but she finds herself without words...until the end and then she speaks up suddenly. Her voice is strong, her gaze hard. It's one thing to kill her, but she definitely won't be silent when it comes to her friends.]

Cloud has his faults but he is not an ass, Sephiroth. I know this may be hard for you, this is hard for all of us, but there is no reason for saying that.

[video]

[argentimperator]

[Sephiroth frowns slightly over the feed, his gaze intent. Clearly someone from his own world, and she seems vaguely familiar but he's fairly sure they've never met. ....Not in the time he comes from, at least.

It takes him a moment to pin down the distant sense of familiarity.]

You are the girl the Turks have been watching.

[Yeah, that's all she gets. Sephiroth doesn't really feel the need to justify himself to her.]

[video]

[theflower_girl]

You can just call me Aerith.

[Oh but she's not letting him forget, even after everything she's not afraid right now.]

And don't think I'm going to let you off that easy though.

[video]

[argentimperator]

Very well. Clearly you are already aware of my name.

[She doesn't have anything to be afraid of, whether she realizes it or not. Fed up as he is with catching flack for his future, Sephiroth still wouldn't go beyond sharp words, especially with someone he doesn't even know can fight.]

I do not care. Perhaps Strife is the warmest, most caring man in the world to those he calls friend. However, my interactions with the man while he was here were highly unpleasant and I am entitled to my own opinion.

[Video]

[licensedhero]

[Okay, so this is kinda weird for him. Forgive him if it sounds like he's uncomfortable.]

Uh, Sephiroth? Are you okay? You've been outside for a really long time now.

[Video]

[argentimperator]

[Sephiroth is not bothered by it. If anything, he kind of prefers it over the drowning flow of derp and good cheer. Not that he will say so.]

I am highly resilent to the elements. Prolonged exposure to the current weather will not cause me any problems.

[Whether or not Sora will realize that Sephiroth is hiding a distinct lack of emotional 'okay' behind the strictly physical answer is up in the air.]

[Video]

[licensedhero]

[Can't make any promises on any sort of lack of derp and good cheer.]

Um, okay. But you've been standing near those tombstones for a while now. I don't think staring at them is very healthy...

[He seems to be thinking for a moment or two.]

I can ask Riku if he'd be okay with you coming over. Then you at least wouldn't be alone.

[Video]

[argentimperator]

[Yeah, he figures it won't last long.]

Perhaps not, but it can be informative.

[That last suggestion gets the closest Sephiroth will likely ever come to a wince. Sora just has.... no idea.]

I will not be alone. In any case, this is not the best time for me to be visiting Riku.