Sephiroth glanced out at this strange new world that he would now call his home. He had to face the facts with Hades that Gaia was long gone. He had sought to take it over, however, nothing could quite replace the world you grew up on; No matter how twisted or bitter you had become towards it. Hollow Bastion was a mere shell of a world as he percieved it. He was used to the green lands of Gaia and nothing could replace that.
He would however endure and adapt as his training had instructed to do. At least here, he no longer had Hades breathing down his back about obtaining the Keyblade. He smirked to himself; What a fool that man was!
He could stand by idly and watch the wind blow across this world. As he thought on his new situation, he was slowly heading towards a run down building resembling a lab. Maybe there he could find the answers he sought about how Gaia had been destroyed. Destruction, after all, was what he was made and ingrained to do.
As he grew closer to the lab, he realized how old and run down it really was. The heartless probably were the cause of this as well. He recalled somewhere overhearing about a team of scientists once residing there. This intriqued him since science was one of the subjects that fascinated him since a child. Confident in himself and unafraid he entered the old ruins wondering what awaited him inside.
Radiant Garden appeared to be a magnet for stragglers, lost souls who drifted towards this place looking for meaning. Whatever Radiant Garden once was it had lost its grandour long ago. Ruins lay scattered along the ground, large chunks of debris left to lie idly while the village continued peacefully not far from where they lay. It was as if the ruins had always been there, is if they belonged. They reminded Vincent slightly of Midgar and the destruction both ShinRa and Meteor had caused. Although those trials were ardous and painful Vincent found himself not dwelling so much on the past. Not now that he undestood what he had become.
Vincent had engaged in a couple of skuffles. Heartless crawled in the shadows of this world as though they had the right to claim it. They however, were no more than a nusience - lower level Heartless which posed no more a threat than some of the fiends back on Gaia. They certainly were not Behemoths. It would have been foolish to engage them in full battle when they were no more than irritating pests. Bullets were best served in fighting bigger game.
The Ex-Turk had no wish to engage in conversation with the citizens who claimed refuge here. Not yet anyway. A little digging never hurt anyone.
Vincent Valentine was highly observant and lethal. He was quick, agile and light on his feet. The modifications didn't exactly hurt in the senses department, nor the physical one. Chaos had at one point been a great asset as well as a great burden. For one he was the cause of many migraines and the instigator of the war that waged within his body. At least now he understood why the demon was so angry. No, not demon. Chaos, a sentient Xenoform has every right to be enraged at being shoved into a mortal shell over which he had no control. His head was oddly silent without him rousing the others. Vincent was still getting used to the peace he used to long for.
The building was run down much like everything else in the area. He ventured inside with no hesitation. Vincent held little fear and confinement, the dark, of small spaces. He had much energy from sleeping for thirty years despite the unwanted annoying interruptions - the Turks and then helping them to escape due to Zack and Cloud's own bid for freedom and a few years later by Cloud himself in the attempt for another ally against Sephiroth. Sephiroth although he did not weight upon Vincent the same as he had done so for much time was still a source of guilt and feeling of blame. Given the chance he would have loved him as his own, should Lucrecia has wished it so.
Vincent continued cautiously deeper into the buliding curious as to what he may discover, what secrets, what mysteries the building, this planet may hold.
(wohoo I'm on a roll. There wasn't a specification so....)
(I am going to make the slight guess you aren't walking beside him, however, if I am incorrect please do correct. I will correct my post accordingly)
Sephiroth stopped for a moment once he ventured further into the ruins. He could hear something or someone else was inside this place with him. His trained instincts from SOLDIER made sure he would catch any movement or disturbance in his environment. He, however, could not tell if the maker of the sounds was a friend or foe.
He listened in closely to the movements before moving himself, accordingly. He tried to keep his noise to a minimum watching closely to where he placed his feet. He did not summon Masamune to his side just yet. Though he was skilled with the blade it was long and cumbersome in such a tight space. As he drew closer to the source he grew more quiet and slower in his pace.
Peering around a corner he could tell the other visitor was a man of his height. The light from the outside behind him and the lights inside gave away the tell tale signs of a large red cloak. That certainly was something he remembered. One of Cloud's friends if he recalled correctly. His mind was slightly jumbled from his time in the Lifestream. Finally, he walked out from the shadows. The man probably already knew of his presence and there was no sense in hiding anymore. He would see in the man recognized him first. By his reaction he could decipher if his memory was correct or false.
Vincent knew he wasn't not alone. His senses as a Turk were sharp enough to tell him that, but his hearing was impeccable, his senses much sharper than that of the average Turk thanks to Hojo. Vincent wished he could kill the SOB a few times for many people. At least the pscyopath had been denied the lifestream after uploading his data into Weiss. It was good Hojo would never be able to hurt another again as he had so many. Vincent wondered vaguely if he was a success or not. He supposed still being alive had to account for something.
But why let him sleep?
Vincent shook his head. There was no use dwelling on it, not when he had made progress in letting the past go and trying to live. So far his attempts haven't exactly been successful but it had been a more pleasant existance than the one he had been living previously.
When Sephiroth stepped from the shadows Vincent forced himself to hold his ground. This was not what he had expected. It wasn't as if they had talked at all, from when Sephiroth was still sane, or from when he was a lunatic. He had never been alone with him either. So many things to say, questions, but he doubted the man before him wanted to hear it. he probably had no idea that part he had to play in his experimentation, if you could call it a role. The feelings of responsbility and guilt swelled within him. The monsters that had been quiet for so long were restless in his presence.
Vincent wondered if he was still the same from Gaia, the one who lost his way, or the man he was supposed to be, and had been for a long time.
Sephiroth took in his reaction and smirked a little to himself. At least the man had to have known him from somewhere. He was not poised to attack him so he would give the same courtesy. Though he liked fighting it was not one to go unprovoked or without good reason. He held his ground all the same though. He knew far too well how quickly these things could turn sour.
Keeping his posture rigid and trained on the other he spoke, "You must be from Gaia as well. I know not of your name or at least it slips my memory at the moment." He spoke clearly.
From this vantage point he assessed the other man before him more clearly. His red cape hiding a brass covered arm and the same metal adorning his feet. It was something out of Hojo's lab all right. If the man were from Gaia that would be his guess. His mind spiked a little with hatred for said scientist, but kept it well masked under a cover of calm and collected.
Vincent studied him with careful red eyes. His eyes, were always something the had liked. They were unusual, different and intruiging for many. Despite the attention they occasionally drew from the more vocally curious he was still rather fond of them. His father had the same colour. Vincent was glad that his time with Hojo had not altered his eyes in the sense of their colour.
Vincent was wary of attacking. Although he had fought with all of the Deepground elite members the Tsviets they hadn't been infected with Jenova cells. They were mad, bred for one purpose. He doubted that any of them - barring Shelke who had been abducted - had ever bore any semblence of sanity. At least the monster before him had, or so the stories say. Had the Lifestream wiped things clean? Made things, a little easier, put life into perspective? Still the only person ever to defeat him was Cloud and Vincent didn't have Chaos anymore. He had to keep reminding himself of that. No matter how burdensome the Gaian entity had been he certainly held some benefits. At least, he still had his grace.
Vincent could only guess that his sword wasn't drawn due to the tight enclosure. It wasn't ideal for fighting, or much of any confrontation. In a fight, they weren't exactly even. Sure he had three monsters, it was slightly crowded in his head but he still didn't fancy his chances.
"Sephiroth," Vincent confirmed. There was no denying he knew him. Sephiroth was all gracefulness, elegance and poise. His fine features and quizzing eyes left no doubt he was Lucrecia's son. He sympathised with him, being Hojo's child. He couldn't imagine what years in the man's clutches must have been like. His brief time had been long enough. He couldn't imagine anyone else fighting so well with hair that long - the ends weren't split either. It was just some of the little things Vincent tended to notice about people.
"Vincent," He said but offered no more. If they weren't going to fight, any sort of discussion merited a name for what would he call him? Sephiroth's scrutinising gaze made him uncomfortable and self concious.
He mulled the name around in his head a few times. He recalled that name from an ex-Turk. As a child he frequently trashed Hojo's files for sheer enjoyment and a slight revenge on the tests he endured. If this man was contained within Hojo's clutches for some time, then he could sympathize if that were in his person.
"You knew Hojo. Your name is familiar to me." He stated, simply.
He stood still ever so calm and collected, but slowly allowed his posture to ease off and stand more fluidly. He noticed features about the man that implied he had been out of the sunlight for a long while. His pale features had an almost blue unworldly tint. His arm and boots gave away that certainly Hojo knew the man. Well, more of knew and experimented on until he became what he was now. His gaze shifted across the man's body noting the slight tenseness. He wasn't going to attack personally right now.
He was frustrated with himself that he could remember no more about the man. The Lifestream had separated his memories. Hades had tried to reassemble them the best he could, but not everything was perfect. He would have to live with that and fill in the pieces as he went.
"I should know you more than a mere name, but that is all I recall for now." He stated. He did not want to give away too much information about the state of his memory right now anyway.
Vincent had no idea how much Sephiroth knew of him. It wouldn't surprise him if he was adept at hacking and did it frequently. Obtaining as much knowledge about Hojo's activities seemed like a good way to survive and know how to lay low. Sephiroth was always going to be a clever child. Vincent only wished that he didn't have to be a twisted one.
It was a strange feeling; to be physically younger than the one standing before you knowing that you were born before they were. It was even stranger still to be before Sephiroth and not be pasted over the walls. Perhaps Sephiroth was curious, looking for information. Of course, what do you do with sources which are no longer useful?
He again felt uncomfortable under the scrutiny. Tense and aware Vincent made no move for his weapon. He had seen the enhanced man in action. There was almost no doubt he was faster than Vincent.
"Must be strange being pulled from the life stream. At least that is not a fate available to Hojo," Vincent figured it would please him to hear of his death, even if it angered him that he couldn't be the one to cause the slimeball's demise.
Vincent himself knew of the strangeness of being pulled from the Life Stream. He had been dead once too but not for so great a time. Now still, in his darkest momest - which didn't occur so often even if he was still sad and serious - he felt no more than a reanimated corpse. It wasn't something he could have or would have shared with Avalanche even if they tried various means to get it out of him. They were young, too kind. He wouldn't be the one do to that to them. Nanaki - upon request only referred to him as such in private - was the only one he could speak to about such things. Cloud, had many burdens of his own and Nanaki had an entirely different view of life from humans. Nor did he judge or push.
Sephiroth raised his eyebrow. Hojo was dead? He could not help but to laugh; the movement shaking his whole body. He was so relieved in a way to hear such news. He could not resist the urge to laugh in his utter glee of such a thing occurring. For a brief moment delight showed in his eyes. He could not remember the last time such a thing had occurred. It was probably a time back when Angeal, Zack, and Genesis were still around.
He caught himself quickly though, his laughter slowly dying out until it was replaced with the cold facade he showed the world. True Hojo had not died by his hand and now he was irritated at himself for such a thing. He had the chance in Midgar long ago when he assassinated Shinra, but the thought slipped his mind. Hojo was not the priority of the time. Now that man who caused all his suffering was gone. It was a lucky thing he never met him in the Lifestream. That would not have ended well.
"Such news is good to hear after what has been done," he replied with a slight emotion of amusement. He thought of all the ways Hojo could have been killed. It did not matter so long as he was dead, "What are you doing here or did you wander to this world as I did?"
It had nagged at the back of his mind for a while. Did all people from Gaia end up here? He wanted to put the theory to test. It was strange how interconnected these worlds were. He learned that much from his time on Olympus.
Vincent was relieved whem Sephiroth laughed delighted that the evil man was finally gone. There was a tense moment when he thought he was going to get angry that revenge could not be his. It was a relief when he remained amused.
"He proved to be tricky. It was thought he had died in Mako Reacter 0 when it exploded during the evacuation of Midgar," Vincent explained this, only because he felt that Sephiroth was owed some sort of explanation. That creten was his father after all. "Apparantly he uploaded himself and then downloaded himself into Weiss,"
Vincent shrugged. "I like to travel. I do not have a home. This world...was intruiging," indeed it was. Both dark and light with an ongoing struggle beneath the surface. It seemed for a long time Darkness had shrouded this world, smothered the light but now it had been somewhat liberated. Pockets of light were springing up all over a dimming universe. Hope was still possible.
Sephiroth nodded taking it all in. "Whatever happened to him is less than what he deserved for his deeds in his life. I am sure the Lifestream tore his soul asunder. He was such a feeble minded individual."
It felt good to talk about the man in such a degrading fashion, but he had meant what he said. There was nothing in any of these worlds that could change his mind about the man. But the man had mentioned Weiss... he could not recall such a character. Maybe he meant the man that the Turks had found and took in. It would not surprise him in the least that Hojo would find some way to continue his legacy. If he were to show up again... Sephiroth would make sure his end was swift and painful.
"So I see. I only came here out of necessity." He would not go further than that. This man did not need to know of the frivolous details of his life just yet. "So that begs the question why come in here?" he mused to the other.
If need be he may ally himself with him, but from a distance. Though, he usually did things solo; it was interesting to see what other knowledge Vincent had that would prove useful to him. He would never aloud say if they could work near each other, but more imply it with his actions.
Sephiroth's reaction was one which Vincent expected. He couldn't have imagined any other response from the man who had lost his way. Perhaps if Sephiroth had been stronger he would have been able to recover from the breakdown. Atlhough at the moment he did seem more sane than the last time. Vincent wondered if he was still hell bent on 'The Reunion'. It was likely that he was running out of shots. Gaia was swallowed in darkness. Was there really any ponit in continuing with an idea that wouldn't happen anymore?
"I wish it had been slower," Vincent replied. He truly truly did. Had he been able to take the time to kill him it would have been more painful, much slower and satisfying. Why did the guy have to be so slippery and evil? Torturing him to death wouldn't completely please Vincent though. Lucrecia was still frozen, Sephiroth was insane and he himself had been turned into a monster. He had captured countless victims and turned them into 'Test Subjects' and 'Experiments'. Vincent wondered if he ever had been sane. "He can't suffer enough for what he did,"
It was eerily still where they stood as if the world knew that any loud noises, any quick movements could startle either party into an offensive attack. The air was stagnant, unflowing and dank. Vincent never minded dark, cramped places. What he minded now were insane scientists and those exponentially more powerful than normal humans.
Vincent didn't blink, his face deadpan as usual. "Neccessity leads to luxuy," He replied. He was here because he was here. There wasn't a complication mysterious reason but Vincent was wary of telling the silver haired Soldier much at all. There was no way of knowing what would set him off, what would, get him into irreversible trouble.
Slower would indeed be a finer way for that scientist to die. He smirked; his features lighted his darker, more sinister thoughts taking over. He was easily amused by the scenarios of torture and begging for mercy that filled his mind for Hojo to be put through. His glowing eyes danced with a delight hidden them. He could easily lose himself in such thoughts, but he pulled his thoughts back to something more collected. His expression once more going calm and icy cold.
He had come here seeking out answers, but he did not expect such a man to be here as well. This was highly unexpected. He could not fight him here that was certain. He tossed that option off his slate a while ago. Right now he was stuck studying him for anything that indicated the man's intentions. He had not tried to attack in turn so he had to assume that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Vincent looked as though he wasn't going to tell him anytime soon either.
That is when he heard the rumbling deep from within the compound. The building was in tatters already and this did not make it sound like it was getting any better. If he was going to search here then he would need to do so quickly. He was torn for a moment. His mind quickly procured an answer to this problem though. He smirked allowing the insanity to flash behind his eyes. He turned on his heel and walked deeper into the darkness of the building. If the man wasn't going to budge, he was going to make him follow him. He, himself, could be going deeper inside the structure to cause destruction after all.
Sephiroth's dark and ominous smirk had put Vincent slightly on edge. Although it was so be expected it was still disconcerting and worrying to witness. He had never seen the man wear anything other than a frozen expression that was boderline on rage and hate. It truly was a freaky sight. One would have thought his face would crack but apparantly he suited sadistic cruelty. It was difficult to imagine him any other way.
The rumbling troubled him and so did Sephiroth's speedy disappearance to, probably, the location of the disturbance. It troubled him because Vincent knew he was going to follow despite his better judgement. His curiousity about the sound and Sephiroth - a man he was robbed of the chance of knowing.
The sound was probably something collapsing. The structure wasn't exactly sound anymore and the planet seemed to be in a state of disrepair. The small town did look new and well maintained but clearly whoever was trying to return this planet to its former glory had a difficult job.
Vincent sighed and followed Sephiroth hoping that he wasn't going to regret this.
Sephiroth continued into the dark hallways of the structure. He did not know what was inside but followed a natural instinct and where the hallways all seemed to lead to. It was obvious as he continued further into the structure that someone once lived here. There were living quarters scattered about and a few decorations. But that begged the question what happened to the inhabitants?
His walking ceased once he stepped into a circular office. This room remained in tact unlike the rest of the structure. The desk and floor had old papers scattered around. It reminded him of how some Shinra higher ups kept their offices. There were old reports on studies of the heart. It was strange to Sephiroth that anyone would want to study such a thing.
He, however, was a curious sort and sat down to read what he could. He knew the red caped man would not be too far in following him. But neither of them knew much of anything about this world. He was curious and he wanted to know. He shuffled a few papers around and looked up as Vincent entered the office as well.
"Nice to see you could join me." He said looking up from the papers.
Vincent cautiously proceeded down the corridors. His senses were sharp, much sharper than normal beings thanks to Hojo. He doubted he would have survived Hojo's gruelling modifications to his body if he hadn't had Chaos. Chaos although he was the bane of his existance had proved useful. In a twisted way he missed him. Although a much bigger part of him was relieved to be rid of him for good. Vincent also knew, he wasn't alone in this assessment.
He quickly followed Sephiroth knowing that he should probably turn in the other direction and never look back but it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Whether this was a brief period of lucidity of Sephiroth was just trying to lull him into a false sense of security Vincent had the opportunity to get to know his love's son a little. Some good surely had survived? Vincent shook his head. It was pointless to speculate.
Vincent entered the office. It seemed that however used it didn't care for it much, far more interested in what he guessed was research and reports. It was a necessity it seemed as they'd much rather be pouring over the words and absorbing all the information.
Vincent saw the Sephiroth was already reading. Wasn't it reading that got him into trouble in the first place? He didn't reply to his greeting.
"Someone was busy," He commented. "Distracted enough not to keep their affairs in proper order,"
Sephiroth nodded at the other's comment. It certainly seemed that way. But the way everything was jumbled around, he had to think something more happened. The whole building was in disrepair, but this office and a few other rooms seemed mostly intact. That pointed to an accident happening here not too long ago. The place was covered in a thin layer of dust, but not enough that the Nibelheim mansion had.
"It appears more that some tragedy occurred here. Whoever once lived here left in a hurry to escape something." He mused aloud to the former Turk.
He glanced back down at the papers. Whoever the scientist that owned this office had been studying hearts. Ever since Gaia was destroyed that was the only thing that anyone passed around. It was either something about hearts or the nature of light and dark. This must have been a research facility for such things. Of course that may have also caused the downfall of such a place. It was slightly reminiscent of Nibelheim in a way. Now he was even more curious to find out what went on here.
"At the very least, I could use the papers to find out more about hearts. Everyone in every world I have been to has some obsession with them." Even Hades had a small per chant for something Sephiroth found so insignificant. He disliked when he did not understand something. Of course along the way he could figure out more about this Vincent character.
His memories were broken, but he was determined to make the pieces fit back together again. If he stayed around Vincent long enough maybe it would come to him. Whatever he could reassemble would bring him that much closer to feeling his normal self once more.
"They appeared to be studying the nature of the heart here just from glancing at the papers. I can only conclude that is what helped cause this place to become in such a state of disrepair." He explained.
Sephiroth appeared calm when thinking. He enjoyed logic and deduction. It was what science was at the core, and even if science made him what he was, he still enjoyed studying it immensely. Maybe if he stuck around here long enough, he could find out more about the nature of hearts. It was something he did not understand as well. He wanted to know more.
-- Edited by Sephiroth on Tuesday 30th of June 2009 02:06:53 AM
"The destruction of this world could have happened a while after they left," Vincent countered looking at things from another angle. He always had been good at seeing all sides of an arguement and taking them into account. Of course, that didn't mean he agreed with any of them. It could be quite difficult to change his mind when he decided upon something.
The place was indeed a haphazard mess indicating that someone, or people had left in a hurry but that didn't meant they were running. If they were leaving, never intending to return, why would they leave their materials in neat order? Why make it too easy for another to sift through should they happen upon their work? Vincent knew someone once, who was extremely messy and no matter how hard they tried their paperwork always got handed in jumbled. As a result all his paperwork had to be handed in, in the morning, if only to minimise how long superiors would have to spend sorting out the muddle. Good thing he was so good in the field.
Sephiroth's statement struck a chord with him. Scientists. Many scientists never knew when to stop. It was in their nature to dig and dig until they discover Pandora's Box was just a gateway for something more sinister than they could imagine. "Sounds like a dangerous business. Hearts should remain a mystery," Vincent said.
If you understood how something so delicate and mysterious and magical worked it just ruined the alure. It tarnished the gold and so made the decorations superfluous. Plus scientists were known to getting themselves into trouble, jumping into water too deep, up a creek without a paddle etc.
"Some things are better left unexplored. Like beings that have been in Stasis for a millenia," Vincent spoke softly in a bid to not antagonize Sephiroth. It was a touchy subject for both of them. He slipped it in, in the hope of getting him to listen and consider the possibility that Jenova wasn't actually a Cetra at all.
Sephiroth immediately set the papers down on the desk, ignoring the rest of what the Turk had said. The air about him changed to something a little more dangerous but he remained calm and collected. For a moment he did not look up, staring at the wood grains on the old desk. When he did meet the red eyes of the Turk, his own were swirling with a slightly curiosity edging on a slight insanity.
His eyebrow quirked up slightly at the vague reference to his mother. He had knew that Vincent was very close to Hojo in some fashion other than the experimental subject. He had not heard the mention of his mother since the destruction of Gaia. He would entertain the thought with man in the red cape for a bit.
"Explain. You clearly know more about the subject of Jenova than one realizes." He said in a smooth, even tone.
He straightened his posture and sat back more in the chair. He looked more commanding and more like the General of legend most knew him from. Even under the calm demeanor he was much akin to a predator ready to strike at the slightly provocation. He would hold himself back however and at least listen to what information the man before him had.
Vincent was tense. Perhaps he shouldn't have brought it up. He was beginning to regret it already. Sephiroth had that look on his face that said he'd go to great lengths to satisfy his curiousity. He wasn't going to like what he heard either. Dealing with the Tsviets taught him that some things are meant to be, and some things you just can't control. You just can't know the results before they happen. Hindsight was a powerful thing and of course, everything was different when you looked back on it. You should have done this, that and the next thing. That wasn't life. It was writing a novel. Still Vincent wasn't entirely sure Sephiroth was ready to hear it, or that he actually wanted to. He was a sneaking suspicion he was only going to be humoured.
"Jenova is not your mother Sephiroth. Nor was she a Cetra" Vincent said cutting straight to the point. "I'm sorry that you had a monster for a father but that doesn't mean you can take your anger and rage out on an entire planet. Plus destroying the Planet would destroy any traces left of the Ancients,"
Vincent Valentine was entirely unsure how to proceed. What to say and how to put it? It was a difficult choice but he had decided straight to the point was best. He was acting in a professional manner and the ex-Turk was entirely sure that that was the way he had been raised. His life couldn't have been a happy one. At least he had had a loving father, even if he got too invovled with his science at times.
"You should have been a normal child. You should have grown up normally and done all the usual things. You would have been skilled that's a given but you wouldn't have had the problems you do now,"
Sephiroth's eyes narrowed immediately when the ex-Turk made such an accusation. He had read the accounts and he had the evidence to support it. Vincent however was trying to present an argument. As a man using logic as his creed, he demanded the same of anything he was presented with. Of course even if Gaia were no longer, his goals were still the same if it were ever restored.
"Jenova was my mother," He stated as if it were a matter of fact to him, "My father may have been a madman, but she is my mother. You can not prove otherwise." His tone was stern with an air or irritation. However, that left it open to the other to prove it to him. If Sephiroth were presented with evidence, he was more prone to be open to an idea.
He would have to relent to himself that he was riddled with problems, even as a child. He was different from everyone else and he was always aware of such a fact. He also knew that problems in adulthood could stem from how you were treated as a child. He was always isolated from most of the world. He understood how it worked, but he was mostly kept from such things.
"I did not want Gaia destroyed," He explained, "Merely I wanted to control it... I want them to pay for what they have done." He would let that be known. "Its complete destruction would serve me no purpose." It was eerie how calm he could be about something he almost accomplished, even as grim as it was. But that begged the question from him to the ex-Turk, "How do you know so much on the subject anyway?"
!I'm sure," Vincent replied. "I'm also sure that you're Cetra relatives would have been pleased about how you abused the Planet and its sentient enhabitants," He added although he was being sarcastic - a tool Yuffie used often - his voice was still flat. It seemed he was going to have to talk more today that he would never the next while yet. If he lived that is.
Vincent refused to look at Sephiroth. His red eyes sad and remorseful, perhaps with a touch of guilt, looked elsewhere. It was a painful topic for him still, even if the weight of it had been lifted from his shoulders by the central character.
"I know because I was there," Vincent took a deep breath. "No. Your mother was Lucrecia Cresent, assistant to Hojo for a time. Jenova cells were injected during the fetal stage. Jenova was a being that came to this planet years ago. She was the one that destroyed the Cetra. By the time we got here there were hardly any left. The Ancients are the ones that locked heri in Stasis,"
Vincent had a way of knowing such things. He was sly, crafty, sneaky and relentless too. It was still slightly cruel though, to tell someone he would have welcomed as a son that oh by the way Jenova isn't a Cetra she's an alien and Hojo was playing with fire, as usual. Your mother was a beautiful, caring person you rejected me for a freak of nature. Now look at me. Isn't it ironic?
No. That also wasn't how it should be put. Too emotional for both of them. Clear and to the point was best for both an Ex-Turk and Ex-General. Vincent remained motionless but ready to spring into action. Here, there was enough room to morph and then he'd be particularly difficult to hit, darting around fluidly.
"If they did, then they simply don't understand what I was trying to accomplish. They damned my mother as well and if they want to damn me like the last female did, then so be it." He replied smoothly without pause. In his own twisted sense, he thought in his mind what he was doing was right. Humans had created him as a monster, why not repay them by showing off what their creation could do?
"If this woman, Lucrecia, was my mother why I have not heard her name until now?" He posed the question to the ex-Turk. "And if what you are saying is the truth, why did she leave me? Did she also think of me as a monster?" He leaned back in the chair, musing on the subject. So many people had left him in his life why should he think any different of a female that potentially gave birth to him.
A slightly sad expression fell across his features, even if briefly. Had he been lied to again? It had to be the case either the reports had lied or this man was lying. He would not put it past Hojo's transcripts to only put half truths. The man had done the same to him as he was growing up. Why should that change? He was suddenly reminded of how Genesis had talked with him before he had burned the town down. His own friend had betrayed and lied to him....
"And how do I even know she was real? You could be lying to me just like the rest of them." He said almost quietly with a undertone of his hatred for lies.
(sorry about the long wait, Sephiroth muse was sleepy these past few days)
Vincent Valentine was wondering why he had bothered. He, of course, didn't have any evidence apart from his own memory and there was no way to prove he wasn't lying. A catch 22 was something the Ex-Turk despised. Each option always looked worse the more you considered it.
"You murdered Aerith Gainsborough, an Ancient," Vincent stated an accusation. He had admired the young female Cetra and her ability to see the good in others no matter who they were, or how difficult they found seeing it in themsevles. She had touched all of Avalanche's hearts even the more reserved or course of the warriors.
Vincent shook his head sadly. He could only try to convince him. No one else was there like he was. Sephiroth hadn't even asked how that was possible that he was there when he looked no older than he had then. He guessed it could be because Hojo never aged either.
"She thought herself a monster. When we met she was still grieving the loss of her Mentor. I was assigned for her protection and we becamse close friends. At first I only told her of my concerns but later I protested more vocally. Naturally I was considered 'in the way' and promptly murdered. She was still grieving her Mentor and then felt responsible for me. She tried her best to save me as she got ill. In the end she used G Subtance, a black smoke that had killed her Mentor to save my life," Vincent paused. "She left me and I ended up as foder for Hojo,"
Vincent moved restlessly. He didn't like this, explaining his life away but he felt Sephiroth really did need to hear it. Part of him thought him completely insane but the other part felt Sephiroth thought he was doing the right thing - by him anyway.
"After birth she was tossed aside. She was already depressed and so it only got worse. She felt responsible for two deaths, Jenova cells were altering her body and Hojo prevented her from seeing you. Not once. She couldn't die easily because to the Jenova cells and so locked heself in Mako crystals in Waterfall Cavern,"
The more Sephiroth listened to him, the more he came to realize how similar their lives were. Vincent was used by Shin-Ra and ultimately tossed aside by them. Granted, Shin-Ra never officially tossed Sephiroth aside, but he knew it was coming. That fate was sealed the moment they had decided to take on Project S.
He took in stride as the ex-Turk threw out his past transgressions. He recalled that event in his life, but it was a blur to him as were most of the lives he had taken. His years as a General made him callous to death for the most part. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he should know the man in front of him more than he did, but it would not come to him. Leave it to Hades to never bring someone back completely right.
"Her death at the time must had some significance to it." He waved off the matter with a slightly flick of his wrist. His brow was slightly furrowed in confusion. He was trying too hard to remember something that was not completely accessible to his mind. "But it matters not to me now." He added as a way to cover his unsure nature of what he was saying.
"You, this Lucrecia, and I... we all seem to share the same fate among that corporation... We were nothing more than tools to them. So we say your story is true... " He mused aloud. The restlessness in Vincent did not go unnoticed. The whole conversation must be unnerving for him. The more he watched the other man the more he came to realize he was likely not lying. Then that drew up another point, "Then, why tell me all of this? You obviously know my more murderous tendencies.... "
Vincent wasn't sure if Sephiroth was really listening or just humouring him. Vincent rarely lied. It was a trade uncommon amongst Turks. He was cursed with a conscience, morals and principles. He couldn't blame his father for that. His father was a scientist and in the name of science many dug too deep, opened the wrong door that couldn't be closed again. Sephiroth had lived a life of military. Death was a neccessity, a requirement upon occasion and the silver haired man would see it as a fact of life, an inevitability.
Part of Vincent wanted to turn around and leave but surely the ex-general would follow. Part of him wanted to keep quiet and refuse to speak of it any further but that would be cruel, not to mention Vincent had no idea whether he would, or how quickly he would heal from attack. Since losing Chaos he had not been severely injured. Before he would have survived a normally fatal injury but Valentine was convinced now he would not. Was his healing rate still slightly abnormal? Was it normal? Was it less than normal? Shouldn't he get sick because his immune system relied on Chaos so long? So many questions and no answers. While Lucrecia had brought light to the situation, relieved him of a great burden, it had unwittlingly brought another: uncertainty.
"Why not? They say as we age we get more forgiving, more willing to try to negotiate," Vincent was stalling, he knew it. He had gone this far. There was no backing out now. "I loved your mother very much," Vincent said quietly. "I feel responsible. I would, had she given me the chance, looked after you both. No one else could tell you this. Who knows how you would have been had nature been allowed to take its course. I heard you used to be different. Perhaps you can be different again. You just have to want it and try,"
He felt responsbile. Period. There was a glimour of hope for Sephiroth if he listened and believed. His faith in everything broke when he discovered his path had been thrown off course by his lunatic of a father. Perhaps with that steely determination of his he would get it back again.
Sephiroth grew silent for a moment. He was lost in thoughts and memories recalling what the Turk meant. "Once I was told that by what I assume was once a friend." He recalled black hair and a cheery disposition.. Zack seemed to be the name that fit. His friends were the weakest memories since those were the first he casted aside in the Lifestream to preserve who he was.
His expression edged on sadness swirling behind the mako gleam in his eyes. Even if he tried to push aside his past, he knew it always brought him great pain. How when he was growing up he was never treated the same as others or how painfully obvious it was that he was different. He was a different person back then.. he harbored less hate for the world. He could recall that clearly. But hatred and vengeance had stained him so much it was nearly impossible for him to wash all of it away. What he really wanted at the core was for his friends to come back... to have never been betrayed by them or anyone else he had allowed close.
The whole experience taught him that it was best to avoid society. Everyone that got close only used him or betrayed him in the end. He blamed it on the human condition and their general hatred for something outside of their species. "Yes I was different. But humanity and their actions change your perception." He admitted. He had no idea why he was holding this conversation... maybe deep down buried under the layers of hate and vengeance, Sephiroth was just a mere man who craved friends. One could never be sure with him.
"I somehow doubt one could erase the blood stains from my record by simply changing," He said without almost a scuff. He almost, almost felt like he was talking through his former self.
Vincent listened patiently. For a moment he thought he might be getting through to him but he wasn't entirely sure. This was a bit like Tetris - the moment you started to feel you were getting the pieces to fit together perfectly odd shapes would appear that didn't fit in anywhere and things would start to go downhill from there. In this particular brand the ex-Turk also had no idea where they pieces were going to land. He was holding his breath on the whole matter, not even daring to cross his fingers in the faintest of hopes should they be dashed irriversibly by the action.
Vincent watched curiously at the emotions he could barely make out. Sephiroth seemed phased enough - perhaps even lonely enough - to consider what he was telling him. It was quite an information dump. He himself had secluded himself for a while when he had learned his father had died due to an experiment. It had been something he had been concerned about for years but his father told him not to worry and that he was most careful. Saved by the same being that murdered the elder. How ironic.
Vincent shrugged. "I used to be a Turk. I've killed innocent people - at least people I suspected who were but couldn't never prove to be - and the guilty. Interrogations..." Vincent was mostly intelligence but he had to have some experience in such things. His forte was information gathering. He was just good at it.
Vincent noticed a certain hardness gone from the silver haired man's voice. It made him sound like a different person almost. "They forgave me for some reason. I don' think they'd forgive you but that isn't an excuse. Letting the past go is difficult. Make it a habit not to dominate the universe, not to kill onsight and then it will be true,"
Sephiroth thought on the notion for a bit. His mind seemed a myriad of thoughts and talking to himself. Lately he found that dominating the world was not on his agenda since being revived by Hades. It was probably the universe's way of preserving itself and laughing in his face. True he still felt hatred and vengeance but he lacked the desire to do much about it besides pester Cloud from time to time.
“Hard to do such things when you are not completely yourself.” He stated. It was a vague statement at best, but it was truthful. He knew he was Sephiroth, but the memories that defined him were not so clear. “Nor do I want forgiveness for what I have done.' That was it. He did not want forgiveness for actions that he saw fit to see through. He would do what he thought was the best course of action to complete his goals, no matter what.
Then he had to think. Why was Vincent even bothering with this? He obviously knew what he was and he was trying to convince him to change? This Lucrecia must have meant a lot to him for him to even try such things. He would have to take that into consideration.
“You must have cared for her to attempt such foolishness.” He smirked only slightly his demeanor changing a bit once more, but no where deadly as before. He seemed to be just a man jesting back at another. “I doubt there is little you can do to soothe over the scars and stains from over the years. I will say however that dominating this universe or this world even... serves me little good.”
His smirk became full blown as his green eyes met Vincent's red for the next sentence. “I suppose under different circumstances you would have acted my father.” It must be true if Vincent cared for Lucrecia and was as close as he said he was.
Vincent waited patiently. He knew Sephiroth would reply. If anything, the man struck him as curteous and polite towards those who displayed the same regard towards him. It seemed an element of the original, not so jaded, embittered or tainted Sephiroth still lurked deep within the shadows. If only there was a way to draw him out once more. Vincent had the nagging disappointing feeling it would be like trying to get blood from a stone.
"Never wanted it. Never tried. Always thought it was a waste of time," Vincent said honestly. "That doesn't mean it's necessary to perpetuate the past," In other words, move on, turn the page, a new leaf if you will. Start over. The Universe was so vast, so full of life that if Sephiroth wanted he could life happily, a new person away from the strings of the past he seemed so reluctant to cut.
"I loved her. For thirty four years," Vincent replied. "I still do. In a way," He had no idea why he confessed that. He had been so careful. Perhaps it was because he was sure he could see her son peaking through, or because deep down he thought it might help? He had no idea. It made him feel extremely uncomfortable to not know the answer. He always knew the answers!
"I think you should have had parents," Vincent stated. "I also think you shouldn't allow the lies to continue to corrupt you. It seems a little like you are doing an extreme form of rebelling - being something completely different from what you were trained to be your whole life,"
It was incredibly risky but Vincent never was one for mincing his words. A waste of time. Useless. Sugar coating never got anybody anywhere except more hurt and let down than they would have been if given the facts straight. Was it right to now try the tactic of - you're a spoilt brat, get over yourself?
Sephiroth nearly broke out into laughter. This Vincent character certainly was interesting and possibly foolhardy. No it was not that simple, was it? Slowly, Sephiroth stood from the desk and walked to the far side of the room with his back to Vincent. Lies corrupted him to what he was? That was absurd to think in his book. He was the one who chose the path he walked, hadn't he?
Sephiroth was coming to acknowledge that Vincent was a man to be respected. He had to be if he was this persistent on saving the silver haired man. The fallen angel did not think he needed to be saved from himself, but he would admit he was a different person in the past. Bits and pieces of that still existed inside of him. He knew that all too well, but it was mixed in with the insanity and carving for vengeance.
"That is certainly a long time to love someone who is no longer with us." In a way Sephiroth could understand that part of Vincent, but all of that was buried in his memories. He missed Angeal, Genesis, and Zack. He even loved one of them before his fall and maybe somewhere he still did, despite the deep betrayal he felt from them.
"I do not plan to perpetuate the past. I just plan to make them pay in one way or another. What I seek is not the rebellion, but a closure. I am merely showing them what they have created, a monster. Its what I am and that will not change." He was glad he was not facing the ex-Turk at this moment. He had not expected that much to come out of his mouth. He paused for a moment, thinking to himself, "However... Gaia is no longer. For a while my memories were no longer as well."
Sephiroth had shed them in the Lifestream to keep a hold of his strong will and sense of self. He was d*mned if he was going to be lost among the myriad of souls. He debated with himself on discussing the next part, but the ex-Turk had given tidbits into himself... why not return the favor? "My hate and anger have died down a little since I regained my memories."
( I shall reply in the Hushed Hushed thread again tomorrow after I sleep... need sleep x_X)
